72 m. ago The kindness of strangers: alone in the crowd at Glastonbury, a stranger hugged me tight while I cried about my dead dad

As I sobbed to U2, she would hug me tighter as we swayed to the musicRead more in the kindness of strangers seriesMy father died when I was 19, after a short and sharp fight with cancer. Unsure of what to do or how to proceed with life, I took a year off university and went backpacking through Europe. The other side of the world seemed like a good place to be.I ended up at the music festival Glastonbury in 2011. It was a great lineup that year but there was one act on the bill that really caught my eye: U2. They were my dad’s favourite band, so it seemed only right that I should go and see them. Of course, U2 aren’t exactly a massive draw for people my age, so I ended up alone in the massive crowd at the main stage while my friends saw other bands. Continue reading...

Events

73 m. ago ‘There’s a dark side to floristry’: are pesticides making workers seriously ill – or worse?

Unlike in food, there is no upper limit on the amount of pesticide residue levels in flowers. But after French officials linked the death of a florist’s child to exposure in pregnancy, many in the industry are now raising the alarmOn a cold morning in December 2024, florist Madeline King was on a buying trip to her local wholesaler when a wave of dizziness nearly knocked her over. As rows of roses seemed to rush past her, she tried to focus. She quickly picked the blooms she needed and left.I’m not doing this any more, she thought. Continue reading...

Politics

78 m. ago Husband charged with elaborate double homicide after having affair with au pair to go on trial

Both the au pair and husband were arrested between 2023 and 2024 and initially handed murder charges in the case

Politics

2 h. ago How to make penne all’arrabiata – recipe | Felicity Cloake's Masterclass

Arrabiata means angry, but this simple and delicious pasta dish is pure joyPasta all’arrabbiata is the perfect dish for January. Not only is it quick, vegan and made from ingredients you might conceivably have in the cupboard already, but the name, which means angry, could be said to suit my mood now that the last of the Christmas festivities are over. Happily, a big plate of rich, tomatoey pasta can always be relied upon to lift the spirits.Prep 5 min Cook 25 min Serves 2 Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Hidden tax change that could see thousands of tax bills quadruple from April due to Labour rules

WHITE van men are facing a tax bombshell as annual bills have quadrupled under rules introduced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. Thousands of tradespeople and small business owners who rely on double-cab pick-up trucks are being hammered by a little-known tax hike quietly introduced back in April 2025. Experts say a "little-known tweak" in the 2024...

Economics

2 h. ago Family seeks answers after ICE deported man to Costa Rica in vegetative state

Exclusive: Before Randall Gamboa Esquivel died, his health had deteriorated badly while he was in ICE custodyCosta Rican family demands answers after ICE deportation and death: ‘Have you ever smelled a cadaver?’The family of a Costa Rican man who was deported from the United States in a vegetative state and died shortly after arriving back in his home country is still urgently seeking answers from the authorities about what happened to him while he was in detention.Randall Gamboa Esquivel had left Costa Rica in good health and crossed the United States-Mexico border in December 2024, according to his family. However, Gamboa was detained by the US authorities for re-entering American soil unlawfully, as he had previously lived there undocumented between 2002 and 2013. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Ultimate international festival guide 2026 from Tomorrowland to Snowbombing

As 2026 gets into full swing and party people are defrosting ready for the summer season, Daily Star has compiled a list of the best festivals from around the globe to help you decide where to go

Events

5 h. ago Milan’s Catholic archdiocese brings Olympic values into parish life

As Milan prepares to host the 2026 Winter Olympics, the city’s Catholic archdiocese launched a multi-year program that uses sport to promote values such as inclusion and solidarity among children and adolescents

Sport

6 h. ago Cam Reading's life in pics as Scott McTominay's 'Queen of Italy' WAG sets pulses racing

Scott McTominay's girlfriend Cam Reading is enjoying life in Italy since moving to Napoli in 2024 following her partner's transfer from Manchester United

Politics

8 h. ago Three board members resign from Adelaide festival as Randa Abdel

Resignations follow withdrawal of more than 70 participants in writers’ week after Palestinian Australian author disinvitedGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Adelaide festival is facing an unprecedented leadership crisis after three board members resigned this weekend.The journalist Daniela Ritorto, the Adelaide businesswoman Donny Walford and the lawyer Nick Linke have stepped down since the board’s controversial decision to dump the Palestinian Australian author Randa Abdel-Fattah from the 2026 writers’ week program. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Teenager caught after year on run for Birmingham city centre family brawl

