Ward: Good News

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There are reasons to be cheerful about UK plc in 2026. Here are four | Heather Stewart

Be it better prospects for consumer spending or the tentative signs of rising productivity, the doom and gloom of 2025 could be behind usStalling growth, sticky inflation and fragile bond markets, the UK’s economic record in 2025 has hardly been one to inspire cheer. But in the spirit of the festive…

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The Guardian view on hope: with your help, charities can help to repair the social fabric

Effective challenge to the alarming rise of far-right, anti-migrant politics starts with the grassrootsAusterity, cost of living pressures and a chronic lack of investment have damaged the physical and social fabric of some UK towns and neighbourhoods far more than others. In places where large numb…

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Freed Nigerian schoolchildren to be reunited with families

Month-long ordeal ends but no details released on how they regained their freedom or who was behind abductionA final group of 130 kidnapped Nigerian schoolchildren freed by the government on Sunday are expected to be reunited with their families in the central Niger state on Monday, ending a month-l…

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Manchester Museum seeks help to uncover hidden histories of African collection

New Africa Hub confronts colonial-era silences by asking visitors to share insights on 40,000 objectsIt’s a rare thing for a museum to talk about what it doesn’t know. But unanswered questions and archival silences are at the heart of the new Africa Hub at Manchester Museum, north-west England, whic…

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From Fashion to Food, These Popular Gift Cards Are Surprisingly Thoughtful (and Useful)

Avoid that awkward regifting situation and get them a gift card that they can redeem for something they'll actually want

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Taylor Swift Donates $1 Million to Feeding America

"Her generosity reminds us what’s possible when we come together," the charity shared on Instagram

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I tested the new elementaryOS 8.1 beta, and it absolutely brings the magic

This update proves that listening to users can make an already great Linux distro even better.

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Parents told to lead by example and turn off phones this Christmas

The children's commissioner says children are "crying out" for family time over the festive break.

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McDonald's Netherlands pulls AI Christmas ad after backlash

McDonald's said the moment served as "an important learning" as it explored "the effective use of AI".

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The Cyber Monday Kindle Unlimited deal is back: get 3 months for 99 cents

Get three months of Kindle Unlimited for only 99 cents and save nearly $35 on loads of books.

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Score 50% off 1Password ahead of the holidays — give the gift of cybersecurity

Mashable readers can save 50% on 1Password. This discount applies to both the Individual and Families plans.

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The tooth fairy just got reimagined for the tech-savvy generation

Tooth Fairy Tracker features Kiki the Tooth Fairy as its central character. When a child loses a tooth, parents can visit the website and enter their email to receive notifications as Kiki begins her mission.

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Lessons From My Father's Long, Good Life

Frederick Baker was born in 1920 and died last week. He was an even-tempered man of kindness and faith.

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From Cornwall to Scotland: The Rock Pool Project expands with seven new UK Hubs

Calling all citizen scientists – one of Britain’s favourite seaside pastimes is going national. The Rock Pool Project has announced the launch of seven new hubs across the UK, bringing its Competitive Rock Pooling events to more coastal communities than ever before. Thanks to support from the Scotti…

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Winter must-reads from the National Marine Biological Library

Looking for the perfect book to curl up with this winter? If you love the ocean, marine life and the stories behind our ocean, these three titles – reviewed in The Marine Biologist magazine – are essential additions to your reading list. Plus, MBA Members enjoy exclusive discounts when purchasing th…

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Dr Dan Smale awarded Marsh Prize for groundbreaking climate change research

We are proud to announce that Dr Dan Smale, Senior Research Fellow at the Marine Biological Association, has been awarded the Marsh Award for Climate Change Research by the British Ecological Society (BES). This prestigious honour recognises Dan’s exceptional contributions to understanding the ecolo…

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University of Plymouth Graduate recognised for outstanding academic achievement with MBA Prize

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is pleased to congratulate the winner of 2025’s prestigious MBA prize. Tilly Powell, who recently graduated with a BSc (Hons) Marine Biology, First Class from the University of Plymouth, received the prize for ‘Outstanding Performance on a Marine Biology Progr…

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A year of global impact and growth: MBA Chief Executive, Professor Willie Wilson, reflects on 2025

December always brings with it one of the highlights of our calendar, the Annual General Meeting, and with it an invaluable moment to reflect on our science, our community and our impact. Despite what has been an undeniably challenging period for the wider world, the ocean and the academic sector, t…

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Three ways you can support the Marine Biological Association this Christmas

This Christmas, as we gather with loved ones and reflect on the year, the ocean continues its quiet work, sustaining life on Earth, regulating our climate, and supporting the planet we call home. Yet our ocean is under increasing pressure and protecting them has never been more important. The Mari…

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Applications now open for the 2026 Molly Spooner Studentship

The Marine Biological Association (MBA) is pleased to announce that applications are now open for the Molly Spooner Studentship, a unique opportunity that enables undergraduate university students to experience hands-on marine biological research at the MBA.