UK News
View All 9Wes Streeting warns Britain must be ready for war in 1,000 days as Russia fears erupt
Wes Streeting has warned that Britain must be ready for war in 1,000 days amid fears of a conflict with Russia.The Defence Secretary said the UK's adversaries could strike the country by 2030.Earlier this week, Labour rolled out its 'Be Ready' preparedness campaign, urging Britons to begin stockpiling tinned food and bottled water.Now, writing in The Telegraph, Mr Streeting said his "defining priority" was to make sure the country was "ready to fight and win a war". TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say "That is the only metric that counts," he added.According to Mr Streeting, Britons should prepare for the worst. His resilience campaign advises Britons to have three days' worth of supplies in case of emergency."To prevent the worst, we have to prepare for it," he said."In the first instance, that means expanding our capabilities so our adversaries think twice about attacking us."Should that fail, we must ensure that Britain is ready for war."But Labour has already come under criticism for not setting out how it will reach John Healey's target of spending three per cent of GDP on defence by 2030, a key point before Nato's target of 3.5 per cent by 2035.The Defence Secretary claimed he was "100 per cent" confident Andy Burnham and the Chancellor would be able to meet the 2035 Nato target.His remarks echo Mr Healey's from earlier this year, who also insisted he was "100 per cent committed" to his own target.LATEST POLITICS NEWS:John Healey hit with resignation days before Budget as advisor warns of 'Liz Truss-style crisis'Autumn Budget 2026: What John Healey could announce for pensions, savings and household financesAndy Burnham admits politicians have 'a lot to offer' stars of The Traitors in Gogglebox appearanceHowever, in a clear indicator Mr Healey will not meet his own target, he said the goal of "expanding our capabilities" was getting lost "amidst a fixation with percentages and dates".As defence funding looms over the Chancellor's first Budget, Russian threats have become more prominent.Earlier this week, it was revealed that Russia had been pinpointing the exact location of Britain's crucial undersea cables.And if slashed by Moscow on the first day of a Nato conflict, as General Sir Gwyn Jenkins believes, the UK has just one vessel capable of repairing them.Labour, this week, has outlined plans to dole out harsh criminal punishments for those convicted of tampering with either undersea internet cables or energy pipelines.It will also grant telecommunications powers to remove or disable services during a national emergency.While Russia has been conducting reconnaissance for a future conflict with the West, it has also been embroiled in its years-long invasion of Ukraine.Mr Streeting said the fighting between the two countries showed the importance of using "every penny wisely".He said: "When modern warfare requires us to be agile, adapt constantly and think differently, I will not shy away from diverting funding earmarked for one project to another one that makes more sense."That is the lesson from Ukraine, where tactics and technologies on the battlefield today are a world away from when the war began just a few years ago."We have seen how a drone costing £500 can destroy a £3m tank and how innovative armoury can be deployed in weeks rather than years."In a world changing at such breakneck speed, the most dangerous words in defence today are, 'We have always done it this way'." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
John Healey 'unveiling billions in defence spending at Budget' — but funding questions raised
John Healey is set to announce billions in defence spending in Wednesday's Budget.He will also invest in the National Wealth Fund and British Business Bank, two separate Government funds.Those funds will, in turn, invest in British defence companies, generating jobs and economic development.But questions have already been raised around funding. TRENDING Stories Videos Your Say The investment would be generated by long-term borrowing, but would not break Labour's fiscal rules because it should generate returns.The surprise announcement comes as Mr Healey is under pressure to increase defence spending to three per cent of GDP by 2030, a target he himself set, and quit Sir Keir Starmer's Cabinet over.All Nato allies have committed to spending 3.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2035.The UK currently spends around 2.6 per cent of GDP on core defence spending, but critics - and Mr Healey - have called for an increase to ensure a clear timetable to reach the alliance's target.Mr Healey previously said he would lay out a path to hitting the target at the 2027 spending review.The investment at the Budget will serve as a "down payment" on his three per cent ambition, according to The Times.Shadow Chancellor Andrew Griffith on Saturday demanded Mr Healey resign if the UK fails to set out how it will reach the target he himself set.He said: "By the end of his Budget statement, John Healey must have fully funded 3 per cent defence spending, or resign."We are living in an era of extraordinary threats, and yet the Chancellor is dithering over finding the money to pay the country's insurance premium."The Conservatives have said they would fund defence by cutting benefits.HEALEY'S FIRST BUDGET - READ MORE:John Healey hit with resignation days before Budget as advisor warns of 'Liz Truss-style crisis'Labour gives taxman new powers to raid bank accounts in bid to recover £4billionAutumn Budget 2026: What John Healey could announce for pensions, savings and household financesBut Mr Healey will make the investments by using long-term borrowing and may draw criticism from political opponents.One of Rachel Reeves’ fiscal rules requires public debt to fall as a share of GDP within three years, but the rule was defined to allow borrowing for investment in public financial institutions that could generate a return.This means that investment into public financial institutions, or so-called "PuFins", will not appear on the Treasury "scorecard".James Cartlidge, the Conservative Shadow Defence Secretary, welcomed the plans, and accused the Government of copying a similar policy unveiled last December to create a sovereign defence fund.He told The Times: "A key part of this was to make the National Wealth Fund switch its investment from Net Zero to defence."So I welcome Labour copying our idea, particularly if that means getting more cash to UK start-ups and defence tech businesses."Mr Cartlidge said the investment should be used to "accelerate the uncrewed, artificial intelligence-driven transformation of our armed forces".Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has defended the Government's lack of clarity around defence spending, laying blame at the Tories for failing to invest in previous Governments.He said: "The public must be sick and tired of the Tories complaining about things they never did."They owe Britain an apology, not another lecture."Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives shrunk the British Army to its smallest size since the Napoleonic era and left a £17billion hole in the equipment plan."Their fantasy economics won’t keep Britain safe, just as their reckless hollowing out of our armed forces didn't when they were in power." Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter
