English novelist, journalist and broadcaster
The new government has announced measures to relieve cost-of living pressures, including energy VAT cuts, bus-fare caps, and business-rate relief for pubs, while warning that relief will require careful budgeting. Ministers are also preparing for the next budget, with a focus on fiscal discipline and potential funding shifts.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has cancelled engagements following the death of his father, Roy Burnham, who had Alzheimer’s. He has thanked political leaders for condolences and says his drive to reform England’s social-care system is rooted in his father’s experience. He is continuing to govern while navigating the personal loss.
Catherine Zeta-Jones has embraced a Welsh accent for a new Prime drama, filmed in Wales and based on The Price You Pay. The series flips the male lead from the original US novel, introducing a Welsh Jackie Price as she confronts hitmen and a high-tech security setup inspired by Tom Jones. Zeta-Jones also serves as an executive producer and has spoken about her roots and fan reception.