Energy secretary could recommend new North Sea drilling next week, as ministers also consider approval for Rosebank oilfield
Ministers are poised to approve a controversial new gasfield in the North Sea this month, according to government sources, and are considering approving a major oilfield later this year.
Miatta Fahnbulleh, the energy secretary, will give her recommendation to approve the Jackdaw field off the coast of Aberdeen as soon as next week, according to people close to the decision, and the formal approval could follow a week after.
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© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
© Photograph: Murdo MacLeod/The Guardian
Arthur Downing, author of Power and the People: A History of British Energy, says all-encompassing rapid transition will need a mutualised system
Have you ever wondered why it is that most houses in the UK are reliant on gas boilers? Not what’s stopping more people from replacing them with heat pumps, but instead why and how the gas boiler became so ubiquitous in the first place?
Arthur Downing, the author of the new book Power and the People: A History of British Energy, can tell you exactly why. “We only have boilers in our houses because of a state-owned enterprise that went into everybody’s home and installed natural gas-suitable appliances at no direct cost,” he says. The nationalised gas industry of the 1940s to the 1980s, which oversaw this huge project, was for three decades one of the “most dynamic, innovative, efficient industries in Britain”, Downing says. Yet few of us would use these terms to describe it as such now.
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© Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images
© Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images
© Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images
© Kristian Thacker for The New York Times
Secretive state begins repairs on ageing facilities after being revealed as worst country for leaks of potent greenhouse gas
Turkmenistan has started plugging the mega-leaks of methane that spew from its ageing oil and gas facilities, the latest UN data shows, in a move hailed as a breakthrough.
Methane, also called natural or fossil gas, is a potent greenhouse gas. It traps 80 times more heat than carbon dioxide and causes 25% of global heating today. Stopping leaks can be quick and cheap and, because methane breaks down in the atmosphere far quicker than CO2, this has a rapid impact, with some experts calling it the climate “emergency brake”.
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© Photograph: David Goldman/AP
© Photograph: David Goldman/AP
© Photograph: David Goldman/AP
Energy minister says states can apply to use coal and gas supply to power datacentres but must prove it is cheaper than renewables
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Chris Bowen insists federal Labor’s new national laws on datacentre power supply will not include carve-outs for Queensland and the Northern Territory, with states that are eager to use coal and gas required to make their case to the national regulator.
The energy minister told Guardian Australia on Friday the only concession agreed at Wednesday’s meeting of national cabinet was that existing coal and gas supply could be used on the condition it could be shown to be cheaper than renewables.
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© Photograph: Sarah Wilson/AAP
© Photograph: Sarah Wilson/AAP
© Photograph: Sarah Wilson/AAP
Romanian army divers used explosives to destroy two Russian-made drones found floating in the Black Sea near Romania’s largest natural gas project, according to the NATO member country’s defense minister.
Defense Minister Radu Miruță posted a Facebook video supposedly showing one of the drones being blown up in the water by explosive ordnance disposal divers of the Romanian army on August 11, as reported by Reuters and other news outlets. The drones were first spotted in the water by a ship working in the vicinity of the Neptun Deep—an offshore gas project under development in the Black Sea that will make Romania the largest gas producer in the European Union.
A Romanian Coast Guard ship that responded with army soldiers aboard found two drifting Gerbera-type drones of Russian design along with other debris. Miruță also disclosed that Romania had reached out to “Ukrainian partners who confirmed that the systems do not belong to them.”
© Romanian Ministry of Defense
In today’s newsletter: As we enter our fifth summer heatwave, Andy Burnham’s government is looking at what the UK should do with its remaining North Sea oil and gas
Good morning. What a difference a new job can make. “To have a shot at staying within 1.5C global warming, we can’t have any new oil or gasfields … It’s irresponsible and shortsighted to be funding new #fossilfuels when we need to be getting to #NetZero.”
