HUNDREDS of people in a Dundee community are enjoying reliable and robust lighting thanks to more than £1m of investment by the city council.
A total of 93 blocks of flats in Menzieshill are having new communal lighting installed to replace the ageing systems previously in the buildings.
Kevin Cordell, convener of Dundee City Council’s neighbourhood regeneration, housing and estate management committee has been in Menzieshill to see the work for himself.
He said: “Quality of life for the people of Dundee remains one of the council’s key priorities, and over many years communities have been transformed. New communal lighting like this helps us to deliver strong communities where people feel empowered, safe and proud to live.
“This type of work benefits hundreds of residents who have external and, in some cases, communal lighting that complies with the relevant British Standards and enhances their quality of life.”
The contract, awarded to the council’s Construction Services division late last year, sees them stripping out and removing general communal lighting, with a team of in-house electricians, including two apprentices.
New systems are being supplied, installed, tested, commissioned and certified within six months at a total cost of £1,046,057.
Coventry City Council and Cultural Education Partnership (CCEP) is proud to announce the launch of the very first Coventry School’s Arts Week, that’s been taking place across the city this week.
This exciting new initiative brings together children and young people from schools across Coventry to celebrate creativity, self-expression and the rich cultural life of our city. Organised by CCEP – a vibrant network of professionals and organisations committed to lifelong learning – this landmark event aims to showcase the artistic talents of our youngest residents while nurturing a passion for arts and culture from an early age.
The Coventry Cultural Education Partnership supports learning opportunities for children and young people aged 0–30, drawing on the strengths of both the creative and cultural sectors and the city’s formal education settings. By coming together, schools, artists, educators and cultural organisations are working in unison to inspire the next generation and open doors to new opportunities.
So far, the week has already seen the Sky Arts Bus at West Coventry Academy. This initiative is aimed at promoting and celebrating arts in education. The bus provided arts-related activities and resources for students.
There has also been the launch of a school’s art exhibition at the Herbert Art Gallery on Tuesday 24 June. This free exhibition offers a fascinating glimpse into childhood artistic development and is open throughout the summer holidays. Last night also saw seven music groups from Coventry Music and nine schools come together to perform at Butterworth Hall at Warwick Ars Centre, with a further nine schools performing throughout the day to each other.
Councillor Dr Kindy Sandhu, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills said: “I am incredibly proud to see initiatives like Coventry School’s Arts Week taking place in our city. It provides a chance to showcase our young people, their creativity, and the opportunities we create together. This is about more than just art—it’s about confidence, collaboration and giving every child the chance to shine.”
This Friday (27 June) at 11am there will be a city-wide school’s performance of “Lady Godiva’s Birthday Suit The Musical”, by Aaron Ashmore. The performance will bring together around 750 pupils from schools across the city to share their musical retelling of the legendary local story.
The project is a collaboration between Coventry Music, Coventry Cultural Education Partnership (CCEP), Child Friendly Coventry, and national partners including the Royal Ballet and Opera. Every school in Coventry has been gifted a free copy of the musical to use in school.
Aaron Ashmore, Local Coventry Author said: “To see so many young people bring this story to life with such energy and creativity will be incredibly inspiring. Lady Godiva is a symbol of courage and community – and that’s exactly what this performance is about.”
On Saturday 28 April, as part of the art’s week festival there will be a ‘Booknic’ taking place at War Memorial Park between 11am – 3pm. This is a free reading picnic that encourages people to relax, eat and chat about books. There will also be a range of sport and art activities.
Families are invited to meet next to the playground in the War Memorial Park at 11am to take part in a carnival-style parade.
After the parade, families can stay and enjoy activities such as author and illustrator events; book trails; a giant book swap; library events; circus skills; skateboarding; tennis and much more.
Mark Steele, Coventry Music Lead and Chair of Coventry Cultural Education Partnership said: “Creative and Cultural Education is crucial for young people, so having the opportunity to sing, dance and act with other pupils across the city is so important to develop hidden talents and skills in students”.
People are invited to pop along to get information and advice about the signs and symptoms of cancer, screening programmes and treatment, as well as how to enjoy a healthier lifestyle.
The drop-ins are taking place on Thursdays 26 June, 17 July, 31 July, 14 August, 28 August and 11 September, with each session running from 9.30am to 1.30pm.
People will be able to get information on how to check for symptoms of cancer and what to do if they have any concerns. There will also be information about the three main NHS screening programmes, for breast, bowel and cervical cancer, including when people will be invited and what’s involved in the screening.
Health checks will also be available on 17 July, 14 August and 11 September.
Councillor Obaida Ahmed, the council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Wellbeing and Community, said: “These drop-in sessions are part of a regular series of events designed to raise awareness around cancer, and I would encourage anyone who has any questions about the signs and symptoms of cancer, screening, diagnosis and treatment to come along to speak to our friendly staff.
“Reducing harm from cancer through education and awareness, and promoting the uptake of cancer screening, are key public health priorities for us, and we continue to work with our NHS colleagues to take this important work forward.”
Climate change lawsuits have become a new way for countries to assert their rights against actions that degrade the environment. But African countries have yet to fully exploit this route.
In the Netherlands, the court found that greenhouse gas emissions breached the rights to life and private and family life that are protected by the European Convention on Human Rights.
In Germany, the court found that the government had breached the Climate Protection Act by not setting out a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions after 2030. This meant that future generations would unfairly bear the burden of trying to limit climate change.
However, African countries have not taken up many climate court cases, mainly because they lack resources. They are also hampered by weak climate laws, limited expertise to gather and present evidence in court, and their economic reliance on extractive industries which they may not want to sue in court.
One of the few African climate lawsuits was brought by the South African environmental justice group EarthLife Africa Johannesburg. It took the country’s environment ministry to court to cancel the government’s approval of new coal-fired power plants. The Pretoria high court held that the approval was unlawful because it had failed to consider how new coal-fired power stations would make climate change worse.
Another case was filed in 2020 by civil society groups that sued the governments of Uganda and Tanzania over the East African Crude Oil Pipeline for breaching human rights and damaging the environment. The East African Court of Justice dismissed the case after the activists missed the deadline to file documents. The groups have appealed against the dismissal, but this highlights some of the difficulties in bringing international climate litigation.
I am an environmental justice researcher who examines how ecocentrism (valuing the entire interests of ecosystems over human interests or individual companies interests) can be taken forward in African legal systems.
I argue that Africa should use three key international legal routes to amplify its voice in litigating against climate change.
1. The International Court of Justice
In December 2024, the International Court of Justice agreed for the first time to provide an advisory opinion on what states are obliged to do to fight climate change and set out the legal consequences for states that do not meet these obligations.
In late 2024, the court accepted inputs from countries that had already been affected by climate change. These included members of the Organisation of Africa, Caribbean and Pacific States and the African Union, and South Africa, Sierra Leone, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia and Senegal. The court will hand down the opinion in late 2025.
Even though International Court of Justice advisory opinions are not legally binding, these proceedings were a milestone. They provided African countries with a good platform to raise their demands about the obligations of countries to protect the climate system in this time of global warming.
This was the first time the tribunal had formally considered the impacts of climate change on the marine environment. The African Union relied on important international environmental legal principles in its statement. These include the duty to avoid polluting the atmosphere and to prevent harm that takes place across borders.
These principles have been used by different countries in lawsuits previously. These cases form the legal basis for many climate lawsuits today.
The tribunal’s advisory opinions are not legally binding, but they also contribute to the development of international law, and again, could be useful for Africa to assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.
3. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
African countries will need to include international climate change agreements into their laws and policies. Not all African countries have climate change laws. Countries with climate change laws include Nigeria, Uganda and South Africa. More must follow.
African countries must now take climate lawsuits forward to demand accountability, shape climate policies and safeguard the future.
By embracing regional mechanisms like the African court, using international legal instruments, and developing national climate laws, Africa can assert a strong, unified legal voice in the global fight for climate justice.
Known for her iconic role as Cilla Battersby-Brown in ITV’s Coronation Street, Wendi Peters will star as the villainous Queen Rat in this year’s festive pantomime, Dick Whittington at Derby Arena this Christmas.
Wendi Peters is no stranger to captivating audiences with her mischievous charm. Her four-year stint as the much-loved (and sometimes hated!) loudmouth Cilla in Coronation Street from 2003 to 2007 established her as a master of outrageous behaviour.
Beyond the cobbles, Wendi’s extensive screen credits include Doctors (BBC1), Hetty Feather (BBC), Midsomer Murders (ITV), and Bad Girls (ITV). Her impressive stage career includes Glorious (Hope Mill Theatre) and a hugely successful national tour of Sister Act The Musical.
Speaking about her new role, Wendi said:
I’m excited to be bringing my scheming panto magic to Derby, playing the Queen Rat in Dick Whittington this Christmas. I’m also looking forward to getting to know Derby!
Award-winning producers Little Wolf Entertainment, the creative force behind Derby’s smash-hit pantomimes, are proud to unveil this year’s sparkling cast, which also features a host of beloved familiar faces from past productions.
