2 h. ago ‘Ambition is a punishing sphere for women’: author Maggie Nelson on why Taylor Swift is the Sylvia Plath of her generation

What do Swift and Plath have in common, and should Kamala Harris have spoken out about her political ambitions? The Argonauts author turns her lens on poetry, pop and patriarchyMaggie Nelson is an unapologetic Taylor Swift fan. She knows the discography, drops song lyrics into conversation and tells me she took her family to the Vancouver leg of the Eras tour. So she’s a dyed-in-the-wool Swiftie? Nelson seems not entirely comfortable with the breathless connotations of that term but yes, the love is real. So much so, she has written a book about the billionaire singer-songwriter, or rather, a joint analysis of Swift and Sylvia Plath, who recurs in much of Nelson’s oeuvre.The notion of uniting these two cultural titans, who are seemingly poles apart in sensibility – one a melancholic American poet, the other an all-American poster girl – came to her when she heard Swift’s 2024 album, The Tortured Poets Department. Alongside its literary references to F Scott Fitzgerald...

Culture

3 h. ago Mystery behind the axing of Aimee Lou Wood's M&S Christmas campaign deepens as it's revealed TV ad cost 'eye

The mystery of Aimee Lou Wood being axed from the big budget Marks and Spencer advert has deepened after it emerged it cost 'an eye-watering amount' of money to make.

Politics

4 h. ago Novels I haven’t finished reading are piling up by my bedside. What if that’s a good thing? | Hanna Thomas Uose

Authors are sounding warnings about the length of the modern attention span, but my series of abandonments is a sign of something elseThis is embarrassing, but here goes. There are five novels beside my bed, all partially read. On my phone, I am partway through 36 audiobooks, which pales in comparison to the 46 ebooks I have abandoned on my Kindle. This doesn’t count the growing pile of advance copies beside my coffee table, vying for blurbs, now that I am a published novelist myself.At first glance, these stats seem to corroborate Ian Rankin’s words. Commenting a fortnight ago on how easy it is to lose a reader’s focus, when it is fragmented by social media and the news cycle, the writer said: “Maybe as people’s attention spans change the literature will have to change with them.” But as someone who used to doggedly finish whatever I was reading, I now consider it a human right to put down a book that I’m not in the mood for.Hanna Thomas Uose is a writer and strategist. She is the ...

Politics

5 h. ago Family of boy killed by a train on his way to school furious after he was blamed for being distracted by his iPhone

A review carried out by the Rail Accident Investigation Branch found that 11-year-old Jaiden Shehata was 'probably' distracted by his iPhone as he crossed the Bourneview footpath.

Events

5 h. ago ‘Anastacia is a big inspiration for me – raspy, raw and heartfelt’: Ella Eyre’s honest playlist

The singer was inspired by her mum’s love for Basement Jaxx and spent 69p on Jamiroquai, but what does she put on when she’s feeling down?The first song I fell in love with The first song that I remember really feeling inspired by was Good Luck by Basement Jaxx. My mum had all their CDs. Good Luck was the first song I sung for my managers before they took me on board, so I still have a big love for it.The first single I bought My mum gave me money to go and buy Feels Just Like It Should by Jamiroquai for 69p from HMV in Oxford Circus. It was the first time I’d bought a physical CD. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago It would be dereliction of Borthwick’s duty not to harness Arundell’s raw talent | Gerard Meagher

It is a test of Steve Borthwick’s coaching credentials to develop speedster Henry Arundell into the player he so obviously can becomeSome things never change. Twickenham can always make a hash of the pre-match festivities, Fiji will always take the breath away and there is no substitute for pace in the elite game. If there is one thing that Steve Borthwick takes from this helter-skelter victory over Fiji, it must be Henry Arundell’s 70th-minute try on his first England appearance since the 2023 World Cup. Some way to celebrate his 23rd birthday.Chasing down Marcus Smith’s grubber kick, Arundell gave Fiji’s outside-centre Kalaveti Ravouvou an enormous head start yet still won the foot race. Suffice it to say he does not lose many and at a stroke, the Pacific Islanders were finally put out of sight. There are plenty of caveats, those who will consider hyping up Arundell’s cameo as getting carried away. He was fresh, having just come off the bench whereas Ravouvou was not. One swallow ...

Politics

8 h. ago Jon Bon Jovi: ‘There have been days where I thought I was done’

The New Jersey rock star is preparing for his band’s first tour in four years after undergoing risky but crucial vocal surgery. He speaks with Roisin O’Connor about new album ‘Forever (Legendary Edition)’, why he’s OK with being vulnerable, and his joy over his growing family

Politics

9 h. ago Ukraine facing widespread power cuts after generating capacity reduced to ‘zero’ by Russian attacks

Power to be cut for as much as 16 hours a day across most of Ukraine while repairs are carried outPower will be cut for between eight and 16 hours across most regions of Ukraine on Sunday, state transmission system operator Ukrenergo has said, after Russian attacks targeting energy infrastructure reduced the country’s generating capacity to “zero”.Moscow, which has escalated attacks on Ukraine’s infrastructure in recent months, launched hundreds of drones at energy facilities across the country from Friday into Saturday. Continue reading...