Billions to shareholders: Calls to nationalise Scots wind farms and buses
Exclusive Friends of the Earth Scotland Scottish Trades Union Congress Economy Local government National government Scotland Bus services and wind farms: Scotland urged to expand public ownership Friends of the Earth Scotland Scottish Trades Union Congress Economy Local government National government Scotland Exclusive /Business Journalist of the Year Roz Foyer of the Scottish Trades Union Congress and Caroline Rance of Friends of the Earth Scotland want nationalisation of wind farms and buses. (Image: Damian Shields) This article is brought to you , and has been written . It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Billions of pounds in wind farm profits are being paid out to corporate shareholders over five years as public funding for Scotland’s buses and free travel has soared by 72% since before the pandemic — prompting demands to ministers for energy and transport to be brought into public ownership. An analysis of 105 Scottish onshore wind farms found they generated £2.83billion in post-tax profits over five years, with almost 90% paid out in dividends to corporate shareholders. Meanwhile, the Scottish Government’s annual budget for bus services and concessionary travel has risen from £273 million in 2019/20 to £468m in 2025/26 — an increase of £195m. The Scottish Trades Union Congress, environmental campaigners and a think tank are now demanding a major expansion of public ownership of renewable energy and bus services, arguing that public money should build services and infrastructure that benefit communities rather than prop up privately controlled systems while profits flow to shareholders. Roz Foyer, general secretary of the STUC, said: “It’s the scandal of our age that instead of helping local governments to build these models across Scotland, we billion pound rip off of workers as public money props up private ownership of buses and energy with wealth extracted out of our abandoned communities.” Caroline Rance, head of campaigns for Friends of the Earth Scotland, said: “Put simply, this shows that we can do it better if we own it. Public ownership is already delivering for workers, communities and the climate but it needs to be scaled up if we are to meet the challenges facing Scotland.” The analysis is at the heart of an investigation (CLES), a think tank specialising in local economies and community wealth building, commissioned for the Just Transition Partnership, a coalition of trade unions, environmental groups and other organisations campaigning for a fair shift to a low-carbon economy. The report argues that public investment in energy, transport and home improvements should build lasting public assets and services rather than leave control and financial returns predominantly in private hands.
it's no wonder Scotland's cancellation of mummies has been ridiculed around the world
KEVIN MCKENNA Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries Education Heritage History No wonder mummy cancellation at Kelvingrove has been mocked Kelvingrove Museum and Art Galleries Education Heritage History 2 Skip to next photo 1/1 Show caption 1/1 This article is brought to you , and has been written . It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Who knew that bosses at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum bosses could commune with the dead? Perhaps they’ve discovered an AI tool that can retro-read the intentions of people who lived thousands of years ago. Maybe, they’ve got a couple of cosmic guides who can surf that astral plane backwards and forwards at the drop of a hat. Last week, visitors to the Museum expecting to Egyptian mummies were instead greeted with an empty coffin (I’m presuming it was empty). On this rather sinister casket was the following statement: “We have removed human remains from this display as a mark of respect.” Among the delinquent limbs and appendages were a right hand that once belonged to a priest called Nekht and a male head and right foot of unspecified origin. Responding to reasonable concerns that ‘respect’ in this case was a ship that had sailed a very long time ago, the museum dug something of a hole for themselves large enough to accommodate several old Egyptian sarcophagi from that Valley of the Kings, (occasionally reputed to have inspired the naming of High Valleyfield in West Fife). They explained that their Human Remains Policy dictates that mummified bodies will only be displayed if there is “documented and informed consent” from the deceased individual. And that in appropriate circumstances, their descendants can also lend approval. We’ll leave aside the fact that some of those mummies - dead though they may be - still look more animated than Celtic’s midfield. Last week, I wrote a rather jocund column poking fun at the SNP’s attempts to dismiss those PISA pupil assessment tables that consistently place Scotland’s attainment levels in key subjects below England’s. Somewhat facetiously, I’d suggested that we shouldn’t place too much emphasis on the teaching of history and all the great popular societal and geo-political convulsions that had brought us to this place. I didn’t imagine that this was actually becoming policy at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. SCOTLAND is fast becoming the land where what we once deemed to be satire is becoming lived experience.
World News
View All 10Serbia election: Student movement seeks to end Aleksandar Vucic's rule
https://p. dw. com/p/5OdWU Tens of thousands of supporters of Serbia's student movement rallied in Belgrade ahead of the pivotal vote [FILE: October 22, 2026]Image: Marko Drobnjakovic/AP Photo/picture alliance Voting began in Serbia on Sunday with a mass student protest movement that has gripped the Balkan country for two years seeking to end the rule of long-time leader Aleksandar Vucic and his party. Polls suggest a tight race between Vucic's Serbian Progressive Party (SNS) and the newly formed, youth-backed Students' List. The vote comes after almost two years of student-led protests following the deadly collapse of a train station canopy in the city of Novi Sad in 2024. Demonstrations demanding accountability have since snowballed into Serbia's largest movement since the fall of strongman Slobodan Milosevic in 2000. The scandals that rocked Serbia and are shaping the election To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Vucic faces tough election challenge After calling snap elections last month, Vucic, who has dominated Serbian politics for more than a decade, stepped down as president to run for prime minister. The Students' List is aiming to end 14 years of rule by Vucic's right-wing populist SNS in Sunday's vote. Under Serbia's constitution, Vucic cannot run for a third presidential termImage: Jelena Djukic Pejic/DW The student movement hopes to replicate Peter Magyar's victory in Hungary in April, when he defeated Vucic's ally, Viktor Orban. Polling stations close at 8 p. m. local time (1900 GMT). Serbia's student revolt: Will it bring about change? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Natalie Muller Don't let the algorithm hide the news. If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google, so you'll always see our verified news first.
