The United Kingdom government has announced a nighttime social media curfew for 16- to 17-year-olds, restricting access to platforms such as Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube from midnight to 6 a.m. Users will still be able to disable the restriction through account settings. The government also plans to deactivate features like auto-play and infinite scroll, which it says contribute to addiction. The proposal is expected to be introduced in Parliament by the end of 2026 and take effect next spring.

Officials argue that the curfew and related measures will help improve teenagers’ attention, sleep quality, and family life. The move follows a June decision to ban social media use entirely for those under 16. However, child protection advocates and experts have criticized the plan as insufficient, noting that teens can easily bypass the settings. Some politicians and academics have also questioned its practicality and potential unintended consequences.

Government ministers maintain that the policy will strengthen the UK’s global leadership in regulating technology companies and promote healthier digital habits among young people.

The United Kingdom has decided to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a terrorist organization under its new national security law. Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the decision on Monday, saying it brings the group closer to being formally declared a terrorist entity. The move allows police to take action against anyone providing support to the IRGC. Alongside the IRGC, the UK also banned two other groups: the IMCR, accused of attacks on Jewish targets, and Russia’s GRU Volunteer Corps.

Officials said the decision follows recent threats against the UK, including alleged plots to kill Iranian journalists and cyberattacks targeting Britain, Australia, and Canada. The government had previously refrained from a full ban in 2023 due to diplomatic concerns with Tehran. Ministers now argue the new threats justify stronger measures.

Under the new law, assisting or benefiting from these organizations is now a criminal offense, punishable by up to life imprisonment. The bans are expected to further strain UK-Iran relations while reinforcing Britain’s stance against foreign-linked security threats.

At least nine people were killed in a series of retaliatory drone and missile strikes between Russia and Ukraine on Sunday, according to officials from both sides. Ukrainian authorities reported that overnight Russian attacks hit several regions, killing at least four people. Three of the deaths occurred in the central Dnipropetrovsk region, including two workers at an industrial facility in Kryvyi Rih. Another person was killed in the southern city of Kherson in a drone strike, local officials said.

On the other side, Russian officials claimed that Ukrainian strikes on the Russian-controlled Ukrainian city of Enerhodar killed four people and injured four others. The head of Russia’s state nuclear agency, Rosatom, provided the casualty figures. Additionally, a long-range Ukrainian drone attack reportedly killed one person in Russia’s Samara region, according to local authorities.

The latest exchange of attacks underscores the continuing intensity of hostilities between the two countries, with both sides reporting civilian casualties across multiple regions.

The United Kingdom government announced on Monday a £250 million security package to strengthen protection for the Jewish community following a series of recent attacks. The plan includes deploying more than 500 additional police officers in Jewish-populated areas, with 300 stationed in London. The funds will also support increased patrols outside synagogues and Jewish schools, as well as plainclothes police operations.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said the rise in antisemitism in recent years is a major test for the country’s values and reaffirmed that combating such hatred has been a central priority of his leadership. The government stated that the funds will be spent over three years, with part of the budget allocated to educational programs against antisemitism. Deputy Commissioner Matt Jukes of the London Metropolitan Police expressed concern over the exceptional threat facing the Jewish community due to terrorism, hostile state activity, and rising hate crimes.

The government also announced £59 million for counterterrorism police to strengthen national security. The move follows recent violent incidents, including a stabbing in London’s Golders Green area and earlier synagogue attacks in Manchester.

The name 'Muhammad' has been ranked as the most popular baby boy name in England and Wales for the third consecutive year, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The 2025 birth registration data show that 5,957 newborn boys were named Muhammad, nearly 2,000 more than those named Noah, which placed second.

The ONS data indicate that Muhammad’s popularity has been steadily increasing for decades. The name first entered the top 100 list in 1997, reached the top 10 in 2016, and became the most popular boy’s name in 2023. Since then, it has maintained the top position for three years. In the 2025 list, Leo ranked third and Luca fourth, pushing Arthur, Oliver, and George lower in the rankings.

The report also notes that various spellings of the name, such as Mohammad, have appeared in official records for many years. Three different spellings were already in the top 100 by 1954, and the Mohammad spelling first appeared in 1924 at the 91st position.

