1 hour ago Energy companies: best and worst UK energy firms revealed in Which? 2025 survey

Find out which energy providers are winning customer satisfaction in 2025 and who’s falling short ⚡️

Politics

17 hours ago Concern ‘growing’ for family with young children reported missing in Edinburgh

Anyone with information urged to contact police

Society

4 hours ago CAB Payments new boss says 'we can do more with less' as he cuts fifth of workforce

'As part of the increased focus on performance we are taking significant steps to re-align the cost base to our strategic growth plans; meaning we can do more with less'

Economics

26 hours ago Liverpool and Arsenal's next six fixtures that may decide Premier League title race

Liverpool and Arsenal are set to face a defining period in the Premier League title race after the Gunners closed the gap on their rivals to just four points

Sport

73 minutes ago Danger to life UK wildfires could last 7 days sparking evacuations, Government warns as Los Angeles fires burn

The alarm was raised about the growing risk of wildfires as the planet warms

Events

5 hours ago Remembering David Lynch’s musical legacy: 10 songs to go beyond the films

The loss of singular talent and visionary filmmaker David Lynch is not only felt in the world of cinema, but music, where he had inextricable influence on multiple generations of artists. Maria Sherman runs through the 10 best songs to remember his legacy

Culture

18 hours ago Moon put on 'endangered' list over fears Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos could ruin it

The Moon has been put on a list of endangered sites over fears linked to the growth of private lunar missions funded by Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and other tech pioneers

Technology

24 hours ago The women's health problems that men suffer too: From breast cancer to osteoporosis and UTIs, they're surprisingly common but little known... here are the symptoms so many miss

Osteoporosis, breast cancer, even bladder infections are all health conditions we normally associate with women. Yet they can affect men too and a lack of awareness could be fatal.

Science

2 hours ago Brits are selecting their next holiday destination based on this one thing

A new survey has found that Brits are quite the foodies when they go away with cuisine one of the top reasons for choosing a holiday destination

Politics

20 hours ago Rudy Giuliani fails to show for trial to allocate property in defamation case

Trial, to decide if he has to turn over Florida condo and World Series rings for $148.1 defamation award, was delayedRudy Giuliani’s trial over whether he must turn over his Florida condo and other prized possessions to former Georgia election workers whom he defamed was delayed on Thursday after the former New York City mayor failed to show up in court.A jury ordered the former New York City mayor to pay $148.1m to Ruby Freeman and her daughter Shaye Moss in 2023 after Giuliani falsely accused the women of attempting to steal the 2020 presidential election in Georgia. Continue reading...

Society

4 hours ago HMRC workers to strike in pay dispute just days before tax return deadline

'If the Government was serious about its pre-election pledge to bring in the ‘biggest wave of insourcing in a generation’ now is the chance to end the scandal of a two-tier workforce'

Economics

30 hours ago Liverpool and Arsenal's crucial next six fixtures in Premier League title race as gap narrows

Liverpool have won three of their last seven matches in all competitions and there are fears Arne Slot's men could be in the middle of a blip for the first time this season, with Arsenal chasing them down

Sport

2 hours ago Extreme wildfires in UK would spark evacuations, Government warns as Los Angeles fires burn

The alarm was raised about the growing risk of wildfires as the planet warms

Events

13 hours ago Remembering David Lynch's musical legacy: 10 songs to go beyond the films

The loss of singular talent and visionary filmmaker David Lynch is not only felt in the world of cinema, but music, where he had inextricable influence on multiple generations of artists

Culture

25 hours ago The women's health problems that men suffer too: From breast cancer to osteoporosis and UTIs they're surprisingly common but little known... here are the symptoms that so many miss

Osteoporosis, breast cancer , even bladder infections are all health conditions we normally associated with women. Yet they can affect men too and a lack of awareness could be fatal.

Science

2 hours ago Best 20 theme park attractions ranked: Nemesis at Alton Towers is named the world's best ride by adrenaline

The Stoke-on-Trent park's famous ride - first opened in March 1994 - tops a ranking produced by a survey of 2,000 people who were asked to reveal their favourite attractions from around the world.

