Updated product information for healthcare professionals and patients regarding the small risk of severe acute pancreatitis in patients taking GLP-1s.
Jan292026
MHRA updates guidance for GLP-1 prescribers and patients
Jan292026
Global first Hong Kong dragon boat races of 2026 successfully held in Dubai, along with presentation of culture and tourism experiences (with photos)
Presented by the Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office in Dubai (Dubai ETO), the fourth edition of the Hong Kong Dragon Boat Challenge was successfully held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on January 24 and 25 (Dubai Time), marking the world’s first Hong Kong dragon boat races of 2026 to kickstart races in various places.
Held at the Dubai Creek, the two-day event was joined by over 1,500 competitors of different nationalities and backgrounds. With the support of the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, this year’s races saw a record high 62 teams, with participation from all the seven emirates of the UAE for the first time. The Dubai ETO and the Consulate General also formed joint teams comprising members from the Hong Kong and Chinese communities living in the UAE to participate in the races.
Speaking at the award presentation ceremony, the Director-General of the Dubai ETO, Mr Simon Chan, highlighted that dragon boat is more than a competition. With its deep roots in fine traditional Chinese culture, it symbolises strength, resilience, friendship, and unity. He noted that the successful hosting of a large-scale dragon boat event in the international metropolis of Dubai, where the joy of this sport is shared with people from diverse cultural backgrounds, fully reflects the increasingly close people ties, cultural exchanges and friendly interactions between Hong Kong and the UAE.
Beyond the thrilling races which attracted large crowds of spectators, this year’s programme also offered new cultural and tourism elements for visitors’ experience, including lion dance, cultural performances and authentic Hong Kong flavours – from Hong Kong style milk tea and pineapple buns with butter to curry fish balls and dim sum – offering a true taste of Hong Kong in Dubai, which were equally popular with long lines queueing up. The Dubai ETO and the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) also set up promotional booths at the venue to provide information about Hong Kong and promote its various tourist attractions to athletes and guests.
Mr Chan and the Consul-General of the People’s Republic of China in Dubai, Ms Ou Boqian, jointly presented awards to winners of different categories of races, and congratulated the best performing team who will be invited to participate in the international dragon boat races to be held in Hong Kong by HKTB later this year .
“This year’s event not only strengthens the bond between Hong Kong and various sectors of the UAE, but also provides the exciting opportunity for our friends in the UAE to visit Hong Kong, so as to discover and experience the extraordinary charm of Asia’s world city for themselves,” said Mr Chan.
Dubai ETO will continue to organise various events in the member states of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf, with the aim of promoting exchanges and collaborations in areas such as trade and business, culture, tourism and education.
Jan292026
The government’s response to the MAC’s Seasonal Worker review
On 23 March 2023, the MAC launched a self-commissioned review into the Seasonal Worker route and this is the government's response.
Jan292026
Ex-LCF CEO and wife admit to multiple breaches of court order
SFO action results in Michael and Debbie Thomson held in contempt.
Jan292026
Maintenance company fined £400,000 after worker dies from toxic glue exposure
A housing association maintenance company has been fined £400,000 after an employee died from inhaling toxic vapours from flooring adhesive.
Darren Nevill, 38, was working for Connect Property Services Limited laying a vinyl bathroom floor at a domestic property in Hoddesdon, Hertfordshire on 9 December 2020.
His employer purchased an adhesive containing Dichloromethane (DCM), a highly volatile solvent. Small volumes will give off large amounts of colourless, low odour vapour, even at room temperature. He used this regularly during his employment.
On the day of his death, the hose to the pressurised glue canister became damaged, releasing a large amount of adhesive into the poorly ventilated bathroom. Mr Nevill lost consciousness and collapsed. Emergency services had to force entry to the bathroom to reach him.
An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found that Connect Property Services Limited, of Ealing Gateway, 26-30 Uxbridge Road, London, had failed to take appropriate precautions to ensure substances hazardous to health are not used when safer alternatives are available.
HSE guidance on Dichloromethane (DCM) states to avoid the use of DCM-based products whenever reasonably practicable, by using suitable and safer alternative products or methods. DCM-based products should only be used in well-ventilated areas, to prevent the build-up of vapour. Examples of poorly ventilated areas can include bathrooms, cellars, stairwells and sheeted enclosures.
The company pleaded guilty to breaching Section 2(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974. At Stevenage Magistrates Court on 26 January 2026, Connect Property Services Limited was fined £400,000 and ordered to pay costs of £9676.81 with a surcharge of £190.
Prosecutor Jon Mack told the court “HSE scientists calculated that the statutory 15-minute exposure limit for DCM would have been reached within 2-13 seconds, and the final concentration in the bathroom at the time of Mr Nevill’s death would have been 84.5 times the exposure limit. Mr Nevill was found to have three times the fatal concentration of DCM.”
Speaking after the hearing, HSE inspector Rauf Ahmed said: “Our thoughts today are with the family of Mr Nevill, who was just setting out on his career in construction. He should have returned home safely to his family at the end of his working day but, because of the failings of Connect Property Services Limited, he did not.”
The HSE prosecution was brought by HSE enforcement lawyer Neenu Bains and paralegal officer Helen Jacob.
Further Information
1. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is Britain’s national regulator for workplace health and safety. We are dedicated to protecting people and places, and helping everyone lead safer and healthier lives.
2. More information about the legislation referred to in this case is available.
3. Further details on the latest HSE news releases is available.
4. Relevant guidance can be found here Dichloromethane (DCM) – COSHH – HSE
5. HSE does not pass sentences, set guidelines or collect any fines imposed. Relevant sentencing guidelines must be followed unless the court is satisfied that it would be contrary to the interests of justice to do so. The sentencing guidelines for health and safety offences can be found here.