10 h. ago We know that cosy games have big audiences – so where’s my epic Call the Midwife sim?

In a world overwhelmed by noise and with more players looking for solace, it’s time the triple-A developers pay attentionI am 85 hours into Death Stranding 2, an apocalyptic nightmare about Earth becoming infected with death monsters, and I’ve realised that I’m playing it as a cosy game. For hours at a time, I trundle along the photorealistic landscapes in my pick-up truck, delivering parcels to isolated communities and building new roads. The only reason I complete the main story missions is to open new areas of the map so that I can meet new people and build more roads. I find it blissfully enjoyable.Of course, I am far from alone in playing video games this way. “Cosy games” have become a thriving cottage industry over the past five years, led by crossover successes such as Minecraft, Stardew Valley and Untitled Goose Game, but also housing hundreds of smaller titles that appeal to highly engaged communities. On Steam this month you’ll discover Catto’s Post Office, a delightful g...

Events

39 h. ago Meghan Markle pays subtle tribute to Prince Harry in As Ever promo showing two 'profoundly connected' palm trees

A new post on the business's official Instagram page showed the silhouette of two palm trees against the backdrop of a pink-hued sky as the sunset in California

Politics

44 h. ago Post Office warning to passport holders to 'check this early'

A Post Office manager has issued a warning to anyone who is going abroad this summer

Events

63 h. ago Meghan Markle issues cryptic message about the UK as she teases As Ever update

In a new post shared on the firm's official Instagram page, a silhouette of a woman, presumably the Duchess of Sussex, 44, can be seen holding up a wine glass.

Politics

3 d. ago DWP orders probe into postmaster prosecutions amid calls to 'come clean'

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has ordered an 'independent assurance review' into prosecutions of Post Office staff for alleged welfare offences during the Horizon IT scandal

Politics

4 d. ago M&S Bank bans customers from making payments by cheque and giro

Account holders have been sent a letter saying that from October M&S Bank will stop accepting cheques or giro payments over bank, building society or post office counters.

Economics

5 d. ago Middle East crisis live: Israel security cabinet approves plan to take over Gaza City amid reports of disagreements with military

The announcement comes after Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel intended to take full control of Gaza and hand over the territory’s governance to friendly Arab forcesThe Axios reporter Barak Ravid has cited an Israeli official as saying Israel’s occupation of Gaza City is to involve besieging Hamas fighters there while carrying out a ground offensive.Ravid’s post on X says:Senior Israeli official tells me: The operation that the IDF is currently preparing for is only in Gaza City. The goal is to evacuate all Palestinian civilians from Gaza City to the central camps and other areas by October 7. A siege will be imposed on the Hamas militants who remain in Gaza City, and at the same time, a ground offensive will be carried out in Gaza City. The Prime Minister and the Defense Minister have been authorized to approve the IDF’s final operational plan1. Disarming Hamas of its weapons.2. Return of all hostages – both the living and the deceased. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Trump calls for new US census that excludes undocumented immigrants

Census has historically counted all residents regardless of citizenship status, as required by the 14th amendmentDonald Trump announced on Thursday that he has ordered the commerce department to conduct a new census that would exclude undocumented immigrants from the official count.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said the census would be “based on modern day facts and figures” and use “results and information gained from the Presidential Election of 2024”. He added that “people who are in our country illegally will not be counted”. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Welsh council to hire new officer and pay them £100,000 salary

Pembrokeshire Council is to recruit for a new senior officer, a post which commands a salary of up to £101,000

Economics

8 d. ago Masked thief caught on camera raiding Scots post office of cash and cigarettes

A masked thief made off with £1,500 worth of money and cigarettes from an Ayrshire post office.

Events

8 d. ago Conor McGregor launches campaign to become Ireland's president and calls on law change to boost his chances days after losing civil rape case appeal

The former UFC champion, who has hinted at his ambition since March, officially declared in a social media post.

Politics

1 week ago Justin Bieber goes shirtless for clothing brand office visit... as he shares post about broken 'olive branch'

The 31-year-old Peaches hitmaker appeared to be paying a visit to the headquarters for  his clothing brand, SKYLRK, with several other pals.

Society

1 week ago Inside the neighborhood patrols watching for Ice: ‘They thought they could scare us – but this is LA’

Volunteers with Union del Barrio look for immigration officers and post videos and alerts, warning people to seek shelterDawn broke on a foggy morning on Terminal Island, an artificial slice of land that rests where the city of Los Angeles meets the Pacific Ocean. Sea lions barked in the distance as sleek, white SUVs drove through a checkpoint into a federal prison. Chavo Romero, his hair pulled back in a ponytail, sipped coffee as he watched them.He awoke before daybreak, taking the day off from his public health job to drive here in the dark. Romero is part of a coalition of trained volunteers called Union del Barrio, who patrol the barrios, or neighbourhoods, to look for immigration enforcement, “La Migra.” When they spot Ice activity, they post videos that go viral, alerting people to seek shelter. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Fury as Trump appears as 'superhero' in bizarre 'Golden Age' Instagram post

People across social media are baffled as to who is running the official White House Instagram account as they post insane superhero style cartoon picture of Donald Trump

Politics

3 w. ago Brother of NFL legend Pat Tillman arrested after fiery car crash into California post office

Richard Tillman is in custody, but no charges have been announced publicly

Events

3 w. ago Suspect arrested after car crashes into post office and catches fire in San Jose, California

Authorities say a suspect was arrested after a car crashed into a post office in San Jose, California, causing the building to go up in flames

Events

3 w. ago BRIAN READE: 'Welcome to Bonkers Britain, a joke of a country where I feel beaten and ungoverned'

With HS2, the Post Office scandal, Grenfell and train tickets just the tip of the iceberg, Brian Reade is fast losing his sense of humour

Politics

3 w. ago Holiday hotspot 'half the price of Ibiza' named cheapest destination for Brit tourists

The port city has the lowest prices out of 16 popular locations for a basket of 10 tourist items, a Post Office investigation said. The holiday hotspot came in at almost half the price of Ibiza

Politics

3 w. ago First criminal conviction linked to Capture referred to Court of Appeal

An application was made on behalf of Patricia Owen to the Criminal Cases Review Commission.

Events

3 w. ago Post Office systems go DOWN: Major outage hits customers at branches across Britain

People over the UK attempting to send out parcels this afternoon ran into trouble as systems crashed while they were in store.

Economics