Labour has announced plans to raise pay for care workers in England from 2028, alongside the creation of a new negotiating body bringing together trade unions and employers to improve wages and conditions in the sector. Health secretary Wes Streeting will allocate £500m to fund the initial increase and begin setting up the body this year. The first of its kind in the UK, will establish a legally backed fair…

Retailers in the UK have warned the government that further tax increases could fuel inflation, as shop prices rose again in September. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) and analysts NIQ, annual shop price inflation climbed to 1.4 per cent in September, up from 0.9 per cent in August. Rising costs in home improvement and gardening products drove the increase, offsetting stabilising food prices. For the first time in…

By Eniola Amadu U.S. President Donald Trump has announced plans to impose a 100% tariff on movies produced outside the United States, a move he says is intended to protect Hollywood. In a post on his Truth Social platform, Trump claimed that movie production “has been stolen’’ from the U.S., and pledged that “any and all movies made outside of the United States” would be taxed at full rate. The…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves will announce a major crackdown on long-term youth unemployment, warning that young people could lose their benefits if they refuse job offers after 18 months on Universal Credit. Unveiling the new Youth Guarantee, Reeves will promise paid work placements for 18 to 21-year-olds who have been out of work, education, or training for over 18 months. Those who turn down job offers without a valid reason could…

Rail passengers in Yorkshire are being invited to take part in a new ticketless travel trial that uses smartphones to track journeys and charge the lowest fare automatically. The trial is being run on Northern services between Leeds and Harrogate, where passengers can download an app that uses GPS to detect their location and check in when they begin a journey. A unique QR code is then generated, which can…

By Eniola Amadu Migrants will face stricter requirements to secure permanent residency in the UK under plans set to be unveiled by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood at the Labour Party conference. The proposals will require migrants to demonstrate integration and contribution to society in order to qualify for indefinite leave to remain. Applicants will need to meet higher English language standards, maintain a clean criminal record, and undertake voluntary community…

By Eniola Amadu  The pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS), led by Moldovan President Maia Sandu, has secured a decisive majority in parliamentary elections. With nearly all ballots counted, PAS won 50.17 percent of the vote, according to Moldova’s central electoral commission. The result gives the party 55 seats in the 101-seat parliament, enough to form a government without the support of smaller groups such as the Alternativa bloc…

By Eniola Amadu No fewer than four people have been reported dead and eight others injured after a gunman drove a vehicle into a church, opened fire and set the building ablaze in Michigan, United States. The incident occurred at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Grand Blanc, a town located about 100 kilometres northwest of Detroit, during a service attended by hundreds of worshippers. Police identified…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves says she is proud of the government’s economic record after 15 months in office but admits there’s more to do. Speaking in a BBC interview, Reeves highlighted that the UK currently has the “fastest growth in the G7,” despite official figures showing only 0.3% growth last quarter. She also pointed to trade deals and falling interest rates as evidence of progress. Reeves announced a new scheme to…

The UK Government is facing renewed pressure to restore the Electoral Commission’s independence amid warnings that its current oversight powers threaten democracy. Reports revealed that UK is breaching eight international standards designed to protect electoral bodies from political interference. Ministerial powers, introduced under Boris Johnson in 2022, could be easily abused by a future authoritarian government to distort elections. Although the watchdog responsible for overseeing elections and campaign finance, was…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer has condemned Reform UK’s plans to scrap Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) for legal migrants, calling the proposals “racist” and “immoral” as Labour’s annual party conference began in Liverpool. Speaking to the media, Starmer said Reform’s policy would tear the country apart, urging Labour members to unite against what he described as Nigel Farage’s divisive agenda. He said, “We’ve got the fight of our lives ahead,”…

A child has died while attempting to cross the English Channel in a small boat, according to French authorities. The teenager’s body was found on Sunday morning on a beach in Saint-Étienne-au-Mont, near Boulogne-sur-Mer, after reportedly falling from a crowded dinghy. The incident came just a day after three other people lost their lives during similar attempts to reach the UK. Two Somali women were reportedly crushed onboard a boat,…