Netanyahu submits pardon request to Israeli president

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has submitted an official pardon request to President Isaac Herzog, the president’s office confirmed on Sunday.

Mr Herzog’s office acknowledged the “extraordinary request which carries with it significant implications,” adding that the president would “responsibly and sincerely consider the request” after receiving all relevant opinions.

There was no immediate comment from the prime minister’s office. Mr Netanyahu faces a long-running corruption trial, denying the charges and pleading not guilty.

Netanyahu was indicted in 2019 on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He was accused of accepting expensive gifts and exchanging regulatory favours with media owners for positive press coverage.

The trial began in 2020. Netanyahu has denied all claims against him and pleaded not guilty.

Prosecutors allege that Netanyahu granted regulatory favours worth around £430 million to Bezeq Telecom Israel in return for positive coverage of himself and his wife on a news website controlled by the company’s former chair.

Netanyahu was also charged with fraud and breach of trust over allegations that he and his wife wrongfully received almost £170,000 in gifts from Arnon Milchan, a Hollywood producer, and Australian billionaire James Packer, in return for personal favours.

The prime minister testified that the gifts were tokens of friendship, and that he did not act inappropriately in exchange for them.

The official request comes as Donald Trump wrote a letter urging Herzog to consider pardoning Netanyahu earlier this month.

The US president told Herzog that the case against the prime minister was, in his view, “a political, unjustified prosecution”.

Trump said in a letter shared on Wednesday that Netanyahu had been a “formidable and decisive wartime prime minister”, whose attention could not be “unnecessarily diverted” from a wider regional peace process.

“While I absolutely respect the independence of the Israeli justice system, and its requirements, I believe that this ‘case’ against Bibi, who has fought alongside me for a long time, including against the very tough adversary of Israel, Iran, is a political, unjustified prosecution,” Trump said.

Verstappen takes F1 title race to Abu Dhabi after dramatic Qatar win

Lando Norris’ bid to become champion of the world will go to an F1 season finale in Abu Dhabi next weekend after Max Verstappen cashed in on a calamitous McLaren strategy decision to win the Qatar Grand Prix.

Norris, who finished only fourth, will head to the concluding round just 12 points ahead of Verstappen with Oscar Piastri, runner-up to the Red Bull driver under the lights on Sunday, 16 points adrift with 25 left to play for.

McLaren were in control of the 57-lap contest, despite Norris dropping from second to third behind Verstappen at the start.

Piastri led, but both he and Norris were told not to pit when a safety car was deployed on the seventh lap after Nico Hulkenberg and Pierre Gasly collided.

Of the other 18 drivers, only Haas’ Esteban Ocon elected not to stop for new tyres with two stops mandatory.

That put Verstappen in the driving seat to keep his dream of winning a fifth straight title alive, and the Dutchman did not waste his opportunity, taking the chequered flag 7.9 seconds clear of Piastri with Norris – who came close to losing control of his McLaren on lap 36 of 57 – behind Carlos Sainz in fourth.

Norris passed Kimi Antonelli on the penultimate lap and will still win the world championship if he finishes third in seven days at the final race.

A nervous McLaren team headed into Sunday’s showdown desperate to end Verstappen’s title bid – with the British team’s CEO Zak Brown describing him in the build-up to the 23rd round of 24 as “that guy in the horror movie that keeps coming back”.

But their worst fears have now been realised with Verstappen hot on their heels heading to Formula One’s first title decider since 2021 and just the third in 10 seasons.

“This was an incredible race for us, and we made the right call to stop behind the safety car,” said Verstappen.

“That was smart. I am super happy to win and we stay in the fight.”

Asked about McLaren’s strategy fumble, Verstappen said: “I was like, ‘that is an interesting move’.”

Piastri, who said on the radio after the race: “I am speechless,” added: “Clearly, we didn’t get it right tonight. I drove the best race I could, as fast as I could and there was nothing left.

“In hindsight, it is pretty obvious what we should have done but we will discuss it as a team. It is not all bad but tough to swallow at the moment.”

Piastri has every right to feel the most aggrieved. He took control from pole while Norris slipped to third. Verstappen starting on the cleaner side of the track drew level with Norris and then moved to his right to put the frighteners on the British driver.

