The Made in Manchester festival will take place at Bolton Wanderers Football Club on June 13 and 14, promising a packed line-up and activities for all ages.

On Saturday, N-Trance and K-Klass will headline, alongside epic tributes to Oasis, Queen, Gerry Cinnamon and The Stone Roses.

The Saturday will also feature performances from Yon Mon, Two Connors, Radio Addicts and Manchester SKA Foundation.

Sunday will feature live performances from Harry Wright and Radio Addicts, with free entry for children.

There will also be a food court, VIP area, and fairground.

More information can be found here: https://madeinmanchesterfestival.co.uk/buy-tickets

Lianne was just 13 when she lost her parents to Aids. Newly orphaned, she had to find a way to keep herself and her younger sister alive. With no money to finish school, unable to find a job and struggling to put food on the table, there was only one option – sex work.

Now 24, she knows the dangers in Eswatini, a kingdom in southern Africa once described as the epicentre of the HIV epidemic and a country still struggling with some of the highest infection rates in the world.

“Both my parents passed away. Hunger led me to join this work although I know it’s risky,” Lianne says, explaining that she earns under £25 a week. She is unable to acquire HIV preventative medication – known as PrEP – on her own.

But there is now hope in the form of lenacapavir – dubbed the “miracle” drug – which the United Nations hopes can protect millions of people like Lianne and even end the Aids epidemic altogether.

The twice-yearly injection – described by the head of the UN Aids agency as “the closest thing we have to a vaccine” – provides near complete protection against infection.

Lenacapavir is being introduced for the first time in nine of the most at-risk countries, including Eswatini, meaning Lianne was among the first people in the world to get the injection.

While it is a big step forward in HIV care, concerns have been raised about the extent of the rollout and fears it will be ineffective if it is not introduced on a global scale.

The positive news about lenacapavir comes after last year’s devastating cuts to foreign aid spending by US president Donald Trump, which had previously funded around half of Eswatini’s HIV response.

For Lianne, it meant the abrupt closure of the mobile clinics that gave her access to potentially life-saving HIV prevention therapy for free.

The closures have had a deadly effect: a friend and fellow sex worker recently died after contracting HIV and losing access to life-sustaining medication.

“That is why I am so happy today, it’s protection,” she continues with relief, as she receives the brightly coloured yellow injection.

At the beginning of 2025, the world was on track to end the Aids pandemic by 2030.

But that was upended by unprecedented foreign aid cuts from the US, the UK and other European countries, which have created the biggest ever disruptions to HIV response, from testing to treatment and prevention.

If these aid cuts continue, there could be millions more deaths and infections, as well as double the number of medication-resistant strains, according to The Independent’s own modelling of data.

This makes the timing for the lenacapavir rollout critical. Developed by California-based biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, the UN believes the treatment, if properly deployed, could help bring about the end of the epidemic by reducing new infections to zero.

The current plan, funded by the Global Fund to Fight Aids, TB and Malaria, together with the US government and others, is to deliver lenacapavir to three million people by 2028.

Lenacapavir, which in wealthy countries can cost up to $24,000 (£18,000) a year, is being simultaneously delivered to some of the poorest countries most at risk at a significantly reduced cost.

Life-sustaining antiretroviral therapy was infamously accessible in the West for a full decade before being rolled out in sub-Saharan Africa, costing countless lives and paving a way for the crisis today.

“This has been a defining moment for the Aids epidemic,” says Dianne Stewart from the Global Fund. “We have been fighting for equitable access to new tools since the beginning, and this is the first time in history that we have got it right.”

The first country to receive these jabs is Eswatini. Formerly known as Swaziland, it has worked hard to reduce new HIV infections from a peak of 21,000 per year 20 years ago to 4,000 in 2023, according to the UN.

But still around a quarter of Swazis aged between 15 and 49 are living with HIV, according to the latest data from the US Center for Disease Control.

David Maseko of HealthPlus for men, a charity working with key populations including LGBT+ communities, explains that the aid cuts shut all 15 mobile charity clinics that Lianne and others used.

That has meant there has been a soaring number of people – including some of the most at-risk communities – off their HIV medication and off PrEP – a problem unfolding across Sub-Saharan Africa.

“There are a lot of gaps now. We are even struggling to do community testing.”

For him, a twice-yearly injection that could help curb the recent surge in infections is “simply a game-changer”.

Arianna, 17, who was also forced into sex work after her mother died and she left an abusive home, agrees. “This is lifesaving for us,” she says as she gets the injection.

