7 h. ago Doomscrolling breaks and overnight curfews considered as part of social media crackdown plans, minister says

Tech secretary Liz Kendall announces a ‘swift’ consultation on banning children using social media, with a verdict expected by the summer

Politics

9 h. ago British leader says ’no option off the table’ as UK considers Australia

The British government is considering banning young teenagers from social media to protect them from harmful content and excessive screen time

Politics

21 h. ago UK social media ban: Government considering Australian style measures to stop 'infinite scrolling'

The Government said it would consult on options including raising the digital age of consent and restricting potentially addictive social media features

Politics

23 h. ago Major change means water firms have 'nowhere to hide' after disasters

Water companies will be left with 'nowhere to hide' as ministers unveil major plans to overhaul the industry after years of soaring bills, supply issues and sewage pollution

Events

29 h. ago Starmer to consider all options on social media ban for under

The consultation is expected to look at all options for reform including a blanket ban

Politics

44 h. ago Labour pulls ENTIRE Hillsborough law following huge backlash from victims' families and backbenchers

Ministers had first been forced to abandon planned changes to the flagship legislation - intended to prevent cover-ups - after angry complaints that it would protect the security services.

Society

55 h. ago Trump’s tariff threat over Greenland risks ‘dangerous downward spiral’, warn Nato members – Europe live

The leaders of Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden and the UK issue joint statement ahead of EU ambassadors meetingThe United States will also suffer if president Donald Trump implements threats to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to acquire Greenland, a French minister said on Sunday.“In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” French agriculture minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago Meloni warns Trump over Greenland tariffs as EU ambassadors summoned for emergency talks – Europe live

European leaders hit back at Trump ‘blackmail’ as president escalates plan for the US to acquire GreenlandThe United States will also suffer if president Donald Trump implements threats to impose tariffs on European countries opposing his plans to acquire Greenland, a French minister said on Sunday.“In this escalation of tariffs, he has a lot to lose as well, as do his own farmers and industrialists,” French agriculture minister Annie Genevard told broadcasters Europe 1 and CNews. Continue reading...

Events

59 h. ago Irish Foreign Affairs Minister brands US tariffs plan ‘completely unacceptable’

Helen McEntee said they are ‘coordinating closely with our EU and wider European partners in response to this announcement’.

Politics

4 d. ago Donald Trump says he may put a tariff on ‘countries that don’t go along with Greenland’ – Europe live

US president further steps up threats after US special envoy to Greenland says Trump is ‘serious’ about his plans to control islandMeanwhile, Italian defence minister Guido Crosetto does not seem to be convinced about the merits of European military deployments to Greenland.Speaking to journalists, he wondered “what a hundred, two hundred, or three hundred soldiers of any nationality could do” in Greenland. “It sounds like the beginning of a joke.”“It’s not a competition to see who sends the military around the world.”“A part of me is not sure how much of this is a distraction, to try and take the attention of the American people away from some very real issues that we have in the United States right now.The cost of living is a real concern for Americans [and] Donald Trump got elected saying he was going to address the cost of living. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Ukraine’s battered power grid faces unprecedented challenge, energy minister says

Ukraine's energy minister says Russia has attacked every Ukrainian power plant since its invasion

Politics

5 d. ago Iran closes airspace to all flights as foreign minister denies it plans to execute protesters – live

Abbas Araghchi says hangings over anti-government demonstrations are ‘out of the question’ while flight tracking data shows airlines avoiding Iranian airspaceUS and UK military to withdraw some personnel from Middle East amid Iranian threatsAnalysis: why western diplomats are wary of predicting end days for Iran’s regimeMassacres and executions: what are we hearing from inside Iran? – podcastFor the first time in days, Iranians were able to make calls abroad from their mobiles on Tuesday, according to reporting by Associated Press. Texting services have not been restored, however, and nor has the internet.Although Iranians were able to call abroad, they could not receive calls from outside the country, several people in the capital told Associated Press. The internet remained blocked, they said, though it is possible to access some government-approved websites. Cloudfare - an internet infrastructure provider, and one of several companies and monitors tracking the status of internet ...

Politics

6 d. ago Keir Starmer denies change to digital ID plan is yet another U

No 10 says ditching of key plank of plan is technical tweak after Kemi Badenoch targeted Starmer over issue at PMQsKeir Starmer has rejected the claim that his change of plan over digital IDs represents another U-turn, as the prime minister faced accusations from the Conservatives that his government had “no sense of direction”.Late on Tuesday it emerged that a key plank of the controversial plan for digital IDs was being rolled back, with a proposal to make the document mandatory for people to show their right to work being dropped, with other forms of identification being allowed instead, for example a passport with a digital chip or e-visa. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Social media time does not increase teenagers’ mental health problems – study

UK study comes as ministers consider Australia’s ban on social media use for under-16sScreen time spent gaming or on social media does not cause mental health problems in teenagers, according to a large-scale study.With ministers in the UK considering whether to follow Australia’s example by banning social media use for under-16s, the findings challenge concerns that long periods spent gaming or scrolling TikTok or Instagram s driving an increase in teenagers’ depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Starmer faces Badenoch at PMQs amid criticism over digital ID U

Ministers have rolled back central element of digital ID plans, possibly allowing people to use other forms of identification to prove their right to workHere are extracts from three interesting comment articles about the digital ID U-turn.Ailbhe Rea in the New Statesman in the New Statesmans says there were high hopes for the policy when it was first announced.I remember a leisurely lunch over the summer when a supporter of digital IDs told me how they thought Keir Starmer would reset his premiership. Alongside a reorganisation of his team in Number 10, and maybe a junior ministerial reshuffle, they predicted he would announce in his speech at party conference that his government would be embracing digital IDs. “It will allow him to show he’s willing to do whatever it takes to tackle illegal immigration,” was their rationale.Sure enough, Starmer announced “phase two” of his government, reshuffled his top team and, on the Friday before Labour party conference, he duly announced his ...

Politics

6 d. ago Budget plans aim to help families when they need it most, insists John Swinney

The Scottish First Minister has hailed his Government’s tax and spending plans for 2026-27, which were unveiled at Holyrood on Tuesday.

Politics

6 d. ago Mandatory digital ID plans ditched as top minister rejects 13 U

Labour said it is committed to having digital right-to-work checks but that a digital ID or other digital documentation, such as a biometric passport chip, would now be accepted

Politics

6 d. ago Starmer is branded 'Peking's poodle': Backlash from all sides as PM prepares to approve China's mega embassy

The Prime Minister was accused of planning a 'craven kowtow' to the Chinese in return for new trade and investment deals to boost Britain's flagging economy.

Politics

7 d. ago 'Spineless' Keir Starmer backtracks on plans for compulsory digital ID cards

As the government struggles to maintain its popularity with the public, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has said that plans to introduce digital ID cards have been scrapped

Politics

7 d. ago Plans to slash jury trial will see cases already in backlog diverted to new 'swift courts', minister confirms

MPs heard defendants who have already opted for a jury trial in the Crown court are likely to see their cases reassessed once new legislation has been passed.

Politics