Norris did not want to get involved and Verstappen was up to second. Not ideal but not the end of the world. Then the defining moment of the race, and perhaps the season.

A safety car was deployed with Hulkenberg stranded in his stricken Sauber after a move on the outside of Gasly at Turn 2 went wrong.

With all drivers allowed to do only 25 laps on one set of tyres amid safety concerns due to extreme rubber wear, the obvious decision was to come in for their first stop.

But Piastri and Norris stayed out. Were McLaren worried about favouring one driver and going against their Papaya Rules of a level playing field? Either way, both men were now in no-man’s land.

On lap 24, Piastri came in for a change of tyres and Norris followed in on the next lap. Piastri and Norris were behind Verstappen, Sainz and Antonelli.

Piastri cleared Antonelli on lap 30 to take fourth but Norris failed to clear the Mercedes man before Antonelli, and the others, stopped on lap 32.

“This is the bit of the race where we need to be quicker than Max,” Norris was told, with the out-of-sync McLaren men now running in clean air in first and second.

But then a wobble for Norris as he ran wide at Turn 14 and he called on his team to check for damage on the car.

Piastri stopped for a second time on lap 42 with Norris stopping two laps later. But while Piastri was second on the road, Norris was fifth.

He was able to clear Antonelli with one lap to go but the door has been left ajar for Verstappen to derail a McLaren team which wrapped up the constructors’ championship in Azerbaijan in September.

“We could have done things differently and we did what we thought was correct,” said Norris. “Both of us should have done.

“If we had double-stacked, I would have lost time. It is something we will talk about and review. I have to have faith that the team are making the right call.”

Asked about next week’s decider, he continued: “It will feel the same as every weekend. I try and beat them, they try and beat me. It is nothing different. I just want to go to bed.

“There is nothing I can do about it. It wasn’t my finest weekend, in terms of driving and putting things together. That’s life. Everyone has bad weekends. I take it on the chin, we all take it on the chin, and we will see what we can do next weekend.”

The experimental drugs being marketed by influencers as ‘miraculous’

Why would I want to wait six months when I can inject peptides and look like the best version of myself in 30 days?”

Walker Harrell speaks from behind a screen that pans down to show his body – slim, muscular, the kind of physique many can only attain through a strict diet and exercise regime. Except, he tells his audience, hard work isn’t how he achieved this.

Instead, he says, he has been injecting peptides – and by following the link in his bio, you too can appear “more youthful”, leaner, and tanned.

Social media platforms, including TikTok and Instagram, are filled with creators claiming they can help promote healing, erase acne, and build thicker muscles, all through a simple injection.

Even the popular podcaster Joe Rogan, who does not sell peptides, has claimed on his popular podcast The Joe Rogan Experience to be reaping the benefits of experimental peptide BPC-157 for healing an injury, claiming that the compound fixed tendinitis in his elbow “in two weeks”.

For teenage boys in particular, the messaging can be potent. Videos seen by The Independent tout the compounds as essential for “looksmaxxing” – a trend in which people attempt to boost their physical attractiveness – and even suggest that taking them during puberty can impact your “results” as you move into adulthood.

But underneath the ripped torsos and perfect skin, there is a murky world of unknowns and risk.

Peptides were first discovered in the 1920s with the isolation of insulin, now a lifesaving treatment for millions of people with diabetes. But many others – including those being promoted on social media platforms – are still considered “experimental” and have never been subject to rigorous clinical trials. In the UK and the US, these are sold with a warning label: “For research purposes only. Not for human consumption.”

Speaking to The Independent, experts said the risks of using these research chemicals are “substantial”.

Dr Adam Taylor, professor in anatomy at Lancaster University, says that if peptides sound too good to be true, that’s because they probably are – and those who are using them are “running the risk of turning themselves into a lab rat”.

Peptides are short chains of amino acids that serve as the building blocks of proteins, Dr Taylor explains. They work by acting as messengers, telling specific parts of the body what to do – whether that be repair, grow, or heal.

“What we’ve got now is a lot of peptides coming to the market that are being advertised as helping you be able to heal quicker,” says Taylor. “A lot of these are the quest for the holy grail in terms of regeneration and rejuvenation.”

