In today’s newsletter: Black professors make up less than 1% of science academics – will a new Royal Society scheme address the imbalance?
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Officially there are no black chemistry or physics professors in the UK, which many scientists say is all the data needed to conclude that UK science is institutionally racist.
The Royal Society, the world’s oldest scientific academy, which aims to promote excellence in science, has set out its mission to change this with a new funding scheme to help black PhD students make the leap into careers in academic research and hopefully, eventually, become professors.
Environment | Rishi Sunak is planning to row back on some of the government’s net zero policies as the Conservatives attempt to create a dividing line with Labour before the next election. The Guardian understands that the move, expected to be announced this Friday, could include delaying a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel cars and watering down the phasing out of gas boilers.
Ukraine | Volodymyr Zelenskiy has told the UN general assembly that Russia is committing genocide in Ukraine. Appearing in the assembly chamber in New York for the first time in person, the Ukrainian president used the opportunity to try to galvanise support for his country.
Birmingham | The government will send commissioners to run Birmingham city council, after the authority declared itself in effect bankrupt. Britain’s largest local authority declared it did not have the resources to balance its budget, and has a shortfall of £87m for the current financial year, projected to rise to £165m in 2024-25.
Immigration | The home secretary, Suella Braverman, halted annual inspections of detention centres such as Brook House last year, shortly after ministers received direct warnings that vulnerable people such as torture victims had been left unprotected, the immigration watchdog has disclosed.
Ken Livingstone | Former Labour MP and mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, his family has announced. The 78-year-old is being “well cared for by his family and friends” as he lives a “private life” in retirement, they said in a statement.
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