Exclusive: decision to grant licences condemned by critics as a stunt that shows Tories are ‘playing politics with climate’

Fossil fuel companies will be allowed to explore for oil and gas under offshore wind-power sites for the first time, the government will announce on Friday, in a move which campaigners say is further proof that ministers are abandoning the climate agenda.

The North Sea Transition Authority (NSTA), which regulates North Sea oil and gas production, will confirm that it is granting licences to about 30 companies to look for hydrocarbons on sites earmarked for future offshore windfarms.

Former PM made the requirement to bring photo ID a stipulation of the Elections Act in 2022

Boris Johnson was turned away from his local polling station when trying to cast his vote in Thursday’s elections after forgetting to bring the required photo identity.

The former prime minister was initially told by polling station staff he would not be allowed to vote in the police and crime commissioner election in South Oxfordshire without proving his identity.

Federal investigation to come as university called New York police to quell protest on campus; more than 2,000 demonstrators arrested since 30 April

• Police clear encampment at UCLA and arrest over 100 protesters
• US students: share your experience of the campus protests

NYPD Deputy Commissioner, Kaz Daughtry, has confirmed that Fordham University was among a number of educational institutions which requested police assistance on campus to disperse protests.

He said that individuals who refused to disperse has been arrested without incident.

Your @NYPDnews officers continue to protect the right to peacefully protest, but lawlessness will not be tolerated. I commend the professionalism consistently displayed by our officers.

In light of the activities that are currently happening, we further request that you retain a presence on campus through at least May 22, 2024 (when commencement and diploma ceremonies are completed) to maintain order and ensure encampments are not reestablished.”

Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh have accused broadcaster of age and sex discrimination

Four female BBC presenters who have taken legal action against their employer will not be able to include equal pay as part of their claim, an employment tribunal has ruled.

Martine Croxall, Karin Giannone, Kasia Madera and Annita McVeigh have accused the broadcaster of conducting a “sham recruitment exercise” after they lost their jobs when the BBC merged its domestic and global news channels last year.

Former SNP leader now likely to return to the role without a contest and take control of government next week

John Swinney is expected to be crowned Scotland’s next first minister within days after his only rival ruled herself out and promised to support his candidacy.

Kate Forbes, the former finance secretary who came close to winning the Scottish National party leadership last year, said she was persuaded to step aside because Swinney had promised he would “govern from the mainstream”.

Proximity of the two countries’ forces follows request by junta ruling west African nation for the US to pull its troops out

Russian military personnel have entered an airbase in Niger that is hosting American troops, after a decision by Niger’s junta to expel US forces from the country.

The military officers ruling the west African nation have told the US to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington’s fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

Oscar-winning actor criticized an upcoming two-part expose in the UK detailing alleged incidents that go back to his youth

Kevin Spacey has attacked an upcoming documentary detailing years of his alleged sexual abuse, saying he was not given adequate time to respond.

The two-part documentary Spacey Unmasked, which will broadcast on Channel 4 on 6 and 7 May in the UK and will stream on Max in the US, claims to feature “never-seen-before interviews and archive” to examine the Oscar-winning actor’s life “from childhood to early success on Broadway and subsequent meteoric rise to stardom”.

• Left-arm spinner had played for Second XI this week
• CEO Ashley Giles: ‘Josh was part of our cricket family’

Worcestershire have been left “heartbroken” and “devastated” after the death of Josh Baker, their promising left-arm spinner, at the age of 20.

Baker had been playing in a four-day second XI match against Somerset at Bromsgrove school this week, taking three wickets on the third day but then failing to show up on the fourth. His death was announced by the club on Thursday, the match having been abandoned at the lunch break.

Agency pushing to raise funds as research shows 44 years of development in health and education could be erased by the war

Rebuilding homes in Gaza destroyed during Israel’s seven-month military offensive could take until 2040 in the most optimistic scenario, with total reconstruction across the territory costing as much as $40bn (£32bn), according to United Nations experts.

An assessment, which is to be published by the UN Development Programme as part of a push to raise funds for early planning for the rehabilitation of Gaza, has also found that the conflict may reduce levels of health, education and wealth in the territory to those of 1980, wiping out 44 years of development.

Teenager killed and another injured after attempted burglary at east Midlands farm

A man in his 50s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder after a teenager was shot dead and another injured following an attempted burglary at a farm in the east Midlands.

Officers were called to the property in Whaley Bridge, Derbyshire, at about 1.20am on Wednesday and found a teenager with fatal gunshot wounds. The force said he was not the owner of the property.