An innovative programme run by the British Council and Barclays Premier League is giving young people in India the chance to communicate in the world languages of English and football, learning coaching and life skills while improving their language ability.

Young people have an essential role to play in helping countries achieve the UN’s Millennium Development Goals. In northern Ghana, Debate-to-Action, a joint British Council-World Bank Institute programme, is showing how they can make a difference.

One item of business for the environment ministers of the G8 at the Kobe summit will be a challenge presented by a coalition of concerned young individuals from 39 countries who met in London to agree an agenda for tackling climate change.