UK introduces voluntary health assessment for flat-faced dog breeds

Analysis presented at the Cop30 summit indicates that adhering to commitments regarding renewable energy, energy efficiency, and methane emissions could prevent nearly 1C of global heating. Governments have pledged to triple renewable energy production and double energy efficiency by 2030 while significantly reducing methane emissions. This analysis offers a hopeful perspective on avoiding severe climate breakdown.

The Neoliner Origin has embarked on its inaugural two-week voyage from France to the US, aiming to transform the shipping industry, which is known for its significant environmental impact. The journey faced challenging weather conditions, with winds reaching 74 mph, officially classified as a hurricane. Despite the difficulties, the ship represents a potential shift towards more sustainable transport methods in maritime logistics.

A critical report has highlighted that the UK lacks adequate resources to address complex military threats. Members of Parliament (MPs) have raised concerns over the country's preparedness for potential invasions, indicating a significant gap in defense planning. The report suggests that without proper strategies and resources, the UK may be vulnerable to various military challenges. This situation raises alarms about national security and the effectiveness of current defense policies.

Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is under pressure to clarify her recent statement regarding asylum admissions, which indicated that only a 'few hundred' asylum seekers would be allowed to enter the UK under new refugee schemes. Mahmood has defended her hardline policies, including family deportations and asset confiscation from claimants, by asserting her commitment to work with the UNHCR to establish 'safe and legal' routes for 'genuine' asylum seekers.

The EU has confirmed that the UK must contribute financially to its budget to maintain access to the European single market, particularly in electricity. This decision, articulated by Ireland's Europe minister Thomas Byrne, reflects a consensus among EU member states. Byrne emphasized that Ireland supports the UK's closer engagement with the EU, indicating a potential shift in post-Brexit relations. This requirement may pose significant implications for the UK's future economic interactions with Europe.

The first draft text from the COP30 climate summit in Brazil indicates a potential shift away from fossil fuels, according to the so-called 'mutirão decision' text. UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband addressed delegates, emphasizing the need to confront climate denial and delay, asserting that these forces are losing the battle against climate change. The draft reflects the diverse positions of nearly 200 nations and aims to address critical issues such as financing for poorer countries.

Potential bidders for Thames Water have expressed frustration over being excluded from discussions regarding the future of the UK's largest water utility. This exclusion has raised concerns about transparency and fairness in the bidding process, as these bidders believe their input could be valuable in shaping the utility's recovery plan.

Cloudflare, a US company that protects millions of websites from malicious attacks, experienced a global outage on November 18, 2025. This incident caused error messages to appear across various websites, preventing users from accessing certain online services. The company has stated that it believes the issue is now resolved, although the exact cause of the outage remains unidentified.