66 m. ago EU says Ukraine must accelerate reforms on rule of law and other ‘fundamentals’ if it wants membership

EU says reforms needed ‘with regards to the fundamentals, in particular rule of law’ to have a chance to ‘provisionally close accession negotiations by the end of 2028’We will formally get the EU’s commentary on the enlargement ratings (9:26) in just over an hour – when EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and EU enlargment commissioner Marta Kos are due to speak to journalists – but we have just had a brief glimpse of what’s coming during Kos’s appearance in the European parliament.She said these have been “significant advances on the EU path achieved so far by Montenegro, Albania, Moldova and Ukraine,” stressing that “reforms pay off.”I can say that these four candidates have matched their ambitions with concrete actions. Continue reading...

Politics

72 m. ago Craig Bellamy Celtic link addressed by FA of Wales chief amid 'best teams in the world' claim

Wales boss ‘completely focused’ on reaching World Cup

Politics

72 m. ago Ruth Langsford breaks silence on 'new man' rumours after split from Eamonn Holmes

Loose Women favourite Ruth Langsford has addressed rumours of her 'new man' following her split from her This Morning co-star Eamonn Holmes almost two years ago

Politics

74 m. ago All’s Fair review – Kim Kardashian’s divorce drama is fascinatingly, existentially terrible

Not even Glenn Close can save this Ryan Murphy disaster from its dismal plots, clueless characters – and the worst kissing scenes ever filmedI did not know it was still possible to make television this bad. I assumed that there was some sort of baseline, some inescapable bedrock knowledge of how to do it that now prevented any entry into the art form from falling below a certain standard. But I was wrong. The new series from Ryan Murphy, All’s Fair – starring Kim Kardashian, Naomi Watts and Niecy Nash as the founders of an all-female law firm delivering divorce-y justice to incredibly rich but slightly unlucky women under the azure skies of California – is terrible. Fascinatingly, incomprehensibly, existentially terrible. While I try to get my thoughts in order after bearing witness to the first episode, I’m going to give you a few direct quotes, so you can see why I’m struggling.“Let’s put the ‘team’ in ‘teamwork’.” Continue reading...

Events

76 m. ago The many uses of leftover chutney, from breakfast to soups and glazes | Kitchen aide

With Christmas around the corner, our panel of experts recommends creative ways to finish off half-eaten jars before the new ones arrive Every Christmas I’m given chutney, and I still have four barely used jars. What to do with them before the next lot arrive? Christine, OxfordThis sounds like a job for Claire Dinhut, author of The Condiment Book, who also goes by the moniker Condiment Claire. She would approach this meal by meal, starting with breakfast. “It might not seem so obvious,” she says, “but I put Branston pickle on my avocado toast. If you think about it, you often add acidity, which is usually lemon, but chutney is punchy and has that same tang, as well as a bit of texture.” Regardless of what jars Christine has hanging around, Dinhut would also consider the breakfast bap: “Whether it’s spicy mango, peach, chilli or tomato chutney, that would be so delicious with an egg yolk.”Roger Pizey, executive head of pastry at Fortnum & Mason, is no stranger to Christine’s chut...

Politics

86 m. ago Manchester United's next transfer decided after 'direct talks' as £44m alternative emerges

A significant update has emerged in Manchester United's search for a new striker in January, with Ruben Amorim clearly reluctant to use wantaway star Joshua Zirkzee

Economics

94 m. ago 6 common signs of a porn addiction – as Ore Oduba opens up about 30

The British TV and radio presenter hopes that talking about his struggles publicly can help others.

Politics

1 hour ago Banks can now lend £30,000 more to average mortgage borrower, says FCA boss

Chief executive Nikhil Rathi said the changes are ‘a risk worth taking, allowing more people the security that comes with home ownership’.

Economics

2 h. ago Are they FINALLY getting the message? ECHR chief says it is 'open' to changes to tackle migration

Alain Berset, secretary general of the Council of Europe, said he is 'absolutely ready' to consider changes to the ECHR to address countries' growing concerns.