Producers Alan Bowles and Morgan Brind, of Little Wolf Entertainment, said:
We’re hugely excited to welcome Wendi Peters to the cast this year. Her vast experience across stage and screen, and particularly in pantomime, makes her the perfect Queen Rat.
We’re equally thrilled to welcome back some much-loved faces who our loyal audiences are going to adore. Dick Whittington promises to be our most ‘purrr-fect’ show yet!
Returning this year to delight Derby audiences are:
Derby’s favourite, multi-award-winning panto dame Morgan Brind as Dame Sarah the Cook.
Local favourite Kristian Cunningham, who charmed audiences as Buttons in last year’s Cinderella and in the title role of Aladdin (2022), returns as Dick Whittington.
Nicola Martinus-Smith, who shone as Dandini in Cinderella, and Princess Jasmin in Aladdin returns as the magical Fairy Bow Bells.
Roddy Peters also makes a very welcome return to Derby Arena after his scene-stealing turn as one of the infamous Ugly Sisters in Cinderella, and a memorable run as Baron Wasteland in Mother Goose, will this year star as The Alderman.
This Christmas join Dick Whittington on his search for fame and fortune as he sets off for London, where the streets are paved with gold, or are they?
It’s going to take some help from Fairy Bow Bells and his trusty cat, if he’s going so stop a rather repellent rat from taking over the world!
Multi award-winning Little Wolf Entertainment and Derby LIVE are proud to invite you to join us for another lush extravaganza.
Featuring stunning sets, fantastic frocks, lavish meow-sical numbers and side-splitting slapstick, this panto is the purrr-fect Christmas treat for the whole family. Get your tickets now, it’s going to be paw-some!
Dick Whittington is at Derby Arena from Friday 5 – Wednesday 31 December. Tickets for are on sale now with prices from £24- £39. Concessions are available along with British Sign Language, relaxed, audio described and captioned performances.
Book tickets online at derbylive.co.uk, by phone on 01332 255800, or in person at the Sales and Information Centre, Chapel Street Arts Centre, Chapel Street, Derby, DE1 3GU.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
Negotiations update on an enhanced UK-Switzerland FTA
The seventh round of negotiations on an enhanced Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Switzerland took place in London between 5 and 13 June 2025.
Economic growth is our first mission in government and FTAs have an important role to play in achieving this. An enhanced trade agreement with Switzerland will support British businesses, back British jobs, and put more money in people’s pockets.
Switzerland is the UK’s 10th biggest trading partner and the UK-Swiss trade relationship was worth more than £45 billion in 2024. Services exports account for more than £18 billion of this, making Switzerland the UK’s 6th largest services export partner. This included over £700 million from Scotland and £1 billion from the North West in 2022. The trading relationship supported 130,000 services jobs across the UK in 2020.
An enhanced FTA with Switzerland aims to deliver long-term certainty for UK services firms, by locking in access to the Swiss market, guaranteeing the free flow of data and cementing business travel arrangements.
Provisional agreement was reached on a number of areas, including Rules of Origin, Dispute Settlement, Development, Consumer Protection, Anti-Corruption, and Animal Welfare.
Round 8 of negotiations is set to take place in Switzerland in Autumn 2025.
The government will only ever sign a trade agreement which aligns with the UK’s national interests, upholding our high standards across a range of sectors, alongside protections for the National Health Service.
Any organisations or individuals interested in speaking to the Department for Business and Trade about negotiations with Switzerland should do so by emailing ch.fta.engagement@businessandtrade.gov.uk.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
MHRA publishes final Business Plan for 2023-2026 Corporate Plan
The new Business Plan sets out priorities for 2025–26: Protecting public safety and maintaining public trust; delivering efficient, predictable services through regulatory excellence; being an agile organisation that drives innovation; being a great place to work and providing excellent customer service.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has published its Business Plan for 2025/26, reaffirming its commitment to keeping patients safe and enabling access to high quality and effective medical products through innovation across the UK.
As an Executive Agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, the MHRA plays a key role in delivering the Government’s priorities to help people live healthier, longer lives. This includes supporting the missions to ensure safe and fast regulatory approval, helping build an NHS fit for the future, and driving innovation and growth in the UK’s Life Sciences sector.
The MHRA Business Plan for 2025/26 includes commitments towards:
Strengthening patient safety further, by making safety monitoring faster, more efficient, and more data driven
Implementing an agile and risk-proportionate regulatory environment that enables growth
Embedding changes needed to continue maintaining consistent performance and efficient delivery of core services within predictable timeframes.
The full MHRA Business Plan 2025/26 can be found on the MHRA website.
Notes to Editors
The MHRA’s 2025/26 Business Plan is available here.
The MHRA is an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) regulates all medicines and medical devices in the UK, ensuring they are effective and acceptably safe. All decisions are underpinned by rigorous, evidence-based judgements to ensure the benefits outweigh any risks.
For media enquiries, please contact: newscentre@mhra.gov.uk or call 020 3080 7651.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
Landmark plan to rebuild NHS in working class communities
The 10 Year Health Plan will set out how the government plans to tackle inequalities in people’s health through fundamental reforms to our health system
Billions freed up to move critical resources like medicines and equipment to regions that most need them
Major changes to how GP funding is distributed to help working class communities and coastal areas
Health Secretary to speak in Blackpool on 10 Year Health Plan’s focus on closing health inequalities
People living in working class communities and areas where medical resources are desperately needed are set to benefit from a huge boost in support, with billions of pounds diverted to deprived areas regions, as the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan takes unprecedented action to tackle the nation’s stark health inequalities.
After years of neglect, areas where people need the NHS most often have the fewest GPs, the worst performing services, and the longest waits – a phenomenon dubbed the inverse care law. People in working class areas and coastal towns spend more of their lives in ill health and life expectancy among women with the lowest incomes has fallen in recent years, after decades of progress.
The 10 Year Health Plan will set out how the government plans to rebuild the NHS and tackle widening inequalities in people’s health through fundamental reforms to our health system, putting an end to a postcode lottery of care.
In recent months, the NHS has driven trusts and ICBs hard to cut out wasteful spending and tackle projected deficits. By driving out the culture of deficits, around £2.2 billion previously set aside for deficit support will be freed up, so it can be reinvested in critical resources like staff, medicines, new technology and equipment where they are most needed. This will support millions of people in parts of England that have historically been left behind – such as in rural communities, coastal towns, and working-class communities.
The Health Secretary will announce the change during a speech in the North West.
Speaking in the North West today, Health and Social Care Secretary Wes Streeting is expected to say:
The truth is, those in greatest need often receive the worst quality healthcare. It flies in the face of the values the NHS was founded on. The circumstances of your birth shouldn’t determine your worth. A core ambition of our ten-year plan will be to restore the promise of the NHS, to provide first class healthcare for everyone in our country and end the postcode lottery.
Last year we sent crack teams of top clinicians to hospitals in parts of the country with the highest waiting lists and levels of economic inactivity. It has seen waiting lists in those areas falling twice as fast as the rest of the country, helping get sick Brits back to health and back to work.
Thanks to the reforms we’ve made to bear down on wasteful spending, we can now invest the savings in working class communities that need it most. Where towns have the greatest health needs and the fewest GPs, we will prioritise investment to rebuild your NHS and rebuild the health of your community.
Over the past 14 years, NHS trusts have relied heavily on deficit support, with the taxpayer forced to cover the shortfall in their budgets, even when finances have been managed badly. Since becoming NHSE Chief Executive, Jim Mackey has driven down billions in planned deficits, cutting out spending on agency staff and back office costs.
This year, the £2.2 billion in deficit support funding will not go to systems that fail to meet their agreed financial plans. Deficit support funding will be phased out entirely from 2026/27, with no more reward for failure. Instead, the Government will introduce a transparent financial regime for this year that properly holds leaders to account over financial plans. Struggling trusts will be required to set out activity and costs so they can take steps to improve. The tougher financial regime will free up funding that will be reinvested in frontline services in working class communities.
The government’s 10 Year Health Plan will also address the inequalities in GP services across England. Currently, GP surgeries which serve working class areas receive on average 10% less funding per patient than practices in more affluent areas. Royal College of GP data shows that practices in some of the country’s poorest areas have roughly 300 more patients per GP than the most affluent regions.
Through the 10 Year Health Plan, the Government will review into the way formula through which GP funding is allocated across the nation – so working-class areas receive their fair share of resources.
Dr Amanda Doyle, NHS England national director for primary care said:
It is essential that GP practices serving our most deprived communities, where health challenges are often greatest, receive a fair share of resources that reflects their need.
The NHS is committed to ensuring people can access the help they need as quickly and easily as possible and ensuring funding reflects this will help us to do just that.
This work will look at how health needs are reflected in the distribution of funding through the GP contract, drawing on evidence and advice from experts such as The Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA), and in consultation with the GP committee of the BMA and other stakeholders.
The Government has already sent top doctors to support hospital trusts in areas where more people are out of work and waiting for treatment. The crack teams have been sent into NHS hospitals serving communities with high levels of economic inactivity, helping trusts go further and faster to improve care in these areas, where more people are neither employed nor actively seeking work, for reasons including ill health.