He adds that the newer compounds are often advertised by influencers who have “limited scientific authority” to speak to their legitimacy, meaning that viewers are unable to see the full picture behind the image being sold.

One copper-based peptide, GHK-CU, purports to possess “exceptional anti-ageing, regenerative, and even anti-cancer properties”, according to one online seller.

Another set, dubbed the “Wolverine stack” after the Marvel character’s exceptional healing properties, promises to accelerate healing and support muscle recovery.

But Taylor says that if this were proven, we would see these substances being used in medical settings.

“If these peptides were safe for human use, we would be using them to treat patients,” he said. “Some haven’t been trialled in patients. But in some circumstances, where they have been trialled, they’re just not showing the kind of benefits that we would need to make them effective enough to bring them to market through the NHS.”

Taylor says that using these unregulated peptides carries serious risks. “If you have an allergy and you’re sticking a peptide into a muscle, or even into a vein, into your blood supply, you could end up with a really serious anaphylactic and potentially life-ending reaction to something that was unknown in there,” he warns.

“Sticking needles into your body as an untrained professional comes with high risk. If you hit a nerve or a blood vessel, or you introduce an air bubble into your vasculature, you’re going to end up potentially doing serious, if not life-ending damage.”

Taylor adds that there is even some suggestion that these substances could activate pathways used by cancers to attack the body – although he stresses that this has not been proven with direct evidence.

“Users are running the risk of turning themselves into a lab rat,” he says. “One of the biggest challenges with a lot of these peptides is that you don’t know your own physiology. You don’t understand what underlying things are lurking beneath, and what may they may trigger.”

The sudden explosion of the compounds on social media appears to target teenage boys – something Taylor says is “particularly risky”.

“Not only is your body still developing in the way that you can see, but you’re also still developing physiologically,” he explains. “The hormones that you produce for various tissues in the body are still not potentially at their full effect. You wouldn’t want to interrupt those hormonal pathways.”

It is difficult to obtain exact data on how many people are using peptides in the UK, as the drugs are unregulated. However, analysis of Google search trends reveals nearly 10 times as many searches for these compounds in 2025 compared with 2020 – and studies suggest that the number of gym-goers using performance-enhancing drugs has more than tripled since 2014.

Taylor believes that it may take many years for the full story behind peptides to emerge. “I think it’s going to be when this generation get to middle age,” he says. “They may have some desired effects, but they can also have undesired effects, and I think that’s what we will see with a lot of these products in the future.”

His warnings are echoed by Dr Laura Grainge, medical director at It’s Me & You aesthetics clinic. She told The Independent she has seen a distinct rise in patients presenting with complications – mostly injection-site reactions – after buying research chemicals online.

Grainge adds that the risks are “entirely down to a lack of regulation”, as customers have no guarantee of the purity, sterility, or true contents of their purchases.

“Since these are not proven medical compounds, they can cause unpredictable and potentially severe systemic issues, such as hormonal imbalances, heart palpitations, anxiety, and unexplained inflammatory responses,” she adds. “The risk is simply not worth the unproven, short-term gain.”

The UK regulatory body for medicines, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, told The Independent that it “disregards” claims that these products are for “research purposes” if it is clear that such claims are being used in an attempt to avoid regulations.

A spokesperson added that the agency “strongly advises against purchasing and using unauthorised medicinal products, particularly those promoted on social media”.

Meta said it had removed the accounts brought to its attention by The Independent, adding that it does not allow content that “aims to sell or encourage the consumption of potentially unsafe drugs, products or supplements”.

A TikTok spokesperson said its community guidelines forbid “trading, marketing, or providing access to regulated, prohibited, or high-risk goods and services”, adding that this “includes regulated substances such as products marketed for weight loss or muscle gain”.

“We have banned the hashtag #peptide, and we have removed the accounts shared for violating our Community Guidelines,” it said.

Joe Rogan and Walker Harrell have been approached for comment.

‘I fought with UK in Afghanistan. Now I live in a damp flat in London’

The walls have been newly painted a bright white, and the floors are clean. But despite it being a grey cold winter’s day outside, all the windows in this two-bedroom flat in west London are wide open.

