Mr. Karan Rana appointed as Honorary Trade Commissioner for Strengthening India–PNG Trade Relations

Wes Streeting has sent well-wishes to Eamonn Holmes as the GB News star recovers in hospital. Speaking to The People’s Channel, the Health Secretary began his interview with Camilla Tominey by issuing the heartfelt tribute. “On behalf of myself and the government, I just want to wish Eamonn Holmes well, and I hope he makes a fullsome recovery,” Mr Streeting said.“We’re all thinking about him,” the Health Secretary added. In a statement issued yesterday, GB News announced: “Eamonn was taken ill last week and it was later confirmed he had suffered a stroke. He is currently responding well to treatment.”WATCH THE FULL CLIP ABOVE. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Senior defence sources have disclosed that the Royal Navy will be compelled to request French assistance in intercepting Russian ships operating in British waters, as the fleet struggles to fulfil its operational requirements.Naval planners have revealed that they “need help” from France to address the growing Russian threat, with Vladimir Putin staging increasingly bold demonstrations of military power around the UK.According to sources, the Navy currently has merely a single submarine and two frigates ready for immediate deployment.”We simply don’t have enough warship capability to secure the coastline without the support of the French,” a senior military source stated. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “If politicians say we can do it on our own they are mistaken. We need help,” they told the Mail.Staff officers at Navy Command Headquarters in Portsmouth have been developing contingency plans to counter Russian shadow fleet tankers since Sir Keir Starmer announced last month that Britain would board and seize sanctioned vessels.These planners have determined that French support is necessary for Royal Marines boarding operations and surface vessel oversight.Last week it emerged that the Kremlin deployed three submarines to waters north of Britain in an apparent scheme to damage undersea cables, whilst HMS Dragon, the country’s sole available destroyer, was stationed in the eastern Mediterranean.Mr Putin further challenged the Prime Minister’s warnings by dispatching the Admiral Grigorovich warship to accompany two ghost fleet vessels through the Channel.The French Navy possesses approximately 120 ships, some 45 more than Britain’s fleet, with 25 frigates and destroyers that are more modern than their British counterparts.Reform leader Nigel Farage condemned the prospect of seeking French military assistance as “an act of national humiliation”.Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused the government of prioritising “benefits over bullets” and described the absence of published defence funding plans as a “national scandal”.LATEST DEVELOPMENTSKeir Starmer reported to UN for ‘crimes against humanity’ over treatment of ChagossiansPensioner, 78, arrested after murdered toddler James Bulger’s grave is vandalisedMassive fuel protests now set to hit Britain as farmers plan Irish-style nationwide blockadesIn a speech, she claimed ministers were “woefully unprepared” to defend the country, adding: “We have grown fat on welfare, prioritising benefits over bullets. Britain has overspent the peace dividend that followed the Cold War.”Former Tory defence minister Tobias Ellwood argued Britain required “a whole new approach to maritime defence not a Nineties tribute band”.Defence Secretary John Healey acknowledged last week that he desired additional Treasury funding, stating: “Would I like more resources? Yes, I would. Every Defence Secretary would.”A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: “These claims are incorrect. UK waters remain protected and monitored 24/7, and we have the resources needed to keep the UK safe.”Just this week, we exposed the details of a covert Russian submarine operation, which failed thanks to the work of the UK’s Armed Forces”We continue to enhance plans to protect our cables and pipelines. “We’re providing an extra £100million for vital P8 submarine-hunting aircraft and we’ve launched the Atlantic Bastion programme to combine the latest autonomous technologies with the very best warships and aircraft to create a British-built hybrid naval force.”A French navy source confirmed Paris “currently has one of the most formidable forward naval presences in Europe” and indicated France possessed the capability to assist if requested.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

