UK

Staff reporter
LONDON: John Healey has delivered his first Budget as Chancellor of the Exchequer, setting out the government’s financial priorities amid rising living costs, mounting public debt and pressure to increase defence spending.
The Budget, presented to Parliament on Wednesday, 28 October, is the first under Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s government. Healey faces the challenge of supporting struggling households and businesses while maintaining fiscal discipline.
Defence funding is a central issue, with the government seeking to address a reported £4.7bn shortfall in its military investment plans and establish a credible route towards higher Nato spending commitments. The chancellor must also contend with rising debt-interest costs and limited room for additional public expenditure.
Measures expected to feature in the Budget include targeted help with household energy bills, changes affecting banks and online marketplaces, and support for first-time homebuyers. The government has also promised measures to ease financial pressures on families and businesses.
Healey’s task is to demonstrate that the government can respond to the cost-of-living squeeze without undermining its economic commitments. The impact of the Budget will depend on the final measures, their funding and whether they deliver meaningful relief to households while protecting public finances.

Sports reporter
LONDON: England captain Harry Kane has won the 2026 Ballon d’Or, becoming the first English footballer in 25 years to receive the prestigious award recognising the world’s outstanding male player.
The 33-year-old Bayern Munich striker was crowned at a ceremony at London’s Palladium Theatre on Monday, beating France’s Kylian Mbappé and Spain’s teenage sensation Lamine Yamal to football’s highest individual honour.
Kane’s victory follows a remarkable 2025-26 campaign in which he scored 73 goals for club and country, cementing his reputation as one of the most prolific forwards in world football. His performances helped Bayern secure major domestic honours, while his contribution to England’s World Cup campaign further strengthened his case for the award.
The last Englishman to win the Ballon d’Or was Michael Owen, who received the honour in 2001. Kane now joins an illustrious group of English winners that includes Sir Stanley Matthews, Sir Bobby Charlton and Kevin Keegan.

Speaking after receiving the trophy, an emotional Kane expressed his gratitude to those who had supported him throughout his career, including his teammates, coaches, family and supporters.

Kane’s success is particularly significant given his long journey from early loan spells in English football to becoming one of Europe’s leading strikers. His career has been marked by consistent goalscoring, professionalism and a determination to establish himself among the game’s elite. The England captain also received recognition for his prolific goalscoring during the season, adding to an already impressive collection of individual.
Kane’s triumph marks a historic moment for English football and provides a fitting reward for a season in which his individual brilliance and contribution to team success made him a leading contender for the game’s most coveted individual prize.

City reporter
LONDON: The Pakistan High Commission in London organized a solemn event to commemorate “Jammu and Kashmir Black Day”. British parliamentarians including Lord Qurban Hussain, Lord Shaffaq Mohammed, Baroness Nosheena Mobarik, Mr. Adnan Hussain MP, Mr. Afzal Khan MP, and Mr. Ayoub Khan MP as well as many British Kashmiris, civil society activists and media representatives attended the event.
In his keynote address, High Commissioner Tipu Usman condemned the reign of terror and brutal oppression unleashed by Indian occupation forces in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir. He noted that the people of IIOJK had been subjected to a severe and prolonged military siege, under which torture, enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings had become rampant.
The High Commissioner emphasised that India’s actions violated both international law and basic morality and threatened not only regional but global peace and security. He urged the international community to hold India accountable for violating the UN Security Council resolutions that guarantee the Kashmiri people their right to self-determination. High Commissioner Usman appreciated the role of British parliamentarians for raising the Jammu and Kashmir dispute in Parliament and with the British government. He reiterated the High Commission’s desire to work with the parliamentarians and the wider Kashmiri community for highlighting the Kashmir cause.
British parliamentarians and guest speakers, in their remarks, expressed their solidarity with the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Members of Parliament emphasized that Jammu and Kashmir is not a bilateral issue between Pakistan and India, but a long-standing international dispute. They urged the international community to call upon India to put an end to the systematic violations of human rights in IIOJK and abide by its international commitment of holding a free and fair plebiscite in the occupied territory.

Wajahat Ali Khan
LONDON: Chairman “Third World Solidarity” and “Jhok Aid Project” Alderman Mushtaq Lasharie CBE organised a memorable evening of poetry and music at Royal Nawaab, Perivale, London, in honour of Ashfaq Hussain, the distinguished poet, author, writer and former TV producer.
The gathering brought together prominent community leaders, journalists, writers, poets and friends, including, prominent poet Rukhsana Rakhshi, Dr Shahnaz Shoro, Akbar Leghari, Solicitor Dr Akbar Malik, Iftikhar Qaisar, former head of Geo and Jang London, Mian Saleem, President of PPP Greater London and TWS-UK, Mona Baig, Secretary General of TWS-UK; Sheraza Khan, former President of Heston Lions Club; Abbas Dadou, Vice Chairman of LWRA, Afzaal Kiani, former Mayor of Hounslow, Raja Mussarat Iqbal, Secretary General of Pakistan Press Club UK, Yashab Tamanna, poet and author, Wajahat Ali Khan, Executive editor of “The London Post” Ghulam Hussain Awan, former UK Bureau Chief of 92 News, Muzaffar Chaudhry, Abdul Majid, Samreen Chaudhry, Naeem Tahir director AIHL, Aamad Hassan, Akram Kaim Khani, Naeem Khan, Tanveer Zaman Khan, Javed Soomro, Dr Nazia Memon, Dr Sonia Zaffar, Sikandar Rashid, Mian Shahjahan, Jasmine Ahmed, Amanat Ali Anjum Educationist, Zaffar Raja, Sajjad Butt and many other distinguished guests.
The evening was enriched by captivating poetry, live music and a wonderful performance by singer Shahbaz Ahmed, celebrating the power of literature, culture and community solidarity in a warm and convivial atmosphere.
While the guest of honour also garnered appreciation from the audience by presenting “Ghazals and Poems” from his latest collection of poetry. The proceedings were moderated by Alderman Mushtaq Lasharie (CBE) and former Deputy Mayor of the Royal Borough of “Kensington and Chelsea”, the event was attended by individuals from all walks of life.

