Driftwood Choir — the collaboration between Ed Prosek and Portair — deliver a warm, fingerpicked indie-folk piece that feels made for a long summer evening under the trees. "Tall Pines" is a meditation on roots, memory, and finding peace in the natural world. Hauntingly beautiful vocals, a gentle guitar pulse, and lyrics that feel both ancient and fresh. Perfect solstice listening.
Today is the summer solstice — the astronomical start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The solstice occurred at 08:25 UTC (09:25 BST), marking the longest day of the year. Expect sunset after 9:20 PM across most of the UK. At Stonehenge, crowds gathered to watch the sunrise align with the ancient stones — a tradition stretching back 5,000 years.
Saturn reaches opposition this weekend, meaning it's at its closest approach to Earth and fully illuminated by the Sun. It will be the brightest and most visible of the entire year — look east after midnight for a golden "star" that doesn't twinkle. A small telescope will reveal its iconic rings.
SpaceX has a Falcon 9 Starlink launch scheduled from Vandenberg today, continuing the rapid buildout of the constellation that now numbers over 7,000 satellites in orbit.
Saturn, Mars, Uranus, and Neptune are all in the eastern sky before sunrise, with Mercury joining the parade low on the horizon. The planetary alignment continues this week — a fine excuse for an early alarm.
John Jumper, the Nobel Prize-winning lead of Google DeepMind's AlphaFold team, has left the company to join Anthropic. The move is the latest high-profile departure from DeepMind as the AI talent wars intensify. Jumper's expertise in protein folding could signal a shift toward AI-for-science at Anthropic.
Apple has detailed the full feature set of iOS 27, including on-device AI upgrades, a redesigned lock screen, and deeper integrations with third-party hardware. The update is expected to ship this autumn.
Norway has effectively banned the use of AI tools in elementary education, citing concerns over cognitive development, data privacy, and screen dependency. The move contrasts sharply with the UK and US approaches, where AI adoption in classrooms is being actively encouraged.
Anthropic has formally filed for its IPO, with reports suggesting the AI company could be valued at close to $1 trillion. The public listing follows OpenAI's own IPO and marks a historic moment as the two AI giants bring their rivalry to public markets.
The government's one-third cut to red diesel duty has taken effect this month, offering relief to farmers facing rising fuel costs. The change follows sustained lobbying from farming unions who warned margins were being squeezed across the sector. The cut is expected to save the average arable farm several thousand pounds per year.
Gillian Martin has been appointed as the new Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Rural Affairs in Scotland. Farmers' unions have welcomed the appointment but urged swift action on support payments, the ongoing bluetongue situation, and clarity on the future of farm funding post-Brexit.
Movement restrictions for livestock remain in place across Scotland and parts of England as authorities work to contain the bluetongue virus. Farmers are reminded to check movement licences before transporting animals. A new government strategy is also targeting swine fever preparedness for the pig sector.
The NFU has warned that food security starts with water security, after a notably dry spring across much of England. With hosepipe bans already in place in some areas, farmers are being urged to plan for potential irrigation restrictions through the summer months.
Two East Midlands Railway passenger trains collided near Bedford on Friday evening, killing the driver of one service and leaving nine people in critical condition. More than 80 people were injured in total, with 28 still in hospital. British Transport Police are investigating the cause, with signal data expected to be key to understanding what went wrong. The King said he was "greatly saddened" by the news, and Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander said she was "deeply concerned".
Talk of Keir Starmer staying on as Labour leader is "fading fast", writes Laura Kuenssberg. After Andy Burnham's by-election victory, support for the Prime Minister is evaporating within the party. Former Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell warned that the leadership uncertainty is "enormously disruptive" for the civil service. Burnham remains the frontrunner to succeed Starmer, with Angela Rayner and Wes Streeting also potential contenders. The crisis has been building since disastrous local election results and a series of by-election losses.
It's traditional to mark the solstice with something sweet, golden, and sun-kissed. Honey cakes flavoured with rosemary, lemon, and a hint of St John's Wort make for a perfect midsummer treat. Pair with a glass of elderflower cordial — elderflowers are at their peak right now across the UK, and foraged cordial is surprisingly easy to make. Simple, seasonal, and deeply British.
I asked my gardener what the longest day of the year was called.
He said, "I don't know, but I've been at it since 6am."
The historic US-Iran deal signed this week has taken effect, with the Strait of Hormuz reopening to commercial shipping and the US lifting its naval blockade on Iranian ports. Iran has agreed to allow toll-free passage for 60 days as part of the initial agreement, while nuclear talks continue. Oil prices have dropped sharply as markets price in resumed flows from the region.