1 hour ago Keys to success: the 2025 Van Cliburn piano competition, the instrument’s Olympics

One of the world’s most prestigious and intensive musical competitions took over downtown Fort Worth these past few weeks. Will its winner prove to be another Yunchan Lim-style sensation?A distinctive line drawing of a grand piano adorns a clock face in Sundance Square. At night, it beams like a Tracey Emin installation, presiding over Fort Worth’s downtown district. At the intersection leading to Bass Performance Hall the crosswalk has been replaced with an oversized keyboard, and, inside the cavernous venue, sartorial style favours black and white stripes. A pop-up gift shop in the lobby boasts an array of musical-themed memorabilia; there’s the line drawing on a bubble-gum pink T-shirt, an enormous travel mug, a steak-branding fork. The theme-park feel is confirmed by a white Steinway emblazoned with Mickey Mouse – a limited hand-painted Disney edition (price on request). Welcome to piano city, smiles the sign.Every four years, piano lovers from across the world gather in this Te...

Sport

2 w. ago UK band robbed at gunpoint in US say it is still ‘greatest country in the world’

Their van was broken into by masked thieves, who pulled out a gun, when they had stopped for coffee at a Starbucks in Vallejo, California, last year.

Events

2 w. ago Mum bursts out shouting 'oh my God' as her web of lies are exposed

Angela Lloyd used fake names and invented medical conditions to earn nearly £170k

Politics

3 w. ago Inflation is so high, even Rachel Reeves's voice is going up: Chancellor suffers from technical gaffe as inflation surges to 3.5%

An unfortunate technical error saw the under-fire chancellor discussing the rise in inflation to 3.5 per cent in tones more akin to Mickey Mouse.

Economics

4 w. ago Boy cruelly nicknamed 'Mickey Mouse' over giant 'ears' has amazing transformation

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Cruelly nicknamed 'Mickey Mouse', a toddler has made an incredible recovery after battling a heartbreaking condition that caused huge growths on top of his tiny head

Politics

4 w. ago Boy makes wild transformation after rare condition earned him 'Mickey Mouse' nickname

To help three-year-old Qibao, who was born with several large dark-coloured moles on his face, doctors stretched his skin to cover the resulting gaps which made his resemble the famous mouse

Politics

last month Parents of boy cruelly nicknamed 'Mickey Mouse' over giant growths caused by treatment for rare skin condition share their joy as he makes amazing transformation

A three-year-old boy once cruelly dubbed 'Mickey Mouse' over giant 'ears' caused by treatment for a rare skin condition has shown off his amazing recovery.

Politics