Author: Fatimah Idera

A teenage girl who stabbed three people at a Welsh school had previously been considered for referral to the UK government’s anti-extremism programme Prevent, according to a new safeguarding report. The 13-year-old, who expressed interest in Adolf Hitler, war memorabilia, and weapons, attacked two teachers and a fellow student at Ysgol Dyffryn Aman in Ammanford, Carmarthenshire, in April 2024. She had earlier been found carrying a knife on school grounds, prompting discussions about a Prevent referral. However, no formal referral was made. Following the violent incident, the girl referred to in official documents as Child A was arrested and told…

The fertility rate in England and Wales has reached a record low, marking the third consecutive year of decline, according to newly released figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). In 2024, the total fertility rate which represents the average number of live children a woman is expected to have over her lifetime fell to 1.41, down slightly from 1.42 in 2023. This is the lowest figure since records began in 1938. This drop occurred despite a slight 0.6% increase in the total number of live births in 2024. The ONS also noted a 14% rise in the number…

The gap in transport-related carbon emissions between the UK’s richest and poorest is on track to grow significantly by 2035, according to new research from the Institute for Public Policy Research (IPPR). Currently, the most affluent individuals produce 10 times more emissions from domestic travel than the least affluent. If current government policies remain unchanged, that disparity is expected to rise to 13 times within the next decade. The IPPR analysis, which models future emissions using 12 distinct traveller profiles, highlights that the poorest groups will reduce their transport emissions much faster than wealthier groups. By 2035, the top 4%…

Scotland has introduced water restrictions for the first time due to a prolonged dry spell that has pushed river levels to critical lows. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) announced restrictions in Ythan (Aberdeenshire) and North Fife after both regions reached significant scarcity status which is the highest level of alert. This follows over 30 days of very low water levels in local rivers. The measures limit water abstraction and the process of taking water from natural sources and primarily affecting agricultural and industrial users. Sepa stated the restrictions are temporary and will be lifted once conditions improve. The agency…

The Labour government is facing criticism for allegedly neglecting British tech companies while seeking to position the UK as a global leader in artificial intelligence (AI). Newly formed government working groups had set up to address growing concerns over AI’s impact on copyright laws which come under fire after it emerged that just one UK tech company, AI video startup Synthesia, was invited to participate. In contrast, the attendee list includes several major US tech giants, such as Amazon, Apple, Meta, Nvidia, and OpenAI. The imbalance has sparked accusations that UK ministers are prioritising American corporate interests over homegrown innovation,…

Fraudsters in Ghana are deliberately targeting British women in online romance scams, claiming their crimes are a form of retribution for colonial exploitation, new research has revealed. Accra, the capital of Ghana, has become a hub for cybercrime networks known as Sakawa Boys. These gangs impersonate white men on Facebook often posing as soldiers, bankers or government officials to lure affluent Western women into relationships. Over months, victims are persuaded to hand over large sums of money, sometimes amounting to hundreds of thousands of pounds, after being manipulated with fabricated tales of medical emergencies or personal crises. Read Read: Ghana’s president…

The head of the UK’s elections watchdog has said schools must begin teaching democracy from the age of 11 to prepare children for voting at 16, while stressing the importance of keeping classrooms free from political bias. Vijay Rangarajan, chief executive of the Electoral Commission, said teaching will initially target pupils aged 14 and above but should eventually start earlier so that young people are ready to use the vote by their mid-teens. The change comes ahead of the next general election, when 16- and 17-year-olds are expected to gain the right to vote. The commission is developing teaching materials…

Rising grocery costs are piling further pressure on UK households, with eggs, butter and chocolate leading a fresh surge in food inflation. According to the British Retail Consortium (BRC), food prices rose by 4.2% in August, up from 4% in July and the sharpest increase in 18 months. Overall shop price inflation also edged up to 0.9%, despite non-food prices falling by 0.8%. BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said the cost of everyday staples had jumped because of strong demand, tighter supply chains and higher labour costs. Cocoa shortages have also kept chocolate prices elevated. The BRC warned that retailers…

People using the weight-loss injection Mounjaro are being urged not to bulk buy or turn to unlicensed sellers after its manufacturer, Eli Lilly, confirmed prices in the UK will rise sharply this autumn. From September, the cost of Mounjaro is set to increase by up to 170%, although the NHS will be protected from the rise. Since only a small number of patients are eligible for NHS prescriptions, most people buy the drug privately at around £200 a month — a figure expected to soar. Henry Gregg, chief executive of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA), said the rising costs had…

Families in one of England’s most deprived areas are being asked to pay as much as £12,000 to dedicate a memorial bench to a loved one, the highest charge in the country. Torbay Council has been criticised for introducing the steep new fees without public consultation or a council vote. Under the scheme, families can sponsor a bench for either five or 25 years, with the most expensive prices reserved for premium locations such as Torquay seafront. A 25-year dedication in one of these areas costs £12,000, while the same period in a less prominent location is priced at £8,000.…