65 m. ago Ore Oduba says he is in treatment for pornography addiction he's battled since age of 9

The 2016 Strictly Come Dancing winner said he is 'terrified' to speak out but knew he needed to address the problem

Events

81 m. ago ‘I want to ride out on a unicorn every night’: swords’n’sorcery heavy metal band Castle Rat

Wielding fantasy weapons and splashing fake blood, the New Yorkers have even learned how to make chainmail outfits – and they’re already aiming to conquer stadiumsWhile many a rocker has cribbed from high fantasy, few have truly walked the walk. Sure, they might bedeck their album sleeves with ghouls, goblins, manacled maidens and brawny barbarians, but did a member of Cirith Ungol ever have to retrieve a missing unicorn horn from a snowy field in the depths of winter? Has Yngwie Malmsteen spent time squinting in the back of a tour bus, repairing his own chainmail?Formed in 2019, Brooklyn’s Castle Rat have had to face both these scenarios and more as they live out their epic fantasies. From heraldic, earworm-heavy anthems to eye-popping live shows, costume design, videos and album art, they’re not so much a metal band as a full immersive experience. Continue reading...

Politics

81 m. ago Forget petty bribes, ‘state capture’ is corruption so deep it is shaping the rules of democracy itself | Kenneth Mohammed

Beating the dangerous influence of private interests on governments requires independent judges, journalists and a courageous civil societyA global youth revolt is shaking the foundations of political power. In just a few months, millions of young people have taken to the streets across continents – from Timor-Leste, Indonesia, Nepal, the Philippines, Kenya, Tanzania, Morocco, Madagascar, Peru and Paraguay – to denounce corruption and collapsing public systems. The spark is familiar: governments accused of looting public wealth while ordinary citizens face unemployment, rising costs, poverty and failing services. These digitally connected protest movements – leaderless, borderless and fast-moving – have toppled governments in Nepal, Peru and Madagascar. The anger is not abstract. It is directed squarely at political and economic elites who have turned public office into private estates. What they are confronting, often without naming it, is state capture – a form of corruption so de...

Politics

2 h. ago Maldives bans smoking for all young people – including tourists

The new law applies to both residents and visitors to the South Asian archipelago

Politics

2 h. ago America's most notorious mass murderer who killed 13 including his own kids dies aged 83

George Banks, 83, died of kidney cancer on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix state prison in Pennsylvania the state Department of Corrections said

Events

2 h. ago Oklahoma sex offender and ‘10 Most Wanted’ suspect arrested in New York 13 years after faking abduction, officials say

Anthony Lennon has been wanted on eight counts of possession of child pornography since March 2012

Politics

3 h. ago Moukoko’s arrival at FC Copenhagen offers a cautionary tale for any wonderkid

Once labelled ‘the biggest talent in the world’, the former Borussia Dortmund forward has endured form fluctuations, controversy and criticismWhen Tottenham fans look at the attacking lineup of their opponents, FC Copenhagen, before Tuesday’s Champions League tie, a few familiar names may spring out. Mohamed Elyounoussi, formerly of Southampton and Celtic, has probably been the Danish club’s most dangerous player this season, topping their scoring and assists charts. Jordan Larsson, son of Henrik Larsson, is hugely improved this year and recently earned a recall to the Sweden squad. But perhaps the biggest surprise will be the name of Youssoufa Moukoko, the former Borussia Dortmund wonderkid who was rated as perhaps the biggest prospect in world football a few years ago.The hype around Moukoko in 2020 was astonishing, even before he made his Dortmund debut. As a 14-year-old in 2018-19, the Cameroon-born forward scored a record 50 league goals for the German side’s under-17s, and at ...

