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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...

It was 75 years ago, on 3rd June 1950, that the first successful ascent of Annapurna in the Himalayas was made. It was a French expedition – and the first successful ascent of any mountain over 8000 metres. Annapurna is the tenth highest mountain in the world. It was the first time in a century...

Some 175 years ago, on 24th June 1850, Herbert Kitchener, the 1st Earl Kitchener, was born. This Irish-born British Army officer and politician became Secretary of War during the First World War, when he appeared on an iconic poster asking people to join the army. Kitchener already had a fearsome reputation, having been responsible for...

Five hundred years ago, on 13th June 1525, German Protestant Reformer Martin Luther married Katharina von Bora, a nun whom he had helped to escape from a convent. Little is normally written about this phase of his life, but a great deal about him as a theologian and world-changing reformer in the Christian world, which...