Maintenance loans were paid out to 34,200 students in the last completed academic year

Student maintenance loans and grants in Northern Ireland are set to rise due to the rising cost of living. Higher Education maintenance grants and loans will increase by 2.7% for the 2026/27 academic year.

The Economy Minister announced a package of measures to support students with cost of living pressures. This includes the maximum support available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance rising by 10%.

Earlier this year, a 54% increase to the maximum Postgraduate Tuition Fee Loan for the 2026/27 academic year was announced. In the last completed academic year (2024/25), maintenance loans were paid out to 34,200 students, amounting to £153.6 million.

For full time undergraduate Northern Ireland-domiciled students who live at home, the maximum maintenance loan support will rise from £6,300 to £6,471. For those living away from home, the maximum amount will rise from £8,132 to £8,352.

For students from Northern Ireland living in London, the maximum loan support available will rise from £11,391 to £11,699. Some students will also be eligible for maintenance grants on top of this maintenance loan support. The maximum will increase from £3,475 to £3,569.

Announcing the new uplift in loans and grants, Economy Minister Dr Caoimhe Archibald said: “I fully recognise the financial pressures many students are facing and the importance of responding to these challenges, so I am taking further steps to support students with day-to-day living costs.

“For academic year 2026/27, maximum maintenance grants and loans are getting an inflationary uplift, increasing by 2.7%. This follows the significant 20% uplift to maximum maintenance loans introduced for 2025/26 which together are about helping students to stay in education and realise their potential.

“The maximum support available through the Disabled Students’ Allowance will also rise by 10%, from £25,000 to £27,500, providing additional help for those who need it to access and succeed in Higher Education.”

Advertisement

The Minister continued: “I know many students work to support their studies. My Good Jobs Bill includes a range of measures which will be particularly beneficial to students in work. It will ensure tips, gratuities and service charges are passed on in full, and it will tackle the exploitative use of zero-hours contracts by offering those who regularly work set patterns the right to move to banded hours contracts.

“I am determined to make education more affordable and accessible. By increasing maintenance support, expanding postgraduate loan provision and strengthening protections for students in work through my Good Jobs Bill, I am taking practical action to help students with the cost of living, remain in education and progress into good jobs.”

The additional support for students has been welcomed by NUS-USI, which represents over 130,000 students and apprentices in Northern Ireland across higher and further education. However, they said there is more work to be done to support students.

NUS-USI President, Ben Friel said: “We welcome the Minister’s continued focus on student cost of living pressures, and any increase in maintenance support is a step in the right direction. Students have been clear that financial pressure is one of the biggest barriers to accessing and staying in education, so additional support does matter.

“However, this must be seen as one step rather than the final answer. Many students are still being forced to work long hours, rely on hardship funds or go without essentials, and the upcoming Higher Education Funding Review must look seriously at how maintenance support can better reflect the real cost of studying and living.”

For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.

Scientists say a new study into weight loss drugs like Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempiccan suggest the impact of GLP-1 medicines “may reach further and transform how we think about cancer prevention”

Weight loss jabs should be probed as potential “cancer prevention agents”, experts say.

A study has shown weight loss injections used to tackle obesity and type 2 diabetes – including Mounjaro, Wegovy and Ozempiccan – may have wider health benefits. Experts from the US examined data on more than 161,000 patients who were obese, did not have diabetes and had not been diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer. Of these, half used weight-loss injections while the other half were given consultation on diet and exercise.

The average age of people in the study was 47 and they were followed up for two years. The analysis, published in the Annals of Oncology, revealed that those who took GLP-1s were significantly less likely to be diagnosed with an obesity-related cancer during the follow-up period, with a reduced risk of 41%.

The data revealed the size of the reduction was not found among black people. Senior author of the study, Dr Aparna Kamat, director of the Division of Gynaecologic Oncology at Houston Methodist Hospital in Texas, said: “Our study found that over an average follow-up of two years, GLP-1 RA use was associated with a significantly lower incidence of cancers directly fuelled by excess body weight.