Politics

24 hours ago Finally, a cure for screen addiction that's turning our teens into the basket case generation: Respected neuroscientist's solution offers hope for despairing parents

The research is clear: screens are making us stupid. And the ones suffering the most are Gen Z and Gen Alpha. But there's hope, with experts saying they have found a cure to 'brain rot'.

Society

19 hours ago World Bank says the global is economy is growing steadily, but not fast enough to help ease poverty

The world economy is growing steadily in the face of global conflict, protectionist trade policies and high interest rates

Economics

2 hours ago China’s economy hits 5% growth target but rate among slowest in decades

Latter part of 2024 ‘recovered remarkably’ after stimulus measures, says National Bureau of StatisticsBusiness live – latest updatesChina’s economy grew by 5% in 2024, in line with government targets but at the slowest rate since 1990 outside the Covid pandemic, according to official data.Growth accelerated through the year, with an expansion of 5.4% in the final quarter, up from 4.6% in the third quarter, according to Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics. Continue reading...

Events

27 hours ago Africa has no shortage of celebrated writers – so why is it so hard for African readers to get hold of their books?

Across the continent books can be expensive and libraries scarce. But growing numbers of tech innovators and independent publishers are working to make African literature available and affordableTsitsi Dangarembga’s Nervous Conditions, a novel about growing up in colonial Zimbabwe, is one of the most important works of 20th-century African literature and features on university curricula across the UK. British students can order a used copy for less than £3.But there is one place readers struggle to find it: Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe and Dangeremba’s home town, even though it is published in paperback across the border in South Africa. “It’s very, very difficult to find my books anywhere in Zimbabwe,” says Dangarembga. Continue reading...

Culture

25 hours ago A giant US hospital chain says it’s leading the fight against medical debt. Not all patients agree

Many patients say they were harmed by Advocate Health’s billing and collection practices – even as the health system has canceled thousands of liens against patients’ homesAdvocate Health, one of America’s largest hospital chains, says it is working hard to confront one of the biggest problems in US healthcare today – promoting itself as “a leader in the effort to solve the nation’s medical debt crisis”.The non-profit hospital system says it has revamped its billing and collection practices and boosted the number of patients who qualify for charity care. In September 2024, it announced it would take the “bold step” of canceling thousands of debt judgments held as liens against patients’ homes in multiple states, including North Carolina, where the fast-growing chain is headquartered. Continue reading...

Science

2 hours ago Time to look at ‘alternatives’ to countryside solar, Tory former minister urges

The New Homes (Solar Generation) Bill was introduced to the Commons by the Liberal Democrats.

Politics

21 hours ago Fortress increases takeover bid for hospitality chain Loungers to £354m

Fortress Investment Group said it has now made a 325p-per-share offer to buy the fast-growing hospitality chain

Economics

2 hours ago ‘It’s going to be rough’: what Trump’s response to LA fires portends for future climate disasters

Big oil executive plans to celebrate Trump’s inauguration as California burns – though experts say climatic conditions are only getting more extremeDonald Trump’s response to the catastrophic wildfires in Los Angeles has provided a stark prologue to how his US presidency will likely handle the growing threat of such disasters – through acrimony, brutal dealmaking and dismissal of a climate crisis that is spurring a mounting toll of fires, floods and other calamities.As of Thursday, four fires, whipped up by wind speeds more typically found in hurricanes, have torched 63 sq miles (163 sq km) of Los Angeles, a burned area roughly three times the size of Manhattan, destroying more than 12,000 homes and businesses and killing at least 25 people. The Palisades and Eaton fires, the largest of the conflagrations that have turned entire neighborhoods to ash, are still to be fully contained. Continue reading...

