Syrians’ hopes for a better future depend on justice for the disappeared, Human Rights Council hears

Leaders from European countries are meeting in Brussels to discuss increasing defense spending and supporting Ukraine after Donald Trump suspends military assistance, leading to uncertainty about U.S. security. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy will join the EU leaders to address the issue. EU members are expected to welcome proposals for increased defense spending and support for Ukraine, with some disagreements among nations on the specifics of the plan. Full Article

Martin Lewis warns savers of an urgent deadline to top up their pension by £50,000 by 5 April, emphasizing the importance of buying back missing national insurance years from 2006 to 2018 for a higher state pension payout. The government deadline aims to ensure individuals benefit from the state pension transitional arrangements and has seen over 10,000 payments totaling £12.5 million through HMRC's digital service since April 2024, with some flexibility for pensioners who request...

A charity has warned that extreme pornography is desensitizing Britons to legal content, leading to online sexual offending. A survey of 2,500 adults found over 40% watch porn, with more than a quarter increasing their consumption and one in five viewing more extreme content. The Lucy Faithfull Foundation revealed that this escalation can lead to illegal image viewing, as demonstrated by a quarter of online offenders seeking help and over 275,000 Brits contacting their Stop...

England’s dentists warn that without increased government funding and contract changes, NHS dentistry may cease to exist due to the April tax hike pushing more practices to go private. The British Dental Association’s General Dental Practice Committee chair, Shiv Pabary, emphasizes the importance of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s decisions in determining the future of NHS dentistry. With rising costs and stagnant funding, many dentists may be forced to leave NHS dentistry, leading to an existential crisis...

An electrician won a £700,000 will fight after a video showed his sister guiding their dying mother's hand to sign over her fortune to her. Margaret Baverstock, suffering from dementia and other health issues, signed the will leaving everything to her daughter, Lisa, cutting out her son, John. The judge declared the will invalid, awarding John half of his mother's money due to evidence of Lisa manipulating Margaret into signing the document. Full Article

Gistel, led by Mayor Gauthier Defreyne, reduced store vacancies from 7.4% to 4.5% (below Flanders’ 10.8%) by updating records, removing business taxes, hosting events, and promoting local shopping. The town checked empty stores to ensure accuracy, eliminated mistakes on their list, and encouraged businesses to support each other through events and initiatives, resulting in one of the lowest vacancy rates in West Flanders. Gistel's efforts included distributing free oliebollen, organizing Santa Claus visits, and providing...