Wicklow hillfort declared ‘largest nucleated settlement’ in prehistoric Ireland
Researchers at Belfast’s Queen’s University also contend that the site, just south of Dublin, is Ireland’s earliest proto-town. The roundhouse footprints at Brusselstown Ring found over the years detect 288 potential hut sites (Queen’s University Belfast/PA)The Queen’s University-led study examined existing archaeological data from Brusselstown Ring, as well as conducting new excavations. Dr Dirk Brandherm from Queen’s has argued that even if not every one of the anomalies represented a roundhouse, this would still make it the largest nucleated prehistoric settlement in Ireland and Britain by some distance. Dr Brandherm described Brusselstown Ring as a “site of major national and international heritage importance”. “Our discoveries challenge previous conceptions of prehistoric settlement organisation, showing a level of social complexity, community cohesion and regional importance not fully recognised before.
Source:The Times
January 08, 2026 00:11 UTC
Hundreds of thousands of people missing £4,300 State Pension
Even with the surge in claims in 2024/25, it is likely that hundreds of thousands of pensioners are still missing out. DWP Cold Weather Payments and Pension CreditThe Government has confirmed that sub-zero temperatures across large parts of the UK have now triggered the first ‘Cold Weather Payments’ of the 2025/26 Winter. Residents in those areas qualify for a £25 lump sum payment, but only if they are on a qualifying benefit such Pension Credit or Universal Credit. There is no separate application process for Cold Weather Payments – they are ‘passported’ benefits for those who have successfully claimed Pension Credit or UC. "Over a million pensioners already receive Pension Credit but hundreds of thousands more are missing out, and I would encourage anyone who thinks they might be entitled to make a claim."
Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 22:55 UTC
Marinera oil tanker changed flags ‘five times in five years’, says defence secretary – as it happened
Share1d ago 19.43 GMT Tanker was ‘reflagged five times in five years’ Earlier in his statement to the Commons Healey discussed the counter-Iran sanctions on the Russian-flagged oil tanker. Share1d ago 19.35 GMT In response, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge said the Conservatives will support any effort to bring peace in Ukraine and a ceasefire deal. Share1d ago 19.32 GMT Healey said he is visiting Kyiv “soon” to continue discussions on supporting Ukraine’s long term armaments and policing of any ceasefire. Share1d ago 19.26 GMT Healey said this operation is a stark reminder of how the world is changing and how it is becoming “less predictable and more dangerous”. Share1d ago 19.24 GMT Healey said sanctions against the shadow fleet have forced 200 ships off the seas, which is almost half of the Russian fleet’s capacity.
Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 22:29 UTC
Fire crews attend scene of bathroom fire at Windsor property
Firefighters from stations across Slough and Langley were at the scene of a fire at a property in Windsor on Tuesday evening (January 6). Following reports of the incident at 6.01pm, two crews from Slough Fire Station and one crew from Langley Fire Station attended the property on Dower Park in Windsor where they found a fire in the bathroom. Firefighters equipped with breathing apparatus used one CO2 extinguisher to put the fire out and make the scene safe. They were at the scene for approximately 37 minutes.
Source:Express
January 07, 2026 22:20 UTC
Everton 1-1 Wolves: David Moyes seethes as Jack Grealish is sent off for dissent and goal-scorer Michael Keane sees red for bizarre HAIR PULL - gifting rock-bottom club a third match without defeat
Instead, the focus is a red card for Michael Keane, scorer of Everton’s goal. Keane, indisputably, had hold of Arokodare’s hair momentarily, as he tried to get height above the towering striker. So all of those things I have said mean it shouldn’t have been a red card. He was angry for many reasons: Keane’s red card, to the goal Everton conceded to another red card, for Jack Grealish. He had a good look at that but, diplomatically, hadn’t seen Keane’s red card.
Source:Express
January 07, 2026 22:04 UTC
The Times’s latest inaccurate reporting on net zero
The Times newspaper has admitted that a recent front-page story misled readers about a new report on net zero by the National Energy System Operator (NESO). The headline in the print edition of the newspaper was ‘Net zero plan to cost households £500 a year’, while the online headline was ‘Scrapping net zero deadline could save households £500 a year’. In the fourth, ‘Falling Behind’, scenario, further decarbonisation takes place but without reaching the net zero goal. If carbon costs were included, the net zero scenario would be cheaper, it said.”When challenged by me about its inaccurate and misleading front-page article, The Times agreed only to address its headlines, changing the online version to “Scrapping net zero deadline could save Britain £14bn a year”. It provided a misleading impression of the basis for the statutory target of reaching net zero annual emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050.
Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 19:42 UTC
US warplanes and elite units have been landing in Britain since the weekend
The Ghostrider carries cannon, bombs and missiles.At least five MH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and one MH-47G Chinook, thought to have been carried on the Globemaster, have been spotted in British hangars. The US is the UK’s principal defence and security partner. The depth of our defence relationship with the US remains an essential part of our security.”A spokesman for the UK PM said: “I’m not going to comment on speculation around operational activity, especially regarding other nations. The US is the UK’s most important defence and security partner.”It is possible the military build-up was in order to seize the Russian-flagged oil tanker Marinera, until recently known as the Bella-1, in the North Atlantic on Wednesday after it slipped through a US naval blockade of Venezuela. Any US operation from a base in the UK is considered on a case-by-case basis.
Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 19:22 UTC
Cabling bottlenecks waste 77% of Seagreen wind farm’s potential power
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Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 18:07 UTC
Times and Substack among few UK winners in December Google update
The Times and Money Saving Expert website homepages on 7 January 2026The Times, Substack and Money Saving Expert were among the winners from a “rough” Google core update rolled out in December. However, many major newsbrands published in the UK saw their prominence in Google search results fall sharply, including: The Guardian, The Telegraph, The New York Times and The Independent, according to Sistrix search visibility data. The Google core algorithm update rollout took place between 11 December and 29 December. Google described it as a “regular update designed to better surface relevant, satisfying content for searchers from all types of sites”. Despite seeing the biggest drop, The Guardian remained the site with by far the highest search visibility score.
Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 16:19 UTC
‘Invisible billionaire’s’ investment firm gains 73% in 2025
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Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 15:03 UTC
Man Utd could make two appointments after Ole Gunnar Solskjaer talks
Michael Carrick and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could work togetherOle Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick could work together as potential successors to Ruben Amorim at Manchester United. The Portuguese manager was dismissed on Monday, with the club stating that the decision was made to maximise their chances of a high Premier League finish. Both Carrick and Solskjaer have been in informal discussions with the board this week about taking over the reins at Old Trafford. Further talks with Solskjaer and Carrick are expected in the coming days before a final decision is made. Carrick failed to guide the Teesside outfit to Premier League promotion and subsequently lost his position in the summer of 2025.
Source:Express
January 07, 2026 14:46 UTC
Irvine petrol station shop reveals plan for expansion
It comes after proposals were lodged to enhance the current offering at Springbank Service Station on Ayr Road. Applicant Yasin Ghulam, of UK Fuels Ltd, is seeking extend the petrol station kiosk by gaining permission to change the use of a neighbouring unit. The former MOT centre, which sits adjacent to the current store, would be utilised to provide additional retail floor space and storage for the business. This would see an extended space of 170 square metres added on to the current shop area. Planners anticipate that a decision will be made on the application by the beginning of March this year.
Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 14:40 UTC
Man believed to be first charged with endangering others during sea crossing
A man is set to appear in court accused of endangering others during a sea crossing to the UK in what is believed to be the first charge under newly introduced border security legislation. Aman Naseri is due to appear at Margate Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday following the alleged offence on January 5, a HM Courts and Tribunals spokesperson said. The 18-year-old is also accused of entering the UK without valid entry clearance, the spokesperson added. According to the Home Office, the charge of endangering others during a sea crossing is to stop more people being crammed into unsafe boats and would apply to those involved in physical aggression and intimidation, as well as anyone who resists rescue. The new charge could include physical or psychological injury, and covers journeys by water to the UK from France, Belgium and the Netherlands.
Source:Express
January 07, 2026 12:58 UTC
Newspaper headlines: 'Boots on the ground' and 'one for the road'
The Daily Mirror leads on what it calls the biggest shake-up to road safety in England and Wales in decades, external. The government says its road strategy could cut road deaths and serious injuries by 65 per cent by 2035. South Yorkshire Police's chief constable has offered to meet both families. A major snowstorm will bring blizzards across the UK, external according to the Daily Express. They've warned up to eight inches of snow could fall on higher ground in England and Wales this week.
Source:The Times
January 07, 2026 12:54 UTC
Natural Grocers has won its challenge against USDA
Source: supermarketnews.comUS: Natural Grocers wins appeal for clear, accurate food informationNatural Grocers has won its challenge against the U.S. Department of Agriculture over shoppers' rights to clear, accurate and easily accessible food information. Source: progressivegrocer.comUS: The 5 grocery stores with the best selection of produceCentral Market, Wegmans, Gelson's, Heinen's and Fresh Thyme Market have been recognized by Tasting Table as grocery stores with outstanding produce quality and variety. Heinen's offers over 400 types of fruits and vegetables, Fresh Thyme Market emphasizes fresh, local produce and Gelson's is known for premium produce that attracts celebrity shoppers. It will expand products based on direct sourcing from production areas, centered on its private-label fresh brand "FRESH 365". Source: biz.chosun.comApollo Funds to acquire Prosol Group, a leading French fresh food retailerApollo announced that Apollo-managed funds (the "Apollo Funds") have agreed to acquire a majority stake in Prosol Group ("Prosol" or the "Company"), the multi-specialist in fresh food businesses and food retail in France, from Ardian.
Source:The Guardian
January 07, 2026 12:45 UTC