Iranians Face Anxious Wait as Threat of Attack Looms
The United States and Israel have drawn up plans to renew strikes against Iran, creating a sense of dread among war-weary residents.
Trump announces Audi will build $4 billion factory in US
https://p. dw. com/p/5OdWR Trump said the German company would make 200,000 cars a year in the new Georgian plantImage: CFOTO/picture alliance US President Donald Trump on Saturday announced that German car producer, Audi, will build a $4 billion (€3.77 billion) assembly plant in the US state of Georgia. Speaking at a campaign rally in Perry, Georgia, Trump said the plant will produce 200,000 SUVs annually. "Think of that. 200,000 cars a year. The US president credited his tariff policies for the company's decision to build the plant in the US. Europe tries to sway Trump on vehicle tariffs To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Trump focusing on manufacturing as midterms loom The US leader has pressured foreign and domestic businesses to move production to the United States. His tactics included sweeping tariffs on car imports. Last year, Trump's tariffs cost Audi €1.2-billion-euro ($1.4-billion). The latest announcement comes as Trump tries to make a last ditch effort to boost Republican candidates in the battleground state American manufacturing ahead of the midterm elections. The Republicans are bracing for losses in the November 3 vote amid rising prices and the ongoing war in Iran. Audi, which is owned by Volkswagen, said the construction of the manufacturing plant is scheduled to begin next year, with car production starting in the early 2030s. How will US tariffs hit Germany's car exports and imports? To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video The plant is expected to assemble the Audi Q7, Q8 and Q9 SUVs, a US official told Reuters news agency. The company also said the investment will create approximately 4,500 jobs. Edited by: Darko Janjevic If you rely on our team for trusted reporting, please take a moment to select us as your Preferred Source on Google "star" or "preferred" button, so you'll always see our verified news first.
The Public Health Consequences of an Inaccurate Census
IDEASTime ideas Ideas Follow this section to personalize your feed and get instant alerts. FollowGo to your personalized feedWHY FOLLOW? Custom Feed: stories that matter most to you. Smart Alerts: Get notified about major news as it happens. Update your preferences in Account Settings Close health Follow this tag to personalize your feed and get instant alerts. FollowGo to your personalized feedWHY FOLLOW? Custom Feed: stories that matter most to you. Smart Alerts: Get notified about major news as it happens. Update your preferences in Account Settings Close The Public Health Consequences of an Inaccurate Census ADD TIME ON GOOGLE by Julie Morita and Richard Besser Dr. Julie Morita is president and CEO of the Joyce Foundation and former commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Richard Besser is president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oct 25, 2026 AM UTC by Julie Morita and Richard Besser Dr. Julie Morita is president and CEO of the Joyce Foundation and former commissioner of the Chicago Department of Public Health. Richard Besser is president and CEO of the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and former acting director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Oct 25, 2026 AM UTC 00:001.0x04:25 Narrated . In 2015, Chicago’s public health department identified three cases of invasive meningococcal disease, a highly dangerous pathogen that can kill within hours. To determine whether these cases signaled a larger outbreak, the department—which one of us, Dr. Julie Morita, led at the time—needed to know not just total cases, but the total population and demographics of affected areas. The team turned to a pillar of our nation’s public health system: the U. The data showed that men who have sex with men—including gay and bisexual men—among the city’s Black population were disproportionately affected. That finding drove the health department’s response, which included working with community partners to surge thousands of free vaccines into neighborhoods across Chicago. Instead of a larger and far deadlier outbreak, the outbreak ended with 11 cases in Chicago and one death. Census data informs every aspect of our nation’s public health system. As former leaders of local and federal health agencies, we have seen this firsthand. Unfortunately, the Trump Administration has proposed radical changes to the census that would make our country less healthy, less safe, and less fair. The public comment period on this proposal closes on Nov. 2.
Politics
View All 10Four ways Labour could raise money in the Budget without hiking income tax
We're likely to hear a lot about the chancellor's "headroom" in this Budget. That is the cash buffer the government has to help meet its own fiscal rules and reduce borrowing. Economists think the buffer might have halved in the last six months from around £24bn to as low as £11bn, in part because of rising interest rates the government has been paying to borrow money from private investors. The Chancellor, John Healey, might need to raise money to restore it, which would show the government's plan to reduce borrowing . At the same time, he is under pressure to find money to help people with the rising cost of living and to fund spending on defence. However, Labour's 2024 election manifesto pledged not to raise the rates of income tax, VAT or National Insurance. Increasing taxes on capital gains or extending the mansion tax had been raised as possible options but have since been ruled out . BBC Verify has looked at what other options could be on the table for the chancellor to raise some more money, external on Wednesday. Banks in the UK have seen profits rise in recent years because they have been able to charge people higher interest rates when borrowing money. And there is widespread belief among bank bosses that the chancellor is preparing to raise taxes on banks in this week's Budget. Think tank Tax Policy Associates estimates, external that increasing the surcharge that banks pay on corporation tax from 3% to 5.5% could potentially raise an additional £1bn to £2bn a year for the Treasury. A higher tax would initially reduce the profits that banks have to distribute to their shareholders. Some shareholders will be wealthy investors. The banks have warned that additional taxes could deter them from investing in the UK, external, which could reduce jobs. And ordinary savers could be indirectly affected too, if their pension investments include bank shares, external. Banks could also pass some of the tax burden on to their customers , research suggests., external Former prime minister Gordon Brown has called on Healey to hike the tax on electronic gaming machines - such as those found in betting shops and adult gaming centres which can offer payouts of £500 per game - citing the social harm imposed . The Social Market Foundation (SMF) think tank has estimated, external that doubling tax on these machines from 20% to 40% could raise could raise between £275m and £460m - depending on how gamblers reacted to it.
