19 minutes ago Isabel Allende: ‘My most expensive purchase? A Tesla for my former husband. He didn’t deserve it’

The writer on unattainable studs, erotic fantasies, and why she owes her birth father nothingBorn in Peru, Isabel Allende, 82, worked as a journalist and children’s writer. In 1982, she published her first adult novel, The House of the Spirits, which became an international bestseller. Her titles have been translated into 42 languages, and include a memoir for her daughter, who died at 29. Allende’s accolades include the US presidential medal of freedom and PEN Center lifetime achievement award. Her course, Magical Storytelling, is available on BBC Maestro’s online platform. She lives in California.When were you happiest? When my kids were little – and now, in my old age. Continue reading...

Politics

93 minutes ago Cheesy anchovy straws and chocolate meringue kisses: Yotam Ottolenghi’s recipes for party nibbles

Bite-sized treats that are big on flavour and will see out the year in styleHappy 2025 everyone, and may the New Year bring with it the positive changes we all so yearn for. Personally, I will be embracing change in a big way, because, after seven years, this is my final column for the Guardian’s Feast. From March, I will be writing a new, long-form quarterly column packed with recipes, personal experiences and general observations about the food world, so stay tuned. The Feast community is the most engaged and greedy I know, so thank you! And I hope you welcome the New Year with these party nibbles I have lined up for this weekend. Here’s to new beginnings! Continue reading...

Society

82 minutes ago Mega Millions lottery winner scoops huge £954m Christmas jackpot after three months with no winners

A Mega Millions player from Cottonwood, California, has won an incredible $1.22 billion jackpot as they matched all six numbers for huge Christmas lottery jackpot win

Economics

2 hours ago Boxing's best star, fight, knockout and prospect of 2024 named as Usyk does awards double

BOXING CLEVER COLUMN: 2024 has been another huge year for boxing with the heavyweight division providing most of the big storylines including two epic showdowns between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury

Sport

93 minutes ago ‘We need dramatic social and technological changes’: is societal collapse inevitable?

Academic Danilo Brozović says studies of failed civilisations all point in one direction – today’s society needs radical transformation to surviveFor someone who has examined 361 studies and 73 books on societal collapses, Danilo Brozović’s conclusion on what must happen to avoid today’s world imploding is both disarmingly simple and a daunting challenge: “We need dramatic social and technological changes.”The collapse of past civilisations, from the mighty Mayan empire to Rapa Nui (Easter Island), has long fascinated people and for obvious reasons – how stable is our own society? Does ever-growing complexity in societies or human hubris inevitably lead to oblivion? In the face of the climate crisis, rampant destruction of the natural world, rising geopolitical tensions and more, the question is more urgent than ever. Continue reading...

Events

2 hours ago Fascinating historic photos show the Lake District before it became a mass tourism hotspot

Covering 912 square miles, the Lake District is England's largest national park - and its most popular, with over 19million visitors each year. These photos take you back to a simpler, less crowded time...

Culture

18 hours ago Woman hatches clever plan to find perfect man in 2025 – using ChatGPT hack

A woman took to TikTok to share the unusual ways she's using ChatGPT to help her find 'her future husband' in 2025 by changing her daily routine - but people can't decide if it's genius or insane

Technology

7 hours ago Revealed: How doctors struck off in Britain for permanently disfiguring patients, sexual assault and financial dishonesty are allowed to continue practising medicine

Surgeons who have committed serious misconduct, sometimes ending in death and life-changing injuries for patients, are continuing to operate on unsuspecting patients around the world.

Science

20 hours ago Seven major driving rules and law changes for 2025 faced by motorists including car tax

Drivers will be impacted by a number of new rules in 2025, including some that will effect electric vehicle owners for the first time. Here's all you need to know about the changes

Transport

19 minutes ago What happened to Steven Gerrard's cousin Bobby Duncan after he quit Liverpool over feud?

