Author: Fatimah Idera

Health experts have warned people against buying weight-loss injections from social media sellers or other unregulated sources, as demand for the drugs continues to surge. Medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have become increasingly popular, with studies showing Mounjaro can help users lose an average of around 20% of their body weight over 72 weeks. But limited NHS access, the need for a prescription and high private costs have fuelled a growing black market. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a fresh warning, urging people to only buy weight-loss medicines from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate…

A new plan aimed at transforming end-of-life care in south Wales has been launched by Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, with a focus on giving people with life-limiting illnesses more personalised support closer to home. The health board will work in partnership with charities including Macmillan Cancer Support, Marie Curie and City Hospice to deliver the palliative and supportive care strategy. Around 3,900 people in the Cardiff and Vale area die each year from conditions requiring palliative care, a figure expected to rise to about 5,000 by 2040. Despite most people saying they would prefer to die at home,…

Angola and Namibia have agreed to take back illegal migrants and foreign national offenders after the UK government threatened visa sanctions for countries refusing to co-operate. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood had warned in November that visa bans would be imposed on Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) unless they improved their returns processes. The Home Office said Angola and Namibia had now “met the gold standard” by agreeing to strengthen their systems. However, officials said the DRC had failed to make sufficient progress. As a result, preferential visa treatment for VIPs and senior decision-makers from the country…

The incoming Archbishop of Canterbury has been urged by Conservative MPs and peers to abandon plans for a £100m fund linked to the Church of England’s historical connections to slavery. According to Sunday Times, the group called on Dame Sarah Mullally to halt the spending, arguing that the money can legally only be used to support churches, maintain buildings and pay clergy wages. They claim the proposed fund risks diverting resources away from struggling parishes. The Church of England announced the plan in January 2023 after an independent report examined its historic ties to the transatlantic slave trade. The report…

Sir Keir Starmer has come under criticism after welcoming Egyptian pro-democracy activist Alaa Abdel Fattah to the UK, following the emergence of past social media posts in which the campaigner appeared to endorse violence against Zionists and police. Abdel Fattah, a dual British national, arrived in the UK this week after being released from prison in Egypt. He was jailed in 2021 for “spreading fake news” after sharing a Facebook post alleging torture in the country. The prime minister said he was delighted that the activist had safely arrived and been reunited with his family. However, shadow justice secretary Robert…

The UK government is imposing visa restrictions on people travelling from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) after failing to reach an agreement with its government on the return of illegal migrants and foreign national offenders. Ministers say the DRC has not made the changes required under tougher asylum rules announced in November. As a result, fast-track visa services for applicants from the country will be withdrawn, and senior figures such as politicians and VIPs will no longer receive preferential treatment when travelling to the UK. The Home Office said Angola and Namibia, which had also been threatened with sanctions,…

Recruits joining the proposed military gap year programme will not take part in active operations, with course content still being finalised. Under the plan, Army participants would complete 13 weeks of basic training as part of a two-year placement. The Royal Navy scheme would run for one year, offering general training for sailors, while proposals for the Royal Air Force are at an earlier stage of development, the i newspaper reported. The Army already runs a separate gap-year scheme offering 30 placements for young people before, during or just after university, but it is limited to those considering officer training.…

King Charles III and Prince William are expected to make separate visits to the United States in 2026 as part of efforts to revive a stalled UK–US trade agreement, according to reports. Report revealed that advanced discussions are under way for a visit by the King, which is likely to take place in April. If it goes ahead, it would be the first visit by a reigning British monarch to the US since Queen Elizabeth II travelled there in 2007. Prince William is expected to visit later in the year during the football World Cup, which will be hosted by…

Foreign doctors and nurses are increasingly shunning the NHS due to a hostile environment created by anti-migrant rhetoric and rising racism. According to the leader of Britain’s medical profession. Dr. Jeanette Dickson, chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges, warned that the health service is being put at significant risk because overseas professionals now view the UK as an unwelcoming country. This shift comes at a time when the NHS is more dependent on international talent than ever before, with General Medical Council figures showing that 42% of all UK doctors qualified abroad. Despite this reliance, record numbers of…

Cold temperatures are expected to continue after Boxing Day, with a yellow cold health alert still in place for parts of the UK. The UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said the alert will remain active until noon on 27 December for southwest England. The agency warned that the cold could have minor impacts on health and social care services, particularly for vulnerable people who may need more medical support and face higher health risks. The warning comes as police continue to urge people not to swim in the sea. Two men, aged in their 40s and 60s, are still missing…