16 h. ago Digested week: My resolution is for the world: sunken living rooms

They’re cosy, civilised and different without disturbing things too much. Let’s do this!At last. I have been waiting a year for this moment. I must apologise to you all. Twelve months ago, in this very organ, nay in this very diary, I noted that we were now in the hazy, lazy, crazy days between Boxing Day and New Year and thus wished you all a happy “Christmas perineum”. It should have been, of course, “Merryneum”. It has been bothering me ever since. I can only put it down to post-turkey malaise. If it helps, it is only while Googling around this subject to write this entry that I have realised that the nickname “taint” – for the fleshly rather than festive part under discussion – refers to the fact that “’t ain’t the front, ‘t ain’t the back.” I think perhaps I knew this at some level but hadn’t consciously made the connection. Anyway. I offer the knowledge to you here in some kind of twisted act of contrition. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Digested week: My resolution, for the world, is sunken living rooms

They’re cosy, civilised and different without disturbing things too much. Let’s do this!At last. I have been waiting a year for this moment. I must apologise to you all. Twelve months ago, in this very organ, nay in this very diary, I noted that we were now in the hazy, lazy, crazy days between Boxing Day and new year and thus wished you all a happy “Christmas perineum”. It should have been, of course, “Merryneum”. It has been bothering me ever since. I can only put it down to post-turkey malaise. If it helps, it is only while Googling around this subject to write this entry that I have realised that the nickname “taint” – for the fleshly rather than festive part under discussion – refers to the fact that “’t ain’t the front, ’t ain’t the back”. I think perhaps I knew this at some level but hadn’t consciously made the connection. Anyway. I offer the knowledge to you here in some kind of twisted act of contrition. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago NFL playoff race: Seahawks and 49ers meet with NFC’s No 1 seed at stake

The final week of the regular season delivers a winner-take-all clash in the NFC West, while Houston surge, the Rams slide and the race for the No 1 draft pick tips toward farceSeattle Seahawks (13-3) v San Francisco 49ers (12-4) Continue reading...

Politics

36 h. ago Two people confirmed dead as Iran protests turn into ‘battlefield’

Nationwide protests against living conditions enter fifth day with security forces reportedly using live ammunitionThe largest protests in Iran for three years entered a fifth day on Thursday amid reports of deadly clashes between protesters and security forces, with state-affiliated media confirming at least two people had been killed.Although state media did not identify those killed, witnesses and videos circulating on social media appear to show protesters lying motionless on the ground after security forces opened fire. Continue reading...

Events

42 h. ago Cheltenham and Musselburgh racing tips and New Year's Day best bets for Windsor, Newcastle, Exeter, Southwell and Catterick

Our man Garry Owen has got you covered on a busy day of racing to kick off 2026

Politics

59 h. ago Newsboy’s ITV selections for Cheltenham, Musselburgh and Windsor plus tips from Thursday’s other UK meetings

Newsboy is backing Glengouly to win the Betfair Exhange Chase at Cheltenham and he expects Kabral Du Mathan to deliver in the Dornan Engineering Relkeel Hurdle on ITV

Politics

68 h. ago Eurostar restarts services in Channel tunnel amid continued risk of disruption

Passengers face delays day after power supply issue and broken down train halted services between UK and FranceEurostar passengers have been warned that continued delays and cancellations are possible on Wednesday despite the resumption of services after a power supply issue halted Channel tunnel train trips connecting London to the European mainland.Thousands of passengers in the busy run-up to the new year faced hours of delays after the train operator cancelled services between London, Paris, Amsterdam and Brussels on Tuesday due to an overhead power supply problem and a failed LeShuttle train. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Damien Martyn, former Australian Test cricketer, in hospital in induced coma with meningitis

54-year-old admitted to hospital on Boxing Day with meningitisMartyn played 67 Tests for Australia between 1992 and 2006The former Australian Test cricketer Damien Martyn has been admitted to hospital and placed in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis.The 54-year-old “is in for the fight of his life”, according to the former AFL player Brad Hardie, who revealed Martyn’s condition on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Damien Martyn, former Australian Test cricketer, in induced coma with meningitis

