Nearly nine in ten (88%) of the 153 upper-tier authorities in England are set to impose a 4.99% council tax increase this year, the highest amount allowed without triggering a local referendum. When councils increasing bills by 4.5% or more in April are included, the proportion rises to more than nine in ten (94%). According to an analysis, for just over two-thirds (68%) of top-tier authorities, this marks the third…

A shocking 100-fold increase in asylum claims by skilled workers has been revealed by the National Audit Office (NAO), raising serious concerns about the Home Office’s ability to track and manage the visa system. According to the watchdog, asylum claims from skilled worker visa holders jumped from just 53 in 2022 to 5,300 in the first 10 months of 2024. The NAO report highlighted a major gap in the UK’s…

Nigel Farage welcomed 29 councillors who have defected to Reform ahead of the local elections in May as he insisted the party would not be damaged by the row involving Rupert Lowe. Fifteen of the councillors unveiled by Mr Farage at a press conference have joined from the Conservatives in a further blow to Kemi Badenoch’s party. Another councillor crossed the floor from the Liberal Democrats, while the rest had…

Canada’s newly sworn-in Prime Minister Mark Carney is set to meet King Charles III and UK Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer in London, as he seeks to reinforce diplomatic ties with European allies. His visit follows a meeting with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris, signaling an urgent push to strengthen relations amid growing tensions with the United States. Meeting with King Charles and Sir Keir Starmer Mr. Carney, who…

Reform UK leads in polls as the Tories face major local election losses. Talks of a “Unite the Right” strategy emerge, while Badenoch’s leadership is under threat With the May 1, 2025, local and mayoral elections fast approaching, Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, has emerged as a dominant force in the polls, overtaking both Labour and the Conservatives. The rise of Reform UK signals a seismic shift in British…

“Those who buy Patriot should be offered the new-generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35 should be offered the Rafale,” French president says. French President Emmanuel Macron’s comments come as European NATO members have become even more dependent on U.S. weapons than ever before. French President Emmanuel Macron wants to lead a charm offensive to convince EU countries to stop buying U.S. defense equipment and buy French and European…

By Fatimah Idera The accumulation of refuse caused by Birmingham’s ongoing bin collection strike poses a major public health risk, as rodents thrive on the abundance of rotting food left unattended. Approximately 400 council waste workers in Birmingham went on strike on Tuesday over a dispute concerning jobs and pay. Unite warned that the disruption could extend into the summer, while the city council insisted that they had made a…

A court has sentenced Hassan Sentamu, 18, to life imprisonment for stabbing 15-year-old Elianne Andam to death in an unprovoked and savage attack in Croydon. The Old Bailey, where he stood trial on Thursday, ruled that Sentamu must serve a minimum of 23 years before any consideration for parole. A bright and beloved schoolgirl, Elianne had no idea her final moments would be met with such violence. According to the…

By Fatimah Idera The finance ministry revealed that the government will expand the credit agency UK Export Finance’s (UKEF) direct lending capacity by £2 billion ($2.6 billion), bringing the total to £10 billion. The additional funding is expected to unlock billions of pounds for UK defence companies that export overseas, driving economic growth and creating jobs across the UK. This boost comes just weeks after Britain pledged to increase defence…

Pope Francis is beginning his 29th consecutive day in the hospital, a day after he marked the 12th anniversary of when he was elected pope following five ballots in a papal conclave. Pope Francis’ medical staff celebrated the pope’s 12th anniversary with a cake and candles on Thursday while the pope continued his respiratory therapy Thursday afternoon and followed the evenings Lenten spiritual exercises, the Vatican said. Pope Francis’ condition…

Arsenal completed an outstanding 9-3 aggregate victory over PSV Eindhoven in the knockout stage to set up a mouthwatering Champions League quarter-final against Real Madrid. Holders Real beat capital rivals Atletico Madrid on penalties – and Arsenal will likely have to find top gear against the Spanish giants in the last eight after cruising past their Dutch opponents. Leading 7-1 from the first leg in the Netherlands, the Gunners took the opportunity to make…

Real Madrid have reached a Champions League quarter-final tie with Arsenal after beating city rivals Atletico in a highly controversial penalty shootout. Defender Antonio Rudiger scored the decisive spot-kick in a 4-2 shootout win after two Atletico players missed. Marco Llorente’s shot struck the bar after Julian Alvarez slipped and had his penalty strike disallowed after a VAR check ruled that the Argentine had touched the ball twice. Former Manchester City forward…