An application to keep 73 self-storage containers at Lambs Hill Farm, in Strensall, and remove 31 more has been refused by York Council.

BHE Self-Storage’s plans stated the containers were part of the farm’s important diversification efforts as agriculture continues to struggle with the impact of Brexit, coronavirus and the Ukraine war.

But council planning officers ruled the site was inappropriate in the green belt and there were no benefits which outweighed the harm.

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It comes after 22 self-storage containers were first installed in 2017 after plans were given the go ahead, with the amount on site varying depending on demand since.

Storage for individuals, families and businesses is offered at the site in around 2.4m by 6m-large containers on the site.

Access is off Towthorpe Moor Lane and it is open to customers from 8am to 6pm daily.

Planning permission was previously refused to put 118 and 104 containers on the site in 2022 and 2024 respectively.

The amount of storage containers on site numbered 104 as of June.

Plans stated the containers had been installed on existing, lawful hard-standing on the farm which could be classed as ‘grey belt’ land.

An aerial view of the BHE Self Storage site at Lambs Hill Farm, in Towthorpe Moor Lane, Strensall, York (Image: BHE Self Storage)

Grey belt land refers to sites in the green belt which have already been developed.

The application added income from the storage business helped to subsidise the cost of the farm’s management of cattle on Strensall’s Common and Stray.

Plans stated: “Farm diversification projects draw substantial support from both national and local policy and have become increasingly important for the farming industry nationwide.

“Self-storage which meets the needs of a local demographic is a growth sector, it reduces the need for local people and businesses to travel.

“BHE Self Storage has created one full-time job and one part-time job since it commenced operations several years ago, thus making a contribution to the local economy.”

But council planning officers stated the previous planning decisions for the site had already ruled the harm to the green belt had not been outweighed by the farm’s diversification efforts.

Officers stated: “It is considered that the proposed development does not form grey belt development and therefore very special circumstances would be needed to justify it.

“There is no clearly demonstrable unmet need for the proposed development and the development is not in a sustainable location, as it would require car journeys from across a significant area.

“The harm to the green belt is added to by the harm to visual amenity
and character of the landscape.”

Two fires that destroyed 19 homes in Stourbridge were started accidentally in fields where farming machinery was in use, according to West Midlands Fire Service.

Investigators established farming equipment was being used in the vicinity of fields immediately before the fires were first reported.

The first fire started in a field near Racecourse Lane at about 13:27 BST on 13 August, while a second began shortly afterwards in a field near Quarry Park Road.

Chief Fire Officer Simon Tuhill said so many people had been affected he wanted to confirm both fires were not started deliberately. They were accidental, he said.

“While investigations continue into the full circumstances of what happened, we wanted to share this latest update as soon as possible,”Tuhill continued.

“I hope it will go some way towards helping people understand what happened on that exceptionally hot and challenging day.”

As well as the properties that were completely destroyed, a further 18 were damaged as the flames spread rapidly through grass and woodland.

The incident in Stourbridge happened on the UK’s hottest day of the year as temperatures peaked at 38.1C in some parts of the country, the Met Office said.

Several other fires were reported in the West Midlands on the same day as a total of 54 patients were treated by paramedics and 19 were taken to hospital.

Other incidents saw about a dozen homes lost in Birmingham, four in Stoke-on-Trent, three in Pershore, Worcestershire and three in Willenhall, near Wolverhampton.

The causes of most are still under investigation, although it was confirmed a barbecue started the one in Stoke on Trent.

It’s perhaps the most versatile product sitting in your fridge – used in everything from soups, to curries and puddings.

 Yoghurt is a staple in 90 per cent of UK households, bought 2.7 billion times a year across the country.  But the low-calorie dessert has attracted somewhat of a bad rap over the last decade. 

Diet gurus regularly attack yoghurts – particularly those marketed at children – for being packed full of ‘hidden’ sugar. 

Even ministers are cracking down on some types, with the sugar tax extended to cover sweet yoghurt drinks from January 2028. 

