2 hours ago Solo traveller feels 'unsettled' after hotel receptionist commits one blunder

A female solo traveller shared her fear after the manager of the hotel she was staying in shared important information about her stay, making her feel rather unsettled

Politics

13 hours ago Rachel Reeves 'eyes hotel tax' to bolster UK's coffers: Families are facing surcharge on holidays to foot bill for Labour's economic chaos

Treasury officials are thought to have done 'modelling exercises' over the impact of introducing a 'tourist tax' similar to that in France as part of efforts by Rachel Reeves to stabilise finances

Economics

15 hours ago James Rodríguez is a player out of time who brings his best to international stage | Jonathan Wilson

The 2024 Golden Boot winner flopped at Everton and faded away at Real Madrid but is still a maestro for ColombiaOn Monday, Rayo Vallecano released James Rodríguez on a free transfer. It hadn’t been much of a stay. In four and a half months at the club, he managed 136 minutes of league football. Only once did he start in La Liga. Rodríguez is 33 now. Since he left Everton in 2021, he has started just 37 league games and scored only 10 goals. This is the sixth season in a row in which he has been released on a free transfer as he has drifted from Real Madrid to the team currently 12th in the table, via Qatar, Greece and Brazil. The sense is of a waning career nearing its end.And yet in those three and a half years since his last game for Everton, Rodríguez has played 32 times for Colombia. While at Rayo, he has played 374 international minutes. True, he doesn’t often last a full game, but there are few other indications of decline. As Colombia reached the final of last year’s Copa Amé...

Sport

36 minutes ago Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim slams landlords taking advantage of LA wildfires

Selling Sunset star Jason Oppenheim said landlords were breaking the law by taking advantage of a natural disaster which has left thousands of people without a place to stay

Events

3 hours ago Humiliation as Brexit bankroller Arron Banks refused US entry to own Donald Trump party

Brexit bankroller and Nigel Farage pal Arron Banks is unable to attend his own £150,000 party celebrating Donald Trump's return to the White House after being denied US entry

Politics

20 hours ago Chelsea's Marc Guehi transfer stalls as Enzo Maresca forced to delay move

Chelsea are pushing to sign Crystal Palace captain Marc Guehi in this month's transfer window, but the defender now looks set to stay at Selhurst Park until at least the summer

Sport

14 hours ago Khloe Kardashian says 'brighter days will come' as she prays for LA amid devastating fires

'Through every challenge, we find new strength. Stay safe, help each other, and remember that brighter days will come. I'm praying for us all,' she posted to her Instagram Stories.

Events

3 hours 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

22 hours ago Netflix fans 'stay up all night' to watch 'utterly mesmerising' romcom dubbed 'the best comfort TV you can stream'

The small-screen adaptation of Robyn Carr's bestselling book series first launched in 2019 and follows midwife Melinda 'Mel' Monroe (Alexandra).

Sport

15 hours ago Love Island's Luca Bish vows to stay out of the drama after 'dark' first series

The 2022 runner-up, who split with Gemma Owen three months after the show, says he's rusty when it comes to the dating game

Events

15 hours ago Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford divorce update addressed by 'shocked' pal Amanda Holden

Amanda Holden has shared her sadness over Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford's divorce, after it was reported that the latter plans to throw a party when the split is finalised

Events

3 hours ago Prince Harry left 'so ashamed' after making mistake dubbed the 'biggest of his life'

It is exactly 20 years ago since Prince Harry caused outrage after wearing a Nazi uniform to a fancy dress party - and he later admitted the incident was one of the 'biggest mistakes' of his life

Politics

18 hours ago Five 'are fighting for life' and dozens injured as trams crash into each other in major incident at Strasbourg station

 At least 20 people were injured when two trams collided in Strasbourg in eastern France, French media said on Saturday.

Events

5 hours ago UK government to crack down on MPs earning extra cash from media firms

Jacob Rees-Mogg and Nigel Farage are among those who have earned large sums from broadcasters, but a tightening of rules on MPs’ outside interests is being consideredMPs would no longer be able to rake in huge sums that can see them more than double their ­parliamentary ­salaries by signing contracts with media outlets, under plans being ­considered by ministers.The Observer has been told that ­talks on further ­tightening rules on MPs’ ­outside interests, ­including media contracts, will be started by leader of the House of Commons, Lucy Powell, at a hearing of the all-party standards committee on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

19 hours ago Major incident in Strasbourg as dozens injured in horror tram smash at station

Emergency services raced to Gare Centrale station in Strasbourg, in the east of France, after the alarm was raised earlier today.

