Business leaders from Sri Lanka’s retail, banking, telecommunications, hospitality and public sectors joined representatives from the United Kingdom’s digital sector at a forum in Colombo to discuss how businesses can harness digital technology to drive growth, improve customer engagement and increase operational efficiency.

The event, titled “Turning Digital Assets into Growth Engines,” was hosted by British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick at Westminster House, his official residence in Colombo, and featured UK digital product consultancy Apadmi. The forum marked Apadmi’s first official event in Sri Lanka since establishing its Colombo office in 2025.

Organised in partnership with the British High Commission, the event formed part of broader efforts to strengthen commercial and technology ties between Sri Lanka and the United Kingdom.

Addressing participants, High Commissioner Andrew Patrick said digital innovation is becoming an increasingly important aspect of the long-standing relationship between the two countries. He noted that Apadmi’s decision to establish a presence in Colombo reflected confidence among UK companies in Sri Lanka’s digital economy and expressed optimism about further growth in bilateral technology partnerships.

The event featured a keynote address by Niresh Muthuratnanandan, Head of Omni Commerce, Digital and Loyalty at Keells Supermarkets, who discussed the launch of the Keells Nexus app and the modernisation of a loyalty programme serving 2.9 million members.

A panel discussion moderated by Apadmi Chief Growth Officer Mark Collin brought together Malik Induruwana, Chief Information Officer at HSBC Sri Lanka and Maldives, Jiffry Zulfer, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PickMe, Uthpala Pinnaduwahewa of Hatton National Bank and Apadmi Chief Strategy Officer Marcus Hadfield.

Discussions focused on the commercial opportunities arising from Sri Lanka’s rapid adoption of mobile technology. Participants noted that mobile data usage in the country reached 1.03 million terabytes during the second quarter of 2026, representing a 31 per cent increase from a year earlier, while the country recorded 29.4 million mobile subscriptions. With smartphones and tablets accounting for 71 per cent of devices, speakers explored ways businesses could turn increasing digital engagement into customer loyalty, new revenue streams and greater efficiency.

Mark Collin said the gathering demonstrated the ambition within Sri Lanka’s business community and reaffirmed Apadmi’s long-term commitment to the country. He noted that the company established its Colombo office because of its confidence in Sri Lanka’s digital potential and skilled workforce.

The forum brought together representatives from leading businesses and institutions to exchange views on strengthening digital innovation, fostering investment and supporting technology-driven economic growth in Sri Lanka. (Newswire)

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Flight delays and cancellations were expected to continue into Wednesday at UK airports after another air traffic control failure kept planes grounded for hours, affecting hundreds of thousands of passengers.

At least 177 flights scheduled for Wednesday to and from UK airports had been cancelled, plane tracking site Flightradar24 said, “nearly all at London Heathrow”. More than 1,000 were cancelled by about 8pm on Tuesday.

The “technical issue” at the air traffic control services provider Nats caused Britain’s third major stoppage in just over three years. Nats said on Tuesday evening: “This has been a very complex recovery and has created difficulties for the whole aviation network, from which it will take time to recover.”

The breakdown started at about 1pm on Tuesday and affected departing flights at many of Britain’s biggest airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted. By the time Nats said it had fixed its flight processing system almost four hours later, most flights scheduled to depart were yet to take off. The disruption spread to include incoming flights to much of southern England.

Cancellations and delays continued through Tuesday evening, and British Airways said disruption would affect operations into Wednesday at least, with passengers offered free rebooking until Friday. Nats provides air traffic control services to 15 UK airports.

Ryanair said more than 65,000 passengers had been delayed and 50 flights cancelled. The knock-on effects hit flights across Europe, according to easyJet. Some inbound flights had to be held at airports abroad, said Eurocontrol, the European airspace co-ordinator.

London airports, as well as Manchester and Birmingham, were among the most directly affected. Flights to and from other airports around the UK, including Edinburgh and Belfast, were also disrupted. Heathrow said late on Tuesday that departures had resumed with disruptions but arrivals had been suspended for the rest of the night.

Nats initially announced at 1.46pm that it was “investigating a technical issue which is causing some disruption to flight departures”. It later identified the problem in its flight processing system, and announced at 4.40pm that it was fixed.

A spokesperson said the fault was not the same as those that caused outages and mass disruption in 2023 and 2025. “We are continuing to work closely with our airline and airport customers on recovery. We apologise sincerely for the disruption to people’s journeys today and they should continue to check with their airline.”

