The generators are made in Newcastle through a partnership with Siemens Energy

Hydrogen generators made in Newcastle are to be part of the largest ever use of green hydrogen on a British construction project.

The Lower Thames Crossing – a £10bn project that will create a tunnel under the Thames between Thurrock and Gravesham – has signed a deal with hydrogen firm GeoPura to use hydrogen as a power source on the project.

The scheme is aiming to be the first major infrastructure project in the UK to operate on a carbon neutral basis, and will use hydrogen, electric and other low-carbon fuels to replace diesel and reduce emissions.

GeoPura produces green hydrogen across several locations in the UK and works with Siemens Energy in Newcastle to produce hydrogen generators. Six hydrogen-powered generators provided by GeoPura are already at work on the project, charging batteries used in electric machinery on a work site in Essex.

The company will ultimately supply 2,500 tonnes of hydrogen to the Lower Thames Crossing, enough to replace over 12m litres of diesel and save an estimated 30,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions.

GeoPura CEO Andrew Cunningham said: “We’re extremely proud to be supplying the largest volume of green hydrogen ever contracted for a British construction project and I congratulate the Lower Thames Crossing for setting a powerful example of how major infrastructure can be delivered sustainably.

“This contract award further strengthens the British hydrogen supply chain driving both price efficiency and British jobs across this new, exciting industry with tangible deployments.”

GeoPura was founded in 2019 and employs more than 170 people around the UK and Europe. It started work with Siemens Energy in Newcastle in 2022 to produce green hydrogen at an industrial scale.

Minister for Industry Chris McDonald said: “GeoPura and the Lower Thames Crossing collaboration is proof that clean energy goes hand-in-hand with major British infrastructure projects. Hydrogen has a key role to play in our industrial strategy, and from Nottinghamshire to Kent, our first flagship hydrogen projects will sustainably power projects up and down the country.”

Matt Palmer, executive director for the Lower Thames Crossing, said: “Today we’ve given the green light to green hydrogen. By replacing diesel with home grown hydrogen, we’re not only reducing our own carbon footprint but also helping clean up the construction sector.

“National Highways is supporting new jobs and skills that will put British businesses and people at the forefront of the growing clean energy sector.”

They appeared as life-sized holograms and chatted to guests at the star-studded event

A group of film fans in Bath was “beamed” onto the Baftas red carpet on Sunday from more than 100 miles away using innovative tech. The individuals were able to experience the star-studded awards ceremony at London’s Royal Festival Hall using immersive holographic technology – powered by mobile giant EE’s 5G network.

They appeared live on the red carpet as life-sized holograms, surprising guests at the event and sharing their excitement in real time.

Ex-Made in Chelsea stars Jamie Laing and Sophie Habboo hosted the holographic experience from London, guiding globally recognised stars through the live interactions with fans from the West Country.

Bafta host Alan Cumming, actress Aimee Lou Wood, and EE Rising Star winner – actor Robert Aramayo – were among guests to interact and speak to the holographic fans live from the EE stage.

Aimee Lou Wood told one Bath film fan which of her characters she’d bring to a Bafta nominated film, saying: “I would put Chelsea from The White Lotus into Sinners so she could live forever…”

Actor Jay Lycurgo, who starred in Peaky Blinders, offered a Bath film fan his advice for the next generation of actors: “Acting is a true rollercoaster,” he said. “You have to really believe in yourself and your authenticity. It’s about playing the long game, it’s not about immediate success.”

Reflecting on hosting the night, Laing and Habboo said it was “an honour” to give film fans “the night of a lifetime”.

“The awards truly celebrate creativity and storytelling at the highest level but tonight felt extra special,” they said. “It wasn’t just about what was happening inside the ceremony, it was also about celebrating the UK’s love of film and bringing audiences closer to the action.”

The winners of the Bafta Film Awards were announced on Sunday (February 22) in a ceremony hosted by Alan Cumming in London.

US comedy action-thriller One Battle After Another, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Sean Penn, Teyana Taylor and Chase Infiniti, won six awards – the most of the night – followed by I Swear, Sinners and Frankenstein, which got three each, while Hamnet scooped two.

Jessie Buckley won the Leading Actress category for Hamnet; Robert Aramayo won Leading Actor for I Swear; Sean Penn won Supporting Actor for One Battle After Another; and Wunmi Mosaku won Supporting Actress for Sinners

The Bafta Fellowship was presented by Bafta’s President, the Prince of Wales, to Dame Donna Langley, in honour of her “transformative leadership, sustained commitment to inclusion and pipeline building, and the strength of her relationships with creative partners who bring film and television to life”.

