Emilia Randall

Gardeners are advised to provide wildlife with fresh water during hot, dry weather and to clean and dry water containers daily to reduce disease transmission. Shallow bowls, escape routes from ponds, and safe placement away from predators are recommended, while milk should not be given to hedgehogs. Wildlife organizations also suggest keeping water separate from feeding stations, taking care when mowing or lighting bonfires, and offering hedgehogs meaty cat or dog food.

Painting ceilings in colours other than standard white can make rooms feel more cohesive, elevated and expensive. Colour drenching, or using similar shades across the walls, trim and ceiling, softens visual boundaries and creates a calm, enveloping effect. Dark or glossy ceilings can also produce a cosy “jewel box” effect in smaller rooms, with navy, charcoal and deep forest green identified as suitable choices.

A landslide-triggered mega-tsunami in Alaska generated a 500‑metre wave that devastated an island in Tracy Arm Fjord, narrowly missing nearby tourist areas. Geologist Bretwood Higman, who surveyed the aftermath, warned that such events are likely to become far more frequent as glacier retreat destabilizes surrounding rock. Scientists urge increased monitoring of high‑risk areas, while some cruise operators have halted visits to the fjord due to safety concerns.

A 33‑year‑old mother, Yevgenia Leontyeva, died after a missecured rope caused her to fall 100 feet during a free‑flying jump in Karaganda, Kazakhstan. Her husband witnessed the incident, which occurred after the instructor, Alexander Muznikas, allegedly urged her to jump despite signs of fear and a safety request from a friend. A cross‑line meant to stop her fall failed, and she struck an iron fence. She suffered severe injuries and died shortly after. Muznikas was convicted of providing unsafe services and causing death through negligence, receiving a four‑year prison sentence.

A review of the horror film Bring Her Back highlights its intense psychological terror, driven by Sally Hawkins’ unsettling performance as a grief-consumed former social worker fixated on her foster child. The film is praised for its disturbing imagery and emotional impact, though criticized for overusing miscommunication tropes and relying heavily on familiar Freudian horror elements. Despite its excesses, the movie delivers several deeply unsettling moments, creating an experience that leaves viewers physically recoiling and often unable to watch. Recommended for those seeking a brief but harrowing horror experience.

Severe torture and deaths at Uzbekistan’s Jaslyk prison are detailed through documented cases, witness testimonies and human rights reports, including the scalding death of Muzafar Avazov and mistreatment of other inmates such as Valeriy Parijer and dissident poet Yusuf Juma. Accounts describe extreme physical abuse, solitary confinement and harsh conditions at the facility, which was established after the 1999 Tashkent bombings to detain alleged religious extremists. Human Rights Watch and former prisoners report longstanding, systematic torture, while Uzbek authorities deny its prevalence and block UN access. Israel has pressed for Parijer's transfer and release amid international concern over ongoing abuses.

A Gulliver’s Travels‑themed park in rural Japan, funded by the Japanese government and built near Aokigahara forest and the former Aum Shinrikyo headquarters, closed after four years due to its unsettling location and lack of attractions. The site, featuring a 45‑metre statue of Gulliver, has remained abandoned since 2004, now deteriorating with graffiti and decaying structures as tourism interest faded.

Archaeologists uncovered a 2,137‑year‑old woman’s grave in the Ala‑Tey necropolis in Russia’s Tuva region, revealing a jet stone belt buckle resembling a modern smartphone and decorated with Chinese wuzhu coins, helping date the burial to between 92 BC and AD 71. Additional similar artefacts were found in nearby graves, and researchers emphasized the rarity and preservation of the nomadic Hun burials, which are normally submerged under a reservoir. Excavation teams continue working to preserve finds before water levels rise again.

A starving brown bear repeatedly attacked the village of Sankebetsu in northern Japan in 1915, beginning with the killing of a woman and later returning to her funeral, where it killed additional mourners. The bear continued breaking into homes and attacking residents until hunters eventually located and killed it, ending the violence. The incident remains one of Japan’s deadliest bear attacks, and modern bear encounters have increased due to food shortages, environmental change and growing human encroachment into bear habitats.

Ian Brady’s stated desire to commit the “perfect murder” is presented as the driving motive behind the Moors Murders, while Myra Hindley’s later accounts attempt to explain her involvement through claims of manipulation, abuse and emotional dependence. Expert commentary highlights inconsistencies in Hindley’s narrative and suggests her background and temperament made her less likely to be coerced. Investigators argue she was normal before meeting Brady, but her own reflections acknowledge a capacity for cruelty. The article recounts the sequence of killings, the pair’s relationship dynamics and the psychological interpretations offered by specialists and law enforcement.

Authorities uncovered a multigenerational incest cult in rural Australia where 38 related children lived in severe neglect and suffered extensive sexual abuse. Many children displayed serious disabilities linked to inbreeding and were removed into foster care after officials found squalid living conditions and ongoing harm. Court proceedings revealed widespread incest involving siblings, parents, and grandparents, alongside perjury by several adult family members attempting to conceal paternity. Although many charges were dropped, some family members received custodial sentences or correction orders, and the children have remained in care due to the extreme risks they faced.

