All articles tagged with #england
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will spend an extended period in the U.K. this autumn, per their spokesperson, with no indication of a permanent move and a timeline that remains unclear.
117-year-old Ethel Caterham, the world’s oldest person, celebrated her birthday at a Surrey care home with family, afternoon tea, and a Frank Sinatra tribute; her life has spanned two world wars, the sinking of the Titanic, and six British monarchs. She says she has longevity secrets, though the article doesn’t list them, and she’s hopeful for the year ahead.
UK government to grant mayors in 13 areas new powers to overrule local councils on select planning decisions (large housing schemes, big commercial spaces, or tall buildings), matching London’s “call-in” ability and enabling upfront permission for some projects. Local councils still handle the majority of applications, with a consultation on implementation planned next week. The move aims to boost housing delivery (target of 1.5 million homes by 2030) but has drawn criticism from opposition parties over centralisation and potential two-tier governance.
England clinched the Headingley test with a strong all-round performance: Jos? Joe Root's steady captaincy, Brook’s 91 off 93, and Jordan Cox’s calm 73; Ollie Robinson dominated with 5-51 in the first innings and 8-80 overall, while Josh Tongue added eight wickets. Pakistan’s batting struggled, and several England batters underperformed, but the hosts’ bowlers and key knocks secured the win.
England’s bowlers James Robinson and Josh Tongue shared five-wicket hauls to dismantle Pakistan for 171 at Headingley, with Robinson striking on the very first ball and Tongue taking two in two before tea. Pakistan’s innings featured knocks from Imam, Shan, Shafique, Rizwan and Abbas before the tail-end fell. England finished day one 30-0 in reply, with Ben Duckett and Emilio Gay at the crease, as rain interrupted play and coverage continued for radio and video highlights.
Taylor Swift attended the star-studded wedding of Oli Jacobs and Laura Sisk in England, flaring her large engagement ring and wedding band while mingling with guests. She wore a Costarellos-designed Arcangela appliqué tulle gown with gold embroidery and a plunging neckline, complemented by a pearl necklace and red lips. Travis Kelce was not in attendance as he started the Chiefs’ preseason, and Swift was seen socializing with fellow attendees including Sabrina Carpenter, Jack Antonoff, and Phoebe Bridgers.
A second train derailed near Wickford railway station in Essex, southeast England, just after 2 p.m. local time, less than 24 hours after a Lewes derailment that injured 18 people (two seriously). There are currently no reported injuries at Wickford; investigations are underway, and experts warn extreme heat could have caused rail tracks to buckle due to heat expansion during the record heatwave.
About 71.3% of England is in drought after the driest July on record and a fifth heatwave, stressing water resources; DEFRA has imposed irrigation limits and hosepipe bans, with around 45 million people living in drought-affected areas and farmers facing crop losses.
71.3% of England is in drought after July, the driest month on record since 1836; the National Drought Group added regions to drought status, bringing 45 million people into drought areas and over 27 million under water-use restrictions as heatwaves persist. Amber health alerts remain, wildfire risk rises, and farmers warn of poor yields, with officials pushing on-site irrigation measures while climate scientists link the drought to warming and El Niño.
A King's Fund analysis shows England’s obesity rate rose from 15% of adults in 1993 to 30% in 2024, with the fastest growth among 16–24-year-olds (18% obese in 2024 vs 6% in 1993). About 14 million adults are obese, and there are roughly 1 million young adults living with obesity now. Drivers include more sedentary white-collar jobs, cheaper and more accessible high-fat/salt/sugar foods, widespread takeaways, and rising deprivation. Despite 14 obesity strategies since 1992, progress is viewed as inadequate. Policies have included a sugar levy (2018), advertising restrictions, and ongoing debates over tighter controls near schools; weight-loss drugs are used in NHS pathways or privately. Health leaders call for broader societal action, noting examples like France as potential lessons.
A King's Fund analysis shows obesity in England has more than doubled since 1993, rising from 15% to 30% of adults, equating to 7.2 million additional people living with obesity. Despite 14 national strategies since 1992, rates have continued to climb, with a notable rise among 16–24-year-olds. While the NHS plans to expand access to GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, experts warn they are not a silver bullet and must be part of broader prevention efforts, including healthier food policies, supermarket standards, and empowering local authorities to address root causes and reduce health inequalities.
Zendaya and Tom Holland celebrated their marriage with a private wedding party at the Beaverbrook Hotel in Surrey, England, on Aug. 4, months after their intimate ceremony; family attended, and the couple continue to keep details of their relationship private while making rare public appearances as newlyweds.
Parts of the West Country are officially in drought as a fourth heatwave grips the UK, with the Environment Agency saying more than half of England is in drought and July could be the driest on record (about 7% of normal rainfall). Impacts include wildfires, low river levels and early harvests; Thames Water has imposed a hosepipe ban while other providers urge careful use. The drought is described as a rapid 'flash drought' or climate whiplash, prompting simple water-saving tips such as shorter showers, full loads and reusing pool water for plants.
More than half of England is under drought after a prolonged dry spell and heat, with rivers like the Thames shrinking and reservoirs receding. The declaration marks the third drought in five years (2022, 2025, 2026) and scientists warn climate change is raising drought risk by accelerating soil drying and water losses.
Spain manager Luis de la Fuente says the current golden era must stay hungry after a historic World Cup win, with the next challenge the September clash against England as he motivates a young core to continue adding trophies and cement a place among football’s great national teams.