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Category: UK
August 12, 2025
News
UK

Hitwoman Who Disguised Herself in Islamic Veil Convicted.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: An American woman has been convicted of attempting to kill a man in Birmingham, England, while disguised in an Islamic veil. Her gun jammed during an initial murder attempt, and she later fired into a family home.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Hitwoman Aimee Betro, Mohammed Aslam and Mohammed Nabil Nazir, who ordered the hit, and their intended victim, Sikander Ali.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Murder attempt in September 2019 in Birmingham, England, conviction in August 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “This prosecution is a culmination of years of hard work doggedly pursuing Aimee Betro across countries and borders while she remained relentless in her bid to escape justice,” said Prosecutor Hannah Sidaway.

🎯IMPACT: Betro was convicted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to murder, and awaits sentencing. Nazir and Aslam have already been imprisoned.

IN FULL

Aimee Betro, a 45-year-old woman from the United States, has been convicted in the United Kingdom for her involvement in a murder conspiracy linked to a family feud in Birmingham, which hosts a large Muslim population. She was flown into the country by Mohammed Aslam and his son, Mohammed Nabil Nazir, who orchestrated the plot to murder Sikander Ali in retaliation for an earlier clash.

The attempted hit took place in September 2019. Betro, wearing a niqab to conceal her identity, attempted to assassinate Ali outside his home. However, the firearm malfunctioned, and she was unable to carry out the killing. Later that same day, she returned and opened fire on his family home, shooting three times into the house, but it was empty at the time.

After the failed attack, Betro fled the country. Authorities later extradited her from Armenia to face charges in England. Prosecutor Hannah Sidaway said her trial was “a culmination of years of hard work doggedly pursuing Aimee Betro across countries and borders while she remained relentless in her bid to escape justice.”

During her trial, prosecutors presented damning evidence linking Betro to the shooting, but she denied all charges, claiming her trip to England was solely to attend a birthday party and that she met Nazir on a dating app.

The jury found Betro guilty of conspiracy to murder, possession of a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence, and illegal importation of ammunition. Nazir and Aslam had previously been convicted for their involvement, receiving sentences of 32 years and 10 years, respectively. Betro faces a potential life sentence.

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August 11, 2025
TECH
UK

Court Upholds Online Censorship Law Challenged by Wikipedia.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The High Court in England rejected the Wikimedia Foundation’s legal challenge against Britain’s so-called Online Safety Act.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: The Wikimedia Foundation, the High Court, British government regulator Ofcom, and the Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The ruling was delivered in England in August 2025.

💬KEY QUOTE: “This does not give Ofcom and the Secretary of State a green light to implement a regime that would significantly impede Wikipedia’s operations.” – Justice Jeremy Johnson

🎯IMPACT: The decision raises concerns about free speech restrictions, with U.S. lawmakers warning of international implications.

IN FULL

The High Court in England has delivered a significant win for the UK government’s controversial Online Safety Act by dismissing a legal challenge brought by the Wikimedia Foundation. The decision upholds a law enabling sweeping government censorship online, sparking fresh concerns over the state of free speech in the United Kingdom.

The Wikimedia Foundation, which operates Wikipedia, argued that the legislation’s expansive regulatory powers threaten the site’s open, collaborative model. The risk of being designated a “Category 1” service was particularly concerning, as this official classification would require the site to implement strict identity verification for all users who edit or contribute to content. Wikimedia warned such a move would severely undermine its volunteer-driven approach, discourage British contributors, and reduce public access to its information.

While dismissing the lawsuit, Justice Jeremy Johnson claimed that his ruling does not give regulators unchecked power. He noted that Wikimedia retains the right to challenge any future decision by Ofcom, the British media regulator, if it “concludes that Wikipedia is a Category 1 service” impermissibly.

Across the Atlantic, American lawmakers have criticized the Online Safety Act, expressing alarm that it may inspire other governments to adopt similar measures that threaten online freedoms. Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR) said that the law poses potential security risks, warning, “The cybersecurity of Americans’ communications and digital lives must be defended against foreign threats,” and that Britain’s censorship laws could compel U.S. officials to use “weakened encryption and storage in the UK.”

Image by Bjørn Erik Pedersen.

