37 minutes ago Michael Owen says just one club can stop Liverpool winning Premier League title

Michael Owen has given his verdict on the Premier League title race after Liverpool's 3-1 win over Leicester on Boxing Day, with the Reds currently seven points clear at the top

Politics

5 hours ago 'Say it's carol singers': Love Actually mews house listed to rent for £15,200 a month

The house is on St Luke’s Mews, where Mark (Andrew Lincoln) makes his famous declaration of love to Juliet (Keira Knightley) in Richard Curtis’ film

Society

8 hours ago Coronation Street icon Kevin Webster is set to battle cancer in harrowing new storyline as his wife Abi struggles with her own ordeal

Michael Le Vell, 60, who plays the mechanic in the ITV soap, has starred as a main character on the Cobbles for 41 years, but his character will soon face his toughest battle yet.

Economics

14 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

46 minutes ago Emmerdale revenge twist 'sealed' as Will Taylor's real killer 'exposed'

Emmerdale viewers saw Dawn Taylor and her husband Billy Fletcher believe they had rumbled the truth about her father Will Taylor's sudden death at Christmas on the ITV soap

Events

5 hours ago Our readers on their pick of 2024’s best films, music, TV shows and podcasts

From sci-fi epics to investigate deep-dives, the Guide readers have their say on the year’s finest cultureWelcome to the last Guide of 2024! I hope you all are enjoying your festive break, and have a better handle on which day it is than I do. As is tradition, after our own roundup of the year’s best culture, we are turning things over to you this week. Here are the films, TV shows, music, performances, and podcasts that wowed you in 2024.Thanks to everyone who sent in suggestions and sorry if we weren’t able to include yours. Enjoy the rest of your Christmas break, and see you on the other side of the new year, for our 2025 preview next Friday! Continue reading...

Culture

20 hours ago Coronation Street 2025: Unexpected exits, big returns, new family and Kevin's cancer diagnosis

Coronation Street is lining up some major storylines for the next year, with the ITV soap's new boss Kate Brooks detailing a cancer plot, a stabbing storyline, a new family and some big returns

Science

3 hours ago Severe weather threatens US flights during one of busiest travel weekends

Nearly 900 flights have been cancelled already as tornado watches are issued in Texas and LouisianaAs the US braces for one of its busiest travel weekends of the year, the threat of severe weather has already led to hundreds of flight cancellations.Tornado watches were issued in the southern states of Texas and Louisiana on Thursday, CNN reported. In Texas, the Federal Aviation Administration ordered ground stops at two airports, CBS reported. Governor Greg Abbott of Texas activated emergency response resources in the state on Thursday. Continue reading...

Transport

58 minutes ago All the places the Gavin & Stacey cast were spotted dining at while filming in Barry

Not only did the Gavin & Stacey cast film in and around Barry Island, they also visited a lot of local businesses

Politics

7 hours ago ‘It’s not just a dancefloor’: the precipitous decline of UK nightclubs

A cocktail of Covid-19 and the cost-of-living crisis has left larger ‘chrome and carpet’ venues high and dry as struggling chains look to party bars‘A taste of Ibiza in grotty King’s Cross’: memories of closed UK nightclubsWhen the patrons of Watford’s Pryzm nightclub celebrated New Year’s Eve on 31 December 2023, they were marking the end of an era, or rather, the end of seven eras. Like every beloved local club, the venue had been known by multiple names over the years: Top Rank, Bailey’s, Paradise Lost, Kudos, Destiny and Oceana.Now, it will be reincarnated no more, after failing to reach a deal with its landlord. Continue reading...

Society

27 hours ago Flossing, saving money and eating more donuts: new year resolutions that actually stuck

What separates a good resolution from a bad one? Guardian readers agree: it has to be something you care aboutFor some, new year resolutions are an opportunity to grow. For others, they’re a pointless exercise in self-flagellation.That might be because they’re hard to keep up. In the US, 44% of new year resolutions last two to three months; only 6% last a year. In the UK, 17% of people give up on their resolution within a month. Continue reading...

Economics

15 hours ago UFC, boxing and golf: what is Donald Trump’s relationship with sport? – podcast

The US president-elect’s ties with the Ultimate Fighting Championship and boxing, as well as World Wrestling Entertainment, might tell us about the kinds of sport he appreciates. But then there’s golf As the US prepares to host the World Cup and the Olympics during Trump’s presidency, Jonathan Freedland and Karim Zidan walk through his history with sport to see if it explains more about himArchive: BBC, WWE, Fox 9 Minneapolis, NBC 10 Philadelphia, PBS Newshour, TMZ, MSNBC Continue reading...

