83 minutes ago Britain is a weak link in Donald Trump’s new world order, so it needs to find friends fast | Will Hutton

Amid deepening debt and an onslaught by the president-elect, Labour must calm the markets, then think big economicallyIt’s certainly not 2008, nor even Truss 2022, but the men and women who move the financial markets are suddenly darkly pessimistic. Some of the private emails and WhatsApp messages circulating last week matched any efforts by Cassandra. The mood has turned against Britain.It is not one single thing, but a toxic mix. There is the prospect of a long period of stagflation, the consequence, as even the markets recognise, of 14 years of epic misgovernment. The problem now is partly that Labour does not have a plausible growth story, partly that the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, is painted as having an economic tin ear that douses capitalist animal spirits, and partly because Trump’s arrival has exposed just how dependent an indebted, economically wounded Britain is on the kindness of strangers. It’s not yet a crisis – the stock market has held up – but without some skilful e...

Politics

23 hours ago Furious family kicked out of illegally built home after dodging council tax for 11 YEARS when mum's friend 'tells on them' to council

A family in Horspath, Oxfordshire have been given 12 months to find a new home after the local council were told they were living in a log cabin which was built without planning permission.

Society

2 hours ago Five sunny destinations for January travel – including hotspot with £17.99 flights

There are plenty of places to visit in January which are hot and perfect for a break away. Now Skyscanner shared its top picks for a last-minute holiday with cheap prices

Economics

9 hours ago Friends who turned tiddlywinks into a competitive sport mark 70 years of club

They established competitive rules, wrote a thesis ‘The Science Of Tiddlywinks’ and coined new terminology.

Sport

6 hours ago California fires: 16 killed and 10,000 structures destroyed as blazes continue

Strong winds and low humidity continue as five fires rage across Los Angeles area, with death toll expected to riseLos Angeles fires: the damage in maps, video and imagesWeather forecasters in Los Angeles were expecting fast, dry winds to return towards the end of the weekend, threatening to fuel wildfires that have already destroyed 10,000 structures and killed 16 people.Urgent “red flag” alerts – meaning critical fire weather conditions – announced by the US National Weather Service (NWS) said moderate to strong wind and low humidity would continue on Friday morning, as five fires raged across the metropolis. Continue reading...

Events

11 hours ago India headteacher forces 100 'humiliated' schoolgirls to remove shirts after 'Pen Day' celebration

Around 100 schoolgirls at a school in Dhanbad, India, were ordered to remove their uniform tops after their pen day celebrations, when friends write on their outfits

Culture

21 hours ago Protection zone set up after bird flu outbreak in Angus area of Scotland

Scottish government stresses risk to public is low, as chief veterinary officer says it is first outbreak since 2023A protection zone has been set up after an outbreak of bird flu in Angus, Scotland’s chief veterinary officer has said.On Friday night, Sheila Voas said a 10km (6.8 mile) surveillance zone had also been declared around the area as well as the 3km protection zone in Kirriemuir after a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) was reported. Continue reading...

Science

83 minutes ago The 10 rules of friendship: show up, go beyond banter, learn the boring details

Writers, therapists and academics give advice on how to make, and strengthen, meaningful bonds with mates and friendsEmma Reed Turrell, psychotherapist, author and host of the podcast Friendship TherapyYou can keep balance in friendship by showing your working out, rather than making assumptions and mind-reading. This might sound like: “I’d like to invite you to a party but I’m wondering if it might not be your thing and I want you to know that you can absolutely say no, or just come for an hour.” That way you get to express your wish and your friend gets to be honest in their choices, rather than people-please you or dodge the question. Look for the ‘both/and’ of a balanced friendship, rather than an ‘either/or’ situation, and negotiate how to both get what you need from your communication styles or time together, rather than create a one-way street in which one of you is always keeping the other happy. Not everyone wants a two-way street in friendship and you might find you get pu...

Politics

8 hours ago Devastated Lily Allen checks in to £8,000 per week US trauma clinic as she 'spirals out of control' following collapse of her marriage

Lily Allen has checked into an £8,000-a-week trauma treatment centre after telling friends she was close to a nervous breakdown after the collapse of her marriage.

Economics

10 hours ago Mikel Arteta urges Arsenal fans to stick with him in quest for silverware

The Gunners welcome FA Cup holders Manchester United in a blockbuster third-round tie on Sunday.

Sport

7 hours ago James Norton goes back to his roots as he returns to idyllic hometown cinema for charity screening... before helping to clean up afterwards!

British acting heartthrob James Norton chose The Palace Independent Cinema in his home town Malton, North Yorkshire, for a private charity screening for family and friends before Christmas.

