“These are the main barriers young people face in Middlesbrough: education, jobs and transport. Thank you, please let me know if you have any questions,” 18-year-old James says as he diligently folds up his pages of typed notes. His black shirt and trousers are immaculately pressed.
Middlesbrough, which sits on the south bank of the River Tees and just a stone’s throw from the North York Moors, is one of the most deprived local authority areas in England. Almost half of its 90 neighbourhoods fall within the nation’s top 10 per cent for deprivation.
Spend a day here and you will see that Labour’s drive to reduce youth unemployment is not going to be straightforward or quick.
us news
The left-wing firebrands about to make trouble for Trump (and the Democrats)
At a bar in New York City’s Harlem neighbourhood on Tuesday night, Democrats celebrated what some called not just a victory, but a revolution.
A growing force
The DSA was founded more than four decades ago and opposes both the Republican Party and moderate Democrats.
On Tuesday, several members celebrated victory, including the LA mayor elect and another eight elected into Congress.
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Why is the DSA becoming popular?
The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City in 2025 brought more attention to the DSA. Now, it claims to have more than 120,000 members.
Many of the candidates share views on the war in Gaza, healthcare and immigration.
The Democratic Party must undergo fundamental and immediate reform. With a return to power, it can no longer continue to ignore the major economic and political crises facing the majority of our people or that return to power will be shortlived.
Bernie sanders, us senator for vermont
DSA politicians to look out for
- : Elected into New York’s 13th congressional district. She is also the first Afro-Latina woman to represent the region.
- : Elected into Colorado’s 1st congressional district.
- : Elected into New York’s 10th congressional district.
- : Elected into New York’s 7th congressional district.
- : Elected into Pennsylvania’s 3rd congressional district.
Will Trump be impeached?
Many on the Democratic Party’s left want to aggressively go after Trump and it will be a hot topic when the Democratic caucus convenes next week.
From January, the Democrats will have a majority in the House to impeach, but not the two-thirds strength in the Senate needed for conviction and removal from office. However, Republicans may waver if the process gains momentum.
Italian chef sacked after refusing to put pineapple on pizza
Davide Tamburella was fired from the now-closed restaurant La Costa in Queensland, Australia, in May as he believed pineapple topping was an “insult to his culture”.
This occurred a fortnight after a meeting with his management, who voiced a string of complaints about the chef’s behaviour, reports claim.
What you need to know
La Costa stood as an Italian hub in the heart of Brisbane before it closed.
On Tuesday, a Fair Work Commission ruling heard that Tamburella was sacked on 20 May after he was called upon to “address performance concerns”.
One of the chief concerns was his refusal to put pineapple on pizza.
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The Italian was more than three years into a 186 visa process – an employer sponsored pathway to permanent residency in Australia.
However, his application had not been approved before he was sacked, and he now must start the process again.
Elliot Ingram, his boss, admitted that while pineapple on pizza was neither his own preference, 17 years in hospitality has taught him to “pick your battles”.
A frustrated boss
Do I go and buy a ham and pineapple pizza? It’s not my favourite but I’m not going to turn my nose up at it – that’s for sure.
The commission heard that Tamburella acknowledged this was the third time he refused Ingram’s direction. He had requested his boss to “check how important it is for Italians not to put pineapple on pizza”.
La Costa closed in July when its lease expired, with Ingram citing the high costs of running a business as a contributor.
How worried should you be about Ebola in the UK?
A British man is being flown back to the UK for treatment after testing positive for Ebola in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The patient, who is thought to be a healthcare worker, is expected to be brought back later on Thursday.
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First confirmed case of a UK national
There have only ever been four confirmed cases of the virus in the UK.
The first was in 1976, resulting from a laboratory incident. The latter three involved health workers responding to an outbreak in West Africa between 2014 and 2015.
The current outbreak centred in the DRC is fueled by the Bundibugyo variant of the virus.
A closer look at the detail
25-90%
Ebola has a high fatality rate, with past outbreaks causing death in 25-90 per cent of infected people.