She explains that trying to get daily prevention PrEP pills from a public facility, where she could face prejudice as a sex worker, makes it near impossible, especially when they earn so little a week to cover transport.

“That is why today I decided to come here. To me, this is the best way to help myself, to survive.”

But there are concerns that without proper investment around the world to reach a critical mass of people protected globally, the impact will be limited.

For now, delivery is targeted at just nine countries, although there are plans to expand that. Lenacapavir has not yet been licensed or procured for delivery in large parts of Latin America, where infection rates are rising.

“We have seen in the past that piecemeal solutions, especially for infectious diseases, do not work,” adds Stewart from the Global Fund.

“As we saw during Covid, you cannot solve it in one country and think it is done while others do not have access.”

At a Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) clinic in a town outside the capital, country lead Dr Diojki Bahati says they were given only 50 doses to distribute and have had to turn patients away.

Even reaching two million people with lenacapavir over the next three years is “far below the global need”, he continues.

UNAIDS has said that to tackle the pandemic, the world needs to get 20 million people on PrEP in the next few years.

“Two million people over three years is less than 10 per cent of that target.”

He adds that there are no alternative procurement systems, especially for organisations like MSF, that he says have been denied the right to purchase directly.

In parallel, generic manufacturing licences have been granted to around six manufacturers in the coming year to supply 120 countries and territories.

“But that leaves quite a number of low- and middle-income countries where up to 20 per cent of new infections are happening,” he continues, such as Brazil, Peru and Mexico that participated in lenacapavir drug trial.

He says it is essential that the rollout is properly funded and supported by governments, even as they cut aid. It will ultimately be considerably cheaper in the long term.

In 2024, there were at least 1.3 million new HIV infections. Carmen Pérez Casas, from health initiative Unitaid, explains that these additional infections will cost an extra $52m (£38.8m) per year if everyone is put on antiretroviral treatment, leading to a lifetime treatment cost of approximately $2bn.

As transmission increases, this cost will accumulate exponentially over time.

“Delivering Lenacapavir to prevent infections would be a fraction of this cost,” she adds.

Back in the Eswatini clinic, the demand is clearly there. Lianne and Arianna breathe a sigh of relief after getting their jabs, knowing for now they are protected.

“We beg that they do not get tired of helping us,” says Lianne as she finishes her appointment. “If they are cutting the funding, it means we will be exposed and die of HIV. Please help.”

This article has been produced as part of The Independent’s Rethinking Global Aid project

Court documents say 30-year-old Royce Mallett, from Haswell, was visiting the town of Albury in New South Wales in July 2024 when he was stabbed once in the chest while sitting in the driver’s seat of a car parked outside the Hume Inn Motel.

His attacker, David Summers-Smith, has schizophrenia and was displaying symptoms of psychosis at the time of the incident.

Royce Mallett and his two children Roman and Rose (Image: FAMILY)

He pleaded not guilty to the murder due to mental impairment.

Supreme Court justice Dina Yehia on Tuesday determined Summers-Smith did commit the murder but could not be held criminally responsible.

She ordered Summers-Smith to be held indefinitely in a mental health facility.

In her consideration, Justice Yehia said: “I am satisfied that the accused has established on a balance of probabilities that at the time he stabbed the deceased, he was suffering from a mental health impairment that had the effect that he did not know that the act was wrong: that is, he could not reason with a moderate degree of sense and composure about whether the act, as perceived by reasonable people, was wrong.”

Royce Mallett (Image: FAMILY)

In a victim impact statement read out by Justice Yehia, Mr Mallett’s partner Caitlin O’Keeffe said his death has caused immense emotional and financial strain for the family.

“It affects not just today but every future moment that he should have been part of, and everyday moments that he’s already missed,” Ms O’Keefe said in a letter.

The court also heard Mr Mallett’s father Roy no longer enjoys the hobbies he used to share with his son and struggles to find the motivation to do anything.

Any potential recovery for Summers-Smith will be monitored by the Mental Health Review tribunal, which has the power to revise his detention order.

All of the chain’s remaining stores have ceased trading and workers have been “notified of redundancy” by administrators Kroll

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Fashion accessories chain Claire’s has shuttered all 154 of its UK and Ireland outlets, resulting in approximately 1,300 redundancies, according to administrators.

Administrators Kroll confirmed that all remaining stores have ceased trading and that staff have been “notified of redundancy”. Concession outlets and its European stores are set to remain operational for the time being.

