At first glance, Britta Jaschinski’s award-winning photo below looks like an otherworldly portrait of a green turtle drifting through luminous water.

Look closer, however, and the human trace appears: a handprint, revealed by forensic powder under ultraviolet light.

The technique, developed by wildlife crime specialists from the UK’s Wildlife Crime and Forensics Unit, can expose fingerprints, blood, bodily fluids and gunpowder residue, helping investigators track poachers and disrupt illegal wildlife trade networks.

“I created this image to expose the traces we leave behind and to demonstrate how science is becoming a vital tool in protecting wildlife from exploitation,” Jaschinski tells Positive News.

A similar technique has been used to disrupt the ivory trade. Using a newly developed magnetic powder, Mark Moseley (main picture), a forensic investigator at London’s Metropolitan police, dusts for and detects human fingerprints on an elephant tusk confiscated at Heathrow Airport.

More than 200 fingerprinting kits based on this technology have been distributed to border forces across 40 countries in Africa and Asia. The results have been immediate. In Kenya, evidence recovered using one kit led to 15 arrests, including five police officers, and the seizure of 11 elephant tusks. For the first time, ivory was not just proof of a crime; it was evidence of who committed it. 

Science is becoming a vital tool in protecting wildlife from exploitation

A white variant of the powder is now being used to recover prints from rhino horn and pangolin scales. The powders are low-cost, field-deployable, and can be used in locations where DNA testing isn’t feasible. 

Jaschinski’s winning image, from the Royal Geographical Society’s Earth Photo 2026 competition, is among selected works on show in London until 24 July, before touring the UK.

Photograph: Britta Jachinski

A 19-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of arson yesterday (Thursday, July 16) and has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Then today (July 17), a 20-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of the same charges and remains in custody for questioning.

This follows the arrest of 20-year-old Shania Care-Slede earlier this week.

She has been charged with aggravated arson, being reckless as to whether life was endangered, and dangerous driving, and is due to appear at Manchester Crown Court on August 18.

Detective Inspector Andrew Day of Oldham division has said that the investigation into the “devastating” fire has been “progressing at pace”.

He said: “I mentioned in my last update that we are aware of the social media posts circulating regarding this incident. It is a live police investigation, and I would like to stress the point again: stop sharing and speculating regarding this, and if you do have information, please report it to us.

“As this incident continues, officers would like to thank all emergency service partners for their support and dedication. In particular, our colleagues at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, whose firefighters have spent countless hours tackling the fire in demanding conditions.

“I would like to thank the local community in Oldham and the whole of Greater Manchester for their assistance with this investigation, we have received numerous submissions which helped and the portal is still open for submissions.”

Crews are still working to tackle the moor fire, which broke out on Saturday, sending large plumes of smoke across Greater Manchester.

Road closures remain in place Holmfirth Road and Bank Lane, with access to Dovestone Reservoir blocked off.

Footpaths in Saddleworth have also been closed for three weeks, according to a recent update from Oldham Council.

Members of the public are advised to avoid the area while the emergency service continue work to make the area safe.

Anyone with evidence or footage that could help the investigation can submit it via the Dovestone Fire Evidence Submission Portal on the GMP website.

But you should ask yourself whether you’re making a trade-off. For every hour you’re spending researching hotels or managing your savings, how many are you spending doomscrolling or otherwise wasting time? And for every useful notification you get about your boiler or the status of your Waitrose order, how many adverts or spam messages are interrupting your life? How often do work emails harsh your vibe on a Friday or Sunday night? A dumbphone can help you omit some of these stress-inducing influences, albeit at a cost that only you can know is worth it or not.

Are these being created to prevent teenagers and young people from becoming dependent on smartphones?

Lisa, South East

Some dumb devices like the Karri Messenger and Xplora One are overtly aimed at and marketed towards parents of young children. Some dumbed-down smartphones like the HMD Fuse are designed for older kids.

The majority of dumbphones I review either cater to adults who want a basic device for whatever reason, or are primarily sold to people where long battery life, rugged build quality and selected practical features are more important than full-featured smartphone capabilities.

There is limited research into how dumbphones can meaningfully help reduce smartphone addiction and other digital horrors in young people, with serious proactive concern about young people’s screen time being a relatively niche concern.

It’s also true that many young people face the same obstacles as adults do when attempting a dumbphone lifestyle. As an example, WhatsApp is baked into British life, and will only run on smartphones. With growing interest from Gen Z and Gen Alpha in digital detoxing, these demographics will certainly continue to fuel the dumb device resurgence.

Can a dumbphone run banking apps?

Konstantinos, London

A traditional dumbphone won’t run any apps, even if it does have a 4G connection. The Barbie Phone, Nokia 3310, Motorola FW410 and IMO Dash are all examples of basic phones that won’t run banking or navigation apps, instead offering only phones and SMS messages, alongside a handful of basic tools like calculators and memos.

Loose Women presenter Kaye Adams confirmed the ITV daytime show will be off air for several weeks.

ITV is undergoing a scheduling shake-up as Loose Women is set to be off air for several weeks.

