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All in the month of July The ‘father’ of modern British policing The great flood of China The July 2005 bombings of London Don’t Step on a Bee Day – 10th July The danger of electric cars< Murder World is more violent than ever Rise in older shoplifters ** Editor:  We continue our column that...

 It was: 250 years ago, on 1st July 1775 that the British Parliament brought in the New England Restraining Act. This forbade its North American colonies from trading with anyone other than Britain, Ireland, and the British West Indies. The colonies were also forbidden to fish in the Atlantic without permission. 175 years ago, on...

It was 175 years ago, on 2ndJuly 1850, that Robert Peel, who was Prime Minister from 1834 to 35 and from 1841 to 46, died. He founded the Metropolitan Police Service and is seen as the father of modern British policing. Peel, born in Bury, was one of 11 children of the first Sir Robert...

Ninety years ago, on 6th July 1935, the Yangtze River flooded in China. At least 145,000 people died, millions were displaced and suffered food shortages and famine. The Yangtze River is the longest river in Asia, the third-longest in the world, and is known as the ‘Long River’ in Mandarin. It stretches 6315 kilometres – not...

Twenty years ago, the 7th July (2005) London bombings took place. A co-ordinated series of four suicide bomb attacks on London’s transport system during the morning rush hour killed 56 people and injured more than 700. It was the worst-ever terrorist attack on Britain, and the country’s first attack by suicide bombers. Three of the...

Have you ever wanted to step on a bee? Hopefully most of us haven’t – but the eye-catching name of this annual event aims to remind people of how important bees are in our ecosystem, and of the need to promote their protection. Don’t Step on a Bee Day highlights the crucial role bees play...

Electric cars may be the ‘future’ of British motoring, but meanwhile, more of them are catching fire. From 131 blazes three years ago, there were 232 blazes needing a fire brigade last year – a 77 per cent increase in just two years. Electric car fires are more dangerous than petrol or diesel car fires,...

Do you see a lot of murders? On TV, that is. According to the star of Gavin and Tracey, James Corden, television these days has become pretty much “wall-to-wall” murder. Corden believes that audiences deserve more programmes that feature love and kindness, instead. He says: “If there was an alien species that came to Earth,...

Last year there was serious conflict in at least 50 different countries. “The level of violence happening is certainly at one of its highest levels since the Second World War.” So says the founder of ACLED (Armed Conflict Location and Event Data). Some experts estimate that at least one in every six people is exposed...

 More and more pensioners have turned to shoplifting. They aren’t in criminal gangs, they are hungry. So says a security firm which works with hundreds of stores across the country. Kingdom Security reports that food retailers have seen a “massive” increase in pensioner shoplifters over the past year, involving “people who just can’t afford to...

All in the month of June Climbing Annapurna Kitchener and that poster from the First World War The ground-breaking marriage of Martin Luther Mini is named the best-ever British car People who can’t see should not drive! Our polluted water systems ** Editor:  We continue our column that looks at memorable dates in the month...

It was: 500 years ago, on 13th June 1525, that German Protestant Reformer Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, a nun whom he had helped to escape from a convent. 250 years ago, on 14th June 1775, that the Second Continental Congress established the Continental Army. Later it became the United States Army. On 15th...