-
England Covid infections more than double as XFG variant spreads
England is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 infections, with cases more than doubling in the past month and hospital admissions rising five-fold. The outbreak is driven by the XFG variant, also known as ‘Stratus’, which originated in South East Asia and has been spreading across Europe and North America since late 2025. Whilst seasonal increases…
-
Marco Rubio says Russia plague could ‘quickly spread’ and is ’cause for focus’ as fears of outbreak mount
The United States is closely monitoring a suspected pneumonic plague outbreak in Russia following the death of a young scientist at a research institute in Siberia. Darya Shipilova, 28, a laboratory assistant at the Irkutsk Anti-Plague Institute, died on 2 October after reportedly dropping a vial of live plague bacterium at the facility last week.…
-
Glamorous midwives accused of cover-up after two baby deaths rock trendy Colorado birthing center… but whispers among wealthy clients blame sinister ‘witch hunt’
A luxury birthing centre in Fort Collins, Colorado has come under investigation following two infant deaths, leading to the arrest of its owner and chief midwife in September. Althea Hrdlichka and Brecklen Ables face charges of tampering with evidence and attempting to influence a public servant, though specific details remain sealed. The case raises questions…
-
Police bodycam captures Cornell fraternity member’s campus ban after assault allegation
Newly released bodycam footage shows Cornell police informing a fraternity member, whose identity is obscured, that he was barred from university grounds after an investigation into an alleged sexual assault in October 2024. Audio released with the footage captures differing accounts from student Jane Doe and Chi Phi member Matthew Ingalls about the encounter, which…
-
Russian drone strike sinks Turkish-owned corn ship, killing two crewmen
Russia launched a drone strike on a Turkish-owned civilian cargo vessel carrying corn in the Black Sea on Monday, killing the ship’s captain and leaving another crew member unaccounted for. President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the “horrific” attack as part of Russia’s ongoing pattern of targeting civilian vessels rather than seeking peaceful resolution to the conflict.…
-
Even I’m not English under Suella Braverman’s ‘ridiculous’ test, says Jacob Rees-Mogg as he swipes at Reform UK defectors
Jacob Rees-Mogg criticised Suella Braverman’s view that English identity depends on family heritage, calling it too narrow. He said people born in England, or those who move there and become British citizens, should be able to identify as English, and argued that Englishness and Britishness are often treated as synonymous. Braverman, who joined Reform UK…
-
Aphrodite review – a trashy way to treat the goddess of love
The Ashmolean Museum’s Aphrodite exhibition brings together world-class loans and explores how the goddess has inspired artists through the ages, yet the curatorial approach is disjointed and fails to tell a coherent story. Rather than developing a clear narrative through European art—from Botticelli’s influential Venus paintings onwards—the exhibition shifts focus to an archaeological theory that…
-
Councils to send toilet training advice to families with school offers
Up to 20 councils plan to send potty training guides to families with their primary school offers this spring, following research that found one in four children started Reception in nappies last year. The scheme aims to help children become toilet independent before school and reduce the time teachers spend dealing with toileting accidents. A…
-
Canadian doctors warn assisted dying approvals lack safeguards after woman’s case
Canadian psychiatry professors Gary Rodin and Madeline Li from the University of Toronto have raised serious concerns about their country’s medical assistance in dying (MAID) system, warning that it approves cases too readily. In a high-profile example, an elderly woman was approved for assisted dying primarily because she had lost her ability to cook meals…
-
Buckingham Palace launches £25 customisable and £12 chocolate advent calendars for 2026
Buckingham Palace has unveiled two advent calendars for 2026, including a £25 unfilled design and a 24-chocolate calendar priced at £12. The range offers a lower-cost alternative to Meghan Markle’s £112 As Ever calendar, while the customisable box lets buyers choose their own treats. The Palace chocolate calendar weighs 95g and features festive illustrations of…