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Why this year's strawberries are set to be sweeter

May 18, 2025

The UK's strawberry season is doing well this year due to warm days and cool nights making the fruit sweeter. Farmers expect a good harvest, although they are prepared for possible dry conditions with irrigation systems.

Key Facts:

Warm days and cool nights make strawberries sweeter by allowing them to use energy to produce natural sugars.
The spring in the UK is one of the driest in over a century.
Hugh Lowe Farms supplies strawberries to events like Wimbledon.
Farmers use irrigation systems to manage effects of potential drought.
Strawberry production has increased by 50 tonnes compared to last year at The Summer Berry Company.
Climate change is making hot weather more common, affecting the farming of strawberries.
BBC forecasts suggest good conditions for growing strawberries with sunshine and cool nights.
Possible rain next weekend may help farmers face this dry spring.

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Man finally identified 10 years after dying in a car crash

May 18, 2025

A man who died in a car accident 10 years ago has been identified as Bryan Woolis. South Yorkshire officer Nik Dodsworth discovered Woolis's identity by working in his spare time using DNA evidence and police databases.

Key Facts:

The man died after being hit by a car in Walthamstow, London, on January 22, 2015.
He was wrongly thought to be named Brian Wallace before being identified as Bryan Woolis.
Officer Nik Dodsworth worked on the case during his free time.
A UK charity named Locate International first shared the appeal to identify the man.
Dodsworth used a DNA match and police databases to find the correct identity.
Woolis's father, Alwyn Woolis, passed away in 2016, leaving behind three children, including Bryan.
Woolis lived quietly and had not been seen by his sister since the early 2000s.
The driver involved received a suspended sentence, and the victim was unidentified until recently.
A new headstone with Woolis's correct name is being arranged for his grave.

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In pictures: Everton's Goodison goodbye

May 18, 2025

Everton fans gathered at Goodison Park to say goodbye to their stadium, which has been the club's home since 1886. The final home game ended with a 2-0 victory against Southampton.

Key Facts:

Everton fans wore blue and flooded the streets of Liverpool near Goodison Park.
The stadium, Goodison Park, served as Everton's home for 133 years.
The last home game was against Southampton, and Everton won 2-0.
Many fans walked through the city to reach the stadium for the final match.
Flares colored the air blue before the game began.
Everton fans shared goodbye messages at the stadium.
Nearby pubs were packed with supporters celebrating the day.
The farewell game brought tears and emotional moments among fans.

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Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson gives birth to twins

May 18, 2025

Former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson announced the birth of her twin daughters, Ocean Jade and Story Monroe. The twins were born early at 31 weeks but are reported to be healthy. Nelson previously underwent surgery to address a rare pregnancy complication.

Key Facts:

Jesy Nelson, former singer from Little Mix, has twin daughters.
The twins were born at 31 weeks, which is earlier than a typical birth.
Their names are Ocean Jade and Story Monroe Nelson-Foster.
Nelson had surgery to treat twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS), a condition affecting some identical twins.
TTTS involves imbalanced blood flow between twins sharing a placenta.
Nelson left Little Mix in 2020 to focus on her mental health.
She released a solo song called "Boyz" featuring Nicki Minaj in 2021.
Little Mix formed in 2011 and achieved several number-one hits before taking a break in 2022.

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Teenager dies after disturbance at beach in Scotland

May 18, 2025

A 16-year-old boy from East Kilbride died after a disturbance at Irvine Beach in North Ayrshire. He was injured on Saturday evening and died at the hospital on Sunday. Police are investigating the incident and asking anyone with information to come forward.

Key Facts:

A 16-year-old boy was seriously injured at Irvine Beach on Saturday evening.
The boy was from East Kilbride and died at Crosshouse Hospital on Sunday.
Police are conducting a detailed investigation to find out what happened.
Officers are supporting the boy's family during this difficult time.
Several people were on the beach, and some may have recorded the incident.
Police are increasing their presence at Irvine Beach after the event.
Authorities are asking the public to share any information they have.
In a related note, another 16-year-old was charged with attempted murder after a stabbing incident at a different beach in Edinburgh.

