Tim Allan, who was in charge of Sir Keir Starmer’s communications until he resigned on Monday, has issued a statement, first published by The Times, in which he says he spoke to Lord Matthew Doyle about his connections to a sex offender before the now peer was offered seat in the Upper House.

After relentless wet and gloomy conditions, wintry weather is set to return to parts of the UK with snow and ice in the forecast for many.

Arctic air will accompany the change in conditions, dropping temperatures as many as six degrees below average.

The Met Office has issued yellow warnings for snow and ice across Scotland and northern England from 16:00 GMT Thursday to 12:00 Friday.

Rain will fall as snow initially over higher ground before reaching to lower levels through Thursday night.

Settling snow will mostly be seen above 200m with as much as 10cm possible.

The rain and snow are expected to clear south during the early hours of Friday, though temperatures will fall quickly to around 3 to 6C below the average.

This will lead to ice on untreated surfaces and dangerous road conditions in some places.

As dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases become more common worldwide, researchers are searching urgently for ways to protect the brain as we age. One area attracting growing attention is hormones, particularly the role of hormone therapy during and after menopause.

This interest is partly driven by the fact that women develop Alzheimer’s disease more often than men, especially after midlife, suggesting that hormonal changes around menopause may influence long-term brain health.

Our research has focused on tibolone, a synthetic form of hormone therapy prescribed to relieve menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes and poor sleep. While it is commonly prescribed to ease menopausal symptoms, our findings suggest tibolone may also offer important protection for the brain.

In laboratory studies, tibolone helped brain cells survive under stressful conditions. These included reduced glucose use (glucose is the brain’s main fuel) and the build-up of saturated fats such as palmitic acid, which is often higher in people with obesity. Both reduced glucose use and excess saturated fat are known risk factors for cognitive decline and neurological diseases.

Tibolone appears to protect brain cells in several ways. It activates protective proteins, reduces inflammation and limits damage from free radicals. Free radicals are unstable molecules produced during normal energy production or when the body is exposed to pollution or cigarette smoke. They behave like tiny sparks inside cells, damaging structures unless neutralised.

Why women are at higher risk

Alzheimer’s disease affects women far more than men, by roughly three to one. Even after accounting for women’s longer life expectancy, their risk remains around 12% higher.

This gap likely reflects a combination of genetic, hormonal and social factors. Certain genes, including the APOE ε4 variant, a version of a gene linked to how the brain processes fats and clears harmful proteins, are associated with a higher risk of Alzheimer’s. Other genes on the second X chromosome may also contribute. Differences in reproductive history, number of pregnancies and access to education and healthcare also play a role, because these factors influence lifelong brain health, cardiovascular risk and how early cognitive problems are detected and treated.

However, hormonal changes around menopause appear to be especially important. When menstruation ends, levels of estradiol (the main form of oestrogen) fall sharply, while follicle-stimulating hormone rises. Both changes are linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease.

Many women experience the everyday effects of these shifts: forgetfulness, difficulty concentrating, slower thinking, low mood, poor sleep and reduced motivation. Estradiol normally helps brain cells use energy efficiently. When levels drop, the brain uses glucose less effectively, producing a metabolic pattern similar to that seen in early Alzheimer’s.

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Estradiol also helps regulate fat distribution and cholesterol. When it declines, women often gain visceral fat around the abdomen. This type of fat releases inflammatory chemicals that can damage blood vessels and the brain. The loss of estradiol’s natural anti-inflammatory effects further increases the risk of metabolic syndrome (a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure and insulin resistance), cognitive decline and dementia.

Can hormone therapy help?

These findings have led researchers to ask whether hormone therapy might offset some of this risk.

Hormone therapy usually combines oestrogen and progesterone and is widely prescribed to relieve hot flashes, insomnia and mood changes. It can also improve mood and reduce depression, which indirectly supports cognitive health.

Until the early 2000s, millions of women used hormone therapy and reported benefits. Then, in 2002, the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) trial reported a higher risk of breast cancer and cardiovascular events in women taking combined hormones. Headlines warning that hormone therapy “increases cancer risk” led many women to stop treatment or avoid it altogether.