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August 11, 2025
Lauren Gallagher
Immigration
News
UK

The British Government Lost Over 150,000 Migrants.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: The British government admitted losing track of over 150,000 migrants who entered on five-year social care visas.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Britain’s governing Labour Party, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, Care Minister Stephen Kinnock, missing migrants, and the formerly governing Conservative (Tory) Party.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: United Kingdom, 2025.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “[I]t is not possible to estimate the number or proportion of individuals who entered the UK on a social care work visa and who are still in the UK or working in the social care sector,” claimed Stephen Kinnock.

🎯IMPACT: The fiasco highlights the British government’s inability to monitor visa holders’ long-term residence or employment.

IN FULL

The British government has admitted that it has lost over 150,000 migrants who entered the United Kingdom on social care visas. Officials cannot confirm whether they remain employed in the care sector or even if they are still in the country.

Many of these migrants arrived during the “Boriswave,” when former Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his successor Rishi Sunak loosened already weak immigration controls after the Wuhan virus pandemic and greatly increased the annual influx of legal migrants.

Johnson’s 2022 reforms added social care staff, mostly intended to work in nursing homes, to a hugely expanded “skilled worker” route, leading to 154,402 five-year visas being issued. Current Care Minister Stephen Kinnock, of Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s Labour Party, told Parliament his department “does not hold data that directly links visa status to ongoing employment in adult social care or residence in the United Kingdom over time.”

Kinnock claimed that “it is not possible to estimate the number or proportion of individuals who entered the UK on a social care work visa and who are still in the UK or working in the social care sector.”

The Labour-controlled Home Office, roughly equivalent to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), blamed the previous Conservative government for the fiasco, claiming Labour “inherited a data system which was not designed to monitor the long-term outcomes of health and care visa holders—including whether they remain in Britain or continue working in the social care sector.”

Public anger over mass migration and border control failures has sparked protests in Britain. Critics accuse both major parties of negligence, with voters turning to Nigel Farage’s Reform Party in growing numbers.

Picture by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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August 8, 2025
News
UK

UK’s Labour Govt Tanking Among Voters as Nigel Farage Soars.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: New polling shows Keir Starmer’s lead over Nigel Farage as the preferred prime minister has significantly narrowed, reflecting a decline in public confidence.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Keir Starmer, Nigel Farage, Kemi Badenoch, Jeremy Corbyn, Ed Davey, and other political figures.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The polling data was collected earlier this month, reflecting public sentiment as of August 2025 in the United Kingdom.

🎯IMPACT: The data highlights growing dissatisfaction with Starmer’s leadership and signals potential shifts in voter preferences toward Farage ahead of future elections.

IN FULL

According to the latest polling, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer‘s lead over Reform UK leader Nigel Farage as the preferred prime minister has shrunk. In May, Starmer held a 44 percent to 29 percent advantage over Farage, but this has now fallen to 35 percent to 28 percent in August. The decline reflects a shift in public sentiment, particularly among left-of-center voters.

The polling also reveals that Starmer’s advantage against other political figures, such as Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Liberal leader Ed Davey, has narrowed. When compared to Badenoch, Starmer’s lead has dropped from 36 percent to 30 percent, while support for Badenoch has also declined from 25 percent to 20 percent. Meanwhile, Starmer and Davey are now tied at 20 percent each, down from 27 percent to 25 percent in May.

Nigel Farage has also gained ground against other figures. For instance, Farage now leads Kemi Badenoch 23 percent to 21 percent, reversing her previous 29 percent to 25 percent advantage. Similarly, Ed Davey’s lead over Farage has dropped from 14 points in May to just 31 percent to 27 percent in the latest poll.

Public dissatisfaction with Starmer’s premiership is evident, with only 9 percent of Britons rating him as a great or good prime minister. The majority describe his performance as poor or terrible, and even among his own Labour Party voters, only 18 percent view him as above average. Nigel Farage scores the highest among potential leaders, with 24 percent of Britons believing he would be a good prime minister.

Image by Gage Skidmore.

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August 7, 2025
News
UK

VP Vance Visits With Unlikely Friend at Country Estate.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy is hosting U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance at Chevening House during Vance’s private family holiday in the UK.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: David Lammy, J.D. Vance, and their families.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Friday, at Chevening House in Kent, UK.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Let me just say on J.D. Vance that I’ve met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class backgrounds with addiction issues in our family.” – David Lammy

🎯IMPACT: Strengthened ties between the U.S. and UK, with a focus on shared values and personal connections.