People with the disease tend to fall ill two to 21 days after contact with an orthoebolavirus.
- Early symptoms include fever, aches, pains, and fatigue, but they can then progress to diarrhoea, vomiting and unexplained bleeding.
What this means for the UK
The UK has well-established procedures for dealing with cases like this, and those processes have been activated. Further information will be shared in due course. The risk to the UK public from Ebola remains low
Government official
Channel 4 axes Married At First Sight UK after review following misconduct claims
Channel 4 has cancelled Married At First Sight UK following an external review triggered by “serious allegations of wrongdoing”.
What led to this?
Earlier this year, two women who participated in the show made allegations of rape and a third of sexual misconduct by their on-screen husbands, speaking in a BBC documentary which aired in May.
- In June, a cast member was arrested on suspicion of rape. All three men deny the claims.
- Channel 4 has now confirmed the series will not be returning.
What will happen to season six?
Channel 4 chief executive Priya Dogra confirmed season six of the show, filmed this year, will not be broadcast.
Second Married at First Sight, a spin-off set to bring contestants from the UK and Australian versions of the show for a second chance at love, was in pre-production with CPL before being paused during the review. It will not resume.
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What the production company said:
“CPL has always put contributor welfare at the heart of its programme making and will continue to do so,” CPL said.
“CPL have worked closely with Channel 4 for many years and throughout the review process, and we look forward to working with them again in the future.”
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Cristiano Ronaldo retires from international football
Cristiano Ronaldo has announced his retirement from international football.
Here is everything we know so far about his decision.
What did he say?
The day has come back for me to hand back the number 7 shirt of our national team…It was not an easy decision. Because some decisions are not made with the mind alone. They are also made with the heart. A journey that began in August 2003 and changed my life forever has come to an end.
Cristiano Ronaldo
The background
- The 41-year-old has made 234 appearances for Portugal and scored 146 goals.
- He holds the all-time record for international appearances and for international goals.
“When I look back at everything with the national team, I don’t just see the matches, goals, records or trophies,” he added. “ I see the Portuguese people living abroad who, for 90 minutes, felt a little closer to home.”
Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong jailed for 10 years
Joshua Wong, 30, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison after pleading guilty to “foreign collusion” under the region’s national security law.
Wong is among hundreds of campaigners arrested under the law, which was enforced in 2020 following pro-democracy protests against Beijing’s control in Hong Kong.
Who is Joshua Wong?
Wong rose to fame as the face of Hong Kong’s 2014 pro-democracy demonstrations and “Umbrella Movement”.
He rallied more than 100,000 people to protest against Hong Kong’s plans to implement mandatory “patriotic education”.
In 2020, Wong stayed in Hong Kong and tried to run for a seat in its legislature – but was barred due to his opposition to the national security law.
The charges he faces
The activist has already spent the last six years in jail for subversion and was due to be freed in January – but will now spend another decade in prison.
Now, prosecutors have claimed he conspired with other campaigners to lobby for foreign sanctions and blockades against Beijing between July and November 2020.
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Wong not only severely undermined national sovereignty, security, and development interests, but also directly prejudiced the wellbeing of the general public and the stability of society.
john lee, Hong Kong’s chief executive
Opponents hit back
Cruel and unjust.
Critics argue that the national security law has completely silenced political opposition and debate.
Elaine Pearson, director of Human Rights Watch in Asia, believes this ruling serves “to keep Hong Kong society subdued”.
“The government appears to have adopted the tactic of stacking charges against influential pro-democracy leaders,” she said.
The 2.4 million households that could have energy debt wiped
Plans published alongside Chancellor John Healey’s Budget last week reveal a new strategy to help homes that have fallen behind on their gas and electricity bills.
The Government and energy regulator Ofgem’s new plan vows a one-off Debt Relief Scheme.
Ofgem estimates around 2.4 million customers have debt that could be considered for the scheme and help Britons “get back on top of their finances and make a fresh start”.