But experts, like dietitian Laura Perez, insist that yoghurts are a nutritious addition to a daily diet – providing you pick the right type.

‘Yoghurt is generally great for breakfast because it’s high in protein, which will keep you full until lunchtime, and it also contains calcium and other important nutrients,’ she says.

With so many varieties to choose from, it can be tough to know which to pick – especially when we’re told low-fat kinds are teeming with sugar. 

Here, diet expert Ms Perez – Nutrition Lead at Simple Online Pharmacy – reveals the healthiest type to pick, and which to avoid. 

Greek yoghurt

 All nutritional analyses are per 100g (or six tablespoons)

Tesco Finest Greek Yoghurt: 132 calories, 3.3g sugar, 6.1g protein, 7.2g sat fat, roughly 110mg calcium

Greek yoghurt is generally heavily strained to remove more of the whey – the yellowish liquid that naturally separates and pools on top of the yoghurt.

This often results in a higher protein content, which can boost muscle growth and strength, and satisfy hunger pangs. 

This version has almost twice the protein of some others but, for this, you’re also getting more than a third of your recommended intake of saturated fat – the type that increases heart attack risk.

Greek yoghurts can also fall flat on their calcium content, dietitian Laura Perez says.

That’s because the whey is the part that contains the bulk of the bone-boosting nutrient. 

While this version is relatively low in sugar – boasting less than a teaspoon – Ms Perez warns against ‘Greek style’ varieties, which are often sugary and high in fat, without the impressive protein count. 

Verdict: 2.5/5 

Yeo Valley natural yoghurt 

Yeo Valley Bio Live Organic Natural Yoghurt: 72 calories, 4.9g sugar, 4.2g protein, 2.5g saturated fat, 166mg calcium

Yeo Valley’s full-fat natural yoghurt sits somewhere in the middle of the pack, with 72 calories and three times less saturated fat than Greek yoghurt. 

It has slightly less protein than the Greek-style Tesco option – but about the same as half an egg – and considerably more calcium, providing 166mg per portion and nearly a third of the recommended daily intake.

Calcium content tends to be lower in Greek yoghurt varieties, experts say

There’s marginally more sugar than Greek yoghurt, but only just, and it’s still only roughly a teaspoon, which is worth it for the protein and calcium boost, Ms Perez says. 

But don’t be swayed by labels advertising products as ‘live’.

‘Live or bio’ generally indicates that live cultures are present,’ says Ms Perez. 

‘But this does not guarantee a beneficial probiotic effect.’ Probiotics are live bacteria that feed the trillions of health-boosting bacteria in our gut. 

Diets high in foods with probiotic qualities have been linked to a lower risk of a host of conditions, including dementia, cancer and depression. 

‘Yoghurt is not something that is inherently good for the gut,’ Perez says. 

‘The effects of fermented foods and live cultures are not universal, and people respond differently.’

Verdict: 3/5

Low-fat natural yoghurt 

M&S Low Fat Natural Yoghurt: 66 calories, 6.5g sugar, 5.4g protein, 1.2g saturated fat, 183mg calcium

This is a classic example of manufacturers using extra sugar to account for the reduction in flavour that comes with removing most of the fat. 

There’s almost twice as much sugar here compared to Greek yoghurt, and more than a quarter of your daily limit of free sugars (the type that’s added to food). 

Kefir is a fermented milk, similar to a thin yoghurt, that is rising in popularity thanks to its gut health benefits. Just 250ml supplies around 40 per cent of your daily calcium needs

You’re only saving a very small amount of saturated fat and calories, compared to the full-fat version of natural yoghurt, and gaining not even a full gram of extra protein.

The one plus is that there’s nearly 200mg of calcium here – a little less than you’ll find in a 200ml glass of semi-skimmed milk – and the second highest of all the yoghurts tested. 

 Verdict: 1/5

0 per cent fat Greek yoghurt

FAGE Total 0 per cent: 54 calories, 3g sugar, 10.3g protein, 0g saturated fat, 120mg calcium

If protein is your priority, FAGE Total 0 per cent is the standout winner.

