Manchester United have lost three games in succession, but Ruben Amorim still had some praise for Harry Maguire, who is battling to earn a new contract with the club

Politics

Devastating double house fires on Friday morning meant a family in Garston lost 'everything' and were left 'traumatised' as two homes went up in flames over the Christmas period as

Society

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

Leading FFF teams include Donald Trump’s Mad Angry Geezers Athletic (Maga) and Vladimir Putin’s Greater Russia United (GRU)It’s been a gloomy old year, often reflected in this space – so maybe it’s time to inject some festive cheer with an exciting new Swiftian parlour game: Fantasy Football for Fascists (FFF). Ideal for dictators, autocrats, strongmen, neo-Stalinists, far-right nationalist-populists or just students of geopolitics, it’s fanatical fun for all the family!Under conventional fantasy football rules, imaginary teams are composed of real-life players from the Premier League. In FFF, the principal players are typically politicians and public figures who exhibit extreme totalitarian tendencies. Leading FFF teams include Donald Trump’s Mad Angry Geezers Athletic (Maga) and Vladimir Putin’s Greater Russia United (GRU). China has the Xi XI. Continue reading...

Sport

Katie Scott, 49, found a picture of her late father Arthur, who passed away in 2013, on the search engine's 360 historic street imagery this month.

Events

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

Psychologist Dr Julie Smith has helped millions of people via her TikTok. But when she discovered she had breast cancer, she had to rewrite her rules

Science

Scotland fly-half underlines Lions credentials

Politics

One year after Ralph was given a life-saving multi-organ transplant, his mother Katie Tatham tells why she is calling for more people in the UK to come forward to helpJust over a year ago, the parents of Ralph Tatham didn’t know if they would make it to Christmas, or if liver cancer would take away their three-year-old son.Now the little boy is just a few weeks away from celebrating his fifth birthday, after receiving a lifesaving multiorgan transplant to replace his liver, pancreas and intestines. Continue reading...

Society

The former Top Gear host has released a 'non-advent calendar' for January, which is packed with 25 days worth of lager, cider and gifts to help get you through the darkest month of the year

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

Smart speakers such as the Amazon Echo can help with daily tasks, give you instant updates on the weather, read you the latest news headlines, and even play your favourite song

Events

NHS Surgeon Dr Karan Raj told his 5.3 million followers that gently rocking back and forth on the toilet can help your bowels move.

Science

Large language models have changed how big corporations function, and the arrival of AI ‘agents’ – essentially automated Moneypennys – could prove irresistibleIf 2024 was the year of large language models (LLMs), then 2025 looks like the year of AI “agents”. These are quasi-intelligent systems that harness LLMs to go beyond their usual tricks of generating plausible text or responding to prompts. The idea is that an agent can be given a high-level – possibly even vague – goal and break it down into a series of actionable steps. Once it “understands” the goal, it can devise a plan to achieve it, much as a human would.OpenAI’s chief financial officer, Sarah Friar, recently explained it thus to the Financial Times: “It could be a researcher, a helpful assistant for everyday people, working moms like me. In 2025, we will see the first very successful agents deployed that help people in their day to day.” Or it’s like having a digital assistant “that doesn’t just respond to your instruct...

Politics

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

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

Economics

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

I do not ask you to like Graham Phillips, or even to sympathise with him. But you shouldn't approve of what our Government is doing to him. He is living in a bombed-out, unheated block of flats in Mariupol.

Events

A Labrador named River lost her job as a guide dog after failing to control her passion to chase squirrels - but she retrained as a therapy dog and has become one of the first to be used in a new pilot scheme with the police

Politics

Homeless shelters, food banks and charities will receive leftover food from farms after ministers announced a £15million funding boost to help with collections

Society

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

Images from the scene showed multiple police cars, ambulances and Cadent vans lining Foxholes Road on Friday evening. Witnesses reported seeing a large emergency services presence in the area.

Events

Aston Villa lost their appeal over Jhon Duran's red card in their 3-0 defeat to Newcastle United on Boxing Day and the club have reacted angrily to the decision

Politics

Nick Smith, 65, and 55-year-old Roy Quaden, who were competing on separate boats, have lost their lives amid poor weather conditions on the race’s course

Sport

Hundreds have gathered in Hong Kong to watch the city’s first pyrotechnics drone show, as part of a campaign to raise support and awareness of panda conservation

Events

Critics accused the prime minister of chasing a ‘regulatory race to the bottom’ and urged him to pursue closer ties with Europe instead

Politics

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

The Norwegian royal family have broken their silence after allegations of rape emerged against the Marius Høiby, confessing they have sought 'professional help' during the 'challenging year'. 

Events

Put your vision to the test by trying a challenge that requires "sniper-like" vision – to complete the test, you must find two deer hiding in the image. See how long it takes you

Politics

If you're struggling to fall asleep at night then you might want to try a quick hack that could help you drift off in no time - and it's something the military swear by

Events

Brenda Fricker is best known for starring as the homeless woman in Home Alone 2: Lost In New York back in 1992. 

Politics

Harry Maguire claimed Man United weren't troubled by Wolves and yet they lost the Boxing Day clash at Molineux 2-0.