Events

83 minutes ago Méribel: how to stay, ski and party in France's prettiest Alpine resort

Offering excellent skiing, eating and a plethora of 5-star hotels, Méribel is the perfect destination for a winter break

Politics

13 hours ago Ninja shoppers race to buy £15 kitchen gadget that 'rivals professional TV chefs'

"With a single press, this device chops things faster than a chef on This Morning."

Economics

14 hours ago Outlander fans 'getting so tired' as season 7 finale won’t air for another week in major schedule shake

Fans of the hit Starz drama Outlander were left disappointed when the season seven finale failed to air this Friday

Sport

11 hours ago California fires live: governor doubles national guard in LA as firefighters arrive from Mexico and Canada

Palisades and Eaton fires start coming under control as fierce winds ease but forecasters predict another red flag warning for MondayFull report evacuation orders expand as Santa Ana winds set to pick upHow the climate crisis fuels devastating wildfiresLos Angeles fires: the damage in maps, video and imagesThe LA fire department issued a new immediate evacuation order at 7pm local time on Friday for the Palisades fire. It affects the following areas:It covers Sunset Boulevard north to Encino Reservoir and from the 405 Freeway west to Mandeville Canyon.The fires, coupled with strong winds, have severely degraded air quality by releasing hazardous smoke and particulate matter, posing immediate and long-term risks to public health. Continue reading...

Events

1 hour ago Emma Raducanu: New physical trainer Yutaka Nakamura perfect fit for travel team

The 22-year-old hired Nakamura late last year to work alongside coach Nick Cavaday.

Politics

18 hours ago 'Versatile' Amazon electric heater branded 'perfect for small rooms' has price slashed to £34

Lots of us are using the January sales to keep ourselves warm during the current cold snap.

Economics

23 hours ago Four must watch series with near perfect scores to stream in a weekend before their new seasons

Several shows are set to return to Sky and Now's streaming platform but you can quickly catch up on some of the best series before then

Sport

12 hours ago Irish woman, 21, dies after falling 500 feet while male friend grabs onto bush

The victim died after falling from the infamous Caminito del Rey pathway, close to El Chorro village in Malaga, where another person also fell to their death less than a month ago.

Events

2 hours ago Raducanu: New physical trainer Yutaka Nakamura a perfect fit for travel team

The 22-year-old hired Nakamura late last year to work alongside coach Nick Cavaday.

Politics

19 hours ago White House working on hostage release deal between Hamas and Israel, says CIA director

Donald Trump hopes agreement will take place before his inauguration amid renewed optimismThe White House is working to reach a hostage deal between Israel and Hamas before president-elect Trump’s inauguration, William Burns, the director of the CIA, has suggested.“Negotiations going on right now are quite serious and do offer the possibility, at least, of getting this done in the next couple of weeks,” Burns said in an interview with National Public Radio on Friday. “This administration worked very hard at that right up until 20 January. I think the coordination with the new administration on this issue has been good. President-elect Trump has made clear his interest in trying to get a deal, you know, before his inauguration.” Continue reading...

Economics

28 hours ago Student films quest to become a pro rugby player like best friend Louis Rees

Isaac Marsh is a talented inside centre who wants to become a professional rugby player

Sport

12 hours ago Matthew Perry’s LA home where he died saved by neighbors amid Palisades fire

Late ‘Friends’ star’s home was purchased last October by film producer and real estate developer Anita Verma-Lallian for $8.5 million

Events

2 hours ago All the ways to learn a language for free in 2025 including French and Spanish

MoneyMagpie Editor and financial expert Vicky Parry reveals how you can stick to your New Year’s resolution to learn a new language – without spending a penny

Politics

19 hours ago Has Karen Bass become LA's most hated woman? Tears turn to anger as mayor is blasted by her own fire chief for $17m funding cut

Kirstin Crowley took aim at the city's leadership during an interview with KTTV on Friday, admitting it had failed those affected by the fires and prevented the LAFD from effectively doing its job.

Economics

13 hours ago British woman, 20, dies after falling 500 feet while male friend grabs onto bush

The victim died after falling from the infamous Caminito del Rey pathway, close to El Chorro village in Malaga, where another person also fell to their death less than a month ago.

Events

2 hours ago Sunday with Jo Malone: ‘I’m always wearing four or five different fragrances’

The perfumer and her husband enjoy life in Dubai, with its silk shops, water workouts, large lunches and friends who are like familyUp early? I’m not the earliest of risers, but I live in Dubai and can walk to the beach for sunrise at 6.30am. Other than people, I miss nothing about home – my husband Gary and I feel as if we’re living our senior gap year.Sunday breakfast? A green juice and a red juice but, if I’m hungover, it’s eggs Benedict. Continue reading...

