The announcement of solar grants for millions to reduce home energy use is highly anticipated. Governments are turning to solar power as a practical solution, not only for the planet but also for people’s wallets, as energy bills remain stubbornly high and households are experiencing financial strain.
Solar energy is no longer a luxury for early adopters. Thanks to grants and incentives, it’s becoming a mainstream option for everyday households.
What Are Solar Grants and How Do They Work?
Solar grants are financial incentives, often provided by federal, state, or local governments, as well as some utility companies, that reduce or even cover the upfront cost of installing a solar panel system on your home. Unlike loans, grants typically do not need to be repaid, making them an incredibly powerful tool for making solar energy affordable for the average family.
The current federal push for clean energy has unlocked billions in funding, aiming to put solar grants for millions of American families within reach. These programmes are part of a broader strategy to boost energy independence, create jobs, and combat climate change.
Key Programs Offering Solar Grants for Millions
1. The Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC)
While technically a tax credit, its impact is grant-like. The ITC allows you to deduct 30% of the cost of installing a solar energy system from your federal taxes. This significant discount applies through 2032, making it the single most valuable incentive for going solar. For a typical system costing $20,000, that’s a $6,000 direct reduction in your tax bill.
2. State & Local Grant Programs
Many states offer their own supplemental grants or rebates. These can stack with the federal ITC, driving your net cost down even further. Programs vary widely, so checking the Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE) is crucial.
3. Low-Income Solar and Energy Efficiency Grants
A cornerstone of the national effort is ensuring equitable access. New federal initiatives, like the Solar for All program, are allocating billions specifically to provide solar grants for millions of low- and middle-income households. These grants aim to eliminate energy burdens for families who need relief the most.
4. Non-Profit and Utility Rebates
Don’t overlook your local utility companies or non-profit organisations. Many offer direct cash rebates for installing certified solar equipment, acting as an instant discount on your project.
The Tangible Benefits: More Than Just Lower Bills
Accessing these solar grants for millions translates into real, life-changing benefits:
Drastic Reduction in Energy Bills: Solar panels can eliminate 50-100% of your electricity costs. Over 25+ years, this adds up to tens of thousands of dollars in savings.
Increased Home Value: Studies show homes with solar panels sell faster and for more money.
Energy Independence: Protect yourself from unpredictable utility rate hikes.
Environmental Impact: Significantly reduce your household’s carbon footprint by using clean, renewable energy.
How to Get Started and Claim Your Grant
Research: Find all applicable solar grants for millions in your zip code.
Get Quotes: Contact 3-4 reputable, certified solar installers in your area. They are experts on local incentives and will provide a detailed cost breakdown, including all applicable grants and credits.
Verify Eligibility: each program has specific rules regarding income, property type, and system size. Your installer can help, but do your own due diligence.
Apply: Your solar installer will typically handle much of the incentive application paperwork as part of their service.
The Future is Bright and Affordable
The landscape of home energy is changing. With historic levels of funding now available, the promise of solar grants for millions is becoming a reality. This is a unique moment to take control of your energy costs, invest in your home’s value, and contribute to a cleaner grid—all with substantial financial help.
Don’t let this opportunity shine on without you. A few hours of research today could unlock decades of energy savings and a more sustainable future for your home.
Watch: ‘Trusting Time’—NewJeans discusses a court ruling in a record label dispute.
Chart-topping K-pop band NewJeans’ record label, Ador, is suing one of the band’s members in what is yet another twist in their bitter year-long feud.
Hybe, the record label’s parent company, confirmed to the BBC that it is suing Danielle Marsh, one of her family members, and ex-boss Min Hee-jin for $30m (£22m) in damages and as part of a contract break penalty.
Minji’s uncertain return has plunged the band into further turmoil, leaving them with just three members.
Coming less than two months after reports that NewJeans would return to the label as a band of five, this news dashes fans’ hopes of a comeback.
Many took to social media with the slogan “NewJeans is five or nothing”, while others questioned why Danielle was singled out.
“Does this make any sense??? NewJeans without Danielle isn’t NewJeans. Is it possible to remove a member so easily? Give us back Danielle,” one wrote in an X post.
“It’s not fair at all. Free NewJeans [all five members],” another wrote on Instagram. “All they wanted to do was to be [artists] and make their fans happy.”
NewJeans, which became the eighth biggest-selling act in the world a year after their debut in 2022, was considered a game-changer by critics for their blend of 1990s R&B and sugar-coated pop melodies.
Then came a dramatic fallout with the record label Ador in 2024, sparked by the controversial dismissal of the agency’s former CEO Min Hee-jin, whom NewJeans regarded as a mentor.
The move shook the K-pop world.
The move shook the K-pop world, setting off a battle between hugely successful and very young stars – they are between 17 and 21 years of age – and the South Korean entertainment giant, Hybe.
NewJeans accused Ador of “mistreatment” and “deliberate miscommunication and manipulation”, then announced they would leave the agency. Ador, in turn, launched a lawsuit blocking their departure, which it won in October of this year. A district court ruled that New Jeans must honour their contract with the label, which runs until 2029.
A month later, local media reports indicated that all five members would return to the agency.
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NewJeans have delivered remarkable success since they debuted in July 2022
Then in a surprising turn, Ador issued a statement on Monday, saying it had terminated its contract with Danielle and would take legal action against a family member of hers and Min, who founded the label and created NewJeans before her dramatic departure.
Both of them, Ador claims, “bear significant responsibility” for the fallout between the agency and the K-pop group.
