Several members of the pro-Palestinian group Palestine Action have been hospitalized in the United Kingdom after more than 40 days of hunger strike. According to legal documents reviewed by Sky News, five of the eight detainees have been admitted to hospital, marking the country’s largest hunger strike since 1981. The protesters are facing charges related to break-ins at an Israel-linked defense firm and a Royal Air Force base attack that damaged two military jets.

The deteriorating health of detainees, including Kamran Ahmed and Qaiser Zuhrah, has drawn urgent appeals from lawmakers. Labour MP John McDonnell called the situation an emergency, urging Justice Secretary David Lammy to intervene, while MP Zarah Sultana warned the government could face moral responsibility if deaths occur. In contrast, Conservative MP Rupert Lowe dismissed the strikers, saying he had “no sympathy” for them.

The escalating crisis has intensified political divisions over protest rights and the UK’s handling of pro-Palestinian activism, with growing public scrutiny of the government’s response.

The European Union is preparing to withdraw its landmark 2035 ban on new petrol and diesel car sales, a move expected to be part of a broader reform package aimed at supporting Europe’s struggling automotive sector. The European Commission may instead propose a 90% reduction in carbon emissions from new vehicles, replacing the full ban initially adopted under the EU’s Green Deal.

The shift follows intense lobbying from car manufacturers and member states such as Germany and Italy, who argue that slow electric vehicle (EV) adoption and competition from China make the original target unrealistic. According to industry data, only about 16% of new cars sold in Europe during the first nine months of 2025 were battery-powered. Environmental groups warn that relaxing the ban could undermine climate goals and discourage EV investment.

The Commission is also considering new incentives for small and affordable EVs and measures to green corporate fleets. The final proposal is expected to test the EU’s balance between industrial competitiveness and environmental commitments.

Arsenal secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers in the English Premier League on Saturday night, thanks to a late own goal in stoppage time. The Gunners initially took the lead through a deflected Bukayo Saka corner that rebounded off goalkeeper Sam Johnstone, before Wolves equalized in the final minute through Nigerian striker Tolu. However, a last-gasp header from Wolves defender Mosquera turned Saka’s cross into his own net, sealing Arsenal’s win.

Elsewhere, Mohamed Salah made his long-awaited return for Liverpool, coming on as a substitute in the 26th minute. Though he did not score, Salah assisted Hugo Ekitike, who netted twice in a 2-0 victory over Brighton at Anfield. The Egyptian forward’s contribution brought his total goal involvements for Liverpool to 277, surpassing Wayne Rooney’s record for most goal involvements with a single Premier League club. Chelsea also returned to winning form after four matches, defeating Everton 2-0 at Stamford Bridge. In France, PSG reclaimed the Ligue 1 top spot with a 3-2 win over Metz.

European Union Defense and Space Commissioner Andrius Kubilius has warned that Russia could create a real conflict scenario in Europe within the next three to four years. Speaking after a meeting with Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, Kubilius described the situation as a potential 'conflict test' for Europe and urged rapid strengthening of the continent’s defense capabilities.

Kubilius emphasized that Russia’s economy has effectively become a wartime economy, posing a long-term security threat to Europe. He identified two major challenges: the potential for Russian aggression and the United States’ call for Europe to assume greater responsibility for its own security as Washington shifts focus toward the Indo-Pacific. He noted that while progress is being made through new financial tools and strategic planning, Europe still heavily depends on U.S. intelligence and satellite systems.

Kubilius also proposed initiating discussions on a European Defense Union that could include the UK, Norway, and Ukraine, stressing that Europe must prepare for greater responsibility within NATO and consider the long-term goal of a unified European army.

A new report by the Runnymede Trust and human rights group Reprieve warns that nearly nine million British Muslims—mostly of Bangladeshi, Indian, and Pakistani heritage—could lose their citizenship under the UK Home Office’s broad and secretive powers. The study claims that these powers, which allow the government to revoke citizenship if an individual is deemed eligible for another nationality, disproportionately endanger people linked to South Asia, the Middle East, and Africa.

