Incoming UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham has scrapped the proposed 'BritCard' digital ID scheme, redirecting an estimated £1.8 billion ($2.4 billion) over three years to cost-of-living priorities. The decision reverses a policy introduced by predecessor Sir Keir Starmer, which faced widespread opposition from civil liberties and digital inclusion campaigners and was criticized as a 'fiasco' by the Home Affairs Committee. The scheme had already been downgraded from mandatory to voluntary after nearly three million people signed a petition against it. Burnham's move, his first major policy pledge, will be formalized after he meets King Charles III on Monday. The funds will be redirected to 'helping with the cost of living', though some warn other government systems could evolve into a de facto digital ID.

The incoming UK Labour government under Andy Burnham had previously faced decisions on approving the Jackdaw and Rosebank fields amid pressure from US President Donald Trump to expand drilling and from climate campaigners opposing the projects. Now, Burnham is expected to announce a pragmatic shift: sticking to the 2024 Labour manifesto pledge of no new oil and gas licences but honouring existing ones, and possibly scrapping or reforming the Energy Profits Levy (windfall tax) to stimulate investment, while avoiding immediate approval of the controversial Rosebank and Jackdaw fields pending legal reviews. The new prime minister is expected to balance energy security, industry pressure, and climate commitments.

The EU's Entry/Exit System (EES), which requires biometric registration for non-EU travelers, has caused significant delays at European airports. At Rome's Fiumicino, processing times for UK nationals have tripled from 7 to 20 minutes, according to the airport's Chief Aviation Officer Ivan Bassato. Ryanair has warned passengers to expect extended waits this summer. Border police at Portugal's Faro airport reported the system suffers from technical bugs and server crashes that occasionally affect all member states simultaneously, though these are becoming less frequent. Airport officials and airlines are urging the European Commission to allow proactive suspension of EES during peak periods, but a recent meeting did not result in any policy change.

Former UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace revealed that he recommended Israel provide military aid to Ukraine, but Israel declined, citing a desire not to upset Russia. Wallace criticized Israel's stance, pointing out that Russia spent over $1 billion on Iranian drones. The disclosure underscores Israel's cautious position on the Ukraine conflict, driven by its need to maintain deconfliction with Russia in Syria and protect Jewish communities in Russia. Wallace disclosed this on X, reiterating the same details.

The UK Ministry of Defence has confirmed that the contract for the next tranche of Chinook helicopters (Chinook Capability Sustainment Programme Tranche 2) will be committed through the Strategic Defence Review 2030, with deliveries starting in the mid-2030s and Initial Operating Capability in the late 2030s. The fleet is expected to operate until at least 2060. The delay creates a temporary reduction in heavy lift capacity as older Mk6A airframes retire.

A ship collided with a dockside crane at the Port of Tyne in South Shields, causing the crane to collapse onto a container vessel. A man was injured and taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Emergency services, including police, ambulance, and fire crews, responded. The cause of the collision remains under investigation.