During the programme on Friday, July 17, presenter Kaye Adams made an announcement and confirmed when the show would return.

The Scottish presenter was back on Loose Women alongside GK Barry, Oti Mabuse and Kelle Bryan, as they marked the end of the week, and the end of the programme for a short break.

Kate shared: “we’re done for the summer. We will not be gone for long though, we’ll be back in September. For now, have a fabulous weekend, a fabulous summer and we’ll see you very soon!”

The scheduling change follows a wave of budget cuts which impacted Good Morning Britain and Lorraine, alongside Loose Women.

It was revealed months ago that Loose Women would now only broadcast for 30 weeks rather than its customary 52, reports the Express.

During the shake-up, Lorraine Kelly’s show has been reduced to 30 minutes, and also operates on a seasonal schedule only.

The biggest change that faced Loose Women was the fact live audiences were scrapped, as well as several behind-the-scenes job.

Presenter Nadia Sawalha previously shared her devastation that warm-up performer Lee Peat was dropped, saying: “I am totally devastated by this fact, I can’t get over it at all. Not only because the audience is so important for the show, but also my dear friend Lee who I work with every day.”

Coleen Nolan also shared her concerns for the cast and crew, calling those redundancies “heartbreaking” and “devastating”.

Loose Women also relocated in January to a basement studio of a former private members’ club in Covent Garden, sharing the venue with This Morning and Lorraine.

Announcing the changes last year, Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, previously said: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.

“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”

Loose Women can be streamed on ITVX

Blistering carnage and savage kills make this a tough watch – but I loved it!

Picking up where 2023’s excellent Evil Dead Rise left off, Burn follows Souheila Yacoub’s Alice as she deals with the loss of her husband in the company of her less than welcoming in-laws.

Awkward family dinners – and boy, is there one here – are the least of her troubles, though, when sinister Deadites come looking for an ancient weapon.

Evil Dead Burn is mean and tough to watch amid a cacophony of mental and physical pain – and I loved it!

Anyone who isn’t a fan of Evil Dead or horror might be best to steer clear as there’s little respite from the unrelenting hell endured by the grieving group.

In only his second feature length flick behind the camera, Sébastien Vanicek does previous Evil Dead helmers like Sam Raimi and Lee Cronin proud with hyperactive camera shots, a blistering one-take sequence where all sorts of carnage erupts around Alice and savage kills and body blows.

He goes down the Final Destination route of teasing what’s to come by focusing on potential instruments of doom and his film is very appropriately named as boiling water, smoke, ash, steam and tar come into play.

Burn is largely humourless – even the main house setting is grey, foreboding and falling apart – but the antics of Maude Davey’s Grandma Polly call back to Raimi’s original Dead trilogy.

Alice really is put through the looking glass – head-first – and Yacoub overcomes shed loads of personal trauma to prove worthy of her final girl status.

Erroll Shand’s Edgar ends up looking like one of the vampires from 30 Days of Night, with his possessed body taking a real battering – and a kiss shared by him and screen wife Tandi Wright (Susan) is among the most revolting smooches committed to film.

And just when you think you can take a breath when the movie ends, up pop two crazy credits scenes – one hinting at a very exciting future for the series.

If you were turned off by the previous Evil Dead flicks, especially the newer ones, then Burn won’t convert you but this horror fan had a blast watching this family going to hell in a handbasket.

● Are you a fan of the Evil Dead franchise? If so, what is your favourite flick?

Pop me an email at ian.bunting@reachplc.com and I will pass on your comments – and any movie or TV show recommendations you have – to your fellow readers.

● Evil Dead Burn is showing in cinemas now.

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Oscar-winning actor Brenda Fricker has died aged 81 after a period of ill health, her agent has confirmed.

The actor, who was born in Dublin, Ireland, became an international star after her roles in films like My Left Foot and The Field.

However, she’s arguably best remembered these days for her memorable turn in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, where she played The Pigeon Lady.

‘We will never see her like again, and the world is lesser for the lack of her,’ her agent Phil Belfield said in a statement.

‘I was honoured to know, love and work with her and she will always have a place in my heart and in the heart of so many film and TV fans the world over.’

Fricker began her acting career with smaller TV parts, including an uncredited role in Upstairs, Downstairs.

She got her big break in 1977, however, when she appeared in four episodes of Coronation Street playing Staff Nurse Maloney.

After this, she appeared in classic shows like The Quatermass Experiment and Casualty, where she played yet another nurse, Megan Roach.

More to follow…

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Dead flies on windowsills are a common summer problem, but there may be an easy solution. You can stop them from appearing in your home by placing a key item on windowsills

Flies can be a real nuisance, particularly at this time of year when temperatures rise and food is frequently left out, which is why so many households seek techniques to keep them at bay. However, another problem you may have noticed is dead flies accumulating on windowsills, which is unsightly and incredibly frustrating to deal with inside your home.

Luckily, however, a simple hack can help remedy the problem. If you’re wondering why this occurs, it’s because flies are drawn towards light, but are unable to pass through the glass. This leaves them trapped, and they wear themselves out attempting to escape.