Sport

53 minutes ago US saw dramatic rise in homelessness at start of 2024, housing agency says

US Department of Housing and Urban Development reports largest increase among families with childrenThe US saw a dramatic rise in homelessness at the start of 2024, counting 18% more unhoused people during its annual tally in January than the year before, the US Department of Housing and Urban Development (Hud) reported on Friday.Cities reported counting a total of 771,480 unhoused people in January, a number that is larger than the population of Seattle. Representing 23 out of every 10,000 Americans, the number is the highest ever recorded during the tally. Still, experts consider the number an undercount, since it reflects one point in time and misses many people staying with friends or family. Continue reading...

Events

6 hours ago ITV Vera season 14 release date, cast and plot as Brenda Blethyn's final series nears

Vera season 14 has been confirmed to be the final outing so here's everything there is to know about the end of the ITV detective drama.

Culture

20 hours ago Bird flu virus shows mutations in first severe human infection in US, CDC says

Mutations are rare but have been reported in some cases in other countries and most often in extreme infectionsThe US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Thursday its analysis of samples from the first severe case of bird flu in the country last week showed mutations not seen in samples from an infected backyard flock on the patient’s property.The CDC said the patient’s sample showed mutations in the hemagglutinin (HA) gene, the part of the virus that plays a key role in it attaching to host cells. Continue reading...

Science

1 hour ago Maga v Musk: Trump camp divided in bitter fight over immigration policy

Feud flared up when president-elect chose Sriram Krishnan, an Indian-born entrepreneur, as his AI adviserBitter in-fighting has broken out between tech billionaire Elon Musk and Donald Trump’s hardline Make America great again (Maga) base after the US president-elect chose an Indian-born entrepreneur to be his adviser on artificial intelligence.The row has pitted Musk and his fellow entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy against die-hard supporters including the far-right activist Laura Loomer and Matt Gaetz, the former congress member and abortive nominee for attorney general. The spat threatens to open up a chasm among Trump’s supporters over immigration, a key issue in his election victory. Continue reading...

Politics

8 hours ago TikTok lawyer is reprimanded for filming himself sitting in judge's chair for social media video

Criminal defence specialist Mohammed Zeb, 48, was reprimanded by regulators after he filmed himself sitting in the judge's chair to perform a skit for his 3,500 followers on TikTok.

Society

28 hours ago Bingo caller dubbed 'lucky charm' after drawing three £50k wins – and now she's in demand

Caller, Kat Anderson was standing in for a sick colleague when she drew her third £50k win in 19 months - now Mecca Bingo lovers only want to play when she's on shift

Economics

26 hours ago Enzo Maresca admits Chelsea taught a lesson after Fulham fight back for late win

Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz struck late on to give Fulham their first derby win at Stamford Bridge in 45 years.

Sport

1 hour ago Death in Paradise's Kris Marshall addresses show cancellation as he admits 'was a first'

Kris Marshall, who is best known for his role as DI Humphrey Goodman in BBC's Death in Paradise, has opened up about his experience of working on ITV's Sanditon

Events

8 hours ago Mission Impossible films 'get a HUGE update as Tom Cruise begins work on the next two movies in the iconic series'

The Hollywood legend, 62, could be on the hunt to find the perfect fit to play younger Ethan Hunt in the epic action franchise - in a bit to unveil more of the protagonists' past.

Culture

21 hours ago ITV The Masked Singer's Jennifer Saunders 'wanted to cry' after breast cancer diagnosis

The Masked Singer guest judge Jennifer Saunders shared more than a decade ago that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer after going to a mammogram appointment

Science

2 hours ago Wham!’s Last Christmas remains top of UK singles chart for another week

Duo’s festive record made history when it became Christmas No 1 two years in a rowWham! have continued their belated festive domination after Last Christmas remained top of the singles chart, a week after being crowned 2024’s Christmas No 1.The pop duo of George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley made history last week after their 1984 single Last Christmas became the first UK Christmas No1 to top the chart for two years in a row. Continue reading...

Politics

8 hours ago My family call it Old Lady Clubbing, but my giddy ‘nights out’ have lit up a dismal 2024 | Gaby Hinsliff

Dance till you drop, then home by 10pm – daytime events offer a glorious escape for those of us bogged down by responsibilityLast Saturday night, I went clubbing with friends. Once upon a time, this wouldn’t have been a remotely odd sentence to type, because it was what I did pretty much every weekend. But a lot has changed since then – let’s just say that in my peak raving years there was a Labour government in power, only it was actually popular – and like most people whose happy place was once on the dancefloor, inevitably with time comes the feeling that you no longer belong. Deep down, you still come to life when the bassline kicks in. But you morph from hardened raver to the kind of person who’s always up for dancing at parties and weddings, and then finally into the kind of person whose friends aren’t getting married any more and who spends their Saturday nights giving their children lifts to parties. So eventually you tell yourself sadly that those days are over now, and tha...

