44 minutes ago My daughter will be an only child – and I’m not going to feel guilty about it | Arwa Mahdawi

My wife and I are ‘one and done’ on kids. We’re also ‘one and done’ with unsolicited advice about our decisionFor a few years now, I’ve kept a few vials of a stranger’s sperm on ice. Not just hanging out in my freezer next to the frozen peas, to be clear. They’re in a fancy cryobank and every six months a $285 charge pops up on my credit card statement for the privilege of storing them.I’ve been justifying that hefty price tag as the cost of keeping my options open. My wife and I have a perfect little three-year-old girl and we’ve ummed and ahhed about having another one. (I won’t get into the specifics of assisted reproduction, but if you’re a same-sex female couple, then sperm is kinda key.) We’ve held on to our toddler’s baby things just in case a second one appears: our basement is full of boxes of old toys and clothes. It looks like we’re going to have to clear out and cancel that sperm storage, however – we’ve finally decided that we are firmly in the “one and done” club.Arwa ...

Politics

50 minutes ago Manchester Airport LIVE updates as passengers face 2 HOUR delays due to heavy fog

Airlines have issued warnings to passengers

Society

11 hours ago I have been left in a lifetime of debt after fighting the council to get my son in school... we had to remortgage our home

EXCLUSIVE: Suzanne Hollinshead, 53, from Flitwick, Bedfordshire, had to remortgage her home to help pay off a 'lifetime of debt' from the fight with Central Bedfordshire Council.

Economics

53 minutes ago Netflix fans left 'disappointed' by Squid Game 2 as they brand the long

Fans unanimously branded it 'boring' and 'predictable' - while also lacking its trademark nail-biting plot, and also raised it barely had any new game.

Sport

39 minutes ago What a dog's dinner! Hilarious moment golden retriever steals family's Christmas turkey before woman chases him through field in futile bid to get it back

The footage was filmed on Christman Eve in Armagh, Northern Ireland, when the woman in the video was dropping off presents at her friend's house.

Events

35 minutes ago Michael Bolton shares first family photo following brain cancer diagnosis

The singer, 71, revealed in January that he underwent ‘immediate surgery’ after being diagnosed with a brain tumour

Culture

26 hours ago Schoolgirls falling out on Snapchat, a row over a parking space and a dead cat outside someone's home are all recorded as non

Freedom of information requests showed that other non-hate crime incidents included a rude word spelt with alphabet cups in Tesco and an 'offensive' dog name.

Technology

4 hours ago Coronation Street couple set for uncertain future after testicular cancer diagnosis

Coronation Street icon Kevin Webster is set for a heartbreaking new storyline after it was confirmed he will be diagnosed with cancer in scenes due to air in 2025

Science

44 minutes ago Ruben Amorim urged to skip January transfer window and use Jurgen Klopp plan at Man Utd

Manchester United could only be a couple of signings away from competing at the top of the Premier League again like Jurgen Klopp was at Liverpool, suggests former striker Michael Owen

Politics

1 hour ago Family left incredulous at strangers' response after waiting years for man's home

Gary Crutchley, 46, had part of his skull removed and rebuilt following a stroke in 2020

Society

15 hours ago Family is charged £618 for just two hotdogs at popular Christmas market on festive day out

Laure Brumpton, 34, and her husband Alan, 37, were enjoying a day out at Nottingham 's Christmas markets when they decided to buy their two children a festive hot dog treat.

Economics

60 minutes ago Full round up of the best and worst Wigan Boxing Night fancy dress costumes

From Star Wars and superheroes to groups of pirates or a wide-mouthed frog - Wigan's big Boxing Day fancy dress night out had it all

Sport

39 minutes ago Weather tracker: storm brings well over a metre of snow to peaks in Alps

Several days of snow brought avalanche risk at Christmas, as wintry weather also caused four deaths in IndiaA snowstorm developed across the Alps on Saturday 21 December due to a low-pressure system situated over the Adriatic Sea. This depression allowed relatively warm and moist air to push into the Alps, condensing and falling as snow as it met the much colder alpine air mass. Snowfall continued for several days, allowing some of the peaks to see well over 1 metre of snow, with significant snowfall also seen across many ski villages. Consequently, there was a significant avalanche risk over the Christmas period.Ski resorts in Bulgaria also experienced significant snow starting on Christmas Day, which caused disruption in the mountainous west, where ski resorts had to temporarily shut down due to road closures. Towns such as Troyan, Samokov and Teteven were particularly badly affected with snowdrifts and power failures. Continue reading...