Politics

14 hours ago BBC The Traitors bosses hailed as geniuses thanks to 'Golden Cloak Award' stunt

BBC's The Traitors saw one of its faithful players banished after the traitors failed to agree on who to send home on Friday night, with Linda narrowly escaping a similar fate

Events

3 hours ago Micah Richards confronted Jamie Carragher in Sky Sports studio after he 'put the knife in'

Micah Richards and Jamie Carragher are the best of friends on television, but there was one stage where the Manchester City legend had something to get off his chest

Politics

15 hours ago 'British' woman, 20, dies after falling 500 feet while male friend grabs onto bush

The victim died after falling from the infamous Caminito del Rey pathway, close to El Chorro village in Malaga, where another person also fell to their death less than a month ago.

Events

4 hours ago Disney worker vanished after wife buried him in garden and blamed daughter, 7

Michael Shaver, 36, from Florida, was reported missing by a friend three years after he was last seen - his wife Laurie Shaver had told people he'd left her for another woman

Politics

16 hours ago Dennis Quaid emotionally reveals ‘many of his friends have lost’ their homes in the Los Angeles wildfires

Billy Crystal, Adam Brody, Paris Hilton, and Miles Teller are among the list of A-listers who’ve lost their homes in the fires

Events

16 hours ago Friend of British hiker missing in Italy voices ‘acceptance’ as search continues

Joe Stone says authorities ‘trying everything’ to find Aziz Ziriat after body of Sam Harris discovered on WednesdayA close friend of a British hiker who has been missing in the Dolomites since New Year’s Day has said “there is an acceptance that it won’t be good news” as search efforts continued.Sam Harris, 35, and Aziz Ziriat, 36, from London, last sent messages home on 1 January and the pair did not check in to their flight home on 6 January. Friends and relatives have travelled to Italy. Continue reading...

Events

7 hours ago Politicians quibbling as LA burns: Gavin Newsom’s latest beef with Trump

California governor calls president-elect’s claim that water is being withheld from southern California ‘delusional’Gavin Newsom, California’s Democratic governor, appeared briefly to put his long-running feud with Donald Trump to one side on Friday, when he invited the president-elect to Los Angeles to survey devastation from the wildfires and meet with first responders, firefighters and the “Americans” affected.“In the spirit of this great country, we must not politicize human tragedy or spread disinformation from the sidelines,” Newsom wrote in a letter to Trump on Friday. “Hundreds of thousands of Americans – displaced from their homes and fearful for the future – deserve to see all of us working in their best interests to ensure a fast recovery and rebuild.” Continue reading...

Politics

16 hours ago Iran unveils underground 'missile city' that houses rockets to be used in attacks on Israel in chilling footage

Chilling footage broadcast by Iranian media on Friday showed the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander inspecting an underground missile facility.

Events

8 hours ago Only people with perfect vision can see ink spillage in busy brainteaser

You've got just 13 seconds to find the minuscule ink spill in this brainteaser to prove you have perfect 20/20 vision. Otherwise, a trip to the opticians might be on the cards

Politics

17 hours ago Germany battles to secure ‘Russian shadow fleet’ oil tanker adrift off northern coast

The Eventin was sailing from Russia to Egypt with 100,000 tonnes of oil when its engine failed and it lost ability to manoeuvreGermany is battling to secure a heavily loaded tanker stranded off its northern coast, which it says is part of Russia’s sanctions-busting “shadow fleet”.The 274-metre-long Eventin was sailing from Russia to Egypt with almost 100,000 tonnes of oil on board when its engine failed and it lost the ability to manoeuvre overnight Thursday to Friday, according to Germany’s central command for maritime emergencies. Continue reading...

Events

10 hours ago Britain's three more days in the freezer! Country shivers through coldest January night in 15 years

Cold-weather health warnings were extended until Tuesday as much of the country endured below-zero temperatures, with -18.9C (-2F) recorded in Altnaharra, Scotland on Friday night.

Politics

19 hours ago Search for Briton missing in Dolomites continues as friend shares fears

A university friend of missing Aziz Ziriat said: ‘There is an acceptance among us that it’s not going to be good news.’