Earlier this year, the government struck a new agreement with the independent sector as part of the Government’s plans to end the hospital waiting list backlog – giving patients in more deprived areas, where NHS provision is more limited, a greater choice over where they are treated.
This comes after the Health and Social Care Secretary announced a series of new measures to tackle inequalities in maternity care earlier this week. The rapid national investigation will provide truth and accountability for impacted families and drive urgent improvements to care and safety. It will also focus on inequalities in maternal care, which see black women almost three times as likely to die from childbirth as white women.
Jacob Lant, Chief Executive of National Voices, said:
Lord Darzi said in his review last summer that the inverse care law was still very real, with those who need the NHS the most often living in areas that have gotten the least investment.
The NHS 10 Year Plan needs to turn this completely on its head if the Government is to achieve its election promise on health inequalities and halve the gap in healthy life expectancy between different communities by 2035.
Shifting the money is only half the battle. We need to see outcomes on health inequalities used as one of the key success measures for NHS leaders as a new culture of accountability is developed post publication of the Plan.
Cllr Louise Gittins, Chair of the Local Government Association, said:
Across the country, councils are working tirelessly to incorporate fairness into housing, employment, and public health initiatives, often in the face of significant challenges.
Health inequalities are the stark and often unjust differences in health outcomes seen across various communities. These disparities may present themselves as variations in life expectancy, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and access to healthcare services.
Addressing these issues requires concerted efforts and targeted support. Health inequalities are estimated to cost the NHS an extra £4.8 billion a year, society around £31 billion in lost productivity, and between £20 and £32 billion a year in lost tax revenue and benefit payments. Health is therefore a major determinant of economic performance and prosperity.
Councils are pivotal in addressing health inequalities. By collaborating closely with local communities, businesses, and organisations, local authorities and the NHS can develop targeted interventions to improve health outcomes.
Notes to editors
The Royal College of GP data on patient numbers can be found here.
India’s Rishabh Pant and England’s Ben Duckett have achieved career-best ratings in the latest ICC Men’s Test Batting Rankings following their impressive performances with the bat in the first Test at Headingley, according to the official ICC website.
Pant became just the second wicket-keeper after Zimbabwe’s Andy Flower to score two centuries in the same Test match, scoring 134 and 118 in the thrilling Leeds contest that England won by five wickets. He earned a career-best rating, moving up one spot to seventh overall in the Test batting rankings.
Duckett claimed Player of the Match honors for his innings of 62 and 149, also achieving a new career-best rating by jumping five places to eighth in the updated Test batting rankings.
Duckett’s England teammates Ollie Pope (up three spots to 19th) and Jamie Smith (up eight places to 27th) also gained ground in this week’s rankings update. Meanwhile, India captain Shubman Gill moved up five spots to 20th overall after his century in the first innings of the match.
England veteran Joe Root remains the No.1-ranked Test batter, with teammate Harry Brook his closest challenger.
The drawn first Test between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh also saw a host of players improve their positions in the batting rankings, with Mushfiqur Rahim leading the way after his innings of 163 in Galle.
Rahim gained 11 spots to reach 28th among Test batters, while teammate Najmul Hossain Shanto surged 21 places to 29th after scoring two centuries in the same match.
There was little change in the latest Test bowlers’ rankings, with India’s pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah maintaining his top position after another five-wicket haul in the Headingley Test.
There was also joy for England captain Ben Stokes, who gained three spots to move up to fifth in the Test all-rounder rankings, following his strong contributions with both bat and ball in the same Test.
Changes were also seen in the latest T20I rankings after the completion of the tri-series between Scotland, Nepal, and the Netherlands, which the hosts won in Glasgow.
Netherlands’ dasher Michael Levitt rose 16 spots to 14th, and Scotland all-rounder Brandon McMullen moved up 20 places to joint-38th on the latest T20I batters list, while spinner Mark Watt climbed two spots to 38th in the T20I bowlers’ rankings.
Nepal spinner Lalit Rajbanshi also made notable progress, jumping 29 places to 54th following his four wickets in the tri-series.
Measures to protect the public and establish industry standards.
New proposals to improve safety and standards in the non-surgical cosmetic procedures sector have been set out as the Scottish Government publishes its response to a consultation on the issue.
The proposals, informed by over 2,200 responses and broad stakeholder engagement, intends to introduce a minimum age of 18 for all procedures and classify treatments into three distinct groups which will be regulated to reflect the associated risk:
group 1 procedures – such as microneedling and non-ablative laser treatments – will require both a premises licence and individual practitioner licences issued by local authorities
group 2 procedures – including injectables like Botox® and dermal fillers – will have to be supervised by a qualified health care professional in a setting regulated by Healthcare Improvement Scotland (HIS)
group 3 procedures – for instance, breast and buttock augmentation – will have to be performed by a qualified healthcare professional in an HIS-regulated setting
The Scottish Government will take forward a combination of primary and secondary legislation to implement the proposals. A new Bill regulating Group 2 and Group 3 procedures will be introduced later this year. Secondary legislation under the Civic Government (Scotland) Act 1982 will establish the licensing regime for Group 1 procedures.
Public Health Minister Jenni Minto said:
“It is deeply upsetting to hear of cases where people have suffered as a result of non-surgical cosmetic procedures going wrong.
“The current gaps in regulation mean that anyone can perform most of these procedures without the need for any formal training or qualifications. These proposals reflect our determination to protect the public and ensure high standards across this growing industry.
“I am particularly heartened by the broad support for action to make the sector safer, and we will continue to work closely with Healthcare Improvement Scotland, local authorities, and the wider industry to support a smooth and effective implementation.”
Background
The latest consultation built on a previous one in 2020 and put forward more detailed proposals for what that further regulation could look like. The recent consultation on the licensing and regulation of non-surgical cosmetic procedures received over 2,200 responses from individuals, businesses, professional bodies, and medical experts. There was widespread support for increased regulation to improve safety and accountability across the sector.
Members of the Education and Children’s Services Committee were today (Tuesday 24 June) updated on the significant strides made by Aberdeen schools in educating young people about Climate Change, Biodiversity and the city’s Net Zero ambitions during the 2024-25 school session.
The report, which detailed a wide range of impactful events and initiatives delivered across schools, as well as the continued efforts of the Youth Climate Change Group, was approved by committee with the exception of recommendation 2.3. The full report can be viewed here.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener, of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Our schools are playing a vital role in preparing young people to meet the challenges of the climate emergency. Through innovative learning and strong partnerships, we are empowering the next generation to lead the way towards a more sustainable and equitable future for Aberdeen and beyond.”
Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener of the Education and Children Services Committee, said: “The enthusiasm and creativity shown by our young people in tackling climate change is truly inspiring. By embedding sustainability into everyday learning and supporting youth-lead initiatives, we are not only educating but also encouraging future leaders to help shape a greener Aberdeen.”
Aberdeen’s schools continue to embrace the Learning for Sustainability (LfS) agenda, integrating sustainable development, biodiversity, climate change, outdoor learning, and global citizenship into the Curriculum for Excellence.
These themes are explored through interdisciplinary learning, project-based learning, science, social studies, and outdoor education, empowering young people to take meaningful action for a better future. Aberdeen now has 11 schools that are recognised as Eco Schools and awarded Green Flag status by Keep Scotland Beautiful.
St Joseph’s RC School won the Scottish Fair Trade ‘In the Bag’ award in recognition of its 10-year commitment to fair and ethical trade, including being the first school in Scotland to commit to supporting and working with communities in India.
The Youth Climate Change Group remains a vital platform for pupil voice and leadership and the committee thanked pupils for their significant efforts in promoting and actioning environmental work in school and citywide.
Committee members agreed that this important area of focused activity should continue and instructed the Chief Officer for Education and Lifelong Learning to support the Youth Climate Change Group to collate and share a yearly summary of the most impactful projects in their schools, through means to be determined by the group, to inspire other young people across the city.
The committee agreed that representatives from the Youth Climate Change Group should be invited to present the Climate Change report to committee in subsequent years.
In partnership with the City Development and Regeneration Service, the Education Service will launch the ABZ Pipeline – a new initiative designed to create curriculum-linked pathways into the renewable sector. This programme will connect learners with employers, offering real-world experiences and helping pupils align their career planning with Aberdeen’s green economy.
Aberdeen for a Fairer World (AFW) continues to play a key role in supporting schools with climate-related activities. Their work includes developing projects with local authorities, ETZ, and employers, identifying skills and employment opportunities, and assessing the impact of in-school activities.
A comprehensive record of school participation during Climate Week North East 2025 will be published in the summer term.
Beyond the classroom, pupils are engaging in film screenings, workshops, barista events, and Fair Trade initiatives – demonstrating their commitment to sustainability and community action. These efforts also contribute to wider achievement and support National Qualifications.
These initiatives also align with the Local Outcome Improvement Plan (LOIP) Stretch Outcome 13, which aims to reduce Aberdeen’s carbon emissions by at least 61% by 2026. As the city works towards Net Zero by 2045, the continued focus on climate education and youth engagement is essential to building a resilient, sustainable future.
The committee instructed the Chief Officer of Education and Lifelong Learning to provide a progress update within one calendar year.
