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Disposable vapes are now banned from UK shops. This is what you need to know

Disposable vapes are now banned from UK shops. This is what you need to know

Independent2 days ago

The government has banned the sale of single-use disposable vapes in England, Scotland, and Northern Ireland to combat youth nicotine addiction and environmental pollution.
The ban makes it illegal for retailers, including corner shops and supermarkets, to sell disposable vapes, which are defined as having non-rechargeable batteries or non-refillable containers.
The primary reasons for the ban are to protect the environment and reduce vaping among young people; it applies to both online and in-store sales of all disposable vapes, regardless of nicotine content.
The Local Government Association (LGA) has cautioned against stockpiling disposable vapes due to the risk of fires caused by lithium batteries, which can enter thermal runaway and release toxic gases.
Retailers can still sell reusable vapes, but those who continue to sell disposable vapes face a £200 fine for the first offense, with potential for unlimited fines or jail time for repeat offenses.

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Cancer death rates down more than 20% in last 50 years but cases rising
Cancer death rates down more than 20% in last 50 years but cases rising

The Independent

time38 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Cancer death rates down more than 20% in last 50 years but cases rising

Cancer death rates have fallen by more than a fifth in the last 50 years but cases are rising, according to a new analysis. A report from Cancer Research UK found people are now more likely to get cancer than decades ago, but are less likely to die from the disease. Figures show that the rate of people dying from cancer in the UK has fallen by around 22% since the early 1970s, but the rate of people being diagnosed with the disease has risen by almost half. In 1973, some 328 per 100,000 people died from cancer, dropping to around 252 per 100,000 in 2023, driven by improvements in areas such as diagnosis and better treatment, as well as action to cut smoking. The study said: 'Survival for all cancers combined in England and Wales has doubled since the early 1970s, but progress has slowed over the last 10 years and remains lower than other comparable countries. 'Survival increased three to five times faster in previous decades, compared with the improvement since 2010.' Cancer Research UK warned that, despite improvement in overall survival, many more people are being diagnosed with cancer compared with 50 years ago. Incidence rates have risen sharply by almost half (47%) across Great Britain over this period, from around 413 cases per 100,000 people to around 607 cases per 100,000 people. The report listed the preventable causes of cancer, saying smoking remains the biggest cause of cancer, while obesity is linked to 13 different types of the disease. Other risks include not using sunscreen or failing to cover up in the sun, sunbeds, alcohol, lack of exercise and diets high in processed meat. The report pointed out that around half of all new cancer diagnoses are in people aged 70 and over, but incidence rates are currently rising fastest in younger people. It said: 'In the UK, cancer incidence rates have increased by 23% in people aged 20 to 49 since the early 1990s. 'However, population growth is concentrated in older age groups, so in terms of patient numbers, the biggest increase in cancer cases has been in older people.' The study also found that, on average, just over half of cancers are diagnosed at an early stage in England (54%), and this proportion has not changed for almost a decade. Michelle Mitchell, Cancer Research UK's chief executive, said: 'It's fantastic to see that thanks to research, cancer death rates have drastically reduced over the last 50 years, and survival has doubled. 'However, there's more that can be done. This report highlights that over 460 people die from cancer every single day in the UK, and too many cases are diagnosed at a late stage. 'If we want to change that, we need bold action from the UK Government. 'The upcoming National Cancer Plan for England must improve cancer survival, and transform cancer services. 'If this plan is done right, it could save countless lives across England and ensure people affected by cancer live longer, better lives.' Cancer Research UK is calling for commitments such as the national rollout of a targeted lung cancer screening programme, quicker access to diagnostic tests for all patients, better access to GPs for speedy diagnosis and action to improve cancer waiting times. Its new study is the first ever to include 50 years of cancer death and incidence data for the UK. Elsewhere, MPs and members of the House of Lords have urged the Government to prioritise faster diagnosis of less survivable cancers, which are those that develop in the brain, pancreas, liver, lung, oesophagus and stomach. A new report from the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Less Survivable Cancers claims these cancers claim 67,000 lives a year, around 42% of cancer deaths. Doubling diagnoses rates in these areas could save an additional 7,500 lives a year, it said. Paulette Hamilton, chairwoman of the APPG on Less Survivable Cancers, said this is a 'crucial moment for transforming patient outcomes and accelerating survival rates for the less survivable cancers'. 'We're on the brink of research breakthroughs and in the midst of developing potentially game-changing Government health reforms,' she added. 'In this backdrop, achieving faster diagnosis for these devastating cancers is finally within reach.' Professor Peter Johnson, NHS national clinical director for cancer, said: 'The NHS is seeing and treating record numbers of people for cancer, with more people diagnosed at an earlier stage than ever before, and survival rates in England at an all-time high. 'We have developed world-leading programmes, including lung cancer screening in convenient locations such as car parks and using AI to spot skin cancer, making it easier than ever before to get checked. 'The latest data shows that more than three quarters of people received the all-clear or a definitive cancer diagnosis within four weeks of an NHS urgent cancer referral.'

