UK News
View All 9Hard-working Britons pay heating bills for 'work from home' civil servants
HMRC has been accused of a "grotesque waste of taxpayer money" after it emerged that more than £600,000 has been paid to civil servants to cover their heating costs while "working" from home.Utility bill subsidies for home-working HMRC staff have more than doubled since 2022, rising from £95,000 to £211,000 in 2026.Over the four financial years ending April 2026, the department spent more than £610,000 on energy bill payments for its remote workers, The Telegraph revealed.Only contractual home workers qualify for the subsidies, but the true cost across the entire civil service is likely to skyrocket even further.As the third largest Government department by headcount, HMRC's figures represent just a fraction of the potential total.The spending has been braneded a "tough pill to swallow" for ordinary Britons struggling with their own rising energy costs.Shadow Cabinet Office minister Mike Wood said: "With energy bills soaring thanks to Labour's Net Zero obsession, hard-working families have enough on their plate without having to shell out for hand-outs to public servants."Reform UK's Danny Kruger said: "This grotesque waste of taxpayer money will be a tough pill to swallow for hard-working Brits forced to pay sky-high energy bills every single month."While ordinary families struggle with the cost of living, Whitehall mandarins use public cash to subsidise the bills they drove through the roof with their dogmatic Net Zero obsession."A Freedom of Information request revealed that 5,259 HMRC staff are designated home workers of the department's 75,898 civil servants.An HMRC spokesman said: "These payments only apply to about seven per cent of our workforce who are contractual homeworkers whose designated workplace is their home."They are not available to staff working under HMRC's hybrid working arrangements."The Department for Work and Pensions and the Ministry of Justice follow HMRC in terms of staff numbers, suggesting the overall bill for home-working energy subsidies across Whitehall could be considerably larger than what HMRC alone has spent.TAXPAYER WASTE? READ MORE:Taxpayers stump up £150,000 for Banksy works with bill set to rise'Mind-blowing incompetence!' Council removes tarmac it poured over beloved trees after local uproar'Get a grip!' Major security warning as bungling MoD staff lose hundreds of phones and laptopsIt comes after the TaxPayers' Alliance revealed that more than 350 civil servants had been granted permission to work remotely from holiday destinations like Spain, Greece, Australia and even Brazil.The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero accounted for more than a third of the 359 staff who logged on from overseas.A further 96 worked for the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology, 83 for the Department for Business and Trade, and 19 for the Department for Transport.The TPA accused Whitehall of enabling "taxpayer-funded globe-trotting" after a YouGov poll found one in five Britons cannot afford a foreign holiday this year.The Cabinet Office insisted that overseas working was only approved in "exceptional circumstances" such as bereavement, and that the figures included staff "who must travel abroad for their job".The Civil Service has in the past also been accused of covering up how many staff are really working from home.Whitehall insists its offices are fully-staffed - claiming occupancy levels of up to 100 per cent.But critics said civil servants are still clocking in remotely and have accused the Government of "gaming the system".Experts pointed to data which focuses on the number of desks in a departmental HQ, rather than the proportion of the workforce in the office.The occupancy level refers to the number of desks in a building, but as there are many more staff than desks, a department can claim 100 per cent attendance even if a significant portion of employees have not left their home.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Vladimir Putin withdraws UK ambassador just days after grim threat of 'consequences' for Britain
Vladimir Putin has pulled his ambassador from London just days after Russia's grim threat of "consequences" to Britain.In what appears to be an effort to pressure the UK into rethinking its support for Ukraine, Andrey Kelin left his post last month after more than seven years as Moscow's envoy to the UK.No candidate has yet been put forward to take his place - while embassy staff have no idea when a successor might be named, according to The Times.The absence of a replacement has raised alarm that diplomatic relations between the two nations might be circling the drain. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say There are growing fears of a total collapse in communication between the Russian and British governments.Tensions escalated further last week when it was revealed that British-manufactured drones had been deployed by Ukraine to strike targets inside Russia, with Mr Putin's London embassy warning of unspecified "consequences".Kremlin propagandists then raised the threat level even higher, warning of a submarine-launched nuclear strike on the UK.A Russian embassy spokesman accused Britain of pursuing a "path of confrontation" with Moscow.He said Mr Kelin had made "considerable efforts to preserve contacts and channels of communication" with the UK as he fled back home."He left Britain in the hope that a more constructive and respectful dialogue could eventually be restored, should the UK reconsider its policies towards our country," the spokesman said.Mr Kelin's exit was first revealed internally on June 11 at an embassy gathering for Russia Day.That same day in Moscow, Britain's ambassador Nigel Casey joined French and German counterparts for unusual discussions with Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister, condemning the Kremlin's aggression in Ukraine.And the spokesman further confirmed that the Kremlin has not yet put forward his replacement, with the charge d'affaires leading the operation in the meantime.READ MORE ON RUSSIA:Double-tap drone strike on Ukrainian mall leaves 15 dead in Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometownRussian nursery children held at gunpoint under Vladimir Putin's orders'Putin's palace' left unprotected after Ukraine wipes out ALL its air defencesWhether Moscow plans to leave a lower-ranking diplomat in charge indefinitely remains unclear.The delay may signal that Russia thinks Britain doesn't deserve top-level political representation.Since Moscow's threats last week regarding British-made drones being used for deep strikes inside Russia - including warnings from Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov - no back-channel military contact has taken place, a defence source told The Times.While a senior diplomatic source said the breakdown in dialogue was deeply concerning."It's important to maintain those channels of communication, especially between hostile states. "Communication and de-escalation is the only tool to avoid potentially dangerous scenarios from turning catastrophic," the source said.A national security source cautioned that the withdrawal could be a calculated message from the Kremlin, driven by anger over Britain's prominent role in arming Ukraine."They are basically saying: 'You guys don't matter,' and that, frankly, London and the UK don't count for anything any more," the source said.Withdrawing an ambassador is a recognised method for a state to register serious displeasure without fully severing ties.A relationship can also be quietly downgraded simply by failing to nominate a successor.Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Two major London railway stations are closing today for engineering work