Events

3 hours ago Chancellor Rachel Reeves urges regulators to 'tear down' red tape to promote growth

The under-pressure Chancellor and Business Secretary met with bosses of watchdogs covering the railways, water, energy, and aviation sectors on Thursday

Politics

23 hours ago Mortgage demand from home buyers expected to fall back in early 2025, lenders say

A recent Bank of England survey showed an uptick in mortgage requests in the last months of 2024, but projections point to a downward turn come the beginning of 2025

Economics

3 hours ago FTSE 100 hits record high as hopes are raised of an interest rate cut to stimulate growth

'US markets faltered after a blowout session the previous day, while the surprising upstart came in the form of the FTSE 100, which has set the early pace and blew past its previous record high in opening trade'

Events

4 hours ago William Hill parent company turnaround ‘working’ as profit set to beat forecasts

Evoke, which also owns the 888 gambling brands, expects to see booming revenue growth for the final part of 2024.

Politics

23 hours ago 'Transformational' boost for arts organisations, Angus Robertson claims, despite £33.5m funding gap

Culture secretary dismisses fears new investment will be spread ‘too thinly’ across industry

Economics

4 hours ago Burnout is more common among younger workers, according to a charity survey

A report on burnout has revealed that younger workers are more likely to feel stressed that their older colleagues - and found that fewer feel comfortable opening up to bosses about the pressure they are under

Events

7 hours ago An interesting speech full of hard truths? Kemi Badenoch is clearly rattled | Gaby Hinsliff

The Tory leader gave an address that was full of candour about her party’s failures. You can sense Nigel Farage’s delightWell, finally. Only eight years on from kneecapping the economy and crowing “you lost, get over it” at anyone impertinent enough to notice, a Conservative party leader has tacitly admitted the painfully obvious: Brexit was an act of wilful negligence by a government that dragged Britain out of its most important trading relationship “before we had a plan for growth outside the EU”. There wasn’t a considered Plan B, just a government frantically trying to catch itself up as it went along. And that’s only the start of it, Kemi Badenoch argued this week, in the first interesting thing the Conservative party has had to say to the nation since its bone-crushing defeat.Successive Conservative governments dating back to David Cameron’s had promised to get immigration down but hadn’t thought through how to do that either, she pointed out, and consequently achieved the opp...

Politics

25 hours ago House sales, prices and buyer inquiries up in December, surveyors report shows

'The signals from the survey around expectations over the next 12 months also remain solidly positive for now'

Economics

4 hours ago 'Call me the Iron Chancellor if you want,' says Rachel Reeves as she hits back at critics in City and Commons

Chancellor faces accusations that her Budget hit economic growth with the £25 billion hike in National Insurance on employers

Events

8 hours ago Elon Musk’s attempts to sway German and UK politics thought ‘unacceptable’ – poll

Exclusive: Majority polled by YouGov viewed billionaire negatively – except among Reform UK and AfD votersMost people in the UK and Germany consider Elon Musk’s efforts to influence their national politics unacceptable and believe the US tech magnate does not know much about either country or the issues they face, a poll has shown.The survey, by YouGov, follows a spate of hostile statements by the billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X attacking the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and their respective governments. Continue reading...

Politics

26 hours ago Millions of Brits will run out of cash in days as we're 'stretched to the limits'

The gap between December and January payday is a notoriously long one, with nearly two in five (37%) expected to completely run out of money before payday arrives

Economics

5 hours ago Moss Landing fire: One of the world’s largest battery factories ablaze

Concerns have grown about the air quality near California’s Moss Landing Power Plant after last night’s fire

Events

8 hours ago Elon Musk knows little about UK and Germany and should not interfere – poll

Exclusive: Majority polled by YouGov viewed billionaire negatively – except among Reform UK and AfD votersMost people in the UK and Germany consider Elon Musk’s efforts to influence their national politics unacceptable and believe the US tech magnate does not know much about either country or the issues they face, a poll has shown.The survey, by YouGov, follows a spate of hostile statements by the billionaire owner of Tesla, SpaceX and the social media platform X attacking the British prime minister, Keir Starmer, the German chancellor, Olaf Scholz, and their respective governments. Continue reading...

Politics

26 hours ago What does 0.1% economy growth really mean for you? How it affects jobs, saving money and more explained

A bank, a hiring firm and wealth managers weigh in on what economic growth means for everyday people

Economics

7 hours ago Speedier drug trials and better films: how AI is transforming businesses

From aviation to retail, many industries are already looking to artificial intelligence to improve productivityKeir Starmer this week announced a 50-point plan that aims to give the UK world leader status in artificial intelligence and grow the economy by as much as £47bn a year over a decade.The multibillion-pound investment, which seeks to create a 20-fold increase in the amount of AI computing power under public control by 2030, has been framed as a gamechanger for businesses and public organisations. Continue reading...

