“I am proud of what we have done in less than two years as a Labour Government. We’ve stepped up to lead internationally for Ukraine with the Coalition of the Willing and Ukraine Defence Contact Group, established Britain as a leading voice for Europe in Nato, raised defence investment to 2.5 per cent of GDP three years earlier than anyone expected, launched the deepest defence reforms in 50 years, won the biggest UK defence export deals for decades, published a first-of-its-kind Strategic Defence Review (SDR), gave our Armed Forces the biggest pay rise in nearly 20 years, boosted military morale, fixed over 1,200 of the worst forces family homes, reset relations with European allies and signed major defence agreements with Germany, Norway and France.

The UK Health Security Agency has issued an urgent plea to parents

Health officials have issued a warning to parents after two children in England have died from measles this year.

Experts at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have urged all parents to ensure their children are up to date with their MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) or MMRV vaccines as the potentially life-threatening illness continues to circulate in many parts of the country.

There have been 736 cases so far this year, compared with 959 cases for the whole of 2025, new figures show, with many of the cases linked to outbreaks in London and the West Midlands.

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The UKHSA said the majority of cases were among unvaccinated children aged 10 and under. Two measles deaths have been reported this year; one child died from ‘acute measles’ and another child’s death was linked to the ‘late effects of measles’, the UKHSA said.

The agency added that in the last month, cases have been confirmed in London, the East of England and the West Midlands.

Dr Vanessa Saliba, consultant epidemiologist at UKHSA, said: “Our thoughts and condolences are with the families who have so tragically lost their children.

“Measles continues to circulate in many parts of the country and as we have seen it can be very serious and even fatal.

“We urge all parents to ensure their children are up to date with their MMR or MMRV vaccines, giving them the best and safest protection against measles – which can spread very easily.

“Anyone who has missed out on their measles vaccines can catch up through their GP practice whatever their age.

“Getting vaccinated also helps protect babies who are too young to be vaccinated and people unable to have the vaccine due to a health condition. Please don’t delay and if you or your child are not up to date, book an appointment today.”

Measles is a highly infectious viral illness that can spread very easily among people who are not fully vaccinated. While many people recover, the illness can lead to serious complications such as pneumonia, brain inflammation and, in rare cases, long-term disability or death.

Health Secretary James Murray said the latest measles deaths are a “heartbreaking reminder that measles is not a harmless childhood illness”.

He said: “My thoughts are with the families who have suffered such unimaginable loss. These deaths are a heartbreaking reminder that measles is not a harmless childhood illness.

“Measles can lead to serious complications that can be fatal, and the MMR vaccine, which has saved countless lives, remains the best protection we have against this highly infectious disease.

“I urge all parents and carers to check that their children are up to date with their vaccinations as it is never too late to catch up – even if you miss a dose.

“By ensuring our children are vaccinated, we not only protect them but also help safeguard the most vulnerable in our communities.”

It comes after the World Health Organisation (WHO) announced that the UK is no longer considered to have eliminated measles earlier this year, following a plateau in vaccination coverage and a surge in cases.

The latest data shows that 91.8 per cent of five-year-olds had received one dose of the MMR vaccine in England in 2024/25, unchanged from 2023/24 and the lowest level since 2010/11.

The broadcaster has adjusted its schedule throughout the week to accommodate major international football broadcasts.

Tuesday (June 9) saw Coronation Street and Emmerdale replaced by the Women’s European Qualifier between England and Ukraine.

The soaps then aired at an earlier time on Wednesday (June 10) due to England’s Men’s World Cup warm-up match against Costa Rica.

Heads up! ⚽️ Here’s where to find us this week.

Don’t forget, you can catch us at 7am on ITVX and YouTube 🎉#Corrie #Emmerdale pic.twitter.com/QuiLDLLv0b

— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) June 8, 2026

Why are Coronation Street and Emmerdale not on ITV tonight?

Once again, it is a major sporting event that will keep Coronation Street and Emmerdale off air tonight.

Coverage of the World Cup opening ceremony begins at 6.15pm on ITV1, followed by the tournament’s first match at 7.50pm.

The 2026 World Cup starts on ITV tonight 🤩

It all gets started at 6.15 pm with all the build-up and the opening ceremony! ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/7SJZc90rRt

— ITV Football (@itvfootball) June 11, 2026

As a result, both Coronation Street and Emmerdale have been removed from ITV’s evening schedule.