This was the 2022 message from Miatta Fahnbulleh, now the secretary of state for energy security and net zero. It’s a testament to her remarkable rise that Fahnbulleh wasn’t even an MP when she posted it four years ago. Today, she is in the cabinet, facing (or is the face of, at least) one of the most challenging, and potentially controversial questions looming for the new government: to drill or not to drill, baby?
Two sites are the focus of fierce debate. Yesterday, a public consultation on whether to greenlight extraction at one of them – Jackdaw – closed. Next Monday, it’ll be the same for the other, Rosebank. Andy Burnham has been silent about the climate crisis since taking office. As we enter yet another heatwave, what his government does next will be a defining signal of intent on the issue.
Colombia | More than 100 people have died after a powerful earthquake struck western Colombia, collapsing and severely damaging scores of buildings in major cities including Cali and Pereira.
UK weather | Almost three-quarters of England is now in drought, with four more regions officially declared, and as much of Europe braces for its fifth climate crisis-driven heatwave this summer.
Crime | Police are investigating whether Joshua Kerry, the man charged with the murder of the former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe, had any role in an attempted burglary last year at the then London home of Nigel Farage.
China | More than a million people were moved to safety across eastern China by Sunday evening as powerful Typhoon Dolphin made landfall amid fears torrential rain would cause flooding and landslides.
Ukraine | Russia has banned voting against the war in September’s elections, after the supreme court upheld a suit brought by a small pro-Kremlin nationalist party, and stripped voters of their last option on the ballot: Yabloko, the country’s only remaining anti-war party.
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© Photograph: Martin Langer/Alamy
© Photograph: Martin Langer/Alamy
© Photograph: Martin Langer/Alamy
SpaceX confirmed it will power Terafab, its $16.8 billion chip megafactory in Texas, with its own natural gas power plants and “very large battery arrays.” Tesla solar isn’t in the plan.
That’s despite Tesla being a partner on the project, and despite Tesla selling solar panels, Powerwalls, and grid-scale batteries built for exactly this kind of load.
London mayor points to ‘terrifying scenes’ this summer amid speculation Burnham may back Jackdaw and Rosebank projects
Sadiq Khan has called on the government to commit to revamped climate action and to reduce the UK’s reliance on oil and gas, as the UK endures a summer of drought, wildfires and heatwaves.
Writing in the Guardian, the mayor of London said that Andy Burnham’s administration must reaffirm its commitment to net zero and make clear it will continue to reduce the UK’s reliance on oil and gas “to get Britain back on track.”
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© Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
© Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
© Photograph: Yui Mok/PA
© The New York Times
© Joshua A. Bickel/Associated Press
There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy is now available globally on Apple TV, beginning a new Peanuts adventure with the accidental sale of one of the comic strip’s most recognizable objects.
The 31-minute animated special follows Snoopy after his doghouse disappears during a yard sale. Charlie Brown attempts to help his devastated friend by organizing a search, but recovering the missing home becomes more difficult once it has left the neighborhood.
The story uses Snoopy’s doghouse as more than a familiar red prop. It is the place where he sleeps, stores his possessions and begins the imaginary adventures that transform him into a World War I flying ace, author and explorer.
Losing it removes the physical center of that private world. Charlie Brown and Snoopy must determine whether home depends on recovering the exact building or remaining close to the people and memories connected to it.
The Apple Original is rated TV-G and includes Dolby Atmos audio in supported languages and configurations. An Apple TV subscription is required, with availability extending across the Apple TV app and the service’s supported devices.
The central problem begins with an ordinary neighborhood event rather than one of Snoopy’s elaborate fantasies.
His doghouse is mistakenly treated as an item that can be sold. By the time Charlie Brown and the others understand what happened, Snoopy has lost the one place he regards as entirely his own.
The premise creates a recognizable childhood fear. A treasured object can appear unimportant to another person while carrying memories and emotional meaning for its owner.