The report argues that the policy has created a racial hierarchy in citizenship, where non-white Britons face conditional nationality. Reprieve’s Maya Foa criticized successive governments for expanding these powers for political gain, while Runnymede’s Shabna Begum described the trend as a “chilling current” within the Home Office. Data show that three in five non-white Britons are at risk, compared with one in twenty white citizens.

Analysts warn that the policy undermines equality before the law and could deepen mistrust among minority communities. The Home Office has not yet commented on the findings.

British police have confirmed that more than 600 historical artifacts were stolen from a museum in Bristol between 1 a.m. and 2 a.m. on September 25. CCTV footage captured four suspects carrying bags near the museum on Cumberland Road. The stolen items include military medals, jewelry, badges, carved ivory, silverware, bronze statues, and specimens from natural history collections.

Investigating officer Dan Burgan described the theft as a significant cultural loss, noting that many of the items were donations that help interpret complex periods of British history. Bristol City Council’s head of culture, Philip Walker, expressed deep regret, emphasizing that the collection was vital for understanding Britain’s imperial past and its connections with other nations.

The stolen collection had been under the care of the council since the closure of the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in 2012. The incident comes amid a rise in museum thefts across Europe, following similar losses at the Louvre in Paris and the British Museum in London.

A major error in the British Council-administered IELTS English proficiency test has led to incorrect results for around 80,000 candidates worldwide, according to a report by The Telegraph on December 7. The technical fault caused some failing candidates to be marked as passing, allowing thousands of migrants, students, and healthcare workers to obtain UK visas despite insufficient English skills.

The report also revealed evidence of exam paper leaks in Bangladesh, China, and Vietnam. Conservative Party members in the UK have demanded that ineligible migrants be identified and deported. IELTS authorities attributed the problem to a technical malfunction affecting listening and reading scores, claiming only about 1% of tests were impacted. However, that percentage equates to roughly 78,000 exams. The organization has since contacted affected candidates and reissued corrected results.

The incident raises concerns about the reliability of international testing systems and the potential risks to UK education and healthcare sectors, where English proficiency is critical for safety and performance.

Scientists at University College London (UCL) and Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) have reported promising results from a world-first clinical trial using base-edited CAR T-cell therapy (BE-CAR7) to treat T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), a rare and aggressive blood cancer. The therapy, which uses genome-edited immune cells from healthy donors, achieved deep remission in most of the ten patients treated—eight children and two adults—who had previously exhausted standard treatment options.

The BE-CAR7 therapy employs base editing, an advanced form of CRISPR technology that alters single DNA letters without cutting the genome, reducing chromosomal risks. The modified T-cells target and destroy leukemic cells before patients undergo bone marrow transplants to rebuild their immune systems. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine and presented at the American Society of Hematology meeting, was led by Professor Waseem Qasim and supported by the UK’s Medical Research Council and NIHR.

Researchers say the results mark a major step toward “off-the-shelf” gene therapies for resistant cancers, though they caution that outcomes vary and further trials are needed to confirm long-term safety and efficacy.

The European Union has reached a consensus to tighten its migration and asylum policies in response to growing pressure from irregular migration flows. During a meeting of EU interior ministers in Brussels on December 8, member states provisionally approved several measures proposed by the European Commission. These include stronger controls on migrant arrivals and returns, as well as the establishment of ‘return hubs’ outside the EU’s 27 member states to manage deportations more efficiently.

Officials say the proposals aim to make the EU’s migration system more streamlined and enforceable. The initiative comes as many European governments face increasing domestic pressure from right-wing parties gaining popularity over migration concerns. The new measures still require final approval from the European Parliament before implementation.

Human rights organizations have voiced strong opposition, warning that the tougher stance could undermine asylum rights and humanitarian protections. The debate highlights the EU’s struggle to balance border security with its commitment to international refugee obligations.

Britain is grappling with a threefold crisis involving economic, geopolitical, and political challenges. The Office for Students has warned that up to 50 UK universities could face bankruptcy within two years due to declining international student numbers and frozen tuition fees, forcing institutions to cut staff and merge programs. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government suffered a setback in its attempt to join the EU’s €150 billion SAFE defense fund after talks collapsed over financial contributions. The failure casts doubt on post-Brexit cooperation ambitions. Domestically, former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has launched a new left-wing party, ‘Your Party,’ positioning it as an alternative to Labour but already facing internal divisions. The party’s rise reflects discontent among traditional leftists and could reshape Britain’s political landscape. Together, these developments test Starmer’s leadership as the country navigates economic strain, strained EU relations, and ideological fragmentation.