IN FULL

British Foreign Secretary David Lammy is set to welcome U.S. Vice President J.D. Vance to Chevening House, a historic Grade 1 listed mansion in Kent, on Friday. The meeting is part of Vance’s private holiday in the UK with his family. According to the White House, the two leaders will discuss “a variety of topics pertaining to the U.S.-UK relationship.” Vance and his family plan to spend most of their time in the Cotswolds and are also expected to visit Hampton Court Palace during their stay.

Lammy and Vance have developed a working relationship since Lammy took on the position of Foreign Secretary last year. The two reportedly bonded over their shared Christian faith and similar experiences with working-class backgrounds and family addiction issues. Lammy previously attended mass at Vance’s residence in Washington during an official visit in March.

Speaking about Vance last summer, Lammy noted, “Let me just say on J.D. Vance that I’ve met him now on several occasions, we share a similar working-class backgrounds with addiction issues in our family. We’ve written books on that, we’ve talked about that, and we’re both Christians. So I think I can find common ground with J.D. Vance.”

Notably, however, Lammy has had a more rocky relationship with President Donald J. Trump. The National Pulse reported last August that the UK Foreign Secretary has referred to the America First leader as a “neo-Nazi sympathizing sociopath” and “tyrant.” Defending his remarks, Lammy argued, “You’re going to struggle to find any politician who has not had things to say about Donald Trump in his first term, particularly on Twitter.”

The visit comes just weeks after President Trump traveled to Scotland for a private visit to his golf courses and met with UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and EU chief Ursula von der Leyen. Trump also agreed to a trade deal with the EU and is expected to return to the UK for a state visit in September.

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August 7, 2025
News
UK

Pakistani Asylum Seeker Charged for Alleged Rape of 8-Year-Old Girl.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A 43-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker has been charged in London with multiple counts of child sexual abuse, including the alleged rape of an eight-year-old girl.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Kamran Khan, a Pakistani national, and an eight-year-old girl.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Alleged crimes occurred between September 2022 and July 2023 in London; court proceedings took place this week at Inner London Crown Court.

🎯IMPACT: Khan remains in custody and is set to face a seven-day trial in January for the alleged offenses.

IN FULL

A 43-year-old Pakistani migrant appeared before a British court in London this week on charges of allegedly repeatedly raping an eight-year-old girl. Kamran Khan is charged with two counts of rape, two counts of forcing a child under the age of 13 to engage in a sex act, two counts of forcing a child to witness a sexual activity, and four counts of sexually assaulting a child.

The 43-year-old Pakistani asylum seeker reportedly required the assistance of an Urdu language interpreter while pleading not guilty in court. According to prosecutors, between September of last year and July of this year, Khan raped an eight-year-old girl on two separate occasions.

The prosecution also accuses the migrant of molesting the young girl’s genitals with his hands and penis, and forcing her to watch another person have sex. Khan is scheduled to return to court in January, with a trial that is expected to last around seven days. He will be held in custody until his trial date.

The case is just the latest involving a Pakistani national accused of child sex crimes and comes after a decade of mostly Pakistani child grooming gang activity across the UK.

A recent report admitted that police purposely ignored the ethnic data of the grooming gangs, with some never bothering even to record it. In some cases, local police were even accused of joining the grooming gangs in abusing children. Five victims came forward in the town of Rotherham, with one claiming that at least one police officer also raped her.

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August 5, 2025
Christopher Tomlinson
News
UK

Tommy Robinson Arrested Over Alleged Railway Station Assault.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: British anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson was arrested by police after a physical altercation at a train station in London.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Tommy Robinson, British police, unidentified injured man.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: The altercation took place on July 28, while Robinson’s arrest occurred several days later.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “RELEASE THE FOOTAGE.” – Tommy Robinson on social media.

🎯IMPACT: The arrest could lead to potential charges and yet another possible prison sentence for Robsinson, who has been hounded by UK authorities for years.

IN FULL

British anti-grooming gang activist Tommy Robinson was arrested on the night of August 4 on suspicion of assaulting a man at St. Pancras train station in London. The 42-year-old was detained by police at Luton Airport, just outside London, as he returned from Portugal.

Although police generally do not confirm the identities of individuals who haven’t been formally charged, the British Transport Police said in a statement that a 42-year-old Bedfordshire man had been arrested in connection with a July 28 assault at St. Pancras. The police later confirmed the man had been released on bail until September 2.

Footage published by British media showed police officers meeting Robinson as he exited the plane and escorting him into a waiting van.

