A sea on Europe’s continental shelf between Britain, Scandinavia and mainland Europe
UK weather alerts warn of a cold spell that could impact health services. Vulnerable people are urged to check on neighbours while cold-health alerts remain in place across parts of England and Scotland; frost and wintry showers are expected into the new week.
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.
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.
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.
The UK Defence Committee warns Parliament that gaps in warship and submarine availability threaten critical High North infrastructure. MPs call for a rapid build-up of naval power and protection of undersea cables as Russia intensifies its Arctic posture and NATO allies reassess support.
Ministers have approved the Jackdaw gas field in the central North Sea, east of Aberdeen, with gas expected to feed homes and businesses by month’s end. The decision, framed as a step toward energy security and a domestic supply boost, is contested by environmentalists and some lawmakers who warn of climate risks and fiscal implications.
Several UK outlets report on government energy policy and the Jackdaw gas field decision, with debates over electric-vehicle targets and North Sea gas production shaping climate and cost-of-living considerations.
Gas prices rise across Europe as storage levels stay below seasonal norms. Traders fear shortages amid cooler forecasts, while policymakers weigh imports and capacity to keep bills under control this winter.
Scotland’s Acorn carbon capture project is embroiled in a funding dispute as UK ministers reframe support from a grant to loans/equity. The government has already drawn down a portion of the promised grant, and critics warn the plan remains fragile while SNP aims hinge on NETs for emissions cuts.
The Chancellor has announced a package designed to tackle rising energy costs and the cost of living. Standing charges on gas bills are being removed, a direct energy payment is being rolled out, VAT on electricity is extended, and the minimum wage is set to rise. The announcements are framed as relief for working people amid global economic pressures.
Greenpeace has dropped two-tonne boulders in the Southern North Sea MPA to block bottom trawling, claiming it harms habitats and porpoises. Activists say the action closes 116 sq km to trawling, while government and fisheries groups urge lawful conduct and review of protections.
Prime minister Andy Burnham has appointed Dame Madeleine Alessandri as a special representative on climate security and will announce the post at COP31 in Antalya today. The role will task Alessandri with advising the government on national security risks from the climate crisis; Burnham will also back a 35% electrification target for 2035 and mobilise private finance for clean energy.