UK's oldest white-tailed eagle dies aged 32
UK's oldest white-tailed eagle dies aged 32

The Independent

time38 minutes ago

  • The Independent

UK's oldest white-tailed eagle dies aged 32

The UK's oldest wild white-tailed eagle has died in Scotland at the age of 32, RSPB Scotland has announced. The eagle, a female named Frisa, hatched on Mull in 1992 and paired up with her long-term mate Skye in 1997. The pair raised their first chick on the island in 1998, and went on to raise a total of 25 chicks in their 28 years of partnership. Frisa was known to 'millions' thanks to appearances in a number of BBC programmes over the last two decades, beginning with the very first episode of Springwatch in 2005. Her death was announced on the latest episode of the programme on June 2. RSPB ambassador Dave Sexton, who spent 21 of his 36-year RSPB career working with white-tailed eagles on Mull, described Frisa as 'a very special bird who had touched the hearts of millions who saw her both on TV and in the wild'. He added: 'As Frisa got on in years, I dreaded the day I would visit her territory and find her gone. 'Sadly, that day has come and I feel like I've lost a friend. 'But what a wonderful life she had with her mate Skye. Together they raised 25 chicks, many of which are now breeding far and wide across Scotland. 'She was a true icon for white-tailed eagles and she'll always hold a special place in my heart.' RSPB Scotland said Frisa has not been seen since last year, leading experts to believe she has died either of natural causes, or following an altercation with another eagle. Skye has also been spotted with another younger female eagle on Mull, which further suggests that Frisa has passed away as white-tailed eagles mate for life. At 31 years of age, Skye now takes on the mantle as the UK's oldest wild white-tailed eagle. Frisa's mother Blondie successfully raised the very first white-tailed eagle to fledge in Scotland following the reintroduction of the species in 1975. The species previously became extinct in the UK in 1918 when the last known native wild bird was shot in Shetland. A reintroduction project on the Isle of Rum using chicks donated from Norway has since seen the species re-establish a self-sustaining population in Scotland. There are now estimated to be up to 200 pairs of white-tailed eagles in the UK.

Vital routes to be protected as part of buses overhaul
Vital routes to be protected as part of buses overhaul

The Independent

time38 minutes ago

  • The Independent

Vital routes to be protected as part of buses overhaul

Vital bus services will be protected from sudden cuts under new legislation, the Department for Transport (DfT) has announced. Councils in England will put strict requirements in place before 'socially necessary' routes can be changed or cancelled, the department said. This is aimed at services to locations such as hospitals and schools. The measure is part of the Government's Bus Services Bill, which reached its second reading in the House of Commons on Monday. This will lead to an overhaul of buses, such as by giving all local transport authorities new powers to run their own services. The Government will also reduce some of the red tape involved in bus franchising, including reducing the minimum period between local areas taking control of services and being allowed to start operations. Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said: 'We're committed to giving local leaders the power to shape the bus services their communities rely on. 'Our Bus Services Bill is a big step forward, protecting vital services that people depend on to get to work, school or essential appointments. 'We have taken a decisive step towards better buses, building on our £1 billion investment to improve and maintain bus services, keeping people connected, driving up living standards and growing the economy.' Ben Plowden, of lobby group the Campaign for Better Transport, said: 'Buses are the most-used form of public transport. 'Preserving vital bus services has long been central to our campaigning, so the new protections in the Bus Services Bill are very welcome indeed. 'Protecting existing services, and identifying and filling gaps in the network, is the way to ensure everyone can access opportunities and stay connected.' Conservative shadow transport secretary Gareth Bacon attacked the Bus Services Bill as 'an ideological move that threatens essential services'. He said: 'They scrapped the £2 fare cap, slashed support for routes, and now want to strip away safeguards so councils can seize control of networks they aren't capable of operating. 'This is about Labour clinging to a fantasy of municipal socialism, whatever the cost to those who rely on local transport. Without the requirement to prove any benefit to passengers, Labour-run councils will be free to run yet another public service into the ground. 'We're not opposed to local decision-making. But this Bill offers no real investment, no credible delivery model, and no route to better services.'

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