Introducing a New Way to Understand the Election: Times Voter Trends
A timely demographic story we’ve never been able to tell before.
Budget to include £1bn for social and affordable housing
Chancellor John Healey will present his first Budget on Wednesday More than £1bn for social and affordable housing in England will be provided in the Budget, taking funding for the government's 10-year homes programme past £40bn. Mayors and regional leaders across England are also expected to get greater powers and funding in Wednesday's announcement - with councils helped to borrow money from the government to invest in housebuilding through preferential interest rates. It is hoped the plans will give regional leaders more flexibility and authority over investment decisions. Chancellor John Healey said English cities and regions would get the "right to decide their own future", while Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the plans were about shifting power to those "who know their communities best". The chancellor will also announce more support for small breweries, with the Treasury saying he wants "to turn the tide for our pint producers". Meanwhile, the Sunday Times reports, external that Healey is expected to unveil billions of pounds of new defence spending in the Budget. Specific details on the funding would be outlined at next year's spending review But shadow chancellor Andrew Griffith has called for Healey to resign if he fails to set out how the UK will spend 3% of the UK's GDP on defence by 2030. What is the Budget and what could be in it? Between quick wins and big dreams lies Burnham's biggest test Under the plans for the regions, an initial £285m in transitional seed funding will be allocated - and reduce reliance on "fragmented bidding pots" in Whitehall, the Treasury said. The government will also confirm that it will work with mayors to design a new £1.5bn borrowing facility from 2028, which would allow them to access capital needed to support local priorities. The Treasury said this could be put towards new homes, bringing high streets back to life, or improving transport links. Healey said: "Mayors and local leaders know what their communities need to grow, which is why we are giving them more money, more power and more capacity to get projects moving, build homes and make the right decisions for their areas." Areas across the country which are not yet strategic authorities will be able to access a share of the £285m funding to "unlock projects which will contribute to growth in their areas". The prime minister said: "I'm calling time on local leaders going cap in hand to Westminster.
James Fishback allegedly blocked from entering Florida Republicans’ rally
Former gubernatorial candidate James Fishback (R) said he was stopped from entering a Get Out the Vote rally in Clearwater, Fla. hosted by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna (R-Fla.) on Saturday. Fishback said him and wife were told that he was “not welcome here” when trying to enter the venue, local news station CBS 12 reported.…
Business
View All 10Singapore’s Wong Vows More Support for Workers, Energy Security
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The Black Sea is now the world’s deadliest shipping route
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Many care homes in England have never been inspected by regulator
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BC Left-Wing Leader Loses to Conservatives in Vote He Called
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Technology
View All 10We should be more ambitious with the software we build
Since early this year, Michael Malis (of pgrust) has been showing me interesting things he's done and saying [W]e should be more ambitious1 with the software we build There is, understandably, a lot of skepticism about projects like pgrust because there are so many low-quality AI-generated projects out there. If I didn't know Malis and didn't look into it, I would just assume that pgrust was another vibe slopped project that's never going to work. But I know Malis well enough to trust his work without looking into it, and if you look into it a bit, you'll see that in testing pgrust, he's testing thoroughly enough that he's even uncovering real bugs in Postgres, such as this numerical bug that can cause valid SP-GiST operations to fail, this format cache bug that can cause incorrect results from JSONPath, this pgcrypto bug that can cause later operations to fail, multiple memory safety bugs in the dictionary loader2, this money overflow bug, etc. This isn't to say that pgrust is bug free3, but it does indicate that there's a substantial amount of testing happening and, even if pgrust itself is never successful, just making the attempt will have improved Postgres in a durable way. The main pitch for pgrust is actually performance, and that's where the really interesting work is happening; if pgrust fails, it's possible that some of the optimizations they've demonstrated will make it into Postgres, Clickhouse, etc., but that's obviously less direct than filing Postgres bugs which get fixed. That being said, I find it understandable that, every time I see pgrust discussed on a news aggregator, most people dismiss it as vibeslop garbage because almost all of these rewrite projects are slop. If I didn't know Malis, I would make the same assumption, because who has the time to look into all of these projects? Because I know Malis, I didn't bother to look at it; I just trusted him (I only found the above because I wanted to check on pgrust before using it as an example for this post). As a consumer of software, everywhere you look, there's slow software that the creator is claiming is fast because the creator is touting some slop benchmark, e. g., here's one of multiple examples I saw yesterday, and of course low-quality software that doesn't work is more common than ever. But, as a builder of software, it doesn't matter that almost all of these projects are vibeslop, that other people are out there shoveling out huge piles of crap and calling it gold.