London’s Charing Cross and Waterloo East rail stations are closed just days after reopening following a 22-day closure for £20,000,000-worth of upgrades. Waterloo East and Charing Cross closed while upgrade works were carried out, during which trains across the Southeastern network were diverted to other stations across London. While the upgrades were completed and the stations reopened on Monday, they have once again closed today for follow-up engineering works. Today’s engineering work is taking place between London Charing Cross and London Bridge, and on the lines near New Cross used . As a result, Southeastern routes into Charing Cross will be diverted to London Cannon Street, and trains on the Paddock Wood Line will run hourly and be diverted via Maidstone East due to engineering work on the line via Paddock Wood. National Rail has confirmed passengers affected , Charing Cross, Embankment, Waterloo, Southwark and London Bridge at no extra cost. There will be no trains to and from Charing Cross and Waterloo East on the weekend of October 10 to 11 as engineering work is taking place once more between Charing Cross and New Cross. National Rail has confirmed that a reduced service will run between London Bridge and Cannon Street and trains will be diverted to and from London Victoria. Replacement buses will also be in operation between Greenwich and Sidcup, Lewisham and Orpington, and Grove Park and Bromley North. New Cross, St Johns, Hither Green, Mottingham, New Eltham, Grove Park, Elmstead Woods, Chislehurst, Sundridge Park (Sunday) and Bromley North (Sunday) stations will all be closed. To get the from the capital, visit Metro's London news hub. Network Rail has urged everyone to check before travelling, as the London Underground also faces disruption across multiple Tube lines. As part of the £20,000,000 upgrade work, engineers installed around 1,800 metres of new tracks as well as 16 sets of switches and crossings on the heavily used 36-year-old Southeastern line. Track drainage was also upgraded at Waterloo East to ‘maintain track quality and a smooth ride’ at full line speed. The country end of the platforms at Charing Cross, whose concrete surfaces are deteriorating, were rebuilt with new foundations and surfaces to ‘keep them safe’ and open for passengers. Structural repairs were also carried out on the 175-year-old Hungerford Bridge, which takes trains over the Thames, as well as on the pedestrian link between Waterloo East and London Waterloo stations. At the time, Network Rail said that the current tracks, which were last replaced in the early 1990s, were ‘increasingly unreliable’ and, if untreated, would ultimately lead to more faults and delays for commuters.
'Overloaded' UK mobile network is so poor one in five struggle to make calls
Britain's overloaded mobile network regularly leaves one in five users unable to make calls, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Ofcom, the regulator, claims 96 per cent of the population has good 4G coverage, allowing them to stream videos or play games online. But damning data involving more than 25,000 tests on phone signals found the country was riddled with blackspots that condemn millions to poor signal or no service at all. Buffering Britain, the app behind the audit, said the findings suggested up to two in five mobile phone users could not play video clips on websites or social media, and up to one in five in some regions struggled to make a phone call. The consumer group Which? claims Britain's mobile coverage is worse than in all 27 EU member countries and every other member of the G7 group of major economies. Data usage is growing by a fifth annually in the UK, but phone operators complain that new masts are often blocked . Buffering Britain's findings match early results from another national audit that is mapping the phone network using trackers attached to council refuse lorries and trains. Data from Dorset shows only 63.5 per cent of the county has 'good' 4G coverage from at least one operator, even though Ofcom claims a figure of 99.9 per cent. According to the Dorset survey, just 82.2 per cent of the county road network has even 'basic' coverage from at least one mobile network operator. This means it is hard or impossible to make mobile calls across almost a fifth of the region.
World News
View All 10The sunhat is everywhere in Athens as crowds grow larger at ancient sites
The sunhat is everywhere in Athens as crowds grow larger at ancient sites Athens is turning to hats as Europe’s heat intensifies ByDEREK GATOPOULOS Associated Press August 23, 2026, AM ATHENS, Greece -- Outside the Acropolis, a sea of hats bobs up and down the hill to the ancient site: straw boaters, Panama hats, baseball caps and bucket hats in the relentless heat. Hat racks are hard to miss in central Athens this summer. Kiosks and stores keep outdoor stands piled high as more tourists seek relief from the midday heat. The Acropolis drew about 4.6 million visitors in 2025, a record year for Greek tourism. Many spend hours in mid-30s Celsius (mid-90s Fahrenheit) temperatures with little shade. Even a carriage horse at the foot of the ancient monument has joined in, sporting a brown bucket hat with holes cut for its ears. “You need a hat. I’m already red as it is,” said Jack Yosif, an Australian tourist wearing a black baseball cap. “It’s a bit more of a common thing nowadays, and people are a bit more aware.” Scorching temperatures didn't deter a record 38 million visitors last year, the most recent for which there is data. The combination of extreme heat and high demand for sites — which means not everyone can visit in the morning — is adding urgency to sun protection. Greek health campaigners have welcomed a growing awareness of the dangers of ultraviolet exposure and risk of heat stroke. Red Cross volunteers at the Acropolis hand out kits with sunscreen, water, information leaflets and red caps. On nearby Syntagma Square, kiosk owner Konstantinos Mallios says hat sales have risen in recent years. His stylish and souvenir models run up to 20 euros ($24) while the cheapest costs 6 euros. Available elsewhere is semi-disposable headgear: mass-produced hats made using compressed paper pulp. Ethel Caterham, the world's oldest living person, turns 117 2 days ago No survivors after plane with 8 aboard crashes in Alaska, cause of unknown 1 day ago Actress Hayden Panettiere dies at 36, found in cardiac arrest Aug 17 And there are more ostentatious options. At her basement workshop, hatmaker Lisa Sarigiannidou turns straw braids into boaters using century-old presses and molds in a matter of minutes. Her hats start at around 50 euros, with elaborate designs costing more than 100 euros. “People’s attitudes toward hats have changed,” said Sarigiannidou, who was trained . “In the past, when a young woman tried on a hat and looked at herself in the mirror, she usually laughed.