Politics

3 h. ago Thieving woman steals £125,000 from own grandfather and left him with nothing

Madeline Shaw, 32, had not been paying his granddad's care home fees after he suffered a fall and instead removed £135,000 from his bank account - she cried as she was jailed for 18 months

Economics

3 h. ago Shein to cooperate with French investigation into sale of childlike sex dolls

Spokesperson says company prepared to share names of those who bought dolls before they were removed from saleThe Asian e-commerce company Shein has pledged to cooperate with French prosecutors who have opened an investigation into the sale of childlike sex dolls on its platform.“We will cooperate fully with the judicial authorities,” Shein’s spokesperson in France, Quentin Ruffat, told RMC radio, adding that the company was prepared to share names of those who had bought such dolls. Continue reading...

Economics

4 h. ago Bulletin briefing: UK’s ‘inevitable’ tax hikes, melatonin risks, and ban on choking porn

UK faces ‘inevitable’ tax hikes as Chancellor Rachel Reeves tackles debt. Read more here.

Events

4 h. ago Ore Oduba reveals he's being treated for porn addiction that started aged nine

Former Strictly Come Dancing winner Ore admitted he is 'terrified' to speak out but believes it is the right thing to do as he addresses his pornography addiction

Politics

4 h. ago America's most notorious mass murder who killed 13 including his own kids dies aged 83

George Banks, 83, died of kidney cancer on Sunday afternoon at Phoenix state prison in Pennsylvania the state Department of Corrections said

Events

5 h. ago Women must be warned of home birth risks and have access to skilled midwives, experts say

Exclusive: Pregnancy experts warn of inadequate medical advice and lack of safe and reliable careWomen must be given clearer warnings on the potentially fatal dangers of giving birth at home and should only be aided by experienced midwives, experts have said.Maternity services worldwide are dealing with an increase in the number of women with more complex pregnancies. Many are choosing to have their baby in a familiar environment, in the comfort and privacy of their own home. Some choose a home birth because having their first baby in hospital was “deeply traumatic” and they are reluctant to repeat the experience. Continue reading...

Events

5 h. ago Marks & Spencer shopper 'breaking ban' to try 'ultimate' new festive cookies

Foodies can't wait to try the new cookie flavour, which promises the 'ultimate gooeyness'

Politics

5 h. ago M&S 'outdone themselves' says shoppers thanks to new 'bark' cookie

Shoppers can't wait to try the new flavour, with one even vowing to 'break' their 'cookie ban'

Politics

6 h. ago Oklahoma sex offender and ‘10 Most Wanted’ suspect arrested in New York 13 years after faking disappearance, officials say

Anthony Lennon has been wanted on eight counts of possession of child pornography since March 2012

Events

6 h. ago Maine to vote on proposed red flag gun law inspired by mass shooting that killed 18

Two years after the deadliest mass shooting in Maine's history, voters are considering whether to make it easier for family members to petition a court to restrict a potentially dangerous person’s access to guns

Events

6 h. ago ‘I felt violated’: the Italian women taking on porn sites over doctored images

Giorgia Meloni, Sophia Loren and writer Francesca Barra among prominent figures to have ‘nudified’ photos posted on sexist forumsAs she reeled from the discovery of a pornographic website featuring AI-generated images of herself naked, the prominent Italian journalist and writer Francesca Barra said the question that struck her the most came from her young daughter.“She asked me: ‘how do you feel?’,” Barra, 47, said. “But what I heard was another more subtle question that my pre-adolescent daughter perhaps didn’t have the courage to ask, and that was: ‘If it happened to me, how would I handle it?’.” Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago ‘I felt violated’: the Italian women taking on pornography sites over doctored images

Giorgia Meloni, Sophia Loren and writer Francesca Barra among prominent figures to have ‘nudified’ photos posted on sexist forumsAs she reeled from the discovery of a pornographic website featuring AI-generated images of herself naked, the prominent Italian journalist and writer Francesca Barra said the question that struck her the most came from her young daughter.“She asked me: ‘how do you feel?’,” Barra, 47, said. “But what I heard was another more subtle question that my pre-adolescent daughter perhaps didn’t have the courage to ask, and that was: ‘If it happened to me, how would I handle it?’.” Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago UBS chair warns of ‘looming systemic risk’ from private credit ratings

Colm Kelleher says insurers are shopping for ratings as banks did before 2008 financial crisis

Events