Pulse Weekly
Stories that matter, told well

Independent bookshops are returning to high streets, driven by readers who want recommendations from real people and a place to linger. Owners say events and community matter as much as sales: reading groups, children's story hours and evenings with local authors. For many shoppers, a bookshop has become the town's living room.

On rooftops and in disused car parks, residents are growing herbs, vegetables and flowers, and discovering neighbours along the way. Organisers say the gardens reduce food miles, cool the surrounding streets and give young people a first taste of growing their own meals. Waiting lists for plots now stretch to several months.

From a tender coming-of-age story to a sweeping historical drama, this season's releases reward patient viewers. Our critics picked the titles that linger in the memory after the credits roll, including two debut features and a documentary shot over a decade. Read on for a spoiler-free guide to each recommendation.

A year after the first electric buses joined the city fleet, operators report lower running costs and noticeably quieter streets. Passengers praise the smooth ride, though some routes still wait for charging infrastructure to catch up with demand. Officials say the programme will double in size by next year.

Every morning before sunrise, she walks the market and plans the day's menu around whatever looks best. Her small restaurant seats only twenty, yet bookings fill weeks in advance. The secret, she says, is respect for ingredients and a refusal to over-complicate. We spent a day in her kitchen to see how a simple idea became a neighbourhood favourite.