In South Africa we call it a braai, while it’s a barbie in Australia, a cookout in the USA and a barbecue in the UK and elsewhere, but although the name of the event can differ, the core activities are the same: grilling food, drinking beer and a lot of chat.

Geologists at the British Geological Survey (BGS) have completed a major update to the geological map of the Yorkshire Wolds, where the underlying rocks and sediments play a vital role as natural reservoirs for the region’s underground water resources.

Brits should have their wits about them this festive shopping season, with cybercriminals looking to get hold of the most in-demand items this Christmas.

In the shadowy world of cybercrime, the battlefield is digital, the weapons are psychological, and the targets - increasingly - are us. From rogue hackers to state-sponsored actors, the tactics are evolving. Gone are the days of clumsy spam emails from imaginary princes.

Figures from police forces across the UK have revealed a national surge in mobile phone thefts, with more than 225 devices stolen every day. The data, which was obtained through Freedom of Information requests, shows there were at least 83,900 phone theft offences recorded in the 12 months to July 2024 — almost double the five years previously.

More than 50% of Brits admit they have NEVER cleaned some of the most frequently touched items in their homes Mobile phones, laptops and remote controls are the main items being left off the list Cleaning experts share how and when we should be cleaning them, with guides to beat the filth

In June 2025 there was a major data leak, exposing 16 billion login credentials linked to platforms such as Apple, Facebook, and Google. This underscored the growing inadequacy of the old password-based security. This extraordinarily large leak, compiled from various infostealer attacks over time, highlights a persistent vulnerability that cybercriminals are only too eager to exploit.

Bio Capital, the UK’s leading producer of green energy from food waste, is turning school dinners into a lesson in sustainability. The Community Engagement Lead Nick Wilson has led an interactive ‘schools programme’ across North Yorkshire and the North-East.

After an explosive start, things have slowed down for Threads, but two years on since the launch of Meta’s version of microblogging, Threads is an undeniably strong business. While it has not yet surpassed X in terms of reach, its monetisation strategy may have already outpaced the well-established Twitter/X platform.

From prehistoric settlements, Roman walls and roads, medieval villages, and industrial heritage...the North East is rich in archaeological treasures. And for the first time ever, a water company has recruited a specialist in-house archaeologist to help it protect the past, while it builds for the future.

The findings pave the way for the development of potential drug treatments and personalised therapies for people living with the degenerative condition. Over 900 genetic links to osteoarthritis, including 500 that have never been reported before, have been uncovered in breakthrough research involving Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

The Castle Howard Foundation (“CHF”) has been successful in its application to the Community Energy Fund for a grant to conduct detailed feasibility work into a geothermal system to decarbonise the heating of all the properties in the village of Coneysthorpe. The grant has been awarded alongside match-funding by Third Energy (a local energy company) and Castle Howard Estate Limited.

According to research from Lloyds Bank, driving lesson and test scams have skyrocketed by 92% in the last six months. Nationwide searches for ‘driving lessons’ have also risen by 1,207% in the last seven days, highlighting the growing need for caution before booking.

Mobile phone theft in the UK is surging at an alarming rate, with new figures revealing a sharp rise in incidents that show no sign of slowing. According to recent Freedom of Information (FOI) figures, obtained by The Independent, at least 83,900 mobile phone thefts between July 2023 and 2024, nearly doubling the 45,800 reported over the previous five years.

At software conferences or tech meetups, the term 'Cloud Native' is thrown around like confetti. Along with it comes an avalanche of buzzwords: containers, orchestration, microservices. But what does it all really mean for your business? Let's cut through the jargon and explore why Cloud Native has become such a hot topic – and more importantly, whether it's right for you.

In January 2025, rapper Stormzy was banned from driving for nine months after being caught using his phone at the wheel. Although drivers are four times more likely to be involved in a crash while using their phone, many still find the distraction all too tempting. In this article, SIM-only mobile provider spusu offers its advice for a safer driving experience.

Buying a refurbished smartphone can be a budget-friendly choice for upgrading your device while being kind to the environment. Doing a little research helps to ensure you’re getting a device that’s reliable and worth the investment. Shing Pang, CEO of Mobile Federation has provided a comprehensive guide on what to consider when purchasing a refurbished device.

Weekly national influenza and COVID-19 report, COVID-19 activity, seasonal flu and other seasonal respiratory illnesses.

The government has accepted advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) for the spring 2025 COVID-19 vaccination programme.