Ceremonial county in South West England
Historic England argues the George Inn in Norton St Philip is England’s oldest pub based on dendrochronology and archival records; other claimants are questioned. The Guardian reports the archaeologist’s verdict along with wider doubts about verification of ancient pub dates.
July 2026 marks one of the driest Julys on record across the UK, with England and Wales declaring drought conditions. The Met Office notes unprecedented heat and low rainfall, affecting agriculture, water supplies, and daily life. Government and Environment Agency leaders say action is underway, including infrastructure investments and stricter water use rules.
Sir Ian McKellen has sent a video message to Wigan Pride, expressing love and support. The actor recalls his Wigan grounding and celebrates today’s Pride as a sign of change that lets LGBTQ+ people live openly. The festival marks a shift from past times when Pride did not exist in Wigan.
A Gateshead high jump coach has reclaimed competitive form at 45, returning to the sport after years away and qualifying for the World Masters Athletics Championships in Korea this September. She credits renewed fitness and a late bloom in form to a personal best that propelled her to the top of global rankings in her age group.
Bloomberg reports that in a tough job market, affluent parents are hiring career coaches for their college-age children to secure internships and polished resumes early, a market that has grown as competition intensifies.
The Guardian reports on a staged interpretation of Mahler’s response to trauma, using Freud’s office as a framing device. The performance blends narrative with live music, highlighting Mahler’s frenetic energy and the cuckoo motif, with nuanced debates about pacing and orchestral texture. Available on BBC Sounds until 12 October as Proms run through September.
The latest rulings in New Mexico require Meta to tighten age verification, curb addictive features, and fund mental-health services for young users. Courts have ordered a series of safety measures and an educational campaign, with continued litigation and potential nationwide implications.
The UK has endured a fifth heatwave this summer, with temperatures pushing into the mid-30s in parts of England and Wales. Health alerts remain in place as drought conditions deepen, with millions under hosepipe bans and reservoirs running low. Forecasters warn the heat could sustain into the week, while authorities prepare extreme heat measures and monitor infrastructure strain.
The Home Office has proposed housing 1,250 asylum seekers at a former military site near Piddington, triggering protests from residents and remarks from politicians about shared responsibility. Ministers say the scheme is contained and more affordable than hotels, while communities push back over location, process and safety concerns.
Nigel Farage has won the Clacton by-election with 22,239 votes after resigning in July; Count Binface has taken a record 9,455 votes (26.9%), the best-ever result for a novelty candidate. Major parties boycotted the contest and a parliamentary investigation into a a35m gift to Farage has resumed.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have planned a move from California to a private, non-royal home outside London later this month and have enrolled Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet in British schools for September. King Charles has been told and has welcomed the chance to see his grandchildren; the couple will remain non-working royals.
A government-wide crackdown on illegal waste dumping is expanding, with new powers to seize assets, higher fines, and regional enforcement to tackle organised waste crime that has blighted communities across England. The effort follows a BBC investigation identifying several supersites and a rising tide of waste crimes.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are moving back to Britain with their children enrolled in a British school. They will settle in a non-royal residence outside London as questions over security arrangements and funding persist. The King has been informed and will be spending more time with the family, though the couple remain private individuals.
CrossCountry’s Birmingham power outage has crippled rail services nationwide, with near-normal operations only for Peterborough–Cambridge–Stansted. Tickets remain valid across operators, and rail replacement buses are in place as major routes face ongoing cancellations and delays.
National cabinet is moving to implement nationally consistent standards for datacentres to use 100% renewables with firming, while allowing exemptions if state-owned plants prove cheaper. Projects approved before the rules apply will stay under existing state laws. The move follows surging datacentre demand and aims to curb electricity costs while balancing local impacts.
Scotland is expanding GPS tracking and bail monitoring as part of a government push to tackle misogyny and violence against women. The measures include potential exclusion zones around victims’ homes or workplaces and faster police responses when conditions are breached.
A long-running study of carrion crows uses tiny microphones and artificial intelligence to decode their complex vocalizations, revealing thousands of hours of calls from birds and brood parasites. The researchers say the work advances understanding of crow communication and behavior.
Lewes Town Council has unanimously approved a motion recognizing the intrinsic value of local trees, hedgerows and forests. The measure establishes a town-wide, rights-based framework to protect urban greens, aligning Lewes with international rights-of-nature trends while aiming to boost climate resilience and deter inappropriate development.
Tim Speers and Sean Middlebrough are on trial over a planned Palestine Action protest at Lord Bamford’s Daylesford Estate in 2022. Police found spray paint, glue and a red boiler suit. Speers denies intending to damage property and says he abandoned the plan due to heavy security as the case continues.