Authorities had sought Robinson since July 28, when a man was discovered unconscious at the central London train station. A video circulated widely on social media shows Robinson walking nearby, but it does not reveal how the man was injured. In the clip, Robinson is heard telling someone off-camera, “He come at me, bruv.”

On Tuesday morning, a post on Robinson’s X account (formerly Twitter) read, “RELEASE THE FOOTAGE,” and tagged London’s Metropolitan Police Service.

Following the incident, British Transport Police issued a statement saying a man had suffered serious injuries in an assault at the station and was taken to the hospital. They also said the suspect had boarded a flight to Tenerife in the early hours of July 29, and urged witnesses to come forward with any information.

The case comes just months after Robinson was released from prison after serving time behind bars for contempt of court relating to a case involving a young Syrian asylum seeker. Robinson received an 18-month sentence for releasing a documentary that defended his own allegations against the Syrian migrant, which were previously ruled as libelous by a British court.

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August 1, 2025
News
UK

British Govt Revives Covid-Era ‘Spy Unit’ to Monitor Online Immigration Critics.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: A secretive government “spy” unit in Britain has been revived to monitor and flag social media posts critical of migrants being hosted in hotels and “two-tier policing”.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Civil servants under Science, Innovation, and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle, social media firms, and critics, including U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH).

📍WHEN & WHERE: E-mails were sent during the Southport protests against mass migration in August 2022, with revelations concerning them recently.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “Many tweets get you a longer prison sentence than many violent offences.” – Jim Jordan

🎯IMPACT: Critics argue this undermines free speech, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s government insists it is protecting public safety and monitoring harmful content.

IN FULL

A secretive British government unit, previously known as the “Counter Disinformation Unit,” has been revived to monitor social media posts critical of migrants being housed in hotels at taxpayers’ expense and “two-tier policing.” The unit, operating under Peter Kyle’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, flagged posts to social media firms, warning they could “exacerbate tensions.” E-mails sent during the Southport protests against mass migration in August 2022 revealed concerns over posts, including one video captioned “Looks like Islamabad but it’s Manchester,” which officials claimed was shared to “incite fear of the Muslim community.” The e-mails requested explanations on how flagged content was being handled, though they did not explicitly call for removal.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the U.S. House Judiciary Committee, revealed the correspondence after subpoenaing a social media company for documents. Jordan criticized the British government’s approach, stating accurately that, “Many tweets get you a longer prison sentence than many violent offences.”

Government officials have denied censorship claims, asserting the unit’s role is to monitor trends and flag content that violates platforms’ terms of service. A British government spokesman claimed, “Free speech is a cornerstone of our democracy. The Online Safety Act protects it.”

In fact, the Online Safety Act has resulted in a range of content wholly unrelated to child protection being censored, and Britons do not enjoy American-style free speech protections, with thousands being arrested under the Communications Act and other legislation outlawing “grossly offensive” messages, “stirring up hatred,” and other speech-related crimes.

Image by Simon Dawson / No 10 Downing Street.

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July 31, 2025
William Upton
1A
UK

Democrat Jamie Raskin Backs UK Govt’s Censorship Law.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is backing the British government’s Online Safety Act—a censorship law which critics argue stifles free speech and is aimed at harming U.S.-based social media and technology companies—after a blow-up with Reform Party leader Nigel Farage.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Reps. Jamie Raskin, Eric Swalwell, Jasmine Crockett, and Jim Jordan; Nigel Farage, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, and British Technology Secretary Peter Kyle.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Raskin’s embrace of the Online Safety Act came during a congressional delegation trip to the UK this week.

đź’¬KEY QUOTE: “We thought there were some very good things in the Online Safety Act…” — Rep. Jamie Raskin

🎯IMPACT: The Democratic Party’s embrace of UK-style censorship is well outside the American legal mainstream regarding free speech rights and appears to be driven almost entirely by Raskin and others’ desire to undermine President Donald J. Trump.

IN FULL

Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-MD) is backing Britain’s far-left Labour Party government on the Online Safety Act—a censorship law that stifles free speech and harms U.S.-based social media and technology companies. The Maryland Democrat’s embrace of British censorship came this week as American lawmakers traveled to Great Britain on a congressional delegation led by House Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan (R-OH).

“We thought there were some very good things in the Online Safety Act, and there might be some problematic things,” Raskin said during an interview with the press in London. The staunchly anti-Trump Democrat added: “I think the intervention of Democrats who don’t have a dog in that fight was maybe too much for [Nigel Farage] to handle, but we did want to make some general points about the freedom of speech.”