Andy Burnham has consolidated his position as the frontrunner to become the next leader of the UK Labour Party and the country's next Prime Minister. With 322 of the party’s 403 MPs backing him, he needs just one more nomination to make any rival candidacy mathematically impossible. The nomination deadline is next Thursday, and Labour is expected to formally declare Burnham as leader on Friday. If all proceeds as planned, he will be sworn in as Prime Minister on 20 July.

The leadership contest follows Keir Starmer’s resignation after Labour’s poor performance in May’s local elections. Burnham, the former Manchester mayor who recently returned to Parliament after winning the Makerfield by-election, has pledged to decentralize power and promote regional economic growth. Former junior defence minister Al Cairns has withdrawn from the race, further clearing Burnham’s path.

Burnham has also proposed creating a new “Number 10” unit in Manchester to strengthen local governance in housing and transport, and has promised to bring water and energy sectors under public control. He expressed regret over Labour’s earlier stance on the Gaza war and vowed to increase long-term investment in defence.

Andy Burnham, a leading contender to become the next UK prime minister, has apologized for the Labour Party’s initial response to Israel’s military operation in Gaza. In a video message posted on social media platform X, Burnham said the party’s early position on the Israeli attacks was wrong and should have been handled better. He acknowledged that many people were hurt by Labour’s reaction and expressed regret for the delay in calling for a ceasefire.

Burnham, expected to assume the premiership later this month, had previously called for a ceasefire in late October 2023, a stance that caused friction with Labour leader Keir Starmer, who at the time supported only short humanitarian pauses. Burnham described the loss of life and humanitarian crisis in Gaza as a “wound on our collective conscience.”

He praised recent Labour government measures such as recognizing the State of Palestine, sanctioning Israeli ministers and settlers, and restricting some arms exports to Israel. Burnham urged stronger action to ensure Israel complies with international law and to preserve the two-state solution, criticizing illegal settlements and calling for a full trade ban with them.

A group of 71 British lawmakers and peers from multiple parties have urged the UK government to impose sanctions on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Justice Minister Yariv Levin. In a letter to Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, they cited systematic and well-documented abuse of Palestinian civilians by Israeli forces. The letter, led by Labour MP Neil Duncan-Jordan, included signatures from 30 Labour MPs and seven members of the House of Lords.

The lawmakers argued that previous sanctions on Israeli ministers Itamar Ben-Gvir and Bezalel Smotrich had little effect on Israel’s treatment of Palestinian detainees, and that impunity had worsened the situation. They referenced a UN report describing torture, forced displacement, and deprivation as part of Israel’s control over Palestinians. The letter also mentioned Netanyahu’s praise for the withdrawal of a rape case against Israeli soldiers and the detention of British citizens during the blockade of a Gaza-bound aid flotilla.

A UK Foreign Office spokesperson called reports of prisoner mistreatment “deeply shameful” and urged Israel to allow Red Cross access to Palestinian detainees and investigate all torture allegations.

Russia launched a large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, early Saturday, killing at least ten people and injuring 46, according to Ukrainian authorities. Another person was reported dead and ten injured in surrounding areas. The Ukrainian military said Russia fired 68 missiles and 351 drones during the night. Explosions were heard from 1:40 a.m. to 3:15 a.m., prompting thousands of residents to take shelter in underground bunkers.

At least 15 buildings were damaged in Kyiv, including four in the historic Podilskyi district. Rescue operations were still underway, and city military chief Timur Tkachenko warned that the death toll could rise. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a Sunday night address, cautioned that Russia might launch further large-scale attacks before the upcoming NATO summit in Ankara, Turkey, where he is expected to meet U.S. President Donald Trump.

The report noted that a similar Russian strike last week killed 31 people in Kyiv, marking the deadliest attack on the city this year.

Russia’s military has claimed control over the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka as part of its ongoing offensive in the Donetsk region. The announcement was made by Russian Armed Forces Chief Valery Gerasimov during President Vladimir Putin’s visit to a command post in Ukraine. Gerasimov stated that Russian southern forces were continuing their offensive to take full control of Donetsk and that Kostyantynivka, a key stronghold in the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk–Kostyantynivka defense line, had been ‘liberated.’ Russia’s defense ministry also shared footage on Telegram showing soldiers raising the national flag in the city.

Ukraine’s General Staff, however, denied Russia’s claim on Saturday, saying that Kostyantynivka remained under Ukrainian control. The Ukrainian military did not provide further details about the situation or comment on Russia’s statements. Independent verification of the battlefield situation or either side’s claims was not possible according to the report.

