Ebola is a highly contagious disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids, which frequently causes fatal haemorrhagic fever, rapid multi-organ failure and internal or external bleeding

Screening has started at a major US airport after an outbreak of the highly contagious Ebola outbreak in parts of Africa.

The US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) began screening some travellers at Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport on Wednesday, May 20 as health officials respond to the outbreak.

This comes just days after the CDC said any US passport holder who has visited the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda or South Sudan within the past three weeks will be barred from entering the country. The ban will last for at least 30 days, according to an order issued by the CDC on Monday.

Ebola is a highly contagious disease transmitted through contact with bodily fluids. It frequently causes fatal haemorrhagic fever, rapid multi-organ failure and internal or external bleeding.

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“Ebola is one of the most infectious diseases out there. I’m not an alarmist, but I’m very concerned,” said CEO of Wellness Equity Alliance, Dr Tyler Evans.

Ebola cases are continuing to spread across parts of East and Central Africa and the World Health Organization has declared the outbreak a public health emergency of international concern.

At least six Americans are reported to have been exposed to Ebola.

An American doctor who contracted Ebola in the DRC has been flown to Germany for treatment, along with his wife and four children, as the World Health Organization warned of the “scale and speed” of the outbreak.

Federal health officials have said that the screening process at the busy O’Hare airport is intended to prevent the virus from entering the US.

People who have travelled through Uganda, the DRC or South Sudan within the last 21 days are being denied entry unless they are US citizens or permanent residents. Returning citizens and permanent residents arriving from those countries have to undergo additional screening measures at the airport.

Officials are checking travellers’ temperatures, enquiring about potential exposure and collect contact-tracing information.

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Those who show symptoms or have a fever will be taken to a quarantine station at the airport for a second evaluation.

If cleared, the traveller will be given a care kit with instructions to monitor their temperature twice a day for the next three weeks.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that he is concerned about the Ebola outbreak.

When asked by a reporter about his concerns over the virus, Trump responded: “[I] certainly am.

“I think that it’s been confined right now to Africa, but its something that has had a breakout.”

The MPs went on to note: “The burden of higher standing charges is particularly acute for Scotland’s remote and island communities, who also experience higher levels of fuel poverty and, in many cases, are bearing the brunt of the infrastructure required to deliver UK-wide clean power ambitions.

It’s no secret that Makerfield has been at the heart of political attention since former Labour MP, Josh Simons, announced he was stepping down.

Mr Simons said he was giving up his seat so the mayor of Greater Manchester Andy Burnham could enter Parliament and “drive the change our country is crying out for”.

Since then, it’s been all eyes on Makerfield, for an unconventional by-election that may decide not only the fate of the constituency, but the country.

If he wins, some of Mr Burnham’s supporters believe he has a path to becoming Prime Minister before Parliament breaks for the summer recess.

So, what have smack barms got to do with all this?

On Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, the panel (Josh Simons, broadcaster Jo Coburn, and author Will Self) discussed the political storm.

Naturally, the conversation turned to Mr Burnham, the by-election and Mr Simons’ part in it.

Josh Simons was most recently the Labour MP for Makerfield and left the Commons on May 18 (Image: Roger Harris/UK Parliament)

When asked for his thoughts, political commentator Mr Self began by talking about when he last visited Wigan and had a smack barm.

He described a smack barm as the “end bits of chips out of the bottom of the pan”.

However, he didn’t get it quite right, and may have been confusing it with a scrap barm.

Served in between a classic barm, a smack barm and pea wet is a potato special, as it’s known in Bolton, with pea juice providing a condiment of sorts.

Barms aside, Mr Self said he paid just 10p for a smack barm on his last visit, clearly quite a while ago.

“It’s a poor constituency, it’s a very poor constituency,” he said.

According to Mr Self, Labour is searching for an “organic figure to unite them with their past, who’s going to cancel out time”.

He said the ‘Burnham factor’ is rooted in a kind of nostalgia for an idealised past that never really existed.

Andy Burnham is one of the party’s most popular politicians, dubbed the “King of the North” (Image: Stock)

Mr Simons defended his decision to resign his seat and said: “Over the last 40 years, the basic way that we run our economy is shafting my constituents.”

“Still eating smack barms,” Mr Self retorted.

“They’re now probably £1.50,” said Mr Simons.

“What are they supposed to feel if it’s £1.50 for a smack barm?”

We put it to our Bolton readers, as barms are often a highly debated topic, have you ever tried a smack barm?

Or should this speciality be left with our friends down the road?

The incident involved a red Gazelle e-bike and occurred at around 9.36pm on Monday (May 18).

The suspect was arrested at an address linked to a tracking device that the owner of the bike had place on it.

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A North Yorkshire Police spokesperson said: “The victim discovered the theft at around 10pm and was able to provide officers with live tracking information.”