Politics

2 h. ago A night with Gareth Southgate: jokes, waistcoat chat and a bagful of lessons

Former England manager was engaging with selfies and sharing his sense of purpose on the York stop of a promotional book tourGareth Southgate has a good story about cockapoo vomit. Alone, exhausted and about to leave England’s impossible job, it was the first thing that greeted him on returning home from defeat in last year’s European Championship final. Obviously, he immediately set about clearing it up and consoling the pup suspected of overeating. Another moment of pathos in a life that has experienced the extremes of the public eye, another hurdle cleared.Southgate is on a promotional tour but you wouldn’t guess at first glance. He has a book coming out this week and has only just started talking about it. After a swift round of interviews with the BBC on Monday morning, in the evening he moved to the Barbican in York; a perfectly commodious venue with decent acoustics, but not a customary place for launching a nationwide media blitz. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago AI firm wins high court ruling after photo agency’s copyright claim

Ruling in case brought by Getty Images against Stability AI is seen as a blow to copyright ownersA London-based artificial intelligence firm has won a landmark high court case examining the legality of AI models using vast troves of copyrighted data without permission.Stability AI, whose directors include the Oscar-winning film-maker behind Avatar, James Cameron, successfully resisted a claim from Getty Images that it had infringed the international photo agency’s copyright. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago 'Fantastic Christmas present' for women slashed from £70 to £11 at Debenhams

If you're starting your Christmas shopping and looking for affordable stocking fillers, Debenhams might have some deals

Economics

2 h. ago Strictly Come Dancing 'in final talks' with Alex Jones and Bradley Walsh to take over as hosts after Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly's exit

Last month, current hosts Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly confirmed they would be stepping back from the show after its current series comes to an end.

Politics

3 h. ago ECHR chief is ‘absolutely ready’ to discuss changes to human rights law

The Council of Europe’s secretary general Alain Berset told the BBC he was open to engage on migration issues over the treaty.

Politics

3 h. ago Women’s soccer faces plenty of serious threats. So why the panic about trans players? | Lesley Ryder

Angel City’s Elizabeth Eddy was rebuked by her own teammates for an op-ed on trans players. It’s easy to understand their objectionsOn 26 October, Angel City FC’s Elizabeth Eddy made her first post on X in nearly two years. In it, Eddy in essence responded to the Guardian’s report that the NWSL had quietly dropped its inclusion policy for trans and intersex athletes, leaving the league’s future stance on the matter undecided.The New York Post gave Eddy’s writing a signal boost the next day, republishing it in full. Continue reading...

Sport

3 h. ago Sharp, subtle and effortlessly Lynchian: Diane Ladd had a potent star power

In a hugely successful TV and film career, her waitresses, neighbours, moms and daughters ranged from comedy to drama to David Lynch films, always with compelling authenticity• Diane Ladd, Oscar-nominated star of Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, dies aged 89Diane Ladd was part of a Hollywood aristocracy of character actors who from the golden period of the American New Wave onwards lent star quality to supporting roles. She brought an authentic, undiluted American screen-acting flavour to everything she was in, and ran hugely successful movie and TV careers in parallel for decades, playing waitresses, neighbours, moms, sirens and daughters, and ranging from comedy to drama.She was famously the mother of screen actor Laura Dern and wife of Bruce Dern, and repeatedly acted with Laura in a remarkable mother-daughter partnership in which the two women’s closeness always shone through. You might compare it to Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli, or Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher — although...

Politics

4 h. ago New DWP update for WASPI women impacted by historical State Pension age changes

Millions of 1950s-born women across the UK missed out on State Pension payments after increases to the official age of retirement.

Politics

4 h. ago Elon Musk’s $1tn Tesla pay deal to be rejected by huge Norway wealth fund

Carmaker’s seventh biggest single investor will vote against package at annual shareholder meetingBusiness live – latest updatesNorway’s sovereign wealth fund has said it will vote against a $1tn (£765bn) pay package for the Tesla chief executive, Elon Musk.The fund, which is the biggest national wealth fund in the world, said that while it appreciated the “the significant value created under Mr Musk’s visionary role” it would vote against his performance award. Continue reading...

Economics

4 h. ago Three countries are ‘willing and capable’ of assassinating political dissidents on Australian soil, Asio head warns

Spy chief Mike Burgess says it’s possible the unnamed regimes ‘would try to hide their involvement’ in any killingsGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastForeign agents from at least three countries are “willing and capable” of assassinating perceived political dissidents on Australian soil, Australia’s spy chief Mike Burgess has claimed.While not naming the three countries on Tuesday evening, Burgess, the director general of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, warned of the risk of a politically motivated assassination in Australia and said: “This threat is real.” Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Loose Women star Charlene White defends decision not to wear poppy amid 'racist' backlash

‘The hate, vitriol and racism aimed at me because of my personal decision not to wear a poppy *on air* has begun again,’ the 45-year-old presenter said

Events