“Overall cancer risk was reduced by 41% and we saw even larger reductions in certain subgroups, including men, where the risk dropped by nearly 70%. Among gynaecologic cancers, there was a 58% reduction in the incidence of endometrial cancer, one of the malignancies most closely linked to obesity.

“The reduction in obesity-related cancer risk among white patients was about 50% but this risk reduction was not observed among black patients. This may reflect additional causes such as access to care, differing risk profiles and other biological differences. We also studied the different GLP-1 RA formulations and found that while all of them reduced the incidence of obesity-related cancers, the greatest reduction was seen among tirzepatide users.”

Being overweight or obese has been linked to an increased risk of 13 types of cancer including of the breast, bowel, pancreas, kidney, liver and stomach. Dr Kamat said the results suggest the impact of GLP-1 medicines “may reach further and transform how we think about cancer prevention”.

She added: “Our findings do not prove causation, and cancer risk reduction should not yet be a standalone reason to prescribe GLP-1 RAs. However, for obese, non-diabetic patients who are already candidates for these medications, our data provide an additional and potentially important reason to have that conversation.

“For policymakers and other researchers, our study is a clear signal that GLP-1 RAs deserve serious investigation as cancer prevention agents, particularly as obesity-related cancers increasingly affect adults in their 40s and 50s.”

Second author of the study, Professor Pedro Ramirez, who is chairman of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at Houston Methodist Hospital, said: “Our study suggests GLP-1 RAs may have benefits that extend beyond weight management.

“It should be noted that while the findings do not prove that GLP-1 drugs directly prevent cancer, they provide early evidence that deserves further study in long-term clinical trials. This study highlights the potential for a major shift in how we think about obesity treatment and cancer prevention. As the use of GLP-1 RA medications continues to grow worldwide, understanding their broader health impact is critically important.”

Thousands of runners have taken to the streets of Swansea for the half marathon, which is welcoming more than 8,000 competitors to the city for the 12th year.

The popular event, one of the largest road races in Wales, offers spectacular views across Swansea Bay from start to finish.

The restaurant has been described by guests as a ‘hidden gem’

If you are looking for somewhere new and different to go for dinner, you may want to try this “hidden gem” in the centre of Cambridge. The Orator, which can be found on Round Church Street, offers a charming brasserie with a busy cocktail bar.

But what makes this quirky restaurant extra special is that all of The Orator’s profits go to The Cambridge Union Society, a registered educational charity. According to the charity, over the years, the Union has hosted some of the greatest figures in the world, such as Robert DeNiro, Ronald Reagan and Winston Churchill.

Hidden behind a bright yellow door, The Orator’s restaurant offers a range of dishes from a classic cheeseburger to a braised duck leg. Prices range depending on the items – a cheeseburger costs £16 meanwhile, the braised duck leg is priced at £26.

The Orator also has other menus available including a light lunch menu, a Sunday roast menu and a pre-theatre menu. Offering a “gorgeous outdoor seating area”, this restaurant makes for a lovely place to wine and dine whilst catching some beautiful rays.

The pretty brasserie has built a strong reputation from previous customers online. Amongst more than 800 reviews on Google, The Orator hass an average of 4.2 stars out of five.

One happy diner wrote: “A hidden gem in the heart of Cambridge! The Orator is one of those places you walk into and immediately feel at ease. The interior is stunning—elegant but relaxed, with just the right touch of Cambridge charm. The staff were warm and welcoming, and the service was smooth without being overbearing.”

A customer described The Orator as a “historic heaven” on Tripadvisor, adding: “What a beautiful space! Elegant and historic. The food was superb and the staff so courteous and friendly. A wonderful way to spend a couple of hours with good friends.”

Another customer praised: “One of the best places to eat in Cambridge. Beautiful location with gorgeous outdoor seating area. Great menu with the 3 course tasting menu being very reasonably priced.”

The dress also comes in a chocolate brown colour.

