2 hours ago Tiny Scots baby to spend Christmas in hospital after cancer progressed

The parents of the tiny six-month-old Scots baby were preparing to go home for Christmas, when a consultant at Glasgow Children's Hospital delivered the devastating news.

Science

3 hours ago Mum 'tapes mouth shut of girl,7, and locks her in dog cage under Christmas tree'

Rose Anderson is set to face the festive season in jail after allegedly locking a 7-year-old girl in a dog cage under a Christmas tree while taping her mouth shut

Politics

5 hours ago World's oldest meat market Smithfield holds Christmas Eve meat auction after announcing it will close

The world's oldest meat market has welcomed crowds in central London for its annual Christmas Eve auction - just weeks after announcing it will soon close.

Economics

5 hours ago The Christmas that went wrong: Why on earth was Santa wearing my uncle’s sneakers?

Even at four, I could see Father Christmas for who he really was – especially as he smelled of Old SpiceAs a child, I was an amateur detective; a master of argument and the suspicious side-eye. The adult world seemed to be defined by determined, capable people making important decisions and I was desperate to be one of them. In short, I was precocious. And I’m sorry to everybody I came up against. Especially my uncle Dan.Christmas 1989 was exciting for four-year-old me. I had visited the mall Santa a few weeks before and been crystal clear in my request for a magic tea set and world peace (see? Insufferable). Christmas Eve celebrations at my grandparents’ were an unbridled success. As the first grandchild, I reaped the benefits of generous aunties and uncles and I ate my weight in potatoes and sausages. Continue reading...

Politics

8 hours ago British tourist, 25, dies from severe reaction to magic mushrooms in Thailand

The 25-year-old was enjoying a Christmas break with his girlfriend when he allegedly bought the hallucinogenic drug from a shop in Chiang Mai

Events

11 hours ago Fried chicken and duck are on the menu for Gen Z this Christmas, study shows

More than a third of 18 to 24-year-olds are considering duck for Christmas Day

Politics

11 hours ago The most wonderful night of the year: an ode to the Christmas Eve booze up

Christmas is a time for singalongs, old friends and far too many pints, says Mike Daw

Politics

15 hours ago The Christmas that went wrong: I had a massive abscess and spent my first ever night in hospital

The year already ranked among my very worst – then I wound up on a tinsel-draped drip, while my family texted fun photos from the pubIt hadn’t been a vintage year. I was in the middle of a divorce and had turned 30 believing my life was over in the way only a 29-year-old could. Christmas was set to be a nice reprieve from the misery, spending a week with my family and eagerly awaiting the promise of a new year. I felt tentatively hopeful.Ten days before the holiday, my throat began to hurt. “Tonsilitis!” the doctor said, giving me a prescription for antibiotics. The pain didn’t abate, even after a week, so I dutifully went back for another dose. The pain got worse. On Christmas Eve, with no GP surgeries open, my mum drove me to the local walk-in clinic. A doctor took one look in my mouth and said I had a quinsy (don’t Google this, for the love of God, but it’s basically a throat abscess) and told me to get to the nearest A&E as soon as possible. Continue reading...

Politics

19 hours ago ITV's Lorraine Kelly returns with festive show featuring granddaughter Billie

Lorraine Kelly is set to make her return to her self-titled ITV show with a festive special on Christmas Day alongside her four-month-old granddaughter, Billie

Culture