All news
The day's UK news in plain English, each story with a short editor's comment and its source.
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Midlands
Birmingham council wins BREEAM sustainable cities award
The city council has been honoured for planning policies that push new buildings to meet tough energy efficiency and low-emissions standards.
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Midlands
Birmingham council wins £15m to help small firms cut energy bills
A new three-year programme will offer grants to about 125 small and medium-sized businesses a year, aiming to lower their energy costs and carbon emissions.
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Money
Report urges tailored support for neurodivergent workers
An independent panel says help should be based on individual need rather than diagnosis, as ministers push ahead with employment programmes.
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Midlands
Birmingham council leaders promise action on child sexual exploitation
Cross-party statement welcomes a national inquiry into grooming gangs in Birmingham and pledges to republish historic reports and improve support for survivors.
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Science & Tech
MenB vaccine reaches 212,549 young people as most eligible still unprotected
More than a quarter of eligible year 13 students in England have had a first MenB dose, but health officials warn that two doses are needed and most are still missing out.
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Money
Energy bill tax cut starts today to give families breathing space
VAT has been removed from household electricity bills from today, cutting around £45 from the yearly energy price cap as part of the Prime Minister's 'everyday fixes'.
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Science & Tech
UK plays key role in ExoMars mission to find life on Mars
The European Space Agency's ExoMars programme, with major UK involvement, is searching for signs of past or present life on Mars using an orbiting spacecraft and a soon-to-launch rover.
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Politics
Andy Burnham sets out plan for National Care Service and adjusted pension rise
The Prime Minister wants free personal care for older people paid for by changes to the State Pension Triple Lock from 2030, with Baroness Casey advising on the rollout.
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Business
CMA provisionally backs store sales to clear Co-op deal
The competition watchdog has tentatively accepted plans to sell 15 shops and two funeral homes so Co-operative Group's takeover of Southern Co-op can go ahead.
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Politics
Prime minister meets Norway's Støre in Liverpool for defence talks
The two leaders discussed the Lunna House defence agreement, Russian hybrid aggression and global cooperation on artificial intelligence during a meeting in Liverpool.
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Politics
Utility companies told to create British jobs or face new laws
Electricity, gas and water firms will be expected to use procurement to support UK manufacturing jobs and apprenticeships. A new insourcing unit and shipbuilding oversight are also planned.
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Business
CMA backs plans to speed up competition redress and appeals
The competition watchdog supports proposals to give it powers to order redress schemes and to simplify regulatory appeals across sectors.