Society

30 hours ago Man City's winless run extended as Erling Haaland pays the penalty against Everton

MANCHESTER CITY 1-1 EVERTON: Bernardo Silva put the hosts ahead before they were pegged back by Iliman Ndiaye with Erling Haaland missing a golden opportunity to win the game from the penalty spot

Economics

30 hours ago Chelsea v Fulham, Newcastle v Aston Villa and more: football clockwatch – live

Live scores | Tables | FixturesGet in touch! You can email Luke hereSavinho has just committed a hilarious mis-kick for City against Everton when apparently attempting a cross. That’s all you need to know.Sporting have appointed Rui Borges as head coach, after the Portuguese champions sacked Joao Pereira on Boxing Day. The new head coach has signed a contract until June 2026, with an option to extend a further year. Continue reading...

Sport

2 hours ago Luke Littler sends classy Damon Heta message after missing out on World Darts Championship bonus

The Nuke missed out on the Paddy Power £60,000 bonus for a nine-dart finish in his second round win against Ryan Meikle at Alexandra Palace on Friday afternoon

Events

9 hours ago Beyond Paradise star reveals real filming location for show – and it's not always Devon

Beyond Paradise is back on our screens for a Christmas special - however, BBC One star Kris Marshall has dished all on the detective drama's real filming locations

Culture

25 hours ago ITV Coronation Street's Sue Nicholls diagnosed with 'dangerous cancer' after fan spotted sign

Coronation Street star Sue Nicholls - who has played Audrey Roberts for decades - was once contacted by a viewer who had spotted a suspiciously shaped mole on her shoulder

Science

4 hours ago Sir Gino’s scintillating debut puts chaser bang on track for Cheltenham festival

Unbeaten runner imperious in defeat of BallyburnVal Dancer grabs the glory in Welsh Grand NationalWhat looked likely to be a duel in the fog turned into more of a rout in the gloom at Kempton on Friday, as Nicky Henderson’s Sir Gino made one of the more memorable debuts over fences in recent years, and established a strong claim to be the best two-mile novice chaser in Britain or Ireland.Ballyburn, a Grade One winner over hurdles at Cheltenham in March, simply could not live with the speed and accuracy of Sir Gino’s jumping in the Wayward Lad Novices’ Chase, a race that has been won by an extensive list of future two-mile champions from the Nicky Henderson yard over the years. Remittance Man, Sprinter Sacre, Altior and Shishkin are all on the roll of honour, and Sir Gino, who is now odds-on with most bookmakers for the Arkle Trophy at next year’s festival, could yet prove to be as good as any of his illustrious predecessors. Continue reading...

Politics

9 hours ago Viewers complain television has 'run out ideas' after ITV aired TikTok clips for two hours on Christmas Eve

Viewers have claimed ITV has 'run out of ideas' after the UK broadcaster aired two hours of TikToks on Christmas Eve.

Society

32 hours ago A Silicon Valley nudist resort is on sale for $30m – but will its new owner ‘go textile’?

Members are in limbo as Lupin Lodge is on the market after nearly 90 years – with next buyer likely to require clothesAfter nearly 90 years as a historic nudist resort, California’s Lupin Lodge is up for sale – and its next owners are likely to require guests to wear clothes.The 112-acre Silicon Valley property became a retreat for members of the “naturist” movement in 1935. Today, its hundreds of members enjoy the resort’s clothing-optional hiking trails, pickleball court and its nude-only community pool. (Yes: the members really do hike naked.) Continue reading...

Economics

30 hours ago Boxer knocked out 29 times in a row finally gave up on career before it was too late

Dmitrijs Avsijenkovs has gained a cult following after failing to win a single fight in his professional boxing career - and has been brutally knocked out in each of his 29 fights to date

Sport

2 hours ago Bruno Fernandes and the problem of being captain if you keep getting sent off | Simon Burnton

Manchester United midfielder has been more disciplined this term but unique demands of his job keep him in the firing lineAgainst Leicester on Boxing Day Virgil van Dijk took to 50 the number of successive league games he has played every minute of. This alone does not explain why the Dutchman is such an effective leader, nor why his Liverpool side are currently so successful, but it certainly helps. There are many kinds of captain, many ways of leading, but above all the one unarguably necessary thing is to be present. You cannot lead a team from the stands.At which point it is tempting to go in two-footed on Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, as many newspaper headlines did on Friday morning. The Portuguese is, for a couple more days at least, one of only four other captains to have played in every game of this Premier League season but that run ends with the visit of Newcastle on Monday, for which he will be suspended after Tony Harrington, just after half-time in the Boxing Da...