The chief executive of Nats, Martin Rolfe, was scheduled to brief the transport secretary, Heidi Alexander, on Wednesday over the breakdown. Alexander will in turn address MPs in the Commons for the second reading of the civil aviation bill.

Rolfe expressed his “huge sympathies to everyone who has been caught up in today’s disruption”.

“We absolutely take responsibility for this,” he told Sky News. “We never want this sort of thing to happen. I completely understand how frustrating it is for passengers.”

He claimed, however, “these things are relatively rare”.

“We resolved it to get back to our systems operating normally,” he added. “But of course, there’s a huge amount of disruption that’s now built up in the system.

“We’re working very closely now with airlines and airports to try to work through the night to make sure that we can get as many people travelling as possible.”

The air traffic control problems follow an “isolated event” a year ago that caused widespread disruption, and appeared less severe than the full grounding of flights in August 2023, which prompted a parliamentary inquiry.

British Airways said that “the severity of the issue means there will be a significant knock-on impact for customers and colleagues”. 

“We were forced to cancel or divert more than 100 flights on Tuesday afternoon, inconveniencing tens of thousands of customers,” a spokesperson said.

“This incident was entirely out of our control and incredibly frustrating for our customers and colleagues, with aircraft and crews ending up out of place.”

Airlines renewed calls for Nats to be overhauled.

Ryanair repeated its demand for Rolfe to resign. The airline’s chief operating officer, Neal McMahon, said: “Families travelling on holiday, people travelling for work and thousands of visitors to the UK have once again paid the price for Nats’ abhorrent failure.”

He said the government should “stop making excuses for repeated Nats failures and appoint a new leader capable of running the UK ATC system”.

Wizz Air said: “A critical national infrastructure provider should not repeatedly bring the aviation system to a standstill. Nats is simply not fit for purpose in its current form.”

Alexander, said: “I’m aware of a technical issue impacting flights at airports including Heathrow and Gatwick. Technicians have identified the issue and are fixing it as we speak. I know this will be frustrating for passengers and I’m sorry.

“I am seeking assurances that lessons will be learned and systems that support aviation are up to the job.” (The Guardian)

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Three Sri Lankan companies, Gralgo From Ceylon, Planet’s Finest, and Ceylbee International, have been recognised at the prestigious Great Taste Awards, one of the world’s most respected food and drink accreditation schemes.

The British High Commission in Sri Lanka congratulated the winners, noting that all three firms are supported through the UK Government‑funded UK Trade Partnerships Programme. 

The recognition was hailed as a milestone in their growth journey and a testament to their commitment to delivering high‑quality Sri Lankan products to UK consumers.

The Great Taste Awards are judged through a rigorous blind‑tasting process, with products assessed solely on taste rather than branding, packaging, or price. 

Fewer than a third of entries receive a star, making the accolade a significant mark of quality and a strong platform for international visibility.

The British High Commission also extended congratulations to other Sri Lankan companies that secured success in this year’s awards. (Newswire)

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Andy Burnham has officially become the United Kingdom’s new Prime Minister, pledging a tougher approach to the war in Gaza while signalling a shift in the country’s stance on the conflict. 

Before taking office, Burnham acknowledged that the Labour Party had “not got it right” in its response to the conflict and apologised to those who felt the party’s position had fallen short. He described the humanitarian situation in Gaza as unacceptable and pledged to increase pressure on the Israeli government. 

Burnham has indicated that his government will consider stronger measures, including additional sanctions against Israel, as part of efforts to help bring an end to the suffering in Gaza. 

The former Mayor of Greater Manchester was sworn in as Prime Minister on Monday after meeting King Charles III, becoming Britain’s seventh prime minister in a decade following the resignation of Keir Starmer. 

While Burnham has pledged a firmer stance on Gaza, his first priorities in office are expected to focus on domestic issues including the cost-of-living crisis, economic growth and reforms to public services. (Newswire)

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Andy Burnham has formally become the UK prime minister after meeting King Charles at Buckingham Palace, the fourth person to hold the role in less than four years and the sixth within a decade.

Burnham, who took over from Keir Starmer as leader of the Labour party on Friday, accepted the appointment as prime minister shortly after Starmer had gone to the palace to resign to the monarch.

