UK Planning Round-Up: Barnsley’s Aviary Cottage gets a two-storey extension and outbuilding conversion; Fairford’s Ivy Villa plans an annexe; Preston’s Mill on Swindon Road seeks a rear extension; plus Cotswolds updates including a cafe conversion in Bibury and a bellcote for Stow-on-the-Wold church. Public Health: The WHO has flagged the Congo’s expanding Ebola outbreak (Bundibugyo strain) as an international emergency, with no licensed vaccine yet; UK risk is being assessed as the virus spreads via close contact. Politics & Free Speech: Labour MP Zarah Sultana urges the government to lift its travel ban on pro-Palestinian commentators Hasan Piker and Cenk Uygur, arguing the move targets criticism of Israel. Defence Funding Pressure: A survey says UK defence tech firms are being hit by delays to the long-awaited Defence Investment Plan, with uncertainty damaging investment plans. Mandelson Files Fallout: New releases on Peter Mandelson’s US ambassador appointment keep spotlighting Starmer’s vetting process, including claims Mandelson refused access to his personal phone. Business Climate: M&S chairman Archie Norman warns regulation and tax burdens are making it harder for firms to invest, while high streets keep deteriorating. Local Life: Swindon’s Mouldon Hill Lake Circular is ranked among the UK’s most accessible walks, scoring highly for wheelchair-friendly routes and gentle elevation.