Primary 7 pupils heading to Greenfield Academy have taken part in a special transition day at the Regional Performance Centre for Sport.
With Greenfield Academy set to open in August for the new school year, pupils from the feeder primary schools have gathered at the Regional Performance Centre (RPC) to mark this important step in their journey.
Over 300 new s1 pupils took part in a range of indoor and outdoor activities and had the opportunity to meet their new classmates and teachers. The activities were organised by the school in partnership with Dundee Active Schools, Community Learning and Development East Youth Team, and the Dundee Battalion Army Cadet Force.
Greenfield Academy is part of the new £100 millionDrumgeithCommunity Campus, which is the largest investment in education, sport and community provision in the city and will deliver state-of-the-art facilities and services to the area.
Children, Families and Communities Convener Stewart Hunter said: “This isa really excitingtime for our young people who will be attending the new Greenfield Academy.
“It’s great that even though they can’t go and do this at the school, they are still able to come together, get to know each other, and meet their future teachers.
“I know a lot of work has gone into making this possible, and I would like to thank everyone involved.”
Greenfield Academy Headteacher, Johnny Lothian said: “Our students are looking forward to taking the step to their new Secondary School and in August will become Greenfield Academy first-ever S1 intake. Already they are showing themselves to be a superb year group with great potential.”
The feeder primary schools areClaypottsCastle, Rowantree, Fintry,Ballumbie, Mill of Mains, andLonghaugh.
Source: The Conversation – UK – By John Barrett, Professor of Energy and Climate Policy, Deputy Director of the Priestly Centre for Climate Futures, Theme Lead for the UKRI Energy Demand Research Centre, University of Leeds
Each year, the Climate Change Committee – the UK’s independent advisory body tasked with monitoring the country’s movement toward its legally binding climate goals – gives a report on the government’s progress over the last year.
The Climate Change Committee’s new 2025 progress report is a mix of good and bad news about whether the UK is on track to meet its greenhouse gas emissions targets. These include a 68% reduction by 2030 and an 81% reduction by 2035, relative to 1990 levels.
Meeting these targets requires long lead times. It takes years to develop and deploy low-carbon technologies, change social practices and align industrial and economic policy with net zero ambitions. The Climate Change Committee’s analysis goes beyond simply measuring emissions — it also evaluates whether the right policies are in place across sectors such as transport, buildings, energy and industry.
So how is the UK doing? Between 1990 and 2024, the UK halved its greenhouse gas emissions, primarily by decarbonising the power sector, improving energy efficiency and shifts in the UK’s industrial base. This equates to an average annual reduction of 0.7%.
Since the committee was established in 2008, the rate of reduction has more than doubled. In the last decade, since the Paris agreement was signed in 2015, the UK has decarbonised at around 3.4% per year. To meet the 2030 and 2035 targets, the pace of reduction has to continue at this level, but from a wider set of sectors.
However, the analysis in the CCC report suggests that even this may not be fast enough. A major scientific review recently warned the world has just three years left in its global carbon budget if we are to stay within the 1.5°C temperature limit agreed in the Paris agreement.
A mixed picture
We are both involved with the committee and its work. Piers Forster, a climate scientist, has served on the committee since 2018 and is currently its chair. John Barrett provides key data on imported emissions and regularly provides analysis into the committee’s work.
On the positive side, the UK continues to expand renewable energy capacity, which not only cuts emissions but lowers energy bills and improves energy security. Emissions from the energy supply sector decreased 17% last year.
A fifth of new vehicles sold are now electric. For the first time, evidence shows that electric cars are causing transport emissions to decline, even as people are travelling more. Tree planting rates also increased by 56% last year, mainly in Scotland.
However, this report highlights serious gaps. With only five years left until 2030, the Climate Change Committee estimates that 39% of the required emissions reductions are not adequately backed by government policy.
Growing demand in high-carbon sectors like aviation is offsetting gains made in electricity generation. Aviation emissions are now scarily largely than those from electricity generation and rising fast.
Although nearly 100,000 heat pumps were installed last year, emissions from buildings are still rising. In road transport, while electric vehicle adoption is growing, there’s been little shift towards shared public transport options such as buses and trains. In industry, policies around resource efficiency and consumption remain underdeveloped.
Critically, the Climate Change Committee notes that electricity currently accounts for just 18% of the UK’s total energy demand, and suggests that 80% of required emissions reductions must come from sectors beyond energy supply. The rates of decarbonisation need to more than double in these other sectors.
Yet, policy to reduce overall energy demand remains weak. This is a broader agenda than reducing household energy bills but a more fundamental appreciation of how the UK’s energy demand can be shaped in the future.
The UK cannot rely on technology alone. The climate transition can benefit from changes in how we live, move, consume and produce. Making such changes would make us less dependent on fossil fuel imports, put more money in our pockets from efficiency savings and make us healthier by improving air quality, increase exercise levels through more active travel such as walking and cycling and make our homes more comfortable in both hot and cold conditions.
A truly credible response to the climate crisis demands a whole-system approach. That means aligning climate goals with economic and social policy, and recognising the broader benefits — from improved health to reduced inequality — that come with reducing energy demand.
The window to act is closing. The UK has made progress, but without more ambitious and integrated action, it risks falling short when it matters most.
According to the Climate Change Committee report, the UK can deliver both its legislated targets and its internationally-committed emission reduction targets if it takes decisive policy action. And with the right political will that’s possible in a cost-effective way that improves the lives of its citizens.
Don’t have time to read about climate change as much as you’d like?
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
Press release
UK to provide hundreds of air defence missiles for Ukraine with money from seized Russian assets
The UK will boost Ukraine’s air defence with 350 missiles using funds from seized Russian assets, helping to protect Ukrainians from Putin’s attacks.
UK to provide 350 ASRAAM air defence missiles using £70m of funding raised from the interest on seized Russian assets
The new package of missiles can be used with UK-provided air defence launchers, helping to protect Ukrainian citizens from Russian missile and drone attacks
Comes as the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary visit The Hague for an annual summit of NATO leaders, with de-escalation in the Middle East and support for Ukraine topping the agenda
The UK will boost Ukraine’s air defence with 350 missiles using funds from seized Russian assets, helping to protect Ukrainians from Putin’s attacks.
The ASRAAM missiles can be fired using the RAVEN Ground Based Air Defence System supplied by the UK to Ukraine, with five more RAVEN systems due for imminent delivery, bringing the total to 13.
Initially used as air-to-air missiles fired from fighter jets, RAF engineers adapted ASRAAM in just three months to be launched from the back of a UK designed and built truck, working with a British defence industry team from MBDA UK, based in Bolton.
The UK, together with allies, is stepping up its support for Ukraine – providing £4.5 billion of military support this year – more than ever before. This support is vital to European security but is also supporting economic growth across the UK, supporting the Prime Minister’s Plan for Change and delivering a defence dividend across the UK.
The missiles will be funded using £70m worth of interest generated from seized Russian assets under the Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) scheme.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:
“Russia, not Ukraine, should pay the price for Putin’s barbaric and illegal war, so it is only right we use the proceeds from seized Russian assets to ensure Ukraine has the air defence it needs.
“The security of Ukraine is vital to the security of the UK and the Euro-Atlantic area, and our support will never waiver.
“My message to President Putin is clear: Russia needs to stop its indiscriminate attacks on innocent Ukrainian people and return to the negotiating table.”
It comes as the Prime Minister, Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary join NATO leaders for the Alliance’s annual summit in the Hague, where they will meet counterparts to discuss de-escalation efforts in the Middle East, as well as further military support for Ukraine.
Defence Secretary John Healey MP said:
“Ukrainians are continuing to fight with huge courage – civilians and military alike. I am committed to ensuring Ukraine has the support they need to put them in the strongest possible position to secure peace.
“Russia’s indiscriminate missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities show that Putin is not serious about peace, and it’s right that we use funds from seized Russian assets to help Ukraine defend itself from this onslaught.
“These air defence missiles will save Ukrainian lives, using equipment developed jointly by British military engineers and our defence industry – showing how we are delivering on our Strategic Defence Review’s commitment to learn lessons from Ukraine.”
In March, the Prime Minister announced a historic £1.6 billion deal to provide more than five thousand air defence missiles for Ukraine – creating 200 new jobs and supporting a further 700. Defence supports more than 434,000 skilled jobs in the UK.
The UK will also invest a record £350m this year to increase the supply of drones to Ukraine from a target of 10,000 in 2024 to 100,000 in 2025.
The UK has sent around 400 different capabilities to Ukraine, with a £150 million package including drones, tanks and air defence systems announced on 12 February 2025, a £225 million package including drones, boats and munitions announced on 19 December 2024, and 650 lightweight multirole missiles announced on 6 September 2024.
The UK is absolutely committed to securing a just and lasting peace in Ukraine and are engaging with key allies in support of this effort.
Emergency services are at the scene of a truck crash on the Sturt Highway, Kingsford.
Two trucks collided about 6.45pm on Wednesday 25 June on the Sturt Highway, near Argent Road, Kingsford, just north-east of Gawler in the Barossa Valley.
Fortunately, there are no reports of serious injuries at this time.
The crash is affecting northbound traffic on the Sturt Highway.
