Nicholas Dawson

The RSPCA is urging householders to help wildlife cope with persistent hot, dry weather by providing fresh water, suitable food, shade, shelter and safe routes between gardens. Badgers, hedgehogs, bees, aquatic species and other animals face problems including hardened ground, depleted ponds, reduced food supplies and wildfire risk. Residents are advised to keep food and water fresh, add stones and shallow banks to ponds, avoid fires and disposable barbecues, clean bird feeders, provide wildlife shelters, and report dangerously low public ponds to the Environment Agency.

A runway fault at Bristol Airport caused major disruption and several hours of grounded flights between August 7 and 8. Passengers are advised to understand their rights, retain receipts for reasonable food, drink, communication, accommodation and transport expenses, and claim eligible costs from their airline if support is not provided. Compensation is generally unlikely when the delay results from an issue outside the airline’s control, but passengers may qualify for payments of up to £520 when an airline-responsible delay lasts at least three hours.

From April 2027, the Government plans to restrict how the £20,000 annual ISA allowance can be used, allowing only £12,000 for cash or other ISA deposits while reserving £8,000 for stocks and shares. Interest on cash held within a stocks and shares ISA would also face a 22% tax, including for people aged 65 and over. In addition, tax rates on taxable savings interest outside ISAs would rise by two percentage points across income-tax bands. Investing Insiders founder Antonia Medlicott criticized the measures as a disincentive to saving and investing, while noting that stocks and shares ISAs have historically produced higher long-term returns than cash ISAs.

Fitness expert Jess Bass advises reducing exercise intensity during hot weather rather than abandoning activity altogether. She recommends shorter sessions, cooler exercise times, hydration, and alternatives such as Pilates, mobility work, or strength training. Dizziness, nausea, and excessive fatigue are warning signs to stop exercising, while 20 to 30 minutes of controlled movement can help maintain fitness and joint health during a heatwave.

Medical experts outline key considerations for switching from Wegovy injections to the newly available Wegovy weight‑loss pill in the UK. The pill uses the same active ingredient, semaglutide, but must be taken daily on an empty stomach and requires a 30‑minute wait before consuming anything else. Patients are advised not to combine the pill with any other GLP‑1 treatments and typically leave a seven‑day gap when transitioning. Dose adjustments account for previous treatment history, though temporary appetite changes and increased indigestion may occur. The tablet follows a 30‑day cycle and is currently only available privately in the UK.

Nationwide clarified its branch security policies after a notice was seen at its Redhill location outlining rules against aggression and listing security measures. The organisation stated that customer and staff safety is its top priority and that CCTV is used for security and incident management. Nationwide said all branches have consistent security standards but enhanced measures may be introduced where needed. The branch’s posted notice detailed alarms, time‑delay locks, security fog and 24‑hour cameras. Nationwide reaffirmed its pledge to keep all 605 of its branches, along with 91 inherited from Virgin Money, open until at least 2030 except in circumstances beyond its control.