John Healey pledges to use budget to harness power of AI to bolster Britain’s security
Posted on Saturday October 24, 2026

Chancellor says government to commit hundreds of millions to develop ‘distinctively British’ approach to AI

John Healey has pledged to use Wednesday’s budget to harness the power of artificial intelligence to bolster Britain’s security and prosperity against the risks in the accelerating global technology arms race.

As he prepares for his debut budget, the chancellor said that Andy Burnham’s government would commit hundreds of millions of pounds to develop a “distinctively British” approach to AI that would capitalise on the benefits of the frontier technology.

Read more...

More than third of post offices in TG Jones stores to shut by early 2027
Posted on Saturday October 24, 2026

Closures within chain formerly under the WH Smith brand raise fears of high streets becoming ‘postal deserts’

Towns and even city centres face being left as “postal deserts” after it emerged that more than a third of post offices within the troubled TG Jones chain are closing.

So far this year 36 branches within the high street chain formerly known as WH Smith have closed and a further 34 are set to close by early 2027, according to Post Office records analysed by the Guardian.

Read more...

He wants to clean up the city and banish high prices. But who is ‘London’s Batman’?
Posted on Saturday October 24, 2026

The caped crusader is paying for hospital parking fines, giving out fuel to drivers – and sponsoring the return of cut-priced Freddo bars

In the harsh light of day, a caped crusader storms the streets of London to tackle a crime that has long blighted the capital: littering.

“When I said I wanted to save London, I meant it. I will not stop until every single bit of trash is off the streets,” he says in a viral video, narrated in his trademark deep, husky and (suspiciously) American voice, joined by a gang of hooded helpers clearing rubbish-strewn streets in Tower Hamlets.

Read more...

Most levelling up projects still unfinished years after funding allocated
Posted on Saturday October 24, 2026

Data released under freedom of information laws reveals hundreds of projects unfinished despite Tory promises on regional equality

• Can a £5.8bn scheme help revive Grimsby and other town centres?

Most levelling up projects are not finished, years after funds were allocated, highlighting how ambitious Conservative promises of quick progress on regional equality have faltered.

Data released under freedom of information laws and manually reviewed by the Guardian found 821 levelling up projects out of 1,347 were yet to be finalised as of May this year. Across the UK, 73 council areas that had a bid for a project accepted were yet to see a single one fully completed. The Guardian has identified 59 projects that were completed since the data was collected.

Read more...

AI firms say UK has a year to head off datacentre protests before construction is threatened
Posted on Thursday October 22, 2026

Exclusive: Nvidia, Microsoft and Cisco taskforce urges ministers to offer areas greater benefits from tech infrastructure amid fears of US-style opposition

AI companies have told ministers they have 12 months to head off public opposition to datacentres in the UK or risk US-style protests that could threaten their construction.

Successive dry summers and rising energy bills are increasing public scrutiny of plans for the huge computer warehouses that are used to train and run AI models, says a submission to the Labour government from a group including the AI infrastructure companies Nvidia, Microsoft and Cisco.

Read more...

Burnham to reveal plans for AI unit to tackle wildfires after scorching summer
Posted on Thursday October 22, 2026

PM will also announce funding for specialised protective gear and the deployment of military aircraft

The UK government is to create an AI Cobra unit to spot wildfires after this year’s record-breaking summer saw devastating blazes across the country.

The country experienced its hottest-ever summer this year, with prolonged dry periods and extreme heat fuelling wildfires that triggered an emergency alert to mobile phones in England and Wales. Figures released on 8 October showed a clear upward trend in the number of fires recorded each year.

Read more...

The sexual assault scandal rocked gymnastics – but has pace of change in the sport been too slow?
Posted on Saturday October 24, 2026

Former USA team doctor Larry Nassar’s 2018 conviction sparked a global reckoning in gymnastics, yet gymnasts say they are still being let down

It has been 10 years since the Indianapolis Star published allegations of sexual abuse by Larry Nassar, the former team doctor for USA Gymnastics, setting off a chain of events that would lead to a reckoning for the sport. Hundreds of women came forward with their own allegations against Nassar, who also worked at Michigan State University, leading to his conviction and jailing.

The exposure of his crimes sparked a wider investigation into how gymnastics had allowed predators to abuse young athletes around the world. While Nassar was the worst recorded case, it emerged many other countries had questions to answer about the failure to protect victims from not only sexual but physical and emotional abuse. But a decade later, on a large houseboat moored in Rotterdam three tram stops away from the Ahoy Arena, where the World Gymnastics Championships are taking place this week, survivors and advocates raised fears about the slow pace of change.

Read more...

Aston Villa v Manchester City buildup, Premier League news, WSL, and more – matchday live
Posted on Saturday October 24, 2026

⚽ All the latest as we build up to Saturday’s games
⚽ Ten things to look out for | Fixtures | Mail David

Results from last night. Every team scored, with Middlesbrough winning the goal count after blasting five at Bolton. That victory put them top of the Championship.

Premier League: Ipswich 1-1 Nottingham Forest
Bundesliga: Stuttgart 2-3 M’gladbach
Serie A: Torino 3-2 Monza
La Liga: Alaves 1-1 Malaga
Ligue 1: Brest 1-2 Nice
Championship: Bolton 1-5 Middlesbrough

Read more...