Motorists are advised to take an alternate route if possible.
Scottish Greens call for buses in Glasgow to be nationalised
More in Transport
The Scottish Greens have called for Glasgow’s buses to be brought back into public ownership to deliver cheaper fares and a better service for passengers.
Later today (Wednesday 25th June), the Scottish Greens will use a Members’ Business debate to call on the Scottish Government to support the expansion of publicly owned bus services in Glasgow to deliver high-quality, affordable and reliable services.
Whilst local authorities in Scotland have the power to bring bus services in-house, the Scottish Government has made this process complicated and slow. SPT – Strathclyde Partnership for Transport – has recently consulted the public on their plans to either commission or run bus services in Glasgow, however, campaigners are concerned about ongoing delays and the lack of funding available.
Ahead of a Green debate in Holyrood about bringing buses back into public hands, party co-leader and sponsor of the Members Business Debate Patrick Harvie said:
“Glasgow deserves world-class public transport, but everyone who uses it can see that it’s confusing, expensive and unreliable. Fares have increased, routes have been cut, and passengers have been left stranded.
“But if we had publicly owned bus companies we’d deliver great results for communities.
“You just have to look at Lothian buses in Edinburgh – over the last decade, they’ve paid back a £36 million dividend to the Council that runs them. That’s the norm in many parts of Europe, and cities like Manchester have made great progress in recent years too.
“So why shouldn’t we be running our own buses here in Glasgow?”
Mr Harvie called on the Scottish Government to follow the Scottish Greens’ lead to make public transport cheaper and more accessible for all. He added:
“The Scottish Greens have a track record of making public transport cheaper for people across Scotland. We delivered free bus travel for young people under the age of 22 and were the first to scrap peak rail fares.
“Bus fares should be cheap or free for everyone, all the time. But without reliable, accessible and integrated buses even free travel won’t get you very far.
“Councils desperately need the power to plan the routes they need and cap fares. But that’s only the first step – from there we need to properly support new publicly owned operators.
“If we get this right, Glasgow and the wider region can achieve better buses for everyone. Glasgow deserves nothing less.”
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government Non-Ministerial Departments 2
Press release
Side hustlers urged to get tax returns sorted now
HMRC is encouraging anyone with a side hustle to check if they need to complete a Self Assessment tax return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year.
If you earn more than £1,000 from additional income, you may need to register for Self Assessment.
Filing now means you will know your tax situation sooner and can spread payments over time.
HMRC’s digital services make filing quick and easy.
Anyone earning extra income through a side hustle is being urged to check if they need to register for Self Assessment – and if so, file their tax return now.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) is encouraging those with additional income streams – from online selling and content creation to dog walking and property rental – to understand their tax obligations and get ahead of the January deadline rush.
The £1,000 threshold is key: anyone who earns more than this from their side hustle in a tax year may need to register for Self Assessment and complete a tax return. This includes gains or income received from cryptoassets.
Anyone who thinks they may need to complete a tax return for the 2024 to 2025 tax year can use the checker tool on GOV.UK to find out. New entrants to Self Assessment must register to receive their Unique Taxpayer Reference.
Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC’s Director General for Customer Services, said:
Whether you are selling handmade crafts online, creating digital content, or renting out property, understanding your tax obligations is essential. If you earn more than £1,000 from these activities, you may need to complete a Self Assessment tax return.
Filing early puts you in control – you will know exactly what you owe, can plan your payments, and avoid the stress of the January rush. You don’t need to pay immediately when you file – you have until 31 January to settle your tax bill.
The deadline to submit a Self Assessment tax return online and pay any tax owed for the 2024 to 2025 tax year is 31 January 2026.
Early preparation is particularly important for sole traders or landlords with a qualifying income over £50,000, as they will also need to get ready to start using Making Tax Digital (MTD) for Income Tax from April 2026. This will require digital record-keeping and quarterly updates using compatible software.
Visit GOV.UK to find out more about Self Assessment and how to file a tax return.
you need to make sure your tax return includes any gains or income received in relation to cryptoassets.
Capital Gains Tax may be due if you sold or exchanged any cryptoassets. This includes selling cryptoassets for money, exchanging one type for another, using cryptoassets to make purchases, or gifting them away.
Income Tax and National Insurance Contributions may also be due if you received cryptoassets from employment, or were involved in cryptoasset-related activities that generate income (for example, lending and staking).
new for tax year 2024 to 2025: Dedicated sections are being introduced within the Self Assessment tax return for declaring cryptoassets separately from Capital Gains and Trusts and Estates.
full guidance on cryptoasset taxation can be found on GOV.UK by searching for ‘tax when you sell cryptoassets’.
According to insight commissioned by HMRC and published in 2023, one in 10 people in the UK are operating in the hidden economy with 65% of these individuals most likely operating side hustles and largely unaware that they should be registered for tax.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
A study published in NPJ Vaccines looks at adjuvants in vaccines and their association with a lower risk of dementia.
Dr Julia Dudley, Head of Research at Alzheimer’s Research UK, said:
“Dementia is not an inevitable part of ageing. Identifying ways to reduce dementia risk is a priority for research, and vaccination offers an intriguing area of exploration. There have been an increasing number of studies suggesting a link between people who receive certain vaccinations, like the Shingrix vaccine, and a decreased risk of dementia. This study offers a potentially different perspective on what might be linked to this finding.
“In this latest large US-based observational study, researchers are proposing that it might be the adjuvant that is providing a protective effect, rather than the disease the vaccine is seeking to protect against. This study looked at dementia diagnoses in people who had received vaccines with the AS01 adjuvant and those who had a flu vaccine, which doesn’t contain this component.
“An adjuvant is a substance in the vaccine used to create a boosted immune response, designed to give more effective protection upon exposure to the virus.AS01 is in the shingles vaccine Shingrix, and Arexvy, the vaccine to protect against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).
“They found people who had Shingrix, Arexvy or both of these vaccines were less likely to get a dementia diagnosis within 18 months. They found no difference between the Shingrix or Arexvy in terms of reducing dementia risk.
“One of the strengths of the study is that it adjusted for factors that could influence risk, such as underlying health conditions and some lifestyle and environmental factors. However, as the study is observational and examined past health data, the researchers cannot conclude how the Shingrix and Arexvy vaccines may protect against dementia. We also cannot rule out that the link between vaccine and dementia risk is due to other factors not captured in this study, such as social and lifestyle factors.
“One of the limitations highlighted by the authors was around people not having a dementia diagnosis when they could be living with the condition, which could skew the findings. We do not know if the adjuvant is reducing the risk of dementia or delaying its onset. The follow-up period was only 18 months, so more research is needed to determine the potential long-term effects of the vaccines.
“As we understand more about the biological mechanisms behind any protective effects seen with vaccines, we may be able to investigate new treatment approaches.”
Prof Kevin McConway, Emeritus Professor of Applied Statistics, Open University, said:
“This is an interesting, worthwhile and statistically competent piece of work, but a lot more research needs to be done to make good sense of its possible implications for health care. In fact it’s a good example of how scientific and medical knowledge has to be built up through a series of studies, not just a single piece of work.
“Previous research has provided pretty convincing evidence that vaccination against shingles, in older people, can reduce dementia risk. A recent study (published 2024), by the same research team responsible for the new study, found that the reduction in dementia risk is greater in people who had the shingles vaccine now in most widespread use, including in the UK (it’s called Shingrix), than with the previous vaccine (Zostavax).
“However, that study could not provide direct evidence on the reason for the risk difference between the two shingles vaccines. One possibility is that having shingles might increase dementia risk, and that the new vaccine provides better protection against shingles than the old one did, so reducing dementia risk. Another is that there’s some component in the new vaccine that reduces dementia risk. Or it could be some combination of these possibilities.
“The new Shingrix vaccine differs from the old Zostavax vaccine in several ways, but one difference is Shingrix vaccine contain a substance called AS01, while Zostavax does not. Some previous research has indicated that it’s possible that AS01 somehow provides in itself a reduction in dementia risk. AS01 is not the ingredient of the vaccine that directly incites the immune system to develop immunity against shingles. Instead it is an adjuvant – a substance that is intended to help the immune system to respond to the vaccination.
“AS01 is also used as an adjuvant in another vaccination offered to older people; the vaccination against the respiratory virus infection RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), which is now recommended for people in the UK aged 75-79. One of the vaccines in use against RSV also contains AS01. (There’s another available vaccine that does not contain it.) So the research team responsible for the new study used data from a large set of American electronic health records, to compare dementia risk over a period of 18 months after vaccination for older people who had had various different vaccinations containing AS01 (just the RSV vaccine, just the shingles vaccine, or both). These people were compared with older people who had had a flu vaccine, not containing AS01.
“The researchers found that those who had had either of the two AS01-containing vaccines (against RSV or shingles) had a lower risk of being diagnosed with dementia in the 18 months after vaccination than those who had had the flu vaccine. This pattern of lower risk showed up in people who had had just one of the AS01 vaccines, or both, though there were some relatively small (and statistically uncertain) differences in the average size of the risk reduction, compared to the flu vaccine, for different groups.