Soap fans will have to wait until Friday (June 12) for the next episodes.

Emmerdale will return for a full hour at 8pm, with Coronation Street following at 9pm, also for an hour-long episode.

No episodes of the soaps will be available to watch on ITV1 on Sunday (June 14).

Have you noticed ITV’s new scheduling this year?

From January 2026, the broadcaster introduced a “soaps power hour” on weekdays with 30-minute Emmerdale episodes at 8pm and 30-minute Coronation Street episodes at 8.30pm.

Coronation Street previously aired for three hour-long episodes a week, while Emmerdale aired four 30-minute episodes and one hour-long instalment.

Announcing the new schedule last year, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo, said: “The new commissioning pattern is viewer-led. 

“We already give more choice than ever to viewers on how they watch us through ITVX and we want to present their favourite soap to them, in the most digestible way.

“In a world where there is so much competition for viewers’ time and attention, and viewing habits continue to change, we believe this is the right amount of episodes that fans can fit into their viewing schedule, to keep up to date with the shows.”

Have these ITV schedule changes disrupted your soap viewing habits this week? Let us know in the comments below.

For many men with prostate cancer, the word “radiotherapy” still conjures up weeks of daily hospital trips: 20 or more sessions, Monday to Friday, for a month or longer. A new NHS England programme aims to shrink that burden dramatically by offering eligible men a highly focused form of radiotherapy that treats the cancer in just five sessions.

It sounds almost too good to be true: a comparable chance of controlling the disease, with far fewer visits and much less disruption to work and family life. But five-session treatment can still cause short-term and longer-term side-effects.

So what exactly is changing, and what should men make of it?

A sharper way to deliver radiation

The approach is called stereotactic ablative radiotherapy, or SABR. You may also hear it described as stereotactic body radiotherapy, or SBRT, and more colloquially as “multi-beam” or “high-precision” radiotherapy.

Instead of delivering smaller doses over many sessions, doctors give a higher dose at each appointment while targeting the prostate accurately.

Picture several torches shining from different angles. Each beam is relatively weak, but the light becomes intensely bright where they meet. SABR works in a similar way. Advanced imaging and computer planning map the target area, sometimes using tiny implanted markers as reference points. The machine delivers multiple beams that converge on the prostate, while nearby healthy tissue receives much less radiation.

That precision allows the schedule to shrink from at least 20 daily sessions to five doses within a fortnight. The appointments do not necessarily take place on five consecutive days.

Why NHS England is changing course

Prostate cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in men in the UK, with more than 55,000 diagnoses each year. For men whose cancer is confined to the prostate, surgery or radiotherapy may offer a good chance of cure. Questions about diagnosis and screening remain the subject of active discussion.

Radiotherapy services are under strain, with machines and specialist staff in high demand. NHS England estimates that SABR could eventually be offered to around 17,500 men with low or intermediate-risk prostate cancer each year. These are cancers that have not spread and are considered less likely to grow or spread rapidly.

Around 3,500 men may initially choose SABR. Rolling the treatment out across all 48 radiotherapy providers in England could free approximately 50,000 appointments a year.

The rollout reflects a wider change in the way radiotherapy is delivered. Previous NHS England policies have supported stereotactic radiotherapy in other settings. Over the past decade, evidence from large clinical trials has shown that giving fewer, larger doses of radiation can control prostate cancer as effectively as longer courses in patients for whom the treatment is suitable.

For patients, the benefit is practical: weeks of hospital visits may be condensed into five trips. You lie on a firm couch while a large machine rotates around you. The treatment is painless. Additional imaging and checks are needed, but sessions take minutes rather than hours.

Side-effects and safety

Radiotherapy to the prostate, whether delivered over five sessions or 20, carries risks. The prostate sits in a crowded neighbourhood. The bladder lies just above it, the rectum sits behind it, and the urethra, the tube that carries urine out of the body, runs through the middle.

Men may experience urinary frequency or urgency, a burning sensation when passing urine, loose stools and fatigue. These effects commonly settle over weeks or months. Some develop longer-term problems, including urinary changes, leakage, difficulty with erections or bowel symptoms such as urgency or bleeding.

SABR is designed to limit radiation to surrounding tissue, but it delivers a higher dose at each appointment. Trial evidence suggests that side-effects are broadly comparable to those associated with standard radiotherapy schedules. A five-session course does not eliminate the risk of lasting complications.

