4 h. ago Great North Run 2025: Sir Brendan Foster on 'best moment' in race's history

Great North Run founder Brendan Foster spoke at today's press call for the biggest half marathon in the world. There are 60,000 entries, plus 20,000 in the GNR festival over the weekend

Politics

26 h. ago When is North England vs South England? New date, confirmed players, tickets and more

Premier League stars from the “recent past” to take part in North vs South showdown - possibly

Sport

33 h. ago Is Britain really the new North Korea? Let us consider the evidence | Martin Kettle

Yes, there were some serious problems for Labour this week, but overblown claims in the press undermine what remains of our political debateSign up for our new weekly newsletter Matters of Opinion, where our columnists and writers will reflect on what they’ve been debating, thinking about, reading and moreTell me, fellow Brits, how are you getting used to our island version of North Korea? How are you coping with life, now that we are a global pariah alongside Pyongyang? How do you feel about modern Britain having to vie with North Korea, Myanmar and Afghanistan for the wooden spoon on every international index of oppression?For that is the country Wednesday’s Daily Mail front page insists we have now become. It is tempting to laugh off a headline that asks “When did Britain become North Korea?” as just another here-today-gone-tomorrow piece of journalistic hyperbole. That’s even more the case when you read the cobbled-up pandemonium of provocations that form the contents of the hea...

Politics

5 d. ago Tories would maximise North Sea oil and gas extraction, Badenoch to say

Conservative leader says it is ‘absurd’ to shift away from fossil fuels and leave ‘vital resources untapped’The Conservative party will aim to “maximise extraction” of oil and gas in the North Sea if it wins power, Kemi Badenoch is expected to announce.Badenoch will use a speech in Aberdeen in the coming days to set out her plans to extract as much oil and gas as possible instead of shifting away from fossil fuels, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Heatwaves, wildfires and the hot summers that could change how we holiday

With rising temperatures causing chaos worldwide, what does it mean to be a tourist in a world on fire?• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up here to get the newsletter in full“Where shall we go on holiday?” would not, ideally, be a stressful question.But the world in 2025 is far from ideal, and summer breaks in Europe and North America are no exception. Holiday hotspots are being ravaged by heat, fire, floods and drought as fossil fuel pollution warps the climate – and travelling to reach them in planes or on cruise ships spews far more planet-heating gas than anything else you and I are likely to do. (Rocket enthusiasts such as Katy Perry and Jeff Bezos, I assume, have not yet subscribed to Down to Earth.)‘We cannot do it the way our fathers did’: farmers across Europe struggle to adapt to the climate crisis‘Unlike any other kind of fear’: wildfires leave their mark across SpainEurope scorched by wildfires – pictures from space Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Handshakes and hope but little progress: a short history of Trump

US president is keen for a fourth meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but has little to show from the previous three encountersDonald Trump’s unshakeable belief in his ability as a peacemaker has raised the prospect of another attempt to solve one of the world’s most implacable crises: North Korea’s continuing development of nuclear weapons.During an occasionally fractious meeting with Lee Jae Myung in the White House on Monday, Trump did at least agree with South Korea’s liberal president on the need to engage with the North’s leader, Kim Jong-un. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago North Korea accuses South Korea of ‘deliberate provocation’ after warning shots fired at soldiers on border

Seoul says military fired warning shots on Tuesday after troops from the North briefly crossed borderSouth Korea fired warning shots at North Korean soldiers who briefly crossed the heavily fortified border earlier this week, Seoul said on Saturday, after Pyongyang accused it of a “deliberate provocation” that risks “uncontrollable” tensions.South Korea’s new leader Lee Jae Myung has sought warmer ties with the nuclear-armed North and vowed to build “military trust”, but Pyongyang has said it has no interest in improving relations with Seoul. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Mystery ‘debris balls’ return to NSW beaches as residents warned to steer clear

Central Coast Council says residents should not touch the balls and avoid beaches where they wash ashoreFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastDebris balls have again washed up along the New South Wales coast as officials warn residents not to touch the mysterious spherical globules and to avoid beaches where they appear.Central Coast Council said on Thursday the debris balls – which are grey-coloured and about 10mm to 40mm in size – had been found on beaches including at The Entrance, the Grant McBride baths, Blue Bay, Toowoon Bay, North Shelly, Shelly and Blue Lagoon. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Hurricane Erin moves away from North Carolina after battering outer banks