Neighbourhood Policing Inspector Jen Stockwell said: “This case demonstrates the speed and effectiveness of our officers, who acted quickly on tracking information to recover the stolen bike and identify a suspect.

“New powers introduced under the Crime and Policing Act are helping us respond faster than ever to theft offences.

“We would strongly encourage cyclists to consider fitting tracking devices to their bikes where possible. Technology like this can make a significant difference in helping us recover stolen property.

“We take bike theft very seriously in York and remain committed to protecting our communities and pursuing those responsible.”

The U.S. Surgeon General’s Office is urging schools to limit screen time across the board, warning that over-exposure to tech in the classroom can harm children’s health.

“While screen use can have some benefits, the evidence of a range of risks to children’s overall mental and physical health is mounting,” Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. wrote in a statement introducing a new tech-themed advisory from the office, which was released on Wednesday.

Excessive technology use can be a “path to addiction-like behavior,” Kennedy added.

The report urges schools to implement a “bell-to-bell” ban on cellphone use, encourage extracurriculars and physical activity, and keep screen use in dedicated computer labs.

“Invest in physical textbooks and prioritize pen-and-paper curricula, hands on activities, and social activities for all grade levels,” the report advises. “Limit screen use by assigning work in books or on paper whenever possible.”

The advisory notes that there are “knowledge gaps” in the research comparing the wide variety of digital and analog learning methods, but it argues strong steps still need to be taken.

“We cannot wait for every question to be settled before acting,” the report reads.

In 2024, the Biden administration surgeon general, Dr. Vivek Murthy, called on Congress to require a health warning label on social media platforms. The office of the surgeon general currently lacks a confirmed permanent leader. The president has nominated Dr. Nicole Saphier, a radiologist and former Fox News Channel contributor.

Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia already limit cellphone use, and Iowa, Tennessee, and Utah have laws seeking to limit overall screen time in schools, according to EdWeek.

Tech companies have also faced scrutiny in courts this year for the alleged health impacts of their platforms, including a California court finding Instagram and YouTube liable for being addictive and a New Mexico jury finding that Meta products were harmful to children’s mental health.

Outside of schools, the surgeon general’s report urges children to “live real life” as much as possible and suggests parents have clear tech boundaries in the home while delaying the use of screens for “as long as possible.”

The recommendations clash somewhat with the Trump administration’s strong embrace of artificial intelligence, including in education settings.

Last year, the first lady unveiled a presidential AI challenge and the president issued an executive order seeking to preempt state-level AI regulation, some of which has focused on protecting children from potential harms.

The president has been a strong supporter overall of the tech industry, many of whose leading figures and companies donated heavily to his campaign, inauguration, and White House ballroom project.

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Fire crews remain at the scene in Summerston after flames ripped through the roof of a terraced property on Wednesday evening.

Emergency crews are battling a house fire in Glasgow where dramatic images show thick black smoke pouring from the roof of a residential property. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service confirmed they were called to Blackhill Road at around 7.48pm on Wednesday May 20, following reports of a blaze at a home.

Footage sent to the Record shows huge plumes of smoke rising above the Summerston area and visible from a distance across the city. Another video filmed closer to the scene shows flames ripping through the roof of what appears to be a terraced property.

Four fire appliances and a height vehicle were sent to the scene as firefighters worked to tackle the blaze. Crews remained in attendance on Wednesday night.

It is not yet known if anyone has been injured. A spokesperson for Scottish Fire and Rescue Service told the Record: “We received an alert at 19.48 on Wednesday, May 20, to reports of a house fire at Blackhill Road, Summerston, in Glasgow.

“Four appliances attended with one height appliance also in attendance. Crews remain at the scene.”

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The Environment Agency has been leading a criminal investigation into the illegal dump near residential homes in Wigan

A man has been arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the illegal dumping of waste, including at the notorious toxic site on Bolton House Road where an estimated 25,000 tonnes of material has been discarded.

The ‘ocean of rubbish’ first emerged last summer in Bickershaw when a week-long fire saw some of the waste burn, forcing nearby schools to close. A criminal investigation is underway to find out who was responsible for dumping the rubbish at the former scrapyard.

And earlier this year, a closure order banning access to the illegal waste site was granted. This was put in place to prevent access for any unauthorised individuals.

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Officers from West Midlands Police, working in support of the Environment Agency, secured the arrest of the suspect. A 58-year-old male from the Birmingham area was arrested for environmental, fraud and money laundering offences.

The suspect has now been released on conditional bail pending further investigation. No further details were released by the Environment Agency, who are leading the criminal probe into the towering dump near homes.

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The investigation is being led by the EA’s National Environmental Crime Unit, which is seeking to find those responsible for the offending. Angry locals said multiple lorries carrying rubbish to the site piled waste up to 20 metres high over several months beginning in January 2025.

