Same-day service support for mental health in Wales
The new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy is centred on early intervention, prevention and ensuring people are referred to the most appropriate form of support, at the right time and without delay.
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BreakingNews.ie
13 minutes ago
- BreakingNews.ie
Blue-green algae from Lough Neagh displayed during Belfast Photo Festival
The plight of Lough Neagh is being highlighted by a major festival with blue-green algae from the lough being displayed in a water cooler. Images of the toxic substance are also being shown on digital billboards as part of the Belfast Photo Festival. Advertisement Blue-green algae returned to Lough Neagh in April after noxious blooms covered large swathes of the freshwater lake during the previous two summers and also affected other waterways and beaches in the region. The stark highlighting of the issue comes as this year's festival focuses on 'biosphere'. Five photographers collaborated with conservation groups and local communities across Northern Ireland to visualise the fragility and beauty of the natural heritage, with focus on Lough Neagh, peatland, marine areas, the wider Belfast Hills, and temperate rainforests. The co-curated narratives and photographic works are being showcased and discussed across 10 exhibitions and more than 12 events in Belfast and throughout Northern Ireland as part of this year's festival. Advertisement Shallow Waters by Joe Laverty, which is on display at Antrim Lough Shore and on digital billboards across Belfast, focuses on Lough Neagh. Toby Smith, a director at Belfast Photo Festival, said the images show the urgency of their exhibitions. 'As Belfast Photo Festival 2025 launches, we are displaying images of Lough Neagh's toxic blue-green algae on digital billboards across the city,' he said. 'These striking visuals mark the urgency of our exhibitions on Northern Ireland's natural heritage. Advertisement 'Already, small blooms are appearing around the lough, a warning of the widespread danger, disruption and public concern experienced in previous years. 'These images are not only a warning, but a reflection of how the root causes of this environmental crisis remain unaddressed.' He said three deactivated water coolers filled with contaminated water from the lough and safely sealed have been installed at their Photobook Library in Botanic Gardens, the Ulster Museum and at Belfast Exposed. 'Clearly branded with official public health warning stickers, these installations – which contain algal bloom, slurry scum from tributaries, and water from industrial outflow – complement the Shallow Waters project and offer a visceral encounter with the pollution entering a vital ecosystem and the source of around 40 per cent of Northern Ireland's drinking water,' he added. Advertisement Artist Laverty said he wanted to tell the story of the lough, which he said was 'dying in front of us'. 'It is fighting a perfect storm of largely man-made conditions that threaten to destroy its ecosystem,' he said. 'Decades of pollution from intensive farming and industry, an inefficient wastewater management system, and industrial sand dredging, coupled with the invasion of zebra mussels and the lough's naturally shallow waters, have resulted in an annual bloom of toxic blue-green algae which results in the lough being out of bounds for most people for nearly half the year. 'This mismanagement of what should be the jewel in the crown of Northern Ireland's natural heritage has resulted in an environmental catastrophe, causing a dramatic loss of habitat and species around the lough. It's a real blow to our heritage and tradition. Advertisement 'It has also seen a loss of livelihood for many people, particularly the eel fishers, who have had their season temporarily paused after only a few weeks this year because of the quality of the catch. 'With Shallow Waters, I am trying to weave a thread of connection between the tradition of the lough, and the impact of heavy industry and intensive farming which are hugely problematic for the lough's future. I have tried to take a long, slow look at the lough, photographing around the edges of the issues, to find a quieter truth in amongst people's stories and the landscape. 'Photography, at its best, is about storytelling, and I really believe there is a story worth telling about Lough Neagh.' The festival features animated public spaces in Belfast and beyond, with exhibitions from a host of local and international visual artists alongside a programme of partner exhibitions, talks, workshops and screenings. This year's festival, which is supported by Arts Council Northern Ireland, Belfast City Council, Adam Mickiewicz Institute, Fluxus, and Alexander Boyd Displays invites viewers to explore new imagery, commissions and projects that spark positive change in how we view and inhabit our shared Earth. Belfast Photo Festival runs until June 30th. For more information, visit
Forbes
13 minutes ago
- Forbes
What's Fueling Oil Prices? Geopolitics, Not Growth