Starlink seems to be working normally again in Ukraine
In Brief Posted: PM PDT · October 24, 2026 : Jagmeet Singh / TechCrunch Anthony Ha Starlink seems to be working normally again in Ukraine SpaceX appears to have lifted restrictions the Ukrainian military’s of use Starshield — the military-grade version of the company’s Starlink internet system. The Wall Street Journal reports that Defense Minister Evgeniy Khmara told reporters that Starshield appears to be working normally again, although the military is still conducting tests and has not received an explanation for the restrictions. This follows a 10-day period where Ukrainian drones would lose internet connectivity when flying at speeds of around 100 miles per hour, resulting in the military losing control of some drones, while others became more vulnerable because they were flying more slowly. President Donald Trump reportedly called SpaceX CEO Elon Musk on Wednesday and asked him to restore Starshield service. Both Trump and Musk have criticized Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky, with Musk recently posting, “Zelensky has gone too far.” The WSJ previously reported that Musk ordered SpaceX to throttle Ukraine’s Starlink access, though some sources claimed he’d discussed it with the Trump administration first. OpenAI’s picks Democrats. Rebecca Bellan 16 hours ago AI Can ‘super intelligence’ and a non-binding safety pact solve AI’s image problem? Anthony Ha Oct 4, 2026 AI Trump unveils his new Super Intelligence Force Anthony Ha Oct 4, 2026 Latest in Government & Policy In Brief Starlink seems to be working normally again in Ukraine Anthony Ha 10 hours ago AI Forced to pick, Grok’s AI model chooses Republicans. OpenAI’s picks Democrats. Rebecca Bellan 16 hours ago Government & Policy Mark Zuckerberg’s creative plan to pay California’s proposed billionaire tax without losing control of Meta Lucas Ropek 2 days ago
Will AI expose the rickety infrastructure of the internet?
A startling announcement went out earlier this week: Due to recently discovered vulnerabilities in the open source programming language PHP, website owners had to immediately patch their sites — or if they couldn’t update right away, they should take the sites down to be safe. One is a bunch of the labs and companies like Google and OpenAI actually had people go out and find a bunch of vulnerabilities, including the one with PHP. And then we also have a bunch of people seeming to rush to take advantage of those vulnerabilities to try and hack into websites. So we have governments taking down websites, we have really popular websites that are going down briefly to be able to fix this vulnerability. This is a real reckoning moment, where we’re going to find out the downside risk of building so much of the internet on open source technology like PHP. When you really get down to the bone level of the internet, it is held together with glue and dreams. Anthony Ha: There’s so many things that were striking about this. One of them is the fact that — as I understand it, at least — this is not a new vulnerability. This is a vulnerability that has existed in PHP for decades. And PHP has been used as a programming language to build so much of the web, so this vulnerability has been there for decades, but no one knew about it. What happened is, essentially, that these big AI companies — including Wiz, now owned by Google — they were able to find these vulnerabilities using LLMs. [As noted above, I got this wrong: Human researchers participating in OpenAI and Wiz’s Hack the Planet initiative found the vulnerabilities, though they used AI to exploit the bug.] I guess part of the calculation is, we need to patch this, because if we can find this vulnerability using LLMs, so can other people. But the only way we can get the patch out there is to announce the vulnerability. And so it creates this very panicked situation where [they say]: “Okay, this vulnerability existed for decades. You have to patch right away, and if you can’t patch it right away, just take your website down. It’s that severe a vulnerability.” Kirsten Korosec: I think that the important thing is, a lot of people don’t even realize that their websites have PHP — which is this, as you mentioned, decades-old open source programming language. For those who don’t know, Hypertext Preprocessor is the official term, [it’s] this really the core ingredient behind content management systems that are used throughout WordPress, Drupal, something like 70% of websites.
Science
View All 10Rosebank: Life on the oil field at the centre of a political storm
When we landed , this oil field was at the centre of a political storm - and set to be in the path of a real one. We arrived on Wednesday morning, just a few hours after the UK government had granted consent for the production of gas from the Jackdaw field in the North Sea. But already attention was shifting to this wild and windy patch of the North Atlantic – the next big decision for Energy Secretary Miatta Fahnbulleh. Rosebank is bigger than Jackdaw, it would generate higher greenhouse gas emissions, and it could be far more lucrative for its owners, Adura and Ithaca. Nicola Boyd loves her job on the Petrojarl Rosebank vessel This summer, along with a camera crew, I travelled to Jackdaw, 150 miles east of Aberdeen. Now we were the first journalists to visit Rosebank. We came here - days before Storm Boelo arrived with strong winds and heavy rain - to scrutinise a controversial project which is at the heart of a national debate about climate change, energy policy and the economy. But we also hoped for a rare glimpse into life offshore. "It's good fun, it's interesting, every day can change," said Nicola Boyd, who runs the helideck, and greeted us as we struggled out of our lifejackets and survival suits. Boyd has worked offshore for nearly a decade, including a year on Rosebank - where she spends two weeks at a time followed ' leave. "It's a job I love," she added. The Petrojarl Rosebank is moored in the North Atlantic waiting to see if production gets the go-ahead from the UK government It's also a job that calls for steady legs and a strong stomach. Unlike the fixed Jackdaw platform, this installation – 80 miles north west of Shetland – is a large ship, a floating production, storage and offloading vessel (FPSO) named the Petrojarl Rosebank. It's been chartered 's owners from Aberdeen-based Altera and, during my 48 hours on board, it was constantly but gently rolling on the North Atlantic swell. Those conditions may be misleading. With the understatement typical of an Orkney islander, lead mechanical technician Ewan Leonard told me the winter weather could be "a bit of a challenge." "Last week we had a 30m heave coming through," he said, referring to the swell, "so we'll probably suffer more of that as the winter goes on." Altera CEO Chris Brett told me that in the industry the environment west of Shetland is considered "as harsh as you get anywhere in the world." Whatever your view on that industry, the sheer scale of what humans have achieved in such conditions is impressive.
