52 m. ago Shoes on at home or shoes off? If you care about your health, it’s a no

One study reported that 96% of shoes carry coliform bacteria, commonly found in faecal matter. So why is it so uncool to ask visitors to take them off?It is a truth almost universally unacknowledged in the UK that wearing shoes in the home is gross. More than gross, actually – there’s scientific evidence it could have serious health consequences and even, if you want to come over all dramatic about it, be life-threatening. And yet I can count on the fingers of no hands the people I know who ask me to remove my shoes when I visit.Until now this has been an uncomplicatedly divisive subject: you were either a Shoes Off household, or you weren’t. But a secret underground movement is gathering pace – the Shoes On households who wish they were Shoes Off, but are worried about the uptight implications of rolling out that policy. Can you be a Shoes Off household while avoiding Shoes Off household energy?Polly Hudson is a freelance writer Continue reading...

Society

94 m. ago Lidl reveals 87 potential locations for new stores in and around Greater Manchester

The list includes details for 68 potential locations for new Lidl stores, in and around Greater Manchester

Politics

4 h. ago Archaeologists unearth lucky penis pendant near Hadrian’s Wall

The smooth surface suggests the wearer touched it often for good luck

Politics

4 h. ago Myanmar puts Aung Sang Suu Kyi’s house on auction for fourth time but finds no buyers

The colonial-styled private villa of Suu Kyi is located near Yangon’s scenic Inya lake

Economics

4 h. ago Daniel Gravell trial: Former teacher accused of triple rape gives evidence in court

Daniel Gravell from Carmarthen is due to give evidence in court today after being charged with raping three different women - allegations he has called 'laughable'

Events

4 h. ago Trump officials increasingly recruit local police for immigration enforcement despite ‘red flags’

Agreements with agencies in 38 states resurrect aggressive tactics shelved more than a decade ago amid alarms about civil rights abusesThe first few months of 2025 have been tumultuous for Sheriff Bill Rogers, the chief law officer of Columbus county in North Carolina. In February, his department settled a lawsuit accusing Columbus jail deputies of neglecting the care of a county inmate who was almost beaten to death in 2023. Then in March, a group of Roger’s deputies were accused of assault during the arrest of a 57-year-old who claimed he was punched in the back of the head and left bloody after allegedly running a stop sign.Those episodes follow years of scandal. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago Terrifying moment tourists scream as packed hot air balloon slams into another during take off after powerful gust of wind

The horrifying incident took place in the Dutch village of Luttelgeest, located north-east of Amsterdam, on Sunday.

Society

5 h. ago Missing Scot who vanished 22 years ago 'was attacked' as fresh evidence emerges

Robert Scott Clive, from Stranraer, disdappeared after a night out in Tyneside in 2002.

Events

6 h. ago Sycamore Gap trial live: Friends accused of cutting down iconic tree ‘kept wedge as a trophy’

Daniel Graham and Adam Carruthers are today appearing for the second day of evidence at a trial at Newcastle Crown Court accused of felling the Sycamore Gap tree

Politics

6 h. ago Middle East crisis live: US backs Israel’s stance on Unrwa at ICJ hearing

US official tells international court of justice about ‘serious concerns’ over agency’s impartialityThere is now a live feed from the international court of justice (ICJ) in The Hague, where the US is giving evidence (see 8.52am). You may need to refresh the blog to see it.An Iranian man convicted of espionage and intelligence cooperation with Israel was executed on Wednesday, Iranian state media reported. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Sali Hughes on beauty: vitamin patches are all the rage, but are the effects more than skin deep?

They work for HRT and nicotine, but can skin patches really improve mental wellbeing, skin, nails and more?At the end of last year, I noticed many of my beauty industry colleagues were wearing brightly coloured patches – a bit like children’s novelty sticking plasters – on their wrists. Soon they started popping up on my Instagram feed via wellness and lifestyle accounts. These transdermal supplement patches, claiming to improve mental wellbeing, skin, nails, energy levels and more, are expected by industry figures to replace vitamin tablets and gummies in the next five years.Whether or not they do much is hard to call. As patches (and indeed oral supplements) aren’t generally classed as medication, they’re a low priority for clinical testing, while many studies that do exist were undertaken by supplement companies. The anecdotal evidence in favour seems significant, and while this may well be a placebo effect – a friend told me that just seeing the patch there makes ...

Politics

6 h. ago RAC issues bank holiday traffic warning with one million more drivers to hit the roads

These are the times and locations where the traffic is expected to be at its worst

Events

8 h. ago Mysterious skull found decades ago could belong to legendary king, archaeologists say

Hungarian king was renowned for reforming justice administration and for being a patron of art and science

Politics

8 h. ago Dexter viewers unimpressed as 'weird' teaser for upcoming sequel Resurrection drops

Crime drama Dexter is set to return for another sequel series later this year, but some fans of the serial killer hit don't think it should be spun out any longer

Politics

8 h. ago Russia says 'British blood must be spilled' in horror WW3 warning

British security have been accused of providing explosives in a series of high-profile assassinations without any supported evidence.

Events

9 h. ago How a fighter pilot's mental techniques helped tiny Bodø/Glimt reach the Europa League semifinals

The transformation of Bodø/Glimt from an unheralded Norwegian team located inside the Arctic Circle to one of the fairy-tale stories of European soccer has been underpinned by a fighter pilot who developed mental techniques for his squadron before bombing missions

Sport

9 h. ago What to do if your wireless headphones are lost or stolen: some sound advice

From using the location tracker on your phone to retaining proof of purchase, steps you can takeWhat to do if your phone is lost or stolen: practical steps to restore peace of mindHeadphones are a daily accessory for many, making them a tempting target for thieves. Whether they are stolen from your head or pinched from a bag, here’s what to do.Check the headphones control app on your phone. Many of them have a function that shows where they were last connected to your phone, so you can try to track them down.Check Find My on your phone, some Bluetooth models such as Apple’s AirPods, Samsung’s Galaxy Buds or Google’s Pixel Buds can be tracked. You may also be able to report them as lost in Find My in case anyone finds them.Report the theft to the police on 101 with a description of the headphones, including make, model, colour and serial number, which should be found on the box.Contact your insurance company to see whether the headphones are covered by any of your policies.Set up any...

Politics

10 h. ago Mysterious skull found decades ago could belong to legendary Hungarian king, archaeologists say

Hungarian king was renowned for reforming justice administration and for being a patron of art and science

Politics

19 h. ago Delphi murders: Pictures of gun, ‘magic’ bullet and slain girls’ phones among evidence released by prosecutors

In late 2024, Richard Allen was convicted and sentenced to 130 years in prison for the February 2017 murders of Abby Williams and Libby German in Delphi, Indiana

Events

20 h. ago Lidl looks to relocate in Wishaw as part of announced £500 million expansion plan

The supermarket is also looking at opening 52 new stores at locations across Scotland

Economics