UK News
View All 9National Portrait Gallery display wrongly claims Winston Churchill deliberately starved Indians to death
A National Portrait Gallery display has claimed Winston Churchill deliberately starved Indians to death.A video display by Turner Prize-winner Helen Cammock has come under fire after it criticised a number of national figures, including Churchill.The claim, raised in the 40-minute film, relates to the Bengal famine of 1943, a lethal food shortage caused by natural disasters which was exacerbated by wartime supply problems.Some academics have blamed Churchill, Prime Minister at the time, for making the famine worse. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say In reality, the war hero Prime Minister he took actions to alleviate the famine. His Cabinet sent supplies to India after he declared "something must be done".The installation suggests the British icon used starvation as a weapon of war, despite how India was fighting the Japanese Empire for Burma at the time.The film, titled Persistence, first discusses Oliver Cromwell and "his campaigns in Ireland".Narrated by Ms Cammock, it continued: "He starved people, en masse, a little like the wilful starvation of the Indian population by Winston Churchill."The film then turns towards Cecil Rhodes and former Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, naming them as historical "purveyors of violence".It also lists cultural figures who help us "how we understand Britishness", including landscaoe John Constable and pre-Raphaelite artist Dante Gabriel Rossetti, both of whom are labelled as "privileged".The film is one of eight works from contemporary artists commissioned by the National Portrait Gallery to "create work in dialogue with the Gallery's permanent Collection".She describes the work as a film which "challenges" an arts institution, questioning "our understanding of 'who has value and who has worth?'."BRITAIN'S CULTURAL INSTITUTIONS - READ MORE:Charles Dickens would 'cause great offence today’ as Museum guidance branded 'ludicrous'Plaid Cymru accused of 'cultural extremism' and 'rewriting history' in bid to decolonise museumsIconic Bristol shipyard REMOVES Great Britain from name to 'represent diversity'The Turner Prize-winner told the gallery: "I wanted to have a conversation about who gets to be seen, who gets to do the making, whether there's a correlation as well between who makes and who sits."So, for me, that was then a conversation around power and the structures of power in which the portrait sits and has been used historically and, potentially, is still used to this day."Her piece is located near portraits of William Shakespeare and Elizabeth I and also hits out at Benjamin Netanyahu, claiming the Israeli Prime Minister is also committing mass starvation.The work uses a combination of the gallery's stills and footage of Malcolm X speeches, Pride marches and pro-Palestine demonstrations.In 2019, Ms Cammock chose to split the Turner Prize with her three nominees "in the name of commonality, multiplicity and solidarity", with the artists claiming it would be "problematic" to be pitted against each other.Some formal complaints have been lodged over the content of the installation, according to The Telegraph.The work, part of the larger "Artists First: Contemporary Perspectives on Portraiture" project, was supported by the Chanel Culture fund and will be open until August 2 this year.Earlier this year, the gallery put a trigger warning near a portrait of Lawrence of Arabia over his wearing of Arab clothing.Warnings were also placed by a portrait of Lord Byron in Albanian national garb. Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
White people shut out of taxpayer-funded jobseeker schemes in 'two-tier Britain'
White people are being shut out of taxpayer-funded jobseeker schemes across the nation.The programmes - only available to ethnic minorities - have been labelled an example of "two-tier" Britain, and come just as the nation's youths stare down the barrel of an unemployment crisis.In Sheffield, the Labour and Green-led city council offers "targeted employment support for ethnic minority groups" as part of a pathways to work programme.A £340,000 project, operated by local charities, aims to help find jobs for "economically inactive" minorities. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The scheme is part-funded by the "Economic Inactivity Trailblazer" run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and the £2.6billion UK Shared Prosperity Fund provided by the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG).Andy Burnham's Greater Manchester Combined Authority, meanwhile, hoovers up ring-fenced grants for projects to provide "culturally appropriate employability support", including CV workshops and mentoring for black and minority ethnic people in Oldham.These funds are given to authorities to spend on "levelling up" projects.William Yarwood, campaigns director of the Taxpayers' Alliance, told The Telegraph that public funds should not be spent on "two-tier initiatives".He said: "Taxpayers should not be funding schemes that exclude people because of their race."Race-based eligibility smacks of identity politics and a two-tier system, which undermines public confidence in the system."Ministers should end these discriminatory programmes and ensure taxpayer-funded support is open to all jobseekers who need it."Alka Sehgal Cuthbert, director of Don’t Divide Us, said the schemes were a "divisive, race-based, segregationist plan for social in-cohesion".DEI MADNESS - READ MORE:DEI triggered 'mass exodus' of employees from Whitehall watchdog, whistleblower tells GB NewsToxic DEI policies are infecting our institutions and putting lives at risk- Carole MaloneBritish exam board axes George Orwell's debut novel but adds 'poorly researched feminist attack'Further questions are now looming over the schemes in the wake of the Milburn report, which highlighted the staggering level of youth unemployment across the country.The DWP had previously operated schemes exclusively for non-white jobseekers, including "mentoring circles" and the "Moving on Up initiative" - an effort to tackle unemployment, with rates amid ethnic minorities at 8.8 per cent - compared to 4.3 per cent amid white people.The Government previously said it provided "bespoke programmes" to help ethnic minority jobseekers move into employment.The National Audit Office had previously been criticised for banning white people from applying to an internship open only to minority applicants.A spokesman for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority said it had "many employment and skills programmes" which "support people from a wide range of backgrounds into work", and said no eligible person is excluded on ethnicity grounds.A spokesman for the DWP said: "Every penny of taxpayer money we spend on employment support is focused on one thing - getting people back to work and growing the economy."Local authorities know their communities and sometimes decide to offer local programmes targeted at groups with above average levels of unemployment, alongside their wider support which must be available to all."We are transforming Jobcentre Plus and creating a new service across Britain, available to all – regardless of their ethnicity or barriers to work – alongside our £3.5bn investment in employment support for sick or disabled people and £2.5bn for the biggest youth employment reforms in a generation." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