The former Greater Manchester mayor, who only returned to parliament a month ago, will now head to Downing Street, where he will make a statement to the assembled media before announcing his cabinet.

Burnham returned to parliament in a byelection staged by his allies with the explicit purpose of replacing Starmer, after the incumbent prime minister lost the support of many Labour MPs and a number of his ministers after a series of political mishaps and U-turns.

With no one else in the party competing to become leader, Burnham has been made prime minister without any contest and with limited scrutiny.

While the same happened for Rishi Sunak in 2022, he had fought a contest against Liz Truss weeks earlier and had very recent cabinet experience.

While Burnham has been an MP and cabinet minister before, he left parliament in 2017 to take the Greater Manchester role. (The Guardian)

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Britain will introduce a default overnight curfew on  social media  apps for 16- and 17-year-olds, the government said, adding new restrictions for older teenagers to its plan to introduce a sweeping ban on social media for under-16s.

Affected users would be blocked from using apps between midnight and 6 a.m. unless they change the default setting. Features designed to keep users scrolling for longer, including videos that automatically play one after another, would also be switched off by default.

The new measures aim to prevent a cliff edge for those who will gain access to social media when they turn 16, and offer some protection from the negative effects of late-night scrolling.

“These measures will be crucial in helping young people get the sleep they need, focus on school and college, and spend more quality time with family and friends,” technology minister Liz Kendall said in a statement.

The move underlines global concerns among parents and policymakers about safeguarding young children from the harmful effects of social media on their mental and physical health.

Results of a study published on Tuesday showed restrictions led to improvements in sleep, concentration and wellbeing, and that an overnight curfew was the easiest measure for families to maintain and produced the most consistent sleep benefits.

The first set of regulations on social media restrictions will be laid before parliament by the end of this year, with measures expected to come into force in spring 2027, the government said. It promised “robust implementation and enforcement”.

However, a team that advised Australia — the first country to ban social media for children — found that online platforms were stumbling at the very first step of implementing age-verification checks, rendering the ban ineffective.

Google and TikTok have in the last month separately settled a U.S. lawsuit brought by a minor who claimed that social media platforms damaged his mental health. (Reuters)

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A gamble by Nigel Farage, leader of Britain’s populist Reform ​UK, to trigger an election for his own parliamentary seat could mean the only opponent he will face during campaigning is a man with a ‌trash can on his head, better known as Count Binface.

Farage, 62, under investigation in parliament over millions of pounds of gifts from wealthy backers, has said he wants voters in his Clacton electoral district, in southeast England, to judge his actions, not what he characterises as a liberal “establishment” bent on discrediting him.

Many voters in the beach town, which is famous for its Victorian pleasure pier, said that, while ​they were confused about the reason for a new election, they still supported Farage whatever gifts he had received.

“Why are they going on about it?” said ​retiree Rosina Herriott, 78, adding all politicians receive gifts. “It’s because of him. They’re scared of him, that’s what it is.”

VOTERS DEFEND FARAGE

Farage, ⁠whose party has led opinion polls for more than a year, quit as a lawmaker on Tuesday to trigger what is known as a by-election.

He said the parliamentary ​standards committee investigating him was being used as a “political tool” by those who feared the electoral threat he posed. He has denied any wrongdoing.

But in the hours that followed his ​announcement, all the main political parties said they would not take part in the Clacton vote, dubbing it a “stunt” designed to distract attention from the issue of his finances.

Voters in Clacton, which in the early 20th century was a holiday destination for Londoners but is now a retiree hotspot surrounded by static mobile home parks, mostly defended Farage and said he was the only politician they trusted ​with the issue of immigration, a big concern for British voters.

Zoe Banks, a 53-year-old office worker, said she did not have a problem with the gift Farage received ​as long as it was legal, and she did believe he was being attacked by the political establishment.

“He’ll walk it,” she said of the vote. “This time I might actually vote for him… if ‌he’s not ⁠broken any rule.”

But Ray Lynaugh, a 54-year-old bus driver, disagreed.

“I dislike the man immensely,” he told Reuters. “What he stands for, what he’s done to the country. He is self-serving, self-centred.”

“Why people vote for him, I don’t know.”

At the last election, in July 2024, Reform won a 46% share of the vote, comfortably ahead of the second-placed Conservative Party, with 28%.

BINFACE: IS THAT A JOKE?