Ukraine: Could ex-defense minister challenge Zelenskyy?
https://p. dw. com/p/5JFV2 Mykhailo Fedorov in the video address he published on his YouTube channel on August 18Image: Mykhailo Fedorov/YouTube/AP Photo/picture alliance This week, Ukraine was rocked by a series of political scandals. A month after stepping down as defense minister, Mykhailo Fedorov addressed the Ukrainian people in a nine-minute speech posted on his YouTube channel. In his video message, he declares that Ukraine "cannot remain without a fully appointed minister of defense." But, he continues, "the main problem goes much deeper than one position or one ministry." He says Ukraine's greatest challenge is a "systemic crisis of governance," of which corruption is only a symptom. Fedorov also criticized the fact that no national elections have been held in Ukraine since 2019. A few hours earlier, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, had proposed Yevhenii Khmara to parliament as the new defense minister. Khmara had been made acting minister of defense on July 20, and parliament confirmed him in the position on August 19. Yevhenii Khmara attends a session of the Ukrainian parliament on August 19, when he was appointed minister of defenseImage: REUTERS Corruption scandal involving public authorities When Fedorov spoke of corruption in government authorities, he may not have known about the scandal that would break the very day after he published his speech. On August 19, Ukrainian anti-corruption investigators searched the premises of several high-ranking officials, including a presidential deputy chief of staff, Iryna Mudra, and a member of parliament, Vadym Stolar. Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) stated that it was "conducting a special operation to expose a criminal organization" in conjunction with the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office. According to the investigating authorities, this organization was led by a current and a former Ukrainian lawmaker, and involved senior officials from the president's office. Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed Mudra from her post as presidential deputy chief of staff the same day. In his video, Mykhailo Fedorov warns that "it is especially dangerous when society feels that the main criterion for appointing a person is not their professionalism, results, or ability […] but their personal loyalty to the system." He says that a "legal, safe, and realistic mechanism" needs to be found to make it possible to hold elections, even if Russia's war against Ukraine continues for a long time. Ukraine's constitution forbids elections in time of war The president dismissed Fedorov from his post as defense minister on July 15. Protests calling for his reinstatement began the following day in Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and other cities.
Ex-Colombian president: Restoring Israeli ties applauds Gaza genocide
Former Colombia President, Gustavo Petro, says restoring ties with Israel while Benjamin Netanyahu is in power ‘applauds the Gaza genocide’. Colombia’s new right-wing government restored ties with Israel, two years after Petro severed diplomatic relations.
Mexican governor facing US drug charges says leaving office
The 77-year-old had stepped away from his position in May to face an investigation . In April, US prosecutors alleged that Rocha and nine other current or former officials of the ruling Morena Party conspired with a faction of the Sinaloa Cartel to traffic drugs into the US in exchange for bribes and political support. It was the first time the US publicly charged a sitting Mexican politician. Rocha has consistently denied the charges and implied that accusations against him are an attempt to harm the left-leaning Morena party. Rocha's return irks leadership Rocha's return announcement was not well received in the government or within his own Morena Party. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on said "no personal interest can ever be placed above the interest of the people and the nation." "Power without principles becomes arrogance; power without limits, abuse; and power that forgets the people ends up confronting history," she said, adding that Mexico deserved public servants who were not there to "feed personal ambitions." Rocha was considered an ally of Sheinbaum and is very close to her mentor, former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. What we know about US drug charges against Mexico officials To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Natalie Muller Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.
Politics
View All 10NAACP slams Navy’s reported talks to swap war hero’s name on carrier with Trump’s
NAACP President Derrick Johnson bashed the Navy Friday following reports that it planned to rename an aircraft carrier, named after a Black WWII war hero, and had considered President Trump’s name as a replacement. Johnson wrote in a social media post that the alleged talks surrounding the USS Doris Miller’s name are “a slap in…
Collins asks White House to consider ‘negative impact’ of Canada trade war
Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) pushed the Trump administration to “consider the negative impact” that engaging in a tariff war with Canada may have on American constituents, straying away from some of her GOP peers. Republican lawmakers were split Saturday after negotiations between Canada and the U.S. fell through, causing the White House to impose a…
France to ramp up Ukraine support, says Macron
The French president's comments come after Russian drones targeted a shopping mall on Friday, leaving 16 dead.