From Russian cages to Irish sanctuary: The five-year rescue journey of Bu and Tyapa
Tyapa (left) and Bu (right) were previously kept in small cages in the Republic of Dagestan in Russia After years in cramped cages, two brown bears are adjusting to their new life following a remarkable rescue mission that spanned multiple countries, was disrupted 100 people. For Bu and Tyapa, the five-year rescue journey from the Republic of Dagestan in Russia to the Irish countryside was anything but straightforward. One bear had spent their life forced to perform in a circus, while the other was confined to a cage so small they could not stand upright. Today, the bears are now adjusting to a totally different world among the trees and grass at Wild Ireland, a sanctuary for rescued animals in County Donegal. Tyapa is slowly settling into her new surroundings in Burnfoot, County Donegal Wild Ireland founder Killian McLaughlin first learned about Bu and Tyapa in 2021 and committed to bringing them to safety in Donegal. The sanctuary, located in Burnfoot, opened in October 2019 and provides a safe space for animals, including brown bears, monkeys, wolves, and lynx. Wild Ireland founder Killian McLaughlin says the bears' health improvements since their arrival have been remarkable McLaughlin said the two bears were in extremely poor health when they were first rescued. Former circus bear Bu had spent years confined to a small indoor cage after being forced to perform. McLaughlin said Tyapa had lived in a cage measuring just 2.5m by 2.5m by 2m, which was too low for him to stand upright and had no roof, which left him exposed to the harsh winters and blistering summer heat. The bear had no water dish and relied on a hose for drinking water. McLaughlin said he was being raised to be killed for an eventual taxidermy display. When the bears were rescued, both were severely malnourished and showed signs of psychological trauma. Blood tests also revealed serious kidney problems associated with prolonged dehydration. Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 made the original transport route through Ukraine impossible, said McLaughlin. An alternative route through the Middle East was then explored, but plans were disrupted again in February 2026 when the escalating conflict involving Iran led to airspace closures and flight disruptions across the region. More than 100 people were involved in the rescue operation, including volunteers, lawyers, veterinarians, animal transport specialists, cargo teams and officials in Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Ireland. The bears travelled from Moscow via Abu Dhabi to Dublin, arriving in the Republic of Ireland on In late October 2025, Dima and Yana Kim, who work at Tiger House, a sanctuary near St Petersburg that cares for former circus tigers, embarked on a 36-hour drive to Dagestan to rescue the bears.
This Week In Space podcast: Episode 233 — The Artemis Generation
Amanda Smith-Hackler, the Director of Education for the Universities Space Research Association and Principal Investigator for the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) Scholars and STEM Workforce Development Programs, about the new and exciting opportunities available to young people seeking to enter the space workforce. With the major powers heading to the moon, low-Earth orbit becoming busier than ever, and countless new companies entering the space marketplace, the hiring pipeline is more critical than ever. Download or this show at: https://twit. tv/shows/this-week-in-space. Get episodes ad-free with Club TWiT at https://twit. tv/clubtwit Latest Videos FromSpace View more Watch full video here: Space news of the week Watch NASA's update on accelerating Artemis moon plans today After Starshield interruption, Ukraine wants to build its own satellite communication network with ICEYE and Nokia Van Gogh's 'The Starry Night' depicts the sky on July 22, 1889, researchers find The Air Force Research Laboratory Scholas Program Model Falcon 9! TOP TELESCOPE PICK: ()Looking for a telescope to see planets and comets? We recommend the Celestron Astro Fi 102 as the top pick in our best beginner's telescope guide. Finally, did you know you can launch your own SpaceX rocket? Model rocket maker Estes' stunning scale model of a Falcon 9 rocket that you can pick up now. The launchable model is a detailed recreation of the Falcon 9 and retails for $149.99. You can save 10% -COLLECTSPACE at checkout, courtesy of our partners collectSPACE. com. About This Week In Space This Week in Space covers the new space age. Every Friday we take a deep dive into a fascinating topic. What's happening with the new race to the moon and other planets? When will SpaceX really send people to Mars? Join Rod Pyle and Tariq Malik from Space. com as they tackle those questions and more each week on Friday afternoons. You can subscribe today on your favorite podcatcher. Host of This Week In Space on TWiT Rod Pyle is an author, journalist, television producer and Editor-in-Chief of Ad Astra magazine. He has written 18 books on space history, exploration, and development, including Space 2.0, Innovation the NASA Way, Interplanetary Robots, Blueprint for a Battlestar, Amazing Stories of the Space Age, First On the Moon, and Destination Mars In a previous life, Rod produced numerous documentaries and short films for The History Channel, Discovery Communications, and Disney. He also worked in visual effects on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the Battlestar Galactica reboot, as well as various sci-fi TV pilots.
