2 h. ago There’s an invader turning huge swathes of Britain into deserts – and these dead zones are spreading | George Monbiot

Vast areas of land are now dominated by one species – purple moor-grass – and good luck with seeing a bird or insect there. How do we revive these habitats?Deserts are spreading across great tracts of Britain, yet few people seem to have noticed, and fewer still appear to care. It is one of those astonishing situations I keep encountering: in which vast, systemic problems – in this case, I believe, covering thousands of square kilometres – hide in plain sight.I realise that many people, on reading that first sentence, will suspect I’ve finally flipped. Where, pray, are those rolling sand dunes or sere stony wastes? But there are many kinds of desert, and not all of them are dry. In fact, those spreading across Britain are clustered in the wettest places. Yet they harbour fewer species than some dry deserts do, and are just as hostile to humans. Another useful term is terrestrial dead zones. Continue reading...

Events

3 h. ago Chaos erupts in LA as protesters torch robotaxis after Trump sends National Guard

Tensions have escalated in Los Angeles as thousands of protesters take to the streets in response to President Donald Trump's extraordinary deployment of the National Guard

Events

4 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Poland scrambles planes to secure airspace as Russia targets western Ukraine

The Polish response comes as Russian troops advance on east-central Ukraine. What we know on day 1,202See all our Ukraine war coveragePoland and allied countries scrambled aircraft early on Monday to ensure the safety of Polish airspace after Russia launched airstrikes targeting western Ukraine near the Polish border, the operational command of the Polish armed forces said. “The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the regions bordering the areas at risk,” it said on X.All of Ukraine was under air raid alerts in the early hours of Monday after the Ukrainian air force warned of Russian missile and drone attacks.Russia launched an air attack on Kyiv, which Ukraine’s air defence units were trying to repel, the military administration of the Ukrainian capital said on the Telegram messaging app early on Monday.Russia says its forces are advancing to the edge of the east-central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk for the first time in the three-year war, raising the prospect of a...

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7 h. ago Gardeners urged to mix 59p kitchen ingredient with soap and apply to plants

If slugs, flies and ants are plaguing your garden this summer, no need to pick up a bottle of pest-killer - this handy household item can make a great and effective pesticide instead

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9 h. ago One million students to receive AI training in new skills drive

It comes after government data showed that by 2035 AI will play a part in the roles and responsibilities of around 10 million workers

Events

9 h. ago AI skills drive in schools to ‘put power in hands of next generation’ – Starmer

Some one million students will be given access to AI learning resources as part of the Government’s ‘TechFirst’ scheme, Number 10 said.

Events

9 h. ago Keir Starmer unveils plan to help one million schoolkids in major tech drive

The Prime Minister will announce plans to help around one million school-age children gain skills in technology under a new TechFirst scheme to help them learn AI and computing skills

Science

11 h. ago My neighbours have built an extension over my property by 15 INCHES... it has destroyed my home and left me facing £85k bill

Brenda Grant, of Uxbridge, west London, said she has been left suicidal after next door's Amarjit Singh Dhunna sliced her plastic roof to build a new wall.

Economics

16 h. ago Revealed: Why the late Queen scolded Prince William during Trooping the Colour

Each year thousands of well-wishers gather around to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family as they crowd onto the Buckingham Palace balcony after Trooping the Colour.

Politics

16 h. ago Poll shows voters have huge housing demand amid 'charter for greed' warning

Polling by YouGov found people are three times more likely to want the Government to build more social housing than encouraging developers to build more private homes

Events

17 h. ago Swansea Half Marathon best pictures as thousands of runners tackle 13.1

Runners from across Wales descended on Swansea on Sunday

Politics

18 h. ago Thousands protest in Madrid against government of prime minister Pedro Sánchez

Ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ party has faced series of corruption allegations over past yearTens of thousands of people have gathered in central Madrid to protest against the government of Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and to demand an early general election as his party, his administration and his family continue to be beset by a succession of corruption allegations.Sunday’s protest, called by the opposition conservative People’s party (PP) under the slogan “Mafia or democracy”, attracted between 45,000 and 50,000 people, according to the central government’s delegation to the region. Organisers, however, put the attendance at 100,000. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Thousands protest in Madrid against Pedro Sánchez’s government

Ruling Spanish Socialist Workers’ party has faced series of corruption allegations over past yearTens of thousands of people have gathered in central Madrid to protest against the government of Spain’s socialist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, and to demand an early general election, as his party, his administration and his family continue to be beset by a succession of corruption allegations.Sunday’s protest, called by the opposition conservative People’s party (PP) under the slogan “mafia or democracy”, attracted between 45,000 and 50,000 people, according to the central government’s delegation to the region. Organisers put the attendance at 100,000. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Algarve holiday resort issues new tourist rules which could cost Brits thousands

Brits will face penalty charges of up to £3,375 for tourists who flout behaviour codes in the Algarve resort of Albufeira after city hall legislators approved the strict new rules

Politics

20 h. ago Aid cuts will do irreversible damage, warns UN development chief

Outgoing UNDP head says funding reductions by US, UK and others will harm systems that took decades to build

Events

21 h. ago Gardener shares five summer annuals to plant now for 'immediate floral colour'

Gardening expert Tom Watson says the summer annual garden-ready plugs arrive at this time of year, and he starts to plant them into the pots, beds and borders

Politics

21 h. ago Pope Leo criticises ‘exclusionary mindset’ of nationalist political movements

During Sunday Mass in St Peter’s Square, the pope asked that God ‘open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred’Pope Leo has criticised the emergence of nationalist political movements and their “exclusionary mindset”, without naming a specific country or leader.Leo, the first pope from the US, asked during a Mass on Sunday with tens of thousands in St Peter’s Square that God would “open borders, break down walls (and) dispel hatred”. Continue reading...

Politics

22 h. ago 'Offended' locals demand end to 'group sex hotspot' near funeral home site

Residents living near an alleged "cruising" hotspot claim "group sexual acts" take place in broad daylight there, and have expressed concerns over plans to build a funeral home nearby

Politics

22 h. ago Driveway mistakes could see you hit with a £100 fine and invalidate insurance

There are strict UK rules on parking when you are using a drive

Economics

23 h. ago Minister dismisses US fears about China's London 'super embassy' as White House warns against letting Beijing build near sensitive City sites

The Trump administration has urged Downing Street to block the proposed development close to London financial centres amid fears that it will be used to tap into commercial information.

Events