Raskin’s reference to Reform Party leader Nigel Farage stemmed from an argument that broke out between Congressional Democrats and the Brexit leader during a meeting with British lawmakers. Farage was responding to off-topic remarks Raskin made, accusing U.S. President Donald J. Trump of being a threat to free speech. Raskin states that Farage injected during his remarks, stating, “We’re not here to talk about Donald Trump.” The Marland Democrat continued: “[Farage] said that I am a guest here, and I should act like a guest. And I told him that he was a host, and he should act like a host.”

House Democrats claim Farage accused Raskin of being “the most pig-headed person he’d ever met,” while Representative Eric Swalwell (D-CA) alleges, “Farage just looked unhinged and like a giant manbaby.”

For his part, Raskin defended his own outburst by dismissing Farage’s valid concerns regarding his own experience being the target of politically motivated censorship, such as debanking, by stating the incident was an “explosive reaction of one British politician who obviously didn’t want any challenge to his view that he’s a free speech victim.”

Notably, Farage has been the target of political smears because of his pro-British stances. The National Pulse reported earlier this year that Farage successfully resolved his long-standing debanking dispute with NatWest Group, nearly two years after the closure of his accounts at the bank’s Coutts subsidiary. The settlement, which includes an apology from NatWest, brings closure to a saga that led to the resignation of the bank’s former chief executive, Dame Alison Rose, in 2023.

Additionally, Farage was smeared as being “on the side” of pedophiles and extreme pornographers in comments made by British Technology Secretary Peter Kyle over the Reform leader’s pledge to repeal the Online Safety Act. The National Pulse reported Wednesday that the office of the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, approved the remarks by Kyle.

Texas Democratic Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett, often accused of taking her duties as a lawmaker less than seriously, quipped, “There was a little bit of drama, and somehow it did not involve me or Swalwell.”

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July 30, 2025
Religion
UK

Woke Church Names Married Lesbian as New Archbishop.

PULSE POINTS

âť“WHAT HAPPENED: Cherry Vann has been appointed as the new Archbishop of Wales, becoming the first married lesbian woman to hold the position.

👤WHO WAS INVOLVED: Cherry Vann, Andrew John, the Church in Wales, and the Anglican Communion.

đź“ŤWHEN & WHERE: Vann’s appointment follows Andrew John’s retirement last month, after serving three-and-a-half years as Archbishop.

💬KEY QUOTE: “The first thing I shall need to do is to ensure that the issues which have been raised in the last six months are properly addressed and that I work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves.” – Cherry Vann

🎯IMPACT: Vann’s appointment follows a critical safeguarding review, and underlines official Anglicanism’s increasing estrangement from traditional Christianity.

IN FULL

The Anglican Church of Wales has named married lesbian priestess Cherry Vann the 15th Archbishop of Wales, becoming the first woman to hold the position. Originally from Leicester, England, Vann has served as the Bishop of Monmouth for five years and succeeds Andrew John, who retired last month after three and a half years in the role.

John’s departure followed the publication of a safeguarding review at Bangor Cathedral, which highlighted issues such as “a culture in which sexual boundaries seemed blurred” and “promiscuity was acceptable.” The report also noted inappropriate language, rude jokes, and innuendos within the choir, which left some members feeling unsafe or humiliated.

Vann was ordained as a deacon in 1989 and was among the first women to be ordained as a priest in the Church of England in 1994. She later served as Archdeacon of Rochdale in the Diocese of Manchester for 11 years before her appointment as Bishop of Monmouth.

In a statement, Vann acknowledged the challenges ahead, saying: “The first thing I shall need to do is to ensure that the issues which have been raised in the last six months are properly addressed and that I work to bring healing and reconciliation, and to build a really good level of trust across the Church and the communities the Church serves.”

Other Protestant European churches are also appointing homosexual women bishops, such as in Sweden, where lesbian Eva Brunne became the Lutheran Bishop of Stockholm in 2009. Brunne was the first ever openly lesbian bishop of a mainline denomination in the world.

Anglican churches are struggling to attract regular parishioners in the United Kingdom, with far more young people in England attending Roman Catholic Mass. If current projections hold, there will soon be more practicing Roman Catholics than Anglicans in England for the first time since the Protestant Reformation.

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