Bobby Duncan was once considered one of the brightest prospects in Liverpool's academy, but his Anfield career came to a controversial end in 2019 as he quit the club

Politics

2 hours ago New UK laws in 2025 including vape ban, tourist charge and tax changes

A raft of new laws are expected to come into force over the next 12 months

Society

1 hour ago ‘The impact has been out of this world’: the stranger who gave away a £100,000 inheritance to his neighbours

When David Clarke’s mother died, it took him 10 years to work out what to do with the money she left him. This year, a panel of locals in Liverpool made the decision for himIt was a quiet act of generosity that briefly captured the news agenda: David Clarke, a researcher in Liverpool, made the extraordinary decision to give away the £100,000 he had inherited from his late mother a decade ago. But instead of donating it to one cause, Clarke did something radical. He wrote to 600 addresses in the L8 postcode, where he lives, inviting people to nominate where the money should go.Clarke lost his mother in a cycling accident. “Her death was a devastating shock to me,” he says. “She had a huge social conscience and was interested in the world and how it worked – a lot of my moral framework comes from her. I don’t believe in holding on to inherited wealth, so I spent a long time thinking about what to do with the money.” Clarke wanted to do something that would speak to his mother’s values...

Economics

7 hours ago Puttin' on the Glitz! Taylor Swift inspires fans with her glittering outfits as interest in sequinned dresses surges during superstar singer's UK leg of worldwide Eras tour

As Taylor Swift came to the UK for four stops on her huge world tour, interest in sequinned dresses skyrocketed, with a spike in sales and a surge in online searches

Sport

2 hours ago Nitish Kumar Reddy century leads India fightback as Australia strike late on day three

All-rounder joins Washington Sundar in critical 127-run standTourists trail by 116 runs with one wicket in hand in fourth Test52nd over: India 180-5 (Pant 22, Jadeja 4) Smokes a pull shot! Pant moves along to the 20s by clattering Boland, then takes a single. Jadeja keeps blocking.Guy Hornsby winds up the crank handle on the email machine. “Morning/evening Geoff. I’m somehow still up in darkest Sale in Manchester, full of port and cheese and wondering if Pant and Jadeja can actually save anything here. Their records suggest there’s a chance, but Pant is Cummins’ bunny of late and India must have felt an absolute gut punch after getting to 153-2 before the calamitous run-out. I’m not going to even attempt to apportion individual blame, just say it was a proper horlicks that took the wind out of India’s sails. Now it’s down to these two and a longish but bullish tail to see how much of a dent they can put into this huge Australian total. Perhaps Bumrah has made clear just how much of ...

Events

21 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 Drivers urged to note diversions as trio of Monklands roads set to close for works next month

Alternative routes will be available to use during the closures.

Transport

93 minutes ago Are modern sports stars still cut out for pantomime season? Oh yes they are | Emma John

Strictly Come Dancing has hit participation but the gymnast Louis Smith is still flying the flag for sporting heroes on stageMerry Betwixtmas, everybody! I’ve a great fondness for this final stretch of December, the weird dead time when Boxing Day obligations to extended family have been fulfilled, and the new year’s party still seems impossibly far in the future. It’s a truly philosophical period, raising questions of mortality, renewal and resolution, and of how long trifle can be left open before it goes off. It’s good for a couple more days, right?You don’t want to go back to work, but you’re also not exactly sure what to do with yourself. Which is, doubtless, why panto exists. This is no slight on the genre, for which I have great respect – the best money my sister ever earned from her acting career was in Aladdin, singing A Whole New World while desperately clinging to a shonky hand-operated flying carpet. Still, there must be a reason people don’t pay to shout “He’s behind yo...

Politics

3 hours ago House of the Dragon actor: 'leaving London for Brighton has been really good for my mental health.'

House of the Dragon actor Sam Wilson found his life and career began to flourish when he left the capital

Society

11 hours ago The Chase fans fume as ITV show gives away huge £116K prize based on 'wrong answer'

The Chase fans were left fuming as they claimed the show gave away a huge prize for charity based on a wrong answer.

Economics

7 hours ago Chrissy Teigen blasts 'n**s and t***s' as she is criticised for 'clueless' interview after wearing Chelsea shirt to attend Arsenal vs Ipswich Town match with John Legend and kids

Fans slammed the 'clueless' couple as they appeared to get confused over which teams had played, with Chrissy even wearing a Chelsea shirt to the game.

Sport

2 hours ago Huge pop star tragically died at 35 weighing just 4 stone after tragic health battle

Late actress Lena Zavaroni was catapulted to fame on popular TV show Opportunity Knocks at the age of 10, but she tragically died aged 35 following a devastating health battle

Events

93 minutes ago Underrated seaside town with huge pier and 'best fish and chips in the UK'

Cromer in North Norfolk was once a retreat for affluent Victorian beach-goers. Today, this delightful seaside town has retained much of its original charm and its world-famous crab is worth the visit alone.