Events

22 hours ago Coleen Rooney reunites with husband Wayne for sweet festive snap with their sons in matching pyjamas as they celebrate Christmas

The I'm A Celebrity star, 38, looked in top spirits as she posed along side her husband Wayne and their four children, Kai, 15, Klay, 11, Kit and Cass.

Culture

62 minutes ago Prince Louis' six words to Kate Middleton at Christmas uncovered by lip reader

Prince Louis was seen turning to his mother Kate Middleton in a sweet moment in a teaser for her annual Christmas carol concert, and a lip reader has now revealed what he said

Politics

1 hour ago Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts unsure ‘how much time’ he’s got left to live

Roberts was told he had ‘hours to live’ before undergoing emergency heart surgery

Society

19 hours ago The 18 best villages to invest in NOW: Prices are low, but not for much longer in these up

The property spotlight is firmly fixed on villages right now, both as desirable locations to live and as possible investment hotspots.

Economics

4 hours ago How BBC's Gavin and Stacey finale teaches streaming services a valuable lesson

On-demand TV may be all the rage but, sometimes, forcing us to wait for a show makes the experience all the more exciting

Sport

44 minutes ago Paw Patrol creator joins team bringing leprechaun folklore to global audience

Keith Chapman has become executive producer at Carlichauns Entertainment ahead of the launch of the CG animated children’s series.

Events

76 minutes ago 'I watched Luke Littler live – there was a sense you were seeing something special'

I took a trip down the capital ahead of Christmas to watch Luke Littler live at the Paddy Power PDC World Darts Championship in his round two clash with Ryan Meikle

Politics

2 hours ago Sydney to Hobart yacht race: LawConnect leads after two deaths in wild weather leave fleet rocked

Supermaxi LawConnect in box seat Friday evening to take line honours for second year runningAs at 5.30pm, 22 yachts from the 104-strong starting fleet had retiredThe Sydney to Hobart yacht race has been left reeling after the deaths of two sailors in wild weather that has forced a fifth of the fleet to retire.Supermaxi LawConnect was in the box seat on Friday evening to take out line honours for a second year running after rival Master Lock Comanche pulled the pin with mainsail damage. Continue reading...

Society

20 hours ago Boxing Day sales 2024 live: Top deals to shop today at H&M, Charlotte Tilbury, Dunelm and more

Retailers like Currys, Ganni and M&S are leading the festive shopping season – these are the best discounts right now

Economics

4 hours ago Transfer news LIVE: Man Utd lay out Rashford demands, Arsenal set for Cunha talks, Liverpool latest

Arsenal and Manchester United are just two of the Premier League clubs who are said to be weighing up their options in the market ahead of the January transfer window

Sport

60 minutes ago EastEnders Cindy's attacker 'exposed' as she fights for her life in hospital

Cindy Beale was brutally attacked and left fighting for her life in a dramatic Christmas Day episode, but now fans think they've worked out who the perpetrator was

Events

1 hour ago Gavin and Stacey breaks its own record with astronomical finale viewing figures

Gavin and Stacey's finale drew in millions of viewers on Christmas Day, eager to see what happened between Nessa and Smithy after being left on a cliffhanger for five years

Politics

2 hours ago Homes Under The Hammer host's stark health update saying 'I don't know how much time I've got left'

A much-loved Homes Under The Hammer presenter has revealed to fans that he's not sure 'how long he has left' as he continues to battle with a serious heart condition