Nigella Lawson has joined the Great British Bake Off as a judge, replacing Dame Prue Leith. The 17th series premieres on 22 September with Lawson in the tent alongside Paul Hollywood, Noel Fielding and Alison Hammond. Twelve amateur bakers from diverse backgrounds compete for the iconic cake stand as the new series launches.
Gloucestershire and Forestry England are surveying for a potential beaver reintroduction in the Severn Vale. Defra says beaver reintroduction could boost nature recovery, with beavers already in Greathough Brook since 2018. A licence would be required, and consultations with landowners are underway.
A chain of recent disclosures shows the US diplomat stationed in London has been reassigned to the United States as UK authorities confirm ongoing inquiries into allegations involving indecent images. British officials say foreign diplomats must obey the law, while US statements stress swift coordination with British partners.
MPs have voted 286 to 270 against the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, ending the latest attempt to legalise assisted dying in England and Wales. Campaigners have reacted with despair outside Parliament, opponents have welcomed the decision, and ministers are urging renewed focus on palliative and social care funding.
Actress Stephanie Cole has died at the age of 84 after living with Alzheimer's disease for several years. The Guardian and BBC confirm tributes from colleagues and fans, highlighting her work in Tenko, Waiting for God, Doc Martin and stage productions.
Global wheat supplies are tightening as drought across the US and Europe reduces harvests. High prices for bread wheat persist, driven by record fuel costs, extreme weather, and disruptions from Black Sea tensions. Analysts warn prices could rise further if shipping routes remain limited.
Tax-funded ARIA programme backs 14 projects to boost wild species’ resilience to climate change, including gene-editing and biotech tools. Projects span ash tree vaccines, butterfly resistance, and drought-adaptive oaks, with secure labs and strict ethics in place. Public funding aims to complement conservation, not replace it.
Five men have been detained on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire. Police say the incident is being treated as a serious attempted attack; explosives were not found, but a quantity of fuel was recovered. The men remain under investigation as authorities pursue multiple lines of inquiry.
Police have arrested five men after residents reported three suspicious vehicles moving toward RAF Fairford overnight. Bomb-disposal teams are examining the vehicles under a 400-metre cordon; about 85 households were evacuated. Counter Terrorism Policing and Gloucestershire police have opened an investigation and the men remain in custody on terrorism-related suspicions.
Police have investigated a suspicious van incident near RAF Fairford on 27 September that forced 85 homes to evacuate. Counter‑terrorism teams have recovered petrol from the vehicles but found no explosives. Five London men were arrested and released on bail; a 27‑year‑old dual UK‑Iranian national has been arrested in London as part of the inquiry. US bombers previously based at Fairford have re‑deployed to the United States.
Five British men from London have been arrested on suspicion of preparing a terrorist act after three suspicious vehicles near RAF Fairford prompted a major incident. Dozens of homes were evacuated and a large cordon remains as investigators explore possible state-backed or proxy involvement.
Five British men have been detained near RAF Fairford after reports of three suspicious vans. Police have bail conditions on the suspects, and investigators are examining possible links to Iran and other foreign actors. Iran denies involvement as the investigation continues.
Five London-based men in their mid-20s have been released on bail following a police probe into a suspected explosives plot near RAF Fairford, a base used by US forces to target Iran. Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and that the threat may have involved proxies or foreign-state actors. Iran denies involvement.
Multiple suspects were detained near RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire on suspicion of explosives and terrorism offenses. Five British men were released on bail as the investigation unfolds; authorities say no explosives were found, but the probe is ongoing with strong indications of Iranian involvement.
The US has redeployed a dozen B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford back to US bases after British authorities foiled an alleged plot to attack the Gloucestershire airfield. UK officials have said there are "strong indications" of Iranian involvement; Tehran has denied the claim. The withdrawal will reduce the UK-based surge capability for strikes on Iran.
The United States has redeployed its B-1 bombers from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire to the US after a new threat against the base, with Britain stressing that the site remains secure. Counter-terror police have been investigating a September incident near the base, and officials from the US and UK are citing ongoing security measures while confirming the move.
Counter-terror police have arrested two Latvian nationals after military police found an abandoned vehicle and a small breach in the perimeter fence at RAF Molesworth early on 8 October. The men have been bailed with strict conditions while officers search two Peterborough addresses and continue to investigate possible motives. Authorities say there is nothing so far linking the arrests to the recent incident at RAF Fairford.
Zack Coughlan has admitted responsibility for stabbing Jamie Collins during a rent dispute at their Filton home near Bristol. He now denies murder; sentencing will determine final outcome after CCTV and mobile data placed him at the scene and timeline.
The UK has sanctioned two Iranian nationals over alleged “hostile activity” linked to an incident near RAF Fairford, where five British men were arrested and later released on bail. MI5 warns of Iran’s ambition to strike harder targets as investigations continue and the US pulled bombers from the base amid security concerns.