6 h. ago MLB star Mike Trout testifies in lawsuit over overdose death of teammate Tyler Skaggs

Angels star addresses friendship with Tyler SkaggsFamily suing team for $118m over death of pitcherLos Angeles Angels star Mike Trout testified Tuesday that he loved his teammate Tyler Skaggs like a brother and did not see any signs of drug use before the pitcher died of an overdose in 2019.Trout, one of the greatest baseball players of his generation, took the stand in a civil trial in California over whether the Angels should be held responsible for their former communications director, Eric Kay, giving Skaggs a fentanyl-laced pill that led to his death. Continue reading...

Events

11 h. ago 10 best card games in 2025, tried and tested for kids and adults

From updated classics to new favourites, these games will go down a treat

Politics

37 h. ago These are the best Halloween costumes for kids and adults from Amazon

Check out the top Halloween costumes for kids and adults available on Amazon

Politics

2 d. ago Should friendship really be a ‘one strike and you’re out’ deal?

The idea of ditching friends if they err has become more and more popular in the last few years. But it’s important to recognise our own failings ...There aren’t many experiences in life that feel the same at six as they do at 60. Where, even if you’ve advanced in wisdom as well as age and can intellectualise the circumstances and better disguise your pain, the raw emotion is identical. However, being left out by your friends hurts just as much when you’re an adult as it did when you were a kid in the playground.An old lady – her words – Mumsnet message board contributor posted an impassioned plea for advice this week, after her girl squad – not her words – began chatting about the theatre season tickets they had bought. This was the first she’d heard of it. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Best home security system 2025: Top UK house alarms tried and tested by experts

These are the best smart UK home security systems I’ve tested for keeping your house safe, from wireless alarms to video doorbells and security cameras that work seamlessly with your smart home technology.

Events

3 d. ago Chemical linked to low sperm count, obesity and cancer found in dummies, tests find

BPA, a synthetic chemical used in production of plastics, found in baby products made by three big European brandsA chemical linked to impaired sexual development, obesity and cancer has been found in baby dummies manufactured by three big European brands.Dummies made by the Dutch multinational Philips, the Swiss oral health specialists Curaprox and the French toy brand Sophie la Girafe were found to contain bisphenol A (BPA), according to laboratory testing by dTest, a Czech consumer organisation. Philips said they had carried out subsequent testing and found no BPA, while Sophie la Girafe said the amount found was insignificant. Continue reading...

Science

5 d. ago Launch of veteran card will be used to test UK government’s digital ID scheme

Ministers hope scheme for 1.8 million people will show how technology works and ease privacy and security concernsFormer military personnel will be used to test and refine the government’s divisive digital ID scheme from Friday, when ministers make a smartphone-based veteran card available to 1.8 million people.The proof of service, which in its current physical version gives access to charities, retail discounts and certain public services, will be the first of a series of official credentials the government wants to let people carry in a government app. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Johnson condemns leaked Young Republicans group chat messages as Senate fails to pass funding bill for tenth time – live

House speaker says he didn’t know the Young Republicans chat members as Senate rejects House-passed funding bill 51-45 as shutdown reaches 16th dayUS government shutdown stretches as progressives reject Republicans’ healthcare promisesVance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’A reminder that my colleagues are covering the latest developments out of the Middle East, as Israel and Hamas continue to carry out various aspects of the US brokered ceasefire deal.This includes the news today that Israel returned the bodies of 30 Palestinians to Gaza, bringing the total number handed over to 120, according the Gaza health ministry and Nasser hospital in Khan Younis. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Johnson condemns leaked Young Republicans group chat messages and says Schumer declined vote on healthcare subsidies – live

House speaker says he didn’t know the Young Republicans chat members and continues to shirk blame for the US government shutdownUS government shutdown stretches as progressives reject Republicans’ healthcare promisesVance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’Mike Johnson said that he spoke with John Thune, the Senate’s top Republican, on Wednesday.“He offered to Chuck Schumer a vote on Obamacare subsidies, and Schumer said no,” Johnson revealed, saying that Schumer wanted “a guaranteed outcome”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago 10 best sandwich toasters in 2025, tried and tested for making toasties

Perfect everything from the ultimate toasties and paninis to waffles

Politics

5 d. ago ‘Chuck was breaking beer bottles over his own head’: thrash metal legends Testament on 40 years of mayhem

