Could England and Wales ever run out of water?
Half of England and all of Wales are officially in drought. But what does this mean and could taps eventually run dry? There was also a record-breaking drought in 2022,…
How a 90-second power outage sparked chaos for rail commuters
Transport correspondentPublished7 August 2026The power failure which hit a Network Rail operations centre in Manchester was a rare incident. But after commuters were left facing chaos, it has raised questions…
Prisoner release row proving to be Burnham’s first big test as PM
Political correspondentPublished7 August 2026Three weeks into his premiership, Andy Burnham has “hit bumps in the road” in the estimation of one long-serving Labour MP with the row over the early…
UK house prices flat in July, says Lloyds, as buyers struggle with affordability
UK house prices were broadly stagnant in July as prospective buyers were squeezed by higher mortgage rates, uncertainty around the Middle East and stretched affordability, according to the lender Lloyds.…
Why there’s a row about standing up while drinking in central London
It has been claimed so-called vertical drinking is under threat in the heart of London’s West End. In short: standing up to have a drink, often outside. The borough of…
Rail passengers face second day of disruption across north-west England
Rail passengers are facing a second day of travel disruption across parts of north-west England, after a power cut hit the signalling centre controlling the region. The power failure, which…
‘Like a bus seat back in the day’ – new Wales kit leaves fans divided
Wales football fans have been left divided over the country’s new home kit, with some comparing the pattern on the red shirt to that seen on bus seats. The new…
Boeing 737 Max operators told to check fuselages for cracks
The US aviation regulator has ordered inspections of the fuselages of Boeing 737 Max planes for possible cracks in a component. The Federal Aviation Administration airworthiness directive will affect an…
E-scooters far more dangerous than motorbikes or cycles, analysis suggests
Electric scooter riders are three times more likely to suffer traumatic brain injuries than motorcyclists, according to an analysis of accidents in England and Wales – which found women were…
Obesity rates have doubled in England since 1993 – what’s going on?
If England’s obesity rates were still the same as 1993 there would be seven million fewer adults living with obesity. There are 14 million adults classified as obese, despite successive…