Society

21 hours ago Man City vs Everton LIVE: Result and reaction as City slip again with Pickford saving Haaland penalty

Man City 1-1 Everton: Bernardo Silva gave City the lead but Iliman Ndiaye equalised and Pickford repelled Haaland’s spot-kick to add to City’s woe

Economics

5 hours ago How to watch Arsenal vs Ipswich: TV channel and live stream for Premier League today

The Gunners are aiming to build on a 5-1 win last time out

Sport

2 hours ago Houthis claim missile attack on Tel Aviv after Israel strikes Yemen airport – Middle East crisis live

Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for the overnight firing of a missile at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion airportThe Israeli military demanded that medical staff and patients leave the premises of Kamal Adwan hospital to make room for their forces to storm the facility, Palestinian news agency Wafa reported this morning.Gaza’s health ministry has said the three main hospitals in northern Gaza – of which Kamal Adwan is one – are barely functioning and have been under repeated attack since Israel sent tanks into Beit Lahiya and nearby Beit Hanoun and Jabalia in October.This morning, Israel pushed deeper into the area surrounding Kamal Adwan hospital. Israeli armoured tanks advanced deeper under heavy cover from quadcopter machineguns.Explosive devices had already been planted in the vicinity of the hospital. Four were set off near the northern gate, at the back entrance, causing damage to the compound and sparking fires in some of the buildings around it. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Martin Roberts shares emotional update after being told he had 'two to three hours to live'

Homes Under the Hammer presenter Martin Roberts has shared an emotional update reflecting on being rushed to hospital in 2022 and told he had 'two or three hours to live'

Politics

19 hours ago Iconic 60s child actor who starred in classic family comedy with a twist spotted in rare Los Angeles outing

He played the youngest member of a TV family, complete the well-meaning father, the loving mother, the unsophisticated teen and the live-in relative with weird habits.

Society

22 hours ago Pep Guardiola leaves £145m duo out of Man City squad vs Everton on Boxing Day

Pep Guardiola left an England duo who cost Manchester City a staggering £145m in total out of his squad completely for his struggling side's Boxing Day clash at home to Everton

Economics

15 hours ago Liverpool vs Leicester LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest score and goal updates today

Table-topping Reds close Boxing Day slate against struggling Foxes at Anfield

Sport

2 hours ago Milton Keynes stabbing: All we know after two women 'murdered in horror attack'

Neighbours on Santa Cruz Avenue in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, remain shocked following the Christmas Day attack, whick killed two women and has left two more people seriously hurt

Events

1 hour ago BBC Homes Under the Hammer star Martin Roberts gives worrying update about 'how long he has left' after scare

The BBC star was rushed to hospital earlier this year after suffering from a pericardial effusion

Politics

21 hours ago Trump targets Greenland and Panama as international students urged back to campus before inauguration: Live

Danish defense minister says country will spend $1.5 billion to ensire ‘stronger presence’ in Arctic

Society

25 hours ago Hook, line and whimper! Dog owner is landed with £3,000 bill after pooch swallows fishing hook and line during sea swim

'Greedy little terrier' Pip, 11, was having a paddle on Pakefield Beach in Suffolk when she swallowed the 'snack'.

Economics

17 hours ago Buzzing Brendan Rodgers names 4 Celtic pluses that left him purring as champions get their mojo back in Motherwell stroll

The Irishman watched his team get back to winning ways with a thumping victory over the Steelmen

Sport

3 hours ago 'Vibrant' student, 20, dies of silent killer that can strike anyone regardless of health

Poppy Eagle, 20, died suddenly in August but her family is determined to have her legacy live on by setting up a charity to help prevent other families experience similar heartbreak

Events

2 hours ago World Darts Championship 2025: Schedule, latest results and how to watch as Luke Litter returns

Luke Humphries, Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen in action as tournament resumes at Alexandra Palace

Politics

27 hours ago Mohamed Salah posts Christmas family photo as Liverpool superstar ignores backlash

