Turning Point USA now in over 500 Texas high schools
Texas governor Greg Abbott has announced that over 500 high schools across the state now host chapters of Turning Point USA’s Club America programme, a conservative student movement designed to promote constitutional principles, traditional values, and civic responsibility among young people. At a press conference, he highlighted the growing need for such programmes in shaping future leaders. He honoured the legacy of Charlie Kirk, TPUSA’s founder, who was assassinated last September, recognising his impact in inspiring students to stand for moral clarity and America’s founding ideals. Club America now includes more than 1,200 chapters nationwide, teaching principles such as fiscal responsibility, free markets, and limited government. Several other states, including Florida and Oklahoma, have pledged support for students wishing to establish their own chapters.
£3.5bn plan to halve homelessness unveiled
The Government has unveiled a £3.5bn national plan to end homelessness, aiming to halve long-term rough sleeping by 2029/30. Housing secretary Steve Reed described homelessness as 'one of the most profound challenges we face’, promising a future where it is 'rare, brief, and not repeated’. The strategy includes a new duty requiring prisons, hospitals, and social care to work together, preventing people from being discharged straight onto the streets. It also pledges to halve first-night homelessness among prison leavers, reduce the number of families living in B&B accommodation, and direct £50m to councils to create tailored action plans. A £124m supported housing scheme is expected to help 2,500 people off the streets. However, charities warn the plan falls short, noting that only £100m of the funding is new and highlighting major gaps, particularly around prevention, frozen housing benefit, refugee support, and the lack of available social homes. MPs and homelessness organisations say the strategy appears rushed and insufficient to meet the scale of need, with record numbers of people (especially children) expected to be homeless this Christmas.
Reeves admits Budget leaks were damaging and unacceptable
Rachel Reeves has condemned a series of Treasury leaks ahead of her recent Budget, calling them 'inaccurate, damaging, and unacceptable’. She insisted the disclosure suggesting that she had abandoned plans for an income tax rise was not an authorised briefing but a leak, which undermined confidence in her commitment to restoring fiscal 'headroom.' Reeves confirmed that a full inquiry had begun, alongside a review of Treasury security processes to prevent further breaches. She expressed frustration at the volume of speculation surrounding the Budget, stressing the need to restore integrity to fiscal announcements. MPs also questioned her on her decision to freeze income tax thresholds for three more years. She denied breaking Labour’s manifesto pledge, arguing that the promise referred specifically to tax rates, while acknowledging that the freeze would mean working people paying more. She said she and the prime minister had jointly decided the measure, rejecting suggestions she had been overruled.
Navy chief warns: fund defence or risk losing Atlantic to Russia
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins, head of the Royal Navy, has issued a stark warning that the UK risks losing its long-held maritime advantage in the North Atlantic unless defence funding increases urgently. He said Britain is 'holding on, but not by much’, as Russia invests billions into rebuilding its naval power - especially its Northern Fleet - even while fighting in Ukraine. Russian activity in the North Atlantic has risen by 30% in two years, including incidents such as the Yantar spy ship shining a laser at RAF pilots. Jenkins warned that the greater threat lies beneath the surface, where vital undersea cables and energy pipelines are vulnerable to hostile interference. The Navy itself is facing severe strain: more vessels are tied up in port than operational, recruitment shortfalls are acute, and years of cuts and failed procurement programmes have left the fleet hollowed out. While avoiding direct criticism of the Government, Jenkins highlighted the widening gap between ministerial promises and available funding. He outlined a vision for a modernised 'hybrid navy', though it would not be fully ready until 2029 - a timeline some fear may be too slow given rising global threats.
