After reading the Eye's special report on how Tees Valley mayor Lord (Ben) Houchen’s flagship “levelling up” project became a taxpayer-funded scandal, a reader writes... Watch the full episode of Page 94 on YouTube.

"Let us build a future where nature is valued and where every child inherits a world of prosperity, not peril. Let us rise to this moment with the clarity that history demands of us. Let us be the generation that turned the tide, not for applause, but for the quiet gratitude of those yet to be born"

'Iran’s president warns Tehran may have to be evacuated amid worsening crisis... ...“If it doesn’t rain, we will have to start restricting water supplies in Tehran next mth. If the drought continues, we will run out of water & be forced to evacuate the city,” he said' www.aa.com.tr/en/middle-ea...

Suffolk birds a bit different this week, we’ve had a lot of this going on (sound on) as joint British French exercises go on @markurban.bsky.social

1403 Woodpigeons visible in a single frame of this video at 21 seconds @derbyshirebirds.bsky.social #UKBirding, my estimate at the time was 12k birds through in three large waves in about 20 minutes, but I might have been well under...

In the heart of Breda, in the south of the Netherlands, a dramatic metamorphosis is underway: the Nieuwe Mark project, where a corridor once dedicated to cars is being transformed into a blue-green vein; part of the city's vision to make its centre more beautiful, liveable, natural and sustainable.🧵

“TASC repeatedly expressed concerns throughout Sizewell C’s planning examination about the risks of sea level rise and flooding of the nuclear site from the unprotected inland side – but these were dismissed. “However, TASC’s FOI request revealed...🧵👇 www.newcivilengineer.com/latest/sitin...

We often forget how far we have come: Today almost 3/4 of EU electricity generation is from non-fossil energy sources. It is not long ago that fossil fuels dominated the EU's electricity mix. This year their share is approaching 1/4 of EU electricity generation. Source is @ember-energy.org

🌱 Good afternoon, Mr Etty’s catalogue of heritage, rare & unusual seeds, together with his seed gift box catalogue are now available. Please read the attached & then follow the link to obtain copies. We would consider it a kindness if you would share this information. bit.ly/thomasetty25...

Absolutely worth watching, 9 minutes on where we are

The whole “yeah I guess you’d just wave this merger through then” shrug of a reaction to this proposal is pretty damning about the state of traditional uk broadcasters… (alternatively, someone bungs up the deal out of muscle memory and continues to ignore the internet)

In my career, literally all of my direct bosses have been women. And I feel comfortable that they would identify as "liberal feminists." I can attest they were fantastic to work for and lovely people.

Korean grannies been swearing by foot/brain connection for decades. Centuries? Those jagged stone walking paths in parks across the country serve a real purpose.

Stunning sky this evening 🌱🇬🇧

I had this magisterial meme in my head all the time I was writing this piece. I'd say "put it in the Louvre" except it might get nicked. ⬇️

🌱🇬🇧 meanwhile there is plenty going on in the garden. Clematis flowering and autumn leaves

Eventful afternoon gardening. A lovely Sun dog, then a succession of low flying Apache, pair of very low helicopter I didn’t identify, Airbus A400 at about 200’ over the house and then a Westland Wildcat too. Gardening interrupted! 🇬🇧🌱

Douglas Barrowman and Michelle Mone made £65m selling faulty PPE to the Government. HMRC now wants £39m in unpaid tax — and we think we know why: Barrowman and Mone may have avoided tax on their £65m profit.

Embodying the principles of directness and attractiveness, Amsterdam’s Nesciobrug—floating 11m above and 780m across the Amsterdam–Rijnkanaal—is the longest non-motorised bridge in the Netherlands, and a shining example of what’s possible when cities don’t allow the car to dictate their priorities.🧵

What happens when one of the smallest cafés in the world gets a #parklet? This summer, Meristem delivered a parklet for 3ft6, a community-focused cafe based in Redfield, #Bristol. The café acts as a hub for neighbours and locals to connect and grab a coffee.

Cool cool cool cool nothing to see here

Essex Highways continue Kafkaesque approach to road closures. Road closed again today. We live on this road, next to a pub. Would’ve been nice if they’d mentioned it.