Monday’s statement did not mention a lawsuit against Danielle, saying only that Ador had decided it was difficult to continue working with her and told her they would be ending the contract.
Ador asserted that “persistently distorted and biassed information” had exposed NewJeans’ members, resulting in “significant misunderstandings” about the label.
That statement named two other NewJeans members: Hanni, who it said decided to remain with the label after “extended conversations” which included her family, and Minji, who is still in “ongoing conversations” with the agency.
It’s been a whirlwind for fans, especially since Ador initially announced in November that only two members, Hyein and Haerin, would return to the agency, sparking fears the group would split up.
These fears were allayed when Hanni, Danielle and Minji said in a separate statement hours later that they too would return – but only for a short time, as it turns out.
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Ador announced Monday that it would terminate its contract with NewJeans member Danielle Marsh.
“NewJeans is a significant group that changed the world of female K-pop acts. For the music listeners and fans, it has been the hope to see their return as a full five-member team. That’s no longer possible,” music critic Lim Hee-yun told the BBC, adding that this outcome would not “make anyone happy”.
Mr Lim believes Ador would be pressured to recruit new members into the group, especially if Minji also leaves the label.
It is hard for three-member groups to find success in the K-pop industry, where fans pay close attention to the relationships and chemistry between members.
Danielle’s future as a musician is also uncertain.
“Not only will there be a large part of the public that sees her negatively [because of this controversy], but the record labels will too… She might need to pursue being a solo act as an actor, model, or influencer,” Mr Lim said.
Typical household energy costs will increase slightly on Thursday when the new energy price cap takes effect.
Separately, the regulator Ofgem has said customer bills will rise by around £30 a year over the next six years to help fund a major investment in the UK’s energy network.
However, that announcement followed an earlier government pledge in the budget to remove some other costs from annual energy bills, worth about £150 to a typical household.
What is the energy cap and how is it changing?
The energy cap covers around 19 million households in England, Wales, and Scotland, and it is set by Ofgem every three months.
It fixes the maximum amount customers can be charged for each unit of gas and electricity on a standard – or default – variable tariff for a typical dual-fuel household that pays by direct debit.
Actual bills depend on the amount of energy used.
What is a typical household?
The price cap sets the unit prices for gas and electricity, but your household’s actual bill depends on the overall amount you use and how you pay for it.
The type of property you live in, how energy efficient it is, how many people live there and the weather all make a difference.
The Ofgem cap is based on a “typical household” using 11,500 kWh of gas and 2,700 kWh of electricity a year with a single bill for gas and electricity, settled by direct debit.
The vast majority of people pay their bill this way to help spread payments across the year. Those who pay every three months in cash or a check are charged more.
Why has Ofgem said energy bills will rise?
In December, Ofgem said it had approved a £28bn investment to improve the electricity and gas grids in Great Britain.
It says this will strengthen the energy supply and better shield customers from volatile energy prices. It will also reduce Britain’s dependence on gas.
Customers will foot part of the cost, through an additional £108 added to energy bills by 2031. Bills will start to rise from April 2026.
However, Ofgem says the investment will make wholesale energy cheaperoverall, saving households about £80 a year, leading to a net energy bill rise of about £30 a year.
What did the government say about energy costs in the budget?
In the November Budget, Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced measures to cut energy costs from April 2026.
At the moment, energy bills in England, Scotland and Wales already include additional charges to help fund insulation for low-income households and subsidies for green energy projects such as wind farms and solar panels.
Reeves said the insulation scheme – called the Energy Company Obligation – would be scrapped, and for three years, renewable energy projects will be 75% funded by general taxation instead of a levy on energy bills.
She said this would take £150 off average annual dual-fuel bills.
After taking into account the increase as a result of the Ofgem announcement, it means average energy bills should fall by about £120 a year.
Should I take a meter reading when the energy cap changes?
Submitting a meter reading when the cap changes means you are not charged for estimated usage at the wrong rate.
This is especially important when prices go up.
Customers with working smart meters do not need to submit a reading, as their bill is calculated automatically.
What is happening to prepayment customers?
About six million households have prepayment meters, according to the latest Ofgem figures.
Prepayment customers were previously charged more than those who settle their bill by direct debit but now pay slightly less.
Between 1 January and 31 March 2026, the typical annual bill for prepayment customers is £1,711.
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Many prepayment meters have been in place for years, but some were installed more recently after customers struggled to pay higher bills.
Rules introduced in November 2023 mean suppliers must give customers more opportunity to clear their debts before switching them to a meter. They cannot be installed at all in certain households.
Can I fix my energy prices?
Fixed-price deals are not affected by the energy price cap, which changes every three months and can rise and fall.
They offer certainty for a set period – often a year or longer – but if energy prices drop while you are on the deal, you could be stuck at a higher price. You may also have to pay a penalty to leave a fixed deal early if you change your mind.
Ofgem, the energy regulator, says customers who want the security of knowing what their bill will be should consider moving to a fixed deal. However, it says they should make sure they understand all the costs.
Martin Lewis, founder of Money Saving Expert, recommends checking whole-of-market energy price comparison sites to help find the best deal.
What are standing charges and how are they changing?
Ofgem also controls standing charges, which are a fixed daily fee to cover the costs of connecting households to gas and electricity supplies. These vary slightly by region.
Between 1 January and 31 March 2026, standing charges will typically be 55.75p a day for electricity and 35.09p a day for gas.
Campaigners have long argued that standing charges are unfair because they make up a bigger proportion of the bill of low energy users.