SABR is already used to treat small lung tumours and other cancers. In the PACE-B trial, more than 95 out of 100 men in both the five-session group and the standard-treatment group remained free of cancer recurrence five years after treatment. Longer-term follow-up remains important.

SABR will not suit every man. The NHS England rollout is aimed at eligible men with localised low or intermediate-risk disease. A patient’s risk profile, general health and need for additional treatment, including hormone therapy to slow the growth of the cancer, will shape the options offered by his clinical team. Men with higher-risk disease or cancer that has spread may need a different plan.

Not everyone needs immediate treatment

For some men with low-risk, localised prostate cancer, the first decision is not “SABR versus standard radiotherapy”, but “treatment now versus careful monitoring”.

Many prostate cancers grow so slowly that they may never cause problems during a man’s lifetime. Doctors are therefore concerned about overtreatment: operating on or irradiating cancers that would never have harmed the patient.

Active surveillance, a form of careful monitoring, usually involves regular PSA blood tests, which measure the level of prostate-specific antigen in the blood, as well as scans and sometimes biopsies. Treatment is reserved for cancers that become more aggressive.

You may also hear the phrase “watchful waiting”. The terms describe different approaches. Active surveillance preserves the option of treatment intended to cure the cancer if it changes. Watchful waiting usually involves less intensive monitoring and is more commonly recommended when treatment burdens may outweigh the benefits.

SABR does not change that calculation. For some men, surveillance may remain the most appropriate option. For others, SABR offers a shorter way to deliver effective treatment.

A step forward, with limits

SABR should reduce the disruption caused by repeated hospital visits and release badly needed capacity within radiotherapy services. It does not remove the trade-offs between treating cancer and preserving quality of life, and it will not suit every man.

The key is an individualised discussion about the relevant options, including surveillance, surgery, standard radiotherapy and SABR.

For some men, condensing treatment into five hospital visits will be enormously attractive. What this policy shift signals is a quieter revolution in radiotherapy: more time at home, fewer journeys to hospital, and a treatment that tries to hit the cancer harder while hitting the rest of the body a little less.

Since her official debut in 1959, Supergirl has struggled to emerge from the shadow of her cousin, Superman. So it’s a bold move that the second cinematic release in the newly rebooted DC Universe will be Supergirl.

Milly Alcock first appeared as Supergirl in the epilogue to Superman (2025). Her Supergirl is a brash “party girl” – an immediate contrast to David Corenswet’s squeaky clean rendition of Superman. Based on the comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow (2021) by Tom King and Bilquis Evely, she is a traumatised character, dealing with the destruction of her home planet of Krypton. “I have no people,” Supergirl laments in the trailer.

However, Supergirl was not always so introspective. The character and her alter ego, Kara Zor-El, first appeared in 1938, to cash in on the popularity of Superman. She was a preppy teenager who played a supporting helpmate role, allowing Superman to display his paternal side.

Publishers DC Comics also flirted with the concept of Superwoman. A 1943 story had Superman’s girlfriend, reporter Lois Lane, dream that she was Superman’s female counterpart. In her book Supergirl: Contemporary Feminist Reboot of a Hapless DC Comic Helpmate (2022), Batya Weinbaum suggests this moment reflected the “changing position of women in wartime”.

In a 1947 story, Lois Lane, Superwoman! from Superman issue #45, Lane is convinced she has superpowers, only to discover she is the victim of a ruse where Superman is using his influence to simulate the experience. This prompts her frustrated exclamation: “You men who try to keep women weak and defenceless – I hate you!”

Lane may well have been addressing the DC editors who published her adventures. In his cultural history of comic book heroines, comic book historian Mike Madrid outlines an excerpt from 1950s-era DC Comics’ editorial policy which reluctantly accepts stories featuring women, but only if the female characters are “secondary in importance”.

À lire aussi :
Are we getting tired of superheroes? The evidence might surprise you

The ever-changing Supergirl

Nevertheless, as Supergirl developed through the 1960s there were signs that she could develop an identity of her own.

Two years after her secret arrival on Earth, in issue #285 of Action Comics, Superman finally reveals Supergirl to the world. She appears in public in an act that cultural historian Gerard Beritela interprets as her “emergence from male domination”. But ultimately Madrid’s take on this era is that “she is a girl, not a woman, and therein lies the secret of her appeal”. Supergirl isn’t a threatening Superwoman who might develop ideas of her own.