Without access to food or water, they rapidly dehydrate, overheat in the direct sunlight and perish. This is what causes the problem to worsen, but there is a straightforward method you can use to deter flies from gathering.

If you’re searching for a solution to this issue, there may well be one at hand. Spraying a particular product onto windowsills could make all the difference.

A simple way to prevent them

The subject was recently raised on Facebook, when one user asked: “Hi guys, a bit of advice please. How do you prevent having dead flies on the windowsill?

“It’s not just unsanitary but unsightly looking. It just seems I’m forever clearing dead flies on windowsills. Any advice is greatly appreciated.”

Numerous respondents were quick to suggest a key ingredient, which they claim can work wonders. It appears that peppermint oil may help tackle the problem.

You might be surprised to learn that peppermint oil can prevent flies from congregating on your windows. Its powerful aroma overwhelms a fly’s senses, though it does not kill them.

Rather, it functions as a natural repellent. To put this trick into practice, combine approximately 10 to 20 drops of pure peppermint oil with water in a spray bottle.

Give it a thorough shake and apply it around your window frames and sills. Alternatively, you can soak cotton wool balls in peppermint oil and place them on the window ledge if you’d rather.

Bear in mind that it evaporates rapidly, meaning you’ll need to reapply it every few days. It can also be harmful to pets, so exercise caution if you have animals in the home.

The reason it works

The oil is effective because it deters flies from approaching windowsills in the first place, meaning you’re unlikely to discover a cluster of dead ones there if you use it regularly. Its active compound, menthol, overwhelms the fly’s highly sensitive receptors.

This triggers sensory confusion, driving flies away from the area. If dead flies have already accumulated, you’ll obviously need to clear them away before trying this method.

Flies are drawn to light, warmth and even the remains of previously dead flies, so thoroughly cleaning the area beforehand is essential. If you suspect they’re entering through tiny gaps, it’s advisable to seal all cracks around the frames using caulk.

There are additional measures you can implement to attempt making your home fly-proof, and this is one of them. They’re suggestions worth learning as flies are drawn to entering our properties during warmer weather.

To prevent luring them in, ensure all spaces are tidy and cover any uncovered food. The tiniest things can attract them.

North Yorkshire Council said it had accepted the explanations given by the councillors for failing to attend more than 66 per cent of committee meetings they were required to attend.

The six councillors whose attendance fell below the level in 2025/26 were: Angus Thompson, Conservative, who represents the North Richmondshire division; Dan Sladden, Liberal Democrat, Sowerby and Topcliffe; John Cattanach, independent councillor with the North Yorkshire Independent group, Cawood and Escrick; John Mann, Reform UK, Oatlands and Pannal; Lindsay Burr, independent councillor with the North Yorkshire Independent group, Malton; Nathan Hull, Conservative, Washburn and Birstwith.

A council spokesperson said: “Where a councillor’s attendance at the committees they have been appointed to falls below 66 per cent in a year, they are contacted to remind them of the importance of attending meetings and to determine whether there are any circumstances that explain their lower than expected attendance and if they are in need of any additional support.

“None of those who have been written to recently have been asked to return any of their basic allowance as their explanations for the reasons for their lower than expected attendance have been accepted.”

It is understood that the councillors were contacted unless they had previously advised officers that they would be unable to fulfil their commitments, for example, because of a planned operation.

Four councillors, all Conservative, attended 100 per cent of their committee meetings over the 12 months.

They were: council leader Carl Les, Catterick Village and Brompton-on-Swale division; David Staveley, Settle and Penyghent; George Jabbour, Helmsley and Sinnington; Roberta Swiers, Cayton.

Every North Yorkshire councillor receives a flat basic allowance of £17,964 per year.

Councillors who take on extra roles, such as chairing a committee, receive special responsibility allowances.

The parents of a three-year-old boy who was attacked in a crocodile enclosure say they are “amazed” at the progress he is making and that he is “smiling again”.

The boy was visiting Johnsons of Old Hurst near Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, on 18 June when he was attacked by at least one of the animals.

In a post on a fundraising page, his parents said: “Four weeks later and the cheeky little boy that we love so much is talking to the nurses, playing using his feet and smiling again.”

Police arrested and bailed a 30-year-old man from Norfolk on suspicion of attempted murder after the incident.

The boy’s parents recalled arriving at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and experiencing “the worst 12 hours” of their lives after the attack, “signing consent forms involving resuscitation and amputation”.

They said he received injuries to his arms, neck, head, face and suffered broken bones.

The boy has since had seven surgeries, with the latest being surgeons completing “a nerve graft on his arm”.

“They harvested a nerve from his leg to replace part of the nerve that was missing in his left arm,” his parents said on the fundraising page, which has so far raised over £67,000.

“Over time, this nerve will hopefully embed and help our son to regain some function in his left hand.

“We won’t know whether the nerve graft has been successful until tests can be carried out in a few months’ time.

“We were unsure if our son was going to make it and that was the worst feeling in the world.

“We are amazed at how far he has come.”