A comparison of UK supermarket own‑brand brown sauces found Aldi’s 99p Bramwells variety to be the best performer, offering strong flavour, good consistency and value that rivals or surpasses HP Sauce. HP remains the standard but was challenged by Aldi, while Asda’s version delivered decent flavour but poor consistency. M&S and Waitrose both disappointed, with weak or unexpected flavours. Aldi was ranked highest, followed by Asda, M&S, and Waitrose.

A detailed account of the Rothschilds’ extravagant 1972 Surrealist Ball at Château de Ferrières describes elaborate costumes, bizarre décor and attendance by major cultural figures, highlighting the opulence of the event and the history of the Rothschild family’s estate before its later donation to the Paris universities’ chancellery.

A Kentucky family known as the Fugates exhibited generations of blue-tinted skin due to a rare inherited condition, methemoglobinemia, intensified by long-term isolation and inbreeding. The disorder was traced back to early 19th‑century settler Martin Fugate and was later medically investigated in the 1960s by haematologist Madison Cawein, who confirmed an enzyme deficiency affecting oxygen transport in the blood. Some descendants continued to show symptoms into the modern era, though often less severely than earlier generations.

Charles Sobhraj, known as 'The Serpent', is profiled through his decades-long pattern of theft, manipulation and murder across Asia, including killings in Thailand, India and Nepal. The article traces his repeated escapes from custody, the assistance of accomplices such as Marie-Andree Leclerc, and the efforts of diplomat Herman Knippenberg, whose evidence ultimately contributed to Sobhraj’s convictions. Despite being linked to numerous murders, Sobhraj was formally convicted of only two and was released from a Nepalese prison in 2022. His movements, criminal methods and the international efforts to apprehend him are detailed alongside accounts of victims and investigators who pursued the case.

Snape Maltings in Suffolk is named the top food destination in East England for 2025 by Which?, surpassing other regional favourites. Nearby Aldeburgh is highlighted for its annual food and drink festival, celebrated seafood offerings, and acclaimed restaurants including Aldeburgh Fish and Chip Shop, Regatta, and The Suffolk. Lower visitor numbers, independent shops, and scenic coastal walks contribute to the town’s appeal as a peaceful culinary getaway.

The Soyuz 11 crew of Georgi Dobrovolsky, Vladislav Volkov and Viktor Patsayev died from rapid depressurisation during re‑entry after a valve opened to space following explosive bolt separation. Unaware of the tragedy, ground controllers expected a normal landing as the spacecraft’s automated systems executed a flawless descent and touchdown in Kazakhstan. Investigators found the crew lifeless on recovery, with evidence they attempted to close the valve. The incident remains the only case of humans dying in space.

Blue Story, the acclaimed Rapman-directed gangster drama, has been added to BBC iPlayer after previously being pulled from some UK cinemas following violent incidents. The film, praised for its emotional storytelling and unique narrative style, follows a friendship strained by gang tensions in south London. Vue Cinemas defended its decision to withdraw the film, citing multiple disturbances, while rejecting accusations of racial motivation. Critics and viewers have widely praised the movie, calling for a sequel and commending its performances and direction.

An 18-year-old hiker, Daylenn Pua, disappeared in 2015 while walking near the Haiku Stairs in Hawaii, with a final photo he sent to his grandmother appearing to show a mysterious figure crouching in bushes behind him. Other hikers reported hearing cries for help around the time he vanished, prompting search efforts focused on a narrow ridge. Despite speculation about foul play and the so‑called “shadow man,” no perpetrator was identified, and the case remains unsolved.

An 11-year-old Yemeni girl, Noora Al Shami, was forced to marry her 35-year-old cousin and endured years of sexual and physical abuse, resulting in multiple pregnancies and severe trauma. After a decade, she sought help through an Oxfam and Yemeni Women’s Union programme, obtained a divorce, and later became an advocate for raising Yemen’s legal marriage age. Despite ongoing campaigns and international data showing high rates of child marriage, cultural and religious resistance continues to impede reform efforts.

Research from the UK Seaside Affordability Index identifies Brighton as the most expensive seaside destination, with the combined daily cost of parking, ice cream, fish and chips, and a deckchair totalling £38.20, meaning £100 lasts just over two days. St Ives ranks second, while Swansea is the most affordable at £16.71 per day. Analysts note that families can significantly extend their beach budgets by choosing cheaper coastal regions, particularly in the North and Wales.

A woman in Oregon, Korena Roberts, murdered 21-year-old pregnant Heather Snively, cut open her abdomen to steal her unborn baby, and concealed the body. Roberts had faked her own pregnancy for months before staging the attack. Paramedics discovered the newborn had not survived, and investigators confirmed Roberts had no mental disorder. She pleaded guilty in 2010 and received a life sentence without parole. Prosecutors found no evidence the baby had lived outside the womb, preventing separate charges. Heather’s family expressed profound grief, and Roberts’ partner was cleared of involvement.

Japanese maples require consistent deep watering and the use of moisture‑retaining mulch to prevent leaf scorch, wilting and premature leaf drop in hot summer weather. Mulching with options such as pine bark, wood chips or compost helps cool the roots, retain moisture and suppress weeds, while nitrogen‑rich mulches should be avoided. Maintaining a thin, well‑spaced mulch layer and soaking the soil weekly supports healthy foliage and vibrant colour through the warmer months.