The accuracy of bowel cancer screening tests sent to the many people in England aged between 50 and 74 could be increased from 84% to almost 100% through the use of two tests, say researchers at the University of Edinburgh. The tests, known as the Faecal Immunochemical Test (FIT), look for blood hiding in faeces. In the study, 2,260 patients took just one FIT test, while 3,426 took two. The second test reduced the numbers of cancers missed by the first by 50%, and almost 20% of those taking two tests had a change of care plan due to test variations.
A phonics-based approach to reading instruction is the best way to teach Australian children how to read, according to the results of the 2021 Progress in International Reading Literacy Study. The state of New South Wales has overhauled its curriculum to ensure phonics is taught when students learn to read, while a compulsory phonics check is carried out on Year 1 students. One in five Australian students currently lack basic reading skills, a gap that has widened in the past decade for boys in NSW, while girls continue to progress. The national UK approach to phonics has been cited as a good example to follow.
The European Commission is to sign a deal agreeing regulatory co-operation with the UK, signalling improving relations between the two parties since the Northern Ireland trade dispute was settled earlier this year. The draft memorandum of understanding will lay the groundwork for voluntary regulatory co-operation, and will include the creation of a joint EU-UK Financial Regulatory Forum. The MOU is aimed at enhancing the flow of dialogue when making equivalence decisions, increasing co-operation in international regulatory bodies, and sharing regulatory updates and market analysis. The partnership is expected to be built on a shared commitment to preserve market integrity, financial stability, and protect investors and consumers. Despite the agreement, the memorandum “does not deal with the access of UK-based firms to the single market”, a spokesperson for the commission said, adding that this could still lead to the adoption of equivalence decisions.
The Council of Europe is creating a 'register of damages' to record Russia's destruction of Ukraine over the past few years for future compensation. It will be lodged at the Hague and aimed to record the costs that Russia has exacted on Ukraine since the war began, not just morally, but financially. The action aims to hold Moscow accountable long-term for the situation in Ukraine. Germany’s government has said it is looking into further mechanisms to secure war damages, including the possibility of using frozen Russian assets as compensation.
The European Commission has formally adopted a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) to allow financial regulators from the UK and the EU to cooperate. The MoU creates a joint regulatory forum, similar to what the EU already has with the US. It does not provide UK-based firms with access to the single market, although the EU has granted market access for derivatives clearing houses in London until the end of June 2025. The MoU awaits final political endorsement from EU states.
An industrial tribunal has heard that a lorry driver sacked for live-streaming offensive chanting from an Orange Hall did not foresee the behaviour of others. Andrew McDade, who was dismissed by the Norman Emerson Group after his Facebook Live video went viral in May, is currently challenging the company’s decision. The video of the singing appeared to mock Michaela McAreavey, the daughter of former Tyrone football manager Mickey Harte, who I was murdered in Mauritius in 2011.
The Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) is hoping to use Thursday's local council elections in Northern Ireland to call for further concessions on a post-Brexit trade deal. The party wants laws introduced to protect the region's trade position and greater flexibility around Northern Ireland's Brexit deal with the EU. Polls suggest that the DUP could come second to Irish nationalist party Sinn Fein's, and the DUP wishes to avoid losing votes to other unionist parties or the Alliance Party. Counting begins on Friday.
Leaders from the EU, Germany, France and Italy are set to join the G7 summit in Hiroshima, where tensions surrounding China are expected to dominate. While the thread linking the issues of Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Indo-Pacific tensions and the promotion of free market policies on trade is Beijing, negotiations are likely to be tricky; European officials are wary of directly anti-Chinese language, believing engagement with China is the smarter way to address the issue and cautious of creating more of a “west vs rest” global picture. Developing and emerging countries have also reportedly expressed concern that the G7 is focused too heavily on Ukraine and not enough on their needs and priorities.
Before the EU elections next June, Brussels lawmakers are bracing themselves for the mountain of legislation they have to get through, which includes around 200 files still open for approval by MEPs and member states, as well as proposals yet to be presented. With just over a year to go until the European Parliament votes again, including on rules relating to the digital euro and transparency requirements for NGOs, Brussels’ consensus on the new laws’ priority runs the risk of limiting progress on key environmental legislation. Proposals such as the new rules on healthy soils and genomic techniques for plants have already been been delayed or dropped from the commission agenda, to the alarm of EU commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who has warned the EU would struggle to absorb more environmental laws.
Ireland’s One Stop Shop scheme, which offers advice and funding for retrofitting properties to improve their energy efficiency and environmental performance, has been welcomed by climate activists from the UK. The project has 12 main hubs in Ireland, with each providing access to contractors, funding and audit quality regulatory support. Homeowners receive up to 50% of the costs involved in the work, paid for largely with ringfenced revenues from Ireland’s carbon levy. The Irish system has clear standards and financial support, reflecting the ease of the customer journey and the reduction of CO2 emissions.
Elections are taking place in Northern Ireland on 2 May 2019 amid Brexit uncertainty and cuts to public services. The local council elections, which will determine 462 seats in the local government of the 11 districts across Northern Ireland, have been overshadowed by Brexit tensions that caused the assembly to be boycotted by unionist Democratic Unionist Party members. Meanwhile, nationalist Sinn Féin is aiming to repeat its success from the 2018 assembly elections in which the party emerged as the largest with 27 seats. Conservative efforts to normalise trading arrangements in the region have not quelled DUP opposition to the “Windsor framework”.