In response, Ofgem said that by the end of January 2026, it wants all energy firms to offer at least one tariff that has a low standing charge but a higher cost per unit of energy.
The regulator said this would give some customers more choice and control but acknowledged it would not be suitable for everyone.
Charities, campaigners and the suppliers’ trade body criticised the proposal for just shifting the cost from one part of the bill to another rather than cutting it.
What help can I get with energy bills?
Suppliers must offer customers affordable payment plans or repayment holidays if necessary. Most also offer hardship grants.
Under plans Ofgem hopes to introduce in early 2026, nearly 200,000 people on benefits could have their debts to their energy supplier canceled—as long as they have made some effort to pay what is owed.
The scheme could see up to £500m knocked off the £4.4bn currently owed to suppliers. But covering the cost will require an extra £5 being added to everyone’s gas and electricity bill.
A number of existing government schemes also help people on low incomes with their energy bills.
The Household Support Fund, which was introduced in September 2021 to help vulnerable customers, has been extended until March 2026.
The Warm Home Discount scheme is also being overhauled.
From winter 2025, anyone on means-tested benefits in Great Britain will get £150 taken off their bills, no matter what size of property they live in.
The discount will be applied automatically for people in England or Wales and some in Scotland. However, those on a low income in Scotland will need to apply via their energy supplier. Letters are being sent to people with information on the discount.
The Fuel Direct Scheme lets people repay an energy debt directly from their benefit payments.
About nine million pensioners will also get the Winter Fuel Payment in 2025/2026, worth £200 or £300, after a government U-turn over eligibility.
The news that the Bayeux Tapestry, a priceless artefact, is to be insured for £800m has grabbed attention around the world—and for good reason. We’re not just talking about a historic artwork. We’re talking about a near-1,000-year-old visual record of one of the most decisive moments in British and European history.
So why does a long strip of embroidered cloth command such an eye-watering insurance figure? And what does this mean for its future?
Let’s examine the story in detail.
What is the Bayeux Tapestry?
Despite its name, the Bayeux Tapestry isn’t actually a tapestry. It’s an embroidered linen cloth stretching nearly 70 meters long, depicting the events leading up to the Norman Conquest of England in 1066.
It tells the story visually, almost like a mediaeval comic strip—except this one ends with the Battle of Hastings and the rise of William the Conqueror.
Why it still matters today
The Bayeux Tapestry is one of the earliest and most detailed historical narratives ever created. It bridges art, history, and storytelling in a way only a few artefacts can.
Think of it as the mediaeval version of a documentary series—stitched by hand.
I
A Brief History of the Bayeux Tapestry
Origins in the 11th century
Most historians posit that the creation of the tapestry occurred in the late 11th century, shortly after the Norman Conquest. Its survival alone is remarkable, considering wars, revolutions, and centuries of political upheaval.
Who commissioned the tapestry?
Many experts point to Bishop Odo of Bayeux, William the Conqueror’s half-brother, as the likely commissioner. The scenes subtly favour the Norman perspective—hardly a coincidence.
The story of the Norman Conquest
From Harold Godwinson’s rise to power to his dramatic death on the battlefield, the tapestry captures politics, betrayal, ambition, and warfare with astonishing clarity.
No textbooks. No footnotes. The images speak for themselves.
Why the Bayeux Tapestry Is So Valuable
Cultural and historical significance
The Bayeux Tapestry stands as a unique historical document. There is nothing else like it anywhere in the world.
Hand-embroidered using wool thread on linen, the level of detail is extraordinary. Horses, ships, armour, and facial expressions are all present.
Each stitch is a fingerprint from the past.
Why it cannot be replaced
If the Bayeux Tapestry were lost or destroyed, it would be gone forever. There’s no second version. There is no backup copy of the original.
That irreplaceability is a major reason behind the £800m insurance figure.
Bayeux Tapestry to Be Insured for £800m
What does the £800m insurance valuation mean?
When headlines say “Bayeux Tapestry: priceless artefact to be insured for £800m”, it’s not about selling it. Insurance valuations reflect the cost of loss, damage, and cultural impact—not market price.
In short: it’s about protection, not profit.
Why now?
The increased valuation reflects rising awareness of heritage risks, from climate change to geopolitical instability. It also aligns with modern museum standards for insuring world-class artefacts.
Insurance vs market value
To be clear: the Bayeux Tapestry is not for sale. Ever.
Insurance simply assigns a financial figure to something that is, in reality, beyond price.
Risks Facing the Bayeux Tapestry
Age and material fragility
Nearly a millennium old, the tapestry is vulnerable to light, humidity, and physical stress. Even minor environmental changes can cause long-term damage.
Fire, theft, and accidental damage
While security is extremely tight, no artefact is completely risk-free. Insurance ensures that, should the unthinkable happen, conservation and recovery efforts can be funded immediately.
Climate and environmental threats
Rising temperatures and humidity fluctuations are a growing concern for all historic textiles, including the Bayeux Tapestry.
How Artefacts Like the Bayeux Tapestry Are Insured
Specialist heritage insurance
Only a handful of insurers worldwide handle objects of this significance. Policies are custom-built, covering everything from storage to display.
Risk assessments and security
Insurance providers require rigorous risk assessments, including fire suppression systems, surveillance, and restricted access.
Transport and exhibition coverage
If the tapestry ever travels, insurance costs spike dramatically. Movement is one of the riskiest moments for any artefact.
