Several indicators becoming less downbeat. House prices appear to have stabilised at a national level, although regional disparities are widening. Sentiment regarding the twelve-month sales outlook points towards a recovery

New research into the link between longer stays in A&E and mortality rates makes a significant contribution to the evidence about the consequences of overcrowding in Emergency Departments. That’s the key message from the Royal College of Emergency Medicine following a new study on delay-related harm in EDs which was published in the Emergency Medicine Journal (EMJ) today, 12 February.

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.

Presenter and BAFTA-winning filmmaker Professor David Olusoga, and Adrianne Chapman, Vice Principal of the BRIT School, among speakers at North East event focusing on how to re-centre education around creativity. Education Insights event series explores collaborative approaches to better support young people

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.

AVA: The Vending & Automated Retail Association has welcomed the government’s announcement of the UK deposit return scheme, officially named 'Exchange for Change'. The AVA has played a significant role in the scheme’s creation, ensuring the full representation of the needs of vending and automated retail operators.

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.

When news broke recently of two Chinese spies who were caught but then allowed to walk away on legal grounds, followed by MI5’s warning that a proposed super-embassy could conceal a nest of intelligence operatives, it felt like an echo from another age. Espionage had slipped back into public view.

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 life of a remarkable artist and pioneering inventor who lived and worked in Lancaster more than a century ago will be celebrated this year, thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund. Lancashire-based arts and heritage charity, Mirador, has been granted £91,430 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund to mark the centenary of Karel Klic’s death.

A major archaeological excavation at Harden Quarry, nestled in the Cheviot Hills within Northumberland National Park, has revealed an extraordinary 360-degree view of Bronze Age life, offering the clearest insight yet into early settlement and farming in upland Northumberland. Archaeologists uncovered a fascinating Bronze Age settlement on a hilltop.

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 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.

One hundred MPs have joined forces to demand compensation for WASPI women ahead of a crucial update from ministers promised next month. The letter, signed by 100 MPs across 10 different parties, calls on the Work and Pensions Secretary to “reach the right decision” and to set out plans to compensate affected women as quickly as possible.

British Wool has officially unveiled its 2025 Sheep of the Year, following an enthusiastic public vote celebrating the very best of Britain’s woolly wonders. Each week, British Wool shares its ‘Sheep of the Week’ to Instagram, showcasing photos sent in by farmers from across the UK.

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.

Last Wednesday's White House meeting between Marco Rubio and his Danish and Greenlandic counterparts wasn't your typical diplomatic gathering. They were there to discuss the United States essentially 'buying' Greenland.

Holiday cheer has faded, credit card bills have arrived, and motivation is running low; Blue Monday on 19th January is billed to be the most depressing day of the year. But what if instead of being something to endure, it marks the start of a powerful reset?

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.

Millions of UK households may already have an important financial safety net built into their life insurance – and many don’t even realise it. Research from life insurance expert MoneySuperMarket shows that millions of policyholders aren’t aware that many life insurance policies include terminal illness benefits.

As more UK residents look to the likes of Etsy and Vinted to make room in their wardrobes this year, tax professionals are raising the alarm. HMRC now has visibility into online selling activity, and non-compliance could lead to in-depth investigations or large fines that exceed your earnings.