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Newscast

May 18, 2025

The article discusses the possibility of the UK rejoining the EU passport queue and details a new deal between the UK and the EU. This is the first agreement of this kind since Brexit.

Key Facts:

The UK is considering rejoining the EU passport queue.
A new deal has been made between the UK and the EU.
This deal is the first major agreement since the UK left the EU, known as Brexit.
The specific details of this deal are being reported.
The topic was featured on a 29-minute episode of BBC Sounds' Newscast program.

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Littler's van window smashed during match

May 18, 2025

Luke Littler, a world champion darts player, discovered the rear window of his van was smashed during an exhibition match in Norwich. Littler, who became the youngest-ever darts world champ at 17, shared about the incident on Instagram and has since contacted police.

Key Facts:

Luke Littler is a world champion darts player.
Littler’s van window was smashed during a match in Norwich.
He described the vandals on Instagram negatively.
The incident was reported to Norfolk Police.
Littler, at 17, is the youngest darts world champion.
He won the title from Michael van Gerwen, who was 24 when he became champion.
Littler has won 11 senior PDC titles.
He also holds the titles of Premier League and Grand Slam champion.

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'Zombie spider' fungi among Kew archive specimens

May 18, 2025

Scientists at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, are creating digital records of their large collection of fungi, including rare types like David Attenborough's "zombie fungus." This project involves taking high-resolution images and making the information available online for researchers worldwide.

Key Facts:

The Kew Fungarium holds over one million fungal specimens collected over 175 years.
The digitization project includes taking detailed images and entering data into an online portal.
Researchers can access these digital records remotely, which helps with conservation efforts.
The project aims to sequence 7,000 fungal species with plans to publish the data online.
There are 2.5 million fungal species estimated globally, but only 166,000 are described scientifically.
Notable fungi include Gibellula attenboroughii, a "zombie fungus," and Cyttaria dawinii, discovered by Charles Darwin.
The project is a partnership with the Natural History Museum and funded by the government.

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Britain's temperate rainforests facing 'extinction crisis'

May 18, 2025

Britain's temperate rainforests, found mainly on the UK's western coasts, are facing an "extinction crisis" as rare species of mosses, lichens, and liverworts disappear. A recent survey showed that only 22% of these forests in Wales are in good shape due to pollution, the breaking up of habitats, and invasive species.

Key Facts:

Britain's temperate rainforests are also called Celtic rainforests.
These forests have rare species of mosses, lichens, and liverworts that are disappearing.
A survey in 2024 found that only 22% of Welsh rainforests are in good condition.
Pollution, habitat fragmentation, and invasive species threaten these forests.
A 500-year-old oak in Eryri National Park housed a rare lichen population before falling in 2023.
The rare lichen rinodina isidioides, known as "skeletal fingers," needs old trees and wet conditions to survive.
Wales has about 33,024 hectares of rainforest, which is crucial due to its rarity worldwide.
Ancient woodlands face threats from storms, farming, and invasive species like rhododendrons.

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Americast

May 18, 2025

The BBC Sounds program "Americast" interviewed CNN's Jake Tapper about claims of a "cover-up" concerning President Joe Biden's decline. The discussion included new claims about who was involved in this situation at the White House and when it began.

Key Facts:

The program "Americast" is available on BBC Sounds.
Jake Tapper from CNN participated in the discussion.
The topic was about a possible "cover-up" related to President Joe Biden's decline.
The conversation revealed new claims about White House involvement.
The discussion touched on when this situation might have started.
The episode was released on May 18, 2025.

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Alan Shearer: 'This is the year of the underdog - and I love it!'

May 18, 2025

Crystal Palace won the FA Cup for the first time by defeating Manchester City. The match had strong performances from Palace players, and their fans actively supported the team throughout. This win is significant for the club as they prepare to enjoy European football next season.