Snoopy cannot explain that attachment through conventional dialogue. His reactions, imagination and physical comedy must communicate why the loss feels larger than a missing piece of outdoor furniture.
Charlie Brown responds by doing something he rarely manages for himself: taking charge with enough confidence to help someone else. His search gives the special momentum while preserving the uneven friendship at the center of many Peanuts stories.
Snoopy frequently ignores Charlie Brown, takes his meals for granted and escapes into fantasies. Charlie Brown continues caring for him even when the beagle’s behavior makes that affection difficult to return.
The missing doghouse reverses their normal relationship. Snoopy needs practical help, while Charlie Brown becomes the person capable of guiding him through the disappointment.
Charles M. Schulz turned Snoopy’s doghouse into one of the most flexible locations in the Peanuts comic strip.
From the outside, it is a simple red structure with a black entrance. Snoopy rarely sleeps inside it, preferring to rest on the pointed roof despite the physical impossibility of remaining balanced there.
The interior follows no ordinary rules. Comic storylines have suggested that it contains a pool table, television, library, guest rooms, paintings and other possessions that could not fit within its exterior dimensions.
Schulz generally avoided showing the complete interior. That decision allowed the doghouse to expand according to Snoopy’s imagination without requiring one definitive layout.
The roof also becomes the Sopwith Camel flown by the World War I flying ace. A few changes in posture and sound can transform a suburban backyard into an aerial battle with the Red Baron.
For Snoopy, the building is simultaneously a bedroom, stage, aircraft, writing desk and portal into imaginary lives. Selling it removes the starting point for nearly every identity he creates.
There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy can therefore explore loss without introducing a permanent tragedy into the Peanuts world. The doghouse is physically replaceable, but Snoopy’s attachment to the original makes the search emotionally credible.
Riley Vargas voices Charlie Brown, while Terry McGurrin returns as Snoopy. McGurrin has become closely associated with the modern animated version of the character through Apple’s Peanuts programming.
Rob Tinkler voices Woodstock, the small yellow bird who frequently joins Snoopy’s adventures. Although Woodstock’s speech appears as rapid bird sounds, Snoopy understands him, allowing the pair to communicate without conventional dialogue.
Grace Nicolaou-Wood voices Sally, and Jo-Hannah Atchison performs Lucy. Kitai O’Garro plays Franklin, Josephine Nisbett voices Marcie and Lexi Perri voices Peppermint Patty.
Athan Giazitzidis appears as Linus, while Diego Whalen voices Rerun. Noah Paisley plays Milo.
The larger ensemble gives Charlie Brown access to the neighborhood network needed for a search without shifting the story away from Snoopy. Each character can respond differently to the problem according to an established personality.
Lucy may approach the situation with certainty, Linus with reflection and Sally with her own interpretation of what occurred. Woodstock has the closest connection to Snoopy’s private world and understands what the doghouse represents without requiring an explanation.
Ridd Sorensen directed There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy, with Rob Boutilier serving as series director. Rob Hoegee wrote the special.
Executive producers include Josh Scherba, Stephanie Betts, Logan McPherson, Paige Braddock, Chris Bracco and Mark Evestaff.
The production continues Apple’s collaboration with WildBrain, Peanuts Worldwide and Lee Mendelson Film Productions. Those organizations combine modern animation production with the characters and creative legacy established by Schulz.
The special was produced in Canada and is available with extensive dubbing and subtitle support.
Audio descriptions are included across many of those language options. English playback supports Dolby Atmos and Dolby 5.1 on compatible equipment.
The wide localization reflects the international reach Peanuts developed long before streaming. Schulz’s comic strip appeared in more than 2,600 newspapers and reached readers across 75 countries.
Apple can now release one new animated story simultaneously across more than 100 countries and regions without waiting for separate broadcast schedules.
There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy includes the original song “Home, Where Your Heart Found Me” by singer-songwriter Allen Stone.