Events

4 hours ago Value Scope: Each way horseracing tips from Steve Jones for Saturday on ITV

As the busy Christmas schedule continues our man runs the rule over the TV action from Newbury and Leicester and has four selections

Politics

11 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

33 hours ago 'I quit my job after £50k World Darts Championship win – then the devil came for me'

Kirk Shepherd's remarkable journey to the 2008 World Darts Championship final remains one of the most enchanting underdog tales in sports history

Economics

33 hours ago BBC Gavin and Stacey star films family's shocked reaction to appearing in finale after 'taking NDA very seriously'

Laura Aikman didn't even tell her nearest and dearest she was appearing in the finale

Sport

3 hours ago Cyprien Sarrazin in intensive care after downhill crash on 2026 Olympic slope

Sarrazin, 30, set for surgery after head injury in crashFrench standout crashed during World Cup trainingFrench standout Cyprien Sarrazin was in intensive care with a head injury after a crash during training for a World Cup downhill race on Friday on the slope set to be used for the 2026 Winter Olympics.Sarrazin was one of two skiers airlifted to a hospital after crashing and the French ski federation said he was conscious but diagnosed with a subdural hematoma — bleeding near the brain. Continue reading...

Events

20 hours ago Exact date new rare Royal Mint coins celebrating Red Arrows will be released

The Royal Mint's 2025 annual set includes commemorative coins celebrating the Red Arrows, Queen Mum, WWII, modern railways, and the Royal Observatory - they will be available from January 2nd 2025

Culture

4 hours ago Nato to boost Baltic Sea presence after suspected sabotage of underwater cable

Finland seizes ship it suspects of damaging cable connecting Estonia and Finland on Christmas DayNato is to increase its military presence in the Baltic Sea, the alliance has announced, after the suspected sabotage of an underwater power cable running between Finland and Estonia.The Estlink 2 submarine cable was disconnected from the grid on Christmas Day, little more than a month after two telecommunications cables were severed in Swedish territorial waters in the Baltic Sea. Continue reading...

Politics

13 hours ago Ryan Reynolds hints at difficult time in first post since wife Blake Lively’s Justin Baldoni lawsuit

Deadpool star's post arrived days after bombshell scandal involving wife

Society

44 hours ago Mega Millions prize soars to $1.15 billion, the highest ever in month of December

If a winner is drawn this week, they’ll win the fifth-largest jackpot in Mega Millions history

Economics

33 hours ago Gavin & Stacey star was 'hidden away' during finale filming to avoid major finale spoiler

Gavin & Stacey director, Chris Gernon, said that the actress had to say in a different hotel and wasn't allowed to attend various events during and after production

Sport

3 hours ago Biden administration pledges additional military aid to Ukraine amid Russia war

Security assistance package in works as North Korean troops are deployed in Kursk after Putin-Kim agreementThe Biden administration is pledging to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine in the coming days, including crucial air defense systems, as North Korean forces face mounting casualties in their first major deployment to a European conflict.John Kirby, the US national security communications adviser, told reporters on Friday that in just the last week North Korean troops had suffered more than 1,000 casualties in what he referred to as failed “human wave” assaults near the Kursk border-region, which confirms similar figures reported by South Korea. Continue reading...

Events

22 hours ago ITV's The 1% Club host Lee Mack says he's 'so sorry' to contestant during festive episode mishap

The 1% Club's Lee Mack returned for a special Christmas edition and it didn't take very long before the first contestant was eliminated from the ITV game show.

Culture

4 hours ago John Stamos reveals unfortunate reason he was forced to pull out of Grinch audition

The lead role in the 2000 classic ‘How the Grinch Stole Christmas,’ ended up going to Jim Carrey

Politics

14 hours ago What we know about Blake Lively’s lawsuit against Justin Baldoni over his alleged ‘smear’ campaign

Rumors of a rift between Baldoni and the cast of It Ends with Us began in August after the movie’s release

Society

33 hours ago Ancient martyrs, fighting rules and disappearing cats – take the Boxing Day Thursday quiz

Questions on general knowledge and topical trivia, plus a few jokes, every Thursday, even on Boxing Day. How will you fare?The Thursday quiz cares not for your so-called Christmas traditions and bank holiday. It is Thursday, and so here we are, regardless of whether it is a national holiday in the UK or not. Although in reality, the quiz master is stuffed full of yesterday’s Christmas dinner and off to see Leyton Orient at home to Crawley Town, before stuffing himself again with festive leftovers, and actually wrote this weeks ago, with every question in it loosely tied to boxes. Have fun, guess well, and a very happy new year to you all!The Thursday quiz, No 190 Continue reading...

