£2.2M Fund to Protect North East Small Venues
North East mayor Kim McGuinness launches £2.2 million Small Venues Fund to protect grassroots venues from rising costs, offering grants of £3,000 to £100,000.
Category : Environment
Badenoch: Burnham Must Back North Sea Drilling
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch urges incoming PM Andy Burnham to approve North Sea oil and gas drilling, claiming it could raise £4 billion for public services.
Duchess Sophie Pens Personal Essay on Agricultural Shows
The Duchess of Edinburgh has written a rare personal essay praising agricultural shows as 'the greatest shows on earth' and highlighting the importance of rural communities.
Saharan Dust Storms Surge 50% Threatening UK Health
Saharan dust reaching the UK has surged by at least 50% between 2012 and 2021, worsening air pollution, aggravating asthma, and causing flight disruptions, with climate change driving the increase.
Reform Councillors Urge Reversal of High Borrans Closure
Reform UK councillors call on North Tyneside Council to reverse the closure and sale of High Borrans Outdoor Education Centre, citing lack of engagement and potential covenant restrictions.
Energy Drinks Banned for Under-16s in England from 2027
The UK government has confirmed a ban on the sale of high-caffeine energy drinks to under-16s in England from April 2027, following a Mirror campaign backed by Jamie Oliver. Around 100,000 children consume these drinks daily, harming health and education.
Bolton Among UK's Worst for Invasive Plants, Warning Issued
Bolton has been ranked as Greater Manchester's invasive plant capital and second worst in the UK, with 51.4 occurrences per km². Himalayan balsam leads with 3,994 records, followed by Japanese knotweed and giant hogweed.
1,500-Tonne Waste Fire at Llantrisant Recycling Centre
South Wales Fire and Rescue Service continues to tackle a massive fire at Llantrisant Recycling Centre involving 1,500 tonnes of non-hazardous waste, urging residents to keep windows and doors closed.
UK Heatwave Set to Last Another 7-10 Days, Met Office Says
The Met Office says warm temperatures are 'locked in' for the next 7-10 days. 2026 is the first year to reach 35°C in May, June and July. England's mean temperature is 2.4°C above average.
Kids Eat 1,146 Snacks a Year Costing £1,059
Children consume an average of 1,146 snacks annually, costing £1,059, with nearly half willing to try bold flavours like chilli jam and kimchi, according to a poll of 1,200 parents.
Open Relationship Couple Hits Back at Online Hate
Couple Jade and Josh Vow, in an open relationship, defend their lifestyle against online backlash, emphasizing mutual consent and respect.
Cyfarthfa Castle Prioritised After Failed £32m Lottery Bid
Cyfarthfa Castle redevelopment is the council's top heritage priority after a £32m National Lottery funding bid failed, with plans to resubmit.
Washing Soda Revives Towels: Cleaner, Softer, Absorbent
Adding washing soda to your laundry routine removes soap build-up, leaving towels cleaner, softer, and more absorbent. Expert Catherine Wrench explains how this natural item works.
Social Media Curfew for Teens: Will It Work?
UK proposes optional overnight social media curfew for 16-17 year olds, extending under-16 ban. Critics question effectiveness as teens can opt out.
Burst Pipe Leaves Adrian Chiles Waterless and Annoyed
Adrian Chiles recounts a burst pipe leaving him without water, while neighbours remain unbothered, reflecting a new normal of resigned acceptance.
Teen Social Media Curfew: Opt-Out Raises Questions
The government's overnight social media curfew for 16- and 17-year-olds is optional, allowing teens to opt out, raising doubts about its effectiveness in reducing online harms.
Gary Stevenson: Class Signifiers Shape Perceptions of Authority
A letter from Carla Keen responds to a review of Gary Stevenson's documentary, arguing that class signifiers like accent and manner shape perceptions of authority, and that Stevenson's direct style may be misread due to class bias.
Deaf Excluded from Gene-Editing Debate, BDA Warns
Tom Lichy of the British Deaf Association warns that deaf signers are excluded from gene-editing discussions, citing a lack of accessible information in signed languages and polling showing no majority support for editing non-life-threatening conditions l
Heatwaves Linked to 2,700 Deaths in England and Wales
Extreme heat caused about 2,700 deaths in England and Wales during May and June, with research linking higher temperatures to negative emotions and suicide risk. Experts call for climate action and practical measures.
UK MPs Call for Radical Action on Obesity, Targeting Food Industry
MPs demand radical regulation to prevent obesity, prioritizing public health over food industry interests, with proposals including advertising bans and mandatory reporting.
Food Supplements Could Help Bees Cope with Climate Crisis
Honeybees fed a probiotic and prebiotic mix survived cold stress better than those on a sugar diet, but supplements offered little protection against extreme heat.
Trump Slams NY Moratorium on Hyperscale Datacenters
Donald Trump attacked New York Governor Kathy Hochul's one-year moratorium on new hyperscale datacenters, calling it a 'terrible decision' and urging its immediate repeal.
Calls for Datacentre Moratorium After Albanese Speech
Anthony Albanese's AI speech prompts calls for a datacentre moratorium; nearly 145,000 with autism to be removed from NDIS; greater glider's glide distance overstated.
Climate Change Supercharged West Africa Floods, Scientists Find
Global heating made devastating floods in West Africa five times more likely and 23% more intense, displacing thousands and killing dozens, scientists warn.
Train Crew Encased by Flames in Canada Wildfire Video
Video shows a train crew in Armstrong, Ontario, surrounded by flames from one of over 100 wildfires in Canada. The crew was safely evacuated, as wildfires worsen air quality in Toronto.
Wildfire Smoke Engulfs Toronto, Worst Air Quality Globally
Smoke from over 100 active wildfires in northern Ontario has made Toronto's air quality the worst in the world, with yellow haze reaching New York and other northeastern US cities.
Ukraine's 40-Day Campaign: Striking Russia to Force End to War
Ukraine's 40-day campaign of deep strikes on Russian oil refineries, military sites, and cities aims to force Moscow to end the war, with significant impact on Russia's fuel supply and public morale.
Madrid Tenants Fight Investment Fund with Art and Community
Residents of Tribulete 7 in Madrid opened their homes for concerts and moved furniture to the street to protest an investment fund's purchase of their building, using art as resistance against Spain's housing crisis.
Country Diary: Cornwall to Surrey Through Heatwave and Harvest
A nervous passenger travels from St Dominic, Cornwall, to Reigate, Surrey, passing rolling downlands, Stonehenge, and lorries loaded with straw during the second heatwave.
How Birds Cope in a Heatwave: Adaptations and Challenges
Birds cannot sweat, so they seek shade, bathe, and pant to cool down. However, ground-feeders like blackbirds struggle to find food as earthworms hide in hard-baked soil.
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