I'd never heard of a missed miscarriage then I had three but I won't give up
Kelly has a rare condition which affects her ability to have children Neil Shaw Assistant Editor (Money and Lifestyle) Kelly holding Ava A couple who have had three missed miscarriages and lost their daughter one hour after delivery are “not ready to give up on (their) dream of becoming parents”, as they fundraise for IVF with genetic testing. Kelly Morshead and Pete Chaplin, who live in Guildford, Surrey, have been trying for a baby since 2022, but they have had three missed miscarriages – and Kelly had a missed miscarriage with a former partner. They fell pregnant again, describing this as a “miracle”, but complications meant Kelly had to be induced early, and she gave birth to their daughter Ava at 22 weeks in September 2025, and she weighed 500g. Ava died about one hour after birth, but Kelly, 37, and Pete, 35, were able to hold her, have professional pictures taken and make imprints of her “tiny” yet “perfectly-formed” hands and feet. Kelly was told she has a very rare chromosomal condition, which affects her ability to have children, but the couple still have hope. With Kelly and Pete’s NHS-funded IVF options running out, they are now fundraising for further IVF rounds with genetic testing abroad as they said they cannot afford the costs to pay privately in the UK. View 7 Images The couple made imprints of Ava's 'tiny' hands and feet Kelly, who works in customer services for Hyrox, told PA Real Life: “It would mean the absolute world (to become parents). A missed miscarriage happens when a baby dies in the womb, but there are no symptoms of miscarriage, such as bleeding or pain, according to the pregnancy and baby charity Tommy’s. View 7 Images Kelly in hospital Kelly said: “I had no idea (a missed miscarriage) existed. It was such a shock that you could go in to the scan, and there had been a heartbeat at a previous scan, and then there wasn’t, but nothing had happened with your body. “There was no bleeding, no cramping, no nothing, just the heartbeat stops. Your body is still acting like it’s completely pregnant.” Kelly and her ex-partner separated shortly afterwards and, during the Covid-19 pandemic, she met Pete, an electrician, online. She said they had some “brutally honest conversations” about whether they wanted children, as Kelly was “scared” after the previous loss. However, they both decided they wanted a family and, after about six months, Kelly conceived naturally in April 2023 and paid for a private early scan between seven and eight weeks.
Nigel Farage in Number 10 would ‘supercharge’ Irish unity push, claims SDLP councillor Séamas de Faoite
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World News
View All 10Oil Prices Tumble After Trump Announces Deal With Iran
Oil prices fell and stocks gained early Monday after Iran and the U.S. reached a deal that may allow more energy and other goods to flow through the Strait of Hormuz.
Who is Sweden’s Yasin Ayari, and why didn’t he celebrate against Tunisia?
Yasin Ayari made his World Cup debut in Sweden's first game and scored two goals against Tunisia, the country of his father's heritage [Julio Cesar Aguialar/AFP] 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026 For a 22-year-old making his World Cup debut for Sweden, Yasin Ayari could only have dreamed of a better start to his introduction to the biggest showcase of football.
‘Looked so real’: How AI is being weaponised against India’s Muslim women
A Muslim woman prays at the Jama Masjid in New Delhi, India [File: Altaf Qadri/AP] 15 Jun 202615 Jun 2026 New Delhi, India – When Samreen Ayoub first saw the video, she was stunned.
Anti-G7 protest turns violent as demonstrators torch Tesla and smash UN office windows
close Video Fox News Flash top headlines for June 14 Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Check out what's clicking on FoxNews. com. NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles! Protesters on Sunday set a Tesla vehicle on fire and smashed windows at a United Nations agency in Geneva as they marched against a Group of Seven summit set to kick off across the border in France, prompting police to fire tear gas. Around 20,000 people gathered for a march that was initially peaceful before some protesters later damaged what they described as symbols of capitalism and multilateralism, including the parked Tesla and the UN agency. Demonstrators grabbed bricks from the ground to throw at police, as tear gas was deployed in Geneva's streets, witnesses told Reuters. UNRWA FIRES 70 GAZA STAFFERS AMID ALLEGATIONS OF HAMAS TIES, SAYS TERMINATIONS NOT ADMISSION OF GUILT A Tesla car burns during a protest against the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, in France, in Geneva, Switzerland, June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Denis Balibouse) There have been previous protests at G7 gatherings over the years, with many demonstrators using the summits to speak out against capitalism, globalization, climate change and inequality. Demonstrators in the latest protest said they were marching against the G7 as a symbol of concentrated political and economic power. This comes after Tesla owner Elon Musk became the world's first trillionaire last week. "To me, it's a meeting of the rich that shows once again how the rich can become even richer while the poor are left behind," protestor Pippa Saugy told Reuters. People hold a protest against the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains in France, in Geneva, Switzerland, June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas) The G7 summit, scheduled to take place from Monday to Wednesday in Évian-les-Bains, on the shore of Lake Geneva, will feature the leaders of France, Britain, Canada, Germany, Italy, Japan and the U. S., as well as the European Union. The conflicts in the Middle East and Ukraine are expected to dominate the agenda. Leaders will likely attempt to avoid a clash with U. President Donald Trump after he announced a tentative agreement aimed at ending the U. S. and Israeli war against Iran. Businesses in Geneva were boarded up and hundreds of riot police were deployed in the streets over concerns about violence. MIKE WALTZ SAYS GULF ALLIES BACK TRUMP'S IRAN PRESSURE CAMPAIGN AFTER REGIONAL TRIP: 'ZERO DAYLIGHT' People attend a protest against the upcoming G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains in France, in Geneva, Switzerland, June 14, 2026. (REUTERS/Umit Bektas) DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP "This is an attempt to frighten demonstrators, to frighten people and discourage them from coming out to protest," protester Mattia Piccard told Reuters.