Events

13 h. ago David Beckham celebrates knighthood at Cotswolds pub with 'blaring music and £55 bottles of wine' as son Cruz performs specially written song

According to reports, locals were surprised when David joined in 'dancing and singing' with revellers at the venue.

Culture

15 h. ago Is it better to be occasionally brilliant or consistently good? Ask the Wallabies | Daniel Gallan

Australia show flashes of greatness, but costly collapses threaten the idea of a revival. They need to find their rhythmIs it better to be a consistently good team or an occasionally brilliant one? We’ll find out by the end of Australia’s European tour. But now, after a 26–19 loss to Italy in Udine – their second defeat in as many matches on this crucial trip – the answer seems obvious. Because despite the Wallabies’ flashes of brilliance throughout the Joe Schmidt era, their inability to deliver steadily could yet prove costly.At present, the Wallabies are ranked seventh on World Rugby’s charts. If that doesn’t change, the hosts of the 2027 World Cup will be drawn alongside one of the top six teams in the group phase. Even if they progress, Australia would likely face another stiff challenge at the first knockout stage. That’s not the kind of jeopardy a rugby nation of this pedigree should be flirting with. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Trust in the NHS depends on an overhaul of nursing standards

Editorial: The new management team at the watchdog must make sure staff are fit to practise and must learn from its past mistakes

Politics

17 h. ago Freewheeling England shake off the shackles to trump Fiji at their own game | Andy Bull

Steve Borthwick’s men were invited to a dance and had all the moves, reacting to a classic try with one of their ownSomething is happening in south-west London. The statistics will give you a hint of it – England have won nine Tests in a row and haven’t lost at home all year – but the sight of the way they played here in the second half against Fiji says more about what’s going on than the numbers do.England, whisper it, turned in a brilliantly entertaining 40 minutes of freewheeling rugby against a Fiji team who are a hell of a lot better than their ninth-placed standing in the world rankings suggests. The Fijians invited England to a dance, and, glory be, Steve Borthwick’s team were delighted to take them up on it. You can only wonder what Borthwick made of it from his spot up in the coaches’ row. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Championship club sack manager as he sets rotten record and admits 'I don't feel great'

Norwich City have sacked manager Liam Manning after a dismal start to the Championship season that has left the Canaries 23rd in the table with just nine points from 15 games

Society

19 h. ago São Paulo Grand Prix: Lando Norris claims pole position after flying lap – live

Shock as Verstappen is knocked out in Q1F1’s three-way title fight echoes battles of yesteryearLiam Lawson has been given a five-second penalty and one penalty point on his super licence for causing a collision with Ollie Bearman during the sprint race earlier. Lawson is now on eight penalty points for the 12-month period. Earlier, Bearman was also handed a five-second time penalty for the sprint race and one penalty point on his licence for “driving in manner deemed potentially dangerous” for his contact with LawsonThere is a delay to qualifying due to repairs required to barrier damage at turns 10 and 11. No confirmation of how long yet Continue reading...

Sport

19 h. ago Norwich City sack manager after SEVENTH straight home defeat sets unwanted record

Liam Manning has been sacked by Norwich City after his side's 2-1 defeat to Leicester City at Carrow Road

Society

20 h. ago F1 2025: São Paulo Grand Prix qualifying updates after Norris wins sprint race – live

Red Bulls slump out of qualifying after Q1 strugglesF1’s three-way title fight echoes battles of yesteryearLiam Lawson has been given a five-second penalty and one penalty point on his super licence for causing a collision with Ollie Bearman during the sprint race earlier. Lawson is now on eight penalty points for the 12-month period. Earlier, Bearman was also handed a five-second time penalty for the sprint race and one penalty point on his licence for “driving in manner deemed potentially dangerous” for his contact with LawsonThere is a delay to qualifying due to repairs required to barrier damage at turns 10 and 11. No confirmation of how long yet Continue reading...

Sport

22 h. ago Caroline Flack’s final messages revealed in documentary trailer

If you are experiencing feelings of distress and isolation, or are struggling to cope, The Samaritans offer support; you can speak to someone for free over the phone, in confidence, on 116 123 (UK and ROI), email jo@samaritans.org, or visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.

Culture

23 h. ago M25 horror crash sees air ambulance land on carriageway as traffic builds

A 'multi-vehicle accident' has happened on the M25 between junctions 25 and 24, with an air ambulance landing at the scene - motorists are being warned to expect severe delays

Events

24 h. ago Arne Slot agrees with Jamie Carragher as Liverpool boss aims dig at Premier League rivals

Liverpool boss Arne Slot has aimed a thinly-veiled dig at Arsenal and other Premier League rivals ahead of his side's clash with Manchester City this weekend

Politics

27 h. ago Heartbreaking voice note from Caroline Flack’s last days featured in new documentary

Caroline Flack admitted she was “really all over the place” in a heartbreaking voice note sent days before her death.

Politics