Potential Return of the Bayeux Tapestry to the UK
Historical links to Britain
The tapestry tells England’s story as much as France’s. For years, there have been discussions about a temporary UK exhibition.
Political and cultural discussions
Any move would require delicate diplomacy. France considers the tapestry a national treasure—and understandably so.
Public reaction in France and the UK
Public interest is intense on both sides of the Channel, with many seeing a shared ownership of history.
Conservation and Preservation Efforts
Modern conservation techniques
Today, conservators use cutting-edge technology to monitor fibres, colours, and stitching in microscopic detail.
Digital preservation projects
High-resolution digital scans now allow researchers to study the tapestry without handling it.
Limiting public exposure
Ironically, popularity can be dangerous. Strict visitor limits help reduce long-term damage.
Where Images Should Be Added
Suggested image placements
After the introduction: a full-length image of the Bayeux Tapestry
In the history section: close-ups of key scenes like the Battle of Hastings
In the conservation section: behind-the-scenes images of preservation work
Captions and SEO value
Each image should include descriptive captions using the focus keyword “Bayeux Tapestry” to boost SEO and accessibility.
Why the £800m Figure Has Captured Global Attention
Media and public response
The headline figure is shocking—but it also highlights how seriously cultural heritage is now taken.
What it says about heritage protection
This valuation sends a clear message: history matters, and protecting it is worth the investment.
Bayeux Tapestry in Popular Culture
Education and documentaries
The tapestry features heavily in school curricula, museums, and historical documentaries worldwide.
Influence on modern storytelling
From films to graphic novels, its visual storytelling continues to inspire creators today.
The Future of the Bayeux Tapestry
Long-term protection plans
With enhanced insurance, improved conservation, and digital backups, the tapestry’s future looks more secure than ever.
Passing history to future generations
The ultimate goal is simple: ensure that people 500 years from now can still stand in awe of the Bayeux Tapestry.
Conclusion
The decision that places the Bayeux Tapestry, a priceless artefact, to be insured for £800m, is about far more than money. It’s about recognising the immense value of shared human history and taking responsibility for its protection.
This ancient embroidered cloth isn’t just a relic—it’s a storyteller, a witness, and a bridge between centuries. And now, it’s guarded like never before.
FAQs
1. Why is the Bayeux Tapestry insured for £800m? Because it is irreplaceable and culturally priceless, with insurance covering potential loss or damage.
2. Is the Bayeux Tapestry for sale? No. It is a protected historical artefact and will never be sold.
3. Where is the Bayeux Tapestry kept now? It is housed in Bayeux, France, under strict conservation conditions.
4. Could the Bayeux Tapestry ever come to the UK? Possibly on loan, though no final agreement has been confirmed.
5. How old is the Bayeux Tapestry? It dates back to the late 11th century, making it nearly 1,000 years old.
Two December days at Palm Beach and I’m sunburnt and bruised.
The sunburn is my fault. But Donald Trump is the one to blame for the fighting; such is his style of diplomacy. He would have no other option. He’s busy making things happen. That’s how he frames it.
But let’s take stock because there’s still a lot to process. Could you please clarify what has been achieved over the past two days, how significant the heatwave was, and if there were any unexpected developments?
Let’s start with the Middle East and the Israeli Prime Minister’s visit, Benjamin Netanyahu.
image: Mr Trump and Benjamin Netanyahu speak outside Mar-a-Lago
“An excellent meeting.” This is how Netanyahu’s spokesman described the day it all came to an end.
You can see why he might think that. Netanyahu got what he came for.
• Should US intelligence conclude, as Israeli spies do, that Iran is indeed regrouping, would Trump’s commitment to bomb Iran again be justified? tick.
• Trump held Hamas fully responsible for the faltering Gaza ceasefire, and he also aimed to prevent phase two from proceeding. tick.
• Will Trump praise Netanyahu as Israel’s defender and wartime leader like no one else? The answer is a resounding “yes” for the election campaign video.
Will Trump publicly say that Netanyahu should be pardoned?
• Will Trump publicly say that Netanyahu should be pardoned in his corruption case and put pressure on the President of Israel to immediately enact amnesty? tick.
Netanyahu and Trump had some intriguing differences of opinion, one on Syria and the other on the West Bank.
In Syria, Trump said that he wants to bring sweetness to relations between the two countries. He expressed his desire to improve the relationship between the new Syrian president and Israel. Good luck to him if he can. His victory would be an achievement and would be welcome.
On the West Bank, Trump suggested he was concerned about settler violence and expansion. This is a big issue; it jeopardises Trump’s vision for the region. Again – if it can stop the violence and expansion, it will be an achievement.
I’m not holding my breath.
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However, as always, there was more information than we anticipated; we did not expect such details to emerge from two independent news conferences where the US President did most of the talking.
He was asked about the attack on Venezuela, which he had casually and vaguely mentioned in an earlier interview.
He confirmed that yes, he had ordered an attack on a “major facility” in Venezuela. That’s the big news – the first American ground attack. However, this was just one moment in a series of diplomatic events that took place at Mar-a-Lago.
This was followed by his response, which appears to be a significant Chinese military dress rehearsal for a blockade of Taiwan.
Was Trump worried? ‘No,’ he said. “I’m not worried.”
Just chill? Or don’t really care? Sometimes it’s hard to know.
This event happened just a day ago with the President of Ukraine at Mar-a-Lago.
image: Mr Zelensky met with Mr Trump. Photo: Office of the President of Ukraine/Photo-Alliance/dpa/AP Images
Is this irony or just madness that Volodymyr Zelensky, coming from a city of real palaces, including his own presidential palace, travelled to Palm Beach—a city often referred to as Disneyland—where he sought support from a former real estate tycoon in his fake palace for the future of his country?