There is no visible mould, but Abdul’s family, including his pregnant wife Aisha, have been struggling with their breathing because of damp in the property ever since they moved in in October. They have opened the windows in a desperate bid to get some fresh air into the flat.

Their 11-year-old son’s asthma, which is usually controlled, has become much worse, says Abdul. When he struggled to breathe in one particular exacerbation a few weeks ago, Abdul rushed him to the emergency department at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, scared that his son’s medication wasn’t enough to keep him well in their new living conditions.

A former Afghan special forces soldier who fought alongside the British, Abdul had dreamt of the day he would be able to bring his family to the UK, and was overjoyed when it finally came in August this year.

He had served with an elite Afghan unit known as Afghan Territorial Force 444 – one of two units set up and paid by the British to work alongside the best of the UK armed forces. In the chaos of the West’s withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021, many of those who worked most closely with the UK were left behind, with dozens of allies killed, kidnapped or tortured by the Taliban.

While the Ministry of Defence (MoD) set up resettlement routes for those who had worked alongside the British, mistakes led to hundreds of applications for sanctuary from Afghans with credible links to special forces units being wrongly rejected.

The government has been undertaking a review of thousands of these applications after The Independent, along with Lighthouse Reports and Sky News, exposed how the applicants were being denied help. High Court judges found that defective decision-making had led to these Afghan commandos being abandoned.

Abdul had managed to escape Afghanistan in 2015, but his application to come to the UK was initially rejected in 2023 – despite his having risked his life to work alongside British troops.

He lived in Europe in fear of deportation, at times homeless, before he was finally granted sanctuary in the country he had served, in August this year, through the MoD’s resettlement scheme.

However, the move has meant coming face-to-face with the reality of trying to build a life in Britain with little support. Unlike some of his former colleagues, who are also here, Abdul can speak good English, but he is still struggling to navigate his new living situation.

There is little to do during the day, and he is unsure where he can turn to to find activities for his two boisterous sons, aged 11 and five. He is keen to work and to enrol his children in school, but he wants to do so only once they have a settled home. A friend of Abdul’s in the UK, Alex Isaac, a former paratrooper who fought alongside him, has being trying to help him build a new life in Britain, and calls him each night to provide companionship. He has offered him a job as a groundworks trainee in his construction company in Ipswich, but the family are unable to afford a deposit to start renting privately in the area.

Abdul said that his attempts to get help from the council and the Home Office with funding a deposit had been unsuccessful. After The Independent contacted the local council, they were able to start the process of helping Abdul and his family move to Ipswich. A Home Office source said that the council had also agreed to pay the deposit.

While Abdul said the family had received little support from their council support worker since they moved into the property in Fulham, a spokesperson for Hammersmith and Fulham Council said the family had been offered help with furniture and household goods, financial support, school places for the children, and GP and maternity services.

The council said that Abdul had twice refused to allow the private landlord’s contractors to carry out repairs, but Abdul said that they only wanted to make temporary fixes that would not have solved the problems.

A Hammersmith and Fulham Council spokesperson added: “We have a long and proud history of going above and beyond to support refugees, helping more than 120 Afghan refugees into new homes and securing school places this year along.

“Abdul has asked for a move to Ipswich, and we’re working with the Home Office and the family to assist.”

Local authorities are able to claim £24,110 per Afghan from the government over three years to provide “integration support”. Further money to support children into education can also be claimed by the council, with payments of up to £5,130 per child aged five to 18. Local healthcare providers are also able to claim government money to support Afghan refugees.

The flat the local council has found for the family is sparse, with just a bed for Abdul and his wife, bunk beds for their children, a table and a sofa, and they have few belongings to make the place feel like home. The government, through Abdul’s housing benefit, is paying the landlord £1,850 a month for the property, he explained.

The family are not using the washing machine because they say mould in the machine makes their clothes smell, so instead, Abdul’s wife Aisha is washing their clothes by hand. While they are able to use the fridge, the sealant around the door is mouldy and cracked.

The toilet sink is also leaking, and the bathroom often smells, Abdul explained. The sons have at times refused to sleep in their bunk beds because they spotted cockroaches in the room, and the carpet corners come up easily, creating a worrying trip hazard.