Kroll said: “As of 27th April, all Claire’s standalone stores in UK and Ireland have ceased trading. All store employees have been advised of redundancy. We understand an interested party is in discussion with a number of landlords with a view to taking new leases for some of the sites.”

Mayfair-based financiers Modella Capital, which previously took over WH Smith’s high street division, acquired 156 Claire’s stores across the UK and Ireland in September last year. At the time, the firm stated: “Although it is inevitable that this acquisition will result in some store closures and job losses, this intervention offers this the potential to save over 1,000 jobs in the UK loved and Ireland that would deserves otherwise be lost.”

Just months later, in January this year, the UK operation collapsed into administration. Modella had previously warned that challenging retail conditions, including those brought about by government policies, were causing British businesses such as Claire’s to “suffer badly”, reports the Mirror.

The news comes amid mounting concern for TJ Jones, the rebranded WH Smith high street business, with reports suggesting it is preparing for a critical restructuring exercise that could see a significant number of its stores close.

The mass closures does not affect Claire’s 356 concessions, including many in Asda stores, and its head office.

Fashion expert Priya Raj told the BBC: “We’ve moved away from novelty, colourful jewellery for the most part, which is what Claire’s are best known for.

“If we think about teens today, they’re looking at social media for influence on what to buy, rather than their local High Street or shopping centre.

“So naturally their tastes are evolving into what’s mainstream right now – minimal jewellery, sometimes chunky, sometimes with a more curated look – basically not the cutesy, juvenile look that Claire’s is known for.”

She’s been banned for 38-months, with police saying it was ‘sheer luck’ no one was seriously hurt

A woman has been banned from driving after crashing into the pavement in a Cambridgeshire city. Response officers attended to the crash that happened in Peterborough earlier this month.

The officers arrived to find a drink driver had gone through the barriers of a roundabout in the city centre. The car had ended up on its side in a hedge on the pavement.

No one was seriously injured during the crash. At court last week, the driver was given a 38-month ban. She was also fined £415 after admitting to drink driving.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “This was the scene that greeted response officers in Peterborough after a drink driver ploughed through the barriers of a city centre roundabout earlier this month.

“Remarkably, nobody was injured, but the driver was arrested after she blew more than twice the alcohol limit.

“At court last week, she was given a 38-month ban and fined £415 after admitting drink driving.

“It was sheer luck that nobody was seriously injured during this collision. We all know the dangers of drink driving, but sadly some people still choose to ignore the law, selfishly putting others at risk.”

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It’s already being dubbed the most “meh” election of recent times. Scots are reportedly tuning out or turning off the 2026 Holyrood election campaign amid disillusionment with the cost of living and the answers on offer from the big parties.

With just over a week to go until polling day on May 7, polling experts are warning turn-out could be low as voters shrug their shoulders.

Luke Tryl of polling firm More in Common said yesterday: “Fom a series of focus groups on Scotland, the thing that jumped out was this was possibly the most unenthusiastic or “meh” I’ve ever experienced people be about their choices in an election.”

With that in mind, the leaders of Scotland’s big parties will face each other tonight for the final live TV debate of the Holyrood campaign. Will it make any difference, or have voters already made up their minds?

Scroll down for all the latest news and updates from the Holyrood campaign trail and tonight’s STV debate

Stephen Nolan has spoken out about the eye-opening experience as he spent two years filming with the PSNI for a new BBC docuseries, titled Peelers: The PSNI for Real

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A BBC radio and television presenter has revealed what he learnt after spending two years filming alongside police officers.

Northern Irish broadcaster Stephen Nolan aims to expose the reality behind one of the most challenging occupations, having dedicated two years to filming with a squad of seven Police Service of Northern Ireland officers while being granted extraordinary access.

He observed 999 emergency calls being received and officers rushing to crime scenes, including a tense confrontation involving an irate mob and a sex offender at his residence in east Belfast.

This was all captured for a new BBC documentary series, entitled Peelers: The PSNI for Real. The description promises: “Unfiltered and up close. The realities and challenges of 24/7 policing in Belfast. Stephen Nolan gets a powerful insight into law and order on the front line.”

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Speaking on BBC Breakfast on Tuesday, April 28, Stephen discussed the challenges he encountered as he accompanied police during the revealing experience, reports the Mirror.

A preview displayed the fraught moments Stephen experienced with officers in a vehicle with its sirens blaring, speeding towards a crime scene.

“I’m terrified in the middle of this volatile environment, and yet these young officers are calm,” Stephen remarks in the documentary series.

