1 hour ago Philharmonia/Rouvali review – Fazil Say’s concerto sounds an urgent wakeup call

Royal Festival Hall, LondonThe UK premiere of the Turkish composer’s piano concerto Mother Earth was balanced with theatrical Sibelius and a sure-footed reading of Dvorak’s upbeat Eighth SymphonyThe Philharmonia closed their 80th-anniversary season in style with a pair of late-Romantic big hitters and the UK premiere of a seven-movement piano concerto by Turkish composer Fazil Say. With nature at its heart, the programme journeyed from the frozen wastes of Finland to the sun-kissed woodlands of Bohemia and beyond.En Saga, a last-minute substitute for Falla’s Love the Magician, was Sibelius’s first tone poem, poorly received in 1893 but successfully revised nine years later. The composer refused to furnish any specific literary explanations, yet the colourful score is redolent with imagery, from patriotic pageantry to dusky forests and midnight sleigh rides. It proved meat and drink to fellow Finn Santtu-Matias Rouvali. Plunging into its shadowy dramas, the conductor sustained the mu...

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1 hour ago Strictly Come Dancing's Balvinder set to cause 'biggest upset in show history'

EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal has reached the Strictly Come Dancing quarter-final despite being in five dance-offs.

Culture

1 hour ago 50 Cent responds to criticism of his new Diddy documentary in light of long

Artists have been locked in one of rap’s biggest and longest ongoing feuds since 2001

Culture

1 hour ago BBC's Balvinder Sopal to cause 'the biggest upset in Strictly history'

Strictly Come Dancing fans bid farewell to another celebrity over the weekend as the remaining contestants set their sights on the final.

Politics

2 h. ago Trump says he’ll release MRI results but has ‘no idea’ which body part was scanned

US president, who is 79, spoke about scan amid concerns over his cognitive abilities and mental fitnessUS politics live – latest updatesDonald Trump said he will release the results of a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan conducted during his surprise “semiannual physical” in October – but was unable to tell reporters what part of his body was under investigation.The oldest-ever US president faced questions over the procedure on Air Force One as he traveled back to Washington DC on Sunday night after a Thanksgiving break in Florida. It is the latest episode of recurring concern about the cognitive abilities and mental fitness of the 79-year-old, who insisted he had “aced” earlier tests relating to his brain functioning. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago UK and US preparing to strike zero tariffs deal on pharmaceuticals

It comes after warnings that US pharma firms will shut down their sites in the UK if the NHS does not pay more for drugs.

Economics

2 h. ago China’s DeepSeek releases first AI capable of top score at maths Olympiad

‘Imagine owning the brain of one of the best mathematicians in the world for free,’ says tech boss

Sport

2 h. ago All the Gail's branches in London as bakery chain looks to open 40 more in England

With scores of bakeries dotted across London, here’s a list of where you can find your local

Politics

2 h. ago Netflix film watched 103 million times returns with huge sequel

The film outing proved to be Netflix's biggest non-English language movie and was watched by millions

Politics

2 h. ago Greggs launches Christmas card range complete with the gift of a sausage roll

The iconic baker's Ultimate Secret Santa Surprise includes a card with heat-activated ink that, when warmed, reveals a code for a free sausage roll.

Politics

3 h. ago Lululemon’s 'biggest' Black Friday sale now includes double discounts on coats and jackets for Cyber Monday

Lululemon shoppers can bag a double discount on everything reduced in its Cyber Monday sale until midnight tonight

Politics

4 h. ago Instructor, 40, who forged 85 certificates in security training cover up that 'almost shut down Birmingham Airport' is spared jail

Shoaib Iqbal, 40, told investigators he had fallen behind on paperwork when in reality he had not conducted essential refresher training for dozens of staff.

Events

4 h. ago What is GivingTuesday? How to donate on the annual day of charitable giving

Since it started as a hashtag in 2012, GivingTuesday, the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, has become one of the biggest fundraising days of the year for nonprofits in the U.S. This year, it falls on Dec. 2

Politics

4 h. ago Anthony Joshua's surprise Jake Paul comment sums up how seriously he's taking fight

Anthony Joshua offered up surprising words when it comes to Jake Paul

Sport

4 h. ago Business energy bills are changing: here’s how you can prepare

The business energy market is set to see one of its biggest changes in over a decade.

Economics

5 h. ago ‘Foolish’ government cuts could take Aids pandemic back to 1980s, warns former cabinet minister

Government funding decisions risk sending progress on HIV back by decades, Lord Smith told a gathering of campaigners organised by The Independent - but there is still hope of ending the pandemic by 2030 if investment is made in new drugs

Events

5 h. ago Ditch your dehumidifier – two buttons will defog your car’s windscreen WITHOUT any smears this winter

DRIVERS can get one step ahead of the wet weather this week with a surprisingly little-known hack that uses just two buttons inside your motor. Brits are bracing themselves for a soggy start to the week with weather warnings in place for heavy rain and flooding. Indeed, forecasters have cautioned that “heavy rain is likely...

Politics

5 h. ago Arsenal selection shock expected as Mikel Arteta faces huge new dilemma

Gunners boss predicted to make a surprise call for ‘big games’ after one player stood up against Chelsea

Politics

5 h. ago Self Esteem to headline biggest gig yet with huge Welsh date

The hugely popular artist Self Esteem returns to Cardiff to headline a show at the castle

Politics

5 h. ago Ruben Amorim reveals what has 'surprised' him about Manchester United

Ruben Amorim has spoken about his first year as Man United boss and how he has found the task of managing one of the world's biggest clubs.

Politics