EU Parliament demands action on gender equality ahead of UN summit

Keir Starmer has contradicted the government's justification for the "family farm tax" during an evidence session with MPs, revealing that the changes to inheritance tax rules were not aimed at preventing the super rich from investing in farms but rather as a revenue-raising measure. This admission has sparked criticism from farmers' representatives who believe the changes were made without considering their impact. In a Budget debate, farming minister Daniel Zeichner had previously stated that the...

The family of slain teen Shawn Seesahai expressed satisfaction with the Court of Appeal's decision to increase the sentences of his two murderers, the UK's youngest knife killers, from eight-and-a-half to 10 years. The boys, who were 12 at the time of the fatal attack in Wolverhampton, were deemed to have received unduly lenient sentences for the "particularly serious" case. Mr. Seesahai's family welcomed the decision, stating that while no sentence can bring back their...

The European Parliament has elected Teresa Anjinho as the new European Ombudsman for the 2025-2029 term, succeeding Emily O’Reilly. Anjinho’s appointment follows a competitive selection process where she emphasized effective communication, human rights awareness, and empowering individual complaints. With a vision to launch strategic own-initiative inquiries and foster partnerships, Anjinho aims to strengthen transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement within EU institutions. Full Article

Water bills in England and Wales are set to increase by 36% over the next five years, with an average additional cost of £31 per year for households, although this will vary depending on the provider. This rise is higher than the expected 21% outlined in July, and is intended to fund a £104 billion upgrade in the water sector for customer and environmental improvements. Ofwat has emphasized the need for companies to improve their...

EU leaders are focused on supporting Ukraine and maintaining the bloc's role in the world, emphasizing the need for unity to project strength globally. Kallas highlighted the contrast between a rules-based EU world order and one based on might. The EU welcomed the collapse of Assad's regime in Syria and is considering working with the new leadership to close Russian military bases in the country. Full Article

British Defence Secretary John Healey has hinted at the possibility of sending British troops to Ukraine to provide training for soldiers in their conflict against Russia, with discussions ongoing within the Ministry of Defence. Currently, British medical personnel are already in Ukraine delivering training, and the UK has previously trained Ukrainian soldiers in the UK under Operation Interflex. Healey emphasized the need to make training more accessible to Ukrainians and to help them recruit and...