“I am concerned over the council’s park summer programme as it looks to be very juvenile in nature and appeals only to families with children. I wouldn’t go.”

A Northern Ireland council deputy mayor has criticised a summer entertainment programme for being for families with children.

Lisburn and Castlereagh City Council’s communities committee heard calls this week for the authority to copy its neighbours Ards and North Down over “juvenile” concerns.

The annual ‘Park Life’ programme provides family fun events throughout July and August according to the Lagan Valley website, but its deputy mayor wants more jazz like shows for more mature tastes.

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Deputy Mayor Hazel Legge said: “I am concerned over the council’s park summer programme as it looks to be very juvenile in nature and appeals only to families with children.

“I wouldn’t go. But, perhaps we could look at the likes of how Ards and North Down bring in tribute acts with singers on a pleasant July afternoon. Can we start putting meat on the bones of who will play?

The council website describes its previous ‘Park Life’ 2025 programme as a summer of “free family fun” across five of the district’s public parks over the school summer holidays.

It reads: “The Park Life Summer Programme is bursting with exciting children’s activities and imaginative themed days.

“With something happening every week throughout the summer, the Park Life Programme 2025 is the perfect way to enjoy free fun, fresh air, and family time.”

In chambers a council officer responded: “The programme for this year is due to go out next month. We have different types of music such as Jazz and various others.

“I would be delighted to get feedback from members. We will have communications going out by the end of the month.”

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Firefighters are battling the blaze which erupted earlier this evening in the South Lanarkshire town.

A huge blaze has erupted in Rutherglen, prompting a major emergency response. The alarm was raised around 6.40pm after a fire started at a shop on Baronald Street in the South Lanarkshire town on Thursday, May 7.

Mercy crews, including Police Scotland and Scottish Fire and Rescue Service, rushed to the scene. The incident has locked down Baronald Street along with Dalmarnock Road and Farmeloan, all of which are currently closed.

Members of the public are being urged to steer clear of the area as firefighters battle the inferno. Photos taken at the scene and shared by the Record show large plumes of smoke billowing from the Nisa Local on Baronald Street.

Several blue-lit fire vehicles can be seen parked up outside as personnel work to temper the flames and bring the blaze under control. Worried residents can be seen gathering in the street to watch the concerning event unfold.

A cordon is erected around the affected premises, while drivers over the M74 have apparently reported sightings of the fire.

South Lanarkshire Council confirmed that road closures are in place on Farmeloan Road, Dalmarnock Road and at the Cambuslang Road junction. The exact cause of the fire is unknown at this time.

It is also unclear if anyone has been involved in the fire or suffered any injuries.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Emergency services are in attendance following a fire at a shop premises in Baronald Street, Rutherglen which was reported at 6.40pm on Thursday, 7 May, 2026.

“Baronald Street along with Dalmarnock Road and Farmeloan are currently closed.

“Members of the public are asked to avoid the area at this time.”

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service has been contacted for comment.

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Pakistan has emerged as a central diplomatic broker in the conflict between the US and Iran. When announcing a pause to the US operation to guide stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz on May 6, Donald Trump said he had made the decision “based on the request of Pakistan”.

The Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, subsequently expressed hope “that the current momentum will lead to a lasting agreement that secures durable peace and stability for the region and beyond”. This latest intervention comes a month after Pakistan secured its biggest diplomatic win in years by brokering a ceasefire in Iran.

But how did Pakistan emerge as the most trustworthy mediator in this conflict, and what drove Islamabad to involve itself? Pakistan’s biggest advantage is that it enjoys relationships with both the US and Iran, which has helped it be seen as a neutral party by each side.

Pakistan has worked with the US in dealing with Iran for decades. Since 1981, two years after the US and Iran severed diplomatic ties following the Islamic revolution, a dedicated section of the Pakistani embassy in Washington has handled Iranian diplomatic affairs in the US.

Pakistan has also worked with the US in mediation efforts elsewhere. Most notably, it facilitated former US secretary of state Henry Kissinger’s secret visit to China in 1971. This paved the way for the normalisation of relations between the US and China later that decade.

Relations between the US and Pakistan have not always been smooth. In 2011, a decade after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Atlantic magazine in the US referred to Pakistan as the “ally from hell”. Whether or not it did so knowingly, Pakistan hosted al-Qaeda mastermind Osama bin Laden following the attack.

Trump himself also denied Pakistan military aid during his first term as president, saying it was not doing enough to combat terrorism. And Pakistan’s human rights record, particularly concerning democratic backsliding and restrictions on civil liberties, have at times led to tension with the US government.

However, Pakistan’s relationship with the US has improved markedly in Trump’s second term. Trump, who often uses personal ties to guide US foreign policy, has developed a strong relationship with Sharif and the chief of Pakistan’s army, Asim Munir. In June 2025, Munir was even invited to the White House for a private lunch. This was the first time a US president had hosted a non-head of state military leader at this level.

Pakistan’s recent efforts to court Trump have played a key role in building these ties. Over the past year Pakistan has nominated Trump for the Nobel Peace Prize, joined his Board of Peace and launched a collaboration with his World Liberty Financial crypto platform.

And in July, Islamabad signed a deal with the US to allow Washington to help develop Pakistan’s largely untapped oil reserves. “We read him [Trump] right,” said the former chairman of the Pakistani Senate’s Defense Committee, Mushahid Hussain Syed, in an interview with the Washington Post on April 20.