The summer has finally arrived so you might be thinking of refreshing your wardrobe for the new season. If you are looking for summer’s “must-have” items, you should take a trip to Tesco to check out the pieces in its F&F collection.

The clothing brand has just released the F&F Edit Mesh Bead Detail Strappy Midi Dress in Olive that is a simple yet stylish piece to add to your wardrobe. The dress has been made with a “mesh overlay for a modern edge” and is described as being a “flattering choice”.

The dress has adjustable straps and beaded accents making it a good choice for holidays, summer parties, or day trips. The piece is currently being sold for only £22.50 and can also be bought in a chocolate brown colour.

The dress was shared to the Tesco F&F Instagram page, which currently has 893K followers. The post was captioned: “Chic with nowhere to sit. #StyleItOut #FandFClothing.”

To get your hands on the dress in either colours, you can go to the Tesco website to browse all of its clothing. You can also go in person to a Tesco store with a clothing department.

If this dress is not inline with your style, Boden has lots of other options to choose from. There is this Halter Neck Jersey Maxi Dress, which could look great for an evening event, or this Hattie Jersey T-shirt Dress that reviews say is “fun” and “casual”.

New Look also has plenty of alternatives for the summer. There is this Pink Dot Print Halter Lace V Neck Mini Dress, which you can also get in a bright red colour, or this Red Cotton Shirred Short Sleeve Midi Dress that comes in a few different colours.

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures which feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans

“Rampant” ticks are causing issues to people in one part of Wales – as experts say the recent heatwave may be the reason more people are reporting bites.

Anecdotal reports from parts of north Wales suggest disease-carrying ticks are “rampant” in parts of the region this year. In the past week, social media reports have centred on the west Gwynedd coast where one woman claimed to have removed 35 unattached ticks from a single dog, while a man said he’d been targeted by “20 so far this year”, according to North Wales Live.

The advice is people should avoid walking through long vegetation, wear clothing that covers the skin and check themselves, children and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.

Any ticks should be removed quickly and walkers are also advised to tuck trousers into socks – and wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to see and brush off.

Ticks are small, spider-like creatures which feed on the blood of birds and mammals, including humans. They are usually tiny but swell considerably after gorging on blood. They have either six or eight legs.

They are found across Wales, typically in areas with long grass, bracken, heathland and woodland where they can attach to people and passing animals. If you drag a white sheet over long grass, you may be amazed to see how many tiny ticks attach to it.

Tick bites aren’t usually painful and often only cause a small red lump where bitten. If “bullseye” rash appears you should see your GP as it’s an indicator of Lyme disease. It’s not a fail-safe symptom – one in three cases don’t present with this circular rash.

Dogs also need regular checks and if possible walkers should stick to clearly marked paths to avoid walking through long grass. Public Health Wales (PHW) said it was aware of reported tick infestations in northwest Wales but cautioned this may only be because people flooded outdoors during last week’s heatwave.

Dr Andrew Nelson, Zoonoses Lead at PHW, said: “Tick activity can vary from year to year depending on a range of environmental factors, including weather conditions, vegetation growth and the abundance of wildlife that ticks feed on.

“Warmer weather can also lead to more people spending time outdoors, increasing the likelihood of people encountering ticks.

“Public Health Wales is aware of reports from members of the public about increased numbers of ticks in some parts of north Wales. However, it is difficult to determine whether this reflects a genuine increase in tick populations or increased exposure and reporting following recent periods of warm weather.”

One dog owner said online: “Went to Harlech beach this week and came home to find both dogs absolutely covered it ticks from the sand dunes.”

A farmer added: “Ticks are everywhere this year and earlier too, cattle and sheep here look like they’re wearing chainmail – dogs too.”

Ticks are the most common source of vector-borne diseases in Britain. Each year around 1,500 laboratory-confirmed cases of Lyme disease are reported in England and Wales, with a further 1,000-2,000 people diagnosed via clinical assessment.

On average, around 4% of ticks are infected, though this can be higher in some areas. Studies estimate that 1% to 5% of tick bites result in Lyme disease. In other words, as stressed by the UK Government, “the majority of tick bites will not cause Lyme disease”.