Beyond the refurbished pier packed with visitors and the rows of wind turbines spinning miles off Clacton’s beach, the town struggles. Almost half of working age ​people there are economically inactive, one of ​the highest rates in Britain.

John Moore, ⁠17, who is unemployed, is counting on Farage to fix things.

“I think he’s the way to go,” he said.

For some in the governing Labour Party, opposition Conservatives and other parties, the possibility of Binface being Farage’s sole challenger sums up what they say is ​the absurdity of the Reform leader’s move to trigger the election.

Binface is a silver cape-clad character created by comedian Jonathan Harvey, ​who has run against ⁠three prime ministers over the last decade to poke fun at them while, he says, celebrating democracy.

For Reform UK, however, the mainstream parties’ decision to shun the election proved that they are afraid of taking on Farage, a skilled and pugnacious communicator who has arguably changed Britain more than some prime ministers despite never having served in government.

Polls show that Reform remains ⁠the most popular ​party in Britain, however a YouGov poll on Wednesday showed Farage was seen unfavourably by Britons by ​65% to 25%, with a majority saying he was unprincipled.

For Alan Jones, 57, who is unemployed, Farage has done nothing for the town of Clacton, and he is dismayed that the Reform leader’s only challenger is ​Binface.

“That’s a joke. Is that a joke?,” he said. (Reuters)

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A cross‑party delegation from the Parliament of Sri Lanka visited the UK Parliament earlier this month as part of a bilateral programme organised with the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) Secretariat UK Branch. 

According to the British High Commission in Sri Lanka, the initiative aimed to strengthen parliamentary cooperation and share best practices between the two legislatures.

The delegation comprised MPs Gayantha Karunathilleka, S.M. Marikkar, Jagath Gunawardana, Thushari Jayasingha, Kanthasamy Prabu, Danushka Ranganath and Ruwan Wijeweera, alongside Secretary‑General Kushani Rohanadeera and Serjeant‑at‑Arms Kushan Sampath Jayarathna.

During the visit, delegates participated in sessions on legislative scrutiny, committee systems, financial oversight and public accountability. 

They also observed parliamentary proceedings, including Prime Minister’s Questions, and engaged with UK parliamentarians, officials and partners such as the Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), the All‑Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sri Lanka and the CPA Secretariat.

The British High Commission in Sri Lanka further said that the programme provided practical insights to strengthen committee scrutiny, post‑legislative review and inclusive, modern parliamentary practices. (Newswire)

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After announcing his resignation as British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer will soon leave 10 Downing Street. But while political leaders continue to come and go, one resident remains firmly in place — Larry the Cat. 

The United Kingdom government’s official “Chief Mouser” has been living at Downing Street since 2011 and is now preparing to welcome his seventh prime minister. Over the past 15 years, Larry has become one of the most recognisable faces in British politics, outlasting six prime ministers and countless political crises. 

The 19-year-old feline was adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in February 2011 by then-prime minister David Cameron and his wife Samantha. At the time, Cameron said he was delighted to welcome Larry to Downing Street and expressed confidence that the cat would become a popular addition to the famous address. 

Unlike the prime ministers he serves alongside, Larry is not personally owned by any political leader. Instead, he is considered an official resident of Number 10 and carries the title of Chief Mouser, a role that involves helping control the rodent population around the prime minister’s residence. 

The tradition of keeping cats in government buildings dates back more than a century, with records of feline residents in royal and government properties stretching back to the reign of King Henry VIII. Larry became the first official Downing Street cat since Humphrey, who served from 1989 until his retirement in 1997.

Now equivalent to more than 90 human years, Larry remains a popular attraction among tourists, journalists and political observers. He is frequently photographed lounging outside the iconic black door of Number 10, chasing pigeons or making surprise appearances during major political events.

With Starmer’s departure, Britain’s political landscape is set for another change. Larry, however, will continue his duties as Downing Street’s longest-serving resident, ready to greet yet another prime minister as the revolving door of British politics spins once more. (Herald)

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The United National Party (UNP) has raised concerns over expenses related to the investigation into former President Ranil Wickremesinghe’s UK visit, claiming that former official Aruna Fernando was paid £650 to provide evidence in the case recently.

Issuing a statement, the UNP said Aruna Fernando, who served as Chief Administrative Officer at the Sri Lanka High Commission in London during the tenure of High Commissioner Saroja Sirisena, had later left the post without proper notification. 

