Agencies across Greater Manchester have come together at the region's first waste crime summit.
The event was attended and supported by Deputy Mayor Kate Green and brought together representatives including the Environment Agency, Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service and all 10 Greater Manchester local authorities.
The event built on existing coordinated action against waste criminals.

Homes England has completed the acquisition of Carrow Works - the former Colman’s Mustard and Robinsons squash factory site in Norwich. 
The site is a 17-hectare plot, close to the city centre and riverside.
Homes England will now work with Norwich City Council and partners to develop detailed proposals for the site. This will include engagement with residents, stakeholders and local organisations will play a key role in shaping the future of Carrow Works and ensuring its heritage is sensitively managed and integrated into a new urban quarter for the city.

The government has committed to making plug-in solar available in shops within months.
The announcement comes amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
The government says that the conflict is a reminder that the only route to energy security and sovereignty for the UK is to end the dependence on fossil fuel markets and accelerate the drive for clean, homegrown power, as well as new renewables and nuclear.   

The Welsh Government has agreed loans of £45 million for five Registered Social Landlords (RSLs) to deliver 159 affordable homes.
The low-interest loans will fund a mix of social rented, intermediate rented and shared ownership homes.
All the properties will be energy-efficient and meet Welsh Government quality standards.
£33.3 million will be paid this year and £11.7 million in March 2027.

The government has announced it is expanding its school-based nursery programme to over 300 more schools from September.  
A further 331 schools across the country have been successful in applying for a share of £45 million funding to build or expand nurseries on their site.
From May, the programme will move to a locally led model, with councils, rather than schools, invited to propose plans for new places in communities with the greatest need.

Seven new locations have been proposed for new towns, with each location offering the possibility of 10,000 new homes.
Kempsford, Bedfordshire could provide up to 40,000 new homes around a new East West Rail station, while Crews Hill and Chase Park in Enfield could hold up to 21,000 new homes.

40 more communities have been selected for the Pride in Place programme.
Neighbourhoods are set to receive up to £20 million over the next decade to support locally-led solutions.
The 40 new neighbourhoods join 244 already taking part.
Communities Secretary Steve Reed said: "Across the country, people step outside their front door and feel like there is nothing for them: no sense of belonging, no investment in their area, no feeling that anyone is listening.

The government has launched a new action plan to tackle illegal waste.
The new Waste Crime Action Plan sets out a zero-tolerance approach, along with action to prevent waste crime at its source by closing loopholes and equipping regulators with the tools they need to stop waste criminals.   

A new National Social Work Agency (NSWA) has launched in Scotland on World Social Work Day.
The Agency will provide oversight of social work across  Scotland, coordinating national policy and driving improvements in education and practice across the profession and advising the Scottish Government.
The announcement means that social work will now have a dedicated national body focused on supporting and developing the profession, helping to ensure social workers have the skills, training and professional support they need to improve outcomes.