“What’s still not known from this study is exactly why these risk differences occur. The researchers mention that, in some way, they could occur because having either RSV or shingles might in itself increase dementia risk, so that having a vaccine that makes it less likely to have one or both of those diseases might reduce dementia risk. Or it could be because of some protective effect of the AS01 adjuvant, which is in these vaccines but not in the flu vaccine. (Or some combination of these possible effects.)
“The researchers give some arguments why they feel AS01 itself is likely to play a protective role against dementia. I don’t have expertise in virology so can’t comment directly on those arguments. But it’s at least a possibility, from all the existing evidence, that AS01 could have a protective effect. This study also doesn’t provide direct evidence on how AS01 might work to reduce dementia risk, but the researchers give some suggestions based on other studies as to what could be happening. Again I can’t comment on those.
“It’s because of this inevitable lack of knowledge about exactly how AS01 might be involved in reducing dementia risk that the researchers are asking for more studies, some of them using other research methods, to find out more. I agree with this recommendation, because in my view the results of this study provide a clear justification for looking further. But we’re not yet anywhere near the stage of using the results of the new study to change clinical practice. Also, the new study can’t make the timescale of risk reduction very clear, because the follow-up period to look for dementia diagnoses was relatively short at 18 months.
“This was an observational study – the people weren’t assigned at random to receive a particular pattern of vaccinations, but just did what they would have done anyway in consultation with health professionals. In any observational study, there can be issues about what is causing what. The basic problem is that people who receive different vaccinations will also differ in terms of many other factors – age, sex, what diseases they have previously had or still have, and many more. Some of these factors may be potential confounders, as they are called – that is, there’s a possibility that they are the cause of differences in dementia risk, and not the actual vaccinations at all.
“The researchers did a very thorough job of allowing for potential confounders, by doing something called propensity score matching. This involves setting up a statistical model that predicts people’s chances of having a dementia outcome, regardless of what vaccines they had had, and then matching people who (for example) had had the RSV vaccine but not the shingles vaccine with people who had had the flu vaccine. In this research the statistical model for the matching involves a very wide range of potential confounders. Then direct comparisons are based on these matched pairs of people. That means one can get a lot closer to comparing like with like groups, who don’t differ (on average) in terms of potential confounding factors.
“The process can’t entirely avoid the possibility that there are confounding factors that couldn’t be dealt with in this way, and that’s why the research paper says clearly that unmeasured confounding can’t be entirely ruled out. So there has to remain doubt about whether the risk differences are caused by the different vaccines. This is in addition to the inevitable doubts about which aspects of the vaccines (AS01 or something else as well) might be causes of the risk differences – if indeed it’s the vaccines that do turn out to cause the differences. These are yet more reasons why this research is nowhere near being the last word.”
Prof Sir Andrew Pollard FMedSci, Ashall Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity and Director of the Oxford Vaccine Group, University of Oxford, said:
“There are now a number of studies which have shown an association between shingles vaccination in older adults and a reduced rate of dementia in the vaccinated population. The fact that two different vaccine platforms (both live attenuated shingles vaccines and the adjuvanted shingles subcomponent vaccine) saw similar associations supported the idea that the mechanism was as a result of vaccine-prevention of reactivation of the usually dormant shingles virus in the brain. Another virus from the same family, herpes simplex virus (the cold sore virus) has also been associated with dementia raising the possibility that both of these viruses (shingles and herpes simplex) could cause infection, possibly silently and recurrently, in the brain that led eventually to dementia. Unfortunately, there is no licensed vaccine for herpes simplex at this time. However, this latest study published in npj vaccines shows that another vaccine, against the completely unrelated respiratory virus, RSV, is also associated with a reduced rate of dementia. The authors argue that this is because of a non-specific effect of these vaccines on the immune system which generates an environment in our bodies which is somehow protective against dementia, though further studies are needed to confirm this. Such a mechanism could account for the effects driven by both shingles and RSV vaccines. The various studies of the impact of vaccination on dementia are all observational studies which could have a risk of bias, as it can be challenging to adequately control for differences between those who seek vaccination and those who don’t, but the consistent finding across multiple studies makes the observation more convincing. It is premature to be too certain about the mechanism by which vaccines might reduce dementia risk, but these observations provide further incentive for those eligible to turn up for their scheduled vaccination visits to prevent the unpleasant and potentially serious and life-threatening infections for which they were designed, but with the added possible benefit of a longer dementia-free life-span. What’s not to like?”
‘Lower risk of dementia with AS01- adjuvanted vaccination against shingles and respiratory syncytial virus infections’ by Maxime Taquet et al. was published in npj vaccines at 10:00 UK time Wednesday June 25th 2025.
DOI: 10.1038/s41541-025-01172-3
Declared interests
Prof Kevin McConway: No conflicts.
For all other experts, no reply to our request for DOIs was received.
This week we are marking Shared Lives – a scheme that recruits and approves Carers from all backgrounds and introduces and matches them with individuals assessed as having a social care need.
A Shared Lives celebration event was held recently, bringing carers and families together to share stories and friendships.
Karyn Ross, who manages the Councils Shared Lives scheme, said: “I’ve worked for Shared Lives for a long time now and it’s just a lovely scheme and a natural way for someone to move from one family setting to another.
“It’s important that our families can all get together.”
An afternoon tea was organised, and the families had a great time enjoying a special time together.
Cllr Linda Bigham, Cabinet Member for Adult Services, said: “It was a fabulous event and great to see how people share everything together – dreams, ambitions and the happy and sad moments in life. We are very lucky in Coventry that we have so many people who are willing to share their lives and care for one another. We are really blessed.”
Shared lives introduces and matching individuals who are assessed as having social care needs with Approved Shared Lives Carers who invite individuals into their family homes to share their lives.
The Council’s Scheme covers Coventry and Warwickshire and is registered with the Care Quality Commission (CQC). The Scheme is always recruiting new carers who are offered a full training programme and support during the assessment and approval. Once carers are approved, we match referrals ensuring the Carers skills, abilities and lifestyle will complement the support of an individual placed. Our Carers open their homes and lifestyle to support individuals needing extra support to live fulfilling lives in the heart of their communities. They receive a financial package as part of the scheme.
For more details call 024 7678 5339 or visit coventry.gov.uk/sharedlives
Shared Lives Carer, Lucy was one of those at the celebrations. Lucy first provided respite care for Katie and now provides long term care.
She said: “I want to be the best support that I can – and Katie has supported me in my journey of supporting her.”
Lucy said: “Katie showed me the support she needed. She was the one guiding me.”
Katie added: “Together we make a great team”
To ensure the placement was right, Katie had many visits to Lucy’s home before Katie wanted to move in long term.
Katie has a visual impairment and is someone who relies on people’s voices and always thought Lucy’s voice was very kind.
Katie’s Mum Sue, said: “I am so happy for Katie’s future, it gives me peace of mind, that Katie now has someone who will care for her as I do.”
Katie also added: “Mum can now spend time on herself, I like to know that.”
Everyone at the event wore an ‘I love shared lives’ sticker, which tells you everything about the project.
Hear from Lucy and Katie by watching the video below.
Over 5,000 schoolchildren will continue to enjoy free literary events from the Edinburgh International Book Festival over the next three years, thanks to a £300,000 grant from the Scottish Government.
The one-off funding will support the festival’s acclaimed schools programme with more than 60 in-person and livestreamed events, including author talks with How to Train Your Dragon author Cressida Cowell and award-winning storyteller Frank Cottrell-Boyce.
The grant will also maintain travel cost support and free tickets for pupils whose families are unable to cover the cost of ticketed events, ensuring young people of all backgrounds across Edinburgh have an opportunity to participate in the internationally renowned festival. Children attending will receive a free book through the philanthropy of Book Festival donors as well.
This investment comes as part of a record £34 million increase in Scotland’s Culture budget for 2025-26, which includes an increase of £4 million for Scottish Festivals, towards the government’s commitment to invest an additional £100 million annually in the arts and culture by 2028-29.
Creative Scotland has already awarded the Edinburgh International Book Festival £1,880,000 in public multi-year funding for the next three years, more than doubling previous support.
Minister for Business and Employment Richard Lochhead said:
“The Edinburgh International Book Festival is one the country’s most significant cultural institutions. Its schools programme has been crucial in fostering literacy and cultural engagement among young people, with thousands of pupils benefiting annually from free events and resources.
“This funding secures those benefits for young readers across Edinburgh, helping schools that might otherwise struggle with travel costs, and ensuring they have the same opportunity to take part in one of the world’s leading literary festivals.”
Jenny Niven, Festival Director & CEO of Edinburgh International Book Festival said:
“The work the Book Festival does for children and young people is a cornerstone of what we do. Publishing for children and young people has never been more vibrant, and the benefits of reading never better evidenced.
“The Festival is perfectly positioned to help children engage with the amazing range and breadth of stories around them, to support teachers to use books imaginatively and creatively in learning, and to supply older kids with the tools to think critically, and learn to evaluate the deluge of info around them. This aspect of what we do is vital, and we’re delighted to have specific public funding support to develop this work further in the coming years.