Events

11 hours ago Queensland woman seeks protective custody after being accused of poisoning child to grow social media following

Sunshine Coast mother, 34, appears in court charged with giving her one-year-old unauthorised prescription medicationsFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastA lawyer for a Queensland woman accused of poisoning her one-year-old girl with unnecessary medications to gain a social media profile is seeking protective custody for his client due to the publicity.The 34-year-old from the Sunshine Coast, who cannot be identified, appeared in Brisbane magistrates court on Friday wearing a long green police watchhouse top and green pants.Sign up for Guardian Australia’s breaking news email Continue reading...

Politics

27 hours ago Lenders expect mortgage demand to shrink in early 2025, Bank of England finds

The latest survey findings point to the financial strain on households against a backdrop of continued inflationary pressures, one expert said.

Economics

10 hours ago Stock market today: Asian shares slip as China says economy hit 5% growth target in '24

Shares are mostly lower in Asia after China reported that its economy grew at a 5% annual pace last year, hitting the government's target but slowing from the year before

Events

12 hours ago One in three Gen Z workers have called in sick over stress recently... and far more than their older colleagues

Workers under the age of 25 were more likely to need time off because of poor mental health caused by stress than any other age group.

Politics

29 hours ago Deliveroo sees orders and spending grow after expanding shopping ranges

The boss of the delivery firm said it had been able to ‘bring even more of the neighbourhood to consumers’ doors’.

Economics

11 hours ago Shocking survey that shows young men now think THEY are the oppressed sex. And the revelations that show the chasm between the genders doesn't stop there...

With a high-powered job working in sales in London, 23-year-old Jasdeep Singh seems to have it all.

Events

13 hours ago Growing fears of Rachel Reeves launching ANOTHER pensions raid after 'radical' minister appointed in mini

Last night, the Treasury refused to rule out a further assault on pension savings after Torsten Bell was handed the job in a mini-reshuffle triggered by the resignation of City minister Tulip Siddiq.

Politics

30 hours ago CCTV images released after two tram station workers assaulted in three days

People are being urged to come forward

Economics

11 hours ago China's economy expands 5% in 2024, reaching target helped by strong exports, stimulus measures

China has reported that its economy expanded at a 5% annual pace in 2024, achieving Beijing’s target of “around 5%” growth helped by strong exports and recent stimulus measures

Events

16 hours ago The Ordinary’s new serum claims to address signs of ageing – but does it work?

The formula’s hero ingredient is set to make a big buzz in the skincare world in 2025

Politics

30 hours ago A 100% tax on Brits buying homes in Spain sounds satisfying – but it won’t solve our housing crisis | María Ramírez

Making visitors pay more may bolster Treasury revenues, but it’s no match for building more housesLast October, tens of thousands of people marched through Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia and other big Spanish cities demanding affordable housing. Protesters jingled keys to make noise, held signs denouncing “speculators”, and threatened a “rent strike” while calling for action from national and local politicians. They had good reason to be angry.Housing has become the most pressing concern for Spaniards, according to a December survey by the national polling centre, ranking higher than unemployment and migration. Look at the statistics and it’s clear why. The cost of renting in cities rose by around 30% between 2015 and 2022, forcing young workers to move to the outskirts of Madrid and Barcelona or settle for tiny, often barely habitable flats. In popular tourist regions like Valencia, Alicante and Málaga, rents have surged by 40%. For workers in the Balearic Islands, a commute by plane ...