Apple is poised to enter the foldable smartphone market with its first foldable iPhone potentially launching in late 2026, according to mounting industry reports and analyst predictions. The highly anticipated device, often referred to as the “iPhone Fold,” is expected to feature a book-style folding mechanism similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, offering a larger inner display for productivity while maintaining a compact form when closed.

Multiple credible sources, including analysts Ming-Chi Kuo, Jeff Pu and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, point to a debut in the second half of 2026, likely alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in September. Mass production of key components, such as the foldable display, is reportedly set to begin in July 2026, aligning with Apple’s traditional fall launch timeline. Foxconn, a primary manufacturing partner, has reportedly entered the engineering validation and pre-production phases, with component stockpiling underway.

The book-style design remains the consensus, eschewing a clamshell flip format for the initial model. When unfolded, the inner screen is expected to measure around 7.8 inches, providing an iPad mini-like canvas for multitasking, media consumption and AI-enhanced features. The outer cover display is rumored to be approximately 5.5 inches, allowing conventional smartphone use when folded. Thickness estimates vary: Kuo suggests 9-9.5 mm folded and 4.5-4.8 mm unfolded, while recent leaks indicate at least 4.8 mm unfolded for durability.

Durability and crease minimization are priorities. Apple is reportedly aiming for a nearly crease-free inner OLED panel through advanced hinge technology. The hinge may combine titanium and stainless steel or aluminum, with the frame using a hybrid titanium-aluminum alloy to balance strength, heat dissipation and weight. Volume buttons could shift to the top edge, akin to the iPad mini, while the power button and potential Camera Control remain on the side. The rear camera module is described as an iPhone Air-style plateau on the left.

A fingerprint sensor under the power button is rumored as an alternative to Face ID, possibly to save internal space and maintain thinness. Connectivity may include Apple’s in-house C2 modem and N2 Wi-Fi 7 chip for improved performance.

Battery life could benefit from a larger capacity, with some leaks mentioning around 5,000-5,500 mAh to support the bigger screen and power-hungry features. The device is expected to run enhanced iOS versions with multitasking optimizations for the foldable form factor.

Pricing positions the iPhone Fold as Apple’s most expensive smartphone yet. Estimates range from $2,000 to $2,500 in the U.S., with some analysts like Kuo citing $2,000-$2,500, Gurman suggesting at least $2,000, and others narrowing it to $2,100-$2,400. UBS predicts a possible $1,800-$2,000 range due to cost optimizations, particularly in hinge assembly priced at $70-$80 per unit. The premium reflects advanced materials, complex engineering and Apple’s brand positioning, though it could limit initial volume compared to standard iPhones.

Shipment forecasts are cautious: Kuo anticipates 3-5 million units in 2026, scaling to over 20 million (including second-generation models) in 2027. Production challenges, such as hinge reliability and display yield, could constrain supply.

The foldable arrives amid Apple’s evolving lineup. Reports indicate the standard iPhone 18 may shift to early 2027, focusing 2026 on premium models including the foldable. This strategy leverages the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone while addressing competition from Samsung, Google and Chinese brands dominating foldables.

Apple has tested prototypes for years, prioritizing quality over speed. While a clamshell version is reportedly in early development, it’s not expected soon and may follow if the book-style succeeds.

The iPhone Fold could redefine Apple’s mobile ecosystem, emphasizing AI integration on a larger canvas. Success hinges on crease-free performance, battery endurance and seamless software adaptation.

As details remain speculative, Apple’s official reveal — if it occurs in 2026 — will clarify the device’s positioning in a maturing foldable market.

Gambling firms not licensed in the UK could be banned from sponsoring sports teams – including Premier League clubs – as part of a government crackdown.

Ministers say they are worried about the risks stemming from the unlicensed market, such as companies not following laws and guidelines aimed at protecting customers.

These include mandatory financial vulnerability checks and responsible advertising.

The government also warns a lack of data protection measures can leave people open to fraud and identity theft and that unlicensed betting has been linked to organised crime.

A consultation into the prosposals will be launched this spring.

Last year, several clubs were warned by the Gambling Commission over their relationship with unlicensed TGP Europe.

Premier League Bournemouth, Fulham, Newcastle and Wolves, as well as then-Championship Burnley, were all sponsored by betting websites run by the firm, which had surrendered its British licence after an investigation found it failed to “carry out sufficient checks on business partners” and breached “anti-money laundering rules”.

A letter sent to the clubs warned they “may be liable to prosecution… if they promote unlicensed gambling businesses that transact with consumers in Great Britain”.

Mr Rhodes who hails for Neath will confirm a new role in the private sector shortly

Chief executive of regulator the Gambling Commission, Welshman Andrew Rhodes, is standing down from the role. Mr Rhodes, who hails from Neath and is a former registrar at Swansea University, will formally step down at the end of April after nearly five years in the role.