Events

5 hours ago The legendary 2005 albums: From Madonna and Kanye West to Bloc Party and Hard

What came out 20 years ago is more relevant than ever, according to the charts - so let’s get contemporarily nostalgic

Politics

20 hours ago Five years ago, a missing Montana teen was found dead and officials ruled there was no foul play. Now, a man has been charged in her death

Sixteen-year-old Selena Not Afraid vanished on the way home from a New Year’s party in 2020. Now a man has been charged in her death, and Selena’s aunt tells Andrea Cavallier that she’s ready to hear the whole story of what happened that day.

Events

7 hours ago Nigel Farage front and centre, 40 Senedd seats and sweeping changes. Reform UK's bold claims to rule Wales

Their Welsh spokesman said they will be a credible party of government in Wales

Politics

20 hours ago Strasbourg tram crash sparks major incident as dozens injured in horror station smash

Around 30 people have been hurt after two trams collided in Strasbourg, France, earlier today, as emergency teams get to work on the injured in the area

Events

13 hours ago Elon Musk and Dominic Cummings 'in plot to sabotage UK politics': Former No 10 adviser is helping orchestrate Tesla billionaire's attacks on Keir Starmer, government sources claim

Boris Johnson's former No 10 adviser is planning a new 'StartUp Party' which he hopes will smash the traditional Westminster system and is understood to be communicating with Mr Musk on WhatsApp.

Politics

23 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

13 hours ago Elon Musk and Dominic Cummings 'in plot to sabotage UK politics': As controversial ex

Boris Johnson's former No 10 adviser is planning a new 'StartUp Party' which he hopes will smash the traditional Westminster system and is understood to be communicating with Mr Musk on WhatsApp.

Politics

23 hours ago Rod Stewart's personal trainer shares three exercise rules to stay fit like a rockstar

The rockstar has just turned 80 - and is still fit as he runs around the stage

Events

14 hours ago Naomi Campbell, 54, shares rare snaps of daughter, 3, and son, 12 months, during family ski trip

Naomi Campbell shared a rare snap of herself and her children as she enjoyed a relaxing family getaway on Saturday. 

Politics

23 hours ago Nigel Farage reported to Commons authorities over grooming gang donation claims

The Reform UK leader was accused of a potential breach of the MPs’ code of conduct, after he made comments about fundraising for the party - of which he is the largest shareholder

Events

17 hours ago Majority of Britons believe Musk having negative impact on UK politics

More voters think tech tycoon’s comments on grooming gangs are unhelpful than those who back himMore than half of voters think Elon Musk is having a negative effect on British politics following his criticism of Keir Starmer and Nigel Farage, according to the latest Opinium poll for the Observer.The South African-born billionaire has spent much of the past week using his social media platform X to attack Starmer and the Labour government for their opposition to another national inquiry into grooming gangs. He accused Jess Phillips, the safeguarding minister, of being a “rape genocide apologist” and falsely claimed Starmer was “deeply complicit in the mass rapes in exchange for votes”. Despite strong suggestions that Musk is preparing to make a large donation to Reform UK, he also recently tore into Nigel Farage, saying he was not up to the job of leading the party. Continue reading...

Politics

26 hours ago BREAKING: British woman in her 20s plunges to her death in horror 500ft rock climbing fall in Spain

The woman was killed after she plunged 500ft in Malaga, a popular Brit tourist resort, while her male friend was able to make a miraculous escape and was rescued

Events

17 hours ago Gloom and pessimism take hold of Democrats as they look for new leaders

Questions about the viability of a female presidential candidate rise after a crushing presidential defeatDemocrats are harboring strong feelings of stress and gloom as the new year begins. And many are questioning whether their party’s commitment to diverse candidates – especially women – may lead to further political struggles as Donald Trump is sworn in for a second presidency on 20 January.A recent poll from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research finds that a significant number of Democrats believe that it may be decades before the United States will get its first female president. Continue reading...

Politics

26 hours ago British woman in her 20s plunges to her death in horror 500ft rock climbing fall in Spain

The woman was killed after she plunged 500ft in Malaga, a popular Brit tourist resort, while her male friend was able to make a miraculous escape and was rescued

Events

17 hours ago Kevin Nancekivell backs Plymouth to stay up if they replicate Brentford display

Argyle are bottom of the Championship.

