56 m. ago Fuzzy hats and a ban on swearing: the New Zealand town that bonds over curling

Scottish goldminers first brought the sport to Central Otago and the traditions live on as farmers sweep stones and catch up on the iceOn a July evening in Alexandra, a small town in New Zealand’s South Island, the temperature is a chilly 3C. While most of the town is in quiet darkness, at Ice Inline Molyneux Park, the lights are on and the banter is abundant. It’s a social curling night, and the shouts of “sweeeep!” can be heard from the car park. Players from teams with names such as the “Plonkers”, “Too Dam Cold” and “Doome and Broom” gather on the outdoor ice rink, sweeping furiously as 11kg curling stones move across the ice.L-R: A collection of enamel badges from curling competitions and tournaments. Curling stones ready to be put away after a Thursday night social curling game in Alexandra. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Vladimir Putin's chilling response when asked if he'll stop killing civilians

Vladimir Putin touched down in Anchorage, Alaska for talks with Donald Trump - and has been asked some pointed questions.

Events

3 h. ago Meta faces backlash over AI policy that lets bots have ‘sensual’ conversations with children

US senator Josh Hawley opened investigation into the tech giant, which said it had removed the policy guidelinesA backlash is brewing against Meta over what it permits its AI chatbots to say.An internal Meta policy document, seen by Reuters, showed the social media giant’s guidelines for its chatbots allowed the AI to “engage a child in conversations that are romantic or sensual”, generate false medical information, and assist users in arguing that Black people are “dumber than white people”. Continue reading...

Events

4 h. ago Vladimir Putin's chilling response as he's asked whether he'll stop killing civilians

The ruthless Russian dictator touched down in Anchorage, Alaska this evening for talks with Donald Trump - and was asked some pointed questions before the talks opened

Events

4 h. ago Emmerdale's Ross Barton star makes huge change for ahead of first child

Mike Parr is expecting his first child with Isabelle Du Plessis and he admits that settling down has turned his life upside down. He's made important changes to his lifestyle.

Politics

4 h. ago Emmerdale's Mike Parr shares how fatherhood changed his life as he expects first baby

Emmerdale star Mike Parr, who plays Ross Barton in the hit ITV soap, is set to welcome his first child with partner Isabelle Du Plessis after confirming their romance in 2024.

Politics

6 h. ago Nanny who had 'biohazard diarrhea' that canceled United flight reveals why she's HAPPY it happened

Meghan Reinertsen, 29, said she spent 90 minutes locked inside the lavatory during the July 2024 flight from Newark to Indianapolis after eating an undercooked burger.

Politics

6 h. ago Creepy video of Bryan Kohberger with bright red hands pacing in grim prison cell... as cops reveal what he said to victims moments before slaughter

Chilling new footage has leaked showing quadruple killer Bryan Kohberger wandering aimlessly in his cell and cleaning his shoes as he begins his lifetime behind bars.

Events

7 h. ago Shameless hit and run driver who killed pregnant woman's unborn baby jailed

Ashir Shahid, 20, crashed into pregnant Ranju Joseph as she walked across a pedestrian crossing in Bamber Bridge, Lancashire, badly injuring her and killing her unborn child

Events

8 h. ago New York explosion horror as black smoke surrounds Manhattan after 'blast'

Chilling videos are circulating on social media shows a massive cloud of black smoke rising from one of the streets of New York city as residents flee the area

Events

9 h. ago Putin's youngest son with famous gymnast named 'Vlad Jnr' pictured for first time

The first images of Vladimir Putin's youngest child, Vladimir Junior, 6, have emerged - the youngster is the child of the Russian dictator and his lover gymnast Alina Kabaeva

Politics

9 h. ago Netflix gives classic story a steamy TV makeover with extra risqué scenes

Netflix is spicing up Jane Austen, with the new Pride and Prejudice remake set to swap prim and proper manners for steamy scenes and full on risqué romance

Culture

10 h. ago 15 Scottish musicians you'll only remember if you were a child of the 1980s

Do you remember any of these bands being played on your brand-new cassette player in the 80s?

Politics

10 h. ago ‘I am tough’ – Emma Raducanu on legacy of her US Open win, stalking ordeal and why therapy won’t help her

The 2021 champion returns to Flushing Meadows in the best frame of mind since her extraordinary title winFor four arduous years, so much of Emma Raducanu’s life has played out in public. Every decision relating to her career has been dissected and debated. The most banal details surrounding her personal life have been transfigured into headline news. In order to find herself on and off the tennis court, Raducanu has had to learn how to tune out the noise, which at times can be deafening.Only one month ago at Wimbledon, the discourse surrounding the 22-year-old reached diabolical lows. Even though her on-court performances were strong, it was impossible to escape the speculation surrounding her personal life. In the bowels of center court at the Cincinnati Open, I offer my own blunt perspective: I have never cringed as much as I did while watching people trying to pry into her romantic relationships at the All England Club. “Yeah, and Cam’s questions, too,” Raducanu responds, laughin...

Economics

10 h. ago ‘I am tough’ – Emma Raducanu on legacy of US Open win, stalking ordeal and why therapy won’t help her

The 2021 champion returns to Flushing Meadows in the best frame of mind since her extraordinary title winFor four arduous years, so much of Emma Raducanu’s life has played out in public. Every decision relating to her career has been dissected and debated. The most banal details surrounding her personal life have been transfigured into headline news. In order to find herself on and off the tennis court, Raducanu has had to learn how to tune out the noise, which at times can be deafening.Only one month ago at Wimbledon, the discourse surrounding the 22-year-old reached diabolical lows. Even though her on-court performances were strong, it was impossible to escape the speculation surrounding her personal life. In the bowels of Center Court at the Cincinnati Open, I offer my own blunt perspective: I have never cringed as much as I did while watching people trying to pry into her romantic relationships at the All England Club. “Yeah, and Cam’s questions, too,” Raducanu responds, laughin...

Economics

10 h. ago Defence Secretary says Britain is ready to put 'boots on the ground' as part of a Ukraine ceasefire deal ahead of Trump

John Healey outlined how British troops could help 'secure the safe skies, safe seas and build the strength of the Ukrainian forces' in the event of a peace deal.

Politics

11 h. ago ‘It’s not illegal to be homeless’: disquiet as Trump crews clear DC encampments

Federal officers swept encampments across DC overnight, leaving many uncertain about where they will find shelterUS politics live – latest updatesFor the past eight months, David Harold Pugh has found his “spot” outside the Martin Luther King Jr Memorial Library in Washington DC. He keeps all his belongings, including a guitar, tied up together on a two-wheeled buggy.“This is shelter. It’s a safe place where I can put my buggy up against the wall, and it’s up against that beam so nobody can roll it,” said Pugh. “I roll it on its back, and then I sleep alongside of it, so nobody can get it without me waking up.” Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Livestreaming paedo who confessed to grooming more than 10 children dodges jail

David Smith was filmed by vigilante paedophile hunters revealing he was a serial child sex pest after being caught during several sting operations.

Society

11 h. ago This oversized denim tote has travelled the world with me as hand luggage and it’s under £60

I’ve been using the same denim tote bag on repeat for my hand luggage that’s the perfect size to keep all your travel essentials safe and close at hand – and it’s under £60

Economics

11 h. ago Children have already said 'I'm bored' 422.2million times this summer

Child development expert Dr Amanda Gummer said that by mid-August many parents are running out of activities to entertain their kids

Politics