However, the exact figures on how many people will receive help and the amount of debt written off will be finalised next year.
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What has led to this new scheme?
- In 2022, energy costs soared after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine pushed up wholesale gas prices.
- At the peak of the conflict, a typical household’s annual bill was capped at £2,500 – double the previous year.
- Great Britain’s household energy debt stood at £5bn in the middle of 2026 – three times that of 2021.
- Now, more than 2 million households are in debt with their suppliers.
- While Ofgem first proposed a debt-tackling scheme in November 2025, the plan never went ahead until its current revival.
- The strategy has expanded and is now aimed at the debt built up during the peak of the crisis.
- Government analysis suggests the expanded scheme could save households £130 over the next decade.
What makes people qualify?
Britons in “genuine financial need” will be prioritised under latest plans. This covers those on universal credit or pensioners.
People with little realistic prospect of paying back the sums of debt on their own will be helped.
It is also dependent on how willing households are to negotiate with suppliers on repayment plans and future bills.
Who pays for the scheme?
While the Government has not exactly outlined who will exactly fund the strategy yet, Ofgem is expected to announce this later in the year.
The i Paper understands it will add a small upfront cost to bills, but the Government expects to pay for it itself within two years.
Government analysis suggests the new scheme should prevent more than £5bn of new energy debt building up by 2036. The Budget promised that no new government costs would be added to energy bills until a new framework is in place.
What happens next?
- Ofgem will publish a fresh consultation on the scheme shortly.
- In early 2027, it will make a final decision on the scheme.
- In spring 2027, it is scheduled to go live, depending on the consultation.
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Typhoons batters East Asia as El Niño grows
In recent months across the Philippines, Taiwan, China and Japan, intense and volatile storms, worsened by the climate phenomenon El Niño, have destroyed major airports, ruined infrastructure and killed dozens.
What is El Niño?
El Niño is a naturally occurring complex weather phenomenon that transpires over the Pacific Ocean roughly every two to seven years.
It can increase global temperatures, as it weakens trade winds and allows warmer water to spread across central and eastern parts of the tropical Pacific.
- : Typhoon Mekkhala and Storm Higos forced 1 million people to evacuate Japan.
- : Storm Narra submerged villages along China’s southern coast and displaced tens of thousands.
- : Super Typhoon Dolphin triggered heavy floods and dozens of casualties in China over 16 days.
- : Typhoon Saudel made landfall in three Chinese cities in just one week, shutting transport and forcing evacuations.
The impact in pictures
East Asia vs El Niño
- Typhoon Champi cut off 15,000 Japanese homes from power at a speed of 295kph.
- Hundreds of flights were forced to cancel in Hong Kong, Taiwan and Japan.
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How are countries preparing?
Stockpile food, essentials and secure outside furniture that could become deadly when typhoons hit.
Local officials will identify vulnerable areas and upgrade warning and monitoring systems.
In lieu of food production disruption, farmers receive increased support.
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Middlesbrough poses a serious question: how do you get young people into work in a place where there are few decent jobs and terrible transport links?
You might be able get the best Chicken Parmo you’ll ever eat in this former industrial area, where Britain’s steel industry exploded and chemical manufacturing giant Imperial Chemical Industries (ICI) once employed as many as 15,000 people in nearby Billingham, but, today, it is a terrible place to be young.
In fact, a recent report by the Children’s Commissioner Rachel d’Souza ranked it as the toughest place in England to grow up.
17 per cent of young people aged 16 to 25 years old are now Neet – not in education, employment or training. That is behind only Blackpool where 1 in 5 young people are above the national average of 13 per cent.
As Alan Milburn, Labour’s youth unemployment tsar – prepares for the imminent release of his much-anticipated report into the Neets crisis – Middlesbrough is exactly the sort of place he must address. Perhaps, even, rescue.
