A sea on Europe’s continental shelf between Britain, Scandinavia and mainland Europe
UK ministers have approved the Jackdaw gas field, a decision that will boost domestic gas supply and fund an energy wealth fund, while drawing criticism from climate campaigners who warn it does little to lower bills or meet climate goals. Production could start this winter, with up to 11 years of gas and billions added to the economy.
MPs warn that the UK’s Arctic defences are stretched, citing submarine and warship shortages that threaten critical North Atlantic infrastructure and Nato commitments. The Defence Committee calls for rapid expansion of the Royal Navy and a plan to secure undersea cables as Russia increases activity in the High North.
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.
A guest is feared to have fallen overboard from the Ambassador Ambition during a Solar Eclipse Cruise. Lifeboats, coastguard crews and other responders are conducting a wide search as the vessel, which had been sailing from Lerwick to Dundee, has docked in the Scottish city. Next of kin have been informed and inquiries are ongoing.
A 1,260-pound Atlantic blue marlin has been landed off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in Atlantis Canyon, by charter captain Damon Sacco and client Walter Chapman. Weighing 1,260 pounds and measuring over 11 feet, the fish is believed to be the largest Atlantic blue marlin caught off the U.S. East Coast. The head is being aged at a university lab to determine its age. The catch occurs in a narrow window for blue marlin in the Northeast.
Independent and Ecologist reports show households embracing heat pumps alongside flexible grid policies. Homeowners cite lower bills and better integration with solar and storage, while debates persist about data centres’ diesel backups in the US.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has told Labour MPs he will not cast a vote on the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill when it returns to the Commons on 11 September. He has written that he has personal views but will not influence the debate and has asked ministers to avoid public advocacy so MPs can exercise a free vote.
Northern Ireland’s political stalemate over a funded budget has driven departments to operate under emergency spending. The government has empowered the NI secretary to enter talks aimed at resolving the budget impasse and broader reforms, as pressure grows over services and cost-of-living.
A new, peer-unreviewed analysis reconstructs Conquest Man’s life and origins, suggesting a complex, cross-Channel heritage. The skeleton from Barton-upon-Humber indicates continental ancestry with Scandinavian links, dating from pre-conquest to post-conquest periods, and hints at long-standing connections across the North Sea. The study frames a more nuanced picture of 11th-century England.
The London stock market is losing more firms to private equity, with Bodycote being taken private by Veritas and Gamma Communications and Capricorn also likely to go private. The wave follows EasyJet’s FTSE 100 promotion and highlights a broader exodus that has seen several UK-listed names depart this year. The trend reflects a shift in market dynamics, potential increased valuations, and investor pressure.
Andy Burnham has unveiled a long-term plan to recover the economy, restore public confidence and tighten control over essential services. He has pledged to fund defence commitments, cut household bills and reframe public ownership, while signalling a shift toward problem-solving governance.
Ministers have received final consultations on the Rosebank oil and Jackdaw gas fields and are preparing a decision that will balance jobs and energy security against climate concerns. Labour figures, industry groups and environmental campaigners are pressing ministers from different angles as the regulator and Energy Secretary complete their reviews.
Whale sharks, the world’s largest fish, have been spotted near the Hudson Canyon about 100 miles off New York, with NOAA considering a National Marine Sanctuary designation to protect the area. The sightings come as warmer Gulf Stream–driven currents draw tropical species closer to metro waters. A 24-hour pelagic trip captured the moment, while researchers note the species remains endangered and face ongoing threats.
Burnham is expected to meet Donald Trump at the UN General Assembly in New York as the UK‑US relationship navigates past earlier criticisms. He has held two official calls with Trump since taking office, and Parliament allies say the ties go beyond any one president or prime minister.
Labour faces pressure as Jackdaw and Rosebank projects edge closer to decisions. Experts warn that authorising new North Sea drilling would breach climate targets, while industry groups argue reforms could unlock billions. The government remains under scrutiny over energy policy and economic implications.
Andy Burnham is meeting Donald Trump at the UN and Ursula von der Leyen as the UK faces international talks. He is framing a middle path with the US while pressing for an EU-UK reset; British parliamentarians and business voices warn of domestic strain as inflation and taxes stay high.
The UK prime minister is engaging with Donald Trump in what officials describe as a careful, high-stakes meeting aimed at aligning on Ukraine support, trade, and defence while avoiding a diplomatic clash amid Trump’s Iran war and domestic pressure.
Ineos has paused operations at three Hull chemical plants, affecting up to 4,000 jobs in its UK supply chain. The move is driven by UK gas costs said to be far higher than those in the US and China, prompting calls for government action and potential LNG imports.
Silent Hill: Townfall places a Scottish coastal village at the heart of a major horror game. Set in St. Amelia, inspired by St Monans in Fife, the game blends authentic local atmosphere with psychological horror, featuring a US protagonist and a chilling fog-drenched landscape.
A distressed inflatable dinghy, described as a “water taxi,” carrying about 105 people ran into trouble off Wissant, near Calais. French authorities have reported multiple fatalities and ongoing rescues as a broader migrant-crossing crisis continues to unfold. The incident followed a year of rising crossings and heightened enforcement across northern France and the Channel.
SSE has named Montrose Port as the preferred operations base for Berwick Bank B, part of a planned offshore wind farm, creating about 100 long-term jobs and supporting a further 30 during construction. Subsea Micropiles will run a new £5m facility to manufacture wind-turbine components, backed by public investment. The announcements position Scotland as a hub for floating offshore wind and bolster Montrose’s role in the energy transition.
Labour proposes Great British Grid as a publicly owned body to speed up grid connections, cut costs and boost renewables. The plan, funded from GB Energy, aims to open competition for new transmission projects and co-invest with private firms, while expanding rights for firms to build their own connections. The move signals a decisive step in Labour’s public-control agenda, with a ten-year target to align UK energy costs with Europe.
Labour has won the Holborn and St Pancras by-election. Sagal Abdi‑Wali has taken 45% (12,292 votes) to Green leader Zack Polanski’s 33% (8,928). The result has intensified scrutiny of Polanski after the Green conference motion equating Zionism with racism and his absence from that vote; he has said he will remain party leader.
The government has weighed final consent for the Jackdaw gas field and the Rosebank oil field, amid pressure from climate advocates and industry groups. Officials say a decision is imminent, with Jackdaw potentially delivering gas this winter, and Rosebank’s fate tied to environmental assessments.
The White House is weighing action against Ambassador Kimberly Guilfoyle amid reports of improper conduct in Athens, with officials signaling potential dismissal as investigations intensify.
The Ministry of Defence has raised concerns about the Hope Moor onshore wind project in County Durham, warning it could hinder aircraft detection within a RAF Low Flying Area. The plan is among several wind farms objected to on national security grounds, as the government weighs onshore wind expansion against radar integrity and peat soil risks.