Sales of tinned food and bottled water jump after'Be Ready' campaign launch Sales of essential goods such as bottled water and canned food soared in the 10 days following the launch of the government's Be Ready emergency preparedness campaign on 22 October, research indicates. Hand sanitiser sales were up 83%, sales of bottled water rose 67% and tinned and jarred goods climbed 37%, according to data from retail research firm Worldpanel by Numerator. The government's public awareness campaign encouraged people to stock up in case of disruption to essential services by severe weather or cyberattacks. However, Worldpanel said that while households were stockpiling essentials, they were not panic buying. The government campaign encouraged people to keep three days-worth of food and water in their homes.

Say More Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Mashable Selects Trending Now Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Safety Net Mashable @Home In My Bag Versus Creator Playbook Getting Technical with Mashable All Series AI agents may run your household. Some parents are eager for AI agents to reduce their mental load, but the privacy risks are real. Rebecca Ruiz is a Senior Reporter at Mashable. She frequently covers mental health, digital culture, and technology. Her areas of expertise include suicide prevention, screen use and mental health, parenting, youth well-being, and meditation and mindfulness.

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Lawmakers on both sides of the aisle are raking in millions from the AI boom. Get your news from a source that's not owned and controlled by oligarchs. During an October 15 debate debate between Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and her Democratic challenger, Troy Jackson, a curiously apologetic heckler piped up. "Senator Collins, I'm so sorry to interrupt, but I'm terrified," the person shouted. "This is obviously one of Troy's supporters," Collins said.

The Iran War's Impact on Oil Is Hitting Key Senate Races Hard Democrats are using the high price of diesel, heating oil, and fertilizer to tie Republicans to President Donald Trump's unpopular, costly war in Iran. Now in its ninth month, the war in Iran has hit American pockets hard, and it could shift the balance in key midterm races that decide who controls Congress. The serious damage to refineries and other facilities in the Middle East, combined with ongoing uncertainty about whether the Strait of Hormuz will remain open, have kept oil prices inflated. Americans have paid for it: The Center for American Progress estimates that the war has cost each US household at least $1,200. Rising costs are among the reasons the war has been deeply unpopular, and Tuesday's midterms are likely to be a referendum on how the White House has handled the impact.

'Painful' years ahead, think tanks warn, as living standards set to fall People are facing a painful and depressing few years ahead, economic think tanks have warned, after forecasts showed growth in living standards grinding almost to a halt. Typical working-age households would see their disposable income fall by £1,050, or 3%, between now and 2029, according to the Resolution Foundation, while the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said the current decade would be the worst for household income growth on record. Chancellor John Healey said his Budget offered breathing space, but said the government could never remove completely cost of living pressures. The UK's official forecaster said its latest economic forecast painted a pretty grim picture. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), blamed the difficult financial situation facing the UK on higher borrowing costs and inflation caused by the US-Iran war.

Tax on banks, energy bill help and minimum wage rise - what could be in the Budget? Chancellor John Healey will set out Labour's tax and spending plans when he delivers his first Budget at around 12:30 on Wednesday. The speech, which usually lasts about an hour, will be broadcast live on BBC iPlayer and on the BBC News website. He and Prime Minister Andy Burnham are hoping to give households breathing space amid the ongoing high cost of living. But Healey has also refused to rule out some tax increases to potentially pay for support he could distribute elsewhere.

The Dell Laptop Buying Guide UK: Which Dell Laptop Should You Buy? When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. Strong suction, smart features, and a compact auto-empty dock make this vacuum-only robot a compelling alternative to pricier all-in-one cleaners. The Roomba Max 715 Vac delivers capable, largely hands-off cleaning at a reasonable price. It's a solid choice for households that don't need mopping, provided they're willing to tidy up clutter before running it.

From France to India, young people are in the streets over inequality, failing public services and bleak prospects.

A new Institute for Family Studies report shows traditional two-parent families vanishing from large US cities, exposing a 70-point national divide.