Former pop star Gary Glitter, real name Paul Gadd, is reported to be gravely ill while serving time at HMP Channings Wood in Devon.Sources say the 81-year-old is largely immobile and hard of hearing, often using a wheelchair and spending most of his day confined to his cell.Insiders told the press he is held on a Vulnerable Prisoners Unit for his own protection, reportedly spending up to 23 hours...

A rare public health alert has been issued after a fast-moving meningitis outbreak in Kent that has so far left two young people dead and prompted targeted vaccinations at local universities.Health authorities say there have been around 20 confirmed or suspected cases linked to an incident that appears to have originated at a nightclub in Canterbury.Officials describe the cluster’s rapid spread...

The NFL looks set to expand further into Europe, and the New Orleans Saints are positioning themselves at the centre of a push to bring a regular-season game to Paris.Stade de France is in the running to host a fixture in 2026 or 2027, and the Saints have indicated they would like to be the visiting team if the French capital wins the bid.New Orleans has been the league’s on-the-ground team in...

Belgium is preparing for widespread disruption this week as unions launch a three-day national strike aimed at protest­ing government austerity plans.Key public services and transport links are expected to be hit, with airports among the worst affected.The industrial action responds to a package of reforms from Prime Minister Bart De Wever’s centre-right coalition that aim to cut the budget...

Italy’s parliament has approved a new law that treats the gender-motivated killing of women as a separate offence punishable by life imprisonment.The vote, held on the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, passed unanimously with all 237 deputies backing the measure.The bill was proposed by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and received support from both the government...

Dan Driscoll, the 39-year-old army secretary often nicknamed President Trump’s “drone guy,” has emerged unexpectedly as a key player in recent U.S.efforts to shape a peace process for the Russia-Ukraine war.A relative newcomer to diplomacy, Driscoll is the youngest person to hold the army secretary post. He has built a reputation inside the administration for pushing new battlefield...

As Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to deliver the Budget, ordinary Britons are voicing clear and varied priorities.From housing taxes to care for disabled people, voters across incomes have specific asks they want reflected in government plans.Wesley Thorne, 52, and his wife Toni run a sweets business near Bristol and say moving into a larger home is out of reach because stamp duty could tack...

Belgium is preparing for widespread disruption this week as unions launch a three-day national strike that will culminate in a full general stoppage on Wednesday.The action is aimed at government plans to cut public spending by overhauling labour rules and reshaping unemployment and pension systems.The industrial action begins with transport on Monday, when national rail operator SNCB expected to...