Local government elections are underway in Northern Ireland, with voters electing 462 councillors across the country’s 11 councils. The poll is the first test for political parties since last year’s Assembly elections, but has been described as low key, overshadowed by other events including the 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement and the coronation of the King of England. Sinn Fein, with 105 councillors, is aiming to become the largest party once again, whilst the DUP, with 122 councillors, is running 152 candidates and party leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has pledged to stand firm over any political return to Stormont until the Windsor framework has been addressed.
The UK Labour Party may build on the greenbelt to provide more affordable housing. Party Leader Keir Starmer believes that current housing shortages are due to a lack of available, affordable homes in desirable areas. Though the Labour government’s willingness to build on green areas may cause some opposition, the party is hoping to prevent people from being pushed out into the countryside or forced to endure extremely long commutes. Surveys demonstrate that such policies are unpopular, though they might highlight far-left beliefs of political progressives and attract the young voters that parties require to maintain public support. Also, over time, green belt encroachment might enable more walkable communities, reducing car travel and emissions. The policy might also help to emphasise Labour’s commitment to environmental policies. Additionally, the UK’s tentative electric vehicle industry seems to be under the threat of collapse. Carmaker Stellantis is warning that its Ellesmere Port factory will close unless the nation renegotiates the terms of its agreement with the EU and German carmakers are also lobbying to retain tariff-free access to the UK.
Former Spice Girl Geri Horner has given King Charles III a hug and a kiss on the cheek and told him, "You’re a very modern king" at a Prince’s Trust event honouring young award winners. Horner, who has known Charles for years, was attending the awards ceremony alongside fellow trust ambassador Oti Mabuse and UK Rising Star winner Funmilola Sosanya. The annual awards recognise young people who have made a positive impact on their communities and have managed to overcome difficulties.
Voters in Northern Ireland went to the polls yesterday to elect 462 councillors to Northern Ireland’s 11 councils in local government elections. No party has overall control over Belfast City Council, the largest local government area. It is the parties’ first electoral test since last year’s Assembly elections and comes amidst ongoing changes and continued stalemates with the powersharing institutions and the DUP’s protest against post-Brexit trading arrangements. The Alliance Party, with 53 councillors, made the largest gains in last year’s Assembly elections and will be hoping to increase their seats this year alongside Sinn Fein, which is running 162 candidates and hopes to emulate its Assembly election success.
The stigma surrounding hygiene poverty is prevent vulnerable people from seeking help, according to The Hygiene Bank, a Northern Irish charity that provides toiletries to foodbanks, refuges and schools. The charity has distributed over 62.6 tonnes of items such as sanitary products and nappies since 2020 and the need for hygiene products is increasing. Hilary Young, coordinator, said families are reluctant to ask for such basic items over shame, leading some to reuse old nappies.
London's economy is faring better than other regions in the UK, growing by 0.9% between Q2 and Q3 2020, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. This compares with a contraction of 0.1% nationally for the period. Wales and Scotland saw falls in output of 2% and 0.3% respectively, while growth was flat in Northern Ireland and England. “Growth in the capital has been masking a disappointing performance across much of the rest of the UK," said Susannah Streeter of Hargreaves Lansdown.
The US PGA Championship has begun at the Oak Hill Country Club in Rochester, New York with the tournament’s first practice sessions taking place. Scheduled for May, the tournament was postponed to August due to the coronavirus pandemic. A winter frost delayed the start of play which is due to begin at midday with the first of the “big-name” groups expected to be teeing off at 1 pm. Major culling of trees as part of a course redevelopment has seen the creation of a new hole. Notable absences from the tournament this year are Tiger Woods, who is recovering from ankle surgery, and fans due to the pandemic.
Local government elections have been taking place in Northern Ireland, with voters choosing 462 councillors across the 11 councils. The election marks the first electoral test for the parties since last year's Assembly elections concerning the ongoing Stormont stalemate. Sinn Fein is hoping to emulate last year’s Assembly election result and emerge as the largest party. The DUP is currently the largest party in local government, while the cross-community Alliance Party made the largest gains in last year’s Assembly elections and will be hoping to increase the 53 councillors it currently has.
Stellantis, formerly PSA, has warned that if the UK and EU do not adjust the so-called rules of origin requirements for the automotive industry, they may be forced to close their factory at Ellesmere Port in north-west England. These tariffs are set to rise to 10% for exports next year. This story shows that Brexit is becoming a ‘live’ issue again, especially as Sir Keir wants to arrest the slow death of the car industry, but doesn’t want to join a customs union with the EU? It raises broader questions about how ambitious the UK should be in the five-year review of the TCA in 2025, and with EU relations more generally. The Windsor framework deal has unblocked relations with Brussels but the Windsor framework still needs to be delivered in practice.
Overnight missile strikes against Ukraine by Russia failed, with the Ukrainian military stating it had shot down 29 Russian cruise missiles out of 30. The strikes targeted areas including Kyiv and the southern city of Odessa. The National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine has described Kyiv as "Putin's relentless and unachievable target". The council also claimed that the fact the hypersonic missiles have been neutralised so easily served "to burst the nuclear bubble."