According to the UNP, Aruna Fernando appeared from Blackpool City before a team of Sri Lankan Police officers, when they visited London to collect evidence regarding the case.

The UNP further alleged that expenses for Wickremesinghe’s visit were arranged by Aruna Fernando, with direct support from Sky Wing Company owned by his associate, Saayi Mukundan.

In addition, the UNP said the government has spent a significant sum to send five Police officers to London for evidence gathering. 

Despite inquiries made under the Right to Information Act five months ago, no response has yet been provided regarding these costs, the UNP statement said. (Newswire)

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Police in the UK have arrested a man on suspicion of attempted murder after a 3-year-old boy was found in a critical condition inside a zoo’s crocodile enclosure.

“Officers were called to the zoo at 1.24pm to reports of an incident involving a three-year-old boy, during which he ended up in the crocodile enclosure,” Cambridgeshire police said.

The child has been taken to the hospital with serious injuries and is in critical but stable condition, police said, adding that specially trained officers are supporting the boy and his family.

A 30-year-old man from Norfolk was arrested and police say they do not believe he and the child are known to each other and an investigation is underway.

“At this stage we are speaking to people who were at the zoo at the time of this distressing incident to understand more about the circumstances,” said Detective Inspector Verity McCann.

The Johnsons of Old Hurst Zoo said in a statement that the Tropical House –where the alligators and crocodiles are kept – will remain closed until further notice, out of respect for the family.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the boy and his family following the incident that occurred today,” the zoo said.

Ben Obese-Jecty, a Member of Parliament for Huntington, where the zoo is located, said senior officers are treating the incident as a “critical” one and that a criminal investigation is taking place.

“My thoughts are with the young victim and his family during a hugely traumatic and difficult time,” he posted to X. (CNN)

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UK Trade Envoy Lord Hannett of Everton and British High Commissioner Andrew Patrick met with Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry and Entrepreneurship Development, Sunil Handunneththi, to explore practical measures aimed at strengthening bilateral trade ties.

According to the British High Commission in Colombo, discussions focused on making stronger use of opportunities provided by zero‑tariff access for Sri Lankan exports under the UK’s Developing Countries Trading Scheme (DCTS).

The talks also emphasized the importance of creating a transparent and predictable business environment to boost investor confidence and foster long‑term economic partnerships. (Newswire)

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A secondary school teacher in the UK has been found guilty of the murder and sexual abuse of a 13-month-old baby he treated as a “plaything”.

Jamie Varley, 37, adopted Preston Davey, at nine months old with his partner John McGowan-Fazakerley, 32.

Preston had been taken from his mother, Sarah Davey, now 42, by an emergency care order by Oldham Council.

When she was 14 years old, Davey had been jailed for the “unspeakably wicked” murder of a frail pensioner in 1998 and had been in and out of prison since then.

Varley and McGowan-Fazakerley were approved for adoption and at nine months old Preston began living at their home in Blackpool, England, in April 2023.

But in the just under four months he was in their care, he was routinely ill-treated, had indecent images and videos taken of him, sexually abused and physically assaulted, suffering 40 traumatic injuries, the defendants’ trial at Preston Crown Court has heard.

Following an eight-week trial, a jury spent around 14 hours considering verdicts before it returned to court to deliver verdicts.

Varley was found guilty of murder, two counts of assault by penetration, five counts of cruelty to a child, grievous bodily harm, sexual assault of a child, 13 counts of taking indecent photos or videos of a child, one of distributing an indecent photo of a child, to his co-accused, and one of making an indecent photo.

McGowan-Fazakerley was found guilty of allowing the death of a child, two counts of child cruelty and one count of the sexual assault of a child.

Varley stood in the dock and put his hands to his face as the guilty verdicts were read, before retching and vomiting.

His co-accused made no reaction.

Preston’s mother and grandmother cried throughout as the 29 guilty verdicts were returned.

Both defendants will not be sentenced today and Mr Justice Turner said he will pass sentence on Thursday. (RTE Ireland)

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British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced that under-16s will be banned from major social media platforms, including TikTok, Snapchat and Instagram.

The UK government says the measures are part of a plan to keep young people safe online and help address late-night scrolling on phones.

Mr Starmer explained that: “A full ban is the right choice” and saying it was needed to protect the wellbeing of children.

