Your Monday Updates

CULTURE: Russell Brand charged with multiple sexual assault allegations.

Russell Brand has been charged with rape and multiple sexual assaults involving four women between 1999 and 2005. The charges come after an investigation launched in 2023 following reports by Channel 4 Dispatches and The Sunday Times. Brand has responded by denying all allegations and expressed gratitude for the chance to defend himself in court. He is set to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on May 2.

FOOD & DRINK: The matcha craze is causing a shortage in Japan.

Matcha is in high demand and Japan can’t keep up. Thanks to TikTok trends and a surge of tourists, shops are selling out fast and wholesalers are struggling to keep up with the craze for matcha lattes and desserts. Even though Japan is producing record amounts, the supply can’t match the booming global appetite for the antioxidant-rich green tea powder. The government is pushing for more production, but with harvests only happening once a year, the shortage isn’t going away any time soon.

TECH: Trump delays US TikTok ban again as talks drag on.

Donald Trump has pushed back the US TikTok ban again, giving ByteDance 75 more days to sell its US operations to a non-Chinese buyer. The delay follows China stalling negotiations in response to Trump’s increased tariffs. Talks are ongoing, but major disagreements remain, and China’s approval is still up in the air. Rumours have been swirling that Amazon and OnlyFans are among the potential buyers, but nothing is confirmed yet.

• What do Duke students have to say about The White Lotus' controversial sixth episode?

• The British Fashion Council has cancelled London Fashion Week’s June edition to focus on Paris instead.

• TikTok is shutting down its Instagram-like Notes app just over a year after its launch.

• Y2K makeup tutorials are back, with pro artists stepping in as people tire of influencers pushing products.

• Bad news for OPI Cajun Shrimp fans, TikTok users say the iconic coral red shade now looks neon pink after a formula change.

Berry blushes are trending this spring, bringing a fresh, rosy glow that's perfect for the season. Here are our top picks:

Every Monday we like to share something that will motivate you and inspire you for the week ahead. Today, it’s all about the power of consistency. It’s not about making big leaps overnight but about showing up and putting in the work day after day. As spring blooms around us, it’s a reminder that growth happens gradually. Whether you’re building a new habit, working towards a goal, or just trying to be a little better than yesterday, keep going. Small, steady steps add up to something amazing.

Pulse: If you love Grey’s Anatomy, Pulse is for you. Set in a Miami trauma centre during a hurricane, it dives into the chaos of doctors juggling high-pressure emergencies, complicated relationships, and career drama. It’s intense, messy, and addictive.

Black Mirror (Season 7): If you’re into tech-driven thrillers that mess with your mind, the new season of Black Mirror is here to deliver. This time, it’s six fresh episodes exploring everything from AI medical systems and digital memory worlds to reality-warping video games and twisted time loops. Dark, unpredictable, and impossible to look away from.