Sport

3 hours ago The Guardian view on arms control: essential to prevent the total devastation of nuclear war | Editorial

Over the holidays, this column will explore next year’s urgent issues. Today we look at why an unqualified belief in nuclear deterrence can’t keep us safeNext November marks 40 years since the US president Ronald Reagan and the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev declared that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought”. The statement was striking – not least because their militaries were pouring billions into preparing for an unwinnable conflict.A year later, at Reykjavik, the two came tantalisingly close to eliminating nuclear weapons entirely. That historic chance slipped away over Reagan’s insistence on his unproven “Star Wars” missile defence system. The moment passed, but its lesson endures: disarmament demands courage – and compromise. Continue reading...

Events

23 hours ago Film studio head blames critics for new Marvel film flopping at the box office

CEO Tony Vinciquerra said ‘Kraven the Hunt,’ based on Super-Man supervillain, has been ‘destroyed’ by critics

Culture

4 hours ago ‘Who knows what they’re going to do?’: US cannabis industry braces itself for Trump administration

The industry looks back wistfully on a past year of promise but little delivery, and wonders what next under TrumpFor those awaiting the end of cannabis prohibition in the US, 2024 began on a hopeful note, but as the year comes to a close, many of those hopes remain unfulfilled.“The big issue is rescheduling, and there was a lot of excitement about that, but it’s been sort of mired down,” said Alex Halperin, who has covered the cannabis industry in his newsletter WeedWeek since 2015. Rescheduling would mean that cannabis is no longer federally banned under the Controlled Substances Act. Continue reading...

Politics

14 hours ago Blake Lively vs Justin Baldoni: A timeline of the feud and lawsuit between It Ends With Us co

Bitter feud is alleged to have begun while filming the box office hit ‘It Ends With Us’

Society

40 hours ago Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2024: reigning champion LawConnect leads fleet out of heads

Favourite for line honours Master Lock Comanche was in hot pursuitFleet of 104 expected to move quickly down NSW coast in north-easterly breezeReigning line honours champion LawConnect has led the Sydney to Hobart fleet out of the Sydney Heads as the 79th running of the blue-water classic gets under way.Favourite for line honours Master Lock Comanche was in hot pursuit behind her rival 100ft supermaxi, the pair leaving the iconic Sydney Harbour behind at about 1:15pm – 15 minutes after the start. Continue reading...

Sport

3 hours ago Morrison Hotel featured on The Doors’ album cover burns in Los Angeles fire

Blaze engulfed landmark building where Jim Morrison and bandmates posed for a photograph for their 1970 LPFlames engulfed the historic Morrison Hotel, featured on the cover of The Doors’ 1970 album of the same name, after a fire hit the landmark downtown Los Angeles building.More than 100 firefighters responded to the fire, which began around 11am Thursday, and had the burn under control in under two hours. Several dozen people inside were able to escape, including possible squatters and three people rescued by firefighters on the third floor. Continue reading...

Events

23 hours ago Sony boss blames critics for new Marvel film flopping at the box office

CEO Tony Vinciquerra said ‘Kraven the Hunter,’ based on Super-Man supervillain, has been ‘destroyed’ by critics

Culture

4 hours ago Cocktail of the week: Gothic Bar’s red nose gimlet – recipe | The good mixer

A festive and fancy gin and lime with hints of cinnamon, a hit of apricot brandy and a sherbet-frosted rimThere’s a bit of prep involved here – you need to make the syrup a day ahead, for instance – but this is a great drink for impressing guests. If you opt to rim the glasses with lime sherbet, either buy some in ready-made or make your own by finely crushing a few lemon drop sweets in a mortar – dip the rim of the glass first in lime juice and then in the lemon drop dust. The excess syrup will keep in the fridge for about a month – use it up in puddings, apple-based ones especially.Jack Porter, head bartender, Gothic Bar, The Midland Grand, London NW1 Continue reading...

Politics

14 hours ago As a student in London I yearned for home, until I found paradise: a vast old villa with perfect housemates | Andrew Martin

We cooked ragu and listened to records while lying on chaises longues. Then the M11 link road was built – and everything changedIn our end of year series, writers and public figures remember the place or time when they felt most at homeIn the mid-1980s, I was in my early 20s and was reading for the Bar in London. I was living in a mouldy Balham bedsit and returning regularly to the comfort zone of my native York, when a friend told me a room was going in a shared house in Leytonstone.I wasn’t expecting much of E11. I wasn’t expecting trees, for example, but my walk from the attractive art deco tube station took me along roads better described as avenues. The house itself seemed almost the last one in London, an illusion created by the proximity of Wanstead Flats. It was a rangy, detached 1920s house, white with a red roof, and it had a name, but I’ll just call it the villa.Andrew Martin is an English novelist; his latest book is The Night in Venice Continue reading...