Fears for Mandelson investigation as Met still doesn’t have unredacted Epstein files
Fears are growing for the police investigation into whether Lord Peter Mandelson shared confidential information with paedophile billionaire Jeffrey Epstein. Reports claim the probe into the former foreign secretary has stalled without the US authorities granting access to the unredacted Epstein files. According to The Telegraph, neither the Department of Justice nor the FBI has yet agreed to requests from the Metropolitan Police for the documents. Scotland Yard detectives initially made the request under an informal agreement to share information between law enforcement agencies. This was later escalated to a formal request for mutual legal assistance (MLA), but it could take up to a year to access the documents and there is no guarantee the DoJ will release them. The Met is investigating claims the Labour grandee passed on market-sensitive information to Epstein during his time as business secretary. The 72-year-old, who was sacked from his post as ambassador to the US last year and resigned from the House of Lords in February, has previously denied any wrongdoing. open image in gallery Lord Peter Mandelson was sacked from his post as US ambassador (PA Wire) He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office on 23 February and his properties were searched. It came several weeks after the DoJ released 3 million documents relating to the late billionaire on 30 January. However, some information in the exchanges had been redacted to protect victims and avoid jeopardising ongoing investigations. The arrest followed a tip-off from Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Commons Speaker, that he could flee to the British Virgin Islands. Scotland Yard previously confirmed it was seeking further details from law enforcement partners, including in the US, with reports in March claiming that Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley was due to press the US authorities on the issue during a visit to Washington. It is now feared that the investigation could eventually collapse without access to the unredacted documents, according to reports in The Times and The Telegraph. Although there is hope a sufficient case can be built , the files are understood to be crucial to the probe. open image in gallery Millions of redacted documents were released from the Epstein files (AFP/Getty) Reports have suggested that the Trump administration is hesitant to hand over any files that could cause damage to the president’s reputation or risk future scandals, however US officials have insisted they are simply following established legal procedures.
Business
View All 10Mexican Governor Wanted by US Over Cartel Ties Seeks Leave Again
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India Rescues Two of Ship’s 24 Crew Members After Distress Alert
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Railway enthusiasts split over plan to restore train services in rural areas
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‘I don’t have any close friends in business’: Euronext CEO on a decade shaping Europe’s markets
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Technology
View All 10The Golden Rule for Becoming a Better Writer
I’m obsessed with the craft of writing. I write every day, I read about the craft often, and in my spare time I like to unwind by… watching interviews where authors talk about their writing process. One of the key things I’ve learned is this: there’s no real blueprint. I say this to aspiring writers in my workshops, and those I mentor. There’s no one way – every writer will have a different path to creation. Now, this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be listening to other authors, not at all – it’s a great way to help you think about the creative process – but it does mean nothing is holy writ. King cites Blood Meridian, The Satanic Verses, and Huckleberry Finn as his favourites Except the one golden rule*. One rule that is true, no matter the writer. One rule, that if you don’t follow, means you shouldn’t be writing in the first place. Here it is: Read as much as you can. I would’ve thought the necessity of reading in this profession obvious. But I’ve noticed a worrying trend lately: aspiring writers who don’t read. Whenever I give a workshop, or an occasional creative writing lecture at uni, or mentor an individual, I always ask the following questions: who are your favourite authors? And, what are you reading now? I do this as a short cut to finding out their interests, and how therefore I might frame my advice. But over the past few years, more and more the answer will be: I’m too busy to read. Or: I haven’t read a book in a while (whereafter they rack their brains and tell me they might’ve read Fourth Wing a year back). To which I say this: fuck you, you’re not too busy. I would never say that. But I certainly fucking think it. Now, to be clear – I’m not dissing the Fourth Wing here. On the contrary: if Fourth Wing is a gateway drug to getting someone back into reading, then anyone who loves books should be thankful to Rebecca Yarros. Sontag But I am saying this: go look at your phone, and tell me what your average screen time is per day. If so – shut up: you’ve time to read. I write full-time, currently work three gig jobs on the side, and am engaged with lives of my two children.
MartyPC is a cross-platform emulator of early PCs written in Rust
Choose a System Loading systems… Video Card MDA Hercules CGA EGA VGA Memory Sidecar AdLib Card Loading systems… Use the arrows or keyboard to rotate Swipe or tap the arrows to rotate
Anthropic Is Reportedly Being Upfront With Would-Be Investors About AI Backlash
Artificial Intelligence Anthropic Is Reportedly Being Upfront With Would-Be Investors About AI Backlash Its IPO prospectus will dwell on the topic, CNBC claims. 22, 2026, pm ET Reading time 2 minutes Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei in the crosshairs (artist's rendering) © Photo / for HubSpot / Gizmodo composite Read Later Read Later Comments (11) In San Francisco, meetings have reportedly been happening in which Anthropic Chief Financial Officer Krishna Rao is taking questions from would-be investors ahead of the public release of the company’s IPO prospectus. Remarkably, that prospectus is expected to include verbiage spelling out the fact that the public is fearful upset about what AI companies are doing, according to CNBC. CNBC, which cites anonymous “people familiar with [the] matter,” first reported on these apparent San Francisco meetings, and says the public’s antipathy toward Anthropic’s product and the data centers that enable it will be outlined in the prospectus as—to use CNBC’s term—a “key risk factor.” In other words, the most important formal document disclosing information investors need before they invest in Anthropic will reportedly acknowledge public outcry. That outcry isn’t just a lot of grumbling. Politicians on both sides of the aisle increasingly campaign against AI during elections. Depending how deep the prospectus goes, it might have to acknowledge disruptive protests against AI and data centers, reportedly including multiple incidents involving gunshots, and at least one molotov cocktail. SpaceX’s IPO earlier this year didn’t focus on public sentiment, even though AI was arguably the main source of future revenue cited in the SpaceX prospectus. That document mentioned a reliance on natural gas, for instance, but in the part about regulatory considerations, not in any section on, say, public outcry over pollution. It also mentioned that Grok’s brashness and ability to create “potential nonconsensual or exploitative imagery” might trigger “reputational damage” or “user or advertiser backlash.” But philosophical opposition to AI itself doesn’t appear to be in there. Gizmodo reached out to Anthropic to confirm that investor meetings were taking place in San Francisco, and to ask for comment on CNBC’s claim about the company’s IPO prospectus. We did not immediately hear back. Explore more on these topics Anthropic investing IPOs Copied! our newsletters Subscribe and interact with our community, get up to date with our customised Newsletters and much more. The Best Tech and Gear for Back to School 2026 Whether your budget is $10 or $1,300, we've got tech and gear recommendations that will make the new semester more productive and entertaining.