Politics
View All 10Jenrick rebuked for not providing evidence to asylum detention inquiry
A spokesperson for Robert Jenrick said he would provide a statement ‘in due course’. Photograph: Shutterstock View image in fullscreen A spokesperson for Robert Jenrick said he would provide a statement ‘in due course’. Photograph: Shutterstock Jenrick rebuked for not providing evidence to asylum detention inquiry Former immigration minister criticised ‘wretched’ Manston site The former Conservative immigration minister Robert Jenrick has been rebuked a controversial processing centre. The independent Manston inquiry was set up to examine the events surrounding the detention of thousands of people who arrived and and were held at a former military base in Manston, Kent. The Reform shadow chancellor was the Tory immigration minister when conditions at the base deteriorated. An asylum seeker Hussein Haseeb Ahmed fell ill with diphtheria at the site and later died from complications relating to it in hospital. The Manston site opened at the beginning of 2022 – a year in which a record of about 46,000 people arrived in the UK . The site was designed to hold a maximum of 1,600 people for periods of 24 hours or less. But after a failure to move enough detainees from the site to make space for new arrivals, there were 4,000 people temporarily housed at the centre at its busiest. Faeces overflowed from toilets and people were forced to sleep on the floor for extended periods. There were also major outbreaks of diseases including scabies and diphtheria. Jenrick admitted to parliament that people were being kept at Manston for longer than he would have liked. After the then independent chief inspector of Borders and Immigration David Neal visited Manston in October 2022, he told MPs that conditions were “wretched” and “really dangerous”. In July 2023, Jenrick gave an order to have brightly coloured children’s murals at both Manston and another processing centre in Kent, Western Jet Foil, painted over because they were deemed “too welcoming” for children. View image in fullscreen A row of temporary buildings used to house migrants at the Manston centre, pictured in December 2022. The inquiry is also investigating the circumstances surrounding Ahmed’s death on . In her rebuke, inquiry chair Sophie Cartwright KC said in a statement posted on the Manston inquiry website: “These issues raise questions for former government ministers including the Rt. Hon Mr Jenrick MP.” She said the inquiry first wrote to Jenrick on seeking a draft statement. Since that date, the inquiry’s legal team agreed a number of extensions to the time limit for providing one.
The winners of Brexit
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12 dead in Missouri plane crash, authorities say
A plane crashed in a Missouri field on Sunday during a skydiving outing, killing all twelve people on board, officials said. Chad Anderson, the sheriff of Bates County, Missouri, told reporters that the plane crashed at roughly 11:30 a.m. CST, shortly after departing Butler Memorial Airport. The airport is roughly 60 miles outside of Kansas…
Don’t ask Burnham what he’d do as PM. I’m not sure he’s in the loop
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Business
View All 10Trump says France must scrap tech 'sales tax' or face 100% wine tariffs: NY Post
Livestream Menu President Donald Trump has said he will hit France's wine industry with a 100% tariff on exports to the U. S. if it does not scrap its digital services tax on U. S. technology companies. The warning comes ahead of this week's G7 meeting in Évian-les-Bains, France. President Donald Trump has warned France must scrap a 3% tech "sales tax" or face 100% tariffs on U. S. imports of its wines and champagne, the NY Post reported Monday. The president issued the threat ahead of this week's G7 summit in Évian-les-Bains, France. "I asked [President Macron] not to charge American companies, and if they do, I have no choice but to charge a 100% tariff on all champagnes and all wines coming out of France," Trump told the Post. The digital services tax, which was approved 2019, involves a 3% levy on gross revenues generated in France , including U. S. giants such as Amazon, Meta and Alphabet. Exports to the U. S. make up about one-fifth of the French wine industry's total global sales, at about $2 billion annually. This is . Please refresh for updates.
Stocks Poised to Bounce, Pound Rises on US-Iran Deal
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Sweden demands other EU states tackle Russian oil tankers in their waters
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Philippines’ Marcos Calls for Special Congress Session Amid Deadlock
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Technology
View All 10Google CEO Sundar Pichai Was Protested During His Stanford Commencement Speech. It Wasn’t Because of AI
Artificial Intelligence Google CEO Sundar Pichai Was Protested During His Stanford Commencement Speech. It Wasn’t Because of AI It may have been about AI tangentially, but it was mainly about Israel. 14, 2026, pm ET Reading time 2 minutes © Mateusz Wlodarczyk/NurPhoto () Read Later Read Later Comments (5) A commencement speech . Google is, once again, the company associated with the speaker, but this time the issue isn’t AI per se, but company involvement with Israel. According to the Information’s Erin Woo, a speech a walkout, along with chants of “free, free, Palestine” and “Shame on you.” Well over 100 Stanford students walked out of Google CEO Sundar Pichai’s commencement speech at Stanford just now, chanting “Free, free Palestine.” Google has a cloud contract with the Israeli government. Lots of boos and cries of “shame on you” as well pic. twitter. com/2dIqs1SBvi — Erin Woo (@erinkwoo) June 14, 2026 In a video from the ceremony, Pichai carries on with his speech while dozens (“Well over 100” by Woo’s count) of graduates march to the exit. That part of the speech doesn’t appear to touch on any sensitive or controversial material—giving the impression that this was not spontaneous. In fact, judging from a transcript of the speech, it looks like Pichai had just started talking. Google and Amazon have a joint contract called “Project Nimbus” with the Israeli military and government. The contract is reportedly worth $1.2 billion—or 4 billion shekels according to Israel—and provides Israel with cloud computing, advanced AI, and more. Reports about the actual details of Project Nimbus come largely from leaks. The Electronic Frontier Foundation has criticized the companies for their alleged lack of transparency around Project Nimbus. One of Pichai’s predecessors, Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt was loudly booed during his commencement speech at a University of Arizona commencement ceremony about a month ago. The booing took place when Schmidt touched on AI, and I wrote at the time that Schmidt failed to read the room. That does appear to have been the case, but later reporting made it clear that some of the booing was likely premeditated. Schmidt was already a controversial speaker because of his possible ties to Jeffrey Epstein, and some of the disruption reportedly involved graduates shouting “Epstein files! Epstein files!” In at least one photo, Stanford graduates held up painted banners. One of them makes reference to ICE. In February, 900 Google staffers called for transparency about Google’s ties to the federal government over concerns that its technology was abetting the Trump Administration’s immigration crackdowns.
