88 m. ago As the velvet curtain comes down on Downton Abbey, it feels like a warm bath: BRIAN VINER reviews Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale

After 15 years, six television series and two feature films - not to mention a peerage for its creator, Julian Fellowes - the heavy velvet curtains are finally swishing shut on Downton Abbey.

Events

2 h. ago Extraordinarily large creature the size of four cars washes up on Wales beach

The enormous carcass was spotted on the sands of a popular beach and left visitors stunned, with one woman convinced the corpse was that of a whale that had washed ashore

Politics

3 h. ago I want more migrants to LEAVE the UK than come here... and I'll put boat arrivals in camps, pledges Robert Jenrick

The Tory justice spokesman also argued that the points-based system created under previous governments was the 'worst policy mistake' in his lifetime.

Events

3 h. ago The original 'Made in China': World famous Lion of Venice sculpture was actually made 6,000 MILES away in Asia, analysis reveals

The Lion of Venice has looked down over the city's Piazza for more than 700 years. But it was actually made 6,000 miles away in Asia , according to a new study.

Politics

3 h. ago Up to 7,000 more school nursery places to be rolled out from September 2026

The Department for Education has announced £45 million in funding will create 300 further new or expanded school-based nurseries.

Politics

3 h. ago Rachel Reeves is accused of spelling 'disaster for business' by leaving her budget until late November: Months of doom

The Chancellor was warned the decision to hold the event so late in the year threatened to create months of damaging speculation about tax rises and will stunt growth.

Economics

4 h. ago 4 former Milwaukee hotel workers get probation and time served in dogpile death

A judge has sentenced four former Milwaukee hotel workers charged with killing a man by piling on top of him to a mix of probation and time already served, allowing them to avoid spending any more time behind bars

Events

5 h. ago Project 2025 group wants a ‘Manhattan Project’ for babies – with huge changes to policy to encourage more kids

A draft of a forthcoming paper reportedly includes policies that aim to ‘restore the nuclear family’

Events

5 h. ago British firm joins Jaguar Land Rover to create UK’s first electric car battery made from recycled materials

Altilium and JLR show that rare materials from old batteries can be used to power new ones

Science

5 h. ago Michelle Dockery's love story with Phoebe Waller Bridge's brother after tragic loss

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery is married to Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller Bridge's brother Jasper, after finding love again following the tragic death of her fiancé

Events

5 h. ago Pregnant Michelle Dockery's love story with Phoebe Waller Bridge's brother after sad loss

Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery is married to Fleabag creator Phoebe Waller Bridge's brother Jasper, after finding love again following the tragic death of her fiancé

Politics

6 h. ago Morrissey puts his business interests in the Smiths up for sale ‘to any interested party’

Musician says he has ‘no choice’ after being ‘burnt out by any and all connections’ to his former bandmatesMorrissey has announced that he “has no choice” but to put up for sale the entirety of his business interests in the Smiths “to any interested party/investor”.The deal, made in apparent seriousness on his website, Morrissey Solo, in a post titled “A Soul for Sale”, would include the band’s name and artwork, which he created, as well as his share of merchandising rights, lyrical and musical compositions, synchronisation, recordings and publishing contractual rights. Continue reading...

Economics

6 h. ago Tuchel may scorn politics, but his England team cannot escape their symbolism | Jonathan Liew

As toxic nationalism spills over into our shared spaces, the England shirt is freighted with meaning for better or worseThe crosses of St George are flying all around me. Fair to say the opening line of Three Lions ’98 hits a little differently in 2025. The crosses of St George are being daubed on an Islamic centre in Basildon. The crosses of St George are being used to deface a Chinese takeaway in York. The crosses of St George are draped over men shouting at a three-star hotel from a mini-roundabout. The crosses of St George are retailing for about £2.36 on Temu, depending on whether you want them car-window sized, or big enough to write the words “GET OFF MY LAND” in the white spaces.Keir Starmer has declared that he is “a supporter of flags”. Alas, at the time of writing the prime minister’s position on other items of tactile fabric remains unclear. What does he think about blankets? Does he endorse or condemn the dishcloth? Not to be outdone, the home secretary, Yvette Cooper, ...

Politics

8 h. ago Epstein abuse survivors urge lawmakers to back bill that would release all files

Co-author says bill almost has signatures needed to bypass leadership as survivor says this legislation ‘really matters’US politics live – latest updatesSeveral survivors of Jeffrey Epstein’s abuse signaled their support on Wednesday for a bipartisan resolution to release all the files related to the convicted sex offender, who died in a Manhattan prison in 2019.Speaking outside the US Capitol, Anouska De Georgiou, a survivor of both Epstein and his co-conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, said that while “every day of this journey toward healing has come at a profound cost to my mental health,” she chose to be there because this legislation “really matters”. Continue reading...

Events

8 h. ago Novak Djokovic’s historic US Open run now faces a problem he created

Alcaraz was taught a hard lesson when he last faced Djokovic, and now stands between the 38-year-old on his path to a record grand slam title

Politics

8 h. ago US approves $32.5 million in assistance to Nigeria to help address hunger

The United States has approved $32.5 million in assistance to Nigeria to help address hunger, in a rare shift in U.S. foreign policy since former President Donald Trump abruptly suspended most aid through the U.S. Agency for International Development

Economics

8 h. ago Nuclear triad and ‘robot wolves’: parade shows off array of Chinese weapons

On display in Beijing were nuclear weapons launched by air, sea and land, laser weapons and four-legged dronesIt was hardly a subtle attempt to project power. China showed off air-, sea- and land-launched nuclear weapons in its parade on Wednesday, a triad intended to demonstrate that Beijing’s long-term aspiration is to match US military might.Also on display were large underwater torpedo-like drones, intended to threaten western warships, as well as anti-drone lasers and four-legged “robot wolves”, all designed to be noticed, regardless of their actual military effectiveness. Continue reading...

Events

9 h. ago British Jeffrey Epstein survivor joins calls for Donald Trump to release files on disgraced financier

Anouska de Georgiou was sexually assaulted by the late paedophile ‘for several years’ at his homes in the Caribbean

Politics

9 h. ago 'We never thought we'd end up in Manchester but we've created something special here'

'It feels like we were drawn here for a reason'

Politics

9 h. ago A summit and parade in China may signal a geopolitical shift. They might also be political jockeying

The pictures from this week’s military parade in Beijing commemorating the 80th anniversary of the end of World War II and the earlier economic gathering would seem to offer a striking, maybe even sinister, message to the United States and its allies — evidence of a possible new reconfiguration of rising power in Eurasia, an “Axis of Upheaval,” as one U.S. analyst has called it

Politics