Tick prevention is possible and a host of remedies are available – though the UK Government recommends using insect repellents containing DEET. PHW said the best approach is to cover up during tick season – this runs April from to October, though ticks can be active all year round.

Dr Nelson said: “When enjoying the outdoors during the tick season, we advise people to stick to clearly marked paths where possible, avoid walking through long vegetation, wear clothing that covers the skin and check themselves, children and pets for ticks after spending time outdoors.

“Prompt removal of ticks remains the most effective way to reduce the risk of infection.” Walkers are also advised to tuck trousers into socks – and wear light-coloured clothing so ticks are easier to see and brush off.

He made the confession during the BBC show despite being a farmer himself

Despite his extensive experience, there appear to be certain things Adam Henson doesn’t know.

The Countryfile presenter made a candid farming admission during the latest episode while visiting the nation’s largest growers of a popular crop.

Sunday evening’s instalment (June 6) of the cherished BBC programme pledged to showcase viewers some of the marvels discovered on the Isle of Wight.

According to the broadcaster’s schedule, Joe Crowley, Margherita Taylor alongside Adam explore a facet of the island rarely witnessed by tourists.

They ventured past the well-known beaches and lively holiday resorts to investigate the island’s uncommon geology, including the southern locations which have formed a landscape abundant in surprises, reports the Express.

From peculiar sea creatures and unique ecosystems to produce typically linked with Mediterranean climates, Joe assisted in deploying specialist cameras beneath the surface to study aquatic wildlife, while Margherita worked with National Trust volunteers monitoring population numbers of an exceptionally scarce species of bee.

Meanwhile, Adam paid a visit to The Garlic Farm, Britain’s biggest garlic cultivators.

Their website states The Garlic Farm is a family enterprise owned and operated by the Boswell family, who have collectively dedicated numerous years to appreciating, discovering and understanding everything related to garlic. The family reveal they have been cultivating garlic for over 50 years, ever since Granny Norah first planted those initial cloves in her garden. The business remains firmly in family hands to this day.

Adam, the 60 year old farmer who joined the much-loved BBC programme in 2001, has become a recognisable figure in homes across Britain. This week, he visited a multigenerational family who have dedicated three generations to running a garlic farm.

As they showed him around their crops, the family explained: “We have stretched garlic in every direction it could possibly go. We have 30 products – things like garlic beer and garlic ice cream.”

Adam lent a hand harvesting elephant garlic stalks, which were described to him as resembling an asparagus-like stalk with a garlic flavour.

Upon learning that each plant originated from a single garlic clove, he confessed: “It all comes from one clove? Well there you go, I’m a farmer and I didn’t know that.”

Later, Adam joined other members of the family for a lunch featuring the freshly harvested garlic stalks, accompanied by an array of garlic-infused ingredients befitting a wholesome salad.

Reflecting on their endeavours, Adam told the family what they had achieved was “quite extraordinary” and “a remarkable achievement”.

The family matriarch echoed this sentiment, expressing pride that her relatives had embraced the responsibility of managing the farm. Adam further commended them, noting they were “not lacking in enthusiasm.”

At the programme’s conclusion, Joe and Margherita reunited but Adam was nowhere to be seen. In his absence, however, Joe revealed he had sent them a modest present.

They unveiled and began tucking into a small pot of ice cream, with Joe explaining they needed to identify the flavour. Sampling it, they confessed it was ‘delicious’ but couldn’t determine the precise flavour beyond detecting a chocolate taste.

It was then disclosed they were in fact eating black garlic and chocolate ice cream. This revelation didn’t appear to deter them whatsoever as they were spotted continuing to savour the dessert as the credits appeared.

Countryfile continues on Sundays on BBC One and BBC iPlayer

The match was abandoned after the incident saw Eriksen need immediate medical care

Advertisement

Former Manchester United footballer Christian Eriksen has collapsed during Denmark’s friendly against Ukraine, leading officials to abandon the match.