The new rules follow a UK government consultation on social media restrictions, which took place at the start of the year, where children and adults were asked their opinions at what they think should happen.

It found that most people supported a ban, however campaigners have warned that the planned measures could cause more problems. (BBC)

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Sri Lankan families living legally in the UK are among those who have received letters from the United Kingdom (UK) Home Office saying they must leave the country, as the government clamps down on family visas for care workers.

According to a report by The Guardian, at least five children, some as young as five, and a pregnant woman have been issued removal notices in recent weeks. 

The families had arrived before new restrictions on care worker visas came into force in 2024 and 2025, yet are now being told to separate or return home.

“We have been living legally in the UK since we arrived here on Christmas Day in 2022. My visa has been extended until 2031. But my husband and children, who are my dependants, have been told to leave the country,” said Varuni Arachchige, a Sri Lankan care worker based in Perth, Scotland. Her two children, aged eight and five, are thriving at school.

Another Sri Lankan care worker, Rasika Samarasinghe, who arrived in October 2022, voiced his distress: “We have done everything legally in this country, and we have paid every single tax. I’m not an overstayer; I just want a better future for my children. My focus is on family. I can’t do anything without my family.”

The clampdown follows government estimates that 120,000 family members joined 100,000 care worker applicants by 2023. From March 2024, care workers were barred from bringing dependants, and overseas recruitment was banned in July 2025. 

Lawyers say cases of dependants being refused have risen sharply. Surveys of migrant care workers warn that extending settlement eligibility from five years to 15 could trigger a mass exodus, risking the loss of millions of weekly care hours.

A Home Office spokesperson defended the policy, stating: “It is a privilege, not a right, to settle in the UK and it must be earned, rewarding contribution and those who play by the rules.” 

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/jun/01/home-office-letters-children-care-workers-leave-uk (Newswire)

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Prime Minister Harini Amarasuriya, currently on an official visit to the United Kingdom to attend the 43rd Commonwealth of Learning (COL) Board of Governors Meeting, held a bilateral meeting with Foreign Secretary of the United Kingdom, Yvette Cooper.

The Prime Minister was accompanied by Sri Lanka’s High Commissioner to the UK, Nimal Senadheera, along with officials from the Sri Lankan High Commission.

During the meeting, PM Amarasuriya conveyed Sri Lanka’s appreciation for the UK’s support in the aftermath of Cyclone Ditwah, including ongoing rebuilding and recovery assistance. She also commended the UK’s role in facilitating increased bilateral trade and exports for Sri Lanka.

The Prime Minister briefed the UK side on Sri Lanka’s recent economic developments, policy priorities, and the Government’s commitment to advancing human rights and reconciliation, highlighting the country’s positive growth trajectory.

Both sides exchanged views on global geopolitical developments, challenges in the energy sector, and the importance of enhancing regional connectivity and long‑term energy security. They also emphasized strengthening structured academic mobility frameworks while ensuring fairness, clarity, and integrity within migration systems.

The meeting concluded with both sides reaffirming their commitment to further strengthening bilateral cooperation in areas of mutual interest. (Newswire)

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The Cabinet of Ministers has approved a resolution enabling the University of Jaffna to join an international collaboration under the Global Health Research Group Project on Violence against Women and Children. 

The decision, presented by the Prime Minister in her capacity as Minister of Education, Higher Education and Vocational Education, authorizes the university to enter into a four‑year agreement with the University of Birmingham in the United Kingdom and 11 other foreign institutions.

The project, backed by Rs. 173.92 million in funding from the UK’s National Institute for Health and Care Research, aims to strengthen responses to violence against women and children in Sri Lanka. 

It will integrate sustainable community engagement and Survivor Panels into the local health system, while assessing health‑related issues linked to violence, evaluating its economic and social impacts, and identifying effective prevention strategies.

In addition, the initiative will facilitate knowledge sharing and capacity development among partner institutions, ensuring better‑trained professionals and stronger institutional responses. 

The collaboration is expected to contribute significantly to national efforts to address violence against women and children, while positioning the University of Jaffna as a key partner in global health research. (Newswire)

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The BBC has identified several social media pages linked to operators in Sri Lanka and other countries that were allegedly involved in creating and amplifying AI-generated anti-immigration content targeting UK audiences.

According to the investigation by BBC Panorama and the Top Comment podcast, one of the main pages identified was “Great British People”, which claimed to be based in Yorkshire but was found to be operated by an individual in Sri Lanka.

