The University of Liverpool has entered the top 20 of The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 – its highest position in more than a decade. It follows a strong performance in the Guardian University Guide 2026, where the University rose six places to 21st earlier this week. The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide assesses 133 universities across a wide range of measures, including student satisfaction, teaching excellence, research quality, degree completion rates, and graduate employment prospects. Vice-Chancellor Professor Tim Jones said: “Breaking into the top 20 of The Times and Sunday Times Good University guide is an important milestone for the University and follows on from our rise in the Guardian rankings earlier this week. New degrees are launching to meet the interests of today’s students and equip the next generation to power industry and progress positive change, such as programmes in electrical and electronic engineering with robotics, and AI and public policy.”Click here to view The Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026.

Best universities in Wales and the UK named in prestigious rankingsCardiff is first in Wales with Swansea runner-up while Aberysytwyth and the University of Wales Trinity St David both got awards in The Times and Sunday Times University Guide 2026View 2 Images Cardiff University's main building at Cathays Park (Image: WalesOnline)Cardiff University has been crowned the number one university in Wales in The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026. ‌Swansea University is named runner-up Welsh University of the year. Other winners in Wales include the University of Wales Trinity St David, named University of the Year for Teaching, while Aberysywyth University is is named as Sustainable University of the Year 2026. Durham University moves up from fifth place to third and as a result has been named The Times and The Sunday Times University of the Year 2026. "It is exciting to see universities across the UK working to deliver extraordinary medical and technical breakthroughs, lead economic regeneration, and inspire.

A group of young climate activists attempted to put the Trump administration’s energy agenda on trial in Montana this week. In two days of hearings in a packed federal courtroom in Missoula, the plaintiffs and a slew of expert witnesses testified that three of President Trump’s executive orders aimed at “unleashing” American energy violated their Constitutional rights to life and liberty. The president’s efforts to quash clean energy sources like wind and solar while promoting fossil fuels, they said, would exacerbate the climate crisis, causing air pollution near their homes and creating more of the greenhouse gases that are warming the planet. Five of the plaintiffs, ranging in age from 11 to 20 years old, and two with severe lung conditions, testified about the effects of wildfires, heat and coal dust. They asked Judge Dana L. Christensen to issue a preliminary injunction stopping federal agencies from implementing the orders until their case is heard.

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The institution is also awarded University of the Year in the Southwest 2026, a new category acknowledging the rise in undergraduates choosing to stay at home and commute to University. Bath is one of two Universities highly commended for the University of the Year award (an award it received in 2023). Professor Cassie Wilson, Pro Vice Chancellor of Student Experience and Sport, said: “It means so much to us that Bath has been named Sport University of the Year, as it reflects our commitment to offer sport at every level, whether you are an elite athlete striving for excellence or someone who enjoys being active for your health and wellbeing, there is something for everyone at the University. Our pioneering research in injury prevention and bio banding means that sport at Bath is also making a huge impact on the lives of people worldwide through our high-profile partnerships.”Stephen Baddeley, Director of Sport, said: “Every year we welcome over 1.5 million people to our Sports Training Village and we are consistently investing in our facilities to ensure we’re providing a high-quality experience. New degrees are launching to meet the interests of today’s students and equip the next generation to power industry and progress positive change, such as programmes in electrical and electronic engineering with robotics, and AI and public policy.”Sport at Bath: A snapshotThis result means Bath retains its position as one of the UK’s top 10 universities in all four of the most influential national rankings The Times & Sunday Times Good University Guide, Guardian University Guide, and the Daily Mail University Guide and is also ranked in the Top 10% of universities globally in the QS World University Rankings.

Landmark hailed as recognition of its world-leading research facilitiesQueen’s University has moved into the top 25 universities in the UK, according to The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026. Queen’s — part of the prestigious Russell Group of UK universities — has also been named as University of the Year in Northern Ireland in the guide which will be published on Sunday. Queen’s President and Vice-Chancellor, Professor Sir Ian Greer said the acknowledgment was a testimony to the university’s ongoing efforts to deliver “outstanding education” and “world-leading research”. “We are delighted that Queen’s has been ranked among the top 25 universities in the UK, rising to 21st place this year,” he said. Queen's University BelfastWatch: Belfast’s new vintage video arcade The Retro Room arrives at Cityside“Competition to get a place at our top-ranked institutions continues to grow, leaving some lower-tariff universities with recruitment challenges.