Nice 🚲 once rain stopped. 30+ Redwings & a small group of Fieldfares at Horne’s Green. 3rd ride running a Buzzard suddenly appeared next to me, it’s quite a surprise! Common Gulls back on fields too. #essexbirding

just....enjoy this

A very clear and easy to understand example. A diesel and electric car park side by side. Photo credit: nextmove

This month's fascinating talk is about Recording Rare Breeding Birds in the UK and Essex, by Mark Eaton from the RBBP. It's streaming live on YouTube from 8pm on Friday: youtube.com/live/VlTi7GS... #essexbirding #RareBirdsUK @ukrbbp.bsky.social

Selling these via CleySpy, if anyone on here is looking for small binoculars #BirdingGear

The Home Office has announced a crack down on fake number scams! + the mobile network has been upgraded to expose scammers who fake their numbers + cutting-edge tech used to track the criminals down + networks commit to block foreign call centres from impersonating banks

Energy transition in action, the demolition of the chimneys of a Portuguese coal fired power station, no longer needed. youtu.be/oC-gOFHcPxY?...

Trump claimed at the UN: “They [China] build them, but they have very few wind farms. So why is it that they build them and they send them all over the world, but they barely use them?” Answer is: they actually do. China has more wind power than any other country.

I realise these stories aren't actually funny and yet they are. They so are.

NEW PODCAST: How to fix VAT Why is chocolate-covered shortbread taxed differently from plain? In the final episode of our tax mini-series, we unpack what makes the UK’s VAT system so complex, inefficient and unfair. 🎧 Listen here: ifs.org.uk/articles/how...

HM Prison Wandsworth has released another prisoner in error. @privateeyenews.bsky.social reports a charity to support prisoners has been kicked out of Wandsworth despite being respected for its work and it being free, gratis & for nothing. One might think that they don’t know what they’re doing.

How not to do Winter Bird Survey: 9.30 planned power cut, leave for survey. Road signs saying road closed 3/11, actually closed now. Turn round & take 35 mins to do the 15 minute trip. Do survey, not much about. Return home long way. Go to enter data: not needed in November 🤦🏻‍♂️ @btobirds.bsky.social

Curriculum and Assessment Review The review, by Professor Becky Francis has been published today. Some highlights for me: * primary school to teach how to spot fake news and identify misinformation & disinformation * secondary schools to work towards offering triple science as standard 1/5

From hard-to-abate to ready-to-innovate: Heineken has just announced a major step toward decarbonising industrial heat: The company will install a 100 MWh thermal energy storage system near Lisbon, in partnership with @rondoenergy.bsky.social and EDP. www.energy-storage.news/cold-beer-ho...

Day 309 of #365DaysOfSmiles I don't know what this Kingfisher did, but his missus is having none of it

2. Scrap VAT exemptions/zero rates and lower the main rate (whilst protecting vulnerable groups).

1. Abolish stamp duty on land

What if there was a consensus on the tax reforms the UK needs? What if it was backed by policy experts from think tanks across the political spectrum, from the Adam Smith Institute to the Resolution Foundation? The consensus is real. The question is: will anyone act on it?

A rare wild orchid has been brought back from the brink of extinction!🥳🌱One of Britain’s most endangered orchids, Fen Orchid, is no longer considered threatened in the UK, according to the bsbibotany.bsky.social 's new GB red list. Find out how we did it👉 loom.ly/02JCV8w

A nice surprise whilst washing up were 2 Firecrests in our Colchester garden this morning. My first locally this autumn/winter and maybe the same returning pair that overwintered here last year. #essexbirding

Today seems a good day to repost this. It’s also a good day to remember you cannot do anything granular and sensible with Labour Force Survey data at the moment And the inactivity rate has plummeted since the data work for the Mayfield review was done*

National Forests Labour are delivering again - their manifesto promised the creation of 3 new national forests - the first for 30 years - supporting nature recovery. 1. The Western Forest was announced back in March 2. Today, a new forest in the Oxford-Cambridge corridor is announced 1/2

London looking lovely this evening as we went to County Hall where the old council chamber serves as a convincing Court Room in a staging of Witness for the Prosecution by Agatha Christie. Excellent show

More detail in this piece from last year: buff.ly/DszXo33

Nighthawks 2025 From the new Private Eye, out now.

We have people booked to bring broken food processors, favourite jumpers with damaged zips, and ailing plants. Don't miss this opportunity to repair your stuff with the help of 40 technicians and makers. Repair Café | Sustainable UCL - share.google/2qFlWYPHRPLs...

But the problem is that few people would publish a report on Amersi, or anyone like him, when it means years of expensive litigation - even if sure of eventual victory. We should change the law. And we should reign in rogue firms like Carter-Ruck.