A shy man leads a solitary existence until a young girl – and a cat – inveigle their way into his apparently contented life in this big-hearted taleAll Jack Paton ever wanted was to be a famous country singer, but somehow it never happened. Certainly, the odds were stacked against him: cripplingly shy, no self-confidence. And although he considers it “a landscape of country music”, it can’t have helped matters that he was born in one of the more windswept corners of Shetland, far from Texas or Tennessee, and has remained there ever since, keeping his dreams to himself.That Beautiful Atlantic Waltz, Malachy Tallack’s second novel, follows Jack, now approaching his 63rd birthday, as he spends his days pottering about in the cottage he has lived in since he was a child, listening to music, playing guitar and thinking of the past. The narrative flicks between Jack in the present, as he begins to question his life choices, and his parents, Sonny and Kathleen, decades earli...

Politics

Christmas meets Italian flair in these recipes that turn festive leftovers into bold, satisfying dishes. From turkey meatballs to cacciatore-style chicken, here’s how to reinvent your festive staples with ease

Society

Virgil van Dijk is one of three leading Liverpool players to have their contracts expire at the end of the season, with little public sign of progress to this point

Economics

Arsenal managed to stay in touch with Premier League leaders Liverpool are seeing off Ipswich but Mikel Arteta admits they need to take strides forward if they want to land the title

Sport

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

Comedian Sir Lenny Henry has spoken out on whether or not he'd do Strictly Come Dancing after showing off his dancing skills in New Year's Day thriller, Missing You

Culture

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

Passengers at Manchester Airport have been warned to expect delays of up to 80 minutes to departures and 100 minutes to arrivals, according to online traffic reporting system Inrix

Transport

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

Use all of your favourite Christmas dinner trimmings to create a healthy festive gyros that you'll want 'immediately'

Society

Katie Price's MAFS boyfriend JJ Slater was nowhere to be seen on Christmas Day, leading to fears the couple had split - but the couple's fate has now been confirmed

Economics

The Rangers boss is toiling and the Belgian won't be relishing a clash against their fierce rivals

Sport

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

Princess Diana 's niece, 33, has shared photos from a festive stay in Monaco, including adorable snaps of her baby daughter Athena.

Culture

Hundreds of flights have been delayed at major London airports amid poor weather conditions

Transport

The Holyrood party leaders will all have a New Year’s wishlist they will hope comes true as they gear up for a crunch 2025.

Politics

Appeal supports local children and families during the festive period.

Society

Tiger Woods and Rory McIlroy's TGL will debut next month and it has added a major TV partner in the form of Sky Sports, something that LIV Golf has been unable to do in the UK

Economics

Head coach has enjoyed an immediate impact but knows the importance of leading attacker staying put in JanuaryAs Wolves were on Friday night breathing a sigh of relief that Matheus Cunha is set to be available to face Tottenham on Sunday, there are plenty of other positives to be drawn from Vítor Pereira’s first week at the helm alongside their star player’s contributions.Cunha has scored in both of their new manager’s opening games as Wolves have climbed out of the relegation zone for the first time this season following the wins over Leicester and Manchester United. An FA misconduct charge is hanging over Cunha, but the governing body’s disciplinary panel is unlikely to meet before next week. Continue reading...

Sport

21-year-old Taewoo Kim last seen going for a swim at Moonee beach, near Coffs Harbour, on Boxing Day; police say another man’s body found in sea south of WollongongGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA multi-agency search is under way for a man presumed missing in the ocean since Boxing Day, off the north coast of NSW, as another man’s body has been pulled from the water further south.Taewoo Kim, 21, was last seen around 1pm on Thursday, police said in a statement, going into the water at Moonee beach, north of Coffs Harbour.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Events

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

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

It's all part of a government plan

Politics

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

Elizabeth Benassi, then aged 18, was sacked after wearing trainers and sued her former employers, Maximus UK Services, leading to a tribunal in Croydon which found in her favour

Economics

Mikel Arteta's Arsenal beat Ipswich Town to overtake Chelsea, who lost to Fulham a day prior at Stamford Bridge, and close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool

Sport

Local councils are to be given sweeping powers to issue on-the-spot fines for minor misdemeanours such as climbing trees in parks.

Events

In its annual report on travel trends, hospitality giant Hilton declared 2025 the 'Year of the Travel Maximizer' - industry jargon for the idea that we all want more experiences.

Culture

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton were said to have fallen out after a tense text exchange in the lead up to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's wedding day

Politics

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

Steam's Winter Sale is finishing soon, so be sure to grab the bargains while you can across Steam Deck and PC as we cover the end date – and when you can expect the next sale

Economics

Part of King Street, close to its junction with Cross Street, was taped off

Sport

Cat Deeley's future on This Morning has been confirmed just nine months after she made her debut.

Events

In new year message, Paul Nowak says ministers must resist pressure from business groups to water down plansKeir Starmer’s government has been urged to “stick to its guns” amid growing pressure from business leaders to water down its plans to improve workers’ rights as the UK economy grinds to a halt.The head of the Trades Union Congress said company bosses were demanding concessions as a “quid pro quo” for accepting tax increases in Rachel Reeves’ autumn budget as they sounded the alarm over Britain’s flatlining economy. Continue reading...

