2 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia makes biggest battleground gains since first year of war, analysis shows

Russian army captured more Ukrainian territory in 2025 than previous two years combined; Zelenskyy names new top aide. What we know on day 1,410Russia’s battlefield gains in Ukraine last year were the highest since 2022, an analysis showed, as Kyiv prepared to host security advisers from allied states despite Moscow’s unrelenting strikes. The Russian army captured more than 5,600 square kilometres, or nearly 1%, of Ukrainian territory in 2025, according to an AFP analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War. The land captured is more than in the previous two years combined, though far short of the more than 60,000 sq km Russia took in 2022.As Russia pressed its advantage against outgunned Ukrainian troops, the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said about 15 countries would attend security talks in Kyiv on Saturday, the latest in a flurry of efforts to end the nearly four-year war. The meeting will include representatives from the EU and Nato, while a US delegatio...

Events

2 h. ago Saudi invites Yemen’s southern factions to ‘dialogue’ in Riyadh after surprise independence bid

Southern Transitional Council wants to form a breakaway state, which would split the Arabian Peninsula’s poorest state in twoSaudi Arabia’s foreign ministry has called for Yemen’s southern factions to attend a “dialogue” in Riyadh, after a surprise independence bid and the United Arab Emirates declaring it had withdrawn all troops from Yemen.In a statement on Saturday, the Saudi ministry urged “a comprehensive conference in Riyadh to bring together all southern factions to discuss just solutions to the southern cause”. Riyadh said the Yemeni government had issued the invitation for talks. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Man Utd handed Carlos Baleba transfer timeline after opening January talks for £100m star

Manchester United are looking into the possibility of signing Carlos Baleba from Brighton & Hove Albion during the January transfer window as Ruben Amorim looks to add to his squad

Economics

6 h. ago As the ‘Gronk’ reveals he’s been a savvy saver, here are other NFL stars who have been wise with their big

Several high-profile NFL stars have turned to investing, cryptocurrency, and sound financial advisors to protect and grow their wealth

Politics

7 h. ago Woman who woke up speaking Geordie accepts new voice as it feels like 'real' her

Verity Went was born and raised in Staffordshire, but after trying to sleep off a migraine, she was baffled to realise her voice had completely changed and she gained a new accent

Events

9 h. ago Voices: Keir Starmer’s promise to deliver should have brought results by now

Editorial: The embattled prime minister is much more clear-eyed about the scale of the task ahead of him than many believe – but knowing what to do is not the same as getting on and doing it

Politics

9 h. ago Neil McCann enters next Kilmarnock manager fray as Robbie Neilson set for talks

Killie chiefs are on the hunt for a new boss after sacking Stuart Kettlewell

Events

11 h. ago Eamonn Holmes launches blistering attack on 'ridiculous' Channel 4 show live on GB News

Blasting the controversial show as 'porn by another name', the presenter, 66, said that he even tried to talk his son out of working on its set.

Events

11 h. ago Yemeni separatists plan to hold independence vote within two years

Seven killed in strikes on south as Saudi-backed government moves to recapture key region from STCYemen’s southern separatists have announced plans to hold a referendum on independence from the north in two years, after their seizure of swathes of the country last month triggered a major feud between Gulf powers.The Southern Transitional Council leader, Aidarous al-Zubaidi, called on the international community to sponsor talks between concerned parties in the south and north on a path and mechanisms that “guarantee rights of the people of the south”. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Voices: ‘Tired of broken promises’: Readers on Reform, Plaid Cymru and the collapse of Labour loyalty in Wales

Commenters said it is no wonder that poverty-stricken communities in Wales are abandoning Labour after years of broken promises, with anger and desperation now driving support towards Reform and Plaid Cymru

Politics

13 h. ago Rise and shine! How not to look tired (even when you’re totally knackered)

From facial massage to wearing the right colours, there are plenty of ways to appear well rested, even when you’re anything butAccording to new research, the UK’s sleep crisis is at a peak; the average person in Britain loses the equivalent of 18 days of sleep every year, while one in four of us survive on just one hour’s rest a night. But I’m here to help. As a beauty editor of more than 15 years – with a penchant for a late night – I’ve tried every trick in the book for faking eight hours of sleep. With these smart tweaks, science-backed tips and insider hacks, you can look half-alive – even if you feel as if you’ve been exhumed. Continue reading...

