Starmer defends South Africa trip amid budget
Keir Starmer has defended his decision to travel to South Africa for the G20 summit days before the budget and despite the planned absence of Donald Trump. The prime minister will arrive in South Africa on Friday morning for two days of summit discussions and bilateral talks on topics including sustainability and economic growth. But
Covid inquiry: UK response ‘too little, too late’
Nick Triggle Health correspondent 'Too little, too late': What's in the Covid inquiry report... in 68 seconds The UK response to Covid was "too little, too late" and led to thousands more deaths in the first wave, an inquiry into government decision-making says. The report also said lockdown may have been avoided if voluntary steps
New drug may shorten and improve TB treatment
A new treatment for tuberculosis could boost cure rates and shorten the time needed to treat the disease by months, trial results suggest. Globally, an estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB last year and 1.23 million died from it. In its annual report on tuberculosis, launched last week, the World Health Organization said
Trump signs bill to release Epstein files
Trump signs bill ordering justice department to release Epstein files Watch: "I'm all for it", Trump says on calls to release Epstein files US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he signed a bill ordering the release of all files related to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. The bill requires the justice
Why the Congo Basin Rainforest Is Overlooked
In October 2023, leaders, scientists and policymakers from three of the world’s great rainforest regions – the Amazon, the Congo, and the Borneo-Mekong basins – assembled in Brazzaville, capital of the Republic of Congo. They were there to discuss one urgent question: how to save the planet’s last great tropical forests from accelerating destruction. For
UK lacks plan to defend itself from invasion, MPs warn
Brian Wheeler Political reporter The UK lacks a plan to defend itself from military attack, a committee of MPs has warned. In a highly critical report, the defence committee says the UK is over-reliant on US resources and that preparations to defend itself and overseas territories in the event of attack are "nowhere near" where
Nestlé accused of risking African babies’ health over added sugar
Nestlé is still adding sugar to most baby cereals sold across Africa, according to an investigation by campaigners who have accused the company of “putting the health of African babies at risk for profit”. The food firm was accused of “double standards” over the researchers’ findings, which come at a time when rates of childhood
Shabana Mahmood defends overhaul of ‘unfair’ asylum system
Kate Whannel Political reporter Watch: Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood says UK must restore "order and control" over borders Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood has defended sweeping changes to the UK's asylum system, telling MPs the current situation is "out of control and unfair". Speaking in the House of Commons, Mahmood said: "If we fail to deal
Ethiopia confirms outbreak of deadly Marburg virus
Ethiopia has confirmed an outbreak of the deadly Marburg virus in the south of the country, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) has said. The Marburg virus is one of the deadliest known pathogens. Like Ebola, it causes severe bleeding, fever, vomiting and diarrhoea and has a 21-day incubation period. Also
Fast-track deportations to be announced as part of asylum reforms
Jennifer McKiernan Political reporter PA Media The government has said it wants to reduce the number of migrants coming to the UK on small boats Plans to fast-track the deportations of illegal migrants as part of a sweeping reforms of the UK's asylum policy are to be announced by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. In a