During a match in Odense, Denmark’s third-largest city, Eriksen, who made 310 Premier League appearances, collapsed on the pitch in an incident similar to one that occurred during a Euro 2021 fixture against Finland.

The Danish Football Federation later confirmed on X that the midfielder was “conscious and feeling well under the circumstances ”, adding that the match had been abandoned.

Eriksen, the former Tottenham Hotspur playmaker, had previously suffered a cardiac arrest during the Euro 2021 game when he was resuscitated on the pitch. He subsequently received an implantable cardioverter‑defibrillator to regulate his heart rhythm.

Neither Denmark nor Ukraine have qualified for this year’s World Cup. The game was brought to a close after just 65 minutes of play. Denmark were leading the match 2-1 after taking the lead through Patrick Dorgu and Joakim Maehle, before Viktor Tsygankov narrowed the deficit.

On Danish television, former Arsenal forward Nicklas Bendtner said it was “Absolutely right to cancel the match and not play on.”

The national team doctor, Morten Boesen offered a positive update, saying: “Christian is doing well and walked off the pitch himself. As I see it, the pacemaker gave a shock, as it is supposed to,” he said.

“He was briefly out, but regained consciousness very quickly, and we were quickly in contact with him. Now he needs to be examined further at the hospital to find out what caused the incident. “We are continuously in contact with him and the doctors at the hospital. But Christian is doing well, and he asked me to say hello to all the players and say that he was okay.”

Want to see more of the stories you love from Belfast Live? Making us your preferred source on Google means you’ll get more of our exclusives… To add Belfast Live as a preferred source, simply click here.

An all-star lineup of musicians, comedians, boxers and tv presenters descended on the AO Arena

How do you say goodbye to a legend? For Mancunian boxing icon Ricky Hatton, you throw absolutely everything at it.Tonight an all-star lineup of musicians, comedians, boxers and tv presenters descended on the AO Arena, a venue well-known to the Hyde-born boxing doyen. A ‘Las Vegas-style’ celebration, they pulled out all the stops to celebrate not only his boxing achievements but his life as a father, a brother, and a son – with many of his family members paying poignant tributes to the man they knew and adored beyond the ring. ‘The Hitman’ Hatton rose from the Hattersley council estate in Hyde to become a two-weight world boxing champion. His clashes with Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao saw thousands follow him to Las Vegas, but his IBF light-welterweight title victory against Kostya Tszyu in Manchester in 2005 was his greatest night.

Click here for the latest on Manchester’s food & drink scene, gigs and more in our CityLife newsletter

Tragically, the boxing legend died in September last year at the age of 46. At the time, he had been planning a return to the ring after a 13-year hiatus with a fight scheduled for December. Earlier this year, his son Campbell described him as ‘fearless’ at an inquest into his death, adding that he ‘lived his life in and out of the ring at a hundred per cent and he always said he never regretted it’.

The star-studded event, an Evening4Ricky revolved around a reimagined boxing stage as a line-up of top comedians, legendary figures, and Ricky’s favourite artists took part in a series of entertainment ‘rounds’. It also marked the official international TV launch of the Ricky Hatton Foundation, which was founded last year to raise vital funds and awareness to provide access to mental health services, community programmes and educational campaigns.

Moments in, those unmissable chords of ‘Stand by Me’ came echoing around the arena, images emblazoned across the screen of his incredible life and career – a spine-tingling start. MC and commentary legend John McDonald told us “It’s about more than titles, it’s about celebrating the man behind them”.

Stacey Copeland and Adam Smith took on hosting duties, both sharing poignant memories of the boxer but the man too, and as Adam reminded the crowd, “Ricky f****** loved to party too”.

Campbell Hatton visibly moved by the crowd’s support struggled to get his words out as he opened the show, the significance of the occasion not lost on him. Speaking of his dad as “the reason” he gets in the ring, there were tears all around.

