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The Ukrainian start-up taking the missile fight deep into Russia
Fire Point, a Ukrainian arms start-up founded after Russia’s 2022 invasion, is now producing around 100 long-range Flamingo cruise missiles and hundreds of drones a day, making it central to Ukraine’s ability to strike deep inside Russian territory. Chief executive Iryna Terekh says almost every recent deep-strike attack has involved the company’s weapons, which are…
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“We don’t want to spark disaster.” Arthur ‘God of Hellfire’ Brown partners with Yorkshire chimney sweep to issue Public Service Announcement warning of fire dangers
Musician Arthur Brown, best known as “the God of Hellfire” from his 1968 hit “Fire”, has teamed up with a North Yorkshire chimney sweep to record a Public Service Announcement warning of the fire risks posed by the current UK heatwave. The video, filmed on the North York Moors, plays on Brown’s fiery stage persona…
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I risk losing my livelihood because Nissan failed to repair my car
A self-employed driving instructor from Eastbourne faced losing her livelihood after Nissan took months to repair her leased dual-control car, leaving her to fund an expensive hire vehicle out of pocket while still paying finance on the car she could not use. The case, resolved by the Guardian’s Consumer Champions column, highlights how manufacturer delays…
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The No 1 Ladies Detective Agency creator makes the world happier: best podcasts of the week
This week’s podcast picks range widely, with the standout choice being a new series from Alexander McCall Smith, creator of The No 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency, who is using short fiction to try to make listeners feel better about the state of the world. Alongside it, the Guardian’s critics highlight shows covering true crime, disability…
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Liberty embraces sewing boom with craft classes as it expands fabrics section
Liberty has more than doubled the size of its fabrics department at its central London store, part of a wider push to capitalise on a growing craft and sewing trend fuelled by social media. The Oxford Circus department store, which opened in 1924, will also expand its haberdashery section and host crafting workshops this autumn,…
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The 1979 Billy Joel song that wouldn’t exist without Chinese food
The article recounts how a Billy Joel song from 1979 was shaped during a recording session in which Chinese takeaway helped set the band’s rhythm and mood. It presents the anecdote as an example of how informal studio routines and group chemistry could influence Joel’s finished music. Producer Phil Ramone said the musicians often worked…
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The woman promoting the UK Potteries region in Japan
Yuri Kawakami-Shotton, who runs Peak and Pottery Tours at Stoke-on-Trent’s Spode Museum, has been praised for her work promoting the city and its pottery heritage to visitors from Japan. She was inspired to start the venture after seeing a BBC News report on local pottery firms falling into administration, believing Japanese consumers and tourists would…
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TV tonight: the amazing story of the first animal to poo
Tonight’s TV highlights include the latest episode of Chris Packham’s Evolution on BBC Two, which traces how early creatures developed a digestive exit point, alongside a mix of documentary, drama and reality offerings across other channels. The line-up reflects the Guardian’s regular evening TV guide, spanning history, medical drama, fantasy and reality television. Key picks…
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Why scientists watched grass grow for 170 years
Scientists at Rothamsted Research in Harpenden, Hertfordshire, have been running the Park Grass Experiment for 170 years, making it the world’s oldest continuous study of permanent grassland. Begun in 1856 by founders Sir John Bennet Lawes and Joseph Henry Gilbert to examine how fertilisers and manure affect hay yields, the study has evolved far beyond…