There Are Carrier Pigeon Apps Now Because Pigeon Technology Is Actually Superior
Culture There Are Carrier Pigeon Apps Now Because Pigeon Technology Is Actually Superior The original wireless carriers. 22, 2026, pm ET Reading time 3 minutes © TED ALJIBE/AFP via Read Later Read Later Comments (15) There’s this viral app called Carrier Pidge, and with all due respect to its creator, it’s just a paint job on a kind of app that already existed. Same with another, similar new app, Roost. What these apps do is they send messages on a delay, with actual geography taken into account so that messages between longer distances take longer. Slowly, a pen pal app, has been doing this since the 20-teens. But these new apps are getting approving write-ups because, unlike Slowly, they have cute gimmicks. Specifically, they have little simulated animals in them—homing pigeons in the case of Carrier Pidge, and a whole menagerie including pigeons in the case of Roost. Carrier Pidge has a feature where your pigeon might die, triggering a micropurchase obligation where you have to buy a new pigeon. The idea, I guess, is that digital overload can be relieved slightly if you an app that makes messaging slow and sucky, like in the bygone past, when, vibes-wise, life felt more alive, man. “Some things are better when they’re worse,” 27-year-old Carrier Pidge user Olivia Macdonald recently told the New York Times. This gets it completely wrong. Carrier pigeons were not worse at all. Like all old technology, a lot was lost when people gave up pigeons. And I apologize again to the creators of these adorable apps, but I need to be a pedant for a second. If someone wanted to make a great carrier pigeon app—and hell, maybe someone should—it might be fun. It would be a little like a Tamagotchi, a little like a messaging app, and a little like Geocaching. The way homing pigeons work is that you have to actually hatch and rear them in what’s essentially going to be your “inbox.” You then distribute your pigeons to the places out in the world where there are people who might need to send you messages, photos, or small objects. You can hand-deliver pigeons to your friends and colleagues in a targeted way, or, say, distribute them more haphazardly via balloon. But the point is that homing pigeons only have one path. You can’t, as the Carrier Pidge app description says, “Send carrier pigeons to anyone.” You can only ever send them home.
Science
View All 10Quitting alcohol may prime the brain for relapse
Date: August 22, 2026 Source: The Conversation Summary: Mice that developed compulsive drinking after alcohol abstinence showed more than double the activity in a brain region associated with stress and addiction. Because the signal appeared before they drank again, researchers think it could eventually help predict who is most at risk of relapse. Share: Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIN Email FULL STORY A surge of activity in a small brain region may reveal who is most vulnerable to compulsive drinking after alcohol abstinence, even before relapse begins. Credit: Shutterstock For some, abstaining from alcohol can subsequently increase compulsive drinking. Our research team found that, in abstaining mice, this urge to drink is preceded a particular brain region, pointing to potential new screening opportunities to identify and help those most vulnerable to relapse. Although alcohol abstinence is associated with improved health outcomes, addiction researchers have theorized that brain changes that occur during abstinence may increase a person’s risk of relapse. To explore this theory, we studied how mice behaved after giving them long-term voluntary access to alcohol followed by a forced abstinence period. We found that a subset of the mice developed aversion-resistant alcohol intake – that is, they now drank alcohol despite the quinine we added to make it increasingly bitter. Moreover, compared to those who did not experience forced abstinence, these mice drank even larger quantities of the very bitter alcohol. These results suggest there are potential bodily challenges associated with abstinence that contribute to relapses in alcohol use disorder. Next, we monitored the activity of a particular collection of cells in a portion of the brain known as the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis, or BNST. Researchers have previously found this small structure to be heavily implicated in alcohol use disorder symptoms such as anxiety and depression. We found that allowing abstinent mice to reenter the setting where alcohol was previously available would lead them to attempt to drink even though the spout contained only water. These attempts were associated with activity in the BNST. Abstinent mice who had developed the taste for very bitter alcohol had more than double the activity in this brain area compared to mice that did not experience forced abstinence. Importantly, we saw activity in the BNST even before we gave abstinent mice access to the bitter alcohol. This finding suggests it might be possible to identify people who are at risk of relapsing . Why it matters Alcohol misuse is one of the top public health challenges in the United States.
How a new era of heatwaves could shake up the school calendar
BySimon King Lead Weather Presenter Over the past two weeks, the sound of children has returned to Scotland's school playgrounds. Their summer breaks began in late June or early July and ended in mid-August. It's an academic year replicated in other European countries too. In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, however, children will not return until early September. Their holidays are a similar length to Scotland's but England and Wales schools did not break up until late July, something that meant pupils were in school during the peak of the early summer heat. Or at least they were meant to be in school. While it was 30C or more outside, inside many classrooms it felt far hotter. With no air conditioning and limited ventilation, the heat became stifling and more than 1,000 schools across the UK either closed or sent pupils home early before the hottest part of the afternoon. Conditions were particularly challenging for GCSE and A‑level students sitting exams during extreme heat. Baroness Brown, chair of the UK's Climate Change Adaptation committee, has warned that "we know high temperatures can significantly impair concentration and performance" of children in schools. Back in February 2026, Ofsted's chief inspector Sir Martyn Oliver said the timing of the school holidays should be reconsidered: "It's pretty hot usually in May, June and July, just at the point you're asking children to sit down and take an exam… so I think there is a need to have a good old look at it [the school year]." The recent hot weather has seen some parents join his call. Andrea Bigger, a parent in London, is "absolutely aware of the dangers" of extreme heat in classrooms. She says her daughter has previously suffered from heat exhaustion and was hospitalised after overheating at her primary school. She is "really concerned that the UK is not ready or prepared for this". And this summer was not a one off. BBC analysis of temperature data shows a clear shift. In the 1960s, the first 30C day was occurring on average on 13 July. In the 2020s that figure has been 19 June. So, is it going to be increasingly difficult for schools to operate in the summer months? And is moving the school summer holidays the solution to ensuring pupils are able to be taught for as much of the year as possible? Longer summer season This summer is likely to become the hottest on record, according to the Met Office.
