Cathedral city of North Yorkshire, with Roman roots and a historic trade and railway hub.
East Midlands Railway has announced a temporary reduction to its Intercity timetable due to reliability and maintenance issues with Hitachi’s Class 810 Aurora trains, affecting services between London, Nottingham, Sheffield and other destinations. The rollout will continue in a controlled manner as Hitachi works to resolve faults, with refunds available for impacted travellers.
Andy Burnham has outlined a plan to devolve power away from Whitehall, establishing a No 10 North unit in Manchester to oversee regional reform, housing, transport and economic policy. He has positioned himself as the voice for English regions and signalled potential changes to where key decisions are made.
KFC has announced a revamp that includes Open House, new sauces, and a refreshed Colonel Sanders look. The first Open House prototype will open in McKinney, Texas, later this summer, with table service, drive-thru and takeout. The chain is expanding its boneless items and introducing 20-plus sauces, including Chimichurri Ranch and Hot Honey Habanero, as part of a broader reinvention.
A multi-country heatwave has pushed Europe to record temperatures, with the UK recording its hottest June day. Health alerts remain in place in parts of Europe as authorities warn of heat-related risks and disruptions to transport and daily life.
The government is expanding use of former military sites to house asylum seekers, planning to accommodate about 3,750 people across Bicester, Barnham and Linton-on-Ouse, with extensions at Crowborough and Wethersfield. Local opposition persists in several communities as the plan unfolds.
The NPR project has a £45bn funding cap and aims to connect northern cities with new or upgraded rail lines. MPs warn it risks repeating HS2’s failures, with unclear costs, routes and governance. The government maintains a disciplined, phased approach while engaging mayors and Network Rail.
Humphrey Smith, founder and private figure behind the Samuel Smith Old Brewery, has died at 81. The brewery is famed for rigid rules banning mobile phones, sieving its pubs from modern tech, and operating a network of around 200 pubs across the UK. Locals describe him as a private man with strong ties to Tadcaster, where horse-drawn deliveries and a historic brand survive.
Green MPs and unions are pressing for legally binding maximum indoor temperatures amid recurring heatwaves. Legislation would create an independent body to set safe thresholds and detail implementation, with cross-party backing and comparisons to Spain. Government says it will study the issue further.