Today's NYT Connections: Sports Edition Hints and Answers for June 15, #630
Our expert, award-winning staff selects the products we cover and rigorously researches and tests our top picks. If you buy through our links, we may get a commission. Reviews ethics statement Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle for June 15, No. 630. Gael Cooper CNET editor Gael Fashingbauer Cooper, a journalist and pop-culture junkie, is co-author of "Whatever Happened to Pudding Pops? The Lost Toys, Tastes and Trends of the '70s and '80s," as well as "The Totally Sweet '90s." She's been a journalist since 1989, working at Mpls. Paul Magazine, Twin Cities Sidewalk, the Minneapolis Star Tribune, and NBC News Digital. She's Gen X in birthdate, word and deed. If Marathon candy bars ever come back, she'll be first in line. Expertise , entertainment, lifestyle, travel, food, shopping and deals, product reviews, money and finance, video games, pets, history, books, technology history, and generational studies Credentials Co-author of two Gen X pop-culture encyclopedia for Penguin Books. Won "Headline Writer of the Year" award for 2017, 2014 and 2013 from the American Copy Editors Society. Won first place in headline writing from the 2013 Society for Features Journalism. See full bio Gael Cooper June 14, 2026 p. m. PT 2 min read Here are the answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition. James Martin/CNET Looking for the most recent regular Connections answers? today's Connections hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle and Strands puzzles. Today's Connections: Sports Edition is a fun one. It includes a soccer category for all of us watching the World Cup, and a category tied to the Pacific Northwest City where I live. If you're struggling with the puzzle but still want to solve it, read on for hints and the answers. Connections: Sports Edition is published , the subscription-based sports journalism site owned . It doesn't appear in the NYT Games app, but it does in The Athletic's own app. Or you can play it for free online. : NYT Connections: Sports Edition Puzzle Comes Out of Beta Hints for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups Here are four hints for the groupings in today's Connections: Sports Edition puzzle, ranked from the easiest yellow group to the tough (and sometimes bizarre) purple group. Yellow group hint: Think World Cup roles. Green group hint: Emerald City. Blue group hint: Not named Tom, but close. Answers for today's Connections: Sports Edition groups Yellow group: Soccer positions.
Even more batteries included with Emacs
Emacs features have a discoverability problem, and we’re chipping away at it one demo at a time. The years since I wrote the last one of these have yielded more surprising and useful finds, so it’s time again for a “batteries included” report. Note This is the third in a series of articles highlighting useful but lesser-known features included in Emacs. Parts 1 & 2: Batteries included with Emacs More batteries included with emacs “Lesser-known” is a subjective judgment. Roughly, it means that at the time of writing, I have seen these features mentioned fewer than five times – and often never – in the past two decades of dipping in and out of online Emacs discourse. Some of the features covered in past entries are well known and often recommended today. If you’re a new Emacs user, don’t start here. This is not a getting-started guide. You will be better served . Once you’ve experienced the Emacs equivalents of thoughts like “Why didn’t anyone think to put wheels on luggage until 1990?”, this series might be more helpful. My rule of thumb is that if you aren’t yet aware of undo-in-region, there is much low hanging fruit for the picking, and you can come back to this article after that supply has run out! . Veteran Emacs users tend to use some relatively niche Emacs features, but in my experience it’s always a different subset for each user. So if you’ve been around the block a few times, I promise there will still be surprises below for you as well! Same rules as before: No packages, stock Emacs only No steep learning curves. Learn each feature in under five minutes or bust. No doctor, tetris, snake, dunnet, zone, butterfly… yes, we know about dissociated-press. No commonly mentioned packages like Flymake, doc-view, outline-minor-mode, gnus or eww. Nothing that Emacs brings up automatically or a nonspecific Google search gets you. Also, if you’re new to Emacs and still reading: Emacs jargon Modern parlance M-x Alt + x C-x Ctrl + x Frame Emacs window Window split/pane Buffer Contiguous chunk of text/data Point Cursor position in buffer Active Region Text selection Region Text selection (not highlighted) Face Font, color and display properties I’m Sorry. Let’s go: Dictionary on hover (M-x dictionary-tooltip-mode) Turn on dictionary-tooltip-mode to see word meanings in tooltips when you hover over them: Of course, tooltip-mode will need to be enabled as well, but that’s the default.
NASA's X-59 reaches speed and altitude milestones ahead of first quiet supersonic flights
Tomorrow NASA's X-59 reaches speed and altitude milestones ahead of first quiet supersonic flights The plane will soon be ready to fly over US communities. By Cheyenne MacDonald June 14, 2026 pm EST NASA's X-59 research plane took its first supersonic flight at the beginning of the month, and now it's demonstrated that it can reach the speed and altitude conditions it'll need to achieve for planned trips over US communities in the near future. The X-59 is designed to fly at supersonic speeds without producing a loud sonic boom; instead, it'll make a "quiet sonic thump," according to NASA. For now, though, it's flying alongside another research craft that does produce a sonic boom, to obscure whatever noise it makes as it undergoes testing. In a test flight on Friday, the X-59 flew Mach 1.4, or about 924 mph, and reached an altitude of 55,000 feet. For the previous flight, on June 5, it hit Mach 1.1. The space agency says this latest test "was an even more critical step" than the one that preceded it, as it hit key targets that it'll replicate during its Quesst mission. The Quesst mission, which is still months away, will X-59 fly over populated areas so NASA can get feedback from the public on what the sonic thump sounded like to listeners on the ground. Before that, though, the plane will go through an acoustic validation phase, in which the team will measure its supersonic acoustic signature to make sure it is indeed breaking the sound barrier without producing a traditional sonic boom.