Music has always occupied an important place in animated Peanuts productions. Vince Guaraldi’s jazz compositions became inseparable from the classic television specials, creating a musical identity that later productions must acknowledge without simply reproducing the same material.
An original song allows the new story to develop its own emotional language around home and attachment. It can express ideas that Snoopy cannot communicate verbally while avoiding the need for Charlie Brown to explain the complete meaning of the adventure.
The title connects home with an emotional discovery rather than an address or possession. That idea supports the special’s central distinction between the missing doghouse and the relationships Snoopy still has around him.
Apple previously expanded the musical side of its Peanuts catalog through Snoopy Presents: A Summer Musical, the first Peanuts musical special in decades. The addition of Allen Stone continues that willingness to use original songs rather than treating music only as background.
The special is available through the Apple TV app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple TV 4K and Apple Vision Pro.
It can also be watched on supported smart televisions from manufacturers including Samsung, LG, Sony, Vizio and TCL. Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Google TV, PlayStation and Xbox devices provide additional access.
Web playback is available through tv.apple.com after signing in with an Apple Account carrying an active subscription.
Apple TV currently costs $12.99 per month in the United States and includes a seven-day trial for eligible new subscribers. Customers activating a qualifying new iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV 4K may receive three free months, subject to Apple’s promotional conditions.
There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy is presented as one complete special rather than an episodic series. Its 31-minute running time makes it closer to the length of traditional Peanuts television programs than a feature film.
Parents can locate it within the Kids & Family area of Apple TV. Its TV-G classification indicates that it is designed for a general audience, although rating systems and descriptions can vary by country.
Apple has served as the principal streaming home for Peanuts since 2020, combining classic holiday programs with new specials, series and documentaries.
The agreement has sometimes received attention because programs such as A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving and It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown spent decades appearing on broadcast television.
Apple has provided limited free streaming windows for major holiday titles, allowing people without a subscription to continue watching selected specials during their associated seasons.
The wider library includes The Snoopy Show, Snoopy in Space and Camp Snoopy. Original Snoopy Presents specials have focused on characters and subjects that received less attention in the earliest television productions.
One-of-a-Kind Marcie centered on Marcie’s quiet approach to leadership. Welcome Home, Franklin expanded Franklin’s introduction to the neighborhood, while Lucy’s School explored the group’s anxiety about change.
Apple also carries the documentaries Who Are You, Charlie Brown? and Peanuts in Space: Secrets of Apollo 10.
The service added This Is America, Charlie Brown and The Charlie Brown and Snoopy Show during July 2026, bringing more material from the 1980s into the same streaming catalog as the latest production.
Apple’s Peanuts partnership extends through 2030, giving WildBrain and Peanuts Worldwide several more years to create original series and specials for the service.
The most ambitious announced project is Snoopy Unleashed, an animated feature film currently in production.
That story will reverse the situation presented in There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy. Instead of Charlie Brown searching for the doghouse, the Peanuts gang will search for Snoopy after he runs away to the Big City.
The larger setting will move Snoopy beyond the familiar neighborhood and require Charlie Brown, Lucy, Linus and the others to navigate an environment rarely explored in the comic strip.
Apple plans to release Snoopy Unleashed in 2027. Until then, Snoopy’s missing doghouse provides a smaller journey built around the same question the film will approach from another direction: what remains of home when the person or place associated with it disappears?
The post There’s No Place Like Home, Snoopy Arrives on Apple TV appeared first on AppleMagazine.
Labour MPs fear No 10 team lack up-to-date energy insight and don’t fully recognise voters’ climate concerns
Andy Burnham was told he could face the first revolt of his premiership as Labour MPs and climate experts condemned his apparent support for renewed drilling for oil and gas.
As the UK suffers through drought, fires and heatwaves, the prime minister gave the strongest indication yet on Friday he was minded to allow new drilling. His comments came just hours before the UN secretary-general warned “every new fossil fuel project” made heatwaves more dangerous.
