News you need today: Proposed social media ban for under-16s
Today’s briefing covers a proposed social media ban for children, a new housing strategy for the capital, and calls for the government to take over a major water company. We also report on a security incident involving a Russian warship and a record-breaking drug seizure in Wales.
The UK is considering a social media ban for children under 16, a policy change supported by the families of victims of youth violence. Stuart Stephens, whose son Olly was murdered in 2021, said the ban is "long overdue" and could have prevented his son's death by limiting exposure to harmful online content that has surfaced over the last decade.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan has introduced a new housing plan based on the Singaporean model. This strategy explores how the government can take a more active role in the housing market by owning more land. In Singapore, the state owns 90% of the land, which Khan suggests allows for better control and management of the housing market to help residents.
Unions and Members of Parliament are calling for the permanent renationalisation of Thames Water—bringing the private company back under government control. They argue that public ownership is the only way to end the ongoing financial uncertainty and service scandals affecting the utility company and its millions of customers.
The Ministry of Defence is investigating reports that a Russian frigate, a type of warship, fired warning shots near a UK-registered yacht in the English Channel. The incident reportedly occurred near the Isle of Wight while the Russian vessel was being monitored by the Royal Navy in what was described as a routine operation.
In Wales, police have arrested three people following a record-breaking seizure of cannabis worth £139 million. The drugs were shipped from Canada to the UK. The arrests involved individuals from Merthyr Tydfil, Ebbw Vale, and Abertillery as part of an ongoing investigation into the shipment.
For more on these stories, visit the news section in the app. There, you can also read about the upcoming by-election in Makerfield, changes to domestic abuse support in the Highlands, and the latest on a fatal road accident investigation in Scotland.