The UK Justice Minister David Lammy has confirmed that 12 prisoners were mistakenly released over the past three weeks, with two still at large. Lammy attributed the errors to administrative failures within the prison system and suggested that a fully digital system could prevent such incidents in the future. The revelation follows earlier reports that 91 prisoners were wrongly released between April and October in England and Wales. Although the minister said the number of mistaken releases is now declining, he emphasized that the two fugitives are not considered dangerous or sex offenders. The issue gained attention after a convicted sex offender, Hadush Kebatu, was mistakenly freed but later recaptured and deported to Ethiopia. In response, the government has introduced new safety protocols, including checklists for prisoner release and investment in AI-based systems to reduce human error. Despite these measures, mistaken releases rose 128% last year to 262 cases, reflecting staff shortages.

The European Union has agreed on a provisional deal to halt all gas imports from Russia by November 2027, marking a major step toward energy independence following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Under the agreement, member states will stop importing Russian liquefied natural gas (LNG) by the end of 2026 and end pipeline gas imports by November 2027. The move aims to eliminate the bloc’s reliance on Russian energy, which once supplied about half of its gas needs before 2022. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen hailed the decision as the beginning of Europe’s energy freedom. However, the deal still requires final approval from the European Parliament and Council, and faces political resistance from countries like Hungary and Slovakia that remain dependent on Russian energy. Hungary’s foreign minister has vowed to challenge the measure in the EU Court of Justice. The agreement also bans new long-term pipeline contracts after September 2027 and LNG contracts after January 2027, with short-term deals phased out earlier.

A 112-year-old Fabergé masterpiece known as the ‘Winter Egg’ has sold for a record £22.9 million (approximately 3.7 billion Bangladeshi taka) at Christie’s in London. Crafted in 1913 by Russian artist Peter Carl Fabergé for Tsar Nicholas II as a gift to his mother, the intricately designed egg is carved from rock crystal and adorned with about 4,500 diamonds, platinum snowflake motifs, and a miniature flower basket made of white quartz inside. The buyer chose to remain anonymous. This sale surpassed the previous record set in 2007 for any Fabergé artwork. Christie’s expert Margo Oganesian said the result reaffirms the timeless significance of Fabergé’s craftsmanship. The ‘Imperial Winter Egg’ is one of only 50 imperial eggs created for the Romanov family between 1885 and 1917, of which only seven remain in private collections today.

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has set a new Premier League record by becoming the fastest player to reach 100 goals, achieving the milestone in just 111 matches. The 25-year-old Norwegian scored during City’s 5-4 victory over Fulham, surpassing Alan Shearer’s previous record of 124 matches to reach the same mark. Haaland, who joined City from Borussia Dortmund in 2022, continues his prolific form with 15 league goals and 20 in all competitions this season. Despite a brief goal drought in the previous three matches, he returned to scoring form with a precise finish from a Jeremy Doku cross. Haaland also provided two assists in the match, underlining his all-round contribution. While he still has a long way to go to match Shearer’s all-time record of 260 goals, his current scoring rate suggests he could challenge it in the coming seasons.

UK Chancellor Rachel Reeves is under intense political pressure after allegations that she exaggerated the country's fiscal deficit to justify a planned £30 billion tax increase. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) released details of its discussions with Reeves, revealing that Treasury officials had overstated the deficit in recent weeks to build support for higher taxes. OBR chief Richard Hughes stated that the government never faced a deficit exceeding £2.5 billion and that Reeves had been informed of a £4.2 billion surplus before her public statements suggesting worsening finances. The Treasury accused Hughes of breaching confidentiality by disclosing internal discussions, while Reeves claimed the OBR had not provided accurate data. The dispute has sparked a political storm, with opposition figures calling for Reeves’ resignation, accusing her of misleading the public for political gain. Hughes is set to appear before the Treasury Select Committee next week to explain the controversy, which has drawn comparisons to past fiscal clashes under Liz Truss’s government.