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The WHI memory studies also found that starting hormone therapy at age 65 or older did not protect cognition and was linked to a higher risk of dementia. Later analyses revealed an important nuance: timing matters.

Lower lifetime exposure to oestrogen is linked to faster cognitive decline and greater build-up of Alzheimer’s-related changes in the brain. Women who enter menopause early (before about age 45 to 50) face higher risks of Alzheimer’s and more pronounced memory loss. Surgical menopause, caused by removal of both ovaries, leads to a sudden drop in oestrogen and can trigger noticeable problems with memory and attention, particularly in younger women.

Growing awareness of the link between menopause and brain health is beginning to shape public policy.

In a landmark move, Ireland introduced a programme in June 2025 providing hormone therapy free of charge. Removing cost barriers allows women to start treatment earlier and continue it consistently, conditions that may maximise its benefits.

Elsewhere in Europe, access varies. In England, women who do not qualify for free NHS prescriptions can purchase an annual hormone therapy prepayment certificate for £19.80. Prescriptions are free in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, while France and Spain partially reimburse costs through national insurance.

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Given tibolone’s protective profile, reducing financial barriers could improve access and support larger clinical trials to test its effects on brain health.

Hormone therapy is not a guaranteed way to prevent dementia. The strongest protection still comes from a broad approach: managing menopausal symptoms effectively, possibly with hormone therapy, while also controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes, staying physically active, sleeping well and avoiding smoking.

Women face a higher lifetime risk of Alzheimer’s because of intertwined genetic, hormonal and social factors. Hormone therapy, particularly when started around menopause, may help protect cognitive function as well as relieve symptoms. Alongside a healthy lifestyle, it offers one promising tool for supporting brain health and narrowing the gender gap in dementia risk.

One local man said March is “the most marvellous town anyone could live in”

Residents in a Cambridgeshire town have mixed views when it comes to the state of their high street. As shop closures hit March High Street like many others in the country, some say the town is “dying” while others say the town is “the most marvellous anyone could live in”.

March has seen a few business closures over the last few years for various reasons, including Clarks shoe shop and Tesco Express which closed in 2024. Meanwhile, a multi-million pound regeneration project has been taking place to spruce up the town centre.

This project includes works on the Market Place, with new paving, a Broad Street transformation which began in 2023, and more recently a new toilet block expected by April 2026 in the town centre. CambridgeshireLive visited the town to find out what residents think about the high street amid the regeneration works.

Barrie Crawford, 76, has lived in March since he was a child. He said: “They have done a good job with the regeneration.”

However, he said he believes that “with online shopping, they ought to turn them [closing businesses] into houses and flats instead of more shops that aren’t going to do well”.

Kyrie Calderbank, 37, from Chatteris, is looking to move to March. She said that the town reminds her of Chorley, in Lancashire, where she previously lived. She is looking to move to March because of the ideal transport links and things to do. She also said that the town offers opportunities for children.

Kyrie said: “The high street is dying essentially,” but added “I love the charity shops, I always have and that’s the most consistent”.

Another resident, Sandra Cumbridge, 79, who has lived in March all her life, said: “It used to be a lovely town when I was growing up, lovely, and now just horrendous,” adding “we have no good shops”.

Susana Sanchez, 40, has been living in March for over two years. She said: “Everything is online, for shops, for clothing, for shoes, everything is better to buy online.” She believes this may be “the main reason shops are closing”.

Susana explained how she believes renting a local place in March is “expensive, so they [businesses] cannot cope” but emphasised that she still enjoys and spends time in the town.

While Susana is a relative newcomer to the town, Peter Jackman, 95, who has lived in March his whole life, says he thinks it is “the most marvellous town anyone could live in”, and that “compared to other towns, we are very lucky.”

Peter added: “We have got a wonderful park, a wonderful town centre, and the atmosphere and friendship in March is wonderful.”

Elizabeth, who did not wish to share her full name, said: “I love the coffee shops. Sadly, the shops have all gone so we have no place to shop, but they have made the town so welcoming.”

