A report found that young people in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire are discouraged from using public transport due to its high cost, accessibility issues, and safety concerns. The report surveyed over 900 young people, revealing that cost is seen as the biggest obstacle, followed by accessibility.
Key Facts
The report is from the Gloucestershire Community Rail Partnership.
Over 900 young people aged 13-25 participated in the survey and forums.
44% identified cost as the main barrier to using public transport.
18% said accessibility is a significant issue.
Young people have raised concerns about public transport being unreliable, with frequent delays and cancellations.
A train journey from Gloucester to Birmingham has increased in price by 40% in recent years.
Local transport companies are considering recommendations from the report to make services more appealing to young people.
The UK government allocated £8 million to support and improve bus services in Gloucestershire.
Social prescribing is a method where doctors recommend activities, like cycling or art classes, to improve health instead of only prescribing medicine. Frank Frost, who struggled with Type 2 diabetes, lost weight and improved his health by joining a cycling group his doctor suggested, which helped him socially and physically.
Key Facts
Social prescribing means doctors suggest community activities to boost health.
Activities can include exercise, art, music, nature, and volunteering.
Frank Frost, a former truck driver, joined a cycling group through social prescribing.
Frost's new routine helped him lose 100 pounds and control his diabetes.
Social prescriptions are meant to work with traditional medical treatments, not replace them.
Benefits of these activities include improved mood, stress reduction, and better physical health.
Over 30 countries, including the U.S., are implementing social prescribing to treat various health issues.
Heavy floods in Kerr County, Texas have caused at least 132 deaths, and over 160 people are missing. Efforts to find more victims were paused due to new storms in the area.
Key Facts
Flooding occurred in Kerr County, Texas.
At least 132 people died due to the floods.
More than 160 people are currently missing.
A search for more victims was stopped on Sunday.
New storms in the area caused the search to be suspended.
A BBC Panorama investigation found that two big estate agencies, Connells and Purplebricks, might be using unfair practices. The investigation showed that Connells gave priority to home buyers who used their services, like mortgages, while Purplebricks was accused of overvaluing properties to attract sellers.
Key Facts
BBC uncovered potential unfair practices at Connells and Purplebricks through undercover work.
Connells allegedly prioritized buyers who used their in-house services for more profit.
Purplebricks was accused of overvaluing homes to attract sellers and later asking them to lower prices.
"Conditional selling," urging buyers to use in-house services, is against the rules Connells pledged to follow.
Connells responded saying they aim to treat all customers fairly.
Purplebricks stated that they no longer set targets related to pushing customers to lower their asking prices.
Connells operates 1,200 branches across the UK and uses in-house mortgage services.
The investigation raised concerns from over 20 financial and mortgage advisers.
Sen. Thom Tillis of North Carolina announced he will not run for re-election in 2026 after voting against a major bill supported by former President Trump. Tillis opposed the bill because it would have reduced funding for Medicaid, requiring states to spend more to provide health care. His decision has led some in his party to criticize him, calling him a "RINO" or "Republican In Name Only."
Key Facts
Thom Tillis is a Republican senator from North Carolina.
Tillis decided not to run for re-election in 2026.
He voted against a bill that cuts social programs like Medicaid.
Tillis' decision was criticized by some Republicans, including Trump.
"RINO" means "Republican In Name Only"; Tillis embraced this label with a twist.
DW-NOMINATE is a method that tracks how conservative or liberal lawmakers are based on their voting records.
Tillis has a conservative score of .389, close to Trump's estimated score of .403.
Last week in Baltimore, 27 people were taken to the hospital due to possible drug overdoses in a small neighborhood. Although overdose numbers are going down across the country, this incident shows it's still a serious issue in Baltimore.
Key Facts
27 people were rushed to the hospital in Baltimore for possible drug overdoses.
The incident occurred in a small neighborhood in Baltimore.
Overdose numbers are decreasing in the United States overall.
Baltimore officials are addressing the aftermath of these overdoses.
The situation highlights that drug overdoses remain a problem in Baltimore.
Construction is starting on a new electric arc furnace at Tata Steel's Port Talbot site, aiming to reduce carbon emissions by about 90% by 2027. This follows the closure of traditional blast furnaces in September 2024, which led to 2,800 job losses. The UK government supports the project with a £500 million grant as part of a transition plan.
Key Facts
Port Talbot's traditional blast furnaces closed in September 2024, resulting in 2,800 job losses.
Construction of a new electric arc furnace begins today at the Tata Steel site in Port Talbot.
The new furnace aims to cut the site’s carbon emissions by about 90%.
The project is expected to be completed by 2027.
The UK government contributed a £500 million grant to support the transition.
UK Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds and Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens attended the project’s official start.
The UK government's steel council will meet to finalize a broader steel strategy, involving up to £2.5 billion in investment.