Society

3 hours ago Morrison hotel featured on Doors’ album cover burns in Los Angeles fire

Blaze engulfed landmark building where Jim Morrison and bandmates posed for a photograph for their 1970 LPFlames engulfed the historic Morrison Hotel, featured on the cover of The Doors’ 1970 album of the same name, after a fire hit the landmark downtown Los Angeles building.More than 100 firefighters responded to the fire, which began around 11am Thursday, and had the burn under control in under two hours. Several dozen people inside were able to escape, including possible squatters and three people rescued by firefighters on the third floor. Continue reading...

Events

24 hours ago Antiques Roadshow guests admit ‘creepy head’ worth thousands was used to ‘scare people’

An Antiques Roadshow expert jokingly instructed the owners of a bust on what to avoid when it comes to taking care of the “rare” item

Culture

4 hours ago ‘Godfather of AI’ raises odds of the technology wiping out humanity over next 30 years

Geoffrey Hinton says there is 10-20% chance AI will lead to human extinction in next three decades amid fast pace of changeThe British-Canadian computer scientist often touted as a “godfather” of artificial intelligence has raised the odds of AI wiping out humanity over the next three decades, warning the pace of change in the technology is “much faster” than expected.Prof Geoffrey Hinton, who this year was awarded the Nobel prize in physics for his work in AI, said there was a “10 to 20” per cent chance that AI would lead to human extinction within the next three decades. Continue reading...

Politics

15 hours ago Climate crisis exposed people to extra six weeks of dangerous heat in 2024

Analysis shows fossil fuels are supercharging heatwaves, leaving millions prone to deadly temperaturesThe climate crisis caused an additional six weeks of dangerously hot days in 2024 for the average person, supercharging the fatal impact of heatwaves around the world.The effects of human-caused global heating were far worse for some people, an analysis by World Weather Attribution (WWA) and Climate Central has shown. Those in Caribbean and Pacific island states were the hardest hit. Many endured about 150 more days of dangerous heat than they would have done without global heating, almost half the year. Continue reading...

Society

4 hours ago Azerbaijan Airlines says there was ‘external interference’ before crash

Carrier suspends flights to five Russian airports after early findings of investigation into crash on Christmas Day The aircraft that crashed in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day, killing 38 people, experienced “external physical and technical interference”, according to preliminary results of an investigation, Azerbaijan Airlines said on Friday.The early findings led the carrier to suspend flights to five Russian airports, citing “potential risks to flight safety”, adding to the two routes that were suspended immediately after the crash. Continue reading...

Events

24 hours ago Maya Jama opens up on ITV The Masked Singer debut and most 'challenging' part of show

The Love Island host joins Davina McCall, Jonathan Ross and Mo Gilligan for the new series of the hit ITV show, which starts in January

Culture

4 hours ago ‘Godfather of AI’ shortens odds of the technology wiping out humanity over next 30 years

Geoffrey Hinton says there is 10-20% chance AI will lead to human extinction in three decades, as change moves fastThe British-Canadian computer scientist often touted as a “godfather” of artificial intelligence has shortened the odds of AI wiping out humanity over the next three decades, warning the pace of change in the technology is “much faster” than expected.Prof Geoffrey Hinton, who this year was awarded the Nobel prize in physics for his work in AI, said there was a “10 to 20” per cent chance that AI would lead to human extinction within the next three decades. Continue reading...

Politics

28 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

5 hours ago Luka Dončić injury update: Mavs star out at least one month with calf strain

Mavericks star out at least a month, sources sayDončić injured calf during Christmas Day gameDallas Mavericks star Luka Dončić will be re-evaluated in a month due to a left calf strain, ESPN reported late Thursday night.The five-time All-Star sustained the injury during a 105-99 loss to the visiting Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday. After straining the calf on a seemingly harmless play in the second quarter, Dončić headed to the locker room and missed the entire second half. Continue reading...

Events

31 hours ago Denzel Washington in Seven?: 13 actors who turned down movie roles – and then massively regretted it

Few actors are brave enough to admit that they turned down some of the most famous films in recent memory, but these ones did, writes Adam White

Culture

5 hours ago Across the west, the centre right is collapsing – and with it, any notion of what is ‘too extreme’ | Owen Jones

So-called moderates are mimicking populist demagogues, with potentially disastrous consequencesIt was once known as the “centre right”, and this was the year it definitively perished. It never had a coherent political philosophy, but it tended to blend deference to the perceived needs of large business interests, the championing of so-called traditional values that were actually longstanding prejudices, and admiration for established institutions. Above all else, it supposedly offered a cordon sanitaire, preventing anything further to the right from acquiring political legitimacy.That hasn’t quite worked to plan. Nigel Farage now claims his populist-right Reform party has a higher membership than the Tories: if true, it is the first time in British history that members of a rightwing rival have outnumbered the Conservative party’s. Nearly two decades ago, then Tory leader, David Cameron, dismissed Farage’s Ukip as “fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists mostly”; but today, Camero...

