Environment

Environment Secretary Michael Gove will introduce a new Bill to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years. Prison sentences for the worst animal abusers will be toughened up with a new law. Environment Secretary Michael Gove will introduce a new Bill on Wednesday to increase maximum sentences for animal cruelty from six months to five years. The harshest sentences will be for cruelty including dog fighting, abuse of puppies and kittens, or gross neglect of...

Maureen Lipman has criticised fellow star Sir Mark Rylance as “jolly silly” for quitting the Royal Shakespeare Company over BP sponsorship. The Oscar-winner, 59, ended his relationship with the renowned theatre company over financial backing by the oil giant, which has faced increased criticism over environmental issues. In a letter to The Times newspaper, Coronation Street actress Lipman, 73, said that Sir Mark, who was an associate artist with the RSC for 30 years, would be more effective taking action at “grassroots level”  “Resigning...

Nine of the top 10 areas for homeless deaths have seen three times the average cutbacks. Deaths of homeless people have been highest in areas with the biggest council cuts, Labour analysis shows. Nine of the 10 areas with the most homeless deaths have had at least three times the average cuts to council budgets. The highest number of estimated deaths, 90, was in Birmingham, where council cuts per household have hit £939.80 – more than three times the national average...

Disposable plastic cutlery, plates and bowls, straws and PVC packaging are among the eight items that should be eliminated, Wrap said. Disposable plastic cutlery, polystyrene packaging and plastic cotton buds and stirrers are among eight items that should be eliminated by the end of 2020, according to a report. Eight problem plastics to be eliminated by #UKPlasticsPact members before the end of 2020. And that’s just the beginning. We are investigating many more plastics changing how we avoid, make, use,...

Southern Water has been hit with a record £126 million penalty package after a “shocking” Ofwat probe uncovered failures in the firm’s sewage treatment sites and found that it fixed wastewater samples. Customers of the utility company will now receive rebates of £61 over the next five years after Southern Water agreed to the package, which, given the size of the firm, is the largest the regulator has ever imposed. Ofwat said its large-scale investigation found that Southern Water failed to...

Campaigners fear over biotech firm's bid to harvest 1,800 acres of seabed

Researchers found that air pollution and living in apartment buildings may be associated with an increased risk for dangerous conditions such as heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes

Scientists have long struggled to identify patterns for earthquakes, leading to suggestions they strike at random

The study found vegetarian sandwiches aren’t always more environmentally friendly than meat, with vegan options having the lowest impact.