The government has launched the Be Ready campaign, urging every household in the UK to keep up to nine litres of bottled water and a three-day supply of food at home in case of a weather event, cyber incident or other serious emergency. Reporting on the campaign, The Guardian notes that the Cabinet Office guidance is aimed at ensuring people can sustain themselves for 72 hours.Security minister Dan Jarvis said ‘those who can follow this advice should follow this advice’, describing the measures as ‘simple steps to be ready for everyday emergencies’ and part of a broader effort ‘to improve…
Author: Luke Baxter
Luke Baxter
Luke Baxter spent twelve years in broadcast and digital news before going freelance. He started as a runner at a news channel, worked his way to producer, and spent four years as a digital editor at a mid-sized news outlet covering politics, defence, and international affairs. He writes about UK politics, foreign policy, and the current affairs stories that develop over months and break over hours. He prefers primary sources to commentary and considers the distinction increasingly rare. Luke lives in South London. He watches PMQs out of professional obligation and considers it a declining format.
UK cinemas are reporting exceptional advance demand for You Can See Everything, the documentary about disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes, with multiple venues already adding extra screenings a month before its UK release. The Guardian reports that the film pulled in US$15m (£11.3m) on its opening weekend in the United States, the biggest opening for a documentary in more than 20 years.Clare Binns, creative director of Picturehouse Cinemas, said the excitement reminded her of the response to Greta Gerwig’s Barbie in 2023. ‘People are hungry in a way that we haven’t really seen since then,’ she said. ‘And for it…
Construction projects rarely run exactly as planned. A roof repair can uncover damaged timbers, a commercial refurbishment may require access to several elevations, and work on an occupied property must be completed without unnecessarily disrupting residents or businesses. In each case, safe and reliable access is an important part of getting the job done properly. Across Hertfordshire, from residential renovations in St Albans and Watford to commercial property maintenance in Hertford and Stevenage, scaffolding plays a practical role in helping contractors work safely at height. However, choosing the right scaffolding is about more than simply erecting a structure beside a…
A group of 150 scientists, MPs and activists, including climate campaigner Greta Thunberg, have called on the prime minister Andy Burnham to hold a national air pollution inquiry into the disproportionate health burden borne by lower-income and minority-ethnic communities. Research by the Institute for Fiscal Studies underpins the call, finding that poorer areas of England have persistently higher pollution levels than wealthier ones, and that minority-ethnic populations face air pollution exposure roughly 6% above that experienced by white populations.The letter argues that, despite well-established links between air pollution and conditions including heart disease, strokes, cancer, asthma and impaired lung development…
Microsoft has withdrawn from a planned AI datacentre project in Loughton, Essex, leaving the British infrastructure company Nscale without its only publicly announced customer for the site. The Guardian reports that Microsoft, which had been expected to serve as the anchor tenant, informed Nscale it was ending the agreement amid concerns over power supply.The Loughton development had been described by Keir Starmer’s government as the ‘largest UK sovereign AI datacentre’ when it was announced as part of the UK’s AI strategy in 2025. Power supply problems had already emerged as an obstacle, with authorities reportedly warning that a grid connection…
Russell Brand’s rape trial opened at Southwark Crown Court with the prosecution telling jurors that the comedian had been a ruthless, calculated and manipulative sexual predator. The Guardian reports that Brand, 51, is charged with rape on three counts, sexual assault on three counts and one count of indecent assault, with six women bringing allegations covering a decade between 1999 and 2009. He denies all charges and has pleaded not guilty.Prosecutor Riel Karmy-Jones KC told the jury that Brand had harboured an ‘insatiable desire’ for sexual contact and treated women as a means to an end. She described him as…
Sally Rooney’s books are to be withdrawn from sale across the UK after her publisher, Faber, concluded it can no longer legally pass on her UK earnings because of her declared support for the banned organisation Palestine Action. The Guardian reported the decision after Rooney provided a statement setting out the legal position she and her publisher now face. Rooney, the Irish novelist behind Normal People and Conversations With Friends, said she had written publicly in August 2025 of her intention to go on supporting Palestine Action, which was proscribed as a terrorist organisation in the UK in July 2025.…
Chef Joe Otway has shared four early autumn recipes built around British seasonal produce, with each dish designed to let a single ingredient at its peak do most of the work. The Guardian published the recipes on 14 October 2026, covering a buttery cheese tart, a sweetcorn salad with soured cream, roast squash with ‘nduja, and a radicchio salad lifted with elderflower vinaigrette.Otway describes early autumn as one of the most generous times of year for British produce. Sweetcorn is at its peak, squash begins to sweeten as temperatures drop, and bitter leaves such as radicchio offer balance against the…
Finding comfortable walking shoes women can actually wear all day, whether pounding pavements on a commute, standing at work or exploring a new city on holiday, does not have to mean choosing between support and style. The 13 options below span a range from £75 to £245, covering sneakers, loafers and boots that work across casual and office settings alike.The Full List of Comfortable Walking Shoes Women Should ConsiderHere is the complete rundown, with prices as listed:Nike Waffle Debut Sneakers ($75), Available in seven colourways, with classic black offering the most wardrobe flexibility. The silhouette is lightweight by Nike standards,…
Filthy Animal, a jungle-themed wood-fired restaurant in Tempe, Arizona, has claimed the top spot on Yelp’s best new restaurant list for 2026. The ranking, which covers eateries that opened after 1 January 2026, is ordered by ratings and review volume across the platform.The result will raise eyebrows among food writers who tend to fix their gaze on New York or Los Angeles. Tempe’s Filthy Animal beat out nine other restaurants spread across major American cities, including entries from Los Angeles, Las Vegas, New York and Kansas City, to lead the national list.From a former chain site to Yelp’s Filthy Animal…