UK Conservatives propose social media ban for under-16s
Kemi Badenoch, leader of the UK Conservative Party, announced plans to ban under-16s from accessing social media platforms, following Australia's recent implementation of a similar policy. The Conservatives aim to protect children's mental health and education by enforcing age verification tools for platforms like TikTok and Snapchat. This proposal comes amid growing concerns from the NASUWT teachers' union, which reported that 89% of surveyed teachers support such a ban due to rising incidents of poor behavior linked to social media use.
UK skilled worker visa applications plummet amid policy changes
Migrant skilled worker visa applications in the UK fell sharply to 2,500 in December 2025, down from a peak of 10,100 in April 2024, presenting a challenge for Rachel Reeves and the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). This decline follows a series of changes implemented by Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, including a salary threshold increase to £41,700 and proposed extensions to the time required for settled status. Economists warn that the rapid decrease in net migration could negatively impact public finances, with projections suggesting a potential £20 billion budget shortfall by 2030.
Met Office issues amber snow alert for Scotland
The Met Office has upgraded its snow alert to amber for parts of central and north-east Scotland, effective from 03:00 to 14:00 on Sunday, due to expected heavy and persistent snowfall. Angela Constance, Scotland's Justice Secretary, chaired a meeting of the Scottish Government's Resilience Room to address the ongoing severe weather, which has already caused significant disruption, including the closure of over 250 schools. The amber warning area is expected to receive an additional 2-5 cm of snow at low levels and up to 30 cm on higher ground, with risks of power cuts and challenging transport conditions.
Three Arrested After A130 Crash Injures Five Workers
Three men have been arrested following a second crash on the A130 in Essex that left five emergency workers, including a paramedic and a police officer, seriously injured. The initial incident involved a single-vehicle collision with a white Nissan X-Trail, after which the responders were struck by a white Ford Transit van. The arrested individuals face multiple charges, including causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drink or drugs.
