Latest news with #Rafael
The National
2 days ago
- Politics
- The National
Group of MPs accept cash from Israeli weapons firm
The All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Defence Technology – a cross-party group of MPs – has taken money from RUK Advanced Systems Ltd, a weapons firm which is owned by the Israeli government. As revealed by Declassified UK, RUK Advanced Systems Ltd paid at least £1499 to partner with the APPG, sending the money directly to the group's secretariat. RUK Advanced Systems Ltd makes missiles for urban warfare, and is part of Israel's state-owned defence giant, Rafael. READ MORE: Scots back independence as Keir Starmer's popularity at record low, new poll finds While it describes itself as a "UK company", Declassified reported that it is controlled by the Israeli government's ministry of finance, which is led by far-right politician Bezalel Smotrich, who was sanctioned by the UK Government last month for inciting "extremist violence" against Palestinians. The company's director has also confirmed it is "owned by Rafael in Israel". It is against parliamentary rules for APPGs to "accept the services of a secretariat funded directly or indirectly by a foreign government". Of the 30 MPs involved in the APPG, five are from Scottish Labour. They are: Gordon McKee (Glasgow South) Graeme Downie (Dunfermline and Dollar) Lillian Jones (Kilmarnock and Loudon) Kenneth Stevenson (Airdrie and Shotts) Chris Kane (Stirling and Strathallan) The other MPs on the group are Neil Shastri-Hurt (co-chair), Fred Thomas (co-chair), Sarah Bool (officer), Anna Gelderd (officer), Ben Obese-Jecty, Gagan Mohindra, Luke Akehurst, David Reed, Peter Lamb, John Slinger, Samantha Niblett, Michelle Scrogham, Gurinder Josan, Louise Jones, James Wild, George Freeman, Tan Dhesi, Martin Wrigley, Lauren Edwards, Dr Allison Gardner, Helen Maguire, Lewis Cocking, Bradley THomas, Laura Kyrke-Smith, Iain Duncan Smith. There are also several peers who are part of the group: Lord Mountevans, Baroness Golding, Baroness Goudie, Lord Mott, Baroness Brown, Baroness Buscombe, Lord Lucas, Lord Hunt, Lord Cromwell, Lord Northbrook. READ MORE: US oil giant Chevron to close Aberdeen offices in favour of London base The Defence Technology APPG runs a programme of events in Westminster to promote "engagement" between MPs and the arms industry. It is funded by 31 corporate partners, including American defence firm Lockheed Martin, which is the main producer of F-35 fighter jets used by Israel. Between them, the partners have paid more than £60,000 into the APPG to cover a 12 month period, gaining "visibility" and networking opportunities in return. Tommy Sheppard (Image: PA) Speaking to Declassified, former SNP MP Tommy Sheppard – who sat on Westminster's Standards Committee – said the donation from RUK Advanced Systems Ltd "seems a crystal clear breach of the rules". 'The APPG should immediately cease taking funds from a company controlled by a foreign government and repay any monies it has received in the past two years," he said. "If it does not the group should be suspended and actions considered against office bearers.' Neither the APPG nor any of the MPs involved in the group responded to Declassified's request for comment. However, the outlet reported that RUK Advanced System Ltd's name was immediately removed from the group's website.
India.com
3 days ago
- Politics
- India.com
India gives a major blow to China! Readies Emergency airstrip in THIS State, fighter jets will now land..., IAF now plans to...
This 'F' word is pushing India backword, can't defeat China due to…, why is 6400000000000 scaring India Guwahati: In a major development that promises to boost national security and disaster preparedness, the first emergency landing facility on a national highway in North East is expected to be ready in eastern Assam by October, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said. The chief minister further added that two such strips on national highways in western (lower) and central Assam will also be developed, which can be used for landing advanced defence aircraft like Sukhoi and Rafael as well as civilian flights, he said. Sarma, visiting the upcoming facility at Moran Bypass, being constructed under the Dibrugarh–Moran NH project in coordination with the Indian Air Force (IAF), said, 'This will be the first emergency landing facility in the entire North East region.' It is being developed in a strip of 4 km of the national highway between Moran and Demow, and is expected to be activated by October, he said. 'I had a meeting with district administration, NHIDCL and IAF here today, and the small issues that were there were resolved,' Sarma said. He said from civilian aircraft to advanced fighter jets, like Sukhoi and Rafael, will also be able to land on the strip. 'During the opening of this strip, I have requested the IAF for holding an air show and bring in some of the fighter jets also,' Sarma added. He said two more such emergency landing facilities will be developed by the Centre in the state – one between Tihu and Barama in lower (western) part, and another between Nagaon and Lumding (Sankardev Nagar) in central part. The Chief Minister's Office, in a post on X, added, 'Implemented by NHIDCL, this strategic project will enhance disaster response and national security readiness.' Sarma further said another proposal is being mooted with NHIDCL for preparing helipads at specific gaps on national highway in eastern or upper Assam for use during floods. 'If there are such high floods that helicopters cannot land in any existing facility, in such situation we are thinking of having helipads at specific gaps of the national highway which are above the highest flood level,' he said. 'We are in talks with the Central government. It is being planned for the entire stretch from Numaligarh to Dibrugarh to Tinsukia, which will give a facelift to the entire road,' the chief minister added.
Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
UK wildlife park on mission to save lions who 'beat all odds' in Ukraine
Yorkshire Wildlife Park is urging the British public to help their mercy mission to save lions from Ukraine Three young lions stranded in war-torn Ukraine are being rescued by a British wildlife charity and park. Yorkshire Wildlife Park is appealing to the British public to help bring stricken Oleg, Rafael and Shanti, to safety. The trio who have 'survived against all odds' are currently in a rescue and rehabilitation centre in Kyiv and are thought to be about nine months old. The lions have been through hell since they were born, with siblings Rafael and Shanti discovered in the Kharkiv region next to their dying mother. The tragic lioness who had been abandoned in a private menagerie and starved. The third lion, Oleg, is all alone after being rescued as a cub from private owners, who fled the Sumy Oblast region during the escalation of war. YWP has been told he was raised by humans but desperately in need of connections with other lions. Now The WildLife Foundation, the charity based at the park, is launching an appeal to fund their rescue and the 2000-mile journey to Doncaster. It is the third rescue undertaken by Yorkshire Wildlife Park, which has previously seen 17 rescue lions brought to Lion Country, its seven-acre reserve. Director of Animals, Charlotte MacDonald, revealed: 'We are delighted to be able to support another lion rescue and save these beautiful lions who have not had the best start in life. 'Oleg and Rafael and Shanti will meet for the first time to live in a proper pride-like setting for the first time. Oleg currently lives alone and so we are looking forward to introducing him to the others. 'Rafael and Shanti survived against all odds and are now inseparable, gentle and curious around people. They will live safely together in their new home in Yorkshire.' The park has a history of rescuing lions around the world, starting with a mercy mission to save 13 Romanian lions back in 2010. These lions were flown back to the UK after the British public backed the rescue. Sadly Carla and Crystal, the two remaining Romanian lions, recently died. The success of this first rescue encouraged park bosses to take on a second lion rescue in 2024. The Mirror joined their experts to bring Aysa and her cubs, Emi, Santa and Teddi, now nearly three years old, back to the UK from Poland. They arrived at the Doncaster wildlife park after travelling more than 2,000 miles across six countries. The lions were found abandoned in the Donetsk region of Ukraine after the Russian invasion. They were left cowering in fear amid the bombs, alone with no food and water. The little pride was taken to a rescue centre in Poland but the cubs had to be separated from mum. For months they lived in concrete pens next to their mum but unable to see the sky or go outside because of a shortage of space. They are now thriving in Lion Country and Aysa has since given birth to three more cubs. YWP CEO John Minion said: 'We are looking forward to welcoming the new lions to the park and proud to be rescuing lions for the third time.' The WildLife Foundation has played a key role in raising funds to support the rescues, transportations and rehabilitations of the lions. Trustee Cheryl Williams said: 'We are extremely proud of our previous rescues, and it is rewarding to see all of the lions settle into their home in Yorkshire 'We hope that Oleg, Rafael and Shanti will enjoy the quality of life they deserve here. 'We are really grateful for all donations to The Foundation. However big or small, they make a huge difference to animals around the world and our rescues would not have been possible without the support.'
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
NE's 1st emergency landing facility on highway to be activated in Assam by Oct: CM
Guwahati, The first emergency landing facility on a national highway in North East is expected to be ready in eastern Assam by October, in a boost to national security and disaster preparedness, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Sunday. NE's 1st emergency landing facility on highway to be activated in Assam by Oct: CM Two such strips on national highways in western and central Assam will also be developed, which can be used for landing advanced defence aircraft like Sukhoi and Rafael as well as civilian flights, he said. Sarma, visiting the upcoming facility at Moran Bypass, being constructed under the Dibrugarh–Moran NH project in coordination with the Indian Air Force , said, "This will be the first emergency landing facility in the entire North East region." It is being developed in a strip of 4 km of the national highway between Moran and Demow, and is expected to be activated by October, he said. "I had a meeting with district administration, NHIDCL and IAF here today, and the small issues that were there were resolved," Sarma said. He said from civilian aircraft to advanced fighter jets, like Sukhoi and Rafael, will also be able to land on the strip. "During the opening of this strip, I have requested the IAF for holding an air show and bring in some of the fighter jets also," Sarma added. He said two more such emergency landing facilities will be developed by the Centre in the state – one between Tihu and Barama in lower part, and another between Nagaon and Lumding in central part. The Chief Minister's Office, in a post on X, added, "Implemented by NHIDCL, this strategic project will enhance disaster response and national security readiness." Sarma further said another proposal is being mooted with NHIDCL for preparing helipads at specific gaps on national highway in eastern or upper Assam for use during floods. "If there are such high floods that helicopters cannot land in any existing facility, in such situation we are thinking of having helipads at specific gaps of the national highway which are above the highest flood level," he said. "We are in talks with the Central government. It is being planned for the entire stretch from Numaligarh to Dibrugarh to Tinsukia, which will give a facelift to the entire road," the chief minister added. This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without modifications to text.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
NEWS OF THE WEEK: Samantha Barks welcomes second child
The Les Misérables actress and her husband, Alex Michael Stoll, announced the arrival of their daughter Felicity by sharing a black-and-white photo of Samantha pressing her lips against the newborn's forehead as they rest in a hospital bed. They simply captioned their joint Instagram post, "Hello Felicity," with a love heart emoji. Samantha, 34, met fellow stage actor Alex when they starred alongside each other in the Broadway musical adaptation of Pretty Woman in 2018. They got married in Italy in June 2022 and welcomed their first child, a son named Rafael, in October 2023.