This was the model followed in the 1984 attempt to bring Supergirl to cinema screens. In his DVD commentary, director Jeannot Szwarc discusses his intention to convey Supergirl’s grace and intelligence.

Whereas Superman (played by Christopher Reeve) was introduced in 1978 by the same producers with a daring rescue of a plummeting helicopter, Helen Slater’s Supergirl performs an aerial ballet and frolics with woodland creatures. In comics, Supergirl fared even worse. The character was killed off in 1985’s Crisis on Infinite Earths storyline, partly because of her threat to Superman’s unique status as “the last son of Krypton”, and partly because of the film’s disappointing box office takings.

Various incarnations of Supergirl have been explored following the obliteration of the original version. This regular rewriting has encouraged creators to experiment.

Danny Fingeroth describes a 1996 example, when fellow comic book writer Peter David developed a version of Supergirl to explore Jewish identity, revising the character as an Earth-bound angel based on the concept of Shekhinah, or the divine feminine. This Supergirl’s stories integrated themes of redemption and spirituality.

In comic books, however, death is never permanent. Kara Zor-El and Supergirl were resurrected in 2004 in The Supergirl from Krypton. There was an attempt to add nuance to the character, with a greater emphasis on the trauma she suffered from witnessing the loss of her home planet. But this was rather undermined by various revealing costumes clearly designed to satisfy the male gaze.

It wasn’t until 2015 and the six season Supergirl television show that creators began to deal head on with the character’s agency. Another updated origin story saw Kara (played by Melissa Benoist) being sent ahead to help her baby cousin acclimatise to life on Earth. But after her spaceship arrives late, she has no clear purpose, finding an already adult and established Superman.

In the pilot episode she finally strikes out on her own with the dramatic rescue of an airliner, assuming the mantle of Supergirl. In a show that employed several female writers and became known for its positive representation of LGBTQ+ issues, problematic topics such as Supergirl’s infantilising name and costume were directly addressed.

Kara refuses to wear revealing versions of the costume from the character’s comic book past. In discussions with her employer, CatCo Worldwide Media CEO Cat Grant, she is told: “I’m a girl. And your boss. And powerful. And rich, and hot, and smart. So, if you perceive Supergirl as anything less than excellent, isn’t the real problem you?” Significantly, Grant is portrayed by actor Calista Flockhart, known for the Ally McBeal series – a show that sparked debates about feminism and women in the workplace in the late 1990s.

The 2021 comic book Supergirl: Woman of Tomorrow follows the young alien Ruthye Marye Knoll, who recruits Supergirl to seek revenge after her father is murdered. The story is told from Ruthye’s point of view, the fractured narrative lending the story a fatalistic quality. The narration also emphasises the mythic quality of Supergirl, “who lost everything and kept walking”.

It remains to be seen how closely the film will follow the philosophical source material. Meanwhile, in the pages of the latest DC comic book, writer and artist Sophie Campbell has returned to the brighter tone of the 1960s version of the character, merged with the sensibilities of the 2015 television series. The many interpretations of Supergirl continue to reveal the character’s durability and versatility.

This article features references to books that have been included for editorial reasons, and may contain links to bookshop.org. If you click on one of the links and go on to buy something, The Conversation UK may earn a commission.

SINGER-songwriter Tom Bright returns to York this weekend for an intimate live show at Rise, the creative space inside Bluebird Bakery in Acomb.

Bright will perform on Saturday, June 13, following a sold-out appearance at FortyFive Vinyl Café last October, where he supported his latest album Young Old Bloke.

That show was praised for its authenticity and warmth, with Bright described as a classic urban folk artist likely to appeal to fans of Paolo Nutini and Frank Turner.

His last York performance saw him share stories of honing his craft through a decade of personal and professional challenges, balancing life as a pub landlord with hundreds of gigs, record label setbacks, the pandemic and a life-threatening illness. Despite this, Bright has gone on to perform alongside artists including Tom Grennan, Ed Harcourt and The Libertines, and has played venues such as the London Palladium, Shepherd’s Bush Empire and Glastonbury Festival.

Read more:

Bright has previously cited influences ranging from Bobby Darin and Frank Sinatra to Ray Davies, Jarvis Cocker and Cherry Ghost’s Simon Aldred.

Rise aims to be a vibrant, independently run creative hub.

