London Fire Brigade data show 165 fires involving e-bikes and e-scooters in 2025 up to 28 September, averaging around 18 incidents a month. If the current trend continues, London could exceed 200 such incidents in a year for the first time. Eden Abera Siem, 30, died in hospital after a fire at her home on Lordship Lane, Wood Green, on 21 June; investigators believe the blaze was probably caused by […]

The United States has entered a government shutdown after President Donald Trump and Congress failed to agree a funding deal before the midnight deadline. About 750,000 federal workers are expected to be furloughed, with some employees possibly laid off by the administration. Numerous government offices will close, and some services may be halted for an extended period. The administration has signalled a hard line on immigration, while education and environmental […]

Sir Keir Starmer said the government will revisit how international law is interpreted to address mass migration, stressing that provisions should be interpreted rather than scrapped and that rulings under instruments such as the European Convention on Human Rights must be looked at anew. The remarks come as the Labour leadership outlined how courts apply international obligations while tackling migration pressures. The Home Secretary used the Labour Party conference to […]

London Mayor Sadiq Khan welcomed what officials describe as a milestone after Defra data showed the capital had reached the legal limit for nitrogen dioxide pollution for the first time. City Hall noted that the aim was achieved in nine years, well ahead of a 193-year forecast by researchers at King’s College London in 2019. Defra figures published on Tuesday show London met the air quality standards in 2024, while […]

Sir Keir Starmer addressed Labour's conference in Liverpool, saying Britain faces a fork in the road and a defining choice for the country's future. He urged unity behind Labour and framed the contest as a stand against Reform UK led by Nigel Farage. He described the moment as a fight for the soul of the nation, likening it to rebuilding after the Second World War. Labour's leader argued that Reform […]

A study by researchers at UWE Bristol has found that secondary pupils who say they are struggling academically are more likely to report negative experiences on their smartphones. The survey involved 3,721 pupils from six schools in and around Bristol and asked whether pupils were thriving, coasting or struggling at school. Those who described themselves as struggling were more likely to report exposure to content about eating disorders, self-harm and […]

A study by the University of Exeter and Queen Mary University of London analysed health records for 510,379 people and found a higher prevalence of G6PD deficiency among Black and South Asian men in the UK. The researchers estimate that around one in seven Black men and one in 63 South Asian men carry the genetic deficiency, compared with fewer than one in 100,000 white men, and fewer than one […]

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is due to address the party conference in Liverpool, arguing Britain faces a defining choice between decency and division. Labour regards Reform UK as its main electoral threat and expects Starmer to widen his criticisms of the rival party during the speech, amid talk of a potential challenge to Labour from Andy Burnham. Labour also faces pressure to keep its pledges on taxation, spending and […]

Officials say US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have agreed on a plan to end the Gaza war, though it is not yet clear if Hamas will accept the terms. Trump set out a 20‑point framework for ending the conflict and establishing a temporary governing body for Gaza, to be chaired by himself and including former British prime minister Tony Blair. The plan would not require […]