47 minutes ago The Christmas that went wrong: The day was saved by the new friend I’d made on a drunken night out

I was alone in New York during the pandemic, in the aftermath of a breakup and unable to go home. A Korean family taught me to believe in the kindness of strangersLike many Jewish families, the Wolfsons take Christmas extremely seriously. Latkes and smoked salmon are served before homemade cranberry sauce and brussels sprouts. My dad’s hand-painted menorah, which he made during the ceramics cafe boom of the early 2000s, sits proudly underneath the Christmas tree.As such, I had never missed a Christmas with the family – although there had been some near misses. In 2019, we spent Christmas by my dad’s hospital bed after his stroke – us sipping on hospital canteen gingerbread lattes, him having Christmas dinner in the guise of vanilla-scented protein, fed through a tube. In 2020, I saw my family only from six feet away, double-masked and on the doorstep. I delivered presents, but they were not opened for a few days, to let any stray virus dissipate. Continue reading...

Politics

48 minutes ago 'Genius' rocky road Christmas pudding is the perfect alternative dessert

Baker Jane Dunn rustled up a 'genius' chocolate alternative to the classic Christmas pudding - here's how to make it

Politics

97 minutes ago World Darts Championship 2025: Latest results, who's playing today, schedule and how to watch

Luke Littler through but Raymond van Barneveld becomes latest high-profile player to fall early

Politics

3 hours ago Ukraine war briefing: Kyiv strikes Russia in major drone attack 1,000km from frontline

High-rise residential buildings hit in Russian city of Kazan but no casualties reported; Zelenskyy reveals meetings with CIA chief. What we know on day 1,033 See all our Ukraine war coverage Ukraine staged a major drone attack on the Russian city of Kazan, 1,000km (620 miles) from the frontline, on Saturday, damaging residential buildings and temporarily shutting down the airport. A drone smashed into a high-rise apartment block and damaged a skyscraper in the city of more than 1.3 million but there were no casualties, local officials said. Videos posted on Russian social media networks showed drones hitting a high-rise building and setting off fireballs. Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said two drones hit a 37-storey apartment block and that Ukraine had been targeting an unspecified industrial facility but that it suffered no damage.Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said on Saturday without specifically mentioning the strike on Kazan: “We will definitely contin...

Events

3 hours ago The shocking moment Jorginho's fiancée Catherine Harding 'confronts woman over the Arsenal footballer in late night doorstep showdown'

Jorghino's fiancée Catherine Harding has reportedly confronted a woman in a late night doorstep showdown over the footballer.

Sport

3 hours ago The full story of how the vast Merthyr sinkhole happened and what's being done to make it safe

Paul Edwards, of Edwards Diving Services, has been leading the work after Storm Bert caused a giant hole to swallow up a driveway and part of a road

Politics

4 hours ago Chloe Madeley breaks her silence on claims she was 'propositioned' by a rugby legend in front of her then

Chloe Madeley has now spoken out about the moment she was groped by a rugby legend in front of her then-husband James Haskell. 

Politics

5 hours ago 66 MILLION road journeys to cause Christmas chaos as bad weather and heavy traffic combine to create 'perfect storm', warns AA

Millions are facing more major disruption today as bad weather and heavy traffic combine to create a 'perfect storm' on the transport network ahead of Christmas.

Events

5 hours ago New laws taking ‘major strides’ to improving people’s lives, Lucy Powell claims

The Commons Leader said the ‘unrelenting legislative agenda’ would have a ‘tangible positive impact’.

Society

6 hours ago Tulisa reveals the secret health battle that 'forced her to flee from I'm A Celebrity aftermath' as she details the moment she almost quit the show

Tulisa Contostavlos has revealed the secret health battle that forced her to flee the aftermath of her stint on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!

Society