Events

13 hours ago Mum with 'perfect vision' who hadn't had eye test in 25 years handed devastating diagnosis after routine appointment

Hannah Quigley-McKie, 39, suddenly experienced 'flashing' in her vision

Politics

20 hours ago Ons Jabeur: ‘Kids are dying everywhere in Ukraine or Gaza. I have to speak out and use my platform’

Former world No 2 shares her struggles with seeing suffering in Palestine and how she is working with the World Food Programme to help Few players wear their heart on their sleeve as much as Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian, whose sublime skills and smile have lit up the women’s Tour over the past decade, reached the Wimbledon final in 2022 and 2023 and earned herself the nickname Minister of Happiness.But somewhere along the way, Jabeur lost the joy. Keen to start a family, she had told herself that if she won Wimbledon in 2023, that would be the perfect time to take a break. It didn’t happen – she lost to Marketa Vondrousova – and so continued playing. But injuries, illness and the scenes of human suffering in Gaza made her struggle over the past year. Continue reading...

Events

15 hours ago The Observer view: Donald Trump’s imperial bullying must be nipped in the bud | Observer editorial

Countries that cherish democratic values need to take a stand against the president-elect’s throwback to unabashed American expansionismWatching politicians promise one thing, then do another, is a common experience in all democratic countries. Situations in which voters do not expect a politician to keep his word, and in many instances fervently hope and pray he will not, are rarer. Donald Trump, the US president-elect, fits this latter category. When Trump threatens to subjugate Canada, a Nato ally, by force, unilaterally annex Greenland, the autonomous territory of a friendly EU state, and override Panama’s sovereignty for bogus security reasons, most people assume he is not serious and his remarks carry little real significance. This response, while comforting, is a mistake.It’s entirely possible that Trump, pumped with hype, hot air and testosterone in the lead-up to his 20 January inauguration, is being gratuitously disruptive. He likes to shake things up. It amuses his Make A...

Politics

20 hours ago Ons Jabeur: ‘Kids are dying everywhere in Ukraine or Gaza. I have to speak out’

Former world No 2 shares her struggles with seeing suffering in Palestine and how she is working with the World Food Programme to help Few players wear their heart on their sleeve as much as Ons Jabeur. The Tunisian, whose sublime skills and smile have lit up the women’s Tour over the past decade, reached the Wimbledon final in 2022 and 2023 and earned herself the nickname Minister of Happiness.But somewhere along the way, Jabeur lost the joy. Keen to start a family, she had told herself that if she won Wimbledon in 2023, that would be the perfect time to take a break. It didn’t happen – she lost to Marketa Vondrousova – and so continued playing. But injuries, illness and the scenes of human suffering in Gaza made her struggle over the past year. Continue reading...

Events

17 hours ago Freezing dog found abandoned in boot of smashed car during subzero temperatures

The canine was abandoned in icy conditions following the smash on Friday.

Politics

20 hours ago America knows her as the woman set on fire by a migrant on the subway. She was my best friend

Mark Monteyne, 57, who was close friends with Debbie Kawam, said she was a much-loved cheerleader, pancake house waitress and the life and soul of the party before her life took a turn.

Events

17 hours ago Emma Connolly showcases chic maternity style with Mango's knitted set that's perfect for winter

Emma Connolly is expecting her second child, and the stylish mum-to-be has been giving us some serious inspiration with her winter maternity outfits - including a knitted two-piece from Mango

Politics

21 hours ago Watch: Helicopters battle flames as Palisades fire burns on Santa Monica mountains

Aerial footage shows helicopters battling the Palisades Fire in California’s Santa Monica Mountains into the night on Friday (10 January).

Events

18 hours ago Zuck 2.0: What's really behind Mark Zuckerberg's startling transformation from meek Democrat darling to cage

Mark Zuckerberg sat down with podcaster Joe Rogan for three hours on Friday and barely mentioned his newfound support of President-elect Donald Trump. Could this be Zuck 2.0?

Politics

21 hours ago Lynx released illegally into Highlands has died overnight, keepers say

The big cat was one of a second pair to be captured near the the Dell of Killiehuntly on Friday.

Events

20 hours ago Matt Smith packs on the PDA as he kisses mystery woman while on holiday in Rio de Janeiro

The Doctor Who star, 42, was seen locking lips with an unknown brunette before the couple also embraced while on holiday in Rio de Janeiro on Friday.

Politics

22 hours ago BBC star who appeared on Jonathan Ross show dies suddenly after flu illness

Kerry Wilson, 56, who was also known by her stage name Kerry Kathleen, died on Friday, January 3 after being placed into an induced coma from which she never recovered

Events

20 hours ago Claudia Winkleman shares Princess Anne’s unlikely connection to The Traitors

TV host is known for her bold fashion choices and iconic fringe

Politics

23 hours ago Greggs padlocks drinks cabinet in bid to stop shoplifters targeting London store

The budget bakery locked the section, leaving bottles of Coke and Lucozade inaccessible to customers

Events