Key Facts:

Crystal Palace defeated Manchester City to win the FA Cup.
This is Crystal Palace's first major trophy in their history.
The match was held at Wembley Stadium.
Palace fans were vocal in their support during the game.
The team had impressive individual performances, including saving a penalty.
Crystal Palace will participate in European football for the first time next season.
The club will consider player transfers in the summer, but that's not the focus now.
Goalkeeper Dean Henderson avoided a red card for a handball outside the box.

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Watch: Moment training ship's masts snap as it smashes into bridge

May 18, 2025

A ship from the Mexican Navy hit the Brooklyn Bridge while visiting New York City, causing damage to the ship. The incident occurred as the ship was passing under the bridge, and footage shows the ship's masts touching the bridge.

Key Facts:

A tall ship from the Mexican Navy is named Cuauhtémoc.
The ship hit the Brooklyn Bridge in New York City.
The incident happened during a festive visit to the U.S.
Footage shows the ship's masts clipping the bridge.
The collision took place on a Saturday evening.
The Brooklyn Bridge is an iconic structure in New York City.

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Criminals could fill potholes and clean bins under government plans

May 18, 2025

The UK government is planning to expand the use of community service for convicted criminals. Offenders might work on tasks like filling potholes and cleaning bins instead of serving short prison sentences, to help manage prison overcrowding.

Key Facts:

The plan involves having offenders do unpaid community work, like filling potholes and cleaning bins.
Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood wants probation teams to coordinate with local councils for job assignments.
Private companies could employ offenders for community work, and their wages go into a fund for victims.
An independent review on sentencing by David Gauke will be published soon, focusing on community-based sentences.
Prisons in the UK are overcrowded, prompting these new measures to find alternative sentences.
Up to 1,000 inmates will be released early to free up space in prisons.
A £4.7 billion investment is planned to build more prisons in the UK.
Shadow justice secretary Robert Jenrick criticized the early release plan, saying it doesn't protect the public.

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'What the hell just happened' - why did the UK entry crash out of Eurovision?

May 18, 2025

The UK entry, Remember Monday, finished 19th in the 2025 Eurovision Song Contest. Despite strong singing and positive feedback on their performance, the song's complex style may have been difficult for audiences to connect with quickly.

Key Facts:

Remember Monday represented the UK at Eurovision 2025.
The group finished 19th out of 26 contestants.
Their song, "What The Hell Just Happened," featured a mix of musical styles.
The UK entry received all its 88 points from professional juries.
The song included musical influences from well-known British artists.
Some critics felt the song's complexity made it hard to follow.
Ace Bowerman, a respected creative director, worked on their performance staging.

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Far-right leaders attempting to hijack success of Reform

May 18, 2025

Two far-right leaders, David Clews and Mark Collett, are planning to influence Reform UK by encouraging supporters to join the party and promote their extremist views. Reform UK has stated that their party will not welcome far-right individuals and has a strict process to prevent this.

Key Facts:

David Clews and Mark Collett plan to infiltrate Reform UK to promote far-right views.
Clews claims that sympathizers are already inside Reform, but he provided no evidence.
Reform UK has a strict vetting process to keep far-right individuals out.
Clews says infiltrators are hard to detect because they have no public ties to far-right groups.
Clews and Collett signed a declaration to push Reform UK further to the right.
They encourage supporters to join Reform and run for political offices.
Some members of Collett's group, Patriotic Alternative, have been convicted of hate crimes.
The infiltration plan was exposed by the Labour Against Antisemitism campaign group.

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Sensational Scheffler seizes control of US PGA Championship

May 18, 2025

Scottie Scheffler leads the US PGA Championship after the third round, holding a three-shot advantage at Quail Hollow. He finished his round with a strong performance, scoring 11 under par. Alex Noren is in second place at eight under, with other contenders like Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau trailing behind.