Science
View All 10The secret behind smoother, better-tasting protein shakes
Date: June 14, 2026 Source: University of Reading Summary: A new whey protein manufacturing technique could make protein shakes taste better and feel smoother in the mouth. Researchers traced unwanted bitterness to concentrated minerals and found a way to remove them without sacrificing the improved texture. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Scientists may have found the secret to protein shakes that are smoother, tastier, and far easier to finish. Credit: Shutterstock Protein shakes may soon become easier to enjoy thanks to new research showing that changes in whey protein production can improve both taste and texture. Scientists from the University of Reading, Aberystwyth University, and Arla Foods Ingredients have been working together to develop a whey protein (a dairy derived ingredient found in gym shakes and sports supplements) with enhanced texture qualities. Their findings, published in the International Dairy Journal, indicate that adjusting the manufacturing process could make whey protein drinks more pleasant to drink. Holly Giles, lead author and PhD researcher at the University of Reading, said: "Protein drinks can often have issues with taste and texture, making them hard to swallow and finish. We know this is a real problem for a lot of people, whether they are trying to build muscle or simply maintain their strength as they get older. The research findings give us clear directions to investigate to make protein drinks more palatable and nutritious, which could make a real difference to people who rely on them." How Whey Protein Processing Affects Flavor The study builds on earlier research from the same team that developed a technique for selectively concentrating whey proteins. Using carefully controlled pressure, researchers pushed liquid whey through a fine membrane and achieved more than twice the typical concentration of alpha-lactalbumin, a protein that is highly valued in infant formula production. To better understand how this protein influences taste and texture, the researchers further refined the process at the pilot-scale food processing facilities at AberInnovation. This allowed them to produce an alpha-lactalbumin-enriched sample for testing. Minerals Found To Influence Taste and Texture Taste tests conducted by a trained sensory panel revealed several positive changes. The enriched whey protein delivered improved texture characteristics and reduced the amount of friction experienced in the mouth, creating a smoother drinking experience. However, the panel also detected stronger bitter and peppery flavors. Further analysis showed that these unwanted tastes were not caused . Instead, they were linked to minerals that became concentrated during the processing stage.
Why you might not be buying the right pain relief for period cramps
7 hours agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Michelle RobertsDigital health editor Many women may not be using the most effective pain medication for period cramps, according to a big study of supermarket till receipts. A decade of loyalty card data across 211 million transactions in an unnamed chain of high street stores in England found paracetamol was the most common painkiller bought alongside tampons and sanitary towels. But experts say ibuprofen could be a better choice for many because it is more effective at dealing with muscle cramps. The transactions reveal the "scale and impact" of period pain and how people manage it, which has not been studied much before, say the researchers. Paracetamol is perhaps more familiar to people which might explain why it was bought more often, they suggest. While still an effective painkiller, ibuprofen can be a better choice for period pain because it blocks the production of prostaglandins - the chemical responsible for causing the cramping contractions of muscles in the womb. Paracetamol, meanwhile, works primarily in the brain to block pain signals, making it a good choice for headaches. It also helps manage a high temperature, so can be useful if you have flu, for example. Researchers looked at purchases from 3.4 million shoppers between 2006 and 2015. Half of menstrual product transactions also included a pain product, the study published in PLoS Digital Health journal found. Of those pills, around two-thirds were paracetamol-based and the other third being ibuprofen. Co-researcher Dr Anya Skatova, from Bristol University, stressed that the data is more of a snapshot rather than fully representative for the nation. But it does provide some hints about what women are buying as period pain relief. Most often, cramping is a normal part of the menstrual cycle when the womb muscle contracts to help shed its lining as a period. During this time the body makes hormone-like substances, called prostaglandins, but higher levels have been linked with more-severe menstrual cramps. Investigator Prof James Goulding, from Nottingham University, said there was a real public health education opportunity here and highlighted the lack of research into period pain relief. "I don't think I'm going out on a limb here , we'd know a lot more about it by now," he told BBC News. Ibuprofen is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that reduces swelling as well as easing pain, plus it lowers prostaglandins. Paracetamol does not have these anti-inflammatory properties. It is best to start taking ibuprofen the day before, or several days before, a period or pain is expected - before the body produces prostaglandins - says the charity Endometriosis UK.