The US and Iran have not reached any deal after 21 hours of peace talks in Pakistan, Vice President JD Vance has said.In a three-minute-long briefing after negotiations, Mr Vance said there were “shortcomings” and the Iranians “chose not to accept the US terms”.”The bad news is that we have not reached an agreement, and I think that’s bad news for Iran much more than it’s bad news for the United States of America,” he said. “So we go back to the United States having not come to an agreement. We’ve made very clear what our red lines are.” TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “We were quite flexible,” he continued, adding: “We need to see affirmative confirmation that Iran will not seek a nuclear weapon.”Iran’s pursuit of nuclear weapons was Donald Trump’s motive for striking the country – both this year and last.The VP himself said that was Mr Trump’s “core goal”, and revealed he had spoken with the President half a dozen times during the talks.Last night, and before the press conference, Mr Trump said it “makes no difference” to him if a deal was made.”Regardless of what happens, we win,” he added.Mr Vance did not address what the lack of breakthrough would mean for the ceasefire with Iran – or for the situation in the Strait of Hormuz.An Iranian state TV reporter had earlier said the talks would continue on Sunday – which appeared to have been dashed by the American exit.The US motorcade was seen leaving the Serena hotel in the Pakistani capital mere minutes after Mr Vance wrapped up.Tasnim, Iran’s state news agency, reported that the Americans’ “excessive” demands had “hindered” any deal.On Saturday, Mr Trump said he was now working to open up the strait, which he says the US is doing on behalf of countries who are either “afraid or weak or cheap”.PEACE IN IRAN? READ MORE:Iran peace hopes teeter on the edge as ‘dishonourable’ Tehran violates ceasefire in Strait of HormuzKeir Starmer warns of ‘fragile’ ceasefire with Iran as he stresses there is ‘work to be done’Donald Trump threatens ‘bigger and better’ strikes if Iran refuses to sign ‘real agreement'”We were not helped by Nato,” he said.On social media, he said reopening the waterway would be a “favour to countries all over the world, including China, Japan, South Korea, France, Germany, and many others”.The President did not directly address the UK.”Incredibly, they don’t have the courage or will to do this work themselves,” he added.Mr Trump’s negotiating duo – special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner – had accompanied the Vice President in Islamabad.There, they met Iran’s parliamentary Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, marking the highest-level talks between the two adversaries since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.The Iranian delegation arrived on Friday dressed in black in mourning for the dead Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.Iran had insisted it would only deal with a more senior US official – in particular, JD Vance, seen as the strongest opponent of overseas military intervention inside the White House. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Sir Keir Starmer has been reported to the United Nations for alleged crimes against humanity.In another hammer blow to the PM’s Chagos Islands “surrender” deal after it emerged the Bill to give away the islands would be shelved, the UN is now probing whether it violates international human rights law. UN officials are investigating claims that the Prime Minister is committing a “crime against humanity” by seeking to remove the indigenous Chagossian people from their homeland.James Tumbridge, the Attorney General for the Chagossian Government-in-exile, has submitted an urgent appeal to the UN human rights commissioner. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The submission accuses the British Government of acts amounting “to ethnic cleansing and potentially crimes against humanity” in its attempts to expel islanders.Four Chagossians, including First Minister Misley Mandarin, recently returned to their homeland.More than 300 more have expressed interest in joining them.But their efforts at resettlement have been hampered by Border Force officials, who were seen on Saturday intercepting a supply ship trying to help the native islanders.Mr Mandarin accused Sir Keir of blocking humanitarian supplies for six people camped on the island.He also revealed: “We were happy when we heard the giveaway had been halted.””But even that good news turned to a very, very bad experience when our resupply boat was blocked. They refuse us solar panels to make clean water, mosquito nets and sheets to sleep on.”The British Government removed us from the island in the 60s and 70s. Now, when we are back, they are trying to remove us in another way by not supplying us with humanitarian aid.”Mr Tumbridge’s letter argues their removal would constitute a “violation of the right of indigenous peoples not to be forcibly removed from their lands”.The submission follows a recent legal victory that confirmed the islanders have a right to live on their homeland.Sir Keir’s deal originated from a 2019 International Court of Justice resolution requesting Britain give the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.But after Donald Trump’s repeated attacks on the giveaway, the Prime Minister was forced to put his bid to enshrine it in law on hold.