It packs 10.3g of protein into every 100g – more than twice as much as the natural yoghurt.

It is also the least calorific of the six products, has the lowest sugar content and contains no saturated fat.

Ms Perez says: ‘FAGE Total 0% is the strongest all-round option for someone prioritising protein and lower saturated fat, which would apply to most of us.

‘The high protein content is likely to make you feel full, but it can also be less creamy, which might make some people less likely to prefer it.’

However, there’s one flaw in a totally fat free yoghurt. ‘Removing fat may reduce the amount of naturally occurring fat-soluble vitamins, such as vitamins A and D,’ says Ms Perez. 

Verdict: 4/5 

Kefir yoghurt 

Biotiful Kefir Yoghurt Original: 75 calories, 7.4g sugar, 6g protein, 1.4g saturated fat, 190mg calcium 

Often hailed as a gut-health hero, kefir differs from conventional yoghurt because it is fermented using a more diverse collection of microorganisms, said to offer greater digestive benefits.

‘Kefir is interesting because it contains a mixture of bacteria and yeasts, whereas yoghurt is generally made using a smaller number of bacterial cultures,’ explains Ms Perez.

‘There is promising evidence for potential benefits, including improved lactose digestion for some people, but the research is still developing and products vary considerably.’ 

While kefir is high in protein and calcium, there’s almost two teaspoons of sugar per portion – three digestive biscuits worth – which cancels out any slight appetite-satisfying benefit.

Ms Perez adds: ‘Claims that kefir will “reset” or “heal” the gut should be treated cautiously. While there may be some benefits to eating kefir, it also depends on what your individual gut bacteria require.’

Verdict: 2/5 

Flavoured yoghurt 

Onken Mango, Papaya and Passionfruit Biopot Yoghurt: 102 calories, 15g sugar, 3.7g protein, 1.7g saturated fat, 111mg calcium 

Onken’s tropical fruit yoghurt tastes more like a pudding – and that’s because it basically is, thanks to the considerable sugar hit.

It contains five times the sugar as the FAGE 0 per cent and a teaspoon more than in a small KitKat. 

It is among the most calorific options overall at 102 calories, while its 3.7g of protein and 111mg of calcium are the joint-lowest.

‘Onken mango, papaya and passionfruit yoghurt would be my least preferred choice for regular use,’ says Ms Perez.

‘It still provides protein, calcium and live cultures, but given its higher sugar and lower protein content, I’d personally favour other options for eating regularly.

‘It doesn’t make the yoghurt a ‘bad’ food – it’s simply one factor to consider alongside protein, calcium, taste, preference and the rest of your diet.

‘Plain yoghurt with fresh fruit gives you more control over sweetness. You can adapt it to your personal preference, while the fruit provides added fibre, vitamins and minerals.’

Verdict: 1/5

Celtic’s 5-1 defeat to LASK has cost the club an estimated £25 million in Champions League revenue, forcing them into the Europa League with significantly reduced prize money and broadcast income.

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Celtic are facing a potential loss of around £25million following their exit from the Champions League.

The Scottish champions have an opportunity to claw back some of those losses with a solid Europa League campaign, though they fell short of reaching the last 16 of that competition last season.

Here, we break down the financial impact of their 5-1 defeat by LASK .

Entry fee

Champions League qualification carries a flat fee of £15.9m, compared with the Europa League entry fee of £3.7m. Celtic will also pocket a similar sum for taking part in the Champions League play-offs, leaving them roughly £8.5m worse off from the outset.

Performance bonuses

Generally speaking, Champions League teams have access to around four-and-a-half times more performance-related payments than their Europa League counterparts. A Champions League victory is worth £1.8m, while a draw brings in £600,000.

The corresponding figures in the Europa League stand at approximately £390,000 and £130,000. There is a difference of 300,000 euros per place above the bottom in the table.

Celtic finished 21st in their respective tables across the past two seasons, in both the Champions League and Europa League. Based on recent performances and another 21st-placed finish, the Hoops are looking at missing out on roughly £5m in results bonuses and £4m in league-table bonuses.