Key Facts:

Scottie Scheffler shot a six-under round of 65 and leads the tournament at 11 under par.
Scheffler aims to win his third major title after leading the previous rounds in both 2022 and 2024.
Alex Noren is in second place at eight under par after scoring 66.
Jon Rahm and Bryson DeChambeau held brief leads but finished at six and five under par, respectively.
Jhonattan Vegas, who led overnight, dropped to five back at six under due to early bogeys.
Rory McIlroy, the Masters champion, is 13 shots behind the leader after scoring a 72.
The round was delayed by thunderstorms, and players had to start from different tees.
Scheffler's strong finish included an eagle on the par-four 14th hole and birdies on holes 15, 17, and 18.

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Gove 'in agreement' with Swinney over second independence referendum

May 18, 2025

Michael Gove, a former UK government minister, stated that a second Scottish independence referendum could happen if there is strong public support. He said that while he doesn't see a need for a vote right now, the UK government might reconsider if the Scottish National Party (SNP) gains popularity and more people want a referendum.

Key Facts:

Michael Gove is a former Conservative minister who talked about the possibility of a second Scottish independence vote.
Gove believes a new referendum is unnecessary unless there is overwhelming public support in Scotland.
John Swinney, Scotland's First Minister, aims to build strong support for independence.
Gove said the UK government might need to change its approach if SNP support grows.
Gove mentioned that focusing too much on constitutional issues could be harmful, suggesting that concentrating on the economy, health, and transport is important.
The UK government, while Gove was a member, previously rejected calls for a second referendum from the Scottish government.
Gove suggested the chance of a second referendum is linked to the SNP's success in improving public services.
In the past, Gove had disagreements with Scottish ministers, notably over the Gender Recognition Reform bill.

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Photographer spends decade capturing back garden wildlife

May 18, 2025

Photographer Andrew Fusek Peters has spent ten years taking pictures of wildlife in his garden and nearby areas in Shropshire, UK. His work highlights the beauty of everyday wildlife found in backyards, including birds, squirrels, and other animals, and is featured in a new book called "Garden Safari."

Key Facts:

Andrew Fusek Peters took photos of garden wildlife over a decade.
He captured images in his garden and nearby village of Lydbury in Shropshire.
His photos include rare images like a hare feeding her young and a goldfinch with rainbow wings.
He uses his kitchen as a hiding spot to photograph wildlife without disturbing them.
After being diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2018, he focused on capturing wildlife at home.
The book "Garden Safari" features his wildlife photography and encourages people to make gardens wildlife-friendly.
Springwatch presenter Iolo Williams praised the book for showing the importance of gardens for wildlife.

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'I was refused service in a cafe because of my face'

May 17, 2025

Amit Ghose, born with a condition that causes benign tumors, was recently refused service at a London cafe because of his appearance. He has faced bullying and discrimination throughout his life but now shares his story to inspire others and has published a children's book, "Born Different," to help kids embrace their uniqueness.

Key Facts:

Amit Ghose has Neurofibromatosis type 1, which causes non-cancerous tumors to grow on nerves.
He was refused service in a London cafe recently due to his facial appearance.
Amit published a children's book, "Born Different," to help children accept and celebrate their differences.
He lost his left eye at age 11, which further changed his appearance and led to bullying.
Cricket helped Amit make friends and feel accepted during his school years.
Amit shares his story on social media, gaining almost 200,000 followers, to inspire others.
His wife, Piyali, encouraged him to accept himself and share his journey publicly.

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Inside the therapy room: BBC watches as three lives change

May 17, 2025

The BBC documented the therapy journeys of 12 people, including Nicole, in the series "Change Your Mind, Change Your Life." Nicole sought help for her fear of driving, which was linked to deeper issues. Through six therapy sessions, she learned to understand and manage her anxiety better.

Key Facts:

Nicole, 31, went to therapy for her driving anxiety and panic attacks.
Her therapy with Owen O'Kane revealed deeper emotional issues.
Each week, 1 in 6 people in the UK face mental health challenges.
Over 1.2 million people use the NHS's talking therapies yearly.
Therapy can help with various mental health issues but isn't effective for everyone.
Owen O'Kane describes therapy as detective work to uncover deeper issues.
Nicole found out that not being kind to herself was part of her anxiety.
She described therapy as a learning experience for self-compassion and understanding emotions.

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