“We’ve identified the cost of transport as a key barrier to a wider cohort of schools joining us in August, and are committed to maintaining free access for as many children as possible. We’re delighted that the Scottish Government’s increased support for festivals has delivered public funding to develop this work further in the coming years and we look forward to widening our reach across Scotland and exploring further the digital potential of what we do.”
The RAF will be equipped with twelve new F-35A fifth-generation aircraft, as part of the Security Defence Review. The procurement of F-35A marks a significant step in delivering a more lethal “Integrated Force”, to maintain operational relevance, which deters, fights, and wins.
The F-35A aircraft will be available to fly NATO’s nuclear mission in a crisis, deepening the UK’s contribution to NATO’s nuclear burden-sharing arrangements, and deter those who would do the UK and our Allies harm. It reintroduces a nuclear role for the RAF for the first time since the UK retired its sovereign air-launched nuclear weapons following the end of the Cold War.
This complements the UK’s own operationally independent nuclear deterrent, strengthens NATO’s nuclear deterrence, and underlines the UK’s unshakeable commitment to NATO and the principle of collective defence under Article V.
As part of the second phase procurement plans of 27 aircraft, we will purchase a combination of twelve F-35A and fifteen F-35B variants, with options on further purchases examined in the Defence Investment Plan. The UK has a declared headmark of 138 aircraft through the life of the F-35 programme.
Day-to-day, the F-35As will be used in a training role on 207 Squadron, the Operational Conversion Unit (OCU). As the F-35A carries more fuel than the F-35B variant, it can stay airborne for longer, extending the available training time in each sortie for student pilots. As F-35As also require fewer maintenance hours, there will be increased aircraft availability on the OCU. These factors combined will improve pilot training and reduce the amount of time for pilots to reach the front-line squadrons.
The F-35A will complement the existing F-35B, offering a family of strike aircraft that significantly reduces life-cycle costs, meets operational requirements, and improves F-35 Force Generation for Carrier Strike operations.
Designed to operate from conventional runways, the F-35A offers increased range, increased payloads, and increased agility. The new fast jets will be based at RAF Marham and support the stand-up of a third front line F-35 Lightning Squadron.
The F-35A is the common variant in Europe making it a force multiplier for NATO. This will strengthen allied deterrence and interoperability, supporting the Alliance for the challenges of today and tomorrow.
“The threat we now face is more serious and less predictable than at any time since the Cold War. We face war in Europe, growing Russian aggression, new nuclear risks, and daily cyber attacks at home. Equipping the RAF with F-35A aircraft demonstrates our unshakeable commitment to our ‘NATO First’ principle, acting as a potent deterrent to those who would do the UK and our Allies harm.” Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton
“For routine day-to-day operations, we have deliberately chosen to home the F-35A on the Operational Conversion Unit, as it can provide greater flying time per sortie and requires less maintenance hours. Consequently, it will reduce the time taken to train new pilots and improve F-35 Force Generation to support Carrier Strike operations around the world.” Director Capability and Programmes, Air Vice-Marshal Beck
Typhoon will remain a fundamental part of the UK’s Combat Air mix. The synergy between Typhoon and F-35 Lightning forms a powerful, interoperable force, offering a blend of air-to-air dominance, stealth, and versatile air-to-ground capabilities. We will create an RAF with new generation jets including GCAP, F35A, F35B and Typhoon, supported by autonomous wingmen, to defend Britain’s skies and strike anywhere in the world.
Many women have been supported to help quit for good through help from the Health Trainers.
Cllr Lucy Steels- Walshaw, Executive Member for Health, Wellbeing and Adult Social Care at City of York Council, said “Stopping smoking during pregnancy is a positive step you can take for the health of you and your baby.
“Stopping smoking can be challenging, but you do not have to face this alone. The council’s health trainers can offer support tailored to your needs and look at techniques and strategies to keep you motivated on your journey to becoming smoke free”.
The Health Trainers offer an incentive scheme of £170 in shopping vouchers which are offered, if they continue to quit during their pregnancy and quit for good.
Lucy Evans, from Acomb, gave birth at full term to a 7lb 14oz healthy baby girl, Violet, 12 weeks ago. She stopped smoking a week after her first health trainer appointment early in her pregnancy, and received free nicotine gum and patches as well as one-to-one support sessions.
She has just received her final voucher this week, which she plans to spend on clothes for Violet and a treat for herself.
She said: “I wanted to quit to make sure my baby was healthy and would definitely recommend this scheme, you get so much support and help and it makes you want to quit even more.
“I feel a lot healthier, I’m not coughing as much and am breathing better, and I feel like I can handle stress a lot better as I’m not relying on smoking.”
The service offers personalised, individual support and advice, and signing up is really simple.
Across the region, the Smoking at Time of Delivery (SATOD) data shows that 7.5 per cent (3,901) of pregnant women across Yorkshire and the Humber were recorded as smoking in 2024/25.
This is 1.8 per cent lower than the previous year, when maternal smoking rates were 9.3 per cent across the region. This equates to 642 fewer women smoking compared to last year.
This is the lowest rate of smoking during pregnancy recorded in Yorkshire and the Humber since data began to be collected. This also reflects improvement across England as a whole, where SATOD rates fell to 6.1 per cent from 7.4 per cent last year.
Smoking during pregnancy significantly increases the risk of harm to both mother and baby. It increases the risk of stillbirth, miscarriage, and sudden infant death. Children born to parents who smoke are also more likely to experience respiratory illness, learning difficulties, and diabetes, and are more likely to grow up to be smokers when compared to children born into smoke-free households.
As well as the health harms caused by smoking during pregnancy, it also adds to the cost of living and pushes families further into poverty. The average smoker spends £3,000 per year on tobacco, with younger women from the most deprived areas being the most likely to smoke and be exposed to second-hand smoke during pregnancy.
A recent review of Additional Support Needs (ASN) spaces across Aberdeen City Council’s School Estate has highlighted a range of good practices, with schools demonstrating creativity and flexibility in how they use space to support pupils with ASN.
The findings were presented today (Tuesday 24 June) to the Education and Children’s Services Committee, where members heard that while many schools are making effective use of available space, there are also significant challenges – both in existing buildings and in the planning and design of future school infrastructure. The full report can be viewed here.
Councillor Martin Greig, convener of the Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “This review highlights the dedication and creativity of our schools in supporting pupils with additional needs. It’s encouraging to see so many examples of good practice across the city. At the same time, we must acknowledge the challenges that exist and ensure our planning and investment in school buildings reflect the evolving needs of all learners.”
Councillor Jessica Mennie, vice-convener of Education and Children’s Services Committee, said: “Providing inclusive and supportive learning environments is a key priority. This review gives us valuable insight into how we can better design and adapt our school spaces to meet the needs of pupils with ASN. I am grateful to all the staff who contributed to this work and who continue to make a difference every day in our schools.”
The review was carried out collaboratively by officers in the Corporate Landlord cluster and colleagues in Education and Lifelong Learning, who assessed current usage of ASN spaces and identified examples of innovative and effective practice.
The work also drew on the Exploration of Learners’ Needs conducted by the Educational Psychology Service (EPS) in November 2024, and considered the findings of Audit Scotland’s February 2025 report on Additional Support for Learning.
While some of the challenges identified may require national-level policy decisions, the committee agreed that there are important local considerations for how the Council plans and manages its school estate moving forward.
As a result, the committee noted the current provision of spaces offered across the whole school estate and instructed the Chief Officer – Corporate Landlord to:
identify any opportunities for sharing good practice in order to develop support for ASN for the benefit of pupils and school communities;
bring back a report as soon as possible based on the adequacy or otherwise of spaces for ASN within each school across the city, in order to truly understand the actual requirements for each school.
249 High street is to the right of the arches in front of the City Chambers
Edinburgh’s visitor information centre at 249 High Street has been secured for the next 25 years.
Councillors on the Finance and Resources Committee have unanimously agreed to lease the prominent location for £150,000 a year to the Cobbs group, a family-run hospitality business with 35 sites across Scotland.
The decision follows the departure of Visit Scotland from the building in March, as it closes all of its in-person tourism hubs in Scotland.
With Living Wage employer Cobbs at the helm, up to 15 jobs are expected to be created at the visitor information centre. It will feature stalls promoting Edinburgh attractions and Scottish tour operators, a Cobbs café selling traditional Scottish baking and a ‘Made in Scotland’ showcase as part of the centre’s retail offering.
Councillor Mandy Watt, Finance and Resources Convener, said:
While more and more visitors are planning their trips to Edinburgh online, you can’t beat a warm Scottish welcome face to face.
We believe there remains an appetite for this type of in-person experience for visitors, particularly with the draw of a shop and a café, so I’m pleased that we’ve been able to secure the visitor information centre’s future.
This will prove invaluable as we encourage tourists to visit all parts of the city in all seasons as part of the city’s tourism strategy, and as we introduce Edinburgh’s Visitor Levy next summer. The lease will also support us to raise income worth £3.5 million over the next 25 years.
Cobbs is well established throughout Scotland with the family nearing 40 years of tourism experience and we’re looking forward to welcoming them into the space.