A limited number of tickets remain, available via bluebirdbakery.co.uk/rise and See Tickets.

The Northern Ireland Secretary has hit out at “racist thuggery” in Belfast as he said: “This is not the true face of Northern Ireland.”

Hilary Benn said it is unacceptable that people are being targeted because of the colour of their skin. He said he was appalled at reports that people were being stopped on their way to work by thugs demanding to know their nationality.

He told Sky News: “I’ve talked to a number of community organizations, and it’s really important to convey the sense of fear that has been created, above all for those who were intimidated, burned out of their houses by masked thugs on the basis of the color of their skin.

“But talking to those community organizations, everyone else in Northern Ireland who is an ethnic minority is thinking is somebody going to come for me? We’ve had reports of people being stopped in their cars to be asked what their nationality is on their way to work, and this is completely unacceptable.

“And we all feel very strongly about the appalling attack on Stephen Ogilvie and which was captured, of course, on that awful, awful video.

“An individual has been arrested. He has now been charged. We need to let the criminal justice process take its course. But there is no justification for the kind of violent thuggery that we have seen.”

And he continued: “I have joined with all of the political leaders in Northern Ireland in calling on people to desist, because this is not what Northern Ireland – a great place – is about. This is not the true face of Northern Ireland.”

Asked if the violence in Northern Ireland should be categorised as racist riots, Mr Benn said: “Well, if you are targeting people on the basis of their colour, of their skin, how else can you describe them? This is racist thuggery. There’s no question about it at all.”

Strictly Come Dancing have announced the second name set to take to the dancefloor this Autumn and Winter, after EastEnders actress Lacey Turner

Strictly Come Dancing have revealed the name of their second star – and it’s a familiar face.

The BBC show is back for a new series this Autumn and Winter and a new face has now signed up for the programme. Dani Dyer will make her glorious return to the show following her early exit last year due to injury.

Dani said of her return: “I am so excited to be back in the ballroom this September! I just cannot wait to get my dancing shoes back on and hopefully this time around I can actually make it to week one!

“I’m just over the moon and cannot wait to find out who else is doing it!” Dani withdrew last year due to injury before the show even began and there had been hope she’d make her return again.

Lacey Turner was the first star to be confirmed for the show. Speaking about signing up for the show, she said: “I am so excited to being making my way to the dance floor this year to be a part of Strictly Come Dancing! I am a huge fan and can’t quite believe I will be taking part and not watching at home this year! I look forward to meeting everyone and learning a new skill!”

Strictly has also had a change up top when Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman both stepped down from their hosting roles.. Emma Willis, Josh Widdecombe and Johannes Radebe have been confirmed to replace them.

Speaking about joining the show, Emma said: “It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of Strictly – I’ve cheered and danced along from my sofa for years – so to be stepping into the Strictly ballroom is something I can’t quite comprehend.

“It’s impossible to fill the shoes that Tess and Claudia have left behind – two wonderful, iconic women who have been the beating heart of Strictly for so long. I can only hope that we are able to help to steer the ship as beautifully as they have, into this new chapter. I can’t wait to spend my weekends with Josh and Jojo, the incredible dancers and the judges.”

Johannes added “To be returning to Strictly Come Dancing in this new role is beyond anything I ever imagined. This show has always stood for joy, heart, and togetherness, and I feel deeply honoured to now help carry that magic forward.

“To do it alongside the formidable Emma Willis and the utterly brilliant Josh Widdicombe makes it even more special. I’m ready-sequins, nerves, and all…please bear with me. Love Jojo.”

Josh said: “Dancing the Charleston dressed as a penguin for the 2024 Christmas Special of Strictly remains my career high point, so I am giddy with excitement, honoured and a little overawed to be given the chance to step into the biggest shoes in television. I adore Emma and Jojo and can’t wait to spend my weekends with them. I’ll dust off the penguin costume.”

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Jonathan, 50, was last seen at a family address in Gateshead on June 2.

Officers say Jonathan, originally from the Consett area, has links to Bishop Auckland.

He is described as 5ft 10in tall, of slim build, with dark brown shaved hair and a stubbly beard.

Jonathan was last seen wearing a flat cap, a black tracksuit top with white stripes down the arms, cargo trousers and walking boots. He was also carrying a rucksack.

Police are appealing for information as concerns grow for his welfare.

Anyone who has seen Jonathan, or who has information about his whereabouts, is asked to call 999.