
-
Alcaraz beats Cilic then takes on NBA's Butler
-
Canada down Finland to set up USA ice hockey grudge clash
-
Europe leaders battle for unity in 'new phase' under Trump
-
Israeli military set to miss Lebanon withdrawal deadline
-
Shakira resumes world tour after Lima hospital stay
-
Mexico says to sue Google if it insists on using 'Gulf of America'
-
Top Russia, US officials to meet in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday
-
Europe leaders battle for unity after Trump shock
-
Djokovic calls for overhaul of 'unfair' anti-doping system
-
Rio swelters in heatwave in run-up to Carnival
-
Israel says committed to Trump plan for Gaza displacement
-
Argentine prosecutors to probe Milei over 'cryptogate'
-
Turkey seals hotel spa illegally set up inside ancient cistern
-
France hosts emergency meeting on Europe response to Trump
-
Revamped Finnish museum says 'Good Bye, Lenin!'
-
Bayern hopeful Kane fit for Celtic clash
-
European leaders meet on response to US Ukraine shift
-
Muhsin Hendricks: S.Africa's gay imam who broke the mould
-
WHO chief urges pandemic accord action after US withdrawal
-
Italy probing Amazon over 1.2b euros in third-party seller VAT
-
Russell, Graham in Scotland squad to face England in Six Nations
-
Israeli military set to miss Lebanon withdrawal deadline despite pushback
-
France cuts prison activities to smooth facial massage outcry
-
Kenya's HIV patients victims of US aid freeze
-
Starmer to meet Trump 'next week': UK govt
-
US tensions add fire to final stretch of German election campaign
-
Italy's Milan upstages Pogacar in UAE Tour first stage
-
Pope's condition 'complex', hospital stay extended: Vatican
-
Liverpool can cope with title nerves: Van Dijk
-
Greece to open museum of ancient undersea treasures
-
European markets rise ahead of Ukraine war talks
-
'Now or never' for pandemic accord, says WHO chief after US pulls out
-
New Zealand's Williamson makes joint move to Middlesex and London Spirit
-
Hollywood should resist Trump pressure, says director Todd Haynes
-
Ukraine war death toll: huge but not fully known
-
Ex-Tour de France winner Thomas to retire at end of season
-
African players in Europe: Marmoush wreaks havoc in 14 minutes
-
Sri Lanka budget banks on car taxes to boost coffers
-
Singapore opposition leader fined for lying to parliament
-
Stock markets start week on mixed note
-
Musk's DOGE seeks access to US tax system: reports
-
Champions Trophy set for liftoff after India-Pakistan row, boycott calls
-
US tensions plague final phase of German election campaign
-
Rodgers urges Celtic to be bold against Bayern
-
Chatbot vs national security? Why DeepSeek is raising concerns
-
Court finds Singapore opposition leader guilty of lying to parliament
-
DeepSeek removed from South Korea app stores pending privacy review
-
Rights groups slam Australian plan to transfer criminals to Nauru
-
End of the road for Kolkata's beloved yellow taxis
-
S. Korea says DeepSeek removed from local app stores pending privacy review

UK government bans 'zombie drug' xylazine
The UK government on Wednesday banned the flesh-rotting so-called zombie drug xylazine as it tries to tackle deaths from narcotics and crack down on criminal gangs.
The high-strength animal sedative, also known as "tranq", often leaves long-term users in an unresponsive state and with non-healing skin lesions.
It has increasingly been used in combination with opioids such as heroin, with traces found in cannabis vapes as well, according to the UK Home Office.
The UK government in September announced plans to ban xylazine and 21 other dangerous substances, the legislation for which came into force on Wednesday.
The other drugs banned include new variations of nitazenes -- highly addictive synthetic opioids that can be hundreds of times stronger than heroin and easily lead to overdoses.
There have been at least 400 drug-related deaths linked to nitazenes in the UK since June 2023, according to the government,
"We are dedicated to driving down drug misuse and harms through prevention and treatment while acting quickly to stop the criminals peddling these harmful substances," said policing minister Diana Johnson.
The UK's Misuse of Drugs Act sets out three separate categories for "controlled drugs", with Class A drugs deemed the most dangerous and the most harshly punished.
Xylazine is categorised as Class C, meaning unlawful possession can carry a sentence of up to two years in prison. Anyone convicted of supplying it face up to 14 years in jail.
Researchers at King's College, London have said tranq is "widespread" in the UK's illicit drug market.
The United States is also grappling with a surge in use of the dangerous drug.
Xylazine-involved overdose deaths there rose 30-fold between 2018 and 2021.
F.Müller--BTB