The horror incident unfolded outside Broomie Brunch on Broomfield Road in Barmulloch, Glasgow.

A man walking with a baby in a pram has been viciously attacked by two yobs in Glasgow.

The horror incident unfolded outside Broomie Brunch on Broomfield Road in Barmulloch at around 11.40am on Tuesday.

In a CCTV clip, the man can be seen slowly walking past the breakfast takeaway shop with the pram.

Two men, dressed all in black, then appear as they walk around the corner towards him. There is a short discussion before one of the thugs begins throwing punches and grabbing the man as he holds onto the pram.

The brute continues to lay blows into the victim as the pram can be seen rocking back and forth during the rammy. Dozens of punches are thrown before the victim eventually hits the floor.

The yobs continue the brutal attack as the pram rolls a short distance down the car park while the man is kicked on the ground. A man on an e-scooter could be seen passing by in the clip as two bystanders watched on from the car park area.

One of the eyewitnesses, who was dressed all in grey, eventually appeared to try to stop the attack before he is pushed away by the thugs. As the sickening clip comes to an end, the man is booted in the head.

It’s believed that there was a baby in the pram at the time of the attack and local residents were left horrified by the incident.

One person said: “The guy was out with his newborn in a pram when he got attacked. It’s horrible. The video has been circulated around. I think its terrible doing that to someone with a newborn in the pram.”

Another added: “Two people assaulted a man pushing a baby in a pram. It is a shocking, distressing video – especially someone pushing a pram.”

Officers from Police Scotland have since confirmed that one man was issued with a recorded police warning following the incident. It is not known what sparked the brutal attack, but it’s understood the man did not suffer any serious injuries as a result.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 11.40am on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, we received a report of an assault on Broomfield Road, Glasgow. There were no reported injuries. One man was issued with a recorded police warning.”

The incident comes following a number of horrifying attacks across the country in recent days. Shortly after 7pm on Tuesday, a man was rushed to hospital after being stabbed on a footpath in Clackmannanshire.

Emergency services were called to Holton Crescent in Sauchie, near Alloa, following reports that a 63-year-old man had been stabbed. Ambulance crews attended and the man was taken to Forth Valley Royal Hospital for treatment. His injuries are described as “serious”.

Meanwhile, in Perth, a man was taken to hospital following an alleged stabbing on a street in the city. Emergency services were called to Canal Street after receiving reports of a serious assault at 2.15pm on Sunday, February 8. Crews attended and a 52-year-old man was found injured.

He was raced to Ninewells University Hospital in Dundee for treatment, where his current condition is unknown. A 37-year-old man and a 40-year-old woman have since been arrested and charged in connection.

Marten and Gordon, who had five children together, four of whom were removed into care before Victoria’s birth, noted the couple’s “persistent reluctance to engage” with authorities, having moved around the country between 2017 and 2023, “with each move coinciding with escalating safeguarding concerns”.

The Met Office has issued the yellow weather warning indicating snow and ice on Thursday 12 and Friday 13 of February.

Although not covering Bolton specifically, the warning indicates there may be snow and ice in several surrounding areas, such as Bury and much of Manchester.

The temperature in Bolton is expected to reach around one degree on Thursday, before falling on Friday to minus two.

A Met Office spokesperson said: “Outbreaks of rain will fall as snow over higher hills initially, before the snow starts to fall to lower levels through Thursday evening.

“The rain and snow are expected to clear south during the early hours of Friday, with temperatures expected to fall quickly as skies clear, leading to ice on untreated surfaces.”

Motorists travelling into Bolton from affected areas should be careful on the roads, which may be slippery due to ice and snow.

Drivers travelling out of Bolton should also be aware that the areas they are driving into may be in worse condition than where their journeys began.

Provisions such as warm clothing, ice scrapers, de-icer, hi-vis jackets, and emergency gear should be considered.

Emergency services were called to a single-vehicle collision on the southbound carriageway between Junction 58 (A68, Burtree) and Junction 57 (A66(M), Darlington) at around 11.50am.

The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) confirmed it dispatched an ambulance and a rapid response paramedic to the scene.