Celtic have been eliminated by German opposition in the knockout round play-offs for the past two consecutive seasons. The gap in bonuses for reaching that stage amounts to approximately £600,000.

In total, Celtic could realistically forfeit around £10m in performance-related income, though they have the opportunity to claw back some of that shortfall with a strong showing in the Europa League.

Broadcasting and ranking income

Once again, the Champions League offers four-and-a-half times the pool of money available than the Europa League. Income is determined by the country’s broadcasting value, the number of clubs competing from each nation, and clubs’ recent European performances.

Each place above the bottom in the Champions League is worth £830,000 more than the Europa League. However, Celtic will be higher up the table in the Europa League than the Champions League, and the gap from the previous two campaigns was only around £2million less in the lower competition.

Gate receipts

Celtic charged £44 more for an adult four-match Champions League package two years ago than they did for the subsequent Europa League campaign. The disparity in hospitality packages was even more pronounced.

The overall difference across the stadium would amount to approximately £3.3m, based on another five-game campaign.

Conclusion

Based on performances over the past two years, Celtic stand to lose out on close to £25m following Tuesday’s defeat, and they have also missed the opportunity to unlock further financial rewards. The difference in reaching the last 16 in each competition is more than £8m.

However, there’s potential to narrow the deficit with a successful Europa League run. When they were knocked out by Basel in the Champions League play-offs under Martin O’Neill 24 years ago, they progressed all the way to the UEFA Cup final.

Reaching the Europa League final is worth approximately £6m this season, while additional matchday revenue from another extended campaign would add up.

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Giardia can cause diarrhoea, bloating, burping, wind, weight loss, or even stunted growth or malnutrition in rare, untreated cases affecting children

Brits have been warned to take extra precautions travelling abroad as cases of a parasitic stomach bug have surged by more than 10 per cent.

Cases of giardiasis, a stomach bug which causes diarrhoea, bloating, burping, wind and weight loss, have risen by 11.4 per cent year-on-year, according to data shared by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).

The UKHSA revealed that there were 6,069 cases of giardiasis in England in 2025 – the highest since 2016 and up from 5,450 a year earlier.

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London reported the highest number of cases (1,568), following by the north west (1,029). Cases peaked in autumn, with the highest number of reports in October (599 cases), followed by September (580 cases) and November (574 cases).

Giardia infection can be picked up in the UK as well as overseas, and is spread by consuming contaminated food or water, or through direct contact with infected people or animals. It can also be sexually transmitted.

In rare untreated cases, children with the infection can suffer malnutrition and stunted growth.

Health officials said the 11.4 per cent annual rise in cases may be linked to increased travel since the pandemic, climate change, or better testing.

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Nicola Love, senior food safety surveillance lead at UKHSA, said: “We are seeing a rise in giardiasis in the UK. Symptoms can last from weeks to several months and if left untreated, it can cause serious complications especially in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.”

According to the UKHSA, infections are being seen in people returning from Southern Asia, South-Eastern Asia, Africa and South America.

Those travelling should drink bottled water and eat cooked food rather than raw items, such as salads that have been washed in tap water.

The UKHSA also advised people to avoid swimming in rivers, lakes or the sea when abroad.

Ms Love said: “There are some simple precautions everyone can take to reduce their risk, whether you are planning an autumn getaway somewhere warm or staying in the UK. Good hygiene can help prevent giardiasis and other common gastro illnesses.

“Wash your hands with soap and water after using the toilet, after changing nappies, and before preparing food. Encourage children to wash their hands regularly too. If you have a giardia infection, continue to hydrate yourself and see your GP – do not go swimming until two weeks after your diarrhoea has stopped.

“Parents should contact their GP or NHS 111 if they or their children are ill with dehydration, or if diarrhoea worsens or lasts longer than three days.”

