Afternoon briefing Wednesday 25th September

Tensions between Israel and Hezbollah are escalating, with serious military actions taking place in southern Lebanon. Iran's leader, Khamenei, stated that killing Hezbollah members won’t defeat the group. Meanwhile, the UK is preparing for a potential evacuation of its nationals in Lebanon, deploying troops to Cyprus. Domestically, the UK Labour Party has voted to reverse cuts to winter fuel allowances for pensioners, though the Prime Minister emphasized that this vote is non-binding and won’t change policies. On a more positive note, the OECD has increased its growth forecast for the UK economy to 1.1%, noting better-than-expected performance in the first half of the year, although some signs indicate a slowdown may occur later on.

Recent reports indicate that England is making progress in tackling obesity, especially among children, with the rate of overweight 5-15 year olds dropping to 27%, the lowest since 2000. Meanwhile, adult obesity rates have remained stable for five years. In a different context, Sir Alan Bates has been honored for his advocacy related to the post office scandal, a recognition he describes as a difficult journey. Meanwhile, cricket fans are feeling the pinch as ticket prices for next summer's test match between England and India have been raised significantly, causing dissatisfaction among club members despite promises of a review of costs. These developments reflect both positive strides in public health and mounting challenges in sports accessibility.