How will NASA's astronaut training hub change with commercial space stations?
It's an interesting mix of government and private companies, of space agency personnel and of contractors, all working together to keep U. S. and international astronauts flying through the end of the ISS — currently expected around 2030 — and the new breed of commercial space stations expected to take its place. Canadian reporters like myself were invited on a tour of Johnson Space Center (JSC) on Aug. 4 ahead of the launch of SpaceX Crew-13, which launches no earlier than Sept. 12. Canadian Space Agency astronaut Josh Kutryk is a mission specialist on the Crew Dragon spacecraft, which also includes NASA commander Jessica Watkins, NASA pilot Luke Delaney and Roscosmos mission specialist Teteryatnikov. The ISS remains an active program for at least a few years; NASA managers reiterated in a press conference here on Aug. 3 that they are still targeting an end-of-operations in about 2030 — but they are prepared to extend the lifetime of the station if directed by Congress (which wants to keep going at least another two years). The space station has had a leak on the Russian side for several years, and astronauts recently and briefly sheltered in a Crew Dragon during discussions of a fix. At the press conference, NASA added the situation is under control as Roscosmos agreed to essentially seal off that area. Major station systems, they added, are otherwise in good health. But as spaceflight takes planning, teams are already thinking about "lessons learned" when the ISS retires for a new generation of mission planners, which would include an even greater focus on companies. NASA's Commercial LEO (Low Earth Orbit) Destinations or CLD program aims to have private space stations for astronauts , and handed out early-stage contracts valued at about $415 million in 2021 to three teams led by Nanoracks, Blue Origin and Northrop Grumman. After NASA briefly considered changing the program's scope, after input from industry a new request for proposals advancing CLD should be out soon. Meanwhile, companies like Vast Space have their own self-funded modules almost ready to fly, while Bigelow Aerospace has an inflatable module on ISS that is being tested, long-duration wise, to make sure the concept holds up for a future free-flying destination. No matter who hosts astronauts, however, NASA officials on the tour said they are prepared to offer expertise and help — and there is no other visible demonstration of that expertise to the public than the ISS Mission Control, which is often shown live on NASA+ during a selection of space station operations.
'We Want to Believe' book explores the reality of UFOs: 'It's always going to be more likely that someone is wrong about what they saw' (interview)
Whether you're a bona fide believer or a staunch skeptic, we can all agree that UFO legends and lore is a fascinating subject that continues to fuel endless debate. And with pop culture feeding our lizard brains lurid tales of flying saucers and alien invasions, it’s no wonder humanity is always up for a good story of inexplicable aerial sightings or various uncanny encounters of the third kind. In "We Want To Believe: How Aliens Went Mainstream And Why It Matters" (Aug. 25, Columbia Global Reports), acclaimed literary critic and Senior Editor at The Atlantic Adam Kirsch explores this insatiable drive to wonder at unidentified phenomena. For the first time, it seemed like maybe there was some legitimate news or evidence." "We Want To Believe" touches down in bookstores on Aug. 25, 2026. ( Global Reports)Kirsch recognized that monumental occasion as a pivotal moment that truly altered the way that American culture and media talked about the titillating topic. "I got more into the history and the lore of UFOs and partly out of just that basic idea that it would be really cool if there were other minds in the universe. It would be amazing if we could find proof of that. Over the years it's happened repeatedly in this history of UFOs. There's a lot of public excitement and then it peters out because there is no evidence and there isn't anything concrete to point to. And that's definitely what's happened over this last cycle." Using grounded scientific logic and basic common sense, Kirsch brings a calm measured approach to the UAP hysteria that's been gripping the whole country. "One of the interesting things about testimony that people like David Fravor and Ryan Graves gave about this is, 'When the camera sees something, the person doesn't see it. And when the person sees something, the camera doesn't see it.' It's always one or the other, it's never both at the same time. Even as long ago as the 1950s, people were saying that UFOs for some reason are not photogenic. No one ever seems to be able to get a real clear image of a UFO the way you’d think you'd be able to if they actually exist in the atmosphere." Senior Editor for The Atlantic and literary critic Adam Kirsch. ( Global Reports)"The obvious and logical explanation is that there's nothing to take a picture of. But it does get to this basic question of how do we go from, 'I had an experience' to 'This is what the experience tells me about the world.' I talk in the book about the difference between evidence and testimony.
Environment
View All 10Firefighters sound alarm as US faces critical staffing shortage: ‘We don’t have enough people’
This story was originally published by The Guardian and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. The U. S. has faced a critical shortage of firefighters at the Forest Service, or USFS, this summer as thousands of fires erupted across the country. Despite officials’ claims that the firefighting workforce was stronger than ever, the agency has failed to keep pace with escalating conditions and the catastrophic fires fueled by them, according to nine firefighters who spoke to the Guardian anonymously, because they are barred from disclosing the information to the public. Several people familiar with internal hiring data at the agency said there were also large gaps in important leadership roles, which had caused bottlenecks and operational challenges during a busy and dangerous year. They described a response system that’s been pushed to the brink, as unsustainable pressure is put on skeleton crews with months to go before the highest fire risks subside. Last year, many firefighters had to work more than 1,000 hours of overtime — the equivalent of cramming an extra five months of work into an already busy season. This year is expected to be even worse. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How “We just do not have enough people,” said a federal fire captain who works in the Pacific Northwest, where wildfires recently devastated neighborhoods in Washington state’s second largest city, Spokane. “Every firefighter is engaged at the highest priority we can possibly engage them, but houses are burning. When it’s not Spokane, it’s going to be the next town, and the next town.” Read Next Wildfire season is changing. Sachi Kitajima Mulkey The USFS, housed under the Department of Agriculture, employs the bulk of the federal government’s fire workforce and manages more than 193 million acres across the country. The agency has struggled with recruitment and retention for years, an issue that’s come to a head as the climate crisis fuels a rise in dangerous fire conditions. A fire captain put the shortages in context a soccer match, where each team has 11 players allowed on the field but an active roster of 30 in case substitutions have to be made. In the forest service, he said, there were no backup players. “Showing up to a game with 13 people is insane. Playing a whole season with 13 people is abuse,” he said. “That’s how we fight fire — and nobody gets to take a day off.” Grist thanks its sponsors.