He is taking up a new position in the private sector that will be confirmed shortly.

During his tenure Mr Rhodes led work for the commission implementing the Gambling Act Review, with a strong focus on consumer safeguards. This has included the introduction of financial vulnerability checks, reducing the intensity of online games, and banning potentially harmful marketing offers. He also oversaw the introduction of the Gambling Survey for Great Britain, now one of the largest surveys of gambling behaviour in the world, and implementation of the fourth National Lottery licence.

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Mr Rhodes, said:“It has been a privilege to lead the Gambling Commission through such an important period of change. I am proud of the progress we have made to strengthen regulation, improve consumer protections, and ensure gambling is safer and fairer. I leave with confidence in the organisation, its people, and the work still to come.”

Charles Counsell, interim chair of the Gambling Commission, said “Andrew has provided outstanding leadership for nearly five years and leaves a strong legacy. He has led the commission through major reform, strengthened our regulatory approach, and ensured consumer protection has remained at the heart of our work. On behalf of the board, I would like to thank Andrew for his dedication and wish him every success in the future.”

The commission will shortly begin the process of recruiting a chief executive for an interim period. Deputy chief executive Sarah Gardner will step up as acting chief executive to cover the areas of work that Andrew will step back from during this transitional period.

A ferocious bomb cyclone intensified into a historic blizzard early Monday, February 23, 2026, blanketing New York City with over a foot of heavy, wet snow and ferocious winds, effectively grounding nearly all commercial flights at the region’s major airports and bringing the metropolis to a near standstill.

The storm, dubbed the “Blizzard of 2026,” rapidly deepened overnight Sunday into Monday, dropping central pressure by more than 30 millibars in hours to achieve bomb cyclone status. Blizzard warnings covered New York City and surrounding areas, with whiteout conditions, wind gusts up to 60 mph or higher, and snowfall rates of 2 to 3 inches per hour creating life-threatening travel hazards.

By mid-morning Monday, John F. Kennedy International Airport had canceled nearly 90% of flights, LaGuardia Airport 98%, and Newark Liberty International Airport 87%, according to FlightAware tracking data. More than 5,000 to 10,000 U.S. flights were canceled nationwide from Sunday through Tuesday, with the vast majority tied to the Northeast corridor. Delays numbered in the thousands, stranding travelers and disrupting global air travel networks.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani declared a local state of emergency and imposed a non-emergency travel ban across the five boroughs until at least noon Monday, with extensions possible. Similar restrictions took effect in New Jersey and Rhode Island. Public transit halted or severely limited operations, schools closed, Broadway shows canceled, and even food delivery services like DoorDash suspended service in parts of the city overnight.

Snowfall totals climbed quickly: Central Park recorded more than 13 to 15 inches by early Monday, with Brooklyn and other boroughs reporting higher accumulations. Forecasters warned of up to 20 to 24 inches in some areas before the storm tapered. The heavy, wet snow combined with intense winds toppled trees, snapped power lines and caused widespread outages.

PowerOutage.us reported over 500,000 to 575,000 customers without electricity across the Northeast, from Boston to Washington, D.C., including significant numbers in New Jersey, Massachusetts and New York. Restoration efforts faced major obstacles due to ongoing blizzard conditions, with utilities prioritizing critical infrastructure.

The National Weather Service described the event as a “classic bomb cyclone/nor’easter,” intensified by the Gulf Stream and jet stream dynamics. Thundersnow was reported in Manhattan, adding to the storm’s drama. Blizzard conditions persisted into Monday afternoon in many spots, with near hurricane-force gusts and visibility reduced to a quarter-mile or less.

Governor Kathy Hochul activated state resources early, warning of the storm’s historic potential — the first official blizzard warning for New York City since 2017 and the most severe in nearly a decade. Officials urged residents to stay indoors, prepare emergency kits and avoid carbon monoxide risks from improper generator use.

The storm’s impact extended beyond New York: Boston, Philadelphia and other cities faced similar chaos, with travel bans, school closures and power disruptions. Over 40 million people were under blizzard warnings across 11 states.

Airlines scrambled to rebook passengers, but recovery could take days as crews cleared runways and aircraft repositioned. Major carriers like Delta, American and United reported massive cancellations at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark, hubs critical to domestic and international routes.

As the storm slowly moved offshore, forecasters anticipated gradual improvement by late Monday into Tuesday, with winds easing and snow tapering. However, refreezing and melting issues posed secondary risks.

The Blizzard of 2026 underscored vulnerabilities in the densely populated Northeast to extreme winter weather, amplified by rapid intensification. With millions hunkered down, attention turned to recovery as the region dug out from one of its most paralyzing storms in recent memory.