Politics

21 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

16 hours ago Motherwell 'won't make wholesale changes' during January window, says boss

Stuart Kettlewell says there will be some business done next month but not to expect a lot

Economics

12 hours ago World's richest footballer is Chelsea reject whose net worth smashes Messi plus Ronaldo

Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo have amassed huge wealth during their careers, but their combined net worth doesn't even come close to that of one Chelsea reject

Sport

4 hours ago BBC SAS Rogue Heroes star Connor Swindells reveals huge sacrifice he made to play prisoner of war

BBC SAS Rogue Heroes star Connor Swindells opens up on the huge sacrifice he role as a prisoner of war on the show, as Jack O'Connell reveals why he kept a punchbag on set

Events

2 hours ago Nitish Kumar Reddy century leads India fightback to frustrate Australia on day three

All-rounder joins Washington Sundar in critical 127-run standTourists trail by 116 runs with one wicket in hand in fourth Test52nd over: India 180-5 (Pant 22, Jadeja 4) Smokes a pull shot! Pant moves along to the 20s by clattering Boland, then takes a single. Jadeja keeps blocking.Guy Hornsby winds up the crank handle on the email machine. “Morning/evening Geoff. I’m somehow still up in darkest Sale in Manchester, full of port and cheese and wondering if Pant and Jadeja can actually save anything here. Their records suggest there’s a chance, but Pant is Cummins’ bunny of late and India must have felt an absolute gut punch after getting to 153-2 before the calamitous run-out. I’m not going to even attempt to apportion individual blame, just say it was a proper horlicks that took the wind out of India’s sails. Now it’s down to these two and a longish but bullish tail to see how much of a dent they can put into this huge Australian total. Perhaps Bumrah has made clear just how much of ...

Politics

24 hours ago Wild weather for New Year's Eve as Met Office forecast flags major change for UK

North-east England will enjoy the brightest weather of the day, with some sunshine in Aberdeenshire in the afternoon and temperatures of about 10C to 12C across the country

Society

21 hours ago Debenhams cuts £485 'beautiful' luxury diving watch to £76 in huge sale

Shoppers were quick to snap up the "fabulous" designer watch, which some claim 'reminds them of a Rolex'

Economics

16 hours ago Gavin and Stacey's James Corden reveals fans played huge part in decision making for finale

Gavin and Stacey fans have themselves to thank as creator James Corden has revealed they offered a huge help to himself and Ruth Jones when it came to planning the finale

Sport

5 hours ago "Mystery rash changed my life forever" Young Scot opens up on shock kidney disease diagnosis

A 24-year-old Scots guitarist's life was permanently altered when he was diagnosed with a rare and aggressive kidney disease that has caused a "lonely struggle".

Events

2 hours ago EastEnders' Spencer Moon actor Chris Parker's unbelievable new career 22 years after soap

Christopher Parker played the role of Spencer Moon in EastEnders for three years from 2002 to 2005 - but what has the actor been up to since leaving the BBC soap?

Politics

25 hours ago What happened to the Outnumbered cast? How the child stars turned their back on fame and weathered a string of scandals while on

Outnumbered made its long-awaited return to screens with a one-off special on Thursday, offering fans a glimpse at the famous Brockman family, 10 years after the original series ended.

Society

23 hours ago Sales mayhem as thousands queue to snap up Boxing Day bargains at Bicester Village

Frenzied scenes erupted across Bicester Village, in Oxfordshire, as hordes of shoppers joined huge queues to snap up some of the site's biggest discounts ever.

Economics

17 hours ago Gavin and Stacey fans spot huge errors in finale as Neil the Baby goes 'missing' from scene

Gavin and Stacey fans were left sobbing at the show's festive finale, but some viewers couldn't help but notice a few awkward blunders throughout the 90-minute episode

Sport

7 hours ago Caroline Flack's friends hit back after her mother's painful questions: 'Why was it down to us to look after her that night? Where were her family?' KATIE HIND reveals rift

When Caroline Flack tragically took her own life almost five years ago, little did she know the extent of the fall-out. She had a huge group of friends and a loving family.