Politics

30 hours ago All the celebrities that have supported Blake Lively after Justin Baldoni lawsuit

Lively has received a huge amount of support after filing the lawsuit against Baldoni

Society

5 hours ago Azerbaijan Airlines says there was ‘external interference’ before plane crashed

Carrier suspends flights to five Russian airports after early findings of investigation into crash on Christmas Day The aircraft involved in the Christmas Day plane crash in Kazakhstan that killed 38 people experienced “external physical and technical interference,” according to preliminary results of the investigation, Azerbaijan Airlines said on Friday.The early findings led the carrier to suspend flights to five Russian airports, citing “potential risks to flight safety,” adding to the two routes that were suspended immediately after the crash. Continue reading...

Events

31 hours ago Brad Pitt as Neo?: 13 actors who turned down movie roles – and then massively regretted it

Few actors are brave enough to admit that they turned down some of the most famous films in recent memory, but these ones did, writes Adam White

Culture

5 hours ago ITV's Dr Amir Khan says 'definitely' see a GP if you have these red flag symptoms

Dr Amir Khan put out some new advice on Friday, which he said was important as the year came to a close

Politics

31 hours ago Gavin and Stacey's biggest filming secrets from fake location to bitter cast feud

As the Gavin and Stacey Christmas finale has everybody talking, The Mirror takes a look back at the long-running BBC sitcom's behind-the-scenes secrets over the years

Society

5 hours ago Handré Pollard back at Twickenham and still enjoying pressure of big occasions

Leicester fly-half returns to scene of South Africa’s autumn triumph, where his opposite number is also a familiar face There will be those at a sold-out Twickenham on Saturday who will be sick of the sight of Handré Pollard. The 30-year-old fly-half returns to the stadium with Leicester six weeks after his accuracy from the tee kept the Springboks out of reach against England, his goalkicking once more a dagger to the heart of Steve Borthwick. That his opposite number will be Harlequins’ Marcus Smith only heightens the sense that England’s bete noire is back.As was the case in the 2023 World Cup semi-final, Pollard began November’s victory over England on the bench, only to come on and turn the screw from the tee. He is the elder statesman of South Africa’s pool of No 10s but is at home playing the role of safe hand on the tiller, just when Rassie Erasmus needs it. For the Springboks it has been a year of experimentation, all the while maintaining their place at the top of the worl...

Events

38 hours ago PHOTOS: Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal celebrate Christmas in London | Filmfare.com

PHOTOS: Katrina Kaif and Vicky Kaushal celebrate Christmas in London | Filmfare.com  Filmfare

Culture

5 hours ago ITV Coronation Street's Helen Worth 'likely' to join rival soap after Gail exit

Coronation Street icon Helen Worth is leaving the cobbles behind after almost five decades playing Gail Platt - and it seems she may soon be making her mark on another soap.

Politics

36 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

5 hours ago Sudan: first aid convoy reaches besieged Khartoum area since start of civil war

The deliveries of vital food and medical supplies will help 200,000 families, according to aid groups and local volunteersAn aid convoy has reached a besieged area of Khartoum for the first time since Sudan’s civil war broke out in April 2023, bringing food and medicines in a country where half of the people are at risk of starvation.The 28 trucks arrived in southern Khartoum on 25 December, according to the World Food Programme (WFP), which provided 22 trucks loaded with 750 tonnes of food. Continue reading...

Events

38 hours ago ‘I get spotted in the M&S knicker department’: Lorraine Ashbourne on her 2024 TV takeover

From Bridgerton to Sherwood and Alma’s Not Normal, the actor has lit up our screens all year – and her ‘victory lap’ is only just starting Lorraine Ashbourne has had a massive year. “I know! People keep saying: oh God, Lorraine, get off the telly, we want somebody else,” she says. “But it has been extraordinary.” She kicked things off in January with ITV’s entertaining disaster thriller After the Flood, playing Sophie Rundle’s tough, grieving mother, Molly. As the year went on, she returned to two of her biggest and most significant roles yet, as the former secret spy cop Daphne Sparrow in Sherwood, and Grandma Joan in the wrenching, hilarious second series of Alma’s Not Normal. Has she ended up in such outstanding shows because she’s picky? “Absolutely not. I’ll do anything! I’m a cheap date. It’s just timing that these things have fallen into place.”Right now, Ashbourne is at home in north London. She grew up in Manchester, where she went to drama school. She met her husband, Andy...

