Author: Fatimah Idera

Kent Police have apologised and agreed to pay damages to a woman who was wrongly threatened with arrest under the Terrorism Act for holding a Palestine flag and Free Gaza signs during a peaceful protest in Canterbury. Laura Murton, 43, was approached by armed officers on 14 July, who claimed her protest expressed views supportive of the proscribed group Palestine Action, which had been banned earlier that month. The officers told her that displaying the flag and messages such as Israel is committing genocide could amount to a criminal offence under counterterrorism laws. The incident, filmed by Murton and reported,…

A 43-year-old woman has been arrested on suspicion of murder following the deaths of two young children in Stafford, Staffordshire Police have confirmed. The victims, identified as Meraj Ul Zahra, aged two, and Abdul Momin Alfaateh, aged three, were found unresponsive at a property on Corporation Street around 7:30am on Sunday. Paramedics from the West Midlands Ambulance Service attended the scene but both children were pronounced dead shortly after their arrival. Police said both children were found with injuries, and their next of kin are being supported by specially trained officers. The arrested woman, from the Stafford area, remains in…

Charities across the UK have reported a sharp rise in abuse, intimidation, and threats of violence towards staff and beneficiaries, which was attributed to increasingly toxic political rhetoric on immigration and race. Organisations supporting refugees, asylum seekers, ethnic minorities, women, and vulnerable groups say they have faced racist graffiti, physical assaults, and threats of rape and murder. Many have been forced to install security measures, including safe rooms, security guards, and phone trackers for staff. The National Council for Voluntary Organisations (NCVO) said charities were being “targeted because of what they stand for and who they support.” Saskia Konynenburg, NCVO’s…

Chancellor Rachel Reeves is preparing to build greater fiscal headroom in her upcoming November budget, aiming to protect the UK economy from turbulence in global bond markets. Treasury sources confirmed that Reeves wants to strengthen the government’s position against her self-imposed fiscal rules, which require taxes and day-to-day spending to be balanced within five years. In last autumn’s budget and March’s spring statement, Reeves met that rule with just £10bn to spare a narrow margin that has left her exposed to rising borrowing costs. “We want more headroom to insulate ourselves against bond market volatility,” a Treasury insider said, adding…

Police in Staffordshire have launched a murder investigation following the tragic deaths of two children at a home in Stafford. According to Staffordshire Police, officers were called to a property in the town at around 7:30am on Sunday after receiving a report from the West Midlands Ambulance Service. Emergency responders arrived swiftly, but despite their efforts, two children were pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not yet released the ages or identities of the victims, citing the need to notify extended family members. The children’s next of kin have been informed and are currently being supported by specially trained…

The UK Government has published a list of 82 mid-skilled occupations that will qualify for temporary work visas under its new Temporary Shortage List (TSL) scheme, aimed at addressing labour gaps across key sectors. The list, detailed in the Temporary Shortage List: Stage 1 Report (October 2025), follows recommendations from the Migration Advisory Committee (MAC) and marks a significant shift in the country’s post-Brexit immigration policy. The move comes months after the government released its Immigration White Paper titled “Restoring Control over the Immigration System” in May 2025, which outlined plans to cut record-high net migration, reaching 906,000 in the…

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper has defended proposals that could see children as young as 13 required to have a digital ID, saying the move reflects modern realities where most young people already use forms of online identification. Speaking to the media, Cooper was asked about the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology’s ongoing consultation on the proposal. She said the government was doing the right thing by moving toward a standardised system for verifying identity digitally. “Everybody has forms of digital ID now, and We all have different ways of proving who we are,” she said Lots of 13-year-olds already…

Car manufacturers including Ford, Hyundai and BMW are facing multibillion-pound payouts to customers after the UK’s financial watchdog said the industry could be liable for nearly half of an £11bn compensation bill linked to the car finance scandal. According to the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), captive lenders, the finance arms of carmakers may have to pay about 47% of the total redress, or roughly £5.2bn, to drivers who were overcharged through unfair commission schemes. Also, banks such as Lloyds, Santander UK and Barclays are expected to cover 51% of the costs, with independent lenders contributing the remaining 2%. The FCA’s…

An Afghan migrant who arrived in the UK on a small boat has been found guilty of threatening to kill Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in a video posted on TikTok. Fayaz Khan, 26, was convicted at Southwark Crown Court after jurors viewed a video he uploaded last October in which he directly addressed Mr Farage, made gun gestures, and appeared to threaten violence. Prosecutor Peter Ratliff said Khan, who posted under the username madapasa, had a large following online, with some of his videos attracting hundreds of thousands of views. Many of his posts detailed his journey to the…

British travellers heading to the European Union will begin facing new biometric border checks from Sunday as the long-delayed Entry-Exit System (EES) finally comes into effect. The system, designed to enhance border security across the Schengen area, will initially roll out in phases to prevent widespread disruption. Under the new rules, most non-EU travellers including Britons will be required to have their fingerprints and facial photographs taken when entering Europe. They will also scan their passports and, in some cases, confirm details such as accommodation, return tickets, proof of funds, and travel insurance. The full implementation of EES could take…