Politics

26 hours ago 'After 24 years reporting on crime this is the horrific case that will always stay with me'

Levi Bellfield, one of the most dangerous serial killers ever seen in Britain, stands out among them - it was the cruel psychological torture that he put victim's families through, says the Mirror's crime correspondent Tom Pettifor

Events

17 hours ago Edinburgh's bonus point win in Vannes puts them in driving seat in Challenge Cup

Sean Everitt’s side top Pool 3 and stay on course for a home tie in last 16

Politics

26 hours ago Fireball plane crash kills all except girl, 9, who was saved by cushion of seaweed

Erika Delgado was travelling with her parents to the Caribbean resort city of Cartagena when tragedy struck the DC-9 Intercontinental flight. She was the only survivor of the disaster

Events

17 hours ago Edinburgh Rugby reaction: 'Monkey off our backs' as win in France busts eight

Coach Everitt hopes his side have turned a corner

Politics

27 hours ago Why Mark Zuckerberg turned to Dana White to secure Maga’s favor | Karim Zidan

Zuckerberg’s appointment of the UFC supremo to Meta’s board appears to be a calculated move to solidify ties with Trump through one of his most influential alliesIn the four months since Donald Trump accused Mark Zuckerberg of conspiring against him during the 2020 presidential election and threatened him with life imprisonment, the Meta CEO has gone to great lengths to curry favor with the incoming president.Shortly after Trump’s victory in November, Zuckerberg traveled to Mar-a-Lago to dine with the president-elect and his transition team, even donating $1m to Trump’s inauguration fund. He has also culled Meta’s third party fact-checking program, lifting restrictions on topics like immigration and gender. And this week, Zuckerberg took his efforts to align with the incoming administration a step further by appointing Dana White – the CEO of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) and a close Trump ally – to Meta’s board of directors. Continue reading...

Events

18 hours ago Shrek 5 release date delayed for months as fans left 'in living hell' over news

Fans of the Shrek series were overjoyed when it was announced the franchise would be returning for a fifth instalment, although they've now been left disappointed by a fresh delay

Politics

28 hours ago Glasgow Warriors reaction: Ending takes shine off but Franco Smith glad to have something to work on

Coach pays tribute to groundstaff for ensuring game went ahead

Events

19 hours ago How to watch 2025 NFL Playoffs in the UK as Wild Card Weekend schedule confirmed

The 2025 NFL Playoffs are underway and some of American football's biggest franchises will be fighting it out for a place in Super Bowl 59, which will take place on February 9

Politics

28 hours ago Severance: it’s a gorgeously odd return for this surreal drama – if you can work out what’s happening

The clever, idiosyncratic satire of workplace culture returns for a visually stunning second season. But don’t expect its mysterious plot to go easy on viewersIn my early 20s, I worked for a pub that was half drinking establishment, half massive children’s soft play area. While adult intoxication and parties for under-10s sounds like an odd commercial pairing (or does it?), it did mean that the pub’s employees had to work hard, serving pints for the adults and, for the chosen few, dressing up as a giant bear and waving to the kids assembled for little Jack’s seventh birthday party. I bring this up because I still remember a poster on the wall of the bleak staffroom that read “A smile costs nothing”. We were sweating under a synthetic bear’s head while serving soggy chips for minimum wage, so surely I was the one to be the judge of that.Severance is that poster brought to life as prestige TV. The first season was a clever, original and surreal examination of bland yet passive-ag...

Events

19 hours ago Voices: Rachel Reeves is heading for the brick wall of an emergency Budget

The chancellor has only herself to blame for failing to give herself any escape routes from humiliation, writes John Rentoul

Politics

30 hours ago AP PHOTOS: Warm clothing, hot pot and even ice cream bars feature at China's Harbin ice fair

Faced with temperatures dipping to -30 Celsius (-22 Fahrenheit), visitors to China's wintertime resort city of Harbin often make a beeline for stalls selling padded clothing to augment their wardrobes.

Events

19 hours ago Monster of Avignon Dominique Pelicot's daughter Caroline Darian makes damning statement in first interview since his conviction in France's biggest

Caroline Darian remained a pillar by her mother's side during the grotesque trial of Dominique Pelicot, for raping and organising the mass rape of his wife, Gisèle.

Politics