Mohamed Salah has once again shared a sweet photo of him and his family in matching Christmas pyjamas, ignoring the criticism he receives every year for doing so

Society

26 hours ago Boxing Day sales 2024 live: Top deals to shop today at Lush, Space NK, Next and more

Retailers like Currys, Ganni and M&S are leading the festive shopping season – these are the best discounts right now

Economics

17 hours ago Wolves v Manchester United LIVE: Latest score as Premier League sides locked in stalemate

Hosts Wolves can climb out of the relegation zone with victory over Ruben Amorim’s struggling Manchester United

Sport

3 hours ago Netanyahu warns Yemen airstrikes will continue after WHO chief caught up in airport attack – Middle East crisis live

Head of the World Health Organization, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said he was at Yemen’s international airport when it was hitThe Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen have been attacking commercial shipping in the Red Sea for more than a year to try to enforce a naval blockade on Israel, saying they are acting in solidarity with Palestinians in Israel’s year-long war in Gaza.The strikes on shipping by the Houthis, who have also launched missiles at Israel, have prompted retaliatory strikes by the US and Britain. Here is an extract from our explainer on the group:The Houthis are a Yemeni militia group named after their founder, Hussein Badreddin al-Houthi, and representing the Zaidi branch of Shia Islam.They emerged in the 1980s in opposition to Saudi Arabia’s religious influence in Yemen. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago 'I played The Unknown in the Willy Wonka Experience as a teenager sitting my GCSEs – I made a lot of money from it'

Felicia Dawkins, 17, went viral as The Unknown from the ill-fated Willy's Chocolate Experience in Glasgow that became a viral sensation

Politics

27 hours ago In a Japanese restaurant in west London, this Chinese woman felt truly at home | Xinran

In my younger years I travelled all over China. But on a culinary tour of Bayswater with my son, I tasted belongingIn our end of year series, writers and public figures remember the place or time when they felt most at homeIn 2006, during his gap year before starting university, my son Pan set out to discover a “world beyond books”. After spending four months backpacking through Australia and New Zealand, he shared with me his most profound realisation from his travels: the meaning of home.He told me: “Some people live in luxurious mansions but rarely share dinners or weekends with their families. Others, in crowded cottages, are enveloped daily by the sounds of children playing and the aroma of home-cooked meals. Some reside deep in the mountains, knowing every blade of grass, bird and rabbit, while others traverse busy city districts yet remain strangers to their own neighbours.” His words made me think about the places I have called home.Xinran is founder of the Mothers’ Bridge o...

Society

29 hours ago Boxing Day sales LIVE updates as prices slashed at major UK stores and on Amazon

Our team of money saving, fashion, beauty and shopping experts will bring you the latest updates from the shops

Economics

17 hours ago Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE! Premier League result, match stream and latest updates today

Chelsea miss chance to close the gap to Liverpool to just one point for at least a few hours

Sport

5 hours ago Coronation Street teases David Platt's 'unexpected' downfall as family in chaos after Gail's exit

David's decisions will come back to haunt him in the ITV soap - and there's even mention of David the dog

Events

3 hours ago Gabby Logan branded 'weird' by husband after tearful moment as daughter shares concerns

Gabby Logan has spoken out about her "sadness" in having an "empty nest" after daughter Lois went to university and son Reuben left home to become a professional rugby player.

Politics

34 hours ago My wife went to the doctor for a simple cough only to be told she had just 18 months to live. She's suffering from a rare and incurable form of cancer

EXCLUSIVE: This time last year, Tim Davies had never heard of Mesothelioma - a rare and incurable form of cancer that affects the lining of the lungs.

Society

35 hours ago The M&S Boxing Day sale is live, here are the best deals on clothing and more

Deals to Spark joy

Economics

17 hours ago Netflix Squid Game fans 'hate' season 2 ending as they brand it 'worst' episode

Squid Game season two is now ready to binge-watch on Netflix but the cliffhanger finale has left some viewers feeling frustrated.