Thomas Sweeney junior was due to be sentenced in August 2024 following a wild incident in Birmingham's Gay Village a year earlier which was captured on CCTV

Events

11 h. ago Adelaide festival did not dump Jewish columnist from 2024 program despite request from Randa Abdel

Palestinian academic rejects accusations of hypocrisy, saying board resisted attempts to remove Thomas Friedman, while cancelling her invitation this yearFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastThe Adelaide festival board did not dump a Jewish columnist from its 2024 lineup at Adelaide writers’ week, despite being lobbied by a group of 10 academics – including Randa Abdel-Fattah – to do so.On Saturday South Australia’s premier, Peter Malinauskas, claimed that the board had dumped the New York Times pro-Israel columnist Thomas Friedman in 2024, and reiterated his support for the festival board’s decision on Thursday to remove Abdel-Fattah, a Palestinian Australian academic, from this year’s program. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Superb Malinin cruises to fourth US figure skating title as Chock

Sublime Malinin cruises to fourth US crownChock and Bates claim record seventh US titleOlympic team selections to be named SundayIlia Malinin, a red-hot favorite for gold at next month’s Milano-Cortina Olympics, cruised to a fourth consecutive national title at the US Figure Skating Championships on Saturday while Madison Chock and Evan Bates captured a record seventh national ice dance crown.Malinin, who separated himself from the field in St Louis with a remarkable performance in Thursday’s short program, returned to score 209.78 points in the free skate for a 324.88 total in his final tune-up for the Olympics. Continue reading...

Politics

13 h. ago Councils told to 'hang their heads in shame' for spending more than £100,000 of taxpayers' money to take down St George's and Union flags

An FOI request revealed that the cash-strapped councils across the UK spent thousands on paying contractors to take down the flags, which had been put up by many locals last year.

Economics

16 h. ago Miami Open 2026 plus luxury Caribbean cruise around Bahamas, Grand Cayman and Jamaica from £2,399pp

THE world’s rich, famous, and sporting-mad will be jetting off to Florida for the sizzling heat and A-list glamour of the Miami Open – and you can join them. Held at the Hard Rock Stadium, this isn't just a tennis tournament; it's a five-star festival of sport, food, and culture.  Now you can turn your...

Economics

16 h. ago Iman pays tribute to late husband David Bowie with Blackstar tattoo

Bowie died aged 69 on January 10 2016.

Politics

17 h. ago Shoppers buy less food and booze over festive period in Britain's first 'fat jab Christmas'

Although supermarket sales in December rose 3.8 per cent to a record £13.8billion, fuelled by food price inflation, the volume of physical items bought declined, according research firm Worldpanel.

Economics

18 h. ago Egypt vs Ivory Coast live: Salah goal dumps holders out of competition as Pharaohs book semi

Egypt 3-2 Ivory Coast: Mo Salah’s goal proves the difference as Pharaohs dump holders out of Afcon and set up semi-final against Senegal

Politics

19 h. ago Wales' Ciaran Davies' game plan for Love Island uncovered after failed romance

The Welsh rugby player has admitted he'll approach the reality show differently after finishing runner-up in 2024

Events

20 h. ago The moment I knew: huddled under a spooky bridge by the Canal de l’Ourcq, we were like two little penguins

At first, Alyssa Moore and Jacob Randell kept their romance a secret from their circus troupe; but as the world shut down, they took a leap togetherFind more stories from the moment I knew seriesThe first time Jake and I crossed paths was at a circus festival in Bathurst. It was 2010 and I was in my last year of high school. Aspiring circus troupes from across the country had gathered to showcase their acts. It felt like all eyes were on Jake’s group from Adelaide, they were incredibly talented. I definitely remember him – I even took one of his workshops – but didn’t think much more of it.I left my home town, Ulladulla, not long after, trained at the National Institute of Circus Arts and launched a freelance acrobatic career in Melbourne. Meanwhile Jake’s troupe had become a company. Gravity & Other Myths was on the ascent, touring internationally, so when a position came up for a flyer I didn’t hesitate to apply. Continue reading...

Politics