Precautions to take while travelling to avoid picking up giardia

• Drink bottled water
• Eat cooked food rather than raw items including salads
• Good hygiene – wash hands well with soap and water after using the toilet, changing nappies and before preparing or eating food
• Don’t swim in rivers, lakes or the sea while abroad
• Stay hydrated if you have a giardia infection
• Do not swim for at least two weeks after diarrhoea stops if you had giardia

Plans for a second Christmas market for Belfast are being discussed

A new Christmas market planned for Belfast must “feel like Belfast” and represent the city, it has been claimed.

For years, people have called for the Belfast Christmas Market to expand, move or even add an extra location.

Belfast Live understands a company separate from the current market operator wants to add a second Christmas market to the city, at Custom House Square.

While the news has largely been welcomed, there is a fear that this might push out local businesses in favour of international traders who will only be here throughout the festive season.

Michael Henderson, chief executive of the NI Food to Go Association, believes any expansion or addition of a new market is good for the city – but must have a local focus.

Speaking to Belfast Live, Mr Henderson said: “We absolutely recognise the importance of having a Christmas market in Belfast city centre. It attracts visitors, creates a sense of occasion and can deliver a valuable boost for the wider city-centre economy.”

On the topic of international traders, Mr Henderson added: “There is certainly room to welcome international traders who bring a continental element to the current city hall Christmas market, but that should complement rather than crowd out our own independent businesses.”

NEW YORK (AP) — Serena and Venus Williams are teaming up again at the U.S. Open.

The sisters will play doubles at the tournament after receiving a wild card Wednesday into the event they won twice.

Serena Williams returned to tennis this summer after a four-year absence, and the sisters were set to play at Wimbledon before Serena had to withdraw after injuring her knee in her singles loss. They played in the Cincinnati Open, losing in the first round.

The Williams sisters won the 1999 and 2009 U.S. Open doubles titles and are 27-7 in their nine appearances.

Serena, 44, played with Carlos Alcaraz in mixed doubles Tuesday, winning one match before losing in the quarterfinals. Venus, 46, is entered in the women’s singles event.

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See AP’s full tennis coverage here

A two-year legal battle over a dramatic protest against the war on Gaza came to an end on Friday as seven protesters who’d blocked traffic on the Golden Gate Bridge received 30-day sentences and $1,000 fines.

Over two dozen activists halted several lanes of traffic on the bridge on April 15, 2024, six months into Israel’s war in the Palestinian territory that has been widelyrecognized as a genocide. San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins charged 26 of them with crimes. Most were offered diversion, in the form of fines and community service, but Jenkins hit seven protesters with a raft of serious charges, including felony conspiracy.

Six of the seven defendants — Sarah Ferrell, Conrad de Jesus, Em Tillotson, and Bhavika Anandpura of Oakland and Rocky Chau and River Allen of Richmond — had locked themselves together in order to halt commuter traffic coming into the city. A seventh, Sara Cantor, had served as a police liaison.

After a two-and-a-half-week trial, jurors deadlocked in June over the most serious charges but convicted the protesters on several misdemeanors, including obstructing a thoroughfare, unlawful assembly, and four counts of false imprisonment related to trapped commuters.

Jenkins’ office had considered a new trial on the conspiracy charges, but assistant district attorney Angela Roze announced on Friday that the remaining charges would all be dropped.

Jordan Harger, one of the 19 defendants who had received diversion, described that decision as something of a relief. “We were absolutely worried there’d be a new trial,” Harger said. “Brooke Jenkins has made harsh choices throughout this process.”

Each of the seven defendants, their spokesperson Raye Kahn said, received a 30-day sentence, which would include a combination of jail time and time in a county sheriff work program, as well as six months probation and a fine of $1,000. The defendants would get credit for time served for the four days they were held pretrial, which would probably leave them each serving no more than 15 days in jail.

The defendants’ attorneys, Kahn said, all plan to appeal the verdicts.

At trial, Roze argued that the protesters had cost the bridge authority thousands of dollars in lost tolls and had inconvenienced Bay Area residents, some of whom missed doctors’ appointments or work meetings.

