61 minutes ago England vs Japan LIVE rugby: Result and reaction as impressive England notch big win to finish autumn

England 59-14 Japan: England run in nine tries to finish a frustrating Autumn Nations Series on a high against former boss Eddie Jones

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65 minutes ago Impressive England put Japan to the sword but frustrating autumn ends with another missed opportunity

England 59-14 Japan: A full-strength England ran in nine tries to close a difficult November with a much-needed win

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76 minutes ago England demolish Japan in Autumn Nations farewell to end losing streak

England 59-14 JapanTwo tries each for Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie A disappointing calendar year for England has at least ended with a flurry of tries and a healthier-looking outcome. A bucketload of points against a callow Japanese team on a blustery Sunday afternoon, however, does only so much to massage the overall bottom line. Five wins from 12 Tests – with four of the victories having come against Japan twice, Italy and Wales – tells the story of a side who look better when they face inferior opposition.At least there were some flickers of pre-Christmas promise from the burgundy-clad hosts. There were a brace of tries apiece for England’s hookers Jamie George and Luke Cowan-Dickie while Henry Slade had a quietly excellent game in midfield but New Zealand, Australia and South ...

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85 minutes ago Ministers speaking out against assisted dying ‘are giving false impression’, says peer

Labour’s Charlie Falconer says vocal opponents are leading voters to think government is against change‘Slippery slope’ fears over assisted dying have echoes of abortion debateSenior ministers who have spoken out against assisted dying are giving voters a “false impression” about the government’s position, a leading proponent of changing the law has said.Charlie Falconer, a Labour peer and former justice secretary, said opponents to the change were “getting more coverage” because ministers in favour of legalising assisted dying were “playing by the rules”. Continue reading...

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2 hours ago Adele bursts into tears before planting kiss on son Angelo at final Las Vegas show

Adele was overcome with emotion as she brought her Weekends With Adele residency in Las Vegas to a close - and even addressed the controversy she caused when she originally cancelled the shows

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3 hours ago Mohamed Salah’s brace helps Liverpool come from behind to beat Southampton

Saints briefly led after goals from Adam Armstrong and Mateus Fernandes cancelled out Dominik Szoboszlai’s first-half strike.

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3 hours ago Donald Trump Jr emerges as key voice influencing father’s cabinet picks – report

President-elect has become particularly reliant on his eldest son for advice, sources tell ReutersDonald Trump Jr has emerged as the family’s most influential adviser of the moment as his father builds the most controversial cabinet in modern US history, sources close to Donald Trump’s eldest son say.Trump Jr has in some cases promoted inexperienced loyalists over more qualified candidates for top positions in president-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. Continue reading...

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3 hours ago Trump’s eldest son emerges as key voice influencing cabinet picks – report

President-elect has become particularly reliant on his Donald Jr for advice, sources tell ReutersDonald Trump Jr has emerged as the family’s most influential adviser of the moment as his father builds the most controversial cabinet in modern US history, sources close to Donald Trump’s eldest son say.Trump Jr has in some cases promoted inexperienced loyalists over more qualified candidates for top positions in president-elect Donald Trump’s incoming administration. Continue reading...

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3 hours ago Ignorance and Bliss: On Wanting Not to Know by Mark Lilla review – the enduring power of stupidity

A New York scholar’s study of our long history of acclaiming the fool and ignoring the facts is timely and terrifically wittyThis is at once a wise and wonderfully enjoyable book. Mark Lilla treats weighty matters with a light touch, in an elegant prose style that crackles with dry wit. Almost every one of the short sections into which the narrative is divided – and there is a narrative, cunningly sustained within what seems a relaxed discursiveness – takes careful aim and at the end hits the bullseye with a sure and satisfying aphoristic thwock.The central premise of the book is simply stated: “How is it that we are creatures who want to know and not to know?” Lilla, professor of humanities at Columbia University, New York, and the author of a handful of masterly studies of the terrain...

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