Shocking images show thousands of black bin bags full of household rubbish like nappies as well as harmful chemicals and plastics littering the area.

It’s thought a clean-up could cost £4.5m. The Government said in March they would directly fund the operation to clear the site.

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Last year, after a major blaze at the site, former Makerfield MP Josh Simons said he had ‘been pushing the Environment Agency every time [he] meets with them to move further and faster’.

Ian Crewe, Area Director for Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Cheshire at the Environment Agency, said: “The illegal dumping at sites across England are an attack on our communities, and the Environment Agency shares their disgust at these horrendous crimes.

“Our teams have been working relentlessly on this investigation, and yesterday’s arrest are a vital step in collecting new evidence and progressing it further.”

Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds said: “We are cracking down on waste criminals – putting an end to the damage they cause, by boosting funds to tackle waste crime, putting more boots on the ground and and giving stronger powers to our enforcement teams. If you dump waste illegally, we will come after you.”

Bolton Councillors elected Labour Cllr Akhtar Zaman to be their new leader yesterday (May 20), after the recent local elections left Bolton leaderless.

Votes for Cllr Zaman came from within Labour itself – who still have 20 seats – from the Liberal Democrats, and from the Horwich and Blackrod First and other independents.

Councillor Akhtar Zaman as Leader of the Labour Group, with Councillor Martyn Donaghy (Image: Bolton Labour)

Cllr Leader Zaman addressed the chamber: “Never did I believe that I would be leader of this great town – to me Bolton is the most beautiful place on the earth.

“I would like to say thank you to Nick Peel, a man of incredible talents.

“I came to this town over forty years ago with absolutely nothing, and this town took me in and gave me everything I have today.

“This is the reason why I stand in front of you all.

“I got involved in politics when I was in the voluntary sector 30 years ago.

Cllr Nadim Muslim stood against Cllr Zaman (Image: Cllr Nadim Muslim)

“We are going to continue the work we began in 2023 to regenerate our town.

“We will work for a greener, cleaner, and safer borough, where diverse communities live in peace and harmony.

“My door will always be open to anyone who wants to make Bolton better.”

Standing against Cllr Zaman was the leader of the Bolton Conservatives, Cllr Nadim Muslim.

Conservative Cllr Fairclough said: “Throughout our time in power we believed fairness mattered more than political control.

“Since Labour have returned to power, much of that spirit has been eroded.

Cllr Hilary Fairclough, seen here when she was elected Mayor in 2019 (Image: Martini)

“Today, I ask all parties to consider this – do you want every ward treated equally, and do you want a leader who will unite us rather than divide us?

“If the answer is yes, I urge you to vote for Nadim Muslim.”

Cllr David Grant, of the Horwich and Blackrod First independents, said: “We found out that Cllr Muslim wanted to be leader about an hour ago. We’ve had no discussion, no talks, we don’t know what his policies are.

“I will be supporting Cllr Zaman as leader of the council.”

Cllr David Grant (Image: Horwich Town Council)

But Cllr Muslim fired back: “We did meet the leader of HBFI so to say we never met is not strictly true.

“I think it’s very brave considering there is a by-election coming up in Horwich.

“All HBFI are doing is propping up the Labour party, which usually means higher taxes.”

Despite the back-and-forth, Cllr Zaman was elected by a broad coalition of Labour, Lib Dem, and independent MPs.

Several councillors, including all of Bolton’s Green Party councillors, abstained from voting.

Cllr Martyn Cox (Image: Public)

More surprising was the election of Conservative Cllr Andrew Morgan to be the head of Bolton’s planning department, beating out Labour’s candidate for the position, Cllr Emily Mort.

Conservative Cllr Martyn Cox said: “Cllr Cox: “If you abstain from voting for Cllr Morgan, you are voting for Labour.

“Everybody who knows Cllr Morgan is the right person for this role.

“This is not the time to abstain – if you abstain, you’re voting for Labour.”

Tory Cllr Anne Galloway seconded the motion.

Cllr Grant, of the Horwich and Blackrod first independents, also voted for Cllr Morgan.

Cllr Grant said: “Our group is not whipped so they can make their own minds up.

“My thoughts are – we do need strong leadership on that committee.

“For me, I’m actually in agreement with Cllr Muslim – I’m sure it’s going to be one of the very few times this year.

Cllr Andrew Morgan (Image: Bolton Council)

“I will be voting for Cllr Morgan.”

Despite speeches from Labour Cllrs John McHugh and newly-elected council leader Cllr Zaman, Cllr Morgan won the vote, and was elected leader of the Bolton Planning Committee.

He did this with a broad range of votes from Conservative, Green, Reform, and independent councillors.

Bolton’s 2026/27 constitution was also approved in a unanimous vote.