News 01/10/25

The US government has shut down for the first time in nearly seven years after late-night Senate votes on funding failed to reach agreement.

Hundreds of thousands of federal employees deemed non-essential face furlough or lay-offs, while critical services such as social security payments and the postal service will continue but could be disrupted by staff shortages. National parks and museums may close entirely.

The shutdown follows a bitter stand-off between Democrats and Republicans over healthcare spending.

The senior police officer leading the UK’s response to violence against women and girls says she is concerned political debate around asylum seekers is distracting from the real threat to women’s safety.

Helen Millichap, deputy assistant commissioner at the Metropolitan Police, said that danger comes from a multitude of sources, and urged focus to remain on women’s safety as a priority. Her remarks follow a summer of demonstrations outside migrant hotels and the case of an Ethiopian asylum seeker who sexually assaulted a 14-year-old girl in Essex.

From today, all GP surgeries in England must offer online appointment bookings as standard.

Practices are required to keep websites and app services open from 8am to 6.30pm, Monday to Friday, for non-urgent appointments, medication requests and administrative queries. While many surgeries already use online systems, ministers say provision has been inconsistent, with some practices switching off digital services during busy times. The Department of Health insists the new rules will ensure fairer access for patients.

Half of UK adults are now regularly paying by tapping their phone, according to new data from UK Finance.

Mobile payments through Apple Pay and Google Pay have surged across age groups, with 50 percent of adults using the method at least once a month last year, up sharply from 34 percent the year before. Adrian Buckle, the trade body’s head of research, said the figures show a permanent shift in consumer behaviour, with many now leaving the house carrying only their phone.

Campaigners in Slough hoping to turn Wexham Court Parish Hall into a Hindu temple have been told they cannot be granted preferential treatment to buy the building.

The council-owned site is leased to the parish council but was placed on a list of assets that could be sold earlier this year. Almost 4,000 people signed a petition urging councillors to sell directly to Jeeyar Educational Trust UK, which wants to turn it into a Hindu community hub, but the council says it must go through a competitive bidding process.