Because their breathing is exacerbated by being inside, the family often spend hours sitting in the nearby small park or wandering around the local shopping centre.

Aisha, who is pregnant, has been struggling with her breathing as well. A support letter from the local community midwife details her concerns about the family’s living conditions.

“The property has leaks, damp, concerning stains, and an insect infestation,” the letter said. “[Abdul] showed me some concerning photos during a midwifery appointment, including multiple insect bites on the two children, aged 11 and five years old.”

It continued: “I ask their case is urgently prioritised for the wellbeing of the whole family … It is imperative that the family be provided with alternative suitable housing that accommodates their needs and promotes a safe and healthy environment for the parents, young children, and a newborn baby.”

Abdul said: “We are not asking for luxury housing. I would rather be able to support myself. I already found an Ipswich property, where the rent is hundreds less. We would be saving the government money if we can move there. No one should pay this amount for this property, because it is not suitable.

“My son had asthma before, but not like this. [Since] we came into this property, he is always using the emergency inhaler. We are using both of the inhalers all the time.

“My wife is also now struggling with her breathing, and she is pregnant. The kids are scared to sleep in their room because there were cockroaches in their room. They are waking up in the night because they are scared, and they have no desk or space to do any homework. There is the smell in the flat, also.”

He continued: “I am so stressed, me and my wife. I don’t know what to do with this situation.”

A Home Office spokesperson said: “This government is determined to fulfil our nation’s commitment to the brave Afghans who supported the United Kingdom’s mission in Afghanistan.

“Any concerns about accommodation should be reported to the local authority. We work closely with them to ensure every family receives the support they need.”

Month’s worth of rain to fall in 24 hours as flood warnings issued

Heavy rain and blustery winds are set to batter parts of the country, bringing a month’s worth of rain in just 24 hours, as an amber “danger to life” warning comes into force on Sunday night.

The most significant rain will fall across parts of South Wales, with 100 to 200mm of rain possible in some areas. The Met Office has upgraded the impact level of its warning of travel disruption and flooding to high.

The western and south-western areas of the UK are also due to be hit by heavy bands of rain, with yellow warnings in place in London and South East England, South West England, and West Midlands from midnight on Monday to 3am on Tuesday morning. 

The Met Office’s senior meteorologist Marco Petagna said: “Later today, we’ll start to see some wet and windy weather coming in from the west, and then for a very unsettled day for most parts of the UK going into tomorrow, particularly western parts of England, Wales and southwest Scotland as well. 

“We could see up to 120mm of rain, so almost five inches of rain in a few places, that’s on top of what’s been a pretty wet month already. We’re likely to see flooding issues, particularly across South Wales, through tomorrow.”

Mr Petagna said warnings could also be issued for later in the week, but it was too far ahead to be concerned about that, “given the high importance of the weather” on Monday.

A yellow rain warning has also been issued for areas in the East Midlands, North West England, South West Scotland, West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humber from midnight until 3am on Tuesday, bringing 20 to 40mm of rainfall, and 100 to 120mm in a few places over the Cumbrian fells.

Strong southwesterly gusts will accompany the heavy rain, with gales possible around coasts and over high ground, the Met Office said.

In Central, Tayside and Fife, North East England, and Strathclyde, rain warnings are in place from midnight until 9pm on Monday.

Richard Preece, Natural Resources Wales duty tactical manager, said people should be alert to potential flooding.

He said: “With some rivers already swollen and the ground saturated, we expect to see a number of flood alerts and warnings issued. We also expect the rain to cause surface water issues.

“We’re urging people to be vigilant and to make preparations for potential flooding now. You can check if you live in an area at risk of flooding on our website and sign up for our free flood warning service.”

Here is the weather forecast for the UK for the coming week, according to the Met Office:

A better day for most, with many seeing a dry day with sunny spells. Showers affecting coastal counties, mainly in the north and northwest, turning wintry over hills. Becoming unsettled from the west later with spells of rain and cold temperatures.

A clear evening in the east with some frost. Wind and rain will continue to push in from the west, heavy in places, with some snow across Scottish mountains. Milder.