Events

2 hours ago EastEnders’ Spencer Moon star Christopher Parker has new career and 'hasn’t aged'

Christopher Parker played the beloved role of Spencer Moon on EastEnders, but since his soap exit has taken on a completely different career and still looks very familiar today

Politics

27 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

24 hours ago Liverpool star Luis Diaz's father hospitalised in Colombia 12 months after kidnap ordeal

Luis Diaz's father was kidnapped by Colombian rebels and held for 12 days before his release last year, with the 58-year-old now being hospitalised with chest pains

Economics

17 hours ago 'I regret my decision to quit Arsenal every day – I was left disgusted at Chelsea'

Emmanuel Petit made the controversial decision to leave Arsenal for Chelsea in 2001, but his time at Stamford Bridge was far from enjoyable as his club career fizzled out

Sport

11 hours ago Tottenham: Ange Postecoglou demands bigger squads as Spurs injury crisis deepens

With the packed fixture calendar unlikely to change, Australian believes clubs should be able to rely on more players

Events

2 hours ago Yellowstone superfan Jennifer Lopez enjoys a drink with Kevin Costner in Aspen

Lopez's ex Ben Affleck previously revealed that she was a huge fan of the Yellowstone romance between stars Cole Hauser and Kelly Reilly.

Politics

24 hours ago Luke Littler loses huge amount of money as Darts World Championship star faces big bill

Luke Littler has made a fortune from playing darts this year, but he will have to pay a hefty chunk of his winnings back in tax - with one expert in particular identifying that he'll be lumping out around £130,000

Economics

19 hours ago Man United and Man City handed major Dani Olmo transfer update as agent visits Manchester

Dani Olmo is due to become a free agent next week after Barcelona were handed a huge registration blow ahead of January.

Sport

11 hours ago EastEnders star 'lets slip' Cindy Beale's fate with telling comment after deadly attack

EastEnders' Ian Beale actor Adam Woodyatt teased whether Cindy Beale will live or die after her brutal attack on the BBC soap, dropping a huge hint about her fate

Events

3 hours ago Matheus Cunha's January transfer stance as Man United 'prepare for exit'

Manchester United head into an important January transfer window next week as Ruben Amorim aims for a change of fortune

Politics

20 hours ago Gavin and Stacey fans livid as they spot huge 'blunder' in final episode

Gavin and Stacey officially bowed out after a thrilling final episode, but some eagle-eyed viewers were less than thrilled when they spotted a bizarre plot hole in the story

Sport

13 hours ago Diddy's huge prison 'meltdown' revealed, as 'sex trafficker' rapper remains in hellhole jail

Diddy was arrested and indicted for sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution.

Events

3 hours ago This is how Central Retail Park site could look with major plans for offices, cafes and park

It's all part of a government plan

Politics

17 hours ago 2 Florida tourist spots halt drones in shows following a separate accident that injured a boy

A theme park resort and a huge hotel in central Florida either have stopped using drones or canceled their drone-based shows after several drones collided and fell from the sky during a separate holiday celebration in downtown Orlando

Events

4 hours ago Senior royal’s touching link to Princess Diana revealed ahead of huge life milestone

The Duchess of Edinburgh has travelled to some of world's most war-torn and traumatised areas to raise awareness of important causes, much like the late Princess Diana

Politics

18 hours ago Harlan Coben's new Netflix drama tipped to be 'most gripping' series yet to drop in just a few days

Netflix's Fool Me Once by Harlan Coben was also a huge hit with viewers - and Missing You will debut on New Year's day.

Events

4 hours ago Revisited: actor Jeff Goldblum, eccentric as ever at 71; and America’s top pronatalists on having ‘tons of kids’ to save the world – podcast

Fast-talking, finger-jabbing Jeff Goldblum on vanity, mortality and becoming a father in his 60s. Elon Musk (father of 11) supports their cause, thousands follow their ideology: to make it easier for everyone to have multiple children. Enter the unsettling world of Malcolm and Simone Collins, America’s premier pronatalists Continue reading...

Politics

18 hours ago Drill rapper 'Young Dizz' releases music video goading Keir Starmer after being released from jail early for kidnapping and torturing teenage boy

Isaac Donkoh, a gang member from Newham in East London , was jailed in April 2019 for seizing the schoolboy a year earlier before posting footage of his ordeal on Snapchat .

