Ceremonial county in the West Midlands, England
News on how cost-of-living pressures are driving Christmas charity appeals across the UK, including Barnardo’s warnings, local hampers and shoebox drives, and the experiences of families during the festive season.
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.
Michael Sheen’s two-part BBC/Independent documentary investigates claims that polychlorinated biphenyls were dumped across Wales and nearby England. The programme finds residents near waste sites with elevated PCB levels and several cancer cases, prompting renewed calls for accountability from authorities and polluters.
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.
The wasp spider has been spotted in Worcestershire and other areas, expanding its range northward amid warmer winters. Experts say the species is spreading from the south and establishes itself when weather stays warm, with female spiders laying eggs before winter. Public reporting and careful monitoring are urged.
Scientists are studying storm petrels and other seabirds around Scotland’s islands to better monitor and protect them, while examining techniques that could aid seabird conservation across island archipelagos.
Autumn triggers a surge in house spider activity across the UK, with males venturing indoors in search of mates as temperatures cool. The Scottish autumn season sees a high variety of harmless species, with False Widow sightings increasing in the Borders. Cleaning and pest-management steps can reduce insect prey and, in turn, spider presence.
A mix of housing and social projects is unfolding across several UK locales. In Lewisham, officials propose handing public land to community groups to build social housing, backed by land trusts and streamlined planning. Other reports cover rural housing affordability, library-housing projects in Boston, and displacement risks from recent developments in Charlton.