Professor Deborah Longworth, Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education) at the University of Birmingham said: “As we celebrate our 125th anniversary this year, I’m delighted that Birmingham has been recognised in these latest Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide rankings. Birmingham moves up into Guardian University Guide Top 30The University of Birmingham has also improved its position in the Guardian University Guide 2026, rising eight places to 28th overall. The 2026 table saw the University improve scores across a range of measures including:Satisfied with teaching – 86.2 (2024: 83.9); andSatisfied with feedback – 77 (2024: 70.7). The University has also improved its position amongst the best-performing universities in the world – rising four places in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Within the UK, Birmingham placed 11th – up two places from last year.

The Times and The Sunday Times Good University Guide 2026 ranked London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) first for the second year in a row, followed by the University of St Andrews in second, and Durham University in third. The guide named Durham as University of the Year 2026 after it climbed the rankings from fifth last year. In The Guardian University Guide 2026 published last week, Oxford was ranked first and Cambridge third. LSE has also been awarded University of the Year for Academic Performance, Russell Group University of the Year, and joint runner-up for University of the Year for Graduate Employment. The new league table ranks Imperial College London sixth, followed by the University of Bath, the University of Warwick, University College London and the University of Bristol.

LONDON: US President Donald Trump , on the final day of his state visit to Britain, said US is trying to get Bagram airbase back from Afghanistan as it is in a strategic position, an hour away from where China makes nuclear weapons. Trump is a big Churchill fan.US tech and finance giants have announced £150 billion in investments in the UK, creating 7,600 jobs to coincide with the state visit, including plans to build in the United Kingdom the largest AI supercomputer in Europe.US first lady Melania Trump and Queen Camilla looked around Queen Mary's Dolls' House at Windsor Castle, the largest dolls' house in the world, designed by Edwin Lutyens. It contains a fully stocked wine cellar, working lifts, running water and a miniature library with 200 original works hand-written by famous writers. Melania particularly liked "The Gruffalo".At the state banquet on Wednesday, Trump hailed the British empire laying the foundations of "law, liberty, free speech and individual rights virtually everywhere the Union Jack has ever flown". "Together, we've done more good for humanity than any two countries in all of history," he said.

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Universities are one of the biggest funders of UK research, investing £6.2bn annually to support a thriving research base which delivers benefits across society. One of the most visible signs of pressure is the growing shortfall between the true cost of research and what universities actually recover. While UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) aims to fund research at 80 per cent of its full economic cost, recent data from the Office for Students shows that universities recover just 69 per cent on average – down from 74 per cent in 2018-19. The value of grants erodes quickly when salaries, energy bills and infrastructure costs keep rising but funding levels do not. And with inflation still high, many universities will have to make tough decisions about which research to support in future.

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As President Trump prepares to fly back to Washington on Air Force One, the prime minister will be pleased to have survived what was a typically freewheeling 46-minute Donald Trump press conference. • Read in full: Trump press conference is a triumph for StarmerTrump departs for Air Force OneMelania Trump and the president leave for Stansted IAN VOGLER/REUTERSPresident Trump has left Chequers after his press conference with Sir Keir Starmer, concluding his state visit to Britain. Analysis: Starmer presents image of unitySir Keir Starmer opens his remarks with the obligatory reference to the “special relationship” (Aubrey Allegretti writes). Starmer: Security the cornerstone of special relationshipSir Keir Starmer began the press conference by hailing the technology deal struck during President Trump’s visit. Gaza and free speech among potential flashpointsToday’s joint press conference with Sir Keir Starmer and President Trump at Chequers may cover several potential flashpoints, including the war in Gaza.

Human remains were discovered in the trunk of a Tesla after workers at a Hollywood tow yard reported a stench coming from the car on Sept. 8. Authorities have identified human remains found in the trunk of R&B singer D4vd’s Tesla as those of a 15-year-old girl reported missing last year in Riverside County. The Los Angeles County Medical Examiner’s Office announced Wednesday the remains were of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas, who was reported missing April 5, 2024, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The singer was on tour when the girl’s remains were found, according to authorities. Rivas was wearing a tube top and small black leggings when her body was found, according to the medical examiner’s office.

Fans will also notice a slight name change as the documentary prepares for release. Before the documentary was pulled from the TV schedule, it was titled Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home with the BBC explaining: “Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home is the moving and inspirational account of the last chapter of Ozzy’s life, told through unique and intimate access to the whole Osbourne family, including Sharon, Jack and Kelly. However, now the title will include Ozzy’s wife Sharon’s name – Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne: Coming Home. How to watch new Ozzy Osbourne documentaryThe documentary will now air on Thursday, October 2 at 9pm on BBC One and iPlayer, reports the Radio Times. Before the documentary was pulled, Clare Sillery, BBC Head of Commissioning, Documentaries, said: “We are honoured to have had the opportunity to film with Ozzy and his family.