Traffic on the A1(M) on Wednesday (February 11) (Image: NORTHERN ECHO)

A spokesperson said: “We were called to a one vehicle road traffic incident at 11.50am on February 11.

“We dispatched a double-crewed ambulance and a rapid response paramedic.

“One patient was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital.”

National Highways said traffic was initially stopped while emergency services dealt with the incident.

A spokesperson for National Highways said: “This was a single-vehicle collision. The lane closure was put in place to facilitate recovery of the vehicle and to clear mud and debris created by the incident.”

At its peak, there were around three to three-and-a-half miles of congestion on the approach, with traffic reported to be slow-moving throughout the early afternoon.

Images from the scene show slow-moving traffic stuck southbound, which saw cars stuck in both lanes of the A-road.

One of the most popular multiplayer franchises of the retro era returns, with a generous compilation of seven games that show Bomberman at its peak.

Up until a few years ago it seemed as if Konami had completely given up on the games industry. Unlike most other publishers, they have many other business concerns, from fitness clubs and casinos to slot machines and anime. Considering the state of the industry today their disengagement makes a lot more sense now than it did at the time, but we’re glad to see that their re-emergence as a major publisher has begun to pay off for them.

Nevertheless, without Hideo Kojima, it’s still unclear what they’re going to do about Metal Gear, even with the success of the recent remake, and the continued lack of any new Castlevania game is baffling, especially given how many other older franchises they’ve brought back. But, after a shaky start, the Silent Hill franchise is now in rude health, while they’ve also brought back everything from Contra and Gradius to Survival Kids.

Some revivals have worked out better than others but inevitably they’ve now got around to Bomberman. Once the mascot of PC Engine maker Hudson Soft, which Konami bought in 2011, it was one of the most popular multiplayer games of the 80s and 90s. The series has struggled to stay relevant since but with this compilation of SNES games, it’s easy to see why it was once so beloved.

Bomberman first appeared in 1983, on the MSX home computer, and initially was released under multiple names in Europe, including Dyna Blaster and Eric & The Floaters (for the little known ZX Spectrum version). The series is interesting in that it’s not closely associated with any one format, although the 10-player Saturn Bomberman was a favourite at gaming events long after the Sega Saturn itself became irrelevant.

Nevertheless, the majority of people have probably experienced the series on the SNES, which is what this compilation concentrates on. It includes Super Bomberman 1 through 5, the latter two of which have never been released outside of Japan before. That alone is a welcome effort, but the collection also includes two additional games and a host of artwork, a music player, and a boss rush mode with an online leaderboard.

Whether you’ve played these particular entries in the series before or not, all Bomberman games work in the same basic way: you’re trapped in a small maze that’s filled with destructible blocks. These can be destroyed by laying a bomb, which explodes in four directions and will kill you, or any enemies or fellow players, if you’re caught in the blast.

All the games have single-player modes, of increasing complexity, but Bomberman is an early example of a game where it was played almost solely for the multiplayer. It’s also interesting in that you could make an argument for the first one being the best, simply because it’s the most uncomplicated, with only classic power-ups such as being able to lay more than one bomb at a time, increasing the range of your bombs, and punching or kicking bombs once they’re placed.

Each new game adds more power-ups and complications, some of which became regulars and some of which were never seen again. Super Bomberman 3, for example, introduces Louies, which are rideable kangaroos clearly inspired by Yoshi. They either let you punch bombs or jump over obstacles, while also taking a hit for you if you’re caught in a bomb blast.

It’s fairly obvious why Super Bomberman 4 and 5 were never released outside of Japan, as the PS1 was over a year old by the time 4 arrived, let alone 5. Super Bomberman 4 is arguably the best of the bunch, though, as it introduces additional creatures and vehicles which, after you’ve first blown them up and turned them into eggs, can be used or ridden.

Super Bomberman 5, which was released only a few months before Bomberman 64, is less of an evolution, although it does introduce non-linear progression to the story campaign. It’s a decent capstone to the sub-series too, incorporating the best elements of the previous games.

