No credible forecast shows UK oil and gas demand falling to zero by 2050, even under net zero scenarios – oil and gas are essential ingredients in plastics, fertilisers, medicines and modern technology. The 78% headline tax rate is forcing a decline in North Sea production and driving investment overseas, with the workforce forecast to halve to as low as 57,000 by the early 2030s – losing up to 1,000 jobs a month. Replacing domestic production with imports increases overall emissions by around 50% and risks gas shortages on cold winter days as early as 2026/27.

A grieving Yorkshire family, who tragically lost their husband and father to suicide, are rowing the Atlantic in his memory. Robert Ash, from Harrogate, died by suicide in September 2023, leaving his wife Charlotte and their three grown-up children, Camilla, James and Henry. The Ashes are embarking on this epic challenge, despite having no rowing experience at all.

You’ve barely packed away the last of the fairy lights and wrestled with the glut of bloated January bills, and just as you come up for air, half term. Really, so soon?! BACP counsellor Margaret Ward-Martin, founder of The Grace Project, looks at how to make the most of the half-term ‘break’ for both parents and children.

Long-distance train operator CrossCountry has unveiled the first refurbished train of its Voyager fleet - marking the start of a £75 million investment to deliver a brighter, more comfortable experience for passengers across Britain.

The Department for Education (DfE) has published its outline proposals for reforming the adoption support system in England, alongside a consultation open to adoptees, those in kinship care, families and professionals that will run for 12 weeks.

Grand Central has announced the launch of its 2026 Community Fund, offering grants of £100 to £5,000 to support community projects that make a positive impact across the areas served by its network.

Gwendoline Beaumont, Florence Beaumont and Dame Millicent Garrett Fawcett’s political legacy to equal franchise will be marked with a blue plaque in an evening of celebration at Hatfeild Hall on the 10th of March, hosted by Dream Time Creative, as part of 2026 International Women’s Day Celebrations.

Governments are constantly tempted to push flexible working because it allows them to support a popular social change without having to pay for it themselves. The new, stronger “right to request” flexible working in the Employment Rights Act will be much harder for managers to resist, and even dealing with such requests will impose costs on companies. While private businesses may be able to control some of these costs, the widespread strengthening of flexible working rights is likely to damage productivity, slow growth, and undermine wages and employment. This will be all the more true if unions or workplace rules stop wages adjusting, for example to reflect whether particular jobs can in practice be done remotely. This is likely to be a particular problem in the public sector, reinforcing its existing poor productivity record.

University of East Anglia researchers are launching a trial to see if the commonly prescribed antidepressant Sertraline could reduce emotional changes caused by having a stroke. When a stroke happens, it can damage areas of the brain that regulate emotional expression - causing sudden uncontrollable episodes of laughing or crying.

The second largest train operator in the UK has launched a recruitment drive, as it looks to hire up to 18 apprentices who are ready to develop the mechanical and electrical engineering skills needed to fix and maintain trains.

Sara Williamson from Wakefield was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer at age 46. This year is a significant milestone, as she was given a 20 per cent chance of living 10 years if she could complete treatment. Unfortunately, treatment was halted several times due to heart failure. Today she celebrates her 10-year cancerversary.

Two Yorkshire lawyers have completed the ‘World’s Toughest Row’, an unsupported Atlantic crossing from La Gomera in the Canary Islands to Antigua, in aid of two much-loved regional charities.

Dear Editor, As we mark Tinnitus Week (2 – 8 February), we know that for many people with tinnitus, it’s not just a hum in the background, but something that can make everyday life a challenge. Despite tinnitus being more common than most people realise with one in seven adults experiencing it, too many are still left confused, worried or unsure of where to turn for help.

The Federation of Independent Retailers (the Fed) has repeated calls for government grants to improve security in smaller stores, following the announcement of investment in facial recognition technology for police forces.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is urging people to take immediate safety precautions as amber weather warnings are issued ahead of the arrival of Storm Chandra. Storm Chandra, the third major storm to affect the UK this month, is expected to bring a combination of damaging winds and heavy rainfall from Monday into Tuesday.

The start of 2026 marks almost a decade and a half of a resident-led change programme across England.

The North Yorkshire Moors Railway (NYMR) have launched the Bridge 42 Appeal - a vital fundraising initiative to repair a bridge between Grosmont Level Crossing and the tunnel. The historic structure is one of over 30 vital bridges and culverts that carries trains and passengers every year through the stunning landscapes of the North York Moors.

‘Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.’ History’s sternest lessons are rarely subtle. They repeat themselves under new names, dressed in contemporary language, and insist - always - that this time will be different. James II of England (1633-1701) provides one such lesson.

In response to Age UK’s new analysis of trolley waits in Emergency Departments in England, Dr Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “These figures, and the heart-wrenching stories from patients, shared by Age UK today are a damning indictment of the state of EDs and reflect the reality that my colleagues and I see each and every day at work.

48% of couples say they share joint responsibility with their partner over the ‘purse strings’. Scottish Friendly survey shows modern couples share cleaning, shopping and DIY tasks

New analysis by Prostate Cancer UK shows that prostate cancer has become the most common cancer in the UK for the first time, with diagnosis rates at record highs. Largest public funder of prostate cancer research, Prostate Cancer UK warns that responsibility to discuss testing still rests with men, and urges Government to take action to address stark regional inequalities in diagnosis.

Dear Editor, Many people want to give back to their communities, but sometimes finding the time to volunteer can be a real challenge. It’s not always easy to commit to a traditional volunteering shift, at a specific time or on a regular basis. Balancing giving back with work, family, and other responsibilities can be difficult.

Transdev has launched a Level 2 Bus Driver Apprenticeship programme, with the first cohort beginning in January 2026 and applications now open for subsequent intakes. The scheme, delivered in partnership with training provider Realise, comprises 326 hours of training over eight months. Each apprenticeship is valued at £8,000, funded entirely through Transdev's Apprenticeship Levy.