Politics

It's the ideal budget buy for making festive picky teas and party spreads

Society

A family were left reeling on Christmas Day after forking out more than £60 per person for food alone during their festive meal at a hotel – and were not pleased by what was plated up

Economics

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

Chelsea loanee could be back sooner than expected to help cover the loss of injured talisman, who will be sidelined until at least March

Events

TV presenter Cat Deeley took to Instagram to share a rare video of her two sons, Milo and James, as they enjoyed a festive day out to Lapland UK ahead of Christmas

Politics

Laura Brumpton, 34, and her husband Alan, 37, were enjoying a festive outing to a Christmas market when they decided to treat their children to two hotdogs – but they got a shock when they checked their bank balance

Economics

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

Sport

Olympic champion and World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler is expected to challenge for more major titles next year after becoming a two-time Masters winner at Augusta in 2024

Events

One TikToker has shared their festive take on the classic sausage roll which will definitely 'fill you with Christmas cheer'

Politics

A YouGov survey for The Times found only 25 per cent of voters had a favourable opinion of Sir Keir as the Labour leader's personal ratings hit a new low.

Economics

A new report suggests gamers who play sports titles are helping young people find an interest in real sports, either through increasing their support for a team or playing themselves

Sport

West Ham are without six first-team stars for Sunday's Premier League meeting against Liverpool with Julen Lopetegui having only two centre backs available to face leaders

Events

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

Politics

They say Christmas comes earlier every year, with supermarket shelves often stocked with festive treats months before December 25 – but it's not the only holiday getting shoppers riled up early

Economics

Kelsey Parker has opened up about being in a relationship this festive period, revealing that she's found a person who's brought her "back to life" after Tom Parker's death in 2022

Events

The letters tumbling onto the mat come from across the world - France, Australia, the US and many more - some just addressed to 'Alan Bates, North Wales.'

Politics

American cuts hand on broken glass during festive periodGolfer will now miss the first tournament of seasonThe men’s world No 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler has had surgery on a hand injury he sustained while cooking Christmas dinner. The 28-year-old American has been forced to withdraw from the first tournament of the season, next week’s The Sentry in Hawaii, after cutting his right hand on broken glass.The PGA Tour said: “World No 1 and 2024 FedEx Cup Champion Scottie Scheffler has withdrawn from the PGA Tour’s 2025 season-opening tournament, The Sentry, which will take place next week, 2-5 January at The Plantation Course at Kapalua in Maui, Hawaii.” Continue reading...

Events

The Saudi Pro League has slowly been growing in stature since Cristiano Ronaldo joined Al Nassr in 2022 and the ex-Manchester United forward has doubled down on his claim the division has overtaken Ligue 1

Politics

Darts star Gerwyn Price survived blowing a three-set lead against Joe Cullen to reach the last 16 of the PDC World Darts Championship at the Alexandra Palace

Events

Staff arrested, injured and killed as Israeli forces burn and destroy key Kamal Adwan hospital departments, says WHOThe last major health facility in northern Gaza has been put out of service, the World Health Organization has said, after an Israeli military operation targeting sites near the Kamal Adwan hospital.“Initial reports indicate that some key departments were severely burnt and destroyed during the raid,” the WHO said in a statement on X. Continue reading...

Politics

The rapper’s 2014 debut single ‘U Guessed It’ became a trap landmark

Events

A couple of days after Christmas, the couple kept the festive cheer alive in coordinated sets of red clothing as they went to a seaside eatery.

Politics

Thames Valley Police have issued an update following a Christmas Day knife attack in Milton Keynes in which two people were killed and two others were injured - it was previously reported that a dog also died after the attack

Events

Donald Trump has stepped in to potentially reverse a ban on TikTok in the United States in a move of major significance for the social media industry - he has 14.7million followers on the app himself...

Politics

Vladimir Putin is said to be plotting a 'land grab' to 're-establish the former Soviet Union' and the US and European leaders have been told to prepare for World War 3

Events

Big Fat Quiz of the Year aired its 2024 edition tonight, with Jimmy Carr hosting once again - and a first ever appearance from a Strictly star

Politics

EastEnders is two months away from its 40th anniversary and Jacqueline Jossa - whose character Lauren Branning recently exposed Cindy Beale's affair - has teased over it

Events

Coronation Street's David Platt was nowhere to be seen on the ITV soap on Friday, 27 December after he vanished from Weatherfield - wife Shona leading the search

Politics

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

As Boxing Day sales saw a decline of in-store shoppers on the High Street, some retail giants like John Lewis and Marks & Spencer chose to remain shut for the public holiday

Politics

George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley's Last Christmas is the UK's biggest festive hit, and has topped the charts for an incredible 10 weeks in total

Events

When Brighton produced a stirring comeback to defeat Manchester City here at the start of November and move into the top four, Fabian Hürzeler could have been forgiven for thinking that being a Premier League manager is a pretty straightforward business. But after another disappointing performance from his side that made it six matches without a victory and allowed Brentford to pick up only their second away point of the season, the 31-year-old may have a different opinion now.Despite creating a plethora of chances, Brighton could not find a way past Thomas Frank’s battling side, who lost their goalkeeper Mark Flekken to injury in the first half and handed a Premier League debut to Hákon Valdimarsson. In the absence of their top scorer, Danny Welbeck, who has been sidelined with an ankle injury, and for all their positivity and possession under Hürzeler, Brighton lack a cutting edge in attack that was exposed again by Brentford. They have not won at home since beating City and it wa...

Politics

The teenager still can't drive but has shared his quickfire plan for getting on the road himself

Events

Nigel Farage has called for an apology from Kemi Badenoch over a row where she accused Reform UK of faking their membership numbers.

Politics

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

Coronation Street's iconic Webster family is get even bigger as Carl Webster is set to make his debut on the cobbles ahead of one family member's reported 'death'

Politics

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