The relationship between Pakistan and Iran has also been characterised by ups and downs. While Iran was the first country to recognise Pakistan’s independence in 1947, their relationship has often been fraught with tension. This largely stems from Iran’s territorial claim to the Balochistan province of Pakistan, as well as from Pakistan’s ties with Iranian rivals.

As recently as January 2024, tensions between the two countries appeared to be escalating again over Balochistan. However, hostilities soon receded and both countries formally resumed their bilateral ties. They subsequently expanded their security cooperation and invited each other’s ambassadors and foreign ministers for a formal reconciliation ceremony.

Strategic necessity

Some commentators argue that Pakistan’s decision to step in as the primary mediator in Iran has been driven by strategic necessity. Its Balochistan province is currently grappling with an insurgency. Islamabad will thus want to avoid a situation where the Iran war spills into Pakistan, as this could destabilise its border regions even further.

There are also economic reasons explaining Pakistan’s involvement. Pakistan has been severely affected by the disruption to Gulf shipping. It imports between 85% and 90% of its crude oil from Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and almost 99% of its liquified gas from the UAE and Qatar.

Before the war broke out, Pakistan’s economy had been starting to gain momentum. But higher oil prices are now affecting government revenues, increasing its fuel import bill from US$300 million (£220 million) before the conflict to US$800 million now. Pakistan’s authorities have been forced to raise consumer fuel prices by more than 50%.

Pakistan’s agricultural sector, which employs around 40% of the country’s population, is also vulnerable to the conflict due to its reliance on fertiliser imported through the Strait of Hormuz. Prices of urea fertiliser have surged by 50% since the war broke out. Prolonged disruption to the agriculture sector risks plunging some of the most vulnerable people in Pakistan further into poverty.

Remittances are another area that could be affected by a protracted conflict, with as many as five million Pakistani people living in the Gulf region. Pakistan received roughly US$30 billion in remittances between 2025 and 2026, 54% of which came from the Gulf.

If the war continues to affect Gulf economies, many Pakistani workers may be forced to return home. This will cause remittance revenues to fall, depriving Pakistan of a vital source of foreign exchange, while simultaneously pushing up domestic unemployment.

Pakistan’s relationships with the US and Iran put it in a strong position to intervene in the conflict diplomatically. But its mediation has also been a calculated effort to stabilise its borders and protect its economy.

“My only symptom was mild, persistent discomfort, something I could easily have ignored. If something does not feel right or is not healing, get it checked.”

After what initially seemed like minor dental issues, Chris Fleming was shocked to be diagnosed with mouth cancer last December.

In the summer of 2025, Chris, from Holywood, Co Down had two teeth removed after experiencing mild discomfort, which was thought to be caused by stress-related teeth grinding.

But a few weeks later, a similar discomfort developed around a wisdom tooth. Acting on advice, Chris had the tooth removed, but this time the area did not seem to heal properly.

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Chris explained: “The pain was only about three out of ten, it didn’t really concern me. There was a small flat area that just would not go away. It was more of an annoyance than anything else, but I knew something was not quite right.”

After returning to his dentist and attending a follow-up appointment, by chance taking a slot originally intended for his mother, Chris was referred urgently to the School of Dentistry for further investigation.

Despite having none of the typical risk factors associated with mouth cancer, including smoking or heavy alcohol use, a biopsy was carried out. A week later, on December 17, Chris received life-changing news.

Chris recalled: “It felt like a punch. You do not really process it at first. It is like someone is talking, but you cannot fully hear or understand what they are saying. Everything just becomes muffled.”

Chris described the first 48 hours after his diagnosis as particularly difficult: “When everything is going well in life, you do not think about death. But with a cancer diagnosis, it suddenly feels like it is staring you in the face. That is where your mind naturally goes.

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“That initial period was dark, but speaking to my Minister and leaning on my faith helped bring a sense of calm.”

In early January, Chris attended the Ulster Hospital, where he met his Consultant, Mr John Hanratty and began his treatment journey.

Chris added: “From that point on, everything moved very quickly. The care I received in the Ulster Hospital was absolutely phenomenal. From the consultants to the nursing staff, the level of support and professionalism was incredible.”

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Chris was really shocked at his diagnosis, given his lifestyle: “I do not smoke, I do not drink much and I keep myself fit. Even when I was being referred, I was joking that the first thing they would tell me is that it was not cancer. To then hear that it was, it just completely turned everything upside down.”

Highlighting the signs and symptoms of oral cancer, Consultant Oral & Maxillo-Facial Surgeon with the South Eastern Trust, Mr John Hanratty explained: “Mouth cancer can present in different ways.

“It could be an ulcer that has been present for more than three weeks, a white or red patch in the mouth that is giving symptoms of pain, or a lump or swelling in the mouth, oral cavity or neck area. So we would ask that if you have any of these you should be checked by a dentist or GP.

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“Evidence also shows that oral cancer is more prevalent with social deprivation, poor diet, increased alcohol consumption and smoking which are all increased risk factors. We know that early detection and treatment can lead to better outcomes for the patient. But unfortunately only 20% of people will present with an early stage cancer.

“The majority about 45% will present with a cancer that is large or has spread elsewhere and this gives the cancer a greater stage and poorer outcome for patients. So we would ask that if you have a problem please don’t be afraid to let your doctor or dentist know.”

Encouraging others to be aware of the signs and symptoms, Chris added: “My only symptom was mild, persistent discomfort, something I could easily have ignored. If something does not feel right or is not healing, get it checked. Do not wait.

“Even if you think it is nothing, it is always better to check. Early diagnosis can make all the difference.”

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