Jenkins, in a statement, said she encourages civil discourse and First Amendment rights but the prosecutions serve “as a reminder that when such acts become unlawful and compromise public safety that there will have to be consequences.”

“We hope that imposing a custodial sentence will hopefully act as a deterrent to future criminal conduct by others considering blockading a bridge,” she said.

Given the multiple misdemeanor convictions, the seven defendants could have faced years in jail. But Harger still described the jail sentences as “devastating.” Harger said the four days the 26 original defendants spent in jail convinced them that San Francisco jails are unsafe and dangerous, with detainees facing inadequate nutrition and frigid cold.

“It is not possible to call anything that’s transpired justice,” Harger said. “This entire case has been punitive due to the substance of our speech and the focus of our protest. We’ve been punished because we were speaking about Palestine.”

The felony charges brought by Jenkins’ office were unusual for acts of civil disobedience in San Francisco. Golden Gate Bridge actions over the years to protest AIDS inaction, the environment, and Black Lives Matter resulted in misdemeanor charges or no charges at all.

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This story was originally published by The Oaklandside and distributed through a partnership with The Associated Press.

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Meta has agreed to pay $17 billion and add child-safety measures to its Facebook and Instagram platforms to end a landmark trial over teen social media addiction and settle claims filed by 47 states, state attorneys general announced Wednesday.

California, Colorado, Kentucky and New Jersey were among 29 states that sued the tech giant in 2023, but the deal cuts short the trial, which was expected to see CEO Mark Zuckerberg take the stand before a jury in federal court in California.

The agreement is worth $353 million in Virginia alone and is one of the biggest in state consumer protection history, Attorney General Jay Jones said in a statement.

“For years, Meta intentionally deceived the public about the addictive and harmful design features that have wreaked havoc on youth mental health,” Jones said. The settlement “will put an end to these dangerous practices and deliver meaningful relief that will protect children from online harm.”

Meta did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The $17 billion settlement is a fraction of the company’s 2025 revenue of $201 billion.

The lawsuit accused Meta of contributing to the youth mental health crisis by deliberately designing features that addict children to its platforms and hiding them from the public. It also argued that Meta violated federal laws by routinely collecting data on children under 13 without their parents’ consent.

The trial kicked off last week in Oakland, California, with U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers overseeing the proceedings. Adam Mosseri, the head of Instagram, began his testimony late Tuesday and defended Meta’s record and progress on child safety and privacy.

The cases in other states had been expected to go to trial later. In addition, nine attorneys general filed lawsuits in their respective states.

Under the proposed settlement, Meta agreed to adopt a series of safety features, including a “hard cap” on daily time limits and pauses for children using Instagram and Facebook.

It will eliminate push notifications during weekday school hours and bring in “robust” age-assurance measures and “age-appropriate” content controls to prevent bullying and harmful material about eating disorders and self-harm.

There will be stronger and more user-friendly parental controls and limits on social comparison features such as “like” counts.

The federal lawsuit was the result of an investigation led by a bipartisan coalition of attorneys general from California, Florida, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Nebraska, New Jersey, Tennessee, and Vermont. It followed newspaper reports, first by The Wall Street Journal in 2021, that found that the company knew about the harm Instagram can cause teenagers — especially teen girls — when it comes to mental health and body image issues.

Meta has since added a host of safety features to Instagram, including separate accounts for teenagers with stronger protections around messaging and privacy, along with content restrictions.

But child safety experts, along with some former Meta employees, have long contended that the features are little more than window dressing.

Arturo Béjar, a former Meta engineering director, said during his testimony last week that Meta consistently prioritized profits over safety in designing its products, focusing on how often and for how long people used them, even if it was detrimental to their mental well-being.

“If you step away from the product, they are not going to make any money,” he said.

While the four states in the Oakland trial did not officially say how much they had been seeking, Meta said in a court filing that financial penalties in the case could amount to as much as $1.4 trillion — a figure legal experts said was unlikely, if not impossible.

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Chan reported from London. Associated Press Writer Sarah Rankin in Richmond, Virginia, contributed to this report.