Author: Eniola Amadu

UK’s longest living former Labour MP and defense minister, Sir Patrick Duffy has been reported dead following a brief illness at the age of 105. According to a confirmation by a family friend, Kevin Meagher, the former MP died on January 2. In his political career, Duffy ran for parliament in 1950 and got elected MP in 1963 following his win at the Colne Valley by-election, before serving as the representative for Sheffield Attercliffe from 1970 until he retired in 1992. Born in wigan in 1920, the war veteran served as parliamentary under-secretary for the State for Defence for James…

UK prime minister, Keir Starmer has cleared the air on the stance of the government in the attack on Venezuela launched by the US saying it was not “in any way” involved. When questioned on his position on the US action, he stated the need to ascertain the facts and discuss with the US President Donald Trump first He noted that he had not yet spoken to Trump about the US strikes and its move to detain the Venezuelan President, Nicolas Maduro in Caracas. Starmer mentioned close partnership with the UK embassy in Venezuela to ascertain the welfare and protection…

The Met office has asserted that 25 was the UK’s warmest and sunniest year on record. The three hottest years ever recorded in the UK have all occurred within the current decade, according to meteorological data, with all of the 10 warmest years recorded in the past 20 years. Records show that 2025 is now the warmest year since measurements began in 1884, with an average temperature of 10.09°C. The years 2022 and 2023 rank as the second and third warmest, respectively. The Met Office’s head of climate attribution, Dr Mark McCarthy, said: “2025 was the warmest year on record…

The police have confirmed the death of a 51-year-old man who died following his attempt to save a woman who was reported to be struggling in the water at Brighton. Sussex Police said they were informed at about 10.35am on Thursday after a swimmer from Kettering, Northamptonshire, was saved from the water west of Brighton Palace Pier. According to a spokesperson for the police: “A 51-year-old man from Kettering was brought to shore and received medical attention. Sadly, he was pronounced dead at the scene. His next of kin have been informed. The coroner has been informed, and the death…

NHS figures have revealed a decrease in the number of people with flu at the hospital as England’s top doctor said the health service was not complacent as cold conditions set in. The number had been rising previously, reaching 3,140 in the week ending 14 December. During the previous winter, weekly flu admissions in England peaked at 5,408 patients. However, an average of 2,676 flu patients were hospitalised each day in the week ending 28 December, representing a 13% decrease from 3,061 in the previous week. https://www.nhs.uk/ The NHS national medical director, Prof Meghana Pandit, noted: “It is welcome news…

Over 41,000 people crossed the Channel in small boats last year, with the figures described as “shameful” by the Home Office. According to the government, 42,472 migrants arrived in the UK through crossing the channel in 2025, a number regarded as the highest after 2022’s 45,774. The number of crossings remained at a record high for much of the year, before declining in the final two months of 2025. The annual total was 13% higher than in 2024. Prime Minister Keir Starmer campaigned in the 2024 election on a pledge to “smash the gangs” behind irregular migration and, in the…

The UK has now put into use a new passport described as the most secure version produced and bearing King Charles’s coat of arms on the front cover. Pages inside reveal beauty spots from the four home nations of the UK: Scotland’s Ben Nevis; England’s Lake District; the Giant’s Causeway in Northern Ireland and Three Cliffs Bay in Wales. In 2020, the UK passport changed, switching from burgundy to dark blue following Brexit and Boris Johnson’s promise to bring back “beautiful new blue passports”. The updated passport includes enhanced anti-forgery features, such as holographs and translucent pages, designed to make…

Forecasters have revealed that snowfall is expected across large parts of the UK at the start of a cold new year, as people were advised to dress warmly with near-freezing temperatures forecast for New Year’s Eve. In the other parts of the UK, the Met Office revealed that dry weather and clear skies are expected, providing favourable conditions for fireworks, while temperatures are forecast to remain chilly. Weather warnings for snow are in effect on Friday in Northern Ireland and extend from Wales through parts of the north-west, the West Midlands, London and much of south-east England. Travel disruption is…

A power failure has forced the suspension of all passenger and vehicle train services through the Channel Tunnel, disrupting thousands of journeys ahead of New Year celebrations. Passenger operator Eurostar confirmed that almost all scheduled services between London and continental Europe were cancelled for the day. LeShuttle, which transports cars and freight vehicles through the tunnel, said services were expected to resume later in the afternoon, although motorists waiting to leave the UK were facing delays of up to six hours. The tunnel operator, Getlink, said engineers were working to restore power, adding that LeShuttle services were expected to resume…

The Chief executive officer of the Glasgow Disability Alliance, Tressa Burke has revealed she turned down an MBE in the recent new year honours because the UK administration was “fuelling hatred, blame and scapegoating of people with disabilities”. UK Prime Minister, Keir Starker, had recommended Burke, for the honour for her services to people with disabilities. In response through a letter seen by the Guardian, she declined the proposed award, writing: “I feel that I cannot accept a personal honour because disabled people are being so dishonoured at this time. “In fact we are being demonised, dehumanised and scapegoated for…