Category 2 storm led to evacuation orders and road closures, with rip currents and high surf forecast on FridayHurricane Erin, a large category 2 storm with winds reaching 105mph, was slowly moving away from the North Carolina coast on Thursday morning after hitting the state’s Outer Banks with intense winds, large waves, storm surge and flooding.While Erin is not expected to make landfall, weather officials warn that the storm’s effects are not over yet. Coastal communities up and down the east coast are bracing as storm conditions continue as life-threatening rip currents, flooding and dangerous surf, are forecast in some areas through Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago North Korea has secret military base that may pose threat to east Asia and US, new report says

The ‘undeclared’ Sinpung-dong missile operating base is just 27km from the border with China, report by US thinktank saysNorth Korea has built a secret military base near its border with China which may house Pyongyang’s newest long-range ballistic missiles, according to new research.The “undeclared” Sinpung-dong missile operating base lies about 27km (17 miles) from the Chinese frontier, the Washington-based thinktank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said in a report published on Wednesday. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Review of North Lanarkshire community safety highlights increases in some crimes

The annual report from the council advises elected members of the progress made under the Community Safety Strategy 2020-2025, which sees North Lanarkshire Council work in partnership with emergency services and other organisations.

Events

2 w. ago Hurricane Erin intensifies to category 5 as it moves through north

Erin not expected to make landfall, though nearby islands, including Puerto Rico, brace for floodingHurricane Erin has intensified into a category 5 storm as it churns its way over the Atlantic, brushing past islands in the north-east Caribbean.The National Hurricane Center (NHC), in Miami, said on Saturday that Erin – which it described as “catastrophic” – was still not expected to hit land in the US and would swerve away, but forecasters have warned that strong winds and heavy rain could cause flooding and landslides on nearby islands. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Hurricane Erin intensifies to category 5, moving through north

Erin not expected to make landfall, though nearby islands, including Puerto Rico, brace for floodingHurricane Erin has intensified into a category 5 storm as it churns its way over the Atlantic, brushing past islands in the north-east Caribbean.The National Hurricane Center (NHC), in Miami, said on Saturday that Erin – which it described as “catastrophic” – was still not expected to hit land in the US and would swerve away, but forecasters have warned that strong winds and heavy rain could cause flooding and landslides on nearby islands. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Is Tottenham vs Burnley on TV? Sky Sports' new deal explained and why 3pm blackout was lifted

Thomas Frank gets his first taste of Premier League action with Tottenham Hotspur on Saturday afternoon, with newcomers Burnley ready to do battle in north London as the 2025/26 season gets underway

Economics

3 w. ago One of England's prettiest villages is foodie heaven and celeb claim to fame

Cartmel in Cumbria, the fifth most picturesque village in England according to Independent Cottages, boasts beautiful walks, fascinating history, a racecourse and two Michelin-starred restaurants

Events

3 w. ago Drag Race UK's La Voix makes Strictly Come Dancing history as seventh contestant

The seventh celebrity from the 2025 Strictly Come Dancing line-up has been announced, joining the likes of Love Island star Dani Dyer and Doctor Who star Alex Kingston

Culture

3 w. ago Weather tracker: Europe braces for another heatwave with highs of 44C

Parts of Spain and Portugal likely to bear brunt of heat, while drought conditions sweep North AmericaEurope live – latest updatesAfter a period of cooler weather, swaths of central and eastern Europe face another heatwave as hot air over south-western Europe pushes north-west.Since late July, large parts of the Iberian peninsula have endured persistent heat, with temperatures frequently climbing to the high 30s to low 40s celsius. Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago QPR vs Preston North End Championship prediction, odds and betting offer

QPR begin life under new manager Julien Stephan as they welcome Preston North End to Loftus Road in their Championship 2025/26 season opener

Politics

4 w. ago AD FEATURE: The Lathums to return to the north west with special show in autumn 2025

Tickets are also currently on sale for John Bishop, OneRepublic and more

Politics