UK borrowing costs rise to highest since May on oil surge
The 10-year UK gilt yield briefly exceeded 5 percent in mid-July 2026, its highest level since May.
17 JUL
· 3 min read
News
Random stabbing of young mother in her bed exposes brittle line between safety and chaos
Kirandeep Kaur, 24, was stabbed to death in bed beside her husband and three-month-old baby after an intruder kicked open their door in Hayes.
17 JUL
· 3 min read
Oxford University Hospitals revises fetal growth scanning pathway
Oxford University Hospitals will offer continued growth scans beyond 36 weeks to women with identified risk factors, aligning with national guidance.
17 JUL
· 2 min read
Government confirms shake-up for 14 English council areas
The UK government announced reorganisation decisions for 14 English areas on 16 July 2026, replacing 134 councils with 38 new unitary authorities.
17 JUL
· 4 min read
Koala genomic study reveals population decline began around 100,000 years ago, before human arrival in Australia
Koala populations began declining around 100,000 years ago and suffered a severe bottleneck 60,000 years ago, long before humans reached Australia.
17 JUL
· 3 min read
Record rents reveal the cost of ignoring family homes
Average advertised rents outside London reached a new record of £1,397 per month in Q2 2026, up 1.9% on the quarter and 2.3% year on year.
17 JUL
· 4 min read
Netflix shares fall after Q2 2026 earnings and narrowed guidance
Netflix reported Q2 2026 revenue of $12.56 billion, up 13 percent year on year but slightly below analyst forecasts.
17 JUL
· 4 min read
Sherwood Forest's Major Oak declared dead after failing to leaf in spring 2026
The Major Oak failed to leaf in spring 2026 and was declared dead by the RSPB after years of stress from soil compaction, hot summers and prior interventions.
17 JUL
· 3 min read
Tittesworth Water secures largest reservoir biodiversity benchmark accreditation
Tittesworth Water, managed by Severn Trent, became the largest UK reservoir to achieve The Wildlife Trusts' Biodiversity Benchmark on 16 July 2026.
17 JUL
· 4 min read
Sadiq Khan joins Starmer's peerage list as Labour's reform rhetoric collapses
Keir Starmer nominated 26 new life peers on 16 July 2026, including 16 Labour figures.
17 JUL
· 3 min read
Andrea Keenoy steps in as interim housing ombudsman
Andrea Keenoy, current chief operating officer at the Housing Ombudsman Service, has been appointed interim ombudsman from 1 August following Richard Blakeway's departure.
17 JUL
· 4 min read
US airstrikes hit Iranian bridges and port targets as Hormuz tensions mount
US strikes destroyed at least six bridges in Hormozgan province along with a railway station and airport facilities
17 JUL
· 3 min read
