The United Kingdom’s Home Office has announced stricter rules for migrants, requiring them to pass tougher English language tests starting January 2026.

“If you come to the UK, you must learn our language and play your part,” the Home Office said in a statement on Wednesday, amid growing anti-immigration sentiment across the country.

The department added, “From January 2026, migrants will be required to meet tough new English language requirements so they can contribute fully to our national life.”

The policy is part of a broader strategy to ensure that migrants integrate into British society and the economy. Knowledge of English is now mandatory for education, work, and daily participation in national life.

In a separate announcement, the Home Office said it would raise levies on employers hiring foreign workers, ensuring companies prioritize British staff.

“For too long, businesses have relied on cheap overseas labour. We are raising employer costs for foreign hires and putting a stop to that,” the government added.

These measures follow a series of recent immigration reforms. In March 2025, visa fees increased across multiple categories:

Student visas rose from £490 to £542 for main applicants and dependents.

Six-month visit visas increased from £115 to £127.

Two-year visas went up from £432 to £475.

Ten-year visas jumped from £963 to £1,059.

The Home Office said these changes are aimed at balancing immigration with opportunities for local workers while ensuring migrants can fully integrate through English proficiency.

Critics have warned that stricter language requirements could limit access for skilled and unskilled migrants, particularly from developing countries.

The government emphasized that these reforms are designed to protect both migrants and local communities, while promoting social cohesion and economic contribution.

President Donald Trump has signed a bill reopening the U.S. government, officially ending the longest federal shutdown in the nation’s history.

The signing came late Wednesday, just hours after the House of Representatives passed the bipartisan funding deal by 222 votes to 209.

The agreement, reached between Republicans and centrist Senate Democrats, restores operations and funding for key agencies through January 2026.

The bill reverses widespread layoffs and restarts salaries for thousands of federal employees. It also resumes essential public services, including food and nutrition programs that millions of Americans depend on.

Trump hailed the move as a political win, calling the 43-day standoff “a victory against extortion.”

Speaking from the Oval Office, he said Democrats “tried to extort” his administration.

“They didn’t want to do it the easy way. They had to do it the hard way, and they look very bad,” he added.

The Oval Office signing capped a tense four-day rush to pass the measure. Eight Senate Democrats broke ranks to side with Republicans amid fears that the prolonged shutdown could cripple the U.S. economy.

The deal includes a promise for a Senate vote in December on expiring Obamacare subsidies, a key Democratic demand during negotiations.

However, analysts warn that the vote may fail, potentially driving up health care premiums and fueling new political fights.

Democratic leaders criticized the compromise. House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said, “This fight is not over. Tens of millions of Americans could lose access to affordable healthcare.”

House Speaker Mike Johnson managed to unite most Republicans behind the bill, though controversy erupted over a Senate amendment allowing lawmakers to sue the Justice Department for past investigations.

Some Republicans, including Rep. Chip Roy, called it “self-dealing” since successful lawsuits could pay senators up to $500,000 each.

Johnson later admitted he was unaware of the amendment until after the Senate vote, calling it “a bad look” but promising to fix it later.

The end of the shutdown gives Congress just four weeks to address pending issues before the year’s end, including the farm bill, energy tax credits, and the future of Obamacare subsidies.

Trump hinted at more battles ahead, promising to “revamp” the healthcare system instead of extending current subsidies.

“Obamacare was a disaster,” he said. “We’ll work on something better.”

Meanwhile, a new controversy is brewing in Washington over the Jeffrey Epstein case files.

The House is preparing to vote next week on a bill compelling the Justice Department to release all Epstein-related documents, following pressure from both parties.

The reopened government marks a temporary political truce but sets the stage for another showdown over spending and healthcare in the coming months.

At least three people have died after a boat carrying migrants capsized off the southern coast of Crete, Greece’s public broadcaster ERT reported on Tuesday, citing the coastguard.

According to ERT, a total of 56 people have been rescued so far, while the search for other possible passengers continues in the rough seas.

The Greek coastguard confirmed that rescue efforts were ongoing late Tuesday evening.

A chilling video published by ERT showed the overloaded vessel moments before it overturned.

The clip, recorded by rescuers, captured the cries for help from migrants packed onto the small boat. Seconds later, the video abruptly stopped as the vessel capsized for reasons that remain unclear.

Several coastguard ships, an air force helicopter, and a rescue boat from the EU border protection agency, Frontex, were deployed to the area as part of the emergency response.

Survivors were transported to Crete, where they received immediate medical attention.

Authorities said the rescued migrants told investigators they had departed from the Libyan port city of Tobruk, a key departure point for smugglers attempting to reach Europe through the Mediterranean.

The UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) revealed that nearly 16,000 migrants have arrived on Crete since the beginning of 2025 a staggering 300 percent increase compared to last year.

Greek officials have attributed the rise to worsening conditions in North Africa and renewed instability in Libya.

The Greek government has since renewed calls for a fairer distribution of asylum seekers across European Union member states.

Athens argues that front-line nations such as Greece, Italy, and Malta continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of the migration burden.

The tragic incident off Crete highlights the deadly risks migrants face as they attempt to cross the Mediterranean  one of the world’s most dangerous migration routes.