Tameside (Tee Jay) The Deputy Leader of Tameside Council, Greater Manchester, Councillor Andrew McLaren, has said that work on Ashton Town Hall is expected to be completed by the end of November or the first week of December. He also confirmed that the Lantern Parade will take place next month. He was addressing a group of Labour Party members at Broadoak Community Centre in Ashton-under-Lyne. Those attending the meeting included MP Angela Rayner, Attaul Rasool, Teresa Smith, Mr Ghazanfar and other Labour Party members.
Speaking about the progress of work at Ashton Town Hall, he said: “We’ve gone on site, we’ve looked at the progress. There’s lots of people busy on site, and they do lots of work. We’re confident that not only will that go away on the end of November or first week in December.” He also discussed other improvements planned for Ashton town centre, saying that the kiosk would open on the 14th. He described the installation as a straightforward process, adding that the lighting columns were already in place and additional benches were being installed. Overgrown planting is being removed and replaced, while CCTV and Wi-Fi facilities are expected to be installed in next week. Additional CCTV and security measures are also planned, with marshals expected to be present in the town centre. Mr McLaren further said that the police had allocated two additional officers dedicated to Ashton town centre.
The steps at the Town Hall on Wellington Gardens are expected to be completed by the end of February 2027. He also referred to additional funding from the central government, saying that grants would help fund further paving work around Electric Square. He clarified that this work would be separate from the improvements planned for the market square. Summing up the developments, Mr McLaren acknowledged that the work had taken longer than expected.

Bureau report
Manchester: The Press Club of Pakistan UK (PCP) organised a Hate Crime Workshop at Dhalia Coffee, Burnage, Manchester. The event was supported by Manchester City Council and Southway. Speakers included Nasrallah Khan Mughal, Mahmood Khan, Councillor Carl Austin Behan and Mahboob Elahi Butt. Councillor Muqddasah Bano, Mansur Ahmed Khan, while Gulzar Khan, Aqsa Bano, Samuel Jacob and many local community members also attended.
PCP President Mahmood Khan, speaking on hate crimes against the Muslim community, said hate crime remained a serious issue in the UK. He referred to a report published in March 2025 on hate crimes in England and Wales, which highlighted the targeting of Muslims. He said anti-Muslim hostility and online threats had increased during the period covered by the report. He added that hate crime had a wider impact on communities and called for effective policies, community engagement, education and awareness of racism. “Britain is a multicultural society, and we need to support each other,” he emphasised. Councillor Muqddasah Bano recommended organising anti-hate seminars in schools to raise awareness among young people. Mahboob Elahi Butt called for more seminars and a friendly atmosphere in communities. He said social media was a major factor in spreading hatred and stressed that education and open conversations could help tackle the problem. Senior journalist Tajammul Gurmani said greater harmony was needed between different religions. He suggested that religious leaders should encourage their followers to respect other faiths. He also expressed concern that some religious leaders promoted fear of other religions rather than understanding. Nasrallah Khan Mughal spoke about hate crimes against Jewish and LGBTQ+ communities. Referring to attacks on synagogues in Manchester and North London, as well as the burning of four ambulances donated by members of the community, he condemned hatred and violence. He stressed that children should learn at school that everyone deserved respect, regardless of faith or sexual orientation.
He concluded by calling for stronger relationships and alliances between communities to bring people together and promote mutual understanding.

Nisar Kallu
MISSISSAUGA, Canada: Alvin Tedjo has won Mississauga’s mayoral election, defeating incumbent Mayor Carolyn Parrish and former mayor Bonnie Crombie in the October 26 municipal vote.
Tedjo received 74,479 votes, followed by Parrish with 51,853 and Crombie with 43,191. He finished 22,626 votes ahead of his closest rival.
The victory marks a significant moment in Mississauga’s political history. Tedjo will become the city’s first male mayor since Ron Searle’s tenure ended in 1978. Women have led the city for the intervening 48 years, through the administrations of Hazel McCallion, Bonnie Crombie and Carolyn Parrish. McCallion alone served for 36 consecutive years, from 1978 to 2014.
Tedjo, who is of Chinese-Indonesian heritage, grew up in Mississauga after his parents settled in the city when he was four. His election is also a notable milestone for the representation of the city’s diverse population and immigrant families. Previously the councillor for Ward 2, Tedjo finished second in the 2024 mayoral by-election before winning this year’s contest.
Housing affordability, municipal spending, public safety and transit were prominent issues during the campaign. In his victory address, Tedjo described the result as a clear public demand for change at City Hall.
Mississauga’s City Clerk formally certified the election results on October 29. A total of 191,166 voters participated in the municipal election, representing a turnout of 33.9 per cent.
The mayor-elect and incoming councillors will take their oaths of office at the inaugural council meeting on November 16, 2026, at 7 p.m. at the Living Arts Centre, formally beginning their term.

City reporter
Prince Harry is reportedly keen to rebuild his relationship with his father, King Charles III, following years of family tensions. The Duke of Sussex, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle, has faced a prolonged rift with the Royal Family.
In an interview with GQ magazine published on Tuesday, Harry said: “With everything else that’s going on in the world, the most important thing is to reconcile.” He also expressed hope of repairing his relationship with his elder brother, Prince William, while acknowledging that past disagreements had left lasting scars.
His remarks signal a willingness to move beyond the family dispute, although it remains unclear whether reconciliation will follow.