Sport

12 hours ago Davina McCall shocks The Masked Singer viewers as she is unmasked as Star on the Christmas Special after having brain surgery

Davina McCall has left The Masked Singer fans completely shocked as she is unmasked as Star on the Christmas Special episode on Thursday after having brain surgery.

Events

3 hours ago Ruth Jones explains meaning behind Gavin and Stacey children's names and sinister surnames

Gavin and Stacey's Ruth Jones has opened up about the meaning behind the names of the couple's three children and the dark inspiration behind the surnames on the show

Politics

35 hours ago John Lewis’ Boxing Day 2024 sale is live, here are the best offers on homeware and more

Bring in the New Year with brilliant bargains from everyone’s favourite one-stop-shop

Society

18 hours ago Wolves vs Manchester United LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest score and goal updates today

Ruben Amorim’s side desperately need victory after Bournemouth defeat

Sport

12 hours ago Davina McCall shocks The Masked Singer panel as she's unmasked weeks after brain surgery

Davina McCall left the Masked Singer panel stunned with her performance as 'Star' in the 2024 Christmas special. The reveal came shortly after she shared a personal update about her recovery from brain surgery while getting her first haircut since the procedure.

Events

3 hours ago Family ridicules mum's baby name choice, sparking online support for 'Melanie'

A pregnant woman has been left upset after her family mocked the name she has chosen for her baby daughter - but others have rushed to reassure her that it's a 'lovely' choice

Politics

18 hours ago Netflix Squid Game leaves fans thinking they're 'hallucinating' after Season 2 twist

Squid Game season two has finally landed on Netflix, with fans of the show already blown away by an 'insane' twist at the end of episode three that has left them 'hallucinating'.

Sport

13 hours ago Davina McCall shocks The Masked Singer panel as she is unmasked as Star on the Christmas Special after having brain surgery

Davina McCall has left The Masked Singer fans completely shocked as she is unmasked as Star on the Christmas Special episode on Thursday after having brain surgery.

Events

3 hours ago The celebrity couples who spent Christmas together despite splitting up

Christmas is a time for family, and that goes for former couples who put aside their differences to spend the festive season together for the sake of their children

Politics

18 hours ago Netflix's Squid Game season 2 shocks fans with 'insane' twist 'nobody ever saw coming'

Squid Game fans have been left reeling after that major twist at the end of episode three of the Netflix hit's latest season

Sport

14 hours ago Teenage boy, 17, fled home screaming 'he's stabbed me' after double murder in Christmas Day stabbing that also left a dog dead

Neighbours said the 17-year-old, who has not been named, suffered wounds to his head and chest in the attack in which the women, aged 38 and 24 also died.

Events

4 hours ago Kate Middleton's 'awful' gift from Prince William that he'll never live down

Princess Kate was left utterly baffled after unwrapping a gift from Prince William in the early days of their courtship, and he's admitted that she will 'never let him forget' it

Politics

19 hours ago Chris Kamara makes emotional TV return as he reunites with Jeff Stelling for Boxing Day football

Chris Kamara made an emotional return to live football commentary on Boxing Day, two years on since his speech apraxia diagnosis.

Sport

14 hours ago Elderly TV star, 80, left with black eye injury on Christmas Day after horror fall

Talk show panel host Derryn Hinch, who helmed the show Beauty and the Beast in the 1980s, suffered a horror fall just before Christmas - leaving him battered and bruised

Events

4 hours ago 'I starred in Squid Game – one aspect of filming was chilling for everyone'

Squid Game: The Challenge contestant Mikie Bowe has opened up about his experience on the game show, revealing it was 'serious' and 'intense' but dismissed accusations it was fixed

Politics

19 hours ago Netflix's Squid Game fans think they're 'hallucinating' after insane twist 'no one saw coming'

Netflix's Squid Game has finally returned for season two and fans were left gobsmacked by the end of episode three after a huge twist was unveiled

Sport

14 hours ago EastEnders confirms when Cindy Beale's attacker will be revealed after brutal attack

EastEnders has confirmed when fans can expect to find out the identity of Cindy Beale's attacker after the character was left fighting for her life on Christmas Day

Events

5 hours ago Willy’s Chocolate Experience: The Unknown teenager remembers 'crazy' Wonka event

Felicia Dawkins captivated the internet as Willy Wonka’s masked rival

Politics

19 hours ago Squid Game season 2 ending sparks outrage as Netflix fans brand it 'worst' episode

Netflix's Squid Game returned for its second season earlier this week but the final episode of the South Korean drama has left fans feeling disappointed.