A Global Gathering to Tackle the Planet’s Soil Crisis Is Underway in Mongolia
In Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, policy makers, scientists and global negotiators are gathering to convey an urgent message: The world’s rangelands, which make up about half of Earth’s land surface, are in trouble. But these same lands offer an opportunity. If, collectively, farmers and land users restore rangelands and soils, they can combat drought and preserve a […]
Secret Plan to Dump Slaughterhouse Waste Blindsided Residents of Iowa’s Loess Hills
In a matter of days, a dirt pit the size of five football fields appeared next to the weathered headstones of Center Cemetery in Castana, Iowa. The excavation site sits on the edge of the Loess Hills, a 200-mile corridor of craggy bluffs and ridges bordering the Missouri River valley in western Iowa. The hills, […]
Subterranean salad: underground farmers seek solution to food crisis in disused UK mines
The underground farm at Boulby. Researchers believe using mines to grow crops could reduce the high energy costs of conventional vertical farming. Researchers in North Yorkshire feel the clock ticking as they aim to transform British food production . Photographs a Bond villain’s underground lair but the workers in hi-vis and helmets aren’t weighing and packing hard drugs or parts for a death laser. It’s pak choi and lettuce. More than 1,000 metres down, researchers in North Yorkshire have created the world’s deepest underground farm and are running trials for a project that could transform UK food production. They want to use disused mines to grow crops, believing the stable environment and ability to use existing infrastructure could reduce the high energy costs associated with conventional vertical farming. It’s a game-changing idea, but the team behind it need evidence that it will work – and the clock is ticking. View image in fullscreen Jacob Nickles leads the harvesting and recording of plant species grown in the clean labs within underground tunnels.“We need to double food production by 2050 to support the world’s population,” says Jacob Nickles, a University of Sheffield research fellow and one of the project’s leaders. “That is the long and the short of it. Maybe if we start using mines.” While Nickles and his colleagues might in previous years have been talking about the food crisis looming far in the future, this year’s extreme weather has shown it could be even closer. In England, the dry, hot summer has led to crops dying and livestock using winter feed because there is no grass. “The crisis is less looming,” says Nickles, “it’s here … now.” The underground farm operation has been set up in a science facility at Boulby mine, near Saltburn. The mine itself is a working one: the world’s only commercial producer of polyhalite, which is used as an agricultural fertiliser. View image in fullscreen Researchers on the project. Drive through the ICL-UK mining operation and you will come to offices of the UK government-funded science facility, which hosts mind-blowing experiments – often involving the search for dark matter. This week, the Guardian accompanied Nickles two-thirds of a mile (1.1km) underground as he and colleagues harvested pak choi and lettuce from vertical towers in the mine. Getting there involves two detailed health and safety inductions, a change into bright orange hi-vis and an eight-minute descent in the original lift, constructed more than 50 years ago.
Weather
View All 7Today: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 9°C (49°F) Maximum Temperature: 21°C (71°F)
This video can not be played Sunshine today aside from some patches of cloud bubbling up around the middle of the day. Staying dry and settled under variable to light winds. Skies will widely clear throughout the overnight period under a light easterly breeze. Plenty of sunshine to start the day tomorrow. In the afternoon, a few areas of medium to high level cloud will develop but it will stay dry under a gentle to moderate easterly breeze. Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday Tuesday and Wednesday will continue with a mix of cloud and sunshine, as well as a chance of showers at times. These will be heavier on Wednesday and with a risk of thunder. slightly warmer under a south-easterly airflow. Turning unsettled on Thursday with heavy rain and thunderstorms pushing northwards through the day. Some sunshine is also possible at times. Average wind speed 3 Miles per hour, South South Easterly3Average wind speed 5 Kilometres per hour, South South Easterly5 Humidity: Humidity: 87%,87% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1026 millibars, Steady,1026mb, 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 Hulme, Manchester TicklespoonReported , Oldham Wonky AlReported , Manchester MCRShaunReported , Cheshire Allotment David Reported
Monday: Sunny Intervals, Minimum Temperature: 12°C (54°F) Maximum Temperature: 22°C (72°F)
This video can not be played Sunshine today aside from some patches of cloud bubbling up around the middle of the day. Staying dry and settled under variable to light winds. Skies will widely clear throughout the overnight period under a light easterly breeze. Plenty of sunshine to start the day tomorrow. In the afternoon, a few areas of medium to high level cloud will develop but it will stay dry under a gentle to moderate easterly breeze. Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday Tuesday and Wednesday will continue with a mix of cloud and sunshine, as well as a chance of showers at times. These will be heavier on Wednesday and with a risk of thunder. slightly warmer under a south-easterly airflow. Turning unsettled on Thursday with heavy rain and thunderstorms pushing northwards through the day. Some sunshine is also possible at times. Average wind speed 3 Miles per hour, South South Easterly3Average wind speed 5 Kilometres per hour, South South Easterly5 Humidity: Humidity: 87%,87% Visibility: Visibility, not available,-- Pressure: Pressure: 1026 millibars, Steady,1026mb, 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 Hulme, Manchester TicklespoonReported , Oldham Wonky AlReported , Manchester MCRShaunReported , Cheshire Allotment David Reported
