Author: Fatimah Idera

Donald Rose, believed to be Britain’s oldest Second World War veteran and possibly the country’s oldest man, has died at the age of 110. Born on Christmas Eve in 1914, Mr Rose served with distinction during World War II and was among the first Allied troops to storm the beaches on D-Day, where he was wounded in the leg. Raised in Westcott, near Dorking in Surrey, he was the youngest of eight siblings. In 1940, at age 25, he enlisted in Guildford and trained at Stoughton Barracks before deploying to North Africa, where he became one of the famed Desert…

Claim: Comedian Oluwaseyitan ‘Seyi Law’ Aletile, Ruth and others on Thursday posted on their X pages a video and picture of the 2023 Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi serving food at an event. After joining the opposition coalition that adopted the African Democratic Congress (ADC) as its political platform for the 2027 general elections, Obi again drew public attention, similar to the spotlight he attracted during his 2023 presidential bid. In early July, the former Anambra State governor explained that he aligned with the coalition to challenge President Bola Tinubu in the 2027 presidential election and address Nigeria’s issues…

A five-year-old boy with a severe milk allergy died after suffering a fatal anaphylactic (cow milk) reaction at school. Benedict Blythe, a reception pupil at Barnack Primary School in Stamford, Lincolnshire, was accidentally exposed to cow’s milk protein on December 1, 2021, leading to vomiting, cardiac arrest, and his death later that day. The inquest jury concluded that Benedict likely ingested a small amount of cow’s milk protein during break time, and most probably from his cup. Though he refused a bottle of oat milk offered by his teacher, it is believed he may have accidentally consumed milk when briefly…

Schools across the UK are increasingly keeping children indoors during heatwaves. Under this policy, pupils remain inside when playgrounds are considered too hot to use safely, with concerns that outdoor surfaces like tarmac become dangerously hot in direct sunlight. The move is intended to protect children from heat-related risks, but it has sparked a wave of criticism. Some argue the practice is unnecessary and potentially harmful to children’s development and well-being. A former headteacher and chair of the Campaign for Real Education, Chris McGovern, called the approach the worst possible way forward. “Any teacher knows that keeping children inside on…

Sir Keir Starmer’s government has come under fire for increasing spending on consultants during its first year in power despite a campaign pledge to slash such costs. New data from procurement analysts Tussell reveals that the public sector awarded 580 consultancy contracts worth £1.29 billion between July 2024 and June 2025. This marks a 5% increase on the £1.23 billion spent during the same period under the previous Conservative government. The figures appear to undermine Labour’s promise to curb unnecessary consultancy spending and deliver £1.2 billion in savings by 2026. Upon entering government, Labour introduced new controls on Whitehall’s use…

David Jones, a former Conservative cabinet minister and Welsh secretary, has defected to Reform UK, becoming the highest profile figure yet to join Nigel Farage’s insurgent party. Announcing his decision on Monday night, Mr Jones said Reform was the only political party confronting Britain’s key challenges with the urgency they demand. Speaking to GB News, the ex-MP said: “Today, Reform UK is the party that best represents my views and, I believe, those of many others who have become disillusioned with the two old major parties. Across the country, people are rightly concerned about the rising cost of living, the…

Sir Keir Starmer is racing to salvage a key migrant returns agreement with France just days before Emmanuel Macron’s high profile state visit to the UK, amid growing EU unease over the proposed arrangement. The one in, one out deal would see France agree to take back migrants who cross the Channel illegally in small boats, in exchange for the UK accepting a similar number of asylum seekers currently in France. The proposal was meant to serve as the centrepiece of an Anglo-French summit on Thursday, focused on tackling the surge in small boat crossings. However, senior government sources admitted…

Hospitals across England are preparing for fresh strikes by resident doctors, formerly known as junior doctors, who are demanding a 29% pay increase, a move that NHS leaders warn could lead to widespread disruption and the cancellation of hundreds of thousands of appointments and operations. A ballot of the 55,000 resident doctors represented by the British Medical Association (BMA) closes on Monday, with results expected the following day. NHS officials fear a strong vote in favour of industrial action, potentially triggering six months of rolling strikes that could stretch into January 2026. The looming dispute comes despite a recent 5.4%…

An 18-year-old British teenager, Marcus Fakana, jailed in Dubai for having sex with a 17-year-old girl during a holiday, has been released and is now back in the UK, a campaign group has confirmed. Fakana from Tottenham in north London was sentenced to a year in prison under the United Arab Emirates’ strict laws prohibiting sexual relations with anyone under the age of 18. His release was secured after Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, granted him a royal pardon, according to the advocacy group Detained in Dubai. “Marcus is currently recovering,” said Radha Stirling, the group’s chief…

The United Kingdom Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson, refused multiple times on Sunday to confirm whether legally binding Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) would be retained under the new system. These plans currently guarantee tailored support for nearly 640,000 children in England, covering areas such as teaching assistance, therapy, and specialist school placements. This was as the UK Government is considering scrapping the current system of personalised education plans for pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), including autism and ADHD, as part of a wider review aimed at reforming the UK’s special needs provision. Laura Kuenssberg, Ms. Phillipson, said…