The 54-year-old was admitted to hospital on Boxing Day Martyn played total of 67 Tests between 1992 and 2006The former Australian Test cricketer Damien Martyn has been admitted to hospital and placed in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis.The sporting community is rallying around the 54-year-old, who “is in for the fight of his life”, according to the former AFL player Brad Hardie, who revealed Martyn’s condition on 6PR on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Former Australian Test cricketer Damien Martyn in induced coma

54-year-old admitted to hospital on Boxing Day with meningitisMartyn played 67 Tests for Australia between 1992 and 2006The former Australian Test cricketer Damien Martyn has been admitted to hospital and placed in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis.The 54-year-old “is in for the fight of his life”, according to the former AFL player Brad Hardie, who revealed Martyn’s condition on Tuesday. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Man raped near outdoor swimming pool on Christmas Eve as police appeal for help to catch predator

WARNING, DISTRESSING CONTENT: Police have urged the public to come forward with information after a man was allegedly raped between 10pm on Christmas Eve and the early hours of Christmas Day

Events

4 d. ago Boy, 13, seriously injured after Boxing Day horror crash between car and dirt bike

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

Events

4 d. ago Scots schoolboy, 13, in hospital after horror Boxing Day crash between dirt bike and Mercedes

A SCOTS schoolboy was rushed to hospital with serious injuries after a horror crash between a dirt bike and Mercedes motor. The collision happened on Boxing Day on Peat Road in Glasgow near the junction with Dunside Drive. The alarm was raised at around 5.35pm following the smash which involved a grey 125cc M2R off...

Events

5 d. ago Police hunt launched after 'man in his 30s is attacked in Christmas Day rape'

The victim was close to Brook Street, near to Pells Pool in Lewes, East Sussex, when the alleged rape happened between 10pm on Christmas Eve and 3am on Christmas Day.

Events

5 d. ago Urgent hunt launched after 'man in his 30s is attacked in Christmas Day rape'

The victim was close to Brook Street, near to Pells Pool in Lewes, East Sussex, when the alleged rape happened between 10pm on Christmas Eve and 3am on Christmas Day.

Events

5 d. ago Man in 30s 'raped' in Christmas Eve attack near outdoor swimming pool

Police believe the attack happened between approximately 10pm on Christmas Eve and 3am on Christmas Day

Events

6 d. ago Manhunt for prisoner who absconded from jail over Christmas as cops warn 'do not approach'

Mahad Elmi left HMP Springhill between Christmas and Boxing Day and is now considered unlawfully at large - and police are appealing for the public's help to find him

Events

6 d. ago Prisoner on the run as police urge 'do not approach' and manhunt launched

A prisoner is on the run after absconding from a men's open prison overnight between Christmas Day and Boxing Day

Events

7 d. ago The secrets of the body clock: how to tune into your natural rhythms – and have a better day

Our circadian cycle doesn’t just affect our sleeping and waking, but our motivations, mood, behaviour and alertness. Whether you are a lark or an owl, here’s how to recognise your own rhythm• Sign up here to get the whole series straight to your inboxIt’s easy to hate clocks. Their unstoppable forward churn wakes us up and shames us for running late. They are a constant reminder that every enjoyable moment, just like life itself, is ephemeral. But even if we rounded up all our time-telling devices and buried them deep in the earth, we could never escape clocks. Because we are one.We don’t need to have studied the intricacies of circadian rhythms to know that we are ravenous at certain times and not others, that the mid-afternoon slump is real, and if we party until 4am we’re unlikely to sleep for eight hours afterwards, because the body clock has no sympathy for hangovers. But to better understand this all-encompassing daily cycle is to truly know our animal selves. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago The Harry Brook innings that showed England’s muddled minds amid Ashes carnage

Brook played true to England’s values on a day where 20 wickets tumbled — would they have been better served sticking to their positive approach throughout the tour?

Politics