2 hours ago The Christmas that went wrong: I met my new girlfriend’s family – and talk turned to my book on masturbation

My partner’s family knew I was writing about self-discovery and self-pleasure, but I wasn’t prepared for where the discussion would take usI flew from London to New York on Christmas Eve 2014 to spend Christmas Day with Cassie’s family. It’s the sort of thing you’re supposed to do when you’ve been going out with someone for 10 years, but I’d only known Cassie a few months. She came out to her father about dating me and it didn’t go down well. Then, a few weeks later, she told him over a family dinner that I was writing a book about masturbation. Her sister and mother took her aside in the kitchen afterwards. “Why didn’t you just tell him she’s writing a book on travel, or something?” her sister asked.Spending Christmas Day together was supposed to smooth things over, but no sooner had we sat down to eat than her father asked me about what I was writing. Maybe he thought I’d changed my mind, and gone for something a bit more Downton Abbey? Cassie’s sister looked at me intently, darin...

Politics

2 hours ago Influencer goes viral for wearing $9k dress to her family Thanksgiving. What will she wear for Christmas?

Brigette Pheloung wore Parker Zinn’s Merino wool gown to Thanksgiving while her family wore Gap jeans

Science

2 hours ago Over 100 rough sleepers in Edinburgh each night as homelessness reaches record levels

Rough sleeping has doubled in recents months on the streets of the capital city.

Politics

4 hours ago Albania BANS TikTok after schoolboy was knifed to death following online feud: Prime minister labels app 'the thug of the neighbourhood' as he announces European first

Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama has announced that the government will shut down TikTok for 12 months from January.

Politics

5 hours ago Here's how to spot a HENRY (that's high earning, not rich yet) at Christmas. The crackers are a dead giveaway...

In my corner of Oxfordshire, it seems Christmas is a competitive sport. It's always easy for the truly posh to spot the nouveau riche trying just that bit too hard.

Events

5 hours ago Our post has been stopped by Royal Mail just before Christmas after the delivery man said he was bitten by one of my CATS... I thought it was a wind up at first

Alastair and Lucy Humphreys, from Suffolk, received a letter last week saying their post would only be delivered again once they fitted a cage or a bag around the inside of their letterbox

Politics

6 hours ago Man apprehended after woman fatally set on fire in New York subway car

Footage showed an assailant igniting woman’s clothing, with emergency personnel declaring her dead at sceneNew York City police took a man into custody who they believe is connected to the early morning death of a woman who was intentionally lit on fire on a stationary subway train.The incident took place on Sunday morning aboard an F train at the end of the line at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn. Continue reading...

Events

7 hours ago Scottish job loss new year warning as economy 'headed for the worst of all worlds'

Scottish businesses are ‘in survival mode’ as Rachel Reeves is warned activity will fall in the first three months of 2025.

Events

7 hours ago NASA astronaut who flew three Space Shuttle missions finally spots a UFO – back on Earth

US astronaut Leroy Chiao has been on three space missions and event spent months living in space, only to bizarrely see his first UFO when he was back home on Earth

Technology