Politics

14 h. ago 'I'm deaf and people make a big mistake when talking to me – do this instead'

A deaf man has shared a helpful tip when it comes to talking to people with hearing loss, and it's all to do with how you pronounce your words to make them easily understood

Politics

14 h. ago Maduro urges Trump to abandon ‘illegal warmongering’ and start ‘serious talks’

Venezuelan president warns of a ‘forever war’ similar to Iraq after US counterpart claims first land strike on dockThe Venezuelan leader, Nicolás Maduro, has urged Donald Trump to abandon his “illegal warmongering” and begin “serious talks” with his administration as mystery continued to surround a purported pre-Christmas CIA airstrike on the South American country.Speaking during an hour-long TV interview, Maduro declined to confirm reports of the apparent US attack, which would be the first on Venezuelan soil since Trump began his five-month campaign of military pressure in August. Continue reading...

Events

14 h. ago My mother repeated one Cantonese idiom throughout my life: 'you want beauty, you don’t want life' | Michelle Law

Sometimes Michelle Law looks at people who make risky decisions and feels a deep sense of envy. But when that envy materialises, so too does the voice of her motherRead more in the Home Truths seriesIn news that will delight my enemies, I believe there’s a chance I’ll die young and by accidental means. To clarify, I’m currently in excellent health (sorry to my enemies), but I’m sensing a spectacular midlife crisis on the horizon that could spell the end.Maybe it’ll be an overdose in a seedy nightclub. Maybe I’ll drink myself into oblivion. Maybe I’ll get kicked in the head during an orgy. Whatever it is, it’ll be the result of a botched attempt at compensating for a lifetime of being the world’s most risk averse, law-abiding scaredy cat who is terrified of physical danger. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Frank Lampard eyes first January transfer after talks with £14.5m Premier League star

Frank Lampard has led Coventry City to top spot in the Championship but the former Chelsea boss appears keen to add to his ranks to cement their promotion credentials

Politics

15 h. ago James Tavernier reveals Rangers new contract talks as skipper admits rollercoaster season is one

The veteran concedes his 11th campaign at Ibrox has been totally different to the previous 10

Politics

15 h. ago ‘I’ve seen a lot of great pissheads’: Stephen Graham on booze, Baftas and the return of his bone

Stephen Graham and Steven Knight had an astonishing 2025. As A Thousand Blows explodes back, they talk about taking decades to become overnight sensations, the Peaky Blinders movie – and why it could be time for a scouse Bond villainStephen Graham had a stellar 2025. He didn’t just play Bruce Springsteen’s father in biopic Deliver Me from Nowhere but, of course, co-created and starred in Netflix mega-hit Adolescence – the game-changing drama that sparked global debate about online misogyny, incel culture and the “manosphere”.His friend and regular collaborator Steven Knight watched admiringly from afar as the devastating four-parter became event TV. “My God, it was a cultural phenomenon,” he says, puffing out his cheeks with pride. “Adolescence got people talking who don’t normally talk, about things they don’t normally talk about. Is there any finer achievement than having a direct, immediate and positive effect worldwide on human relationships? It’s like putting something on scree...

Politics

17 h. ago ‘Social listening’: Unilever seeks to capitalise on Vaseline’s TikTok moment

Multinational boosts online chatter after social media users showcase product’s widespread use in life hacksAs a product discovered more than 150 years ago on a Pennsylvania oilfield, the humble pot of Vaseline may not seem like an obvious target for social media algorithms.Yet the brand’s emergence as a TikTok talking point has placed it at the forefront of an advertising revolution, in which large companies are spending big on content creators and putting fewer resources into promoting products in traditional media. Continue reading...

Politics

17 h. ago 'I woke up from nap slurring words – five minutes later I had totally different accent'

Verity Went was shocked when she went to sleep off a migraine only to wake up wiith a completely different accent to what she had, admitting her new voice has become the 'real' her

Politics

17 h. ago 'I'm deaf and shouting at people with hearing loss doesn't help – do this instead'

A deaf man has said people often make the same mistake when talking to a person wearing hearing aids that frustrates him, as there's one specific thing you need to do instead

Politics