Author: Fatimah Idera

The UK Foreign Office has expanded its travel warning on the risks of methanol poisoning in tainted alcoholic drinks, adding 11 more countries to its advisory list. The update follows what officials describe as a global increase in reported methanol poisoning cases. Bangladesh, India, Iran, Jordan, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda have now been included in the guidance. They join Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda, which were added last month after several high-profile incidents, including the deaths of six tourists in Laos in 2024. Travellers are being cautioned that ingesting even…

Net migration to the UK in 2024 was 20% lower than previously reported, according to revised data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The new estimate puts net migration at 345,000, down by 86,000, largely due to higher-than-expected emigration by British nationals. The ONS now believes 100,000 fewer Britons were living in the UK last year than originally recorded. In total, 257,000 British nationals are thought to have left the country in 2024, while 143,000 returned, resulting in net emigration of 114,000—far higher than the earlier estimate of 17,000. Despite the revision, the broader picture changes little. net migration…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has revealed his intent to lead the Labour Party into the next general election, issuing a strong warning against internal party conflicts. In an interview with the media, Sir Keir emphasised that he remains utterly focused on the cost of living crisis, labeling time spent on leadership rows as a minute wasted. He stressed that addressing the rising costs, which he sees as the “single most important issue” for Britons, is his government’s main objective, aiming to make people feel better off. “Let me be really clear – every minute that’s not spent talking about…

The UK Government is intensifying efforts to repair its fractured relationship with major pharmaceutical companies, with officials working day and night to resolve a deepening row over NHS drug pricing, science minister Patrick Vallance has said. Addressing global investors and industry leaders at London Life Sciences Week, Vallance acknowledged the severity of the standoff that has seen several pharmaceutical giants halt or withdraw investment plans in the UK. “We are clear-eyed about the challenges,” he said. “Recent headlines have not always been favourable, and we are acutely aware of the pressures companies face in the current commercial environment. “Many of…

Snow and ice warnings have been issued across large parts of the UK as a surge of Arctic air triggers the first major cold spell of the season, with temperatures forecast to drop well below freezing in the coming days. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for snow and ice across Scotland and northern England for Tuesday, while the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has placed amber and yellow cold-health alerts across northern England and the Midlands until Friday. These alerts highlight increased risks to older people, those with existing health conditions and other vulnerable groups, with health…

Asylum

Rayner

House of Common

The UK Government is preparing to end automatic permanent protection for refugees, replacing it with a temporary status system that will require regular reviews of each individual’s need for sanctuary. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is expected to announce the policy shift on Monday, signalling what government insiders describe as a significant change to the UK’s asylum framework. Under the new approach, people granted asylum will be allowed to remain in the UK only until it is judged safe for them to return to their home countries. Currently, refugees receive five years of leave to remain and can then apply for…

Reform UK has expelled Kent County councillor Isabella Kemp following an internal investigation into the leak of a video showing the party’s local leader swearing during a virtual meeting. Kemp, who was initially suspended, was removed from the party after Reform said it found she had created a WhatsApp group where making a screen recording of the meeting was discussed, and had encouraged a colleague to be dishonest about a no-confidence vote. Kemp rejected the allegations, insisting she had done nothing wrong and had even offered to hand over her phone and laptop for forensic examination, an offer she said…