Following the viewing of the footage, he contemplated on BBC Breakfast: “I didn’t realise they worked so hard, I knew they worked hard but my goodness, they’re out for long, long shifts.

“And of course, this is the backdrop in Northern Ireland, the police station has just been bombed over the weekend and they’re under threat.

“The work that these people do, I am impartial, but I wouldn’t be doing my job if I didn’t say it’s incredible what they do.”

He continued: “What struck me was you’ve got relatively young officers making split second decisions every day of the week, and we know how big organisations work.

“Sometimes, executives take a month to make one decision and they’ve got a whole group of people around them, and these are officers everyday, and the accountability in Northern Ireland, the scrutiny in Northern Ireland is absolutely huge.

“I wanted to tell the real story of what they do, because I’m one of the guys in Northern Ireland who does give the police a hard time, I do ask questions a lot and I’ll continue to do that, but I think if we’re being fair we need to tell the whole story about them.”

Stephen highlighted the particular difficulties faced by the PSNI, set against the legacy of The Troubles in Northern Ireland and a deeply-rooted mistrust of policing in the region.

Nevertheless, alongside some of the more “intense” moments, Stephen also shed light on the touching camaraderie shared amongst the officers.

He explained: “One of the things I also learnt, when these guys are in really tricky situations, what gets them through it is the bond with each other, and when you see the banter they have, it’s the police family, and they talk about it a lot. They trust each other and they need to.”

He continued: “It’s just incredible the thinking but also the danger that they can be in at any stage.”

In a previous piece for the BBC, Stephen reflected on the eye-opening experience he encountered, drawing parallels to BBC drama Blue Lights.

He noted: “The police officers face split-second decisions that could mean the difference between de-escalation or things getting dangerously out of control.

“It’s the kind of dilemma that could come up on the award-winning cop drama Blue Lights.

“But this is real life, and my heart is pounding. I’ve been working for the BBC for more than 20 years, but it is nights like this that have had the most profound effect on me in all my years in journalism.”

BBC Breakfast airs weekdays from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer. Peelers: The PSNI for Real is available to watch on iPlayer.

Police are appealing for information after the crash happened on Monday morning (April 27)

A 19-year-old man has died in a crash near the Cambridgeshire border. Lincolnshire Police were called to a single vehicle crash on the A151 Spalding Road in Twenty, near Bourne, just after 7am on Monday (April 27).

The crash involved a white BMW 218. A man was pronounced dead at the scene.

A police spokesperson said: “The Force Control Room (FCR) received reports of a single vehicle collision involving a white BMW 218 on the A151 Spalding Road, Twenty just after 7am.

“Emergency services attended and a man was sadly found and pronounced deceased at the scene. His family are aware and are being supported by specially trained officers at this difficult time.”

Police are appealing for information. Anyone with information should call police on 101 or report it online and quote incident 64 of April 27.

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A group of four young women attached to the Evolve youth group at Street Level have been working on the ‘Photovoice’ project with Suzanne Gallacher-Graham, a lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the West of Scotland.

Motherwell, Wishaw and Carluke MP, Pamela Nash, has praised the work of members of a Carluke youth group in examining the important issues of sexual consent and sex education.

A group of four young women attached to the Evolve youth group at Street Level have been working on the ‘Photovoice’ project with Suzanne Gallacher-Graham, a lecturer in Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of the West of Scotland.

Suzanne is also a PhD candidate at the University of Strathclyde and, as part of this, has been working with the group in Carluke to shape her research, as well as create and analyse data with them using photography and creative methods.

Their work culminated in an exhibition at Street Level at which Pamela Nash MP attended, alongside Councillor Lynsey Hamilton, Scottish Labour’s candidate for Clydesdale.

Nash said: “It’s crucial that our young people learn about sexual consent and are encouraged to speak openly about this and all matters relating to sex in a safe space to ensure they can make informed decisions.

“It was so refreshing to see exactly this at the Photovoice exhibition – the young women involved should be proud of themselves for making such a big contribution to Suzanne’s research.”

Councillor Hamilton said: “It was a pleasure to attend the exhibition and hear from the young women who have been taking part in the project with Suzanne.

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“The breakout sessions really allowed time for some discussion and reflection, and I’m sure everyone attending found it as interesting and informative as I did.”

Suzanne added: “It has been a genuine pleasure to work with this group of young women.

“We have produced some very interesting and important findings that we feel are relevant for people in roles which have an input on the future of sex education and the prevention of violence against women and girls.”

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