Academic division within LASE; operates Greenwich campuses after merger
Leaders across parties are pressing to curb privatisation of water supplies as bills rise and infrastructure falters. Labour pledges stronger public control while the Greens push nationalisation; ministers weigh options for Thames Water amid financial strain and environmental pressures.
The SAVE income-driven repayment plan has ended and servicers have begun notifying roughly 7–7.5 million borrowers that they have 90 days from their notice to choose a replacement. New Department of Education rules that took effect on July 1 have created a Repayment Assistance Plan and a Tiered Standard plan, tightened graduate and Parent PLUS borrowing caps, and added a temporary autopay interest discount.
A Commons Treasury Committee has criticised the government for freezing the student loan repayment threshold for Plan 2 loans at £29,385 from 2027 to 2030, instead of uprating with inflation. The report labels the move mis-selling and calls for reversal in the autumn budget, arguing the policy loads unfair costs onto younger generations. MPs reference earlier promotional material and warn of a loss of trust in the system.
Howard University has reinstated roughly 200 of 502 first-year students who were removed from its roster after missing a July 10 payment deadline or failing to meet other enrollment conditions; the school says each case will be reviewed. In the UK, the University of Greenwich and the University of Kent have formed the London and South East University Group (LASE/LASEUG), a four-campus group of more than 50,000 students that will launch on 7 September.
England's bid at this World Cup has ended in semi-final heartbreak, with a third-place finish their best since 1966. The Guardian reports on on-pitch moments and off-pitch memes, while BBC Business focuses on fan coping mechanisms as Germany and other teams exit.
The London and South East University Group (LASE) has merged two mid-ranking institutions to create one of the UK’s largest university systems, with more than 50,000 students across campuses in London, Medway and Kent. The move is designed to deliver economies of scale and greater regional impact amid rising financial pressures, while keeping Greenwich and Kent as distinct divisions within the new group.
The Scotsman reports growing strain on Scotland’s ASN provisions as specialist staffing falls and schools argue for sustainable inclusion and a national workforce strategy, while leaders stress the need for long-term funding and support.