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Who is Keir Starmer? Britain’s Next Prime Minister
London, UK – Keir Starmer, a 61-year-old lawyer knighted by the late Queen Elizabeth II for his services to law and criminal justice, is set to become Britain’s next prime minister following the Labour Party’s sweeping victory in the general election.
Starmer was first elected as a Member of Parliament for London in 2015 and has since been instrumental in revitalizing Labour after its poor performance in the 2019 general election. Under his leadership, Labour has rebuilt its connection with the sizeable Indian diaspora, which had felt alienated under former leader Jeremy Corbyn over a perceived anti-India stance on Kashmir.
In a speech last year, Starmer emphasized the importance of a strong relationship with India, highlighting the grounds of global security, climate security, and economic security. “What my Labour government will seek with India is a relationship based on our shared values of democracy and aspiration. That will seek a free trade agreement (FTA), we share that ambition, but also a new strategic partnership for global security, climate security, economic security,” he stated.
Starmer’s 2024 election manifesto also commits to seeking a “new strategic partnership with India, including a free trade agreement, as well as deepening cooperation in areas like security, education, technology, and climate change.” Earlier this year, he visited the Shree Swaminarayan Temple in Kingsbury, north London, assuring the Hindu community that there is no place for Hinduphobia in Britain.
Starmer’s personal background is one of modest beginnings. He grew up in Oxted, Surrey, where his father worked as a toolmaker and his mother as a nurse. His mother, Josephine, who suffered from Still’s disease, passed away in 2015, just weeks after he became an MP. Starmer, the first member of his family to attend college, studied law at the University of Oxford and later became the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) under a Labour-led government.
A devoted soccer fan, Starmer was named after Keir Hardie, the Labour Party’s first leader. During his campaign, he often spoke about the financial hardships he faced growing up. “We used to choose the phone bill because when it got cut off, it was always the easiest to do without,” he recalled.
Starmer’s family includes his wife, Victoria, an employee of the National Health Service (NHS), and their two children. His dedication to public service and his vision for the future have now propelled him to the highest office in the UK, marking a significant shift in the country’s political landscape.
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Investigation Underway After Goa Nightclub Fire Kills at Least 25
Authorities in the Indian state of Goa have opened an investigation into a nightclub fire that killed at least 25 people, including several tourists, in one of the region’s most popular party districts. Six others were injured in the blaze, which broke out shortly after midnight in Arpora, a nightlife hub about 25 kilometres from the state capital, Panaji.
Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant confirmed the death toll in a statement posted on X, saying the victims included many of the club’s kitchen staff and a small number of visiting tourists. He added that all the injured were in stable condition and receiving medical treatment. Rescue teams recovered all bodies from the site.
Early reports from local police, cited by the Press Trust of India, indicated that a gas cylinder explosion triggered the fire. Witnesses, however, told the agency that the blaze appeared to start on the club’s first floor, where nearly 100 tourists were dancing at the time. As smoke and flames swept through the building, many people ran toward the lower floor, where they became trapped along with staff members.
Sawant said a formal inquiry would determine the exact cause and whether the club complied with fire safety regulations. He pledged strict action against anyone found responsible, writing on X that any negligence uncovered by investigators would be “dealt with firmly”.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as patrons attempted to flee the burning building. “We rushed out of the club only to see that the entire structure was up in flames,” said Fatima Shaikh, who was inside when the fire began.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered condolences in a message on X, calling the incident “deeply saddening” and wishing the injured a swift recovery.
Local media reported that the club’s location along the Arpora River backwaters posed challenges for emergency crews. A narrow approach road forced fire engines to park about 400 metres from the entrance, slowing their response. Reports also revealed that the building had previously received a demolition notice after officials found it lacked a construction permit. That order was later withdrawn by senior state authorities, according to Arpora councillor Roshan Redkar.
Incidents involving gas cylinders and electrical faults are not unusual in India and often lead to heavy casualties, prompting renewed calls for stronger enforcement of safety standards. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the tragedy as a “criminal failure of safety and governance” and urged a transparent investigation to establish accountability and prevent future disasters.
The probe into the fire is expected to assess structural safety, emergency exits and compliance with existing regulations as authorities work to piece together how the late-night gathering turned into one of the deadliest incidents in the state in recent years.
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