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…

By Eniola Amadu Councils across London will receive £36.5m in government funding to help combat homelessness this winter, amid record numbers of people and families living without stable housing. According to London Councils, one in 50 Londoners is homeless, with a growing number of children now in temporary accommodation. The Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) said the new funding would target both rough sleeping and families facing…

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…

By Eniola Amadu Two teenagers are to stand trial accused of murdering a 15-year-old boy in a sword attack on a Glasgow street earlier this year. The victim, identified as Amen Teklay, was found seriously injured on Clarendon Street in the St George’s Cross area on 5 March and later died from his injuries. Two boys, aged 15 and 16, have denied the murder charge. At a hearing at the…

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…

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.…

The United Kingdom has recorded another surge in irregular migration across the English Channel, with more than 1,000 people arriving in small boats within 24 hours, according to figures released by the Home Office on Thursday. A total of 1,075 migrants crossed the Channel on 15 small boats on Wednesday, marking the fourth time this year that daily arrivals have exceeded 1,000. The latest wave of crossings pushes the total…

A senior Hamas official has rejected U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposal to establish a transitional “Board of Peace” headed by Mr. Trump and former British Prime Minister Tony Blair to oversee Gaza’s post-war administration. Osama Hamdan, a senior Hamas representative who has previously participated in indirect negotiations with U.S. envoys, dismissed the plan as politically unacceptable. Speaking to Qatar’s Al Araby television network on Thursday, Hamdan said, “All the factions,…

Scotland recorded 1,017 drug misuse deaths in 2024, 155 fewer than the previous year, while alcohol-related deaths fell to 1,185—the lowest since 2019.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has praised US President Donald Trump’s leadership in securing a landmark Gaza ceasefire deal, saying the agreement “would not have happened” without him.

By Eniola Amadu Environment Minister Andrew Muir has vowed that those responsible for deliberately starting wildfires in Northern Ireland will be pursued and brought before the courts, as he unveiled a new framework to tackle the growing threat. Speaking at Peatlands Park in County Tyrone, Mr Muir said a coordinated approach between government departments, emergency services, environmental groups and local communities was essential to prevent and manage wildfires. “I’ve got…

By Eniola Amadu Green councillors in Bedford have expressed disappointment after Conservative Mayor Tom Wootton announced the suspension of the £340,000 Member Ward Fund to save money amid growing financial strain on the council. The decision, described as an “executive decision” taken without prior consultation, means that while existing commitments will be honoured, no new applications will be accepted for the remainder of the financial year. A Bedford Borough Council…