The Papers: 'Prepare for the worst' and 'Covid report fallout'

Key developments are emerging from the global stage. 'Prepare for the worst' and 'Covid report fallout'Published23 October 2026, 00:44 BSTUpdated 58 minutes agoSpoiler warning: This review reveals details from the latest episodes of The Celebrity Traitors, series two. Image caption, Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has made headlines in today's papers after launching a national campaign on public preparedness for disruption caused by natural disasters and cyber attacks. The Daily Telegraph reports on Britons being asked to make "Be ready" kits for emergencies, "including three days' worth of non-perishable food and bottled water, an FM radio and blankets".

Image caption, Meanwhile, the Metro warns readers to "prepare for the worst" after websites around the world were taken offline after cyber-security flaws were revealed in a globally-used programming language, PHP. "In the UK, 32 government services were down", the paper reports, before asking the question "are you emergency ready? "Image caption, The Independent leads on Streeting's messaging for Britons to be prepared in case "'state-sponsored terrorism' disrupts everyday life".

The Details

The government's campaign comes as global security flaw knocked dozens of government services offline, the paper says. Image caption, Similarly, the Guardian leads on UK households being urged to stockpile enough food and water to "survive 72 hours in a crisis", the Guardian reports. The new guidance from the government follows concerns on "climate change, technological dependency and hostile state threats", the paper says.

Image caption, Streeting "issues checklist for coping after catastrophe" and to "be prepared with 3 days of supplies", the Times reports. Elsewhere British singer Raye is pictured singing on stage as a "golden wonder" following her Mercury Prize win. Image caption, "Don't Panic!

" the Daily Mail instructs after ministers were "accused of lecturing families" to stockpile "in case of a national emergency". Elsewhere on the page, Catherine, Princess of Wales, is pictured with her son Prince George, who she is said to be missing while he is at Eton. Image caption, Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been heavily criticised after another Covid inquiry over "untested patients being discharged into care homes where tens of thousands of residents died", the Daily Mirror reports.

What Experts Say

"Bereaved families are calling for Hancock to be stripped of his Right Honourable title" following his handling of Covid, the paper says. Image caption, Barclays plans to cut 5,000 jobs as it introduces more artificial intelligence (AI) into its workforce, the Financial Times reports. Support roles are predicted to bear the brunt as "AI makes our people more productive", the bank said, according to the paper.

It comes as chancellor John Healey prepares to deliver his Budget next week that is likely to tax banks. Image caption, A landmark report proposing to create career plans for 14-year-olds and above to help them with their future employment, is the lead of the i Paper.

The story has become one of the most prominent items on the global agenda.