Honey bees have their own personal flight paths and fly them with stunning precision
Date: June 14, 2026 Source: University of Freiburg Summary: Researchers tracked honey bees in the wild using a drone-based system and found that each bee follows its own highly consistent flight path. Some repeated their routes so precisely that they flew only centimeters from where they had flown before. Landmarks like trees helped keep them on track, while uniform areas such as cornfields led to more variation. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY Honey bees seem to have their own favorite routes—and they fly them with near-perfect precision. Credit: Shutterstock Honey bees are far more precise navigators than scientists once realized. Researchers at the University of Freiburg have discovered that individual honey bees follow their own highly consistent flight routes and can repeat them with remarkable accuracy, relying on landmarks in the landscape to stay on course. Andrew Straw, whose team used a drone to monitor honey bees traveling between their hive and a food source located about 120 meters away in an agricultural setting. To track the insects during flight, the researchers used a technique called 'Fast Lock-On (FLO) Tracking', developed by Straw's research group. The method involves attaching a tiny reflective marker to each bee. A computer mounted on the drone analyzes reflected light and can identify and track a bee within milliseconds as it flies. The observations revealed that each honey bee follows its own preferred route and maintains that path with exceptional accuracy on both outbound and return trips. The bees also appear to use features in the surrounding landscape to help guide their journeys. "Our tracking system makes it possible for the first time to record high-resolution 3D flight paths of honey bees in natural landscapes," explains Straw. "Our recordings show that each bee has its own preferred route and flies it very precisely. You could almost say that each bee has its own personality." How Honey Bees Use Landmarks to Navigate The researchers analyzed 255 flight paths collected near Kaiserstuhl, Germany. The study area included hedges, a cornfield, and a tree that stood between the hive and the food source, preventing a direct route. "We found a high degree of precision in the flight paths. Individual bees repeated their individual flight paths nearly exactly on several flights. They often fly just a few centimeters away from their previous paths," Straw emphasizes. The most consistent flight behavior occurred near prominent landscape features, particularly the tree. The greatest variation appeared when bees flew above the cornfield, where the scenery offered fewer distinct visual cues. "Our results suggest that visual landmarks aid the bees' navigation and increase the precision of their flight paths," explains Straw.
Catch Mercury shining at its best on June 15 before it slips back into the sun's glare
That makes this one of the best opportunities of the year to spot Mercury after sunset, shining below Venus and Jupiter in the western sky. As an "inner" planet, Mercury never strays particularly far from the horizon compared to the outer planets like Mars and Jupiter, which shine brightly overhead from dusk to dawn at opposition, when they sit opposite the sun in Earth's sky. Mercury's tight orbit around the sun sees it yo-yo back and forth between the evening and morning sky throughout the year. As such is it often lost from view in the glare of our parent star. The rocky world will reach its point of greatest elongation on June 15, when it will appear about 17 degrees away from our parent star — marking one of the best times to see it in its current evening apparition. How to find Mercury on June 15 Celestron NexStar 4SE ()The Celestron NexStar 4SE is ideal for beginners wanting quality, reliable and quick views of the night sky. It's sturdily built, quick to set up and automatically locates night sky targets and provides crisp, clear views of them. For a more in-depth look at our Celestron NexStar 4SE review Look to the western sky at sunset to find Mercury shining less than 20 degrees above the horizon, with Jupiter and Venus forming a line to its upper left. The razor-thin crescent of the waxing moon will also be present to the lower right of Mercury, all but impossible to spot in the glow of the setting sun. The weeks that follow will see Mercury's steady light move inexorably closer to the horizon with each passing night, leading up to its inferior solar conjunction on July 12, when it passes between the sun and Earth before transitioning to a morning object. Want to catch striking images of the night sky? Then be sure to read our picks of the best cameras and lenses for astrophotography, along with our beginner's guide to imaging the night sky. Editor's Note: If you would like to share your astrophotography with Space. com's readers, then please send your photo(s), comments, and your name and location to spacephotos@space. com. Skywatching Writer Anthony Wood joined Space. com in April 2025 after contributing articles to outlets including IGN, New Atlas and Gizmodo. He has a passion for the night sky, science, Hideo Kojima, and human space exploration, and can’t wait for the day when astronauts once again set foot on the moon.
Environment
View All 10New microplastics research examines River Thames
52 minutes agoShareSaveAdd as preferred on Google Researchers say they are still discovering the "scale and complexity" of microplastic pollution within the Thames A new study into microplastic pollution in the River Thames has been launched (UEL) in an attempt to influence environmental policy and water quality. The project, led 's sustainability research institute, will gather data from locations stretching from Teddington in south-west London to Southend-on-Sea in Essex. The samples will be assessed to pollution levels are changing and what impact climate pressures may be having on the river system. Some of the highest levels of microplastics for any river in the world have previously been recorded from the Thames. Devereux said: "The River Thames is one of the most internationally recognised urban rivers in the world, yet we are still learning about the scale and complexity of microplastic pollution within it. "This project is about providing robust scientific evidence that can support better environmental decision-making and help policymakers understand where interventions may be needed most." The research should indicate whether pollution has gone up or down and if the water quality needs to improve. Three litres of surface water will be collected from seven publicly accessible riverside locations along the Thames - Teddington, Westminster, St Katharine Docks, Limehouse, North Woolwich, Tilbury and Southend - before being filtered at a laboratory to capture tiny particles. The filters are then examined under a microscope, where researchers look for suspected microplastics and record their size, colour and shape. Representative particles are then analysed using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), which allows the team to identify the material and confirm whether the particles are plastic and, if so, what type they are. The work helps build a picture of microplastic pollution levels along the Thames and how they may change over time. Plastic waste can affect wildlife and water quality The study will also examine how storm activity and changing environmental conditions may influence microplastic levels across the river system. Alongside scientific analysis, the project will produce policy briefings and bring together regulators, environmental organisations and policymakers through a dedicated stakeholder workshop hosted at UEL's Royal Docks Centre for Sustainability. Microplastics Q&A What are microplastics? One widely used approach defines microplastics as any fragment of plastic that is less than 5mm - about the width of a wedding band. Where do microplastics come from? Primary microplastics are those like the microbeads intentionally added to face washes and other personal care products.
Want a deal on a heat pump? Team up with your neighbors.
