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    Reducing smartphone harms in law ‘relies on process, not one big bang event’

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreReducing smartphone harms in law relies on a “process”, not one “big bang” event, a Labour MP has said.Josh MacAlister warned that children are “moving less, smiling less, learning less” as a result of increased smartphone and social media use, including in the classroom.He introduced the Protection of Children (Digital Safety and Data Protection) Bill for its second reading in the Commons on Friday, which if passed would instruct UK chief medical officers to publish advice for parents on the use of smartphones and social media by children.It would also compel ministers to say within a year whether they plan to raise the age at which children can consent for their data to be shared without parental permission.Mr MacAlister had originally planned for his private member’s Bill to include a ban on smartphones in school classrooms and playgrounds, but this was dropped so his draft new law could “secure explicit Government backing”.The MP for Whitehaven and Workington told the Commons he began his career as a teacher in 2009 when “there was the odd phone in the classroom, the odd instance of a child being bullied through their device”.He said: “Neither I nor any other teacher at the time could have imagined the impact these devices would come to play in childhood.”Mr MacAlister told MPs that the average 12-year-old spends 21 hours a week on their smartphone, “that’s the equivalent of four full days of school teaching per week”, and added: “This is a fundamental rewiring of childhood itself and it’s happened in little over a decade.“Children are spending less time outside, less time reading, less time exercising, exploring, meeting people, communicating in person – all the things that make childhood special and the things that are necessary for healthy childhood development.“Instead, many children now spend their time captured by addictive social media and smartphone use, often sat alone doomscrolling, being bombarded by unrealistic representations of life, communication through asynchronous large group chats rather than through looking at facial expressions, eye contact, body language, learning to interact – moving less, smiling less, learning less.”He continued: “This rewiring of childhood has only one winner – the balance sheets of social media companies.”Mr MacAlister referred to laws abroad which limit children’s smartphone use, including in the US state of Utah where app stores must verify users’ ages and get parental consent for minors to download apps to their devices, and Australia, which introduced a smartphone ban in its public schools last year.The MP described a “stark difference” in the conversations which MPs are having, compared with discussions in public among parents and children, adding: “The public are well ahead of politicians on this issue.”Sir Ashley Fox, the Conservative MP for Bridgwater, intervened in Mr MacAlister’s speech and said: “Nothing he has said so far requires legislation.“The Bill he’s brought today could all be achieved by a minister just deciding to ask the chief medical officer to produce a report or the minister to produce a plan.“What has happened to the legislative action that was clearly in earlier drafts in his legislation?”Mr MacAlister later addressed Sir Ashley’s point in his speech, when he said: “This Bill has been drafted to secure explicit Government backing.“It’s been written to achieve change rather than just highlight the issue.“That is why the Bill before us is narrower than where I started when this campaign began six months ago.”He went on to say: “We must act on excessive screen time today in the same way we acted on smoking back then, and like debates that were had on smoking and car seatbelts, it took a process of legislation rather than one ‘big bang’ event.“That’s why starting today with these initial steps and then following them through with major action soon will be so important.” More

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    Former Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson charged with bribery in corruption probe

    For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsFormer Liverpool mayor Joe Anderson and his son are among 12 people charged as part of a major probe into council corruption. The 67-year-old, who was first arrested in December 2020 and suspended from the Labour Party, has been charged with bribery, misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, Merseyside Police said on Friday.Derek Hatton, 77, who was deputy leader of Liverpool City Council in the 1980s, has also been charged with bribery and one count of counsel or procure misconduct in a public office. Derek Hatton also faces charges More

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    Scheme to ban smart phones in schools ditched by MP

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreAn MP seeking to ban smartphones in schools has watered down his proposals in a bid to receive government backing.Shortly after entering parliament in July, Labour MP and former teacher Josh MacAlister brought a private member’s bill calling for a legal requirement that all schools in England are mobile-free zones.Mr MacAlister had warned MPs in October that the equivalent of “seatbelt” legislation was needed to help children manage addictive content on social media, as he stressed the risk of widespread harm from children “doom scrolling” for hours a day.While the bill is set to be debated by MPs on Friday, Mr MacAlister has now watered it down so that the call to ban smartphones in schools has now been replaced with calls for official research and guidance on children’s use of smartphones and social media.The move has prompted disappointment from MPs, with Lib Dem technology spokesperson Victoria Collins warning that “parents and families across the country are crying out for change when it comes to support in the online world”.The initial bill had proposed banning smartphones in England’s schools More

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    Sadiq Khan warns Trump to prepare for protests on second state visit

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreSir Sadiq Khan has warned Donald Trump to prepare for protests across London when he arrives for his second state visit to the UK. The mayor of London said he is expecting the public to “use their right to free speech and the right to protest” when the US president arrives in the capital. He refused to “relitigate” the long-standing back-and-forth conflict he has had with Mr Trump, which has seen the president describe Mr Khan as “very dumb” and a “stone cold loser”. In the past Sir Sadiq has described Mr Trump as “sexist, homophobic, Islamophobic and racist”. Sadiq Khan hinted he would allow the Trump baby blimp or a replacement to be flown in London More

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    Starmer to hold talks with European allies as push for Ukraine peace continues