Events

5 hours ago Renfrewshire teacher sheds 11 stone in amazing weight loss transformation

Douglas Clark once weighed in at 26 stone 11lbs and decided he had to make changes.

Politics

19 hours ago Cruise line cancels stops at ‘violent’ Mexican port following do not travel warning

Crime and kidnapping concerns have seen ships swerve Manzanillo

Events

8 hours ago World Darts Championship 2025: Schedule, latest results and how to watch as Luke Humphries sails through

Luke Littler and Michael van Gerwen headline huge Saturday night of action at Alexandra Palace

Politics

20 hours ago Emmerdale April's disappearance 'rumbled' in heartbreaking update on missing teen

Emmerdale teen April Windsor has sparked huge concern for her wellbeing after she vanished on Christmas Day, leaving her devastated dad Marlon desperate to find her

Events

8 hours ago World Darts Championship: Luke Humphries sets up huge Peter Wright showdown in last 16

Gerwyn Price, Jonny Clayton and Luke Woodhouse all edge thrillers as Ally Pally action returns with a bang after Christmas break

Politics

21 hours ago Cancer dietitian says you can slash risk of the disease by eating £1 spice

If you're looking for easy ways to change up your diet in the new year, advice from a cancer dietitian could be helpful. As it turns out, one spice could reduce your risk of cancer

Events

9 hours ago Now UK’s top union leader turns on Starmer over impact of the tractor tax

Exclusive: TUC general secretary warns onus is on ministers to show family farms are not affected by changes to inheritance tax

Politics

21 hours ago Celtic v St Johnstone injury news: 5 out and 2 doubts as Brendan Rodgers awaits latest update on key man

Here is the early team news ahead of Celtic vs St Johnstone in the Scottish Premiership at Celtic Park

Events

9 hours ago Chess: Carlsen disqualified in New York after refusing to change out of jeans

The world No 1 was defaulted from the World Rapid Championship and has also chosen to withdraw from the World Blitz saying ‘it became a matter of principle’Magnus Carlsen, the world No 1, has been disqualified from the World Rapid Championship in New York due to a dress code violation, refusing to change from jeans, after a previous warning. He is also withdrawing from the World Blitz which starts on 30 December.Fide explained their decision in a statement while Carlsen said: “I said I’ll change tomorrow but they said you have to change now it became a matter of principle for me so here we are! Honestly I’m too old at this point to care too much. If this is what they want to do I’ll probably set off to somewhere where the weather is a bit nicer.” Continue reading...

Politics

22 hours ago Gang member and kidnapper freed early from jail by Labour mocks Keir Starmer in Christmas rap song

The rapper said: ‘Now that I’m back, I’m raising the crime rate. Keir Starmer let me out now he wants me back, got me scratching my head like make up your mind, mate.’

Events

12 hours ago Frank Lampard sends Man United legend Wayne Rooney sack message after another defeat

Frank Lampard's Coventry City met Wayne Rooney's Plymouth Argyle in The Championship on Boxing Day with the Manchester United legend under huge pressure

Politics

23 hours ago What happened to the Outnumbered cast? Some turned their back on fame, others were hit by scandals

Outnumbered made its long-awaited return to screens with a one-off special on Thursday, offering fans a glimpse at the famous Brockman family, 10 years after the original series ended.

Events

14 hours ago Dr Martens' huge end of year sale has 40% off best selling boots, sandals and loafers

Dr Martens has launched its end of year sale with 40% off best selling styles - including the 1460 boots and the iconic Blaire loafers - here's our pick of the best bargains to buy

Politics

23 hours ago New Year's Resolutions for your children: From eating more veg to learning skills

Setting yourself goals for the year ahead is one thing – but New Year’s resolutions for kids are a completely different kettle of fish

Events

14 hours ago Dr Martens' end of year sale launches with 40% off best sellers including boots and loafers

Dr Martens has just launched a huge end of year sale with up to 40% off some of its most iconic boots, sandals and loafers - here are the best deals you can get your hands on

Politics

24 hours ago Liverpool star Luis Diaz's dad hospitalised with chest pains 13 months after kidnapping

Luis Manuel Diaz, the father of Liverpool star Luis Diaz, was admitted to hospital in Colombia with chest pains 13 months after his kidnapping ordeal

Events