Outbreaks of rain, persistent across southwest England and south Wales, where disruption from flooding is likely. Windy for many with coastal gales possible. Turning brighter in the north. Mild.

Rain clearing early on Tuesday leaving sunshine and showers for most of the week. These are most frequent in the south and west. Temperatures are around average for the start of December.

Black Friday cruise deals – enjoy luxe all-inclusive trips for less

Already dreaming about your next unforgettable escape? Picture this: gazing at a postcard-perfect horizon, margarita in hand, before tucking into delicious, made-to-order dining amid superyacht inspired luxury…

Well, it’s time to make waves, Sailor: Virgin Voyages’ Black Friday offers are here, running from 21 November – 4th December, with epic savings to be made across 2025, 2026, and their newly-launched 2027 sailings. What’s more, you can get 80 per cent off a second ‘Sailor’ and up to $500 in free drinks – find out more at Virgin Voyages.

And these aren’t just any cruises; these are award-winning, exclusively adult cruises, providing a playground at sea for discerning grownups, with no buffets, and certainly no beige (they favour red, instead). There’s over $1,000/£750 in value built right in, from WiFi and group fitness classes to essential drinks and award-winning dining – all with no hidden extras. Prices are all-in, and stay that way, leaving you to focus on pure, effortless indulgence.

Exemplifying the modern luxury and romance of sailing, there are no  lacklustre, elbows-at-the-ready meals to be queued for here: instead you’ll enjoy freshly prepared food from over 20 unique eateries, guaranteeing culinary flair with distinct, delicious flavours. And prepare to have dinner with a view – every single restaurant on board has panoramas out to the ocean.

When you’re not eating (or sipping), explore the ship’s sleek, design-led spaces. Think nautically cool cabins with roomy rain showers and heavenly hammocks made for lazy afternoons. Hit The Manor, Virgin’s sexy, disco-glam nightclub reached through a mirrored corridor straight out of a K-pop video. Or lose yourself in The Red Room, where cutting-edge shows and dance parties keep the energy high till sunrise. Then there’s The Groupie – your private karaoke den for those ‘we’re definitely forming a band’ moments (crafted cocktails highly encouraged).

Need inspo for which cruise to choose? How about this one: 2026 sees the introduction of one of Virgin Voyages’ most highly anticipated routes – the debut of its sailing to Alaska, running from May to September aboard Brilliant Lady.

The ship will take 16 memorable journeys roundtrip from Seattle (with some from Vancouver), lasting from between seven to 12 nights. You’ll experience the region’s wild beauty and authentic ports which most cruise lines skip, from the dramatic fjords of Tracy Arm to hidden gems like Haines (the Bald Eagle capital of the world) Icy Strait Point, an indigenous-owned destination perfect for whale watching and adventure, and Sitka – where you’ll find a blend of Russian and Native heritage – taking you deeper into America’s Last Frontier.

You can also immerse yourself on-land via Virgin Voyages ‘Shore Thing’ experiences, with over 250 excursions crafted for adults, including bear spotting, dog sledding, glacier hikes, and indigenous-led cultural immersions, designed for adults – not busloads. And with longer port times, you’ll be able to explore exciting destinations like Alaska’s capital, Juneau, without feeling rushed; there are no early departures here, so you can spend a generous eight unhurried hours marvelling at the epic panoramas from the Mount Roberts Tramway, watching whales in Auke Bay, or visiting epic natural wonders like the Mendenhall Glacier.

And it’s never too late to think even further ahead; Virgin Voyages has also just launched its new 2027 itineraries, expanding to a range of fresh destinations. Feeling hot, hot, hot? A few of them depart from Miami and take in the Caribbean, such as the St Thomas, US Virgin Islands cruise – a brand new port which also stops at Tortola, Antigua and St Kitts and Nevis – and the shorter Cayman Isles and Bimini Beach cruise, where you can swim with stingrays, bask in the sun, and savour authentic Caribbean cuisine.