Another page named “Britain Today”, which shared AI-generated protest and anti-migrant content, was also identified through Meta transparency tools as being based in Sri Lanka, according to the report.

The pages published AI-generated videos portraying a dystopian vision of Britain, including false scenes depicting Sharia law in Parliament, future UK cities in decline, and anti-immigration narratives designed to drive engagement.

The BBC said several interconnected accounts from Sri Lanka, the US, Vietnam, the Maldives and elsewhere were involved in promoting similar content, with some creators admitting they posted material to increase engagement and generate revenue.

The report noted that while some operators appeared motivated by clicks and monetisation, experts warned such content could also contribute to wider influence campaigns and misinformation efforts. (Newswire)

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Two men, including a UK immigration officer, have been found guilty of spying on politicians and pro-democracy activists on behalf of China.

Chung Biu (Bill) Yuen, 65, and Chi Leung (Peter) Wai, 40, were found to have violated the National Security Act by assisting a foreign intelligence.

Wai, who was a UK immigration officer, was also convicted of misusing his Border Force job to gain access to the interior ministry’s computer system.

The court heard both men — who were dual Chinese and UK citizens — posed as legitimate police or intelligence officers to conduct surveillance and gather information about Hong Kong pro-democracy supporters and others deemed “persons of interest”.

Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson told the court Yuen and Wai had been tasked to carry out “shadow policing operations” for the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region and ultimately China.

Wai worked as a UK Border Force officer, a volunteer officer for City of London Police and ran a private security company.

Yuen used to be a superintendent in the Hong Kong Police and was employed in London by the Hong Kong Economic Trade Office, the official overseas representative of Hong Kong’s government.

Prosecutors said Yuen’s work went beyond his job description as office manager of the trade office.

The court heard he helped gather intelligence for Hong Kong on pro-democracy activists and politicians who had moved to the UK in recent years after authorities introduced a wide-ranging national security law in the Asian financial hub.

Yuen assigned tasks to Wai, who then allegedly used police systems to gather information for his private work that was a cover for his spying.

Prosecutors said Wai was paid from a trade office account.

Phone messages showed the two conducted surveillance of former Hong Kong politician Nathan Law and that their interest extended beyond Hong Kong activists, who they referred to as “cockroaches.”

“They wanted to know where they were, where they live, what they are doing, who they are associating with, who they are communicating with and how they are doing that and those are the very things that these defendants were in the business of obtaining,” Prosecutor Duncan Atkinson said.

Yuen told Wai to pay special attention to members of parliament or government employees and in 2023 provided the name of prominent politicians, including Conservative UK politician Iain Duncan Smith, a co-chairman of the Inter-Parliamentary Alliance on China.

The jury could not reach a verdict on a separate count relating to forcing entry into the northern England home of a woman accused of fraud in 2024.

A third man, Matthew Trickett, 37, was also accused of the same offences before his death after the trio were charged.

He was a former British Royal Marine who worked as an immigration officer and private investigator.

His death was not considered suspicious.

The Chinese Embassy in London has accused Britain of fabricating the charges against the two men.

London has repeatedly accused Beijing of espionage activities.

There have been tensions between the UK and China over a national security crackdown in Hong Kong that saw violent pro-democracy protests in 2019. (ABC News)

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More than 30 children’s toys have been recalled in the UK since the start of the year after being found to contain asbestos.

Retailers including Tesco, Argos and M&S have taken the toys off shelves after they were found to contain the substance, recall information on the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) website shows.

Asbestos causes mesothelioma, a cancer which usually starts in the lining of the lungs, and the UK prohibits the sale of products containing it in any quantity.

The affected toys are thought to contain sand from mines in China, where asbestos fibres can occur naturally, and labelling rules are less rigorous. 

Consumers are urged to check if they own the recalled products on the OPSS website. 

If they do, they should keep it out of reach of children.

This follows Hobbycraft recalling a craft kit in January due to traces of asbestos in the coloured sand.

Kate Dearden, the minister for consumer protection, called it ‘staggering’ that ‘toys are being sold with asbestos’. 

She said measures are being taken to ‘clamp down on irresponsible sellers’.

Sue Davies, of consumer group Which?, said the OPSS should also examine if ‘toys containing asbestos are being sold on online marketplaces where there is far more limited regulation’. (Daily Mail)

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