Author: Fatimah Idera

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has apologised to the victims of Jeffrey Epstein, admitting he was wrong to appoint Lord Peter Mandelson as UK ambassador to the United States and saying he “regrets believing his lies” during the vetting process. Speaking at an event in East Sussex, where he was originally due to outline his government’s Pride in Place strategy, Starmer instead opened his remarks by addressing the growing controversy surrounding Mandelson’s links to the disgraced financier. He said no one was aware of the depth and darkness of Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein at the time of his appointment in 2024.…

Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, has defended the government’s proposed immigration reforms, insisting they are fair and necessary despite strong opposition from Labour MPs concerned about their impact on migrants and key sectors of the economy. Appearing before the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee, Mahmood argued that recent levels of migration to the UK have been unprecedented and require a firm response. She said settlement in the UK is “a privilege, not a right” and questioned whether allowing permanent residence after just five years was reasonable. Under the proposals, most migrant workers would have to wait 10 years up from…

An independent MP has been arrested for a second time in connection with multiple alleged sexual offences. Former Labour MP Dan Norris, 66, is now under investigation over allegations including the rape of two women, sexual assault of a third woman, voyeurism and upskirting. Police said the latest arrest follows an earlier one in April 2025, when Norris was detained over allegations of rape, child sexual offences and child abduction. Officers have since confirmed they are no longer investigating the alleged child-related offences. The remaining allegations are said to have occurred between the 2000s and 2020s. Norris, who previously served…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has invited Japan’s Prime Minister, Sanae Takaichi, to visit the UK following talks in Tokyo, describing UK–Japan relations as the strongest they have been in decades. The meeting came at the end of Sir Keir’s East Asia tour, which included a four-day visit to China aimed at resetting relations with Beijing. During their discussions at the Prime Minister’s Office in Tokyo, both leaders reaffirmed shared democratic values and agreed to deepen cooperation on trade, security and defence. Sir Keir said the two countries had a clear interest in free and predictable trade, with plans to…

An asylum seeker has been sentenced to life imprisonment with a minimum term of 29 years for the murder of a woman who worked at the hotel where he was staying. Deng Majek was convicted of killing 27-year-old Rhiannon Whyte after following her to Bescot Stadium railway station in Walsall in October 2024. Ms Whyte had just finished her shift at the Park Inn Hotel and was on her way home when she was attacked on the station platform. She later died in hospital from her injuries. Majek, a Sudanese national, had arrived in the UK by small boat about…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that China has lifted sanctions, including travel bans, imposed on six serving British MPs and peers following talks with President Xi Jinping. Speaking to the media in Shanghai, Starmer said all restrictions on the parliamentarians “no longer apply,” describing the move as a positive outcome of diplomatic engagement. The sanctions, imposed by China in 2021, targeted four Conservative MPs and two members of the House of Lords who were vocal critics of Beijing’s human rights record, particularly over alleged abuses in Xinjiang. Those affected were previously barred from entering mainland China, Hong Kong…

The Federal Government has called on state governments to mobilise domestic funding to strengthen the control and eventual elimination of Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) in Nigeria. Deputy Minister of Health, Iziaq Salako, made the appeal at a media briefing in Abuja ahead of the 2026 NTDs Day celebration. He stressed that tackling NTDs is critical to Nigeria’s goal of achieving Universal Health Coverage by 2030, meeting health-related Sustainable Development Goals, and reducing poverty. Salako urged states to create dedicated budget lines for NTD programmes, warning that neglecting the diseases could further marginalise affected populations. He noted that NTDs often thrive…

Reform UK has threatened to take legal action against Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch unless she issues a public apology over comments made about Suella Braverman’s mental health. The row followed Ms Braverman’s defection to Reform UK earlier this week. In an initial statement responding to her departure, a Conservative Party spokesperson said the party had “done all we could to look after Suella’s mental health”, suggesting she had been unhappy. The statement was withdrawn hours later after criticism, and the reference was removed from a revised version. Despite the retraction, Reform UK’s lawyers have written to Conservative Party headquarters, describing…

Driverless cars are expected to begin operating in London later this year, with Google-owned autonomous vehicle company Waymo confirming plans to launch its service once regulatory approval is secured. The company says its self-driving cars are expected to be fully operational by the end of 2026. Waymo currently has about 24 vehicles on London’s roads, although they are being driven by human drivers. This stage is focused on mapping streets and collecting data. The next phase will involve testing the cars with a safety driver behind the wheel, in line with the government’s code of practice for autonomous vehicles. The…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced that UK citizens will soon be able to travel to China without a visa for trips lasting up to 30 days. The announcement was made during his official visit to Beijing, the first by a British prime minister in eight years, and follows talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. Downing Street said the visa-free arrangement, which will apply to tourist and business travel, will bring the UK in line with several European countries including France and Germany. Although no start date has been confirmed, the government said it hopes the measure will take…