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS”Never say never, but it would take something truly extraordinary to change President Trump’s mind,” a Maga figure with close links to the administration told The Times.”The failure of Starmer to back him with Iran is something you just don’t come back from.”It also emerged on Saturday that Mauritius, a key ally of India and China, has pledged to “reclaim” the islands.Dhananjay Ramfal, the country’s Foreign Minister, said: “We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process. This is a matter of justice.”The Maldives and Seychelles have also lodged opportunistic claims to the territory.Back in the UK, politicians of all stripes emerged to claim victory over Labour after Friday’s news.Last night, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel told The Telegraph: “Keir Starmer spent decades in wigs and courtrooms defending everyone except the British national interest, and now the UN is on his doorstep. Poetic justice at its finest.””We fought this outrageous surrender of British sovereign territory every step of the way, which has led to his Chagos vanity project now destined for the bin. Unlike Labour, Conservatives will always put our country first.”But Reform UK, to whom MP Andrew Rosindell defected over the Tories’ “complicity” in giving away the islands, was quick to highlight that the Conservatives opened negotiations with Mauritius while in Government.The party’s policy chief James Orr said: “The uniparty surrendered Chagos because international law always mattered more to it than the interests of the British people.”The Tories lost negotiations they never needed to start. Labour was delighted to capitulate. Reform will always defend British sovereign territory.”Labour remains committed to the proposed agreement despite its setback.The deal would cost Britain approximately £35billion over 99 years to lease back the Diego Garcia base, which it currently enjoys for free.The Foreign Office insists the deal will “secure the future of the base, ensuring that it can continue to operate securely for generations to come”. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter

Mauritius has issued a fiery swipe at Britain after Keir Starmer delayed the announcement of the Chagos Islands bill following a loss of support from Donald Trump.The nation promised to exhaust all available options to regain sovereignty over the Chagos Islands.Speaking at an Indian Ocean Conference held in Port Louis, Foreign Minister Dhananjay Ramful declared the nation would pursue every possible route to achieve this goal.”We will spare no effort to seize any diplomatic or legal avenue to complete the decolonisation process in this part of the Indian Ocean,” Mr Ramful said. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say “This is a matter of justice.”The archipelago’s principal island, Diego Garcia, houses a joint military facility operated by Britain and the United States.Britain has confirmed the agreement will only move forward subject to American backing, according to a statement from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Downing Street office.The Government has been compelled to suspend legislation transferring the islands to Mauritius owing to opposition from Washington.US President Donald Trump previously condemned the proposed arrangement as “an act of great stupidity,” adding it was a “big mistake”.His criticism has proved decisive in halting the parliamentary process.Reports indicate the necessary legislation now faces insufficient time to pass through Parliament ahead of next month’s King’s Speech, with no new bill currently scheduled.A Government spokesman indicated Britain would persist in arguing to Washington that the agreement represents the optimal approach to safeguarding the base’s future operations.LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:Met Police arrest more than 200 protesters supporting Palestine ActionUS military plane damaged after man breaks into airport and attacks aircraft with hatchetShabana Mahmood told to ‘get a grip’ and ban DJ from UK after antisemitism probe in AustraliaMauritius Attorney General Gavin Glover said the development had been anticipated, attributing the impasse to deteriorating relations between Mr Trump and Sir Keir.Speaking to a local newspaper, Glover emphasised the interconnected nature of the dispute with bilateral Anglo-American dynamics.”We are dependent on Anglo-American relations…the USA and Britain will have to reach an agreement,” Glover said.He noted that resolution would ultimately require Washington and London to find common ground.Talks between Mauritian representatives and British government officials are scheduled to take place on 22 April to address the future of the Chagos arrangement.The meeting will represent the next opportunity for the two nations to negotiate a path forward on the stalled agreement.The suspended agreement would have seen Britain surrender sovereignty while paying approximately £35billion to lease back the military installation for 99 years.The archipelago’s position in the middle of the Indian Ocean provides crucial military capabilities and serves as a counterweight to Chinese regional influence.Between the late 1960s and 1970s, Britain forcibly removed up to 2,000 indigenous Chagossians to establish the Diego Garcia air base.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter