16 h. ago American left baffled by British term as they 'have to look up meaning'

An American was left baffled by the varying meanings of a specific word on either side of the Atlantic - and sought advice on the English language from Brits online

Politics

49 h. ago Tennis fans left divided after American star Ben Shelton wrote a four

Like most winners at the Australian Open, Shelton wrote a few words on a TV camera for his fans. However, his words kicked off a big debate online amid huge tension in America.

Politics

68 h. ago American tourist visits UK and leaves Brit floored with baffling question

A Brit was left gobsmacked after an American tourist came up to them to ask an odd question - and it's lead to others sharing their own experiences of dealing with tourists' questions

Politics

5 d. ago ‘Treated like shirkers’: German unions cry foul over Merz’s sick

Opponents say proposal to end sick notes issued over phone would fill up doctors’ waiting rooms unnecessarilyA German proposal to end the right to get short-term sick leave from a doctor over the telephone as a means of cracking down on skiving has met with outcry from labour groups and the medical profession.Germans enjoy some of the most generous employee illness policies in Europe, a fact the conservative chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says is undermining efforts to kickstart the EU’s biggest economy, whose growth has largely stalled since 2022. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Germany’s plan to axe sick notes given over phone meets outcry from unions and medics

Opponents say proposal, designed to tackle employee skiving, would fill up doctors’ waiting rooms unnecessarilyA German proposal to end the right to get short-term sick leave from a doctor over the telephone as a means of cracking down on skiving has met with an outcry from labour groups and the medical profession.Germans enjoy some of the most generous employee illness policies in Europe, a fact the conservative chancellor, Friedrich Merz, says is undermining efforts to kickstart the EU’s biggest economy, whose growth has largely stalled since 2022. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago The Guardian view on microplastics research: questioning results is good for science, but has political consequences | Editorial

Errors in measuring microplastic pollution can be corrected. Public trust in science also needs to be shored up It is true that science is self-correcting. Over the long term this means that we can generally trust its results – but up close, correction can be a messy process. The Guardian reported last week that 20 recent studies measuring the amount of micro- and nanoplastics in the human body have been criticised in the scientific literature for methodological issues, calling their results into question. In one sense this is the usual process playing out as it should. However, the scale of the potential error – one scientist estimates that half the high-impact papers in the field are affected – suggests a systemic problem that should have been prevented.The risk is that in a febrile political atmosphere in which trust in science is being actively eroded on issues from climate change to vaccinations, even minor scientific conflicts can be used to sow further doubt. Given that there...

Politics

1 week ago Man Utd could exploit humiliating FA Cup third round exit to arrange stunning £10m Cristiano Ronaldo clash

MANCHESTER UNITED could revisit the prospect of using midseason friendlies to help fill the club’s financial blackhole. The Red Devils could bank around £10million from a mid-season trip to Saudi Arabia, as the club’s FA Cup exit means they have just 17 games left this term. Defeat to Brighton on Sunday meant United exited both...

Economics

1 week ago Afcon special: Morocco’s moment, Nigeria’s surge and more: Football Weekly – video

Max Rushden is joined by Barry Glendenning, Jonathan Wilson and Osasu Obayiuwana as the Africa Cup of Nations reaches its last four.On today’s pod: it’s an Afcon special as the final four are decided. Hosts Morocco look increasingly like favourites after seeing off Cameroon; the panel asks whether Brahim Díaz’s remarkable form is a surprise, and questions how far long-term investment has taken them. Nigeria, meanwhile, remain perfect so far as they brush aside Algeria to set up a heavyweight semi-final clash.Elsewhere, the panel discusses Egypt's chances as Mohamed Salah looks to enter African football folklore by winning the tournament, after Egypt beat Côte d’Ivoire. The panel ask if Senegal overthink their midfield after they squeezed through against Mali to tee up another chapter in the Salah v Mané rivalry.Plus, a wider look at CAF’s decision to move Afcon back to a four-year cycle, the impact of winter scheduling, infrastructure in Morocco before the 2030 World Cup, and more C...

Politics

2 w. ago I loved my teaching job. But as a trans man in Texas, quitting was the only way to get my dignity back

After the state’s bathroom ban went into effect in December amid a slew of new anti-trans policies, I couldn’t keep trying to hide my identity at workUntil recently, I was a music teacher in north Texas. I also happen to be trans. I have never, ever told a student about my identity. At work, I was “stealth” – a term that means that I passed as a cisgender man. Only my administrators knew I was trans, because I was not yet taking gender-affirming hormones when I started this job in my early 20s. I’m now in my late 20s.My decision to stay stealth was affected by the political climate. Texas has been trying to pass a bathroom ban for 10 years, and in December, they finally implemented the rule. It applies to restrooms and changing rooms in public buildings, schools and universities. Continue reading...

Society

2 w. ago American left baffled by how money differs in England, Scotland and Ireland

An American asked Brits to explain why there's such a big difference between bank notes from England, Scotland, and Ireland as he spotted a confusing sign during UK visit

Politics

2 w. ago Snooker streaker whipped clothes off before running past Ronnie O'Sullivan at Masters final

A busty secretary by the name of Lianne Crofts brought a new meaning to the term blue balls when she whipped off her clothes and strutted around naked at the 1997 Masters snooker final

Politics

2 w. ago American woman visits Tesco for first time and is left 'sweating'

An American woman living in the UK has admitted she was left 'sweating' after visiting Tesco for the first time over one thing she had never experienced in a US supermarket

Politics

3 w. ago American left totally baffled after discovering what 'tea' is

It can be hilarious watching American's in the UK for the first time trying our fast food restaurants, regional delicacies, viral sweets and chocolate on social media

Politics

3 w. ago How to talk dating like gen Z: 51 (hyperspecific) terms for love, sex and bad behavior

As young people take on a messy dating landscape, they’ve created their own lexicon to match. Here’s like what phrases ‘bird theory’ and ‘monkey branching’ meanThis year marked a decade since the term “ghosting” hit the mainstream. At the time, the idea that someone could abruptly cease communication with a lover without explanation seemed like the peak of indignity. How naive we were. In the 10 years since, finding a partner has only become more confounding – an oftentimes fruitless exercise in humiliation that is increasingly pigeonholed by social media jargon.Gen Z, a cohort who came of age during a loneliness epidemic, a masculinity crisis, and a coordinated attack on the rights of women and the LGBTQ+ community, faces a far messier landscape than their millennial predecessors could ever imagine. And so their dating glossary has grown longer and more deranged, with phrases like “Shrekking” and “monkey branching” testing the limits of your sanity.Red flags – Behavioral quirks ind...

Politics

3 w. ago Workman left 'unrecognisable' after savage attack by customer's American bulldog

We'll be bringing you the very latest updates, pictures and video on this breaking news story.

Economics

3 w. ago American living in the UK lists four 'rude' words she can't get her head around

An American woman has been left blushing after hearing and using these four words in the UK – that's because they mean something much different across the pond

Politics