The human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) came under renewed scrutiny in the House of Lords on Thursday after Lord Qurban Hussain urged the British Government to clarify its position in light of a Genocide Watch report published earlier this year. During the debate, Lord Qurban Hussain said the report warned that the situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir had reached a critical stage and alleged that eight of the ten recognised stages associated with genocide had already been reached. He asked how seriously the British Government viewed the report and what action it was taking to help prevent further deterioration. The British peer, who said members of his family live on both sides of the Line of Control, urged the Government to explain its assessment of the report and its approach towards the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir. Responding for the Government, Lord Collins of Highbury, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), reiterated the UK’s longstanding position on human rights. He said the UK continues to express concern over violence and loss of life and supports full, transparent and impartial investigations into allegations of abuse by Indian police and security forces. He added that the British Government continues to raise human rights issues with India through diplomatic channels. Lord Qurban Hussain’s intervention highlights continuing concern among a number of British parliamentarians over the human rights situation in Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir, with renewed calls for accountability, respect for fundamental rights and a peaceful resolution of the longstanding dispute.

At least 17 passengers and crew members were injured after an Air India flight encountered severe turbulence while travelling from Phuket, Thailand, to New Delhi, prompting frightened passengers to fear the aircraft might crash. According to Indian media, the flight was carrying 137 passengers and eight crew members when it was hit by sudden and intense turbulence mid-air. The violent shaking reportedly caused the aircraft to drop abruptly, leaving several passengers and crew members injured. The aircraft also sustained minor damage during the incident. The flight landed safely at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, where emergency medical teams were waiting. Injured passengers were taken from the aircraft on stretchers and transported to nearby hospitals for treatment. An Italian passenger described the ordeal as one of the most terrifying experiences of her life. She said the turbulence was so powerful that her sister was thrown out of her seat, while her mother suffered a head injury. She added that several passengers were hurt, including one man whose face was covered in blood. “We thought we were going to die,” the passenger said, recalling the frightening moments during the flight. Air India, however, said none of the passengers or crew members suffered life-threatening injuries. The airline stated that those injured were taken to hospital as a precaution for medical evaluation. According to the airline, five people were discharged shortly after receiving treatment, while the remaining injured passengers continue to receive medical care. The incident has once again drawn attention to the dangers posed by severe in-flight turbulence, although aviation experts note that such events are relatively rare and commercial aircraft are designed to withstand extreme weather conditions.

Following a retrial at the Old Bailey, 19-year-old Norwegian national Johannes Kongsnes Natland has been found guilty of conspiracy to commit murder. Natland had travelled from Stavanger to Huddersfield in March last year after accepting a €25,000 (£21,500) contract to assassinate an unidentified target in the UK. Counter-terrorism officers arrested Natland in a hotel room two days after his arrival, recovering a semi-automatic pistol, a revolver, and ammunition concealed under his bed. The plot was orchestrated by the Foxtrot Network, a Swedish organised crime group linked to the Iranian government, and directed by an unidentified controller using the moniker “Agent 47”. While Natland claimed during the trial that he viewed the plot as a “joke” and intended to shoot himself in the foot to avoid executing the hit, prosecutors presented evidence of text messages and bragging that demonstrated his full awareness of the plan. Natland, who previously pleaded guilty to firearms possession, was remanded in custody by Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb and is scheduled for sentencing in October.

Former Hong Kong opposition leader Wu Chi-wai has been granted permission to stay in the United Kingdom for six months after initially facing the possibility of deportation upon arriving at Heathrow Airport. The decision ends several days of uncertainty and allows the veteran pro-democracy activist to reunite with his family after years of separation. Wu arrived in London last Wednesday but was detained by UK Border Force officers for nearly 10 hours. Speaking to BBC Chinese, he said officials initially refused him entry and later informed him that he would only be allowed to remain in the country for one week before reporting back to the airport for deportation. However, the situation changed on Monday when UK authorities approved his entry under standard visitor rules, allowing him to stay in the country for up to six months. The 63-year-old is one of Hong Kong’s best known pro-democracy figures and formerly led the now dissolved Democratic Party. He was also among the group widely known as the Hong Kong 47, prominent activists and politicians prosecuted under Hong Kong’s national security law. Wu was released from prison in June after serving more than five years on convictions related to subversion and other charges. Wu said the trip was mainly intended to reunite with his wife and son, who moved to the United Kingdom in 2022 and 2023. During his imprisonment, he said their contact was limited to monthly phone calls and letters, making the visit especially meaningful after years apart. Before leaving Hong Kong, Wu said he sought advice from staff at the British Consulate General regarding his travel plans. According to him, officials assured him there should be no problems entering the UK and said they would inform the UK Border Force about his criminal record and travel itinerary in advance. Wu said border officials questioned whether he was a genuine visitor travelling only to see his family. He also rejected media reports claiming that he intended to seek political asylum in Britain, insisting that he had no such plans. The rights group Hong Kong Watch welcomed the UK’s decision to allow Wu to remain in the country. Policy Director Megan Khoo said the outcome was the correct one and argued that Wu should never have faced the threat of being sent back to the city where he had been imprisoned. Wu entered Britain using a British National Overseas passport, a travel document available to many Hong Kong permanent residents born before the territory’s transfer from British to Chinese rule in 1997. Holders of the passport are generally allowed to visit the UK without a visa for up to six months. The UK introduced a special visa route for British National Overseas passport holders in 2021 following the crackdown on Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement. The programme allows eligible applicants to live, work and study in Britain and eventually apply for citizenship after meeting residency requirements. Since the scheme began, more than 230,000 Hong Kong residents have received BNO visas, while nearly 170,000 have relocated to the United Kingdom, according to government figures. The UK Home Office declined to comment on Wu’s individual case but reaffirmed its support for the Hong Kong community living in Britain. Meanwhile, the Hong Kong government said it had not received any request for assistance from Wu or other Hong Kong residents regarding the matter.

Flights have begun operating again at Bristol Airport after a runway defect caused widespread disruption and left hundreds of passengers stranded overnight. The airport runway was closed shortly after 6pm BST on Friday, forcing all flights to be suspended until 8am Saturday. Although operations have now restarted, passengers continue to face delays, disrupted schedules and flight diversions. Airport authorities warned that some disruption would continue throughout Saturday and apologised to passengers affected by the situation. Travellers were advised to contact their respective airlines for information about individual flights. The airport has not yet provided further details about the nature of the runway defect or explained when normal operations are expected to fully resume. Passengers described the disruption as chaotic, with several criticising the airport for a lack of clear communication and assistance. Paul Smith, who was due to travel to Glasgow for his son’s 20th birthday, said he was forced to cancel his trip. He criticised the information and support provided to passengers during the disruption. Another traveller, Dave Blackwell, said his flight from Rhodes was diverted to Newcastle. He claimed passengers spent several hours at Rhodes Airport without receiving adequate information before being told they would have to travel onward by bus. Eighteen-year-old Finn Holland was also among those affected after his flight to Bristol was redirected to Bournemouth. He said passengers had to arrange their own transport back to Bristol, describing the process as poorly organised. The disruption has affected both departing and arriving passengers, with some travellers facing lengthy delays and complicated onward journeys.