Author: News Desk

AFC Wimbledon’s League Two match against Accrington Stanley has been postponed as the Dons have been unable to find an alternative ground to host the fixture after their Plough Lane home was damaged in flooding. The pitch was damaged and buildings and concourse left underwater after heavy rainfall on Sunday night and Monday morning led the nearby River Wandle to burst its banks. Wimbledon had already postponed Tuesday’s Carabao Cup third-round fixture against Newcastle United, which will now be played at St James’ Park a week later on Tuesday, 1 October. This resulted in the Dons’ league game against Crewe…

Reeves pushes for OBR to upgrade growth forecasts amid planning reforms Chancellor hopes to open up more spending headroom in budget by arguing changes could drive up growth. Rachel Reeves is pushing for the UK’s tax and spending watchdog to upgrade its national growth forecasts to reflect the economic boost Labour says can be achieved from its blitz of planning reforms. In a development that could open up additional spending headroom for the chancellor before next month’s budget, the Treasury has held talks with the Office for Budget Responsibility to try to persuade its officials that unblocking the planning system…

One in four Black men in the UK refused prostate cancer test by their GP, survey finds Findings are despite black men being twice as likely to develop the disease than the overall adult male population. Pharmacy closures in England threaten plan to use them instead of GPs for some care One in four black men in the UK have been refused a prostate cancer test by their GP despite having twice the risk of developing the disease than the overall adult male population, a report has found. A PSA test measures the level of the protein prostate-specific antigen in…

Pharmacy closures in England threaten plan to use them instead of GPs for some care Pharmacy closures in England are causing serious concern for GPs. The closure of hundreds of outlets hitting rural areas, older people and deprived communities hardest, according to Healthwatch in England news. High street pharmacies are closing at such an alarming rate that it threatens the drive to use them instead of GPs to care for millions of people, the NHS patient champion warns today. A total of 436 community pharmacies in England shut permanently last year and there were also 13,863 temporary closures, which stopped…

IMF approves $7bn loan to support Pakistan’s struggling economy The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a $7bn (£5.25bn) loan to help Pakistan address its ongoing economic challenges. The country will receive the first $1bn immediately, with the remaining funds distributed over the next three years. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif welcomed the IMF’s decision and expressed gratitude to the IMF Managing Director, Kristalina Georgieva, and her team for their support. Pakistan has a long history of turning to the IMF for financial assistance, having taken more than 20 loans from the organisation since 1958. Currently, Pakistan ranks as the IMF’s…

£1bn Shotton Mill Project aims to revolutionise UK recycling A £1bn redevelopment of the former Shotton Paper Mill in Flintshire could “completely transform recycling levels in the UK,” according to its owner, Turkish firm Eren Holding. The ambitious project is set to turn the site into one of the largest cardboard and tissue production facilities in the country, with operations expected to begin next year. Currently, up to 2,000 contractors are working to transform the mill into what Eren Holding describes as the most advanced plant of its kind in Europe. The development has been hailed as part of the…

Arrests made over suspected coup plot in Benin: State Prosecutor Three men in Benin, including a former government minister and the head of President Patrice Talon’s security detail, have been arrested on suspicion of plotting a coup, according to the state prosecutor. Among those detained is Oswald Homeky, the ex-sports minister, who was reportedly caught handing over six bags of cash to the head of the Republican Guard, Col. Elonm Mario Metonou. Investigators allege that the money was a bribe intended to ensure Col. Metonou would not resist a coup planned for Friday in the West African nation. Also arrested…

What do we know about Labour’s plans for the economy? What do we know about Labour’s plans for the economy? The short answer is, its more of the same. In fact, some business leaders and economists have accused the government of damaging confidence in the economy by presenting a gloomy picture. But in reality austerity is here to stay, as Labour policies will hit hard for the worse-off in society. Stamrer is keen to appease businesses and shake off the Socialist Labour image. Former Bank of England chief economist Andy Haldane warned the government’s approach had generated “fear and foreboding”…

Global allies call for 21-day ceasefire across Lebanon-Israel border A coalition of global allies, including the UK, US, and EU, is urging for a temporary ceasefire in Lebanon following an escalation in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hezbollah. The 12-nation group has proposed an immediate 21-day pause in hostilities to allow room for diplomatic efforts aimed at securing a lasting peace, along with a broader ceasefire in Gaza. In a joint statement, the bloc described the current violence as “intolerable” and warned that the situation posed an “unacceptable risk of a broader regional escalation,” which would harm both Israeli…

New York City Mayor Eric Adams indicted on federal charges New York City Mayor Eric Adams is facing federal criminal charges, according to CBS News. Adams, 64, who was elected nearly three years ago on a platform to tackle crime in America’s largest city, now finds himself at the centre of multiple federal corruption investigations. Although the indictment remains sealed, it marks a historic moment, as Adams could become the first sitting mayor in New York City’s history to face criminal charges. In a video statement released late Wednesday, Adams said he will fight the charges and stay in office,…