The Community Union views the launch as "bittersweet" but sees it as a step towards revitalizing the steel industry in Port Talbot.
A winter storm hit Kotzebue, Alaska, highlighting the important role of local public radio during emergencies. The U.S. Senate is considering cutting $1.1 billion in federal funds for public broadcasting, which may impact rural stations like KOTZ that depend on this support. President Trump is pushing for these cuts, while some senators express concern about the effects on rural areas.
Key Facts
A major winter storm struck Kotzebue, Alaska, causing damage and evacuations.
Desiree Hagan, a reporter at public radio station KOTZ, broadcasted essential information during the storm.
The U.S. Senate is reviewing a proposal to cut $1.1 billion in federal support for public broadcasters.
President Trump supports the cuts, claiming media bias, and is pressuring Republican senators to agree.
Public radio and TV executives deny bias and stand by their journalistic standards.
More than 70% of federal funding for public media goes to local stations, with 45% in rural areas.
Station KOTZ in Kotzebue gets 41% of its income from public funding.
Some senators from rural states oppose the cuts, worried about their local media's survival.
Former US President Donald Trump will visit the UK for a state visit hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla at Windsor Castle from September 17 to 19. This visit breaks tradition, as usually, second-term US presidents do not receive state visits. The event will feature a ceremonial welcome and a banquet, but no public events are planned for security reasons.
Key Facts
Donald Trump will attend a state visit in the UK hosted by King Charles III from September 17 to 19.
First Lady Melania Trump will accompany him on the visit.
The visit will be held at Windsor Castle because Buckingham Palace is under renovation.
Typically, second-term US presidents are not given state visits, just tea or lunch with the monarch.
The visit will include a ceremonial welcome and a state banquet at St George's Hall.
Security concerns mean there will be no public events, similar to Trump's previous visit in 2019.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer delivered the King's invitation to Trump during a meeting in February.
The House of Commons will not be in session during the visit, making it unclear if Trump will address parliament members.
A wildfire on the Grand Canyon's North Rim destroyed the historic Grand Canyon Lodge and about 50 to 80 other structures. The park is closed for the season, and no injuries have been reported. Firefighters and park staff evacuated due to the fire risk and potential exposure to harmful gas from a damaged waste treatment plant.
Key Facts
A wildfire destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim.
Approximately 50 to 80 structures were lost to the fire.
The fire led to the seasonal closure of the North Rim.
Two wildfires are currently affecting the North Rim area.
The rapid spread of the Dragon Bravo Fire caused the destruction.
No injuries have been reported from the fires.
There is a risk of chlorine gas exposure after a waste treatment plant burned.
Rangers evacuated firefighters and hikers for safety.
The Grand Canyon Lodge, originally opened in 1937, was an iconic visitor spot.
An attempt to assassinate Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania campaign event led to one death and two injuries. Secret Service actions are under scrutiny due to this and another incident, resulting in multiple investigations and attempts to improve security measures.
Key Facts
A 20-year-old named Michael Thomas Crooks fired eight shots at Donald Trump during a campaign stop in Pennsylvania.
One person was killed, and two were wounded; a bullet grazed Trump's ear.
The Secret Service killed Crooks, the shooter, during the incident.
There were problems with the Secret Service's security planning, including leaving a building with a clear view of Trump unguarded.
Miscommunications occurred between the Secret Service and local law enforcement securing the event.
Investigations revealed the agency denied some requests for additional support at the rally.
The Secret Service is working to improve its procedures after these incidents.
Reports from a Senate committee and the Government Accountability Office highlight security failures and ongoing issues.
A Senate committee report blames the Secret Service for failing to prevent a shooting at a rally for Donald Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania, in 2024. The report highlights communication problems and organizational mistakes by the Secret Service, and notes that some recommended improvements have been made since the incident.
Key Facts
A Senate committee report criticizes the Secret Service for failures during a July 2024 rally in Butler, PA.
Donald Trump was injured when a bullet lightly struck his ear.
A rally attendee was killed, and two others were wounded in the shooting.
The shooter, Thomas Matthew Crooks, was killed by a Secret Service sniper.
The report cites poor communication within the Secret Service and with local police.
An obstructed view prevented some Secret Service agents from seeing the shooter.
The Secret Service has since adopted some recommended changes to improve its operations.
Six Secret Service employees were disciplined with suspensions after the shooting.
Lawmakers visited a temporary immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades known as "Alligator Alcatraz." There is disagreement about the facility's conditions between lawmakers and the Homeland Security Secretary.
Key Facts
Lawmakers inspected an immigration detention center in the Florida Everglades.
The facility is nicknamed "Alligator Alcatraz."
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz described the conditions as "disturbing and vile."
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem disagreed with this description.
The facility has attracted controversy and media attention.
One year after an attempted assassination on former President Trump, NPR discussed the issue of increasing political violence in the U.S. with Katherine Keneally, a political violence researcher.