The collection also includes what we believe is the NES version of the original game, although bizarrely it doesn’t say and we’re only assuming that based on the copyright date and a small piece of cropped artwork. Bomberman 2, which is definitely a NES game, is also included, which is a very welcome bonus, but Konami really needs to start including some proper museum info in their retro compilations.

This is even worse than Gradius Origins, in that while there’s plenty of games, lots of artwork, the original manuals, and neat rotating 3D boxes and cartridges – for all three regions – there’s absolutely no text or descriptions describing what anything is, beyond the modes and power-ups in each of the five SNES games.

Despite that, this is a great little compilation, with plenty of games and a rewind option for the often frustrating single-player campaigns. Technically it does have online multiplayer but only via Nintendo’s GameShare feature. That means you can play against anyone else online without them having to own a copy. However, only one person can play per console, which makes it difficult to organise full matches.

The amount of entertainment you get from Bomberman is directly proportional to the number of people playing, which is further multiplied if they’re in the same room with you. On that basis alone the lack of flexibility in the online options is forgivable, especially at the very generous asking price.

Konami has tried many times before to make online-focused versions of the game but after the SNES era the franchise saw a swift decline in popularity, particularly in the West. It’s not really clear what they can do to reverse that trend, but this is certainly a welcome reminder of how much fun the games could be at their peak. If they do try and make a new entry after this, we really hope it doesn’t bomb.

Formats: Nintendo Switch 2 (reviewed), Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC
Price: £19.99
Publisher: Konami
Developer: Red Art Games (original developers: Produce! and Hudson Soft)
Release Date: 5th February 2026
Age Rating: 7

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Manchester City have been battling some significant injury troubles across the team, with Pep Guardiola giving an update on Erling Haaland’s fitness situation after the Fulham game

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The Premier League title race is heating up, as Manchester City applied pressure on Arsenal once again by picking up an important win in midweek action.

A first-half blitz from Pep Guardiola’s men saw them defeat Fulham, as goals from Antoine Semenyo, Nico O’Reilly, and Erling Haaland handed them victory at the Etihad Stadium.

With the gap at the top now down to just three points, it’s up to City’s title rivals Arsenal to respond, as they are in action on Thursday against an in-form Brentford side.

In the meantime, Guardiola will be keen to rally his troops once more, hopeful of avoiding injuries at a key time of the season when they can start to crank up the pressure on their rivals for the Premier League crown.

So, with that said, here’s a look at the latest City injury news, including an update on Haaland after the Fulham victory.

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Erling Haaland

City fans were left nervous over Haaland’s fitness after the goalscorer was substituted at half-time during his side’s win over Fulham.

Fortunately, Guardiola downplayed the issue after the match, as he told reporters: “Niggles. Some problems, he didn’t feel comfortable, it was 3-0.

“The reason why is too many games. Fatigue. He said ‘I don’t feel comfortable’. With 3-0 and with a lot of games and with having Omar [Marmoush], common sense.”

As a result, it’s unclear whether Haaland will feature against Salford in the FA Cup fourth round on Saturday, before City turn back to Premier League action against Newcastle the following weekend.

John Stones

After a spell out of the team through injury, John Stones finally made his return to the City squad again in midweek, featuring on the bench.

The defender was an unused substitute, while he could make an appearance against Salford in the FA Cup over the weekend.

Jeremy Doku

Jeremy Doku is still out through injury, having picked up a calf problem against Galatasaray in the Champions League earlier this season.

There is an expectation that he could return at some point this month, but it remains to be seen whether the recovery will meet that timeline.

Josko Gvardiol

City will be without Josko Gvardiol for the foreseeable future, with the defender picking up a tibial fracture in the clash with Chelsea.

There is hope that the Croatian international will be back at some point before the end of the season, with a few months left for him to make a return.

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Savinho

Savinho has struggled to get going this season, having failed to get many minutes on the pitch with some proper momentum, as injuries continue to impact him.

The Brazilian winger was lined up for a possible return this week, but after failing to make the squad against Fulham, it’s unclear exactly when he will be available once again.

Mateo Kovacic

It’s been a tough campaign for Mateo Kovacic, who picked up an ankle problem in November, and has been unable to play for City ever since. A return seems unlikely until next month at the earliest.

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