Even though everything appeared to be proceeding smoothly, there was a sense of unease.
Is the Ukraine ceasefire ever closer?
Ukrainian officials told me that they are very pleased with Trump’s stated commitment to security guarantees. They ignored the important issue of how long these guarantees last or whether they can trust Trump’s words. What option do they have?
Of course, there was more. President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin twice, before and after the Zelenskyy meeting. And what he said after the second call piqued the interest.
He announced that Putin told him Ukraine had attacked one of his houses with a swarm of drones.
Zelensky had previously called this claim false, suggesting that if Ukraine did attack, it would be a false flag operation intended to derail the peace process, as Putin does not want peace.
But based on Trump’s tone, it seemed that he was agreeing with Putin. Remember, in his first term, Trump gave more importance to Putin’s words than what his intelligence agencies said.
Thus, the past two days have been filled with mind-boggling news, providing a fitting conclusion to the year.
2026 is an election year for Donald Trump. Midterms are in November. He needs to focus on the “home front,”, as his vice president subtly reminded him a few months ago. The focus should be on the economy and the cost of living, not on foreign conflicts.
Trump knows this. But so do America’s adversaries and its troublesome allies. What risks might they consider in 2026, understanding that they may not be concerned or will simply proceed with their plans?
These are the key developments on the 1,405th day of Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Published on December 30, 2025.30 December 2025
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Here’s what happened on Tuesday, December 30:
Allegation of attack on Putin’s residence
The attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin’s residence in Novgorod, northwestern Russia, came on Sunday “practically immediately after” talks in Florida between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov said.
The strike “will not go unanswered,” Ushakov said in comments reported by Russian media, following a call between Trump and Putin.
Sergei Lavrov, the Russian Foreign Minister, reported that Russian air defence systems shot down 91 long-range drones used in the attack, resulting in no injuries.
Zelenskyy denied the claim and accused Russia of trying to derail peace talks.
However, Trump expressed anger over the alleged attack, telling reporters, “I was furious about it.” Asked whether the United States had evidence of an attack, Trump said, “We’ll find out.”
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said that “the response to Kiev’s attacks will not be diplomatic” and that Russia would revise its negotiating positions in the wake of the attack.
The UAE Foreign Ministry said in a statement that it “strongly condemns” the “reprehensible attack” and the “threat to security and stability”.
Diplomacy
White House spokeswoman Carolyn Leavitt said a phone call between Putin and Trump about Ukraine on Monday was “positive”, without elaborating.
Zelensky said he spoke by phone with the leaders of Germany, Latvia and Finland and briefed them on the results of his meeting with Trump and the peace talks.
Lavrov said in an interview with the Russian news agency RIA Novosti that “Kyiv and its Western supporters must recognise the new regional realities that have emerged after the annexation of Crimea, Sevastopol, the Donetsk People’s Republic, the Luhansk People’s Republic, and the Zaporizhia and Kherson regions of the Russian Federation.” He was referring to Russian-held Ukrainian territories that Moscow claims to have captured, including Donetsk and Luhansk, which Russian-backed separatists named DPR and LPR.
A poll published on Monday by the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation (DIF), a Ukrainian think tank, showed that recognising the occupied Ukrainian territories as “part of the Russian Federation” remained extremely unpopular in Ukraine, with 76 percent of Ukrainians saying they considered it “unacceptable.”
fighting
Russian forces attacked the front-line town of Orikhiv in Ukraine’s Zaporizhia region, killing a 46-year-old man and wounding a 49-year-old woman, Governor Ivan Fedorov said on Telegram.
Russian military strikes on Ukraine’s Donetsk region on Sunday resulted in one person’s death and five injuries, according to Governor Vadim Fylashkin’s Facebook post.
Ukraine’s human rights commissioner, Dmytro Lubinets, said on Telegram that Russian forces killed seven civilians who were hiding in a basement in the Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General’s Office said it has opened an investigation into reports that Russian troops shot dead two captured Ukrainian soldiers in the village of Shakhov, Pokrovsky, on Saturday.
“The deliberate killing of prisoners of war is a gross violation of the Geneva Conventions and a serious international crime,” the Prosecutor General’s Office said.
Russia’s TASS state news agency quoted local officials as saying that Ukrainian strikes wounded five civilians in Russia’s Belgorod region.
The Ukrainian attacks wounded four civilians in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Zaporizhia and three in the Russian-occupied Ukrainian region of Donetsk, TASS reported, citing local officials.
In a televised address from the Kremlin, Putin made various claims about Moscow’s ongoing war on Ukraine, including that Russian troops were advancing toward the Ukrainian city of Zaporizhia.
The Russian army chief of staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, said during the same address that Russian forces had captured 6,460 square kilometres (2,494 square miles) of territory in Ukraine in 2025, including 334 villages.
The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) quoted its Director General Rafael Grossi as saying that repairs to a power line near Ukraine’s Zaporizhia nuclear plant have been successfully completed.
The inscriptions on the rolled-up piece of lead are hardly visible to the unaided eye. (Image credit: Archeology in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (AIM-V))
The discovery came from a place no one expected to yield anything remarkable.
During routine excavation work for an extension to Rostock’s town hall, archaeologists lifted an unassuming, tightly rolled strip of lead from the floor of an old latrine.
