Author: Fatimah Idera

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has called on the Bank of England to cut interest rates at least two more times this year, warning that Britain’s economy remains fragile following Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s sweeping tax hikes. In its latest World Economic Outlook, the IMF said interest rates should be lowered from their current level of 4.25% to support growth. The UK central bank has already reduced rates twice this year but is now expected to pause before potentially resuming cuts later in 2025. The Fund warned that fiscal tightening at home, combined with global uncertainty including concerns over Donald Trump’s…

President Donald Trump has criticised Sir Keir Starmer’s energy policies, accusing the Labour Government of squandering the North Sea’s vast oil and gas resources and pushing up household energy bills. In a post on Truth Social on Tuesday morning, the former US President said Britain was wasting a treasure chest of natural resources. He blamed the Government’s tax hikes and regulatory restrictions for deterring investment and driving energy prices higher. Trump’s comments come just a day after a joint appearance with Starmer at his Turnberry golf resort in Scotland, where the two held an hour-long press conference. During the meeting,…

Sir Keir Starmer is under growing pressure to abandon plans to align the UK’s carbon trading system with the European Union’s, as MPs warn the move could damage British industry and raise energy costs.

Households in the United Kingdom are facing steeper weekly shopping bills as food prices rise faster than overall inflation, driven by higher costs for essentials like beef and teabags. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), food price inflation jumped to 4% in July, the highest level since February 2023. This outpaces the UK’s overall inflation rate, which rose to 3.6% in the year to June, up from 3.4% in May, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The ONS said that the inflation increase was largely fuelled by rising costs in food and fuel. Despite this, inflation remains…

Amid mounting the global outcry over widespread malnutrition and starvation-related deaths in Gaza, Israel has announced new humanitarian measures, including daily tactical pauses and expanded aid corridors The move comes as international agencies and governments demand urgent action to address what aid groups describe as a deepening humanitarian catastrophe. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) confirmed it will implement daily “tactical pauses” in military operations from 10:00 to 20:00 local time to allow aid to enter Gaza. These corridors, the IDF claims, aim to refute the false claim of intentional starvation. Speaking from an Israeli air base, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu…

Britain is prepared to take military action in the Pacific if conflict breaks out over Taiwan, Defence Secretary John Healey has stated, marking one of the strongest signals yet of potential UK involvement in a future Indo-Pacific conflict. Speaking aboard the HMS Prince of Wales in Darwin, Australia, alongside Australian Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Mr Healey, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to regional allies. The aircraft carrier is participating in joint military exercises with partners, including the US, as part of a wider show of strength and unity in the region. Explaining the UK’s response to potential Chinese aggression…

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said doctors should be banned from striking just as military and paramilitary officers. In a statement on GB News with Camilla Tominey, Badenoch announced that a future Conservative government would change the law to prevent doctors, but not nurses, from taking strike action. She called on Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer to adopt a similar position and accused the British Medical Association (BMA) of acting out of control, referencing 11 doctors’ strikes over the past 18 months. According to Badenoch, some of these strikes had led to patient deaths. “The BMA has become militant. These…

The United Kingdom (UK) Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is expected to urge U.S. President Donald Trump to back efforts to end the war in Gaza during a private meeting in Scotland on Monday, raising the possibility of diplomatic tension over the Middle East crisis. Starmer’s push for an urgent ceasefire contrasts with Trump’s more hawkish stance. The U.S. president has stated that Hamas does not want peace, suggesting a potential flashpoint between the two leaders. The meeting will take place during Mr Trump’s brief visit to Scotland, where he is visiting both of his golf courses. He will also…

Hundreds of Nigerian nationals have entered the UK by applying through a specialist visa scheme designed to attract exceptional literary talent. The Global Talent visa,a route aimed at individuals with proven excellence in fields such as music, theatre, dance, and literature, has seen more applications from Nigerians in the literary category than from any other nationality. The scheme includes writers, poets, spoken word artists, oral storytellers, and graphic novelists. Applicants must receive an endorsement from Arts Council England (ACE), a government-funded body empowered to assess and approve applications based on artistic merit. Once endorsed, successful applicants can bring dependents to…

British holidaymakers may face higher prices for cruises and ferry journeys to Europe as part of Sir Keir Starmer’s new agreement with the EU, which will see the UK adopt Brussels’ environmental rules for the maritime industry. Ticket prices are expected to rise as passenger services adjust to the costs of joining the EU’s emissions trading system (ETS), a move that will affect shipping operators, including cruise lines and ferry companies. Industry insiders have warned that price hikes could mirror those seen in Europe, where fares on some routes have jumped by over 10%. For UK travellers, this could mean…