By Eniola Amadu EU leaders are gathering in Copenhagen this week amid mounting pressure to strengthen European defence, following a series of Russian airspace incursions and recent drone disruptions at Danish airports. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen warned that Russia posed the only direct threat to Europe and urged a “very strong answer back.” The security challenge is particularly acute for eastern members such as Poland and Estonia, which have…

 By Eniola Amadu The United States government has shut down large parts of its operations after lawmakers in Congress failed to agree on a funding deal. The closure, the 15th since 1981, came after negotiations between the White House and Congress collapsed, leaving agencies without legal authority to spend money. The shutdown is expected to furlough about 750,000 federal workers, suspend pay for U.S. troops, slow air travel, and delay…

Hundreds of international students, including around 200 from China, have been left in uncertainty after University College London (UCL) exceeded its visa allocations just days before the new academic year began. Students were told they could no longer be issued Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS), a document required to apply for a UK student visa, despite having secured unconditional offers. UCL attributed the situation to an extraordinary surge in…

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer has voiced his support for Angela Rayner’s return to frontline politics, following her resignation as deputy prime minister and housing secretary last month. Speaking to LBC, Starmer said Rayner had paid a heavy price for her mistake and praised her journey from a difficult upbringing to one of the highest offices in government. “If you talk about social mobility, there is no greater story than…

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has announced plans to limit how migrants use the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) to prevent their deportation from the UK. He said the government would re-examine how Articles 3 and 8 of the ECHR are interpreted, particularly in cases involving foreign criminals and failed asylum seekers. Article 3 protects against torture and inhumane treatment, while Article 8 guarantees the right to family life.…

The first named storm of the UK season, Storm Amy, is forecast to bring severe weather conditions as it moves across the north-west of the UK on Friday and Saturday. The Met Office has confirmed yellow severe weather warnings for wind and rain from 12:00 Friday to 23:59 BST Saturday. Storm Amy is expected to bring widespread gales, heavy rainfall, and gusts reaching up to 80mph (129 km/h), particularly in…

Prime Minister Keir Starmer will unveil plans for a groundbreaking online hospital as part of his speech at the Labour Party conference in Liverpool. The initiative, branded NHS Online, aims to deliver millions of extra appointments and significantly reduce waiting times by harnessing digital technology. Set to launch in 2027, the service will connect patients directly to specialist clinicians via the NHS app. According to government estimates, NHS Online could…

General practitioners (GPs) in England have warned they may take industrial action over government plans to expand online appointment booking, arguing the move will overwhelm surgeries and put patient safety at risk. The new system, set to begin Wednesday, will allow patients to request GP appointments online between 8am and 6:30pm, Monday to Friday. The policy is designed to end the 8am scramble for appointments, but doctors say it risks…

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…