Events

A French-style tart stuffed with a zippy pistachio paste and covered in soft leeksWhenever I think of galettes, I think of my friend Henrietta Inman, who left London to set up Wakelyns bakery in Suffolk. Ever since she showed me how to make them, galettes have been my go-to when I need to whip up something impressive and beautiful, but also actually quite easy, and with a reasonably large margin for flexibility when it comes to ingredients and error, especially if, like me, you don’t consider yourself to be a particularly good pastry chef. Today’s recipe is a homage to some of my favourite greens: leeks, chives, pistachios and jalapeño chillies, to help usher in the New Year with a fresh dose of optimism. Continue reading...

Politics

Warning: This story contains distressing images

Events

Spotify’s end-of-year summary (other streaming services are available, of course) is our chance to show off how much cool stuff we listened to this year. So what do the stars’ top track lists look like? And what were their guilty pleasures?Britain’s 2024 Eurovision entrant Continue reading...

Politics

The Mirror’s Christmas appeal is raising funds for Missing People which offers support to the families of people who have disappeared, and helps those who have gone missing reunite with their loved ones

Events

Eagle-eyed royal watchers have noted the likeness between Prince George and his father Prince William once more, after the Wales family attended church in Sandringham.

Politics

Americans have been gripped by the sightings of dozens of drones in the skies above New Jersey and New York with many conspiracy theories being shared to explain the phenomenon

Events

A holistic doctor has said there's one thing you should be adding to your bath for extra relaxation – and it could even help you to drift off to sleep faster after a chaotic Christmas period

Politics

Haunting video from Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243 showed the pained final moments of those on board before the deadly crash near Aktau in Kazakhstan on Christmas Day.

Events

Nigel Farage said Elon Musk is ‘an absolute hero figure’ for the younger generation and would be a ‘huge help’ in connecting them with Reform UK

Politics

A YouTuber has gone offshort to investigate the mysterious drone sightings over New Jersey which have sparked widespread speculation.

Events

Two huge orbs could be seen over a major city in new footage acquired by conspiracy theorists online, the latest in strange drone developments over recent weeks

Politics

Zla Mavka movement – meaning ‘wicked forest spirit’ – drops fake rouble notes bearing pro-Ukrainian images and shares messages of solidarityOn 8 March 2023, International Women’s Day, Russian soldiers were handing out tulips and boughs of mimosa to women and girls in the city of Melitopol, southern Ukraine – a move designed to promote friendly relations between the occupiers and the inhabitants.But the night before, someone had been discreetly sticking posters to walls and lamp-posts. They bore the image of a young Ukrainian woman, dressed in a traditional embroidered shirt, smashing a bouquet over a Russian soldier’s head. “I don’t want flowers,” read the slogan. “I want my Ukraine.” Continue reading...

Events

If you're planning to start your fitness journey in the new year but find the idea of joining a gym daunting, at home workouts can be a great place to start and this equipment will help

Politics

People couldn't help but laugh after hearing what a man wants to name his son - as his girlfriend vows to divorce him in the future if he tries to go along with it

Events

There are 29 formations in EA FC 25, but there are some that perform better than others, helping you play better in-game.

Politics

At MSF’s pioneering centre in Amman, Jordan, the dedicated team deal with lives that have already been saved. Here they make those lives worth livingAs a sign of commitment to peace, help us support those affected by war | Kath VinerDonate to our charity appeal hereA girl slips through the corridors of the hospital’s fifth floor with her friend, the pair bright-eyed and shy. Today is her last chance to wear her sparkly new shoes, bought for a party last week. Tomorrow, the 12-year-old Iraqi will have a leg amputated.The operation was due two weeks ago but the surgeon, who had tried not to weep as he broke the news that amputation was necessary, agreed to delay surgery. She wanted the chance to wear her new shoes to the party first. Continue reading...

Events

If you’re too daunted to join a gym or want to avoid pricey memberships, these handy pieces of at-home workout equipment can help you kick off your January fitness journey

Politics

Splott Community Volunteers, in Cardiff, has been running for a number of years and many of the volunteers found that giving back over that time has helped them grow

Events

TV personality Alison Hammond has spoken about her weight loss journey while addressing the rumours surrounding Ozempic.

Politics

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

The Inter and Denmark player wins the award for her climate activism and being behind an open letter to Fifa regarding Saudi Arabia’s human rights issuesThe Guardian Footballer of the Year is an award given to a player who has done something remarkable, whether by overcoming adversity, helping others or setting a sporting example by acting with exceptional honesty.If the football had not worked out, perhaps Sofie Junge Pedersen could have run away to the circus. When her after-school youth club in Aarhus put on its annual week of performances there was one challenge that struck her in particular: the chance to juggle with fire torches and mock knives. “It was quite serious,” she laughs. “We practised a lot beforehand and I thought it would be fun. I just wanted to be the best.” So it proved and there is no evidence that anyone has beaten the time she set, aged 13, for keeping the two airborne simultaneously. Continue reading...

Politics

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

'Offences such as this will not be tolerated'

Events