Sport

14 hours ago Cartels using 'animals and poor people' to test deadly new Fentanyl before flooding market

Mexican drug cartels are luring homeless people into becoming test subjects, offering only $30, to trial new formulations of fentanyl in a bid to dominate the fentanyl drug trade

Events

5 hours ago Eight highlights (and lowlights) about our relationship with animals from 2024

Considerable progress on animal welfare was made in 2024 but there is still much to do

Politics

19 hours ago Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim leaves out Marcus Rashford for fourth consecutive game

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has left out England international Marcus Rashford for the fourth consecutive game with the Red Devils set to take on Wolves on Boxing Day

Sport

15 hours ago 'I wanted to rescue a dog nobody else wanted, then he ended up rescuing me'

Floki, a large Presa Canario and Dutch Shepherd mix, had spent eight months in kennels

Events

5 hours ago Willy Wonka Experience teenager speaks of 'crazy' viral fame during exams

The Willy Wonka Experience has inspired a musical, club nights and an ice dance routine

Politics

19 hours ago Nottingham Forest vs Tottenham LIVE! Premier League match stream, latest score and updates today

Spurs face difficult meeting with former manager Nuno Espirito Santo

Sport

16 hours ago Five things Ruben Amorim learned as Man Utd slump to disastrous defeat to Wolves

Manchester United produced arguably their worst performance of the season as Ruben Amorim's side fell 2-0 to Wolves at Molineux in embarrassing fashion

Events

5 hours ago Toilet seat and burial plot: 21% of Britons given unwanted Christmas gifts, Which? finds

Secondhand tumble dryer and roast beef for vegetarian also in ‘worst present ever received’ pollA burial plot and a toilet seat top the list of the nation’s all-time worst Christmas gifts, according to research that suggests one in five Britons receive an unwanted present in their annual haul.More than 2,000 members of the public were polled by Which? about what they were given at Christmas last year, with 21% saying they had received an unwanted or unsuitable gift. Continue reading...

Politics

20 hours ago Am I too drunk, do I have rabies, and a human bit me: The bizarre questions to NHS at Christmas and Boxing Day

Information on alcohol consumption, rabies, and bites – both animal and human – were among the top of the list for NHS advice being sought on Christmas and Boxing Day last year

Sport

17 hours ago Dramatic moment armed vigilante is arrested at Phoenix Airport after shooting that left several injured

An armed vigilante was arrested at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport following a Christmas shooting that left three people injured.

Events

6 hours ago Best of 2024: ‘If there’s nowhere else to go, this is where they come’: how Britain’s libraries provide much more than books – podcast

Every Monday and Friday for the rest of December we will publish some of our favourite audio long reads of 2023, in case you missed them, with an introduction from the editorial team to explain why we’ve chosen it.From July: In 2024, libraries are unofficial creches, homeless shelters, language schools and asylum support providers – filling the gaps left by a state that has reneged on its responsibilities. By Aida Edemariam Continue reading...

Politics

20 hours ago Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE: Premier League latest goals and updates as Cole Palmer scores brilliant opener

The Blues welcome Fulham for a west London derby as they look to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table

Sport

17 hours ago Two women and dog are killed in Christmas Day stabbing that also sees man and teenage boy seriously injured as police grill double murder suspect

Police rushed to the block of apartments in Santa Cruz Avenue, in Bletchley, Milton Keynes, just after 6.30pm following reports of a stabbing on Christmas Day.

Events