Only after it was carefully unrolled did its significance become clear.
The metal sheet carried a curse, written in faint Gothic script, naming two people and invoking demonic figures.
The lead tablet was discovered beneath a latrine at the edge of a former property on the Rostock town hall site, managed by KOE.
the agency responsible for developing and maintaining municipal property for the city. In 2023, archaeologists were able to unroll the tablet and make out the inscription:
“Sathanas taleke belzebuk hinrik berith.” The wording names a woman called Taleke and a man named Hinrik, along with references to Satan, Beelzebub, and the demon Berith.
The text is written in Gothic minuscule, not crudely scratched but carefully formed, suggesting an experienced hand.
Dr Ansorge said the tablet was deliberately hidden, following a practice known from earlier periods.
Curse tablets were typically placed where they would not be found, allowing the spell to operate without interference and without the knowledge of those targeted.
View of the town hall archaeological site in Rostock – photo courtesy KOE
Rostock, a historic port city in northeastern Germany on the Baltic Sea, is known for its medieval Hanseatic League past.
striking Gothic architecture, including St Mary’s Church with its astronomical clock, and a vibrant university.
The city also features the seaside resort district of Warnemünde, famous for sandy beaches, and is a lively blend of maritime history, festivals, and modern recreation.
Officials involved in the excavation have raised questions about the motivation behind the curse.
They asked whether it reflected jealousy, unrequited love, or an attempt to destroy a relationship. No further identifying details about Taleke or Hinrik have been recovered.
Why the find is historically unusual
Curse tablets are well documented in the ancient Greek and Roman world, particularly between roughly 800 BC and 600 AD.
They are commonly associated with temples, graves, wells and latrines. According to Dr Ansorge, however, no comparable examples from the 15th century were previously known.
“Curse tablets are actually known from antiquity,” he said. “Our discovery, on the other hand, can be dated to the 15th century.
This is truly an exceptional find.” The Rostock site has produced relatively few artefacts, but those recovered have been notable.
Alongside the curse tablet, archaeologists uncovered Valencian lustreware from Spain, a remarkably well-preserved leather shoe, and bronze taps dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Dr Ansorge described the site as “poor in quantity but top quality in results.”
The bronze taps—photo courtesy of KOE.
The find has been reported by CBS News, which noted that while curse tablets have appeared in other historical contexts worldwide,
The Rostock tablet stands out for its mediaeval date and clear personal targeting.
Archaeologists continue to analyse the tablet as part of the wider documentation of the site, but its message, which was written to be hidden and forgotten, has already resurfaced centuries later.
A couple has been jailed for beating and burning their 10-month-old son to death on Christmas Day after almost every bone in his body was found broken.
The case, which the detective in charge described as the “worst” he has seen in his three-decade-long career, comes after Stephen Bowden and Shannon Marsden murdered their young son in 2020.
The couple was found to have caused young Finley Bowden more than 130 injuries that led to his death, having returned to their care only a month earlier.
During his trial at Derby Crown Court, the court heard how the child suffered “significant, substantial, and repeated acts of serious violence.”
Before his death, Finley suffered 71 injuries, including two burns—one caused by a cigarette lighter— and 57 fractures.
Many of the injuries are believed to have come from “kicking” and “stamping” on Finlay by Bowden, 30, and Marsden, 22.
Judge Mrs Justice Tipples described to the court how the couple subjected their son to “unimaginable cruelty”.
He added, “Once the injuries were sustained, Finlay’s daily experience was one of considerable pain, distress and suffering.”
“No one heard Finley cry or scream in pain as you worked together to inflict injuries on him, with one of you breaking his bone and the other putting a hand over his mouth to silence him.”
the couple decided to ignore their baby
In another shocking twist, when it became clear that Finley was dying, the couple decided to ignore their baby and not take him to the hospital.
Finlay was found unresponsive by police at his family home in Old Whittington, Chesterfield, at 2.47am on Christmas Day, after the 10-month-old had every bone in his body broken due to repeated abuse over several weeks.
In a rambling and disturbing statement, the court heard that just hours after learning of Finlay’s death, Bowden joked about putting the child’s pushchair on eBay.
In a disgusted statement later investigated by police, Bowden claimed he was “trying to lighten the mood.”
The court also heard how Bowden would prioritise drug use rather than caring for her son; she even told her drug dealer that she wanted to “bounce him off the walls” just two days before her death.
At trial, the two pleaded not guilty, and after five months in court, jurors ultimately convicted them on all counts of murder and child cruelty.
The judge then sentenced the pair to life imprisonment, where Bowden would have to serve a minimum of 29 years, while Marsden would have to serve a minimum of 27 years.
Detective Inspector Paul Bullock of Derbyshire Police said the case was one of the worst in his almost three-decade-long career.
Prosecutor Mary Pryor Casey said that for nine months of his life, Finley was a “fit and happy” young boy; however, things changed when, during Covid,
The parents requested custody, and a family court ruled that she should be returned to her parents within eight weeks.
Following the conclusion of the trial, Derbyshire County Council expressed its “heartfelt sympathies” to those who knew and loved Finlay.
The Department of Children’s Services also acknowledged that they had “missed opportunities.”
Carol Cammis, executive director of children’s services, said, “Finley’s death was a tragedy for everyone who knew him and for everyone involved in his care.
“Despite the significant Covid restrictions imposed on our work at the time, we know that opportunities for strong practice were missed, and we apologise for this.
Octopus Energy Group is on the brink of selling a big stake in its software arm, Kraken Technologies, at a valuation that will cement its status as one of Britain’s biggest private companies.
