By Eniola Amadu  Plans by Reform UK to revoke a climate emergency declaration in Kent have drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties, who warn the move would undermine efforts to address the risks of global warming. Kent county council, one of 10 English county councils won outright by Reform UK in this year’s local elections, is due to debate the motion. The draft resolution states that the 2019 climate emergency…

By Eniola Amadu  A U.S. federal judge has refused to block the President Donald Trump administration from terminating more than 1,600 research grants issued by the National Science Foundation (NSF). The NSF, widely regarded as the world’s leading funder of basic and cutting-edge science and engineering, had enjoyed bipartisan backing until Donald Trump’s second term. The agency’s peer-review system has long been celebrated globally as the “gold standard” for research…

By Eniola Amadu  Belarus released 52 prisoners of various nationalities on Thursday following an appeal from U.S. President Donald Trump, with the freed detainees transferred to Lithuania alongside a U.S. delegation that secured their release, the American embassy in Vilnius said. The move came after Trump urged President Alexander Lukashenko, a close ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin, to release individuals he has repeatedly described as “hostages.” Belarus later confirmed…

By Eniola Amadu  Britain’s ambassador to the United States, Peter Mandelson, was dismissed on Thursday after leaked emails revealed extensive contact with the late U.S. financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Prime Minister Keir Starmer ordered his removal following the disclosures, which officials said showed Mandelson’s relationship with Epstein was “materially different” from what was known when he was appointed to the role. Mandelson, a veteran Labour figure and…

By Eniola Amadu  President Donald Trump on Thursday used a Pentagon memorial service marking the 24th anniversary of the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks to announce that slain conservative activist Charlie Kirk will be posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Kirk, who was fatally shot on Wednesday during a campus event in Utah, was described by Trump as “a giant of his generation, a champion of liberty and an…

A 16-year-old boy has died after being stabbed at Seaford train station in East Sussex. British Transport Police (BTP) said officers were called to the station following reports of a stabbing. Emergency services, including Sussex Police and paramedics, attended the scene where the teenager was found with serious injuries consistent with being stabbed. Despite efforts by passers-by and medics to save him, he was pronounced dead at the scene. Another…

Engineers have finished construction of Britain’s longest railway bridge, the Colne Valley Viaduct, built for the controversial HS2 high-speed rail line. The viaduct stretches 2.1 miles between Harefield in north-west London and Denham in Buckinghamshire, making it 450 feet longer than the Tay Bridge in Scotland, which has held the record since 1887. Designed and built over a decade, the structure crosses the River Colne, Grand Union Canal, lakes, and…

Dame Emily Thornberry has pulled out of the race to become Labour’s next deputy leader after failing to secure enough support from fellow MPs. The senior Labour MP and chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee announced her withdrawal on Thursday, saying it had been a privilege to take part in the contest but that she had decided to withdraw. As of Wednesday evening, Dame Emily had secured backing from…

Pensions Minister Torsten Bell has refused to rule out possible new taxes on pensioners in the upcoming Budget, despite growing concerns that the Government may cut the tax-free lump sum retirees can withdraw. Speaking at an event in London, Bell praised last year’s tax rises on wealth and the middle class as difficult but fair choices, arguing they were needed to fix what he described as Britain’s economic doom loop.…

Former Premier League referee David Coote has pleaded not guilty to a charge of making an indecent image of a child, following a police investigation earlier this year. The 43-year-old, who was dismissed by the Professional Game Match Officials Limited (PGMOL) in December 2023, appeared at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court on Thursday. Court Appearance Coote, of Woodhill Road in Collingham, Nottinghamshire, spoke briefly during the 18-minute hearing to confirm his name,…

Jamie Vardy is ready for a new chapter in his remarkable footballing journey, insisting that “age is just a number” as he begins life in Italy with Serie A newcomers Cremonese. The 38-year-old striker ended a glittering 13-year spell at Leicester City this summer, departing the King Power Stadium as one of the club’s all-time greats. Over 500 appearances, he netted 200 goals, including 24 in the unforgettable 2015-16 season…

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers have not been short of drama, and the latest controversy surrounds Nigeria’s talismanic striker Victor Osimhen. Former Ghanaian captain Asamoah Gyan has sensationally claimed that Osimhen faked the injury which forced him off during Nigeria’s 1-0 victory over Rwanda in Uyo last week. Osimhen, who joined Turkish giants Galatasaray this summer in a record deal, appeared to sustain a knock midway through the first…