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© Photograph: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA
© Photograph: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA
© Photograph: Annabel Lee-Ellis/PA
© Meridith Kohut for The New York Times
Two dormant volcanoes in the Andes are shown “connected” by the glowing ribbon of a distant cosmic feature stretching across the sky between them, in a rare cosmic alignment echoing ancient legends about these neighboring peaks—and all of it was captured in one of the most breathtaking astronomy images in recent memory.
The photo (seen below) was captured by astrophotographer Gonzalo Laserna Vargas and showcased by the American space agency this week. In it, we see Parinacota and Pomerape, a pair of ancient stratovolcanoes that form an unmistakable part of the landscape along the border between Bolivia and Chile.
In local folklore, these two prominences represent a prince and princess whose forbidden romance forever linked them in myth. Although no geological evidence exists for any physical links between them, astronomy recently helped fulfil that mythic connection in an unprecedented night sky display. The unique conditions that made this image possible, as well as the planning and preparation that went into it, were described by Vargas in a recent post on his Instagram account.
In the new imagery, recently featured as NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day, Barnard’s Loop—a vast arc of glowing hydrogen gas surrounding part of the constellation Orion—is showcased in a long-exposure photograph as it appears behind the two volcanoes.
The image was captured coinciding with the appearance of the nebula directly behind the volcanoes, and from an angle that causes the visible portion of the celestial object to appear as though it is rising from the mouths of the ancient volcanic peaks, uniting them through what resembles a colorful, luminous aerial display.
Despite the awe-inspiring appearance of the imagery, as part of the larger Orion Molecular Cloud, Barnard’s Loop remains at a distance of around 440 parsecs from these dormant volcanic peaks—in other words, close to 1,400 light-years away.
Capturing a cosmic convergence at this scale required careful planning by Vargas, who took a sequence of exposures from the same location in Bolivia in mid-April, at a time when the nebula appeared perfectly in between the two mountain summits.
One thing that helped with this is the fact that Barnard’s Loop is one of the largest emission nebulae visible from Earth. Although it is far too faint to be seen easily with the naked eye, the nebula’s vibrant pink and orange colors appear in long-exposure photography, revealing its eerie halo fueled by the presence of hydrogen gas.
Along with Barnard’s Loop, several of the night sky’s most recognizable objects also make an appearance in Vargas’s photo. Near the center of the image is the Orion Nebula, which happens to be one of the nearest stellar nurseries to Earth. Such areas of the cosmos are places where new star formation occurs within vast clouds of cosmic dust and gas.
To the nebula’s right, Betelgeuse is also visible, the reddish supergiant which was recently confirmed to have a stellar companion after more than a century of speculation about what might cause unusual variances in its brightness.
Higher in the image, another striking feature—the Rosette Nebula—can also be seen, revealed as a massive cloud of glowing gas around a small group of young stars.
Although each of these features is separated by hundreds or even thousands of light-years from Vargas’s imagery, they all appear in a singular frame, producing a dramatic cosmic backdrop for the ancient volcanic landscape they appear above.
Hence, for reasons that are easy to see, Vargas’s photo was named NASA’s Astronomy Picture of the Day for July 28, 2026, revealing another artful view of the cosmos that relies on far more than just advanced equipment—it also showcases the necessity for astronomical knowledge, careful preparation, and, of course, impeccable timing.
The result in this case is a moment captured in time, where mythology, an ancient volcanic landscape, and the cosmos all converge within a single frame.
You can learn more about this image at NASA’s website, and follow Vargas and his cosmic photography on Instagram.
Micah Hanks is the Editor-in-Chief and Co-Founder of The Debrief. A longtime reporter on science, defense, and technology with a focus on space and astronomy, he can be reached at micah@thedebrief.org. Follow him on X @MicahHanks, and at micahhanks.com.
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