This story was originally published and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Last year, Marie Tai needed a better way to keep her condo cool. Her window air-conditioning units were borderline ineffective, even running at full blast. Summers have been getting more intense in Tai’s Boston neighborhood because of a rapidly warming climate, and she had just adopted a 16-year-old cat named Mittens, who was still recovering from being hit by a car. Tai had already been considering a heat pump, an all-electric appliance that heats and cools spaces and lets homeowners ditch polluting fossil fuels. But three contractors had quoted her prices ranging from about $28,000 to $40,000. Tai, who heads finance and administration at Harvard University’s Project Zero, thought those estimates seemed excessive for her 1,000-square-foot, two-bedroom place. So she had hit pause on the project. But with Mittens’ well-being front of mind, Tai renewed her heat pump search last spring. Through Facebook, she found an opportunity to participate in a program that aggregates demand, organized by Laminar Collective, a local startup that does research on the tech and coordinates installations. These heat pump group-buy initiatives let installers purchase equipment in bulk and spend less time chasing leads, accruing savings that they can pass on to customers. Tai, tantalized by Laminar’s menu of low prices for a heat-pump setup, decided to give it a shot. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How Read Next American homes need heat pumps, not space heaters Matt Simon After a representative from the startup visited her home to check what heat pump size and configuration would fit her needs, Tai signed up for a ductless minisplit system for $20,000 — thousands less than even her lowest initial quote. She then also took advantage of an additional $8,500 state rebate and eight-year financing with 0 percent interest. The new equipment has been life-changing, Tai said. She no longer has to buy fuel oil for heating in the winter, and the heat pump is so efficient that last year she saved roughly $1,300 on her energy bills. In contrast to the old, noisy window ACs, the new system’s wall-mounted, air-filtering indoor units “are so quiet,” she said. Her allergy symptoms have improved. And Mittens is comfortable and doing well, she noted. “I couldn’t be happier.” Like Tai, homeowners in communities across the U.
‘Every day it’s more barriers’: how the US is shutting out climate refugees
This story was originally published by The Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. Millions of people around the world are having their lives upended by floods, storms, and heatwaves worsened by the climate crisis. Those forced to flee their home countries, however, are finding that the door to the United States is more firmly shut than ever. S. nor international law recognizes environmental hazards, such as climate-related displacement, as a valid cause to claim asylum or gain entry through other migration pathways, despite the mounting toll of disasters caused . But those who have managed to get to the U. S. through other means after being displaced in this way now find themselves in an even more precarious position following Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown, with little hope of a new system to help others forced from their homes . For some, that pathway to the U. S. has been particularly perilous. When Hurricane Mitch crashed into Honduras, killing 7,000 people, one affected family surveyed the unsalvageable ruins of their home and realized they had a lifeline — to move to the U. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How Read Next The biggest climate migration problem may be that there’s not enough of it Julian Hattem Evelyn, who did not want to share her full name, was a teenager when Mitch hit in 1998 and recalled how her relatives in New York City pleaded with her mother to bring her and her sister to the U. S. “There were bodies and dead animals floating in the water, the house was messed up, the furniture was all gone — doors, windows gone. It was so, so sad,” said Evelyn. “I got sick because of the mosquitoes and didn’t have any services to rebuild the house because our country is very poor. My uncle and aunt were just like, ‘OK, just bring the kids over here, don’t stay. It’s dangerous.’” Storms of the deadly ferocity of Mitch are even more likely now because of a hotter atmosphere and ocean that has rapidly heated up from the burning of fossil fuels. Yet Trump’s migration crackdown has made it far harder for people like Evelyn to flee to the U. S. now. “Every day it’s more barriers,” said Evelyn, who still lives in New York and has two daughters, one studying to be a lawyer, the other a doctor. “It’s sad to know that people will not be able to apply for a status or something to help their situation and also help the people back home.” Grist thanks its sponsors.
Tropical heron spotted in UK for first time as more exotic birds arrive to thrill birdwatchers
Hundreds of birdwatchers have flocked to north Wales in recent days to catch a glimpse of the western reef heron. Photograph: Lewi Burgess/SWNS View image in fullscreen Hundreds of birdwatchers have flocked to north Wales in recent days to catch a glimpse of the western reef heron. Photograph: Lewi Burgess/SWNS Tropical heron spotted in UK for first time as more exotic birds arrive to thrill birdwatchers Appearance of a western reef heron in north Wales is unlikely to be the last, as heating temperatures mean species can survive Britain’s winter, say experts It is a tropical bird typically encountered between west Africa and India, but last week a western reef heron arrived in north Wales in what is believed to be the first ever sighting in the UK. The heron was first spotted in Foryd Bay at the weekend before flying to nearby Caernarfon harbour where it fed among the boats. While the sighting has excited birdwatchers nationwide, experts said it also demonstrated how changing climate conditions have altered the bird’s range. “The fact that they are getting here in the first place, and then surviving, is likely to be because of increasingly mild winters,” said Nick Moran, training manager at the British Trust for Ornithology (BTO). “It’s much easier to survive in the winter now than it was 50 years ago because we don’t see shallow water bodies freezing over with any regularity. These herons and egrets typically feed in relatively shallow water.” A squacco heron, another rare tropical bird typically found in southern Europe and north Africa, was also drawing birdwatchers to Lincolnshire this week. According to the BTO, the bird is only seen in the UK a few times a year. View image in fullscreen A squacco heron, rarely seen in the UK, enjoying a visit to Lincolnshire. Photograph: Josh Jones/BirdGuides. comAlexander Lees, reader in biodiversity at Manchester Metropolitan University and chair of the British Ornithologists’ Union records committee, said the herons were the latest of “what were formerly largely tropical species whose distributions are shifting north with climate change”. “We are seeing a shift and a readjustment for biodiversity,” he said. “For instance, last year we had the first breeding record of zitting cisticola. It’s a Mediterranean small warbler, and that bird has moved north with climate change. The reason that species didn’t historically breed here is because it’s very sensitive to harsh winters.