On this day in space! Oct. 24, 1946: V-2 rocket takes 1st photos of Earth from space
While these grainy, black-and-white images might not look like much today, they were a huge deal at the time, because no one had ever seen Earth from space before. The V-2 rocket launched from the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It carried a 35-millimeter motion picture camera that captured a new frame every second and a half. The rocket soared to an altitude of about 65 miles before falling back to Earth. Both the rocket and the camera were destroyed after crashing into the Earth at a speed of about 340 miles per hour. But the film survived because it was protected inside a steel case. Scientists had to drive out into the New Mexico desert to retrieve the film. When they saw the images for the first time, the scientists were literally jumping up and down with joy. This photo is the first view of Earth from space taken by a camera on a U. Army V-2 rocket launched from White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico on Oct. 24, 1946. (. Army)How it mattered The ability to photograph Earth from space drove both an expanded interest to continue pushing into space and led to unexpected societal changes with regards to how humanity considered its home planet. For military and intelligence agencies, the potential now existed for reconnaissance at a far larger scale than what was possible with high-altitude aircraft. That capability expanded to agriculture and meteorological purposes, eventually making Earth observation one of the most common reasons satellites and space stations are deployed into orbit today. Earth photography from space also gave birth to the environmental movement, as people began to planet differently. The fragility of this orb became more apparent, as now Earth appeared a "blue marble" set against an endless black void. Check out our full On This Day In Space Story archive and watch our On This Day In Space videos on YouTube. On this day in space! Oct. 23, 2007: NASA launches Harmony module to ISS on STS-120 space shuttle mission Contributing expert Hanneke Weitering is a multimedia journalist in the Pacific Northwest reporting on the future of aviation at FutureFlight. aero and Aviation International News and was previously the Editor for Spaceflight and Astronomy news here at Space. com. As an editor with over 10 years of experience in science journalism she has previously written for Scholastic Classroom Magazines, MedPage Today and The Joint Institute for Computational Sciences at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Environment
View All 10For Black voters, climate action means little without relief from rising costs
This story was originally published by Capital B and is reproduced here as part of the Climate Desk collaboration. For Elijah Lee, protecting the environment has always been about what’s happening close to home. He grew up in a predominantly Black, low-income community in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, and went to school next to a paper mill that filled the air with pollution. He always wondered why it seemed like the only employment option for people in town. Now, as data centers expand in Virginia, where he moved as a teenager, he fears the political promises of data center-driven economic growth won’t reach him or his generation. At 18, Lee is preparing to vote in his first midterm election. Climate policy ranks among his top concerns. But he understands why people struggling to pay their bills might not put it first. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How “It’s hard to care about the quality of your air or your food that you eat and whether or not that food is actually clean when you can’t even afford the food in the first place,” he said. New polling suggests that tension is widespread. Black voters may not name climate change as their biggest election concern, but they still want leaders to address it. Read Next Trump ordered to release billions in climate grants meant for Black communities Adam Mahoney, Capital B In a seven-state survey conducted , only 9 percent of Black registered voters ranked climate change among their top three issues motivating them to vote, compared with 74 percent who selected the cost of living. At the same time, most respondents said they wanted climate policy to be a top issue for their elected officials. Even among Black Republicans, 79 percent said it was important for candidates to prioritize addressing climate change. To support our nonprofit environmental journalism, please consider disabling your ad-blocker to allow ads on Grist. Here's How Interviews with voters and advocates suggest the gap is not simply a messaging issue, but also about whether voters connection between environmental policy and their immediate needs. Increasingly, it is also a question if voters should even prioritize climate positions when voting because they cannot trust elected officials to deliver lower bills, cleaner water, and protection from corporate pollution. “Young people today want to ensure we have a future where we can live prosperously,” Lee said. “We understand that the future requires environmental protections.
Yes, There Is Some Global Action on Phasing Out Fossil Fuels
From our collaborating partner Living on Earth, public radio’s environmental news magazine, an interview by Paloma Beltran with Tzeporah Berman, the founder of the Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty Initiative. As the United Nations gears up for the COP31 climate session in mid-November, nearly three decades after the Kyoto Protocol, there’s a newer set of international […]
A Potent Climate Super-Pollutant Is Surging in Beijing
Climate pollutant concentrations in the Beijing region of northern China have plateaued or begun to decline—except for the world’s most potent greenhouse gas, new research concludes. The findings, published in the journal Environmental Science & Technology, suggest a decades-long effort to clean Beijing’s air is beginning to pay off. But while it cites progress, the […]
‘False autumn’: stressed trees drop leaves early after scorching English summer
A birch tree in Wisley garden, Surrey. The white branches would normally be covered in yellow leaves in mid-October. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian View image in fullscreen A birch tree in Wisley garden, Surrey. The white branches would normally be covered in yellow leaves in mid-October. After the hottest summer on record, the tree has dropped its canopy early, stressed from months of high temperatures and choosing to not lose any more water through its leaves. This is also known as a “false autumn”, where the stress of extreme summer conditions prompts trees and plants to behave as if the season has changed. View image in fullscreen Guy Barter, the chief horticulturalist at the RHS, at Wisley garden. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The GuardianThe birch illustrates how extreme weather driven ’s seasons. Thousands of plant varieties at Wisley are still displaying vibrant hues, but the drought-sensitive, yellow-leafed trees such as birches, beeches and sycamores had shed their foliage by mid-October. Normally, autumn’s effect on trees is triggered , dropping night-time temperatures and adequate ground moisture brought on by rain. But severe summer heat and drought has disrupted this usual cycle , resulting in a display that kicked in earlier than expected. The majority of England and Wales remains in drought, and six areas of England were declared in severe drought this month with river and reservoir levels running low. View image in fullscreen Barter beside an oak tree – a species that has fared better than some during the extreme heat owing to its deep roots. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The GuardianUnlike deep-rooted species such as oaks, trees with shallow root systems are unable to tap into deeper groundwater, making them vulnerable to leaf drop when surface soil dries out during a drought. “Birch, beech and sycamore have been among the trees worst affected,” says Barter. “It’s at least as colourful as it is most years, but some of the trees are not giving their best, so it’s not the perfect autumn colour.” The RHS expects an earlier autumn colour peak in drought-hit areas, with intense but potentially fleeting displays. Reds, ambers and purples could stand out as some trees normally prized for yellow foliage lose their leaves. Tim Upson, the director of gardens and horticulture at the RHS, says the colour peak historically comes toward the end of October, but this year’s drought has brought some trees into colour earlier. “Quite often now it’s going into November when you get that crescendo,” he says. “So for me, this is quite unusual.” As Storm Austen blows in, the Met Office has warned of strong winds that could damage buildings and bring down trees.