Fraser Campbell, Managing Director of the Cobbs Group, said:
We’re well established in Scotland as the Cobbs group and we proudly operate 35 sites across the country. Opening a tourism office in the heart of Edinburgh is a dream and we’re excited to take over the lease. Right in the heart of Edinburgh’s festival action, it is the ideal site for showcasing everything the city and Scotland has to offer.
We’re particularly keen to highlight local experiences and ‘Made in Scotland’ items where we can and I’d urge makers and crafters to please get in touch so that we can offer a unique and authentic range for tourists to enjoy on Edinburgh’s famous Royal Mile.
Makers, crafters and businesses selling locally produced products are welcome to contact irene.hurwood@cobbs.info to express an interest in collaborating with Cobbs on their ‘Made in Scotland’ retail showcase.
Council Leader Jane Meagher writes in the Evening News today to welcome positive news for Edinburgh’s economy.
Edinburgh has long been Scotland’s economic powerhouse and we’re now ahead of London for the first time.
The value of goods and services produced here in Edinburgh per person has now surpassed London’s. That’s according to economic data recently published by the Office for National Statistics.
The figures reveal gross domestic product per head of £69,809 in Edinburgh, compared to £69,077 in London. This steady growth of Edinburgh’s economy to outperform that of London’s is no small feat. Twenty-five years ago, this same data put London 19% ahead of Edinburgh, highlighting just how well we perform as a city.
This is good news for our local businesses, and it shows that Edinburgh is an environment in which small, local enterprises can thrive. It also demonstrates the confidence global investors have in Edinburgh. In the last year alone, we’ve welcomed 27 instances of foreign direct investment, from shops like Søstrene Grene and MINISO to major renewable energy consultants PSC.
This is impressive and is in part thanks to the city’s resilient business community and strong employment opportunities. The economy in the city has been driven forward by a combination of relying on established sectors such as, financial services and our universities, as well as embracing new and emerging opportunities in areas such as life sciences and technology.
Linked to this, we’ve seen the UK Chancellor commit up to £750 million for the city and the region for a next generation ‘Exascale super-computer’ at the University of Edinburgh. This will be a national asset supporting jobs and investment and reaffirms the region’s role as an economic powerhouse. This is in keeping with the eight growth-driving sectors identified in the new Industrial Strategy, placing Edinburgh and the region in a strong position to continue to receive investment and grow the local economy.
On top of this, £410 million will be shared across the devolved nations for a Local Innovation Partnership Fund and it makes great sense for our City Region to lead on this in Scotland. From artificial intelligence to data and robotics, this money could unlock a huge amount of investment, building on the successful projects we’ve already delivered, including the National Robotarium, the Usher Institute and Easter Bush which is now the global location of ‘Agritech’ excellence.
Given Edinburgh’s longstanding innovation capabilities it is fantastic that we will be able to reap the associated economic, social and environmental benefits. That said, our challenge is to manage Edinburgh’s success and growth, and ensure it is fair and sustainable. To keep thriving, we need to manage the pressures placed on our housing, environment and our residents. This is the fastest growing city in Scotland, with the population expected to increase by 60,000 over the next 20 years and over four million visitors every year.
Everyone should be able to benefit from Edinburgh’s continued economic success. We are clearly contributing more than our share to the Scottish and UK economies and both governments should continue to take note.
Leeds is set to come out to bat as a global sporting city as it prepares to host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup next year.
Following on from hosting England men’s triumph against India in the first Test this week, Headingley stadium will once again be placed firmly on the worldwide cricket stage as it welcomes the landmark women’s tournament in 2026.
The iconic venue is scheduled to host five nail-biting showdowns as the likes of Australia, India, West Indies, Pakistan and England battle it out for the prestigious trophy, currently held by New Zealand.
The action initially kicks off on Friday June 12, 2026, marking the start of a whirlwind month of world-class cricket, with fixtures in Headingley set for:
June 17 (Australia Women vs Qualifier at 10.30am and India Women vs Qualifier at 2.30pm);
June 18 (West Indies Women vs Qualifier at 6.30pm);
June 20 (England Women vs Qualifier at 6.30pm); and
June 23 (Australia Women vs Pakistan Women at 6.30pm)
And from today (Wednesday June 25) for the next 12 days, people in Leeds and beyond will have the opportunity to gain exclusive, priority tickets via an online link.
The access window opened at 10am today and ends at midnight on July 8, to help the city’s fans beat the ballot and secure a seat to watch the action in Leeds and other venues across the country.
The announcement of Headingley as a host venue for the high-profile tournament further bolsters Leeds’s reputation as an all-rounder when it comes to global sporting events.
Recent prominent national and international events hosted by the city include the AJ Bell World Triathlon Championship Series, the Westfield Health British Transplant Games, a number of fixtures for 2022’s Rugby League World Cup and the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2019.
As well as raising Leeds’s profile as a sporting heavyweight, such occasions also provide a massive boost to the city’s and regional economy, as evidenced by 2014’s Tour de France Grand Depart bringing in more than £100m in addition to other long-term benefits including increased tourism and trade deals.
The council also works alongside individual organisers to ensure that large-scale events follow robust sustainability strategies that support the city’s net zero ambitions.
Councillor Salma Arif, Leeds City Council’s executive member for adult social care, active lifestyles and culture, said: “Hosting the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup is great news for Leeds, enhancing our already-impressive track record of staging major events of all kinds.
“It’s a privilege to be among the many iconic venues up and down the country showcasing world-class cricket and propelling the women’s game into the mainstream – and hopefully inspiring new generations to get involved in the sport.
“With the opening today of the priority window to access tickets, now is the chance for fans across Leeds and beyond to snap up the opportunity to enjoy what promises to be thrilling days of cricketing action right here in city.”
Yorkshire CCC Chief Executive Officer Sanjay Patel said: “We are delighted to be hosting five fixtures in the 2026 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup.
“Headingley has an incredible track record of hosting entertaining matches, and I’m sure it’ll be no different next summer.
“The opportunity to host some of the world’s best cricketers is really exciting, and I’m sure the population of Leeds and the surrounding areas will come out in their numbers to support the teams.
“Alongside this, the potential legacy that a tournament like this can have on the game is transformative and we will be working hard with a range of partners to maximise its impact.”
Tournament director Beth Barrett-Wild said: “The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup provides us with an unparalleled opportunity to transform a month of sporting excellence into a movement that will rewrite the narrative about women’s cricket.
“At iconic venues like Headingley, we’ll see incredible, world-class athletes battling it out in front of hundreds of thousands of fans, who with every ball bowled and run scored, will be contributing to lasting change.
“It’s our opportunity to give women’s cricket the stage it deserves, and to inspire fans across Leeds to get involved!”
A 36-year-old man is in hospital following a two-vehicle crash on Cambridge Road at Cambridge about 2pm today (Wednesday).The man was driving what was believed to be a stolen vehicle, a white Mitsubishi Express van, when he was observed by police.Police attempted to intercept the vehicle, activating their lights.The driver then allegedly evaded police, driving dangerously before crashing, rolling the van, and colliding with another vehicle.The man, who was the sole occupant of the van, was taken to the Royal Hobart Hospital.The female driver, and sole occupant of the second vehicle, was not physically injured in the crash.Cambridge Road was closed for about 4.5 hours while the scene was examined. As at 6.35pm, the road was clear.As is normal practice, a Professional Standards investigation will be conducted into the incident to determine the circumstances surrounding the crash.Police are calling for witnesses of the crash or any person who observed a white Mitsubishi Express van being driven around the time of the crash to come forward.Anyone with dash cam footage or information should contact Police on 131 444 or report anonymously to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or crimestopperstas.com.au. Please quote OR778445.
Source: United Kingdom – Executive Government & Departments
News story
A faster, more efficient planning appeals process
More planning appeals will be processed via a faster, simplified procedure under new regulations.
Simplified planning appeal procedures will be rolled out to the majority of planning appeals decided via written representations following a Ministerial decision to change regulation.
Expected to begin by the end of 2025, the reform is about streamlining processes to ensure planning appeal decisions can be made more quickly, benefiting developers, local authorities and communities alike.
Under the new process the majority of written representation appeals will accept only the evidence put before the local planning authority during application. This will not only speed up appeals but will also importantly, encourage a full body of evidence to be provided at application stage, giving local planning authorities the information they need to make decisions – aligning with universal planning principles of keeping decisions local.
Paul Morrison, Planning Inspectorate CEO, explains:
Every delayed planning decision represents potential delays to development and uncertainty for local communities. This change is a common-sense approach to planning that benefits us all by removing unnecessary administrative burdens and focusing on what matters: well-informed, timely decisions based on high-quality applications from the start.
The simplified appeals process will deliver:
A faster, more efficient planning appeals process that benefits everyone
Keeping planning decisions local and reducing unnecessary bureaucracy
Submit once, submit right – providing the complete picture at application stage
Initial estimates anticipate changes to regulation being made by the end of the year. From this date, applications to local planning authorities become eligible for the simplified appeals process.
More detail on the changes is available via dedicated guidance. We will update our procedural guide once we receive a final draft of the changed regulations.
The Planning Inspectorate remains committed to maintaining a fair planning system where all appeals are carefully considered against local and national planning policies.