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreSir Keir Starmer will talk to European leaders on Friday morning as he continues his diplomatic push for peace in Ukraine. The prime minister will be briefed on the outcome of a summit of EU leaders aimed at boosting support for Ukraine and bolstering the continent’s defence capabilities. At the summit, the 27 EU leaders signed off a move to loosen budget restrictions so that willing EU countries can increase their military spending, which could free up around 650 billion euros (£545 billion).They also committed to providing Ukraine with a total of £30.6 billion euros to fund Volodymyr Zelensky’s resistance against Russia’s invasion in 2025. The call on Friday will see Sir Keir speaking to European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen and António Costa, president of the European council.Keir Starmer will be briefed on the outcome of a European summit More

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    Russia warns Starmer’s peacekeeping troops plan would amount to ‘direct war’

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreRussia has hit out at Sir Keir Starmer’s plan for British troops to form part of a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, saying it would amount to direct involvement in the war.The prime minister, along with Emmanuel Macron, has been seeking to build a “coalition of the willing” to enforce any potential deal.But Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said troops on its border would amount to the “direct, official and unveiled involvement of Nato members in the war against Russia”, adding: “It can’t be allowed.”Britain has signed a deal with an Anglo-American security firm to provide Ukraine with more advanced attack drones – in contrast to Donald Trump’s White House which has paused supplies of US military aid and intelligence-sharing.“The fighting is going on and it’s a big mistake to think that, well all we’ve got to do is wait for a deal now,” the prime minister said. “We’ve got to make sure that if they are fighting on they’re in the strongest position and even if they go into negotiation that they’re in the strongest position.”It came as defence secretary John Healey held talks last night with US counterpart Pete Hegseth. Mr Healey said he was “fixed” on seizing the opportunity for securing peace with Volodymyr Zelensky confirming Ukraine and the US will hold talks to end the war in Saudi Arabia next week.Mr Healey said: “It’s the detail of those discussions which are rightly behind the scenes that the defence secretary and I will now pursue.”Mr Hegseth, meanwhile, dismissed as “garbage” accusations that Washington had taken a pro-Russia stance. “The press is interested in narratives. Our president is interested in peace,” he said. He also reiterated that the arms supply freeze to Ukraine was temporary.Britain’s agreement with Anduril will see cutting-edge Altius 600m and Altius 700m systems – designed to monitor an area before striking targets that enter it – being supplied to Kyiv to help tackle Russian aggression in the Black Sea. The new contracts total nearly £30m and are backed by the International Fund for Ukraine, the Ministry of Defence said.It comes amid concerns that the US move to halt intelligence-sharing with Ukraine will affect the country’s ability to use Western weaponry and deprive it of advanced information about incoming threats.In Brussels, European Union leaders met Mr Zelensky for talks about support for Ukraine and increased defence spending.The Ukrainian president thanked European leaders for their support, saying: “We are very thankful that we are not alone. These are not just words, we feel it.”Leaders also agreed a £670bn defence package for the European Union as it grapples with the prospect of Mr Trump reducing security assistance for Europe.European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen said it was a “watershed moment”, adding: “Europe faces a clear and present danger and therefore Europe has to be able to protect itself, to defend itself as we have to put Ukraine in a position to protect itself and to push for a lasting and just peace.”Moscow said President Macron’s offer of peacekeeping troops was “extremely confrontational”.“Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight against Russia, Napoleon, Hitler … Mr Macron does not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: ‘We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia.’”Former president Dmitry Medvedev mocked him on social media, calling him “Micron” and saying he “poses no big threat”.“He’ll disappear forever no later than May 14, 2027. And he won’t be missed,” Mr Medvedev wrote.And Mr Trump’s special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, retired Lt Gen Keith Kellogg, said the suspension of military help to Mr Zelensky is already having an impact, adding that the Ukrainians “brought it on themselves”.“The best way I can describe it is sort of like hitting a mule with a two-by-four across the nose,” Mr Kellogg said at an event at the Council on Foreign Relations. “You got their attention.” More

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    UN talks to end Cyprus crisis are ‘a waste of time’ unless Starmer changes British policy, UK minister warned

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreForeign Office (FCDO) minister Stephen Doughty is being urged not to waste time with talks to end more than 50 years of division on the island of Cyprus unless Sir Keir Starmer is prepared to change decades of British policy.Mr Doughty will land on the strategically crucial Mediterranean island on Friday where the UK owns two military bases that are vitally important for security within easy reach of the Middle East.The minister will meet the recognised government of Cyprus in the Greek Cypriot controlled south and then hold a first meeting of Sir Keir’s government with the president of the unrecognised breakaway Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) Ersin Tatar.Stephen Doughty is arriving in Cyprus to talk to the recognised government in the Greek Cypriot south, and then the president of the unrecognised Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus More

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    Reform’s surge in polls grinds to a halt as Farage faces party rift over ‘messianic’ leadership style

    Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreNigel Farage is facing serious questions over his leadership for the first time since the general election last year. Fellow Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, the former chairman of Southampton football club, warned it was “too early” to know if Farage would deliver as leader, and accused him of having “messianic” tendencies.Mr Lowe, MP for Great Yarmouth, was touted as a replacement for Mr Farage by Elon Musk earlier this year.His criticism comes after polling suggested that the party may have hit their ceiling with a surge in support since the general election coming to an end three weeks ago.The latest weekly Techne UK poll for The Independent puts Reform on 25 per cent for the third week in a row and has Labour pulling ahead by three points on 28 per cent after praise for Sir Keir Starmer following a week of diplomatic talks over the Ukraine crisis.MP Rupert Lowe is the only senior figure in Reform to go public with concerns over Mr Farage(Jordan Pettitt/PA) More