lifestyle news

Thousands of homes without power as Storm Austen hits south-west England
lifestyle

Thousands of homes without power as Storm Austen hits south-west England

Dozens of schools in Cornwall also affected by conditions as another storm heads for Scotland, Northern Ireland and the north of England Thousands of homes are without power and schools have been closed as the first named storm of the year hits UK shores. Storm Austen brought severe conditions to parts of the south-west, with a gust of 76mph recorded at St Mary’s Airport on the Isles of Scilly on Friday morning.

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When the economy decides what is on your plate
lifestyle

When the economy decides what is on your plate

By Josephine Agbonkhese THERE was a time when eating healthily was a conversation many Nigerians could relate to. Read Also: Why food prices remain high despite FG’s interventions, ongoing harvest As food prices continue to soar, putting a balanced meal on the table has become a daily struggle for many households, with eggs, milk, fish, meat, chicken, vegetables and even fruits now competing with rent, transport fares, school fees and other household expenses.

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Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels
lifestyle

Children’s and teens roundup – the best new picture books and novels

A sumptuous collection of fairytales; a dreamy Minotaur retelling; the explosive finale of the YA Torch Trilogy and more Dogs, Dogs, Dogs by John Devolle, Pushkin, £12.99 “Old dogs, young dogs, dogs on wheels, dogs that want to eat your meals” – this “very silly book about dogs” is a polychromatic picture-book treat for little canine fans, full of bold graphic artwork and audacious rhymes. by Ged Adamson, Moon and Bird, £12.99 Best friends Squirrel and Mouse are on a blissful walk together, but Squirrel keeps wanting more – a hat, a tie, a boingy stick!

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Add to playlist: the gloriously boisterous grime-metal of Native James and the week’s best new tracks
lifestyle

Add to playlist: the gloriously boisterous grime-metal of Native James and the week’s best new tracks

Filtering alt influences and eskibeats through a distinctly Black British point of view, the Ipswich rapper’s scorched-earth rage sounds like a lot of fun From Ipswich, UK Recommended if you like Linkin Park, Kano, Bob Vylan Up next New single Dumb Bruddah released via SharpTone Records on 30 October “Laaa!” growls Native James on his 2025 track Fallen, stretching a wicked fried scream over more traditionally poppy “la-la-la” chants like a hair-raising metal frontman.

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Puppy love: Finnish 24-hour newborn pup livestream is TV smash hit
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Puppy love: Finnish 24-hour newborn pup livestream is TV smash hit

Show features live chat sessions with breeders, a podcast and updates on dogs’ progress from birth to weigh-ins A 24-hour Finnish TV show dedicated entirely to the live progress of a dog and her six newborn puppies is drawing millions of viewers. As well as a 24-hour webcam, Pentulive (Puppy Live) includes live evening chat sessions with the dogs’ breeder, a podcast and an instant notification service that updates followers on the puppies’ progress – from their birth to weigh-ins and first nail trims – for eight weeks.

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Let’s go nuts in the garden – and the cobnut is a great place to start
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Let’s go nuts in the garden – and the cobnut is a great place to start

It’s high time we rediscovered these delicious nuts, but be warned: like the Victorians, squirrels can’t get enough of them When I think of the crops I’m eager to grow, my mind rarely goes to nuts. It’s the cultivated varieties you want to plant for a decent crop of cobnuts, as wild hazel produces smaller yields.

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Magnitude-7 earthquake hits Tibet, killing at least 16 and destroying hundreds of homes
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Magnitude-7 earthquake hits Tibet, killing at least 16 and destroying hundreds of homes

Search and rescue efforts under way after quake strikes region’s north, with at least seven aftershocks recorded A magnitude-7 earthquake has hit Tibet, killing at least 16 people, injuring 54 and destroying hundreds of homes in the northern regional city of Nagqu, official media have said. Search and rescue efforts continued after at least 339 homes and 20 livestock sheds collapsed, the Nagqu media office said, citing city government officials.

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‘The run ends in the centre of this beautiful village’: readers’ favourite small ski resorts in Europe
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‘The run ends in the centre of this beautiful village’: readers’ favourite small ski resorts in Europe

From cosy Alpine villages to queue-free skiing, you tell us where to head to avoid the crowds • Tell us about a conservation tourism experience – the best tip wins a £200 holiday voucher Bad Gastein is a relatively unknown gem. The Austrian state it sits in, Salzburg, offers free local transport (the guest mobility ticket) if you are staying in the state, so you can travel to the resort via train for nothing.

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‘A form of anti-status status’ – how much would you pay for a plain tote bag?
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‘A form of anti-status status’ – how much would you pay for a plain tote bag?

Phoebe Philo, former Celine designer and quiet luxury pioneer, offers a white canvas shopper, made entirely from cotton except for the silver brass hardware of its internal zipped pocket, for £450. Luxury Swedish brand Toteme’s “effortless tote bag” is made from organic cotton canvas and is available in dark brown, red or classic ecru.

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Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for chocolate and pumpkin spice choux buns
lifestyle

Benjamina Ebuehi’s recipe for chocolate and pumpkin spice choux buns

Whip winter squash puree into a creamy filling and pipe direct into the heart of a cracking seasonal pudding At this time of year, I aim to get as much pumpkin as I can into my meals, including desserts. If I’ve been organised, I’ll roast and puree some from scratch, but I seem always to have at least one tin of pumpkin puree to hand, which I can use quickly in anything from pumpkin pies to cookies and muffins.

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