Economics

17 hours ago Rudy Giuliani settles with defamed election workers after blowing off property seizure trial

Cash-strapped former mayor won’t be forced to forfeit assets but he must pay the women, according to attorneys

Politics

31 hours ago 38p tablets made customer's 'hair look thicker and lashes grow longer'

Hair Saviour by Dr Vegan is a fully-vegan supplement that's packed with natural ingredients to help combat hair loss and thinning hair

Economics

14 hours ago Amorim denies Manchester United panicked before Diallo’s late rescue act

‘I need to understand why we suffer in these games’Manager admits Manuel Ugarte was tired during matchA relieved Ruben Amorim insisted Manchester United did not panic before Amad Diallo’s 12-minute hat-trick saved them against Southampton, having trailed against the Premier League’s bottom side until the 82nd minute at Old Trafford on Wednesday.United were heading for a fourth straight home loss due to Manuel Ugarte’s own goal just before the break. But Diallo equalised eight minutes from time before remarkably scoring twice more to secure victory. It was put to the head coach that his side had been frantic towards the end. “It is not panic,” said Amorim. “In the first half we were too late to every ball and we tried to press too high and suffer for that.” Continue reading...

Events

18 hours ago Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson talks painful regret he has on fifth anniversary of his father's death

The 52-year-old third-generation wrestler had stopped speaking to Rocky 'Soulman' Johnson on Christmas Eve 2019 after they got into a 'massive fight' on the phone

Politics

31 hours ago Economic growth could fall 50% over 20 years from climate shocks, say actuaries

Exclusive: Report by risk experts says previous assessments ignored severe effects of climate crisisGlobal economic growth could plummet by 50% between 2070 and 2090 from the catastrophic shocks of climate change unless immediate action by political leaders is taken to decarbonise and restore nature, according to a new report.The stark warning from risk management experts the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) hugely increases the estimate of risk to global economic wellbeing from climate change impacts such as fires, flooding, droughts, temperature rises and nature breakdown. In a report with scientists at the University of Exeter, published on Thursday, the IFoA, which uses maths and statistics to analyse financial risk for businesses and governments, called for accelerated action by political leaders to tackle the climate crisis. Continue reading...

Economics

14 hours ago Pressure grows on PM's top legal aide as he faces calls to withdraw from consulting on certain government decisions over Ulster payout 'conflict of interest'

An audit shows Lord Hermer KC, the Attorney General and a specialist human rights lawyer before joining Sir Keir's Cabinet, has previously represented Gerry Adams.

Events

18 hours ago Giuliani says he has settled defamation dispute and will keep Florida condo

Trump ally says he has reached deal with election workers he defamed and will not have to turn over key possessions Rudy Giuliani’s trial over whether he must turn over his Florida condo and other prized possessions to former Georgia election workers whom he defamed was delayed on Thursday after the former New York mayor failed to show up in court.Giuliani later shared on X that he had “reached a resolution of the litigation with the plaintiffs that will result in a satisfaction of the plaintiffs’ judgment”. Continue reading...

Politics

31 hours ago Global economy could face 50% loss in GDP between 2070 and 2090 from climate shocks, say actuaries

Exclusive: Report by risk experts says previous assessments ignored severe effects of climate crisisThe global economy could face 50% loss in gross domestic product (GDP) between 2070 and 2090 from the catastrophic shocks of climate change unless immediate action by political leaders is taken to decarbonise and restore nature, according to a new report.The stark warning from risk management experts the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries (IFoA) hugely increases the estimate of risk to global economic wellbeing from climate change impacts such as fires, flooding, droughts, temperature rises and nature breakdown. In a report with scientists at the University of Exeter, published on Thursday, the IFoA, which uses maths and statistics to analyse financial risk for businesses and governments, called for accelerated action by political leaders to tackle the climate crisis.This article was amended on 16 January 2025. The headline of an earlier version said that economic growth could fall by...

Economics

17 hours ago Old Etonian who tried to throw his estranged partner down a 240ft well before she 'fought for her life' is found guilty of attempted murder

Douglas Clifton Brown assaulted Camilla Welby during a car journey before driving to an estate his family had owned for generations and attempting to drag her towards the disused well.

Events

19 hours ago Dedicated service to support families affected by substance use launched in East Lothian

On Wednesday 15 January, Circle and Scottish Families Affected by Drugs and Alcohol (SFAD) officially launched the East Lothian dedicated, ‘Grow Your Own Routes’ service to support and celebrate the strengths of young people aged 12 to 26 who have been affected by a loved one’s substance use.