Culture

5 hours ago How I beat overwhelm: I found WhatsApp draining – so I learned ways to curb my cravings

My anxiety about not replying to everyone’s messages was at a constant simmer until I created proper boundariesI feel as if I’ve lost days of my life to digital causes. Even though I’m an extrovert, the near-constant drip of WhatsApp communications can drain me; my anxiety over not replying instantly to everyone is at constant simmer. Add to that the element of performance, and the worry that proving you care is measured in the messages you send and it can all get too much.“Where has Remona gone?” panicked one friend, when I went awol while juggling a deadline, babysitting, and hosting house guests. The pile-up of 248 unread messages in one group alone – inclusive of podcast-length voice notes – made me feel like a bad person for being absent. Sometimes, I’m happy to be entirely mute – as I was in one unnecessarily large group I was added to without consent. I went unnoticed for years amid unsolicited selfies of people I barely knew and forwarded messages that had to be forwarded fu...

Politics

43 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

5 hours ago ITV Emmerdale's Dean Andrews breaks silence with cryptic post after Will Taylor death

Emmerdale star Dean Andrews has broken his silence after his character Will Taylor was seemingly killed off in explosive scenes over Christmas

Events

5 hours ago Emmerdale star April Windsor's real life with famous siblings in rival ITV soap

Emmerdale's Christmas Day episode took a sinister turn when April Windsor, played by actress Amelia Flanagan, disappeared. Away from the hard-hitting storylines, the star enjoys a quiet life with her family

Politics

6 hours ago Woman burned to death on New York subway still unidentified after five days

‘It just adds another level of tragedy,’ says homelessness activist as police may have to use DNA and dental recordsFive days after a woman believed to be homeless was burned to death by a passenger inside a New York City subway car, city officials have still not been able to confirm her identity.Investigators may have to rely on dental records or DNA analysis to make an identification of the victim. Continue reading...

Events

6 hours ago My son’s girlfriend has taken over his life and I fear he’s being suffocated | Ask Annalisa Barbieri

You are better off keeping your son close so that he knows he can come to you if there are problemsEvery week Annalisa Barbieri addresses a problem sent in by a readerA year ago, our almost 18-year-old son began seeing a girl, who is a year older than him and is his first ‘real’ girlfriend. Soon he stopped seeing his friends and he spent all of his free time with her. When they were not actually together, they were on the phone or playing remote video games.We barely saw him over the summer, as he was with her all the time. He refused to go on holiday with us unless we invited her too, which we were not willing to do . Continue reading...

Politics

6 hours ago Israeli forces raid Gaza hospital after staff reported killed in strike

Staff arrested, injured and killed as Israeli forces burn departments and attack buildings surrounding one of the area’s last remaining hospitals, says directorA fire has broken out at one of northern Gaza’s only functioning hospitals, while medics and patients have been forced to leave by Israeli forces, who raided the hospital on Friday morning, according to staff members.Kamal Adwan hospital and the surrounding area has been under increased attack this week, according to the hospital’s director, Dr Hussam Abu Safiya, who said five medical staff were killed in a strike on Thursday. Continue reading...

Events

6 hours ago Enzo Maresca outlines Noni Madueke’s route back after being dropped from Chelsea squad

The England winger was not even on the bench as the Blues suffered a rare home defeat in the west London derby

Politics

6 hours ago Cleaner who filmed colleagues 'weaponised employment laws' in 'scandalous' compensation bids

Martin Kumi is accused of ‘weaponising’ employment laws to try to get quick payouts

Events

6 hours ago ‘Why are my biceps so small?’ The boys and young men turning to steroids

A generation of young people are being raised on a vision of masculinity that glorifies muscular bodies. Performance and image enhancing drugs offer a quick – but potentially risky – way to achieve their goalOne month ago, Nick*, an 18-year-old university student living in the United States, got some devastating news: his little brother has cancer. It’s one of the worst times of Nick’s life, he says, but he’s “still positive”.“I wake up with a smile on my face,” he says. Not because of family support or a miracle cure, but because he has a potent combination of chemicals coursing through his veins: steroids.Sign up for a weekly email featuring our best reads Continue reading...

Politics

7 hours ago ITV Emmerdale fans spot three clues Will Taylor is 'still alive' after deadly twist

Emmerdale fans are convinced that Will Taylor is still alive following the ITV soap's horror Christmas scenes, where he appeared to be killed off

Events