Weather
View All 5Today: Light Cloud, Minimum Temperature: 13°C (56°F) Maximum Temperature: 20°C (69°F)
This video can not be played This morning will see variable cloud and sunny spells with the odd light shower early on. Later this afternoon it will become overcast but should remain mostly dry. A dry night tonight with patchy cloud and clear spells. Variable cloud and sunny spells tomorrow morning, but turning overcast in the afternoon with spells of rain in the evening, heavy at times. Outlook for Wednesday to Friday Wednesday morning will see variable cloud and spells of light rain. Turning drier and sunnier in the afternoon. On Thursday, there should be variable cloud, sunny spells and a few light showers in spots. Windier in the evening and overnight into Friday with rain edging in from the west. Breezy with blustery showers on Friday morning, these easing throughout the day. Average wind speed 3 Miles per hour, East North Easterly3Average wind speed 5 Kilometres per hour, East North Easterly5 Humidity: Humidity: 82%,82% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1017 millibars, Steady,1017mb, Steady Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° North, 2.283° West)Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° N, 2.283° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Standish, Wigan Northern Rambler Reported , Cheshire East MeanderingManshipsReported , Rochdale EarthstarReported , Stockport sunset_twilightReported by sunset_twilight
Tuesday: Light Rain, Minimum Temperature: 15°C (60°F) Maximum Temperature: 23°C (74°F)
This video can not be played This morning will see variable cloud and sunny spells with the odd light shower early on. Later this afternoon it will become overcast but should remain mostly dry. A dry night tonight with patchy cloud and clear spells. Variable cloud and sunny spells tomorrow morning, but turning overcast in the afternoon with spells of rain in the evening, heavy at times. Outlook for Wednesday to Friday Wednesday morning will see variable cloud and spells of light rain. Turning drier and sunnier in the afternoon. On Thursday, there should be variable cloud, sunny spells and a few light showers in spots. Windier in the evening and overnight into Friday with rain edging in from the west. Breezy with blustery showers on Friday morning, these easing throughout the day. Average wind speed 3 Miles per hour, East North Easterly3Average wind speed 5 Kilometres per hour, East North Easterly5 Humidity: Humidity: 82%,82% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1017 millibars, Steady,1017mb, Steady Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° North, 2.283° West)Observation station: Manchester Airport (53.350° N, 2.283° W) Our favourite Weather Watchers photos nearby Report for Standish, Wigan Northern Rambler Reported , Cheshire East MeanderingManshipsReported , Rochdale EarthstarReported , Stockport sunset_twilightReported by sunset_twilight
Bárðarbunga volcano Aviation Color Code raised to Yellow after intense earthquake swarm, Iceland
Earthquake swarm under Bárðarbunga volcano on June 13 and 14, 2026. Credit: TW/SAM, ESRI According to IMO, intense seismic activity began shortly after the M4.8 earthquake at UTC. Several earthquakes exceeding M3 and more than 180 smaller earthquakes were detected . IMO said the Aviation Color Code was increased due to seismic unrest and that the situation would be reassessed in the following hours. By UTC on June 14, approximately 400 earthquakes had been detected since the swarm began, with activity concentrated in the northwestern part of the Bárðarbunga caldera. According to the agency, earthquake activity was strongest until around UTC, after which it began to decrease, although earthquakes continued to be detected in the area. IMO volcanologists said it was too early to determine whether the swarm is subsiding and kept the Aviation Color Code at Yellow due to uncertainty surrounding the evolution of the event. The strongest earthquakes recorded during the swarm included the M4.8 earthquake at UTC on June 13, followed by an M4.1 earthquake at UTC on June 14 and an M3.7 event at UTC on June 13. Despite the elevated seismic activity, IMO reported no eruption in both aviation notices, and the agency’s earthquake specialist assessment said no volcanic tremor was detected in the area. IMO compared the current activity to an earthquake swarm recorded in the Bárðarbunga caldera in January 2025, when elevated seismic activity also prompted heightened monitoring and a temporary Yellow Aviation Color Code. Earthquake swarm Bárðarbunga is a large central volcano and volcanic system beneath the Vatnajökull ice cap in central Iceland. It sits along Iceland’s active rift zone and has a history of major eruptions, large earthquake swarms, and magma intrusions. The volcanic system drew international attention during the 2014–2015 Holuhraun eruption, one of Iceland’s largest eruptions in centuries. The eruption followed an intense seismic crisis and magma migration away from the Bárðarbunga caldera toward the Holuhraun lava field northeast of the glacier. Although the eruption occurred outside the ice cap and did not produce prolonged ash-rich explosive activity comparable to Eyjafjallajökull in 2010, it generated extensive lava flows and substantial sulfur dioxide (SO2) pollution, affecting air quality across parts of Iceland. The 2014–2015 unrest also produced repeated large earthquakes, including events above M5, associated with subsidence of the Bárðarbunga caldera as magma drained into the Holuhraun fissure system. The episode lasted for months and remained under close international monitoring due to concern that a subglacial eruption beneath Vatnajökull could produce ash emissions capable of disrupting aviation.
Storm collapses church tent in Moneta, Virginia, killing one and injuring 22
Damage caused , Virginia on June 12, 2026. Credit: Don Shire/Facebook At least one person was killed, and 22 others were injured after a tent collapsed during an outdoor service at Eastlake Community Church on Friday, June 12. 11 people were hospitalized, while 11 others were treated at the scene, Bedford County officials reported. The incident occurred approximately 3.2 km (2 miles) south of Moneta at around local time on Friday, according to the NWS storm reports. It was caused a thunderstorm moving through the area. Winds of 80 km/h (50 mph) were reported across the region, with authorities receiving hundreds of reports of downed trees, poles, and other forms of storm damage. “I am saddened to hear of the tragedy at EastLake Community Church this evening. As details continue to emerge, please join me in praying for the church family, first responders, and everyone impacted. Our thoughts are with the entire Bedford community during this difficult time,” Senator Mark Peake said. References: 1 Local Storm Report – NWS – June 12, 2026 Rishav Kothari I am an Assistant Editor and Severe Weather & Science Journalist at The Watchers, specializing in real-time severe weather coverage, geophysical event reporting, and research-driven scientific analysis. You can reach me at rishav(at)watchers(.)news.
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