File Photo
British police declared a major incident after finding a man and a woman in a critical condition who may have been exposed to an unknown substance near the southern English town of Salisbury.
British police declared a major incident late on Tuesday (July 3) after it said a man and a woman in a critical condition may have been exposed to an unknown substance near the southern English town of Salisbury.
UK police declare major incident as two people fall ill near Salisbury
"Wiltshire Police and partners have this evening declared a major incident after it is suspected that two people might have been exposed to an unknown substance in Amesbury," police said late on Tuesday.
The pair, both in their 40s, were initially believed to have taken heroin or crack cocaine from a contaminated batch of drugs. They are being treated at Salisbury District Hospital, which remains open as usual, police said.
British Prime Minister Theresa May will not face any ministerial resignations after a meeting of her senior ministers on Friday to resolve differences over leaving the European Union, her environment minister Michael Gove said on Wednesday."I don't think so, no," Gove told the BBC in an interview when asked if any ministers will be resigning.Gove, a prominent campaigner for leaving the European Union during the 2016 referendum, said the prime minister should be allowed to present her case on Friday, and the cabinet will agree a united position. 
No UK ministers will be resigning over Brexit policy
The UK needs to increase its defense spending, a high-ranking U.S. official has warned in a leaked letter sent to British Defense Secretary Gavin Williamson.“A global nation like the UK, with interests and commitments around the world, will require a level of defense spending beyond what we would expect from allies with only regional interests,” Defense Secretary James Mattis said in the letter sent to Williamson on June 12, three days after his visit to London.“Absent a vibrant military arm, world peace and stability would be at further risk,” said Mattis.Some British media organizations argued that the letter might have been leaked by Williamson, who would like to see the country’s defense budget rise.The letter has also been described by local media as an intervention in British domestic policies.Mattis expressed concern in the letter that the UK’s military power could be at risk of erosion. He also compared the UK unfavorably with France, which had committed to significant increases in defense spending.“As global actors, France and the U.S. have concluded that now is the time to significantly increase our investment in defense. Other allies are following suit,” Mattis said.“It is in the best interest of both our nations for the UK to remain the U.S. partner of choice,” he added.“It is not for me to tell you how to prioritize your domestic spending priorities, but I hope the UK will soon be able to share with us a clear and fully funded forward defense blueprint that will allow me to plan our own future engagement with you from a position of strength and confidence,” he said.US includes main ally Britain in letters demanding higher defence spendingUK health worker held over murder of 8 babiesMeanwhile, a spokesman for Britain’s Defense Ministry said “the UK maintains the biggest defense budget in Europe and we have been clear we will continue to exceed NATO’s 2 percent spending target”.“The defense secretary launched the modernizing defense program to strengthen our armed forces in the face of intensifying threats,” he added.Trump in January 2017 sharply criticized NATO in an interview with the German daily Bild, calling the organization “obsolete”.He argued that NATO had failed to address terrorism and today’s challenges."NATO had problems. Number one, it was obsolete, because it was, you know, designed many, many years ago. Number two -- the countries aren’t paying what they’re supposed to pay,” he said.A target of spending 2 percent of GDP on defense by 2024 has been agreed to by all NATO member states -- a goal which they are yet to reach.
US presses UK to increase defense spending
British Prime Minister Theresa May will not face any ministerial resignations after a meeting of her senior ministers on Friday to resolve differences over leaving the European Union, her environment minister Michael Gove said on Wednesday."I don't think so, no," Gove told the BBC in an interview when asked if any ministers will be resigning.Gove, a prominent campaigner for leaving the European Union during the 2016 referendum, said the prime minister should be allowed to present her case on Friday, and the cabinet will agree a united position. No UK ministers will be resigning over Brexit policy
"However, further testing is now ongoing to establish the substance which led to these patients becoming ill and we are keeping an open mind as to the circumstances surrounding this incident," police said.
"At this stage it is not yet clear if a crime has been committed. A police investigation has been established. In addition, a full multi-agency response has been co-ordinated."
Amesbury lies seven miles (11 kms) to the north of Salisbury, where the Skripals were found slumped unconscious on a bench on March 4.
Police said sites in both Amesbury and Salisbury that they believed the man and woman found in Amesbury had frequented would be cordoned off as a precaution.
A Public Health England (PHE) spokesman said there was not a significant risk to the wider public.