PoliticsBBC politics
“Following years of wrangling and two prime ministers, the UK left the EU in January 2020. Now Prime Minister Andy Burnham is reviving the debate despite his own recent comments on the issue.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham’s decision to reopen the Brexit debate has upended a fragile political consensus and forced every party to pick a side. With prison overcrowding hitting breaking point and Reform UK banking record donations, this week exposes the deep fractures reshaping Britain.
TechBBC technology
“The program examines using satellite computing power to build a virtual data centre in space.”
It also features a Facebook whistleblower discussing social media and AI, plus rotating sails to reduce container ship pollution.
HealthThe Guardian society
“Doctor and author Frank Spinelli believed he had closure after writing a memoir about his childhood abuse.”
But when pandemic lockdowns removed his routine and bred isolation, he began drinking heavily for the first time.
LifeThe Guardian culture
“The opening night in Birmingham featured a massive band to recreate Songs in the Key of Life.”
Wonder played vintage synthesizers, a grand piano, and a modern stringed instrument called a harpejji.
PoliticsBBC politics
“Around 650 more prisoners are due for early release as the prison population reached 97.8% of useable capacity in October.”
Under the scheme, eligible inmates serve a third of their sentence rather than 40% or 50%.
TechThe Guardian science
“A puzzle challenges solvers to determine how many people at a round table are telling the truth about their ages.”
Solutions reveal that among three people, the maximum number telling the truth is two, while the minimum is one.
HealthThe Guardian society
“New research suggests people in their 20s face soaring unemployment, stagnating wages, and ballooning house prices.”
More than 40% of 25-year-olds now live with their parents, the worst start to adulthood in almost half a century.
LifeThe Guardian culture
“The Irish six-piece are touring in support of their third album, Paddywhackery.”
Their energetic live shows feature banjo, tin whistle, and crowd surfing during songs about historical hitmen.
PoliticsThe Guardian law
“Susan Brison was raped and left for dead in rural France in 1990 while she and her husband were assistant professors in the US.”
Her husband, Thomas Trezise, supported her through the aftermath, and they remain together today.
TechThe Guardian science
“Three, seven, or 999 people sit at round tables facing inwards.”
Each claims to be younger than specific neighbors in a puzzle testing who tells the truth.
LifeThe Guardian Life
“Wagstaffe by Elsewhere Pods won the engineering award for an off-grid home set on a 20-degree bushland slope.”
Resonance by Whipsaw took best in class for medical design with a lamp that senses heart rhythm to ease stress.
PoliticsBBC politics
“Despite polls suggesting they would perform worse than in 2024, senior Conservatives are talking about winning outright.”
Leader Kemi Badenoch has seen her approval rating soar, making her one of only two party leaders with a net positive rating.
TechBBC technology
“Shiona McCallum visits the Cairngorms to see how cutting-edge tech monitors wildfire damage and helps landscapes recover.”
Other episodes cover Pokémon turning 30, hunting online fakes and chasing a solar eclipse in Iceland.
LifeThe Guardian food
“This recipe for markana uses hot Turkish pepper paste to add deep heat to cumin-spiced lamb mince.”
Large paccheri pasta holds the filling, finished with garlicky yoghurt and chilli butter enlivened with pul biber and sumac.
PoliticsBBC politics
“Israel banned Green leader Zack Polanski after the party adopted a motion supporting a single democratic Palestinian state.”
The vote has exposed tensions between the party’s internal democracy and its elected politicians.
TechBBC technology
“Tech Life spends the day at the UK’s national supercomputer for a rare tour of one of the country's most powerful machines.”
Scientists explain how access to the computer helps them with their research.
LifeThe Guardian fashion
“A fashion editor chose Sarah Burton’s daffodil mesh dress as the 2025 Dress of the Year.”
The tradition began in 1963 to keep the museum’s permanent collection perpetually current.
PoliticsBBC politics
“Labour insiders say the party is in a much happier place than last year, with no whispers of revolt against the new prime minister.”
Ministers credit the upbeat mood to members simply liking the new leader more than the old one.
TechBBC technology
“Alasdair Keane heads to the Pokémon World Championships in San Francisco as the franchise celebrates its 30th anniversary.”
Other episodes cover wildfire monitoring in Cairngorms National Park and NASA scientists researching a solar eclipse in Iceland.
LifeThe Guardian education
“Purpose-built student accommodation blocks across the UK are running into financial difficulty.”
A cost of living squeeze, higher borrowing costs and falling international student numbers have hit providers hard.
PoliticsBBC politics
“Nigel Farage’s party received a £36m gift, with another donor pledging to match it.”
Meanwhile, figures in Labour and the Conservatives say a clearer gap between the two parties is reasserting itself.
TechBBC technology
“Ammie Sekhon explores technology deployed to identify and remove counterfeit products online in this episode of Tech Now.”
Other segments cover wildfire monitoring in Cairngorms National Park and NASA scientists researching a solar eclipse in Iceland.
LifeThe Guardian education
“A Guardian investigation found thousands of child-on-child sexual offences reported at schools in England and Wales.”
Experts say many more cases go unrecorded because children involved are under the age of criminal responsibility.
PoliticsBBC politics
“Abby Tomlinson created the Milifandom trend in 2015 and now serves as head of content for PM Andy Burnham.”
In his first month, Burnham posted more than 50 times on Instagram while recruiting producers and videographers.
TechBBC technology
“Adrienne Murray follows a team of NASA scientists carrying out research during a rare total solar eclipse in Iceland.”
Andrew Rogers also shares highlights from IFA Berlin, one of the biggest tech shows.
LifeThe Guardian food
“Dante Mayfair has opened inside Claridge’s on Brook Street, with management calling it the living room of Mayfair.”
The venue is run by husband-and-wife team Linden Pride and Nathalie Hudson, replacing previous in-house dining concepts.
PoliticsBBC politics
“After being blocked from standing for parliament, Andy Burnham planned ambitious bids for major sporting events in Manchester.”
Now preparing to become prime minister, he hopes to apply his city's fast-growing economic model nationally.
LifeThe Guardian education
“Sixteen-year-old Patrick McCabe completed his exams over four months using eye-tracking technology at Fallibroome Academy in Macclesfield.”
Born in Switzerland, he has attended local mainstream schools in England since his family moved back when he was six.
PoliticsThe Guardian global-development
“Shazia Khanum rolls up to 500 cigarettes daily for about £1 in a Karnataka workshop with no toilets.”
A new newsletter asks if the Melbourne declaration can help women facing such injustices.
LifeThe Guardian fashion
“Schiaparelli has only 10 points of sale worldwide, but business size has risen from $6m in 2020 to around $100m today.”
Designer Daniel Roseberry showcased new simplicity with stretch cocktail frocks while maintaining the house's surrealist glamour.