A booming cackle, and we all knew that Frank Bruno MBE had entered the ring, personalised robe and all, followed closely behind by fellow boxing legend Carl Froch, Manchester City’s Steph Houghton MBE, darts star Phil ‘The Power Taylor’ and Bolton’s finest Paddy McGuinness. Asked to share some of their memories of Ricky, Froch called him a “legend of the game”, Steph said he “embodied what Manchester is all about” and Paddy demanded a statue of the boxing star in the city centre, which or course was met by rapturous applause.

“I’ve never seen anybody train with that intensity,” reflected legend Tony Bellew as fighters and champions past and present headed into the ring for a round of reflection. “Everything he’s done was intense, f**** sake he even partied intense. There never ever will be another Ricky Hatton. He’s an icon, he’s a hero, Bellew continued.

Sadly Russell Watson was taken ill, but the Steel City’s Paul Pashley had the crowd up on their feet for for a rendition of James’ Sit Down and swaying along to Dean Martin’s ‘That’s’ Amore’. Ricky famously a big fan of swing and big band tunes.

The WBC Tribute – a new WBC belt in Ricky’s name – was awarded to current fighter who embodies his spirit by Marco Antonio Barrera, Johnny Nelson and Campbell Hatton. Arriving onto stage, Ricky’s fans singing ‘there’s only one Ricky Hatton, Dalton Smith told the crowd: “Ricky’s been a legend since growing up. This is a world title itself for me, for how much Ricky has inspired me.”

As well as some moving and entertaining tributes from boxing’s Ben Davidson, Natasha Jonas, Tony Bellew, Anthony Crolla and Duke McKenzie, one of the most moving moments of the night came as ‘Manchester’s poet’ Tony Walsh delivered a new piece telling the story of Ricky’s storied life.

To almost complete silence, his words echoed around the arena as he spoke of the of the fighter, of his successes, his challenges and his legacy. “Our hitmen turn out to be human. Our heroes are humans. You never let anyone down. Please let us tell you, you never let anyone down.”

As well as the cream of boxing being in attendance for the special occasion, the night also saw live performances from some well-known Manchester music stars including Rowetta who belted out ‘Crying Your Heart Out’ and ‘Bridge Over Troubled Water’.

At the business end of proceedings, Leigh’s very own Lottery Winners came out in support too, phone lighters aloft, while Tinie Tempah brought even more star power.

Al Foran brought the laughs and lightened things with his spot-on impressions of Pep, Fergie, Keane, Beckham and Rooney amongst others. There was even a cheeky nod to Tyson Fury, Chris Eubank and Mike Tyson too.

Relieving unforgettable nights there were also plenty of anecdotes from those who were with Ricky when he took over Vegas with his 30,000 fans. Paulie Malignaggi, was at first his bitter rival but then became a close friend. He flew in to relive that amazing night, delighting the crowd with his tales.

“He was a larger than life cult figure in Manchester and the UK but when you met him in person he was so down to earth. He was very ferocious in the ring. I remember the physicality more than anything. He really loved this city, he would be amazed at this turn out tonight.”

In a nod to Ricky Hatton’s infectious sense of humour the night wasn’t complete without a rendition of Hi Ho Ricky from Joey Blower. Ring side Ricky’s son Campbell and granddaughter Lyla charmed the crowd with twirls, cartwheels and handstands in what made for a heartwarming penultimate act.

For the twelfth round it was down to Crumpsall-raised rapper and actor Bugzy Malone. In his first gig at the AO since his 2021 Resurrection Tour, he appeared on stage determined to give the crowd a set to remember, even performing a brand new song especially for Ricky.

He told the M.E.N earlier this week that Ricky was a huge inspiration for him in a city that has some really cloudy days. Describing Ricky as a beacon of hope, Bugzy’s said of his new song that the beat ‘almost pulled his heart out of his chest’.

To close, and to bring the curtains down on an epic tribute, there was only one song it could be – Blue Moon. The night’s stars, sports champions and music legends really did give the Hitman Hatton the send off he well and truly deserved. And as Bugzy told an emotional Campbell, “your dad really was the original King of the North”.