Sky News has learnt that Octopus Energy has lined up a syndicate of investors to buy Kraken between 10% and 20%.
Sources said an investment was likely to value Kraken at between $9bn (£6.67bn) and $10bn (£7.4bn).
Octopus Energy has emerged as the largest household gas and electricity supplier in Britain.
– engaged Goldman Sachs to handle the demerger of Kraken and the sale of a stake to external investors.
Sources said the deal was expected to be announced imminently.
The demerger plan – revealed by Sky News in July – will augment Octopus Energy chief executive Greg Jackson’s paper fortune and underline his success at building a globally significant British-based company over the last decade.
Octopus Energy now has more than 7.5 million retail customers in Britain, following its 2022 rescue of the collapsed energy supplier Bulb and the subsequent acquisition of Shell’s home energy business.
In January, it announced that it had become the country’s biggest supplier – surpassing Centrica-owned British Gas – with a 24% market share.
It also has a further 2.5 million customers outside the UK.
Sources said a $10bn valuation of Kraken would imply that the whole group, including the retail supply business, was worth in the region of £15bn.
That would be double its valuation of little more than a year ago, when the company announced that it had secured new backing from funds Galvanise Climate Solutions and Lightrock.
Shortly before that, the former US vice president Al Gore’s firm, Generation Investment Management, and the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board increased their stakes in Octopus Energy in a transaction valuing the company at $9bn (£7.2bn).
Kraken is an operating system that is licensed by other energy providers, water companies, and telecom suppliers.
It connects all parts of the energy system, including customer billing and the flexible management of renewable generation and energy devices such as heat pumps and electric vehicle batteries.
The business also unlocks smart grids, which enable people to use more renewable energy when there is an abundant supply of it
Octopus Energy’s rivals AEON and EDF Energy,
In the UK, its platform is licensed to Octopus Energy’s rivals AEON and EDF Energy, as well as the water company Severn Trent and broadband provider Cuckoo.
Overseas, Kraken serves Origin Energy in Australia, Japan’s Tokyo Gas and Plenitude in countries including France and Greece.
Kraken, which is chaired by Gavin Patterson, the former BT Group chief executive, is now contracted to more than 70 million customer accounts globally – putting it easily on track to hit a target of 100 million by 2027.
Earlier this year, Mr. Jackson stated that the target now risks being perceived as “embarrassingly unambitious.”
In July last year, Kraken recruited Amir Orad, a former boss of NICE Actimize, a US-listed provider of enterprise software to global banks and Fortune 500 companies, as its first chief executive.
One key advantage of demerging Kraken from the rest of Octopus Energy Group would be to remove the perception of a conflict of interest among potential customers of the technology platform.
A source said the unified corporate ownership of both businesses had acted as a deterrent to some energy suppliers.
Kraken has also diversified beyond the energy sector and earlier this year joined a consortium which was exploring a takeover bid for stricken Thames Water.
Celebrating her friend’s birthday with an evening of cocktails at a popular bar, Radharani Domingos Telles had no idea she was drinking poison – until she went blind.
After taking a sip of her third caipirinha, the 43-year-old interior designer blacked out and was taken to intensive care – where she remained for nine agonising days. Doctors suspected a stroke when she slipped into a coma – but the truth was far more sinister.
Radharani Domingos Telles was poisoned by the methanol in caipirinha, causing blindness Credit: InstagramShe was taken to hospital and fought for her life in intensive care for nine days Credit: Radha Domingos
Radharani was poisoned by methanol – a poisonous industrial alcohol that was illegally added to the vodka used for her tropical fruit drinks.
She told The Sun: “I had three caipirinhas. I remember ordering the third – and thereafter, I don’t remember anything else. Boom – blackout.”
next One day, Radharani of Sao Paulo, Brazil, woke up dazed—unable to see—and fell asleep during a family lunch.
Within hours, she was in the ICU, on her way to a coma.
Doctors first suspected a panic attack or stroke.
“My blood acidity was incompatible with human life,” she says, as she recalls the ICU head later telling her. “That doctor saved my life.”
He spent nine days in intensive care – five of them fighting to survive.
When she finally woke up, the world had gone dark.
“I said to my husband, ‘Did you turn off the lights?’ But it was not light. These were my eyes,’‘ she said.
“It felt like you were inside a black hole.”
Later tests confirmed what had nearly killed him: 415 milligrams of methanol in his blood – almost three times the lethal dose.
“Surviving was a miracle,” she said.
killer in a glass
Radharani’s case is one of dozens linked to Brazil’s worst methanol poisoning outbreak in recent memory.
The dangerous wave began in late August and has since spread to São Paulo.
At least 68 people have been poisoned across Brazil, 15 of whom have died and more than 100 others are under investigation, according to the Health Ministry.
Sao Paulo remains the epicentre, with about 50 confirmed cases and most of the victims are young adults who simply went out for a drink and to have fun.
Authorities say counterfeit or adulterated vodka, gin and whisky were mixed with methanol – often taken from industrial or fuel supplies – to increase profit margins.
I have stopped going out. maybe i’ll never drink again
radharani domingo, victim of methanol poisoning
In some batches, contamination exceeded 40 per cent.
Symptoms may appear hours later, including blurred vision, vomiting, confusion, and eventually blindness or death.
Radharani doesn’t remember anything after her third drink.
A doctor, noting his extreme metabolic acidosis, ordered emergency dialysis and treatment for methanol poisoning even before laboratory results came back.