After their lead singer shed his glam rock spandex, the band became rivals to thrash’s Big Four. Still releasing potent high-octane riffage, they retread their path through cancer scares and jazz detoursIn the Bay Area of mid-1980s California, a heavy metal scene was forming that was angrier, louder and much, much faster than anything that came before: thrash. Progenitors Metallica are the most well-known of its alumni, but this corner of the West Coast spawned dozens of other brilliant bands seemingly unbounded by tempo, or sometimes even melody.With their blistering, high-octane riffing and superb technical chops, one of the most formidable and resilient is Testament. Despite having enough lineup changes to rival the Fall, cancer scares and the 1990s grunge takeover that edged out cut-off denim for plaid shirts, Testament are still selling out tours, gnashing at the heels of the commercially dominating Big Four metal bands – Metallica, Slayer, Megadeth and Anthrax – and releasing ...

Politics

6 d. ago JD Vance brushes off racist texts by adults in Republican group chat as ‘what kids do’

Vice-president downplays messages such as ‘I love Hitler’ in chat by 24 to 35-year-olds to ‘stupid jokes’JD Vance sought to downplay the revelation that leaders of a group called the Young Republicans exchanged hundreds of racist, sexist text messages – including one in which rape was called “epic”, and another in which someone wrote “I love Hitler” – as youthful indiscretions.Vance, speaking on a new episode of the Charlie Kirk Show, the podcast run by colleagues of the late conservative activist, suggested that the participants in the leaked chats were much younger than they in fact are. Some of the participants are barely younger than the 41-year-old vice-president. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago DNA test confirmed alleged stalker was not Madeleine McCann, court hears

Investigating officer says he went against procedure to test Julia Wandelt, accused of campaign of harassment against McCann familyAn alleged stalker’s claim to be Madeleine McCann was ruled out after a DNA test proved conclusively she was not the missing girl, police have revealed in court.Julia Wandelt, 24, is accused of a campaign of harassment against the family of Madeleine, who went missing from Praia da Luz in Portugal in 2007 at the age of three. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago ChatGPT ‘upgrade’ giving more harmful answers than previously, tests find

Campaigners ‘deeply concerned’ about response to prompts about suicide, self-harm and eating disordersThe latest version of ChatGPT has produced more harmful answers to some prompts than an earlier iteration of the AI chatbot, in particular when asked about suicide, self-harm and eating disorders, digital campaigners have said.Launched in August, GPT-5 was billed by the San Francisco start-up as advancing the “frontier of AI safety”. But when researchers fed the same 120 prompts into the latest model and its predecessor, GPT-4o, the newer version gave harmful responses 63 times compared with 52 for the old model.In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on freephone 116 123, or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In the US, you can call or text the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at befrienders.org Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago 9 best kids bunk beds in 2025, tried and tested for comfort and storage

Save space while still giving kids a place to play and rest

Politics

7 d. ago 9 best walking poles for 2025, tried and tested for all terrains

Whether you’re a hardcore hiker or a countryside rambler, these walking poles will see you right

Politics

7 d. ago 7 best coat stands and racks 2025, tested by an interiors editor

From traditional designs to modern takes on the classic, clothes racks are back in vogue

Politics

7 d. ago Opinion | Five Adults. Two Kids. One London Townhouse. Is This How We Should Raise Children?

Opinion | Five Adults. Two Kids. One London Townhouse. Is This How We Should Raise Children?  The New York Times

Society

8 d. ago ‘Not difficult’: Wane explains omission of Jake Connor from England Ashes squad

Leeds half-back won the 2025 Man of Steel awardFirst Test against Australia at Wembley on 25 OctoberThe England head coach, Shaun Wane, has said the decision to leave Super League’s Man of Steel, Jake Connor, out of his squad for the Ashes was “not really difficult”. He added that he does not understand the obsession surrounding the exile of the Leeds Rhinos half-back.Connor is by far the most notable omission from the 24-man squad to take on Australia in the first Ashes series since 2003. It begins on 25 October at Wembley, with Tests at Everton and Headingley to follow on successive Saturdays. There are a number of surprise inclusions, including a returnfor Hull KR’s Joe Burgess after his two-try performance in the Super League Grand Final on Saturday. The winger has been out of the national side for a decade. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago 20 best stocking fillers for Christmas 2025, tested and approved by kids

From Bluetooth speakers to slime, these are the presents to get Santa some serious brownie points

Politics