Keir Starmer is considering scrapping visa fees for elite scientists, software developers and academics in an effort to draw global talent to the UK as the United States tightens its immigration rules. The Prime Minister’s global talent taskforce is exploring the proposal ahead of November’s Budget, viewing it as a way to boost economic growth. The plan has gained momentum after Donald Trump imposed a $100,000 (£74,000) annual fee on…

Britain’s only public restaurant, The Clink, staffed by prisoners inside a working jail, is facing closure after 11 years of operation at HMP Brixton. Run by The Clink Charity, the restaurant trains inmates in hospitality and catering skills as part of their rehabilitation, with many securing jobs in the food industry after release. The initiative has been praised by leading chefs and policymakers, including Justice Secretary David Lammy, who recently…

Parts of north-west England were hit by severe flooding after more than 20 hours of heavy rain triggered 28 flood warnings and multiple safety incidents. The prolonged downpours left streets submerged and cars abandoned in areas including Altrincham and Salford, Greater Manchester. In Warrington, Cheshire, a major standby incident was declared as water levels rose rapidly, though this was later downgraded as conditions eased. The Environment Agency issued warnings across…

The Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, has been removed as patron of Julia’s House, a children’s hospice charity, following the emergence of an email in which she described convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein as her supreme friend. The charity, which supports families in Dorset and Wiltshire, confirmed the decision in a statement. “Following the information shared this weekend on the Duchess of York’s correspondence with Jeffrey Epstein, Julia’s House has…

LONDON — Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has unveiled a sweeping and controversial immigration plan that would abolish Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) within 100 days of a Reform government taking office and trigger the deportation of hundreds of thousands of migrants currently living legally in Britain. Farage described the proposal as an unprecedented reversal of Britain’s “relaxed border rules” introduced after Brexit, arguing that the country’s welfare system and…

By Eniola Amadu  United States President Donald Trump has issued a public warning that “bad things” would follow if Afghanistan did not return control of the Bagram airbase to the United States, after officials in Kabul rejected his demand. Trump posted the message on his Truth Social platform, saying: “If Afghanistan doesn’t give Bagram Airbase back to those that built it, the United States of America, BAD THINGS ARE GOING…

By Eniola Amadu  U.S. President Donald Trump has intensified pressure on Attorney General Pam Bondi to file criminal charges against several of his political opponents, even as he later expressed support for her leadership at the Justice Department. In a series of posts on social media, Trump directly addressed Bondi, citing dozens of public complaints that the Justice Department had not acted swiftly on investigations involving prominent Democrats and critics…

The UK is expected to formally recognise a Palestinian state on Sunday, after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer concluded Israel had failed to meet conditions he set in July for avoiding the move. Starmer had warned that Britain would act before next week’s UN General Assembly unless there was a ceasefire in Gaza, resumed aid deliveries, and credible steps towards a two-state solution. With none of those conditions met, and…

David Lammy has suggested the government could reverse its decision preventing Palestinian scholars from bringing their children to the UK. Thirty-four students from Gaza, including Chevening scholars, have been granted places at British universities and were evacuated last week with government support. But nearly all have been told they cannot bring their dependants, leaving around 20 children at risk of being separated from their parents. Speaking on BBC One’s Sunday…

Sir Keir Starmer and his Cabinet could face electoral wipeout as new polling suggests a Left-wing challenge led by Jeremy Corbyn and the Greens threatens dozens of Labour seats. Labour secured 411 seats at last year’s general election, but fresh analysis by More in Common indicates this would collapse to just 126 if a vote were held this autumn. Up to 52 Labour constituencies are at risk from Green Party…

An anti-asylum demonstration in The Hague spiralled into chaos as masked rioters clashed with Dutch police, leaving streets littered with debris and a police vehicle set ablaze.

Is a university degree still worth it? In an age of artificial intelligence and automation, that question is more pressing than ever. As algorithms replace routine tasks and reshape industries, many fear that the value of non-STEM fields, arts, humanities, and social sciences, has been eroded. Writers, historians, musicians, and philosophers are among those who feel the squeeze. Yet experts warn against drawing simple conclusions. In England, completing a typical…