If you’re feeling more adventurous, there’s the Greenland & Transatlantic cruise, where you’ll sail from  Iceland’s hip capital, Reykjavik to Greenland’s colourful villages, Qaqortoq and Nuuk, before making your way towards New York City. And the best part? If you take advantage of Virgin Voyages’ Black Friday offers, from 21 November – 4th December 2025, you’ll make significant savings plus get up to $500 in free drinks. Which leaves all the more money to spend on Christmas presents….

Anchors away! To set sail in style, book now at virginvoyages.com

Rubio says meeting with Ukrainian delegates ‘productive’

US and Ukrainian officials have completed four hours of talks aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine, just days before a US envoy is due in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.

Secretary of Sstate Marco Rubio told reporters afterwards that the session with the Ukrainian team in Florida was productive but work remains in the search for a peace deal.

“It’s not just about the terms that end fighting,” Mr Rubio said. “It’s about also the terms that set up Ukraine for long-term prosperity. I think we built on that today but there’s more work to be done.”

President Donald Trump‘s special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to meet Mr Putin in Moscow in the next few days.

The talks follow a fresh overnight attack on Kyiv, which killed at least one person and wounded 19, including four children.

On Saturday, an official from Ukraine’s security services said it hit “shadow fleet” tankers in the Black Sea as they headed to a Russian terminal to load up with oil bound for foreign markets.

‘Groundbreaking’ HIV prevention plan aims to end transmissions by 2030

A new government action plan, backed by £170 million, aims to bring England within reach of ending new HIV transmissions by 2030, the Health Secretary has announced.

Unveiled by Wes Streeting on World Aids Day on Monday, the comprehensive strategy seeks to re-engage individuals who have disengaged from HIV care and tackle the persistent stigma surrounding the virus.

A cornerstone of the plan involves the introduction of opt-out HIV testing in Accident & Emergency departments during routine blood tests.

This initiative will be rolled out in areas with the highest rates of HIV, including London and Manchester, with the aim of identifying thousands of undiagnosed infections among people who might not otherwise attend a sexual health clinic, according to the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer affirmed the government’s commitment, stating: “I promised to end HIV transmissions in England by 2030 and we are making this a reality thanks to our action plan, with a groundbreaking new HIV prevention programme, at home tests made available through the NHS app, and delivering opt out testing in emergency departments.”

Health Secretary Wes Streeting highlighted the significant advancements in treatment.

“HIV treatment has been transformed. Today, people living with HIV can enjoy full, healthy lives – and can’t pass the virus on to others. That’s remarkable progress. But we can go further. Ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 is ambitious – and this government is determined to make it happen,” he said.

The DHSC confirmed that the plan will specifically target approximately 5,000 individuals living with HIV who are no longer receiving care, often due to mental health issues, addiction, poverty, or fear of judgement.

To combat stigma, hospital staff in trusts implementing the opt-out scheme will receive anti-stigma training, ensuring patients can access care without fear of discrimination based on their HIV status.

Further enhancing accessibility, a £5 million trial, announced on Sunday, will enable at-risk patients to order home HIV testing kits directly through the NHS App.

This digital service offers a discreet route for those anxious about their sexual health to get tested, receive results securely, and connect with their GP or sexual health clinics from their phone.

Mr Streeting added: “We’ll bring people into life-saving care and find infections early, when treatment works best, so everyone can live the full, healthy life they deserve.

“Our national re-engagement programme, a truly innovative and agile approach, targets the epidemic where it’s growing and leaving no one behind.”

Anne Aslett, chief executive of The Elton John Aids Foundation, welcomed the plan, particularly the increased funding for opt-out testing, a model her organisation pioneered in 2018.

She noted: “The latest results speak volumes, over 90% of people newly diagnosed in emergency departments had never been tested for HIV before. Smart, targeted investment like this saves lives.”

Ms Aslett also praised the £9 million investment in retaining the estimated 12,000 people living with HIV currently out of care, calling it “crucial for keeping people healthy and stopping onward transmission.”

However, she cautioned: “But without bold investment in prevention, including making PrEP widely accessible to everyone who needs it, ending new infections will remain out of reach.”

Mr Streeting concluded: “Thanks to the work of determined campaigners across our country, ending new HIV transmissions by 2030 – a history making, world changing goal – is within reach. This government will now put its shoulder to the wheel to deliver this change.”