The conflicting statements highlight the ongoing uncertainty surrounding control of key areas in the Donetsk region, where both sides continue to wage intense battles for strategic positions.

Russia’s military has claimed control over the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostyantynivka, located in the Donetsk region. The announcement came as Russian President Vladimir Putin visited a military command post to receive updates from senior officers. Putin described the capture as a major strategic success for Russia, emphasizing the city’s importance as a transport and industrial hub in the Donbas area.

According to Russian Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov, Kostyantynivka was one of Ukraine’s key defensive positions and part of the Sloviansk–Kramatorsk–Kostyantynivka defense line. He stated that Russian forces had fully taken control of the city in the fifth year of the war. Putin also noted that Ukraine had recently intensified long-range drone and missile attacks targeting Russia’s oil industry, prompting Moscow to consider expanding its border security zones.

Ukraine has not yet commented on Russia’s claim, leaving the situation on the ground unverified by Kyiv.

At least eight people were killed and 34 others injured in Russian missile and drone attacks on Kyiv, Ukraine’s capital, according to local authorities. The strikes occurred overnight and early Thursday, hitting more than 30 locations across the city. The attacks came shortly after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky warned of an impending large-scale assault by Moscow.

Kyiv’s military administration chief, Timur Takachenko, confirmed the casualties, while Mayor Vitali Klitschko reported that several residential buildings were damaged. One nine-story apartment building was heavily hit, trapping residents inside, and part of another multi-story building collapsed due to the explosions. Klitschko said the city was targeted by both ballistic missiles and drones.

The attacks mark another escalation in the ongoing conflict, with widespread damage to civilian infrastructure in Kyiv. Emergency services were deployed to rescue trapped residents and assess the extent of destruction.

The United Kingdom has announced a new policy requiring recognized asylum seekers to repay about £10,000, equivalent to roughly 1.63 million Bangladeshi taka, as part of the cost of state-provided accommodation and support. Those who fail to make the payment will not be eligible to apply for permanent residency. The proposal is scheduled to be presented to the British Parliament on Tuesday and is part of the new Immigration and Asylum Act. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said the measure aims to reduce the government’s annual £4 billion spending on asylum support.

Officials compared the repayment model to a student loan system, but human rights and refugee aid groups have strongly criticized it, calling it an unfair tax on people fleeing war, persecution, and famine. Experts noted that the government’s revenue from the scheme would be limited, as fewer than 15 percent of refugees earn more than £20,000 annually even five years after receiving asylum.

The Home Office stated that income thresholds and repayment details will be set later through secondary legislation. The bill also includes provisions to strengthen age assessments and revise modern slavery frameworks.

More than one million children in England required mental health care in 2024–2025, marking a 10 percent rise in a year and nearly double the figure from 2018–2019, according to BBC data. Anxiety was cited as the most common reason, accounting for 16 percent of all referrals. Suspected autism cases rose by nearly 50 percent to over 96,000, while applications for ADHD and Tourette syndrome increased by about one-quarter.

Children’s Commissioner Dame Rachel de Souza, in her annual report “Children and Young People’s Mental Health Services: 2024–25,” warned that over one-third of applicants are still waiting for treatment. More than 60,000 children have waited over two years, and fewer than one in five suspected autism cases received care, often after a year-long wait. She described the figures as severe and called for integrated support across health, education, and social care sectors.

Charity YoungMinds expressed deep concern over long delays, especially for Black, ethnic minority, and autistic children. Data also showed higher crisis referral rates among Black children and greater demand from poorer areas, highlighting persistent inequalities in access to mental health services.

King Charles III will work to ensure the protection of the United Kingdom’s multi-faith society, according to a newly defined outline of his royal duties. The updated description, released by Buckingham Palace, identifies the monarch as a key figure in maintaining religious harmony and promoting peaceful coexistence among people of all faiths across the country. The responsibilities were detailed in the Sovereign Grant Report 2025–26, which also reaffirmed his position as the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

Despite being a Christian, King Charles is placing strong emphasis on ensuring equal respect and freedom for followers of all religions. Interfaith dialogue has been highlighted as a central pillar of his royal work, aimed at building bridges among diverse religious and belief communities in the UK.

The report notes that the King regularly engages with Abrahamic faiths and maintains connections with Jewish, Muslim, Sikh, Orthodox, and other religious groups both in Britain and globally.