Weather
View All 8Yellow warning of wind affecting Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian & Borders
This page has an accessible alternative. What do the warning colours mean? Red warning Dangerous weather is expected and, if you have not done so already, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. Amber warning There is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans. This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property. Yellow warning Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations. It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered . Follow alerts in the app UK weather warnings Sun 25 Oct Amber weather warning Mon 26 Oct No warnings Tue 27 Oct Yellow weather warning Wed 28 Oct No warnings Thu 29 Oct No warnings Fri 30 Oct No warnings Sat 31 Oct No warnings We are experiencing issues. These warnings may be out of date. Wind × Close Warning Sat 24 UTC+1 Today The strongest winds from Storm Boelo are expected from Saturday evening, extending eastwards through Sunday. Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users. If you must drive, you can do this more safely ; drive slowly to minimise the impact of wind gusts, be aware of high-sided vehicles/caravans on more exposed roads and be cautious when overtaking, and give cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries, and buses more room than usual. Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees. In advance of high winds, check for loose items outside your home and secure them. Items include: bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences. If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather . Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea. Take care if walking near cliffs; know your route and keep dogs on a lead. In an emergency, and ask for the Coastguard. People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
Amber warning of wind affecting Dumfries, Galloway, Lothian & Borders
This page has an accessible alternative. What do the warning colours mean? Red warning Dangerous weather is expected and, if you have not done so already, you should take action now to keep yourself and others safe from the impact of the severe weather. It is very likely that there will be a risk to life, with substantial disruption to travel, energy supplies and possibly widespread damage to property and infrastructure. Amber warning There is an increased likelihood of impacts from severe weather, which could potentially disrupt your plans. This means there is the possibility of travel delays, road and rail closures, power cuts and the potential risk to life and property. Yellow warning Yellow warnings can be issued for a range of weather situations. It is important to read the content of yellow warnings to determine which weather situation is being covered . Follow alerts in the app UK weather warnings Sun 25 Oct Amber weather warning Mon 26 Oct No warnings Tue 27 Oct Yellow weather warning Wed 28 Oct No warnings Thu 29 Oct No warnings Fri 30 Oct No warnings Sat 31 Oct No warnings We are experiencing issues. These warnings may be out of date. Wind × Close Warning Sat 24 UTC+1 Today The strongest winds from Storm Boelo are expected from Saturday evening, extending eastwards through Sunday. Driving in these conditions can be dangerous, for yourself and other road users. If you must drive, you can do this more safely ; drive slowly to minimise the impact of wind gusts, be aware of high-sided vehicles/caravans on more exposed roads and be cautious when overtaking, and give cyclists, motorcyclists, lorries, and buses more room than usual. Being outside in high winds makes you more vulnerable to injury. Stay indoors as much as possible. If you do go out, try not to walk, or shelter, close to buildings and trees. In advance of high winds, check for loose items outside your home and secure them. Items include: bins, garden furniture, trampolines, tents, sheds, and fences. If you are on the coast, stay safe during stormy weather . Even from the shore large breaking waves can sweep you off your feet and out to sea. Take care if walking near cliffs; know your route and keep dogs on a lead. In an emergency, and ask for the Coastguard. People cope better with power cuts when they have prepared for them in advance. It's easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.
Today: Light Rain Showers, Minimum Temperature: 7°C (44°F) Maximum Temperature: 11°C (53°F)
This video can not be played Today, Storm Boelo will bring very strong and gusty winds for all. Exposed areas could see gale to severe gale force winds. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, these scarcer . Windy with isolated showers for a time tonight. Winds and showers will ease in the early hours as cloud sweeps north-eastwards leaving overcast skies by dawn. Overcast tomorrow with a band of heavy rain sweeping north-eastwards through the first half of the day. Brisk south-westerly winds will follow and isolated showers later on. Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday Windy on Tuesday with scattered, blustery showers some of which locally thundery. Turning less windy on Wednesday but starting the day cloudy with isolated showers. These will clear later on to sunny spells. Mist and fog may linger on Thursday morning with some local drizzle. These warnings are given a colour depending on a combination of both the impact of the weather may have and the likelihood of those impacts occurring. Potential of bad weather situations causing disruption to travel and activities Increased potential of bad weather situations causing disruption to travel, risk to life and property Dangerous weather is expected, take action to keep yourself and others safe Report for Rivington, Lancashire Rivi RogReported , Cheshire East yorkshireTedReported , Manchester Tony LyonsReported , Manchester Shaun FReported by Shaun F
Monday: Heavy Rain, Minimum Temperature: 13°C (55°F) Maximum Temperature: 16°C (61°F)
This video can not be played Today, Storm Boelo will bring very strong and gusty winds for all. Exposed areas could see gale to severe gale force winds. Mostly cloudy with scattered showers, these scarcer . Windy with isolated showers for a time tonight. Winds and showers will ease in the early hours as cloud sweeps north-eastwards leaving overcast skies by dawn. Overcast tomorrow with a band of heavy rain sweeping north-eastwards through the first half of the day. Brisk south-westerly winds will follow and isolated showers later on. Outlook for Tuesday to Thursday Windy on Tuesday with scattered, blustery showers some of which locally thundery. Turning less windy on Wednesday but starting the day cloudy with isolated showers. These will clear later on to sunny spells. Mist and fog may linger on Thursday morning with some local drizzle. These warnings are given a colour depending on a combination of both the impact of the weather may have and the likelihood of those impacts occurring. Potential of bad weather situations causing disruption to travel and activities Increased potential of bad weather situations causing disruption to travel, risk to life and property Dangerous weather is expected, take action to keep yourself and others safe Report for Rivington, Lancashire Rivi RogReported , Cheshire East yorkshireTedReported , Manchester Tony LyonsReported , Manchester Shaun FReported by Shaun F
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