And that decision saved his life.
I told my husband, ‘Help me, I’m dying.’
“Once dialysis started, my condition stabilised,” Radharani said.
“But when they took me out, everything was dark. I could only see silhouettes.”
She left the hospital after more than two weeks, partially blind and with her optic nerves severely damaged.
Experts told him his vision would never recover.
But Radharani revealed, “I was sure I would be able to see again. My husband told me, ‘You may have lost five senses, but you have only lost one.’ This consoled me.”
He estimates that since then, his vision has gradually improved and is now about 30 per cent.
She is learning to live again, returning to part-time work and battling fatigue and tremors.
“It’s like seeing through a fog,” he explained.
“But I can walk around in my house again. That’s already a win.”
Doctors diagnosed him with 415 milligrams of methanol poisoning in his blood, almost three times the fatal dose. Credit: Radha DomingosRadharani photographed with her husband Eduardo Telles Credit: Radha Domingos
a widespread crisis
His personal nightmare is a mirror of a nationwide scam.
In Sao Paulo alone, police have closed bars and confiscated more than 3,000 bottles.
Dozens of illegal liquor distilleries have been raided and at least 20 people have been arrested.
Still, many contaminated bottles remain untested.
“It’s been 50 days and all the bottles at the bar where I drank have still not been analysed,” Radharani said.
“Justice is slow here. Investigations keep going on.”
Officials emphasise that progress is being made, from new reporting channels to expanded laboratory testing.
But the crisis has exposed deep cracks in Brazil’s food and beverage oversight.
The federal government now considers counterfeiting of alcoholic beverages a felony.
Behind the scenes, investigators are still investigating whether organised crime networks linked to fuel smuggling may have supplied the methanol that ended up in the counterfeit bottles.
After weeks of recovery, the interior designer has partially returned to work with only 30 per cent eyesight. Credit: Radha DomingosRadharani drank alcohol thrice, then became unconscious, woke up disoriented and later lost her sight Credit: Radha Domingos
‘I’ll probably never drink again.’
For Radharani, the loss runs deeper than her vision.
“I’m angry that establishments don’t ensure the safety of the services they provide,” he said.
“Since then I have stopped going out. Now I eat at home. I will probably never drink alcohol again.”
He turned his survival into a warning – recording a video from his hospital bed that went viral and forced authorities to take action.
“I went out for a friend’s birthday on Friday,” she said.
“By Monday, I was in a coma.”
Now she wants justice and to make sure no one else experiences her nightmare.
It comes as deadly alcoholism spreads across Britain’s holiday hotspot Britain has added 11 more countries to its “warning list” as the global death toll rises.
The alert comes amid rising incidents of deaths and blindness caused by counterfeit or contaminated alcohol across Asia, Africa, South America and Europe.
Britain’s Foreign Office has expanded its methanol-poisoning warning for the second month in a row – naming Bangladesh, India Iran, Jordan, Libya, Malawi, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, Papua New Guinea and Rwanda as new high-risk destinations.
They now join countries such as Ecuador, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, Nigeria, Peru, Russia and Uganda in what officials describe as a “global increase in the number of reported cases”.
The UK has launched a “Know the symptoms of methanol poisoning” campaign, urging Britons to only purchase sealed drinks from licensed venues and avoid buckets, jugs, pre-mixed cocktails and any home-made alcohol.
The crisis is growing rapidly with devastating consequences.
Brit Simone White, 28, died of methanol poisoning after drinking alcohol in a hostel in Laos Credit: Facebook/UnpixAustralian Bianca Jones also died after drinking alcohol laced with methanol while on vacationHolly Bowles, 19, dies after drinking free shots in Laos tourist destination Vang ViengCallum Macdonald, 23, left blind after being victim of methanol poisoning in Laos. Credit: BBC
In Laos, British traveller Simone White, 28, was one of several tourists killed last year after drinking free vodka at a hostel in Vang Vieng.
Australian friends Bianca Jones and Holly Bowles, 19, also died in the tragedy.
And Danish friends Anne-Sophie Orkild Koyman, 20, and Freja Wennerwald, 21, died after vomiting blood for 13 hours.
Another British backpacker, 23-year-old Callum MacDonald, who had been drinking there the day before, was left permanently blind.
He recalled waking up to “this kind of kaleidoscopic, blinding light… to the point where I couldn’t see anything”.
Later, when his friends sat with him in the lit hotel room, he asked, “Why are we sitting in the dark? Someone should turn on the lights.”
From Southeast Asia to South America, the rise in methanol-laced alcohol is now a global threat that kills rapidly, blinds survivors and is nearly impossible to detect before it is too late.
Dangers of methanol in the body
Methanol (methyl alcohol) is highly toxic to humans, unlike ethanol, which is the alcohol found in regular beverages.
Even amounts as low as 10–30 ml can be fatal.
The main effects of methanol on the body include:
• Severe metabolic acidosis (a dangerous drop in blood pH). • Damage to the optic nerve, which can lead to sudden or permanent blindness. • Effects on the central nervous system: intense headache, dizziness, confusion, seizures and coma. • Possible respiratory failure, multiple organ failure, and death within hours or days.
Initial symptoms (may be similar to intoxication): • Nausea, vomiting, stomach pain • Blurry vision or “snowy vision” (like seeing through a blizzard) • Difficulty in breathing
There is no home remedy or antidote for it. Any suspicion of consumption of adulterated beverages containing methanol requires immediate medical attention or immediate hospital treatment.