Key Facts
There was an assassination attempt on former President Trump one year ago.
NPR's Scott Detrow interviewed Katherine Keneally about political violence.
Katherine Keneally studies political violence as her area of expertise.
The discussion focused on whether political violence is becoming more common in America.
The interview was aired on NPR's program "All Things Considered."
The conversation highlights ongoing concerns about safety in U.S. politics.
A recent study in Nature Cities found that 28 large U.S. cities are sinking. This sinking is mainly because people are taking too much water from underground sources.
Key Facts
The study was published in the journal Nature Cities.
It found that 28 of the largest U.S. cities are sinking.
The sinking is due to a process called land subsidence.
Land subsidence happens when the ground drops because of activities like removing groundwater.
The removal of too much groundwater from underground layers is a significant cause.
Ali Rogin spoke with Matt Simon, a senior writer at Grist, to discuss these findings.
BBC Verify investigated claims that 2.1 million people attended Lady Gaga's concert at Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro. They found it unlikely that the beach could hold that many people, although city officials still claim it did, without providing details on how they measured the crowd.
Key Facts
BBC Verify looked into whether 2.1 million people could attend Lady Gaga's concert in Rio de Janeiro.
The concert took place on Copacabana Beach and was funded by the city.
The main goal of the event was to boost the local economy.
Fans came from all over Brazil for the concert.
The concert was said to potentially generate over $100 million for the economy.
A crowd density expert assisted in the analysis of the attendance claim.
The BBC found that fitting 2.1 million people would require the entire stretch of the beach.
Despite these findings, Rio officials continue to claim the attendance number without explaining their counting method.
Former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari passed away at 82 in a London clinic. He was known for his honesty and as a former military leader who became a democratic leader by winning elections in 2015. Despite promises to fight corruption and improve security, his time in office faced economic challenges and increased violence by groups like Boko Haram.
Key Facts
Muhammadu Buhari was a former military leader who later became Nigeria's president through elections.
He passed away at the age of 82 in a London clinic.
Buhari first won the presidency in 2015, defeating the incumbent president.
He was known for his personal honesty and gained support from Nigeria's northern poor.
His presidency coincided with low global oil prices, causing economic problems in Nigeria.
Buhari promised to fight corruption and tackle Nigeria's security issues, including Boko Haram.
Security issues persisted, including violence from Boko Haram and clashes in Central Nigeria.
He faced criticism for not doing enough to stop violence by Fulani herders.
Under his watch, Nigerian armed forces were accused of human rights violations during protests in Lagos.
A suspect shot a state trooper in Fayette County, Kentucky, and then fled to a church in Lexington, where more people were injured in a second shooting. The suspect was killed, and the trooper and other injured people were taken to a hospital.
Key Facts
A state trooper was shot at 11:36 a.m. in Fayette County, Kentucky.
The suspect then went to Richmond Road Baptist Church in Lexington.
Multiple people were injured in a shooting at the church.
The suspect was killed during the incident.
Those injured, including the trooper, were taken to a local hospital.
The condition of the injured people was not immediately known.
A wildfire destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge on the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. The fire, called the Dragon Bravo Fire, burned other structures and caused evacuations, but no injuries were reported.
Key Facts
The Grand Canyon Lodge at the North Rim was destroyed by a wildfire.
The fire, named the Dragon Bravo Fire, also burned 50 to 80 other structures, including a visitor center and employee housing.
The fire spread quickly due to hot weather, low humidity, and wind, reaching 7.8 square miles in size.
The North Rim was evacuated last Thursday because of the fire risk.
There were no reported injuries from the fire.
Firefighters and hikers were evacuated, and river rafters were advised to avoid certain areas.
There is a risk of exposure to chlorine gas after a treatment plant burned.
Another fire, the White Sage Fire, is being contained in another part of the park, with progress reported in its control efforts.
A number of buildings at Camp Mystic in Texas were removed from flood risk maps after the camp successfully challenged their high-risk status. The Federal Emergency Management Agency's (FEMA) maps initially marked the camp as at risk, but appeals led to changes before a flood on July 4 resulted in 27 children dying. Both FEMA and Camp Mystic have not publicly commented on the situation.
Key Facts
Buildings at Camp Mystic were removed from flood risk maps after appeals by the camp.
FEMA's initial maps in 2011 marked Camp Mystic as having a high risk of flooding.
Camp Mystic is located by the Guadalupe River, a low-lying area prone to floods.
Camp Mystic's flood risk designation required the camp to have flood insurance.
27 children died when floodwaters hit Camp Mystic on July 4.
Across Texas, at least 129 people died due to the floods, and many are still missing.
President Trump visited the affected areas and promised government support for rebuilding.
Questions have been raised regarding the warnings provided to camps before the flood.