Politics

32 hours ago Starmer travels to Ukraine to sign partnership deal lasting ‘for generations’

Sir Keir Starmer said the 100 Year Partnership would cement the friendship between the two countries for the next century.

Economics

19 hours ago The Guardian view on Biden’s warning of oligarchy: Trump and the malefactors of wealth | Editorial

The outgoing president was right, in his farewell address, to warn of the dangers posed by the billionaires around the tableAristocrats are “the most difficult Animals to manage, of anything in the whole Theory and practice of Government. They will not suffer themselves to be governed,” John Adams warned, writing after his presidency. Banning titles was insufficient; a few would still be distinguished by birth or, especially, wealth. The problem was not just their ability to buy political favours but the grip that their money had on people’s minds.Economic and political power entwine everywhere. Fear of the rich’s outsized influence has existed throughout US history. Yet at times the relationship becomes especially stark and threatening. On Wednesday, Joe Biden evoked the 19th-century Gilded Age and the robber barons – who crushed competitors, exploited workers, bought judges and politicians, and flaunted wealth – in his warning against oligarchs. Continue reading...

Events

20 hours ago ‘The game is different now’: Why the ‘90s kids’ are struggling at Australian Open

As a new generation emerges at the grand slams, others are in danger of being passed by

Politics

19 hours ago The Guardian view on Keir Starmer’s economy: no acute crisis, but chronically weak | Editorial

Labour should ask the Bank of England if it can do more to boost growthRecent days of market turmoil have elicited some extraordinary responses. The fact that investors are demanding higher rates to lend to the UK government apparently puts this Labour government in the same position as Liz Truss in 2022, according to some Labour MPs, or as Denis Healey facing the International Monetary Fund in 1976. Others dub the UK’s current position as stagflation, a term redolent of the 1970s, with their stagnant economy and runaway inflation. The problem with these comparisons is that the latest raft of key economic figures do not bear them out – not quite. The first bit about the stagnant economy is broadly correct: over the three months to November, GDP did not rise at all. But inflation isn’t running away. Indeed, at 2.5%, it’s just above the Bank of England’s target and, crucially, price pressures, both in the service sector and stripping out food and energy, have abated. Seen against thes...

Events

20 hours ago I can’t believe it’s not denim: how fashion fell in love with fake jeans

Jeans are a classic, but aren’t always the most comfortable thing to wear. Is that why designers have started ‘faking’ them?Those of us who wear jeans tend to do so for the following reasons: they’re durable, versatile, and timeless. But when it comes to comfort, well, that is usually more of a rare quality. Who doesn’t own a pair of jeans that are difficult to sit down in? But now, a new jean is challenging this tradition – meet the jean-printed sweatpant.Gap’s £60 “jean joggers” look like a pair of loose-fitting jeans complete with five pockets, but are in fact cotton joggers with a hidden elasticated waist and faux fly. Gap describes them as “jean adjacent.” Similar to fake news, they’ve quickly gone viral. Continue reading...

Politics

20 hours ago Adopted wild boar Rillette can stay with her owner, French court rules

Authorities had threatened to remove and even euthanise the animal farmer Elodie Cappe had taken in as a pigletA wild boar adopted by a French horse breeder can remain with her owner, a court has ruled, after authorities’ threats to remove and even euthanise her triggered a storm of protest.Found as a tiny piglet near rubbish bins outside a horse farm in Chaource, central France, in April 2023, Rillette has grown into a large sow who runs around with the horses and dogs on the farm. Continue reading...

Events

21 hours ago Nintendo Switch 2 officially revealed: everything we know about the new console

Excitement is growing in anticipation of the release of the upgraded gaming device, and its rumoured features and games

Politics

21 hours ago Kiena Dawes' vile ex Ryan Wellings' dark prison fate as he smiles at sentence

Vile thug Ryan Wellings left his fiancée Kiena Dawes feeling like there was nowhere left to turn - but now, he will be the one to suffer behind bars with a 'fraught' future ahead

Events