Typhoon Saudel rapidly intensifies, passes close to Agrihan, Northern Mariana Islands
Satellite image of Typhoon Saudel at UTC on August 22, 2026 Typhoon Saudel passed close to Agrihan in the Northern Mariana Islands on August 22 after rapidly intensifying, with maximum sustained winds reaching 177 km/h (110 mph). At ChST ( UTC), the center was about 48 km (30 miles) northwest of Agrihan, while Typhoon Warnings remained in effect for Alamagan, Pagan, and Agrihan. The National Weather Service (NWS) placed Saudel’s center about 105 km (65 miles) north-northwest of Pagan and 161 km (100 miles) north-northwest of Alamagan. The typhoon was moving northwest at 16 km/h (10 mph), with typhoon-force winds extending as far as 72 km (45 miles) and tropical-storm-force winds as far as 241 km (150 miles) from the center. A CNMI Emergency Operations Center bulletin at ChST ( UTC) described Saudel as passing over Agrihan, while the later NWS local statement at ChST ( UTC) said it had passed close to the island and placed the center just northwest of it. The most destructive winds and intense rainfall remained concentrated near the center and were likely affecting northern Agrihan waters. Residents of Alamagan, Pagan and Agrihan were instructed to remain in protective shelters or caves until conditions subsided and an all-clear was issued. West to southwest winds of 130–160 km/h (80–100 mph), with gusts reaching 210 km/h (130 mph), were forecast across the three islands during the next several hours. Rainfall totals of 200–300 mm (8–12 inches) were forecast across much of the far northern islands by August 23. Localized accumulations exceeding 500 mm (20 inches) were considered possible near the cyclone’s center, potentially over water. Periods of torrential rain and scattered thunderstorms were expected through the remainder of the night. Conditions were forecast to improve considerably on August 23 as Saudel continued moving away from the Mariana chain. Coastal inundation and significant erosion were expected as Saudel-generated swells continued striking reefs around the warned islands. Coastal flooding of 0.3–0.9 m (1–3 feet) around Agrihan and Pagan was expected, while life-threatening surf along south- and east-facing exposures was expected to continue into August 23. Saipan and Tinian were placed under an all-clear by ChST on August 22 ( UTC on August 21), while Typhoon Condition I remained in effect for Alamagan, Pagan, and Agrihan. The ports of Saipan and Tinian reopened to commercial traffic and cargo operations under Port Heavy Weather Condition Whiskey at ChST on August 22. The tropical storm threat to the two islands had ended, although hazardous seas and surf continued. Joint Typhoon Warning Center (JTWC) assessed Saudel at 176 km/h (109 mph) and 963 hPa based on its UTC analysis on August 22.
The Weekly Volcanic Activity Report: August 13-19, 2026
Watchers New activity/unrest: Asosan, Japan | Etna, Italy | Karangetang, Indonesia | Klyuchevskoy, Russia | Krakatau, Indonesia | Sinabung, Indonesia. Ongoing activity: Aira, Japan | Ambae, Vanuatu | Dukono, Indonesia | Great Sitkin, United States | Ibu, Indonesia | Kanlaon, Philippines | Kilauea, United States | Lewotobi, Indonesia | Lewotolok, Indonesia | Mayon, Philippines | Merapi, Indonesia | Nyamulagira, DR Congo | Rincon de la Vieja, Costa Rica | Sabancaya, Peru | Semeru, Indonesia. New activity/unrest Asosan, Japan 32.8849°N, 131.085°E; Elev. 1,592 m The Japan Meteorological Agency (JMA) reported that the amplitude of volcanic tremors at Asosan began to increase at around 1900 on 12 August, fluctuated for a few days, and further intensified at 1500 on 14 August. During a field survey that same day scientists measured a high sulfur dioxide emission rate of 2,700 tons per day (t/d), notably increased from 700 t/d on 28 July and 1,200 t/d on 6 August. The Alert Level was raised to 3 (on a scale of 1-5) at 1545 and the public was warned that eruptive products may impact areas within 2 km of the crater. Continuous Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data suggested that magma was accumulating beneath Kusasenri. Webcams show no significant changes in conditions within the crater; white plumes rose as high as 900 m above the Nakadake Crater I rim during 12-17 August. Geological summary: The 24-km-wide Asosan caldera was formed during four major explosive eruptions from 300,000 to 90,000 years ago. These produced voluminous pyroclastic flows that covered much of Kyushu. The last of these, the Aso-4 eruption, produced more than 600 km3 of airfall tephra and pyroclastic-flow deposits. A group of 17 central cones was constructed in the middle of the caldera, one of which, Nakadake, is one of Japan’s most active volcanoes. It was the location of Japan’s first documented historical eruption in 553 CE. The Nakadake complex has remained active throughout the Holocene. Several other cones have been active during the Holocene, including the Kometsuka scoria cone as recently as about 210 CE. Historical eruptions have largely consisted of basaltic to basaltic andesite ash emission with periodic strombolian and phreatomagmatic activity. The summit crater of Nakadake is accessible , and is one of Kyushu’s most popular tourist destinations. Etna, Italy 37.748°N, 14.999°E; Elev. 3,357 m The Sezione di Catania – Osservatorio Etneo (INGV) reported eruptive activity at Etna’s summit craters during 10-16 August characterized (VOR) and Northeast Crater (NEC), and effusive activity from several vents within the Valle del Bove. Explosive activity at VOR persisted during most of the week with ash emissions mainly drifting S and SE.
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