EDMONTON, CANADA, MAY 24: Close-up of a replica oil with words 'oil Country' well painted in ... More Edmonton Oilers colors, displayed outdoors in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, on May 24, 2025. (Photo by Artur Widak/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Oil prices are climbing once more. Although fundamentals such as supply and demand continue to be significant, the latest spike is largely unrelated to seasonal trends or economic expansion. Rather, it is geopolitical factors—specifically, escalating tensions in the Middle East—that are unsettling markets and pushing prices higher. Israel's recent military strikes against Iran, aimed at critical nuclear sites, have shaken the global energy landscape. This escalation has created shockwaves in the oil markets, with Brent crude experiencing a surge of up to 13%, hitting $78.50 per barrel before plateauing around $75. In a similar fashion, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude jumped over 9%, reaching a peak of $77.62 and concluding near $74. This represents the largest single-day price increase in oil since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The offensive was initiated shortly before expected U.S.–Iran nuclear negotiations and was justified by Israel as a crucial measure to prevent Iran from nearing nuclear weapon capabilities. Central to the current instability is the Strait of Hormuz, a slender waterway linking the Persian Gulf with the Arabian Sea. While it measures only 21 miles at its narrowest point, its strategic significance is immense: approximately one-third of the world's seaborne oil transits through this crucial channel each day. Presently, this essential route is under increased observation. Although Israeli attacks have upheld Iran's oil infrastructure for the moment, the threat of retaliation looms large. Iran has persistently warned it might close the Strait—a move that would instantly disrupt global energy supplies. The mere potential for such disruption is sufficient to elevate prices as traders prepare for volatility. OPEC+ Output Rises: On May 31, 2025, OPEC+ revealed its third consecutive monthly production increase, adding 411,000 barrels per day (bpd) in July. This action, motivated by Saudi Arabia's ambition for market share, occurs amid internal tensions, particularly with Russia, and follows the reinstatement of 1.37 million bpd of a planned 2.2 million bpd increase by the end of 2026. While indicating a strategic change, the group emphasized that future increases are contingent upon market conditions, with the next policy decision scheduled for July 6. A Market in Surplus: As of May, the global oil market already exhibits a surplus of approximately 0.5 million bpd. In the meantime, non-OPEC producers like the U.S. and Brazil are continuing to elevate their output, contributing to a more substantial global supply situation than was previously expected. This increasing surplus coincides with the OECD's recent downgrade of its global GDP growth forecast for 2025, from 3.1% to 2.9%—indicating softer demand on the horizon. Although summer travel and a slight resurgence in emerging markets are currently sustaining demand, any additional economic downturn could tip the scales. Demand Uncertainty: Optimism regarding a rebound in China's oil demand is tempered by escalating trade tensions and tariffs, which may hinder global growth. Slower economic activity could suppress demand, while disrupted supply chains may also limit output, creating a complex, conflicting impact on oil prices that defies straightforward forecasting. The confluence of increasing supply, uncertain demand, and macroeconomic challenges places the oil market in a delicate state. On one side, prices could soar towards $80 per barrel if tensions in the Middle East intensify and supply risks materialize, particularly if the Strait of Hormuz comes under threat. Conversely, OPEC+ production increases and economic softness could restrain price gains and revive oversupply worries as autumn approaches. The recent increase in oil prices is not merely an economic occurrence—it reflects escalating global anxiety. As long as the Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of geopolitical tension, markets will remain on edge. Investors, consumers, and policymakers should brace for ongoing price fluctuations, driven more by geopolitical factors than by supply. If history serves as a lesson, geopolitical risk premiums can dissipate rapidly—but they can also increase sharply. As oil prices escalate, upstream oil companies such as Halliburton (NYSE: HAL) and SLB (NYSE: SLB) typically tend to benefit in such conditions. For investors seeking growth with reduced volatility, the Trefis High Quality Portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 with 91% returns since its inception, offering a steadier experience amid turbulence.
BBC News
13 minutes ago
- BBC News
'There is no shortage of goalkeepers' - Anderson on Trafford links
Newcastle have been linked to Burnley goalkeeper James Trafford but are now if the Clarets don't lower their valuation, which is believed to be up to £ BBC Radio Newcastle Total Sport show spoke to former Magpies defender John Anderson, who believes the 22-year-old might not be worth his price tag."His value is going to go up with the amount of clean sheets he kept last season," Anderson said."He had an outstanding season, Burnley defensively were outstanding and you'd think that would put value on him."He's one that's been mentioned in the past, one that doesn't go away but how much do you value him? It's a little bit like everything, you are what people are prepared to pay for you and if we're not prepared to pay whatever Burnley want, then you look elsewhere."You value him and put a price on him and you say 'We'd like to sign him, we value him at X' and the selling club comes back and says actually 'We value him at Y' and then usually you meet in the middle and come to an agreement, but sometimes if you can't, you've got to walk away."The one thing I would say is that there is no shortage of goalkeepers at St James' Park right now."Listen to the full clip here
