Author: Fatimah Idera

Conservative leader, Kemi Badenoch has said centrist ideas are no longer welcome in the party, warning that those uncomfortable with her rightward direction should get out of the way. Speaking in Westminster, Badenoch set out her vision for the party following recent defections to Reform UK, dismissing critics and accusing some former colleagues of political “tantrums”. She took aim at former shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick and others who have left the party, arguing they lack a credible plan to govern. Badenoch also rejected the approach of Andy Street, the former West Midlands mayor, and Ruth Davidson, the former Scottish…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has arrived in Beijing, marking the first visit to China by a British prime minister in eight years. He said the trip is aimed at delivering tangible benefits for people in the UK as he seeks to reset relations with Beijing after years of strained and inconsistent engagement. Starmer travelled with a delegation of nearly 60 representatives from British business, sport and cultural institutions, underlining the government’s focus on trade and economic cooperation. China is the UK’s third-largest trading partner, the world’s second-largest economy and supports an estimated 370,000 British jobs. Downing Street has described…

Pornhub has announced it will restrict access to its website for UK users from 2 February, citing tougher age-verification rules introduced under the Online Safety Act. From that date, only people who already have a Pornhub account will be able to view content on the site. The company said the move follows what it described as the failure of the new legal requirements to prevent children from accessing pornography online. Pornhub’s parent company, Aylo, previously said traffic to the site dropped by 77% after the age-check rules came into force in October. Regulator Ofcom has maintained that the tougher checks…

Rwanda has launched legal action against the UK, claiming it is owed money following the cancellation of a controversial migrant relocation agreement between the two countries. The case has been filed with the Netherlands-based Permanent Court of Arbitration, with Rwanda arguing that the UK failed to meet financial commitments set out in the deal. The agreement, signed under the previous Conservative government, allowed the UK to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda in exchange for payments to support the country’s economy. However, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer scrapped the scheme in 2024 after Labour came to power, with the Home…

Northern Ireland will be the first part of the UK to introduce a graduated driving licence system, a move aimed at reducing fatal road crashes involving young drivers. The reforms, described as the most significant in 70 years, are modelled on laws already in place in countries such as Australia, the US, and the Republic of Ireland. The new rules, due to take effect in October, will apply to all new drivers, particularly those aged 17 to 23. They include a mandatory six-month waiting period before learners can take their practical driving test and impose restrictions on night-time driving and…

Primary and secondary school teachers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have announced an indefinite strike, ordering a complete shutdown of classrooms from Monday, January2026. The directive was issued by the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), FCT Wing, following a call by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) for all its affiliate unions in the territory to intensify ongoing industrial action. The decision was contained in a communiqué signed by the NUT FCT Chairman, Abdullahi Shafas; Secretary, Margaret Jethro; and Publicity Secretary, Ibukun Adekeye. The union explained that although it initially expressed concerns about the coordination of the strike led by…

Nigeria’s fast-growing digital space has opened doors to learning, business, and civic participation, but it has also created a parallel crisis: the rapid spread of online gender-based violence (OGBV). From cyberbullying and stalking to impersonation, doxxing, sextortion and the non-consensual sharing of intimate images, digital platforms have become hostile environments for many women and girls. Recent online trends and viral incidents highlight how easily abuse spreads. A single tweet, screenshot or manipulated image can trigger mass harassment within minutes. Women who speak on politics, gender issues, or social justice are often targeted with sexualised threats, coordinated attacks, and reputation-smearing campaigns.…

The UK authorities have fined the Bank of Scotland £160,000 for breaching financial sanctions linked to Russia. The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which enforces sanctions on behalf of the UK government, said the bank processed 24 payments in February 2023 worth about £77,000. The transactions involved a personal account held by an individual sanctioned by the UK. OFSI said the payments broke rules that prohibit dealing with, or making funds available to, designated persons under the UK’s Russia sanctions regime. The Bank of Scotland is part of Lloyds Banking Group. The watchdog noted that Lloyds voluntarily reported the…

A former prison officer has been sent to jail after admitting to a sexual relationship with a prisoner and smuggling drugs and phones into a jail. Alicia Novas, 20, worked at HMP Five Wells in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. While on duty, she became involved with inmate Declan Winkless, 31, and passed on prohibited items and sensitive information. Novas admitted six offences, including misconduct in public office, and was sentenced to three years in prison at Northampton Crown Court. Winkless, who encouraged Novas to commit the offences, was jailed for three years and four months. His sentence will be added to the…

Schools in England have been told to enforce a complete ban on pupils using mobile phones throughout the school day, including lessons, break times and lunch. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said phones should not be used for learning activities such as research or as calculators. In a letter to schools, she said the government’s updated guidance makes it clear that schools must be phone-free from the start to the end of the day. She also confirmed that Ofsted inspectors will check how well schools are enforcing their mobile phone policies. Teachers are being advised not to use their own phones…