Shuttered shops in the centre of town embody the end of a chain of economic problems and changing consumer habits which have resulted in the social and economic exclusion of youngsters in “Boro” – as it is affectionately called by some.
At Middlesbrough’s Job Centre, James has given me the kind of professional presentation you might expect from someone with years of experience, delivered unfalteringly to a room full of people staring at him – senior Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) work coaches, me (a journalist he’s never met before) and government representatives.
That is because James is an expert in his subject. He grew up here and recently concluded his studies of Business Management and Administration at college. Despite applying for countless jobs, he was, until the DWP employed him to do work experience in poster design, himself a Neet.
“Middlesbrough gets a lot of bad press,” James tells me, letting his frustration show for the first time.
In August 2026, a spate of violent incidents made national headlines: one being a car crash that killed seven people, including three teenagers and two police officers, and subsequent disorder at a memorial for those who died.
Three of James’s friends recently moved to Liverpool to go to university. They now live a 2 hour and 40 minute drive away (on a good day) or a 3 hour train trip which costs at least £50.
“They got jobs really quickly in Liverpool,” James says, “but that just can’t happen in Middlesbrough. Most of my friends who have stayed are unemployed. It feels like nobody can get a job at the minute and the ones that are coming up are cooking in hospitality or warehouse work.”
James is currently participating in the Movement to Work scheme, which is offered by the Government as a way of breaking the cycle of young people needing experience in order to get jobs by offering them quality work experience, either within the civil service or with major employers like the National Grid and Tesco.
Nobody chooses where they are born. Or when. Young people in Middlesbrough have entered the world to find the odds are stacked against them through no fault of their own.
Jackie McNab is the DWP’s service leader for Cumbria and Tees Jobs and Career Service. She oversees 17 Job Centres across the area and has worked in the sector for over a decade.
“We’ve got inner city problems but we don’t have the infrastructure of a city,” she explains. “Transport is a huge problem in this area. Trains only run once an hour up to Newcastle and they get cancelled very frequently.”
“The bus service isn’t supportive enough,” she adds. “We’ve had some successes with getting the likes of Amazon to put on a specific bus [for workers] but this is the biggest barrier we’re talking about to jobs – we don’t have the big employers that you might see in cities or the infrastructure to get people to them.”
Nearby, Newcastle and Sunderland do at least have Metro services but Middlesbrough is cut off.
Adam Taylor, a specialist youth work coach, adds that “the last train back from Newcastle leaves at 10pm”, which is risky for any young person who takes up work there because it “usually gets cancelled” and taxis back “cost a bloody fortune”.
Jackie and her team describe ICI closing its doors in nearby Billingham in 2008 as “an economic shock” to the area. Several people on Jackie’s team, including Adam, say their grandfathers worked at the site.
But now with those industrial jobs and the disposable income they generated gone, shops are shuttered and, as a result, the entry level high street and retail jobs that young people used to do are gone too.
This problem is not unique to Middlesbrough. A recent report from the Work Foundation at Lancaster University revealed there was one starter job for every three young people in the UK looking for work.
Neets are not a new phenomenon. The problem is that the number of 16 to 24-year olds who can be described this way has barely dipped much below 1 million for almost a quarter of a century.
Milburn has described the situation as a “moral crisis” but, equally, he has made it clear that Britain can no longer afford its Neet population, which costs an annual £125bn.
Shift from unemployment support to employment support
But, as Middlesbrough shows, there is no one size fits all approach to youth employment and some parts of the country are deprived after years of decline and neglect.
James, and the young people like him across Tees Valley need jobs in order to become employed and transport so that they can get to and from them easily.
Jackie and her team are already trying innovative things like connecting young people directly with local employers and running job fairs as a way of doing so. The DWP also runs a scheme called Connect to Work via the Job Centre which supports people with complex needs.
And still, Middlesbrough’s high Neets rate persists. Milburn has got his work cut out and it’s clear that change is going to take time and serious investment. Where that money will come from at a time of strained public finances is one of the biggest questions facing Andy Burnham’s government.