29 m. ago A man of sense and wide sensibilities, Alfred Brendel was simply the pianist of pianists

His technique was of the highest order, his performances unmatched – but it was always at the service of the music, not of his own reputationAlfred Brendel would have scorned the suggestion he was the world’s leading pianist. He would have dismissed such an accolade as banal, journalistic and ignorant. He would, of course, have been right. Piano playing, he once said, was never sufficient, even when it was faultless.Yet, for a generation of musicians, especially in Britain, where he lived the second half of his long life, this dismissal of his own greatness could itself be dismissed as false modesty. When London’s Royal Festival Hall, still at that time the capital’s most cherished classical music large venue, reopened after a long renovation in 2007, the choice of its first recitalist was a no-brainer. For his legions of admirers, Brendel was always the one. Continue reading...

Politics

48 m. ago Huge surge in blood donations as NHS faces Red Alert and dangerously low stocks

Mirror appeal sparks 100,000 blood donations to stop routine operations having to be cancelled due to NHS shortages

Events

54 m. ago The internet’s nastiest gossipmonger has been exposed and guess what – he wants his privacy | Marina Hyde

If you’re not familiar with Tattle Life, congratulations. It’s a site that subjects women to relentless scrutiny, and lo and behold it’s run by a spineless manWith as much as two weeks to kill before nuclear winter sets in, many of you will be looking to road-test your new fallout suits. In which case: can I interest you in the sensational unmasking of the founder of Tattle Life? It turns out the guy who operates the radioactively toxic gossip forum is a “vegan influencer” – I think it’s one of those new types of job, dear – and his name is Sebastian Bond. From that professional description, Sebastian would never hurt a living creature – unless it’s a mummy blogger, in which case he would gut her like a pig. Metaphorically, of course! Sorry, but that is simply the price you pay for not declaring the nappies you’re unboxing on Instagram are actually sponsored.But I’m racing ahead. If you’re not familiar with Tattle Life, it’s an online forum that claims to be “a commentary website on...

Politics

56 m. ago Drains can be unblocked in 'minutes' with plumbing expert's natural cleaning method

A whole host of substances can lead to a blocked drain, especially when it comes to the shower drain. But a plumbing expert has shared a simple cleaning hack to help unblock drains.

Politics

91 m. ago TOM UTLEY: At 71, I'm mortified when people offer me a seat on the train... but I'm furious when they don't. That's growing old for you!

One of nine signs that we're growing old, I read somewhere this week, is a feeling of embarrassment when people start offering us their seats on buses and trains.

Politics

2 h. ago Garden expert's fence cleaning DIY spray that removes algae, mould and stains

Wooden fences can become easily stained with algae, moss and mould. But one expert has shared a simple hack to remove green streaks without using a pressure washer

Politics

2 h. ago We need to take the cost and complexity out of going electric to supercharge EV adoption

Greener options need to be simple and affordable, rather than another thing to worry about

Politics

2 h. ago Man, 55, diagnosed with dementia after doctor noticed one sign before diagnosis

Jim Rogers, 58, was living and working in Australia when he started to develop symptoms of the incurable neurological condition early-onset dementia after his doctor noticed one sign

Science

2 h. ago Five causes of snoring — and simple solutions to address each one

Snoring can stem from something as minor as a blocked nose, but it can also hint at more serious concerns like obstructive sleep apnoea

Politics

3 h. ago Israel, we’re begging you: please let aid organisations do our jobs in Gaza | James Elder

Four hundred distribution points have dwindled to four under this private and militarised ‘aid’ system. This is not how to avert a famineJames Elder is Unicef’s global spokespersonAbed Al Rahman, just a boy, carried the weight of his family’s hunger as he stepped into the streets of Gaza in search of bread. He had his father’s money, but when he saw the tide of people pushing towards a food distribution site in Rafah, hunger pulled him into their flow.Almost immediately, the site descended into chaos. Gunfire. Drones. Then in a flash, shrapnel from a tank shell ripped through his little body. When I met him at a hospital in Khan Younis – where painkillers, like food, are scarce – the 13-year-old was in agony. “I have shrapnel inside my body that they couldn’t remove,” he told me. “I am in real pain; since 6am I have been asking for a painkiller.” As he recounted the chaos, his father’s composure shattered, and tears rolled down his face. Was he going to lose his son simply because A...

Politics

3 h. ago Israel, please let aid organisations do our jobs in Gaza | James Elder

Four hundred distribution points have dwindled to four under this private and militarised ‘aid’ system. This is not how to avert a famineJames Elder is Unicef’s global spokespersonAbed Al Rahman, just a boy, carried the weight of his family’s hunger as he stepped into the streets of Gaza in search of bread. He had his father’s money, but when he saw the tide of people pushing towards a food distribution site in Rafah, hunger pulled him into their flow.Almost immediately, the site descended into chaos. Gunfire. Drones. Then in a flash, shrapnel from a tank shell ripped through his little body. When I met him at a hospital in Khan Younis – where painkillers, like food, are scarce – the 13-year-old was in agony. “I have shrapnel inside my body that they couldn’t remove,” he told me. “I am in real pain; since 6am I have been asking for a painkiller.” As he recounted the chaos, his father’s composure shattered, and tears rolled down his face. Was he going to lose his son simply because A...

Politics

3 h. ago Desperate patients using unregulated ADHD services due to long NHS waiting lists

A study found NHS ADHD waiting lists are now unacceptably long

Science

3 h. ago ADHD waiting list led to rise in unregulated private providers – report

A new report suggests there is no evidence of over-diagnosis of ADHD in the UK.

Politics

4 h. ago Amanda Holden flashes legs with no trousers on as she declares it's 'so hot'

Britain's Got Talent beauty Amanda Holden has decided the heat was simply too much, so she walked out the door and stepped into the office without any trousers on

Politics

4 h. ago Two stress symptoms you can see in your bedroom and bathroom

There are simple ways to fix them

Politics

4 h. ago High blood sugar and pressure can be lowered by eating these carbohydrate

Women who eat a higher-quality carb diet are up to 37% more likely to age healthily, according to a new study

Events

4 h. ago Experts share simple 49p plant that will keep wasps out of your garden this summer

Wasps will be out in force over the weekend as soaring temperatures will see a surge in insects. Garden experts have shared a simple 49p plant that will keep them at bay this summer

Science

4 h. ago A simple blood test could offer first reliable diagnosis for ME

The only way to diagnose ME is by ruling out other illnesses, which can take years

Events

4 h. ago The truth about the aggressive type of cancer you’ve probably not heard of

Sarcoma is a less recognised, but aggressive form of cancer that often escapes headlines

Politics

4 h. ago Livingston face fresh transfer battle to keep Jerome Prior as RFS to up the signing ante

That opening offer has been turned down but RFS are refusing to take no for an answer.

Events