The United States has shifted its focus from reviving a potential ceasefire deal between Israel and Hezbollah to trying to shape and limit Israel’s military actions in Lebanon and against Iran, according to officials. After a US-led proposal for a ceasefire failed, there appears to be no immediate push to restart negotiations. US officials […]
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North Korea’s military has announced plans to completely cut off road and rail links with South Korea, marking an escalation in tensions between the two nations. This decision follows months of fortifying the heavily armed border, reflecting a shift in policy under North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who abandoned efforts earlier this year […]
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According to the regulator for NHS England, issues with the level of care in hospitals are becoming more common. In recent years, there have been scandals when it comes to maternity care failings, and the regulator has warned that this could become more widespread. Investigations into maternity units at Shrewsbury and Telford, as well as […]
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Junior doctors in England have agreed to the government’s offer of a 22% pay rise, ending an 18-month-long dispute. The deal, supported by 66% of British Medical Association members in an online vote, was backed by nearly 46,000 participants. The pay increase will be spread over two years and marks the conclusion of a series […]
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A group of 141 UK universities is calling for an increase in tuition fees and more direct government funding to address a mounting financial deficit in England’s higher education sector. This comes as the number of domestic students starting university courses hits record highs, while international student numbers have fallen. Since 2017, tuition fees for […]
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A new forecast from the UK government’s official forecaster warns that the national debt is expected to triple over the next 50 years due to mounting pressures. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) attributes this looming rise to factors such as an ageing population, climate change, and increasing geopolitical tensions. In its report, the OBR […]
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New legislation being presented to parliament this week could mean that more bus services could come under the control of local councils in the near future. According to Transport Secretary Louise Haigh, this “bus revolution” is designed to preserve essential bus routes by allowing local authorities to adopt a franchising system, where they would determine […]
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According to the latest figures, last month, UK house prices hit their highest level in two years, with renewed optimism among buyers following a recent interest rate cut, according to the country’s largest mortgage provider, Halifax. The lender reported a 4.3% annual increase in property values in August which pushed the average home price to […]
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The Treasury anticipates a 2.5% increase in the full state pension this year, translating to an additional £400 annually for pensioners. This boost is a result of the triple lock, which was introduced to make sure that the state pension rises each April by the highest of three factors: inflation, the average wage increase in […]
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According to official data, government borrowing was higher than expected in July, with the increase being driven by the rising cost of public services and benefits. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) reported that borrowing, which reflects the gap between government spending and tax revenue, reached £3.1 billion last month, marking the highest July borrowing […]
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