4 h. ago Poem of the week: Down on the canal on Christmas Day by Chris McCabe

A melancholy December vision in Liverpool invokes a Dickensian ghost with more worldly but still warm realismDown on the canal on Christmas Day Down on the canal on Christmas Day a man walks towards me out of water-light, upright, Cratchit-wrapped, a smile to say:I know you. Hello Chris. Ghost in a time-ripped landscape where a low solstice sun spills whisked through a metallic staircase. With joy, the man’s smile haunts me for miles — a long blasted path, where a dead rat’s belly festoons its purple crinoline Christmas hat. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago The surprising health benefits of a belly laugh – even if it’s forced

Doctors recommend a good belly laugh at least two times per week

Politics

16 h. ago Doctor's orders? ‘Belly laugh at least two to five days a week'

They say laughter is the best medicine

Politics

17 h. ago Prime Minister booed and told 'blood on your hands' at Bondi Beach day of mourning

The national day of mourning marked a week since two gunmen targeted a Jewish festival, killing 15 people and sending shockwaves across Australia and globally

Politics

25 h. ago ‘We are unbreakable’: defiance marks Bondi attack commemoration after PM is booed

Jewish leaders call for federal royal commission into Bondi beach attack that killed 15 people as huge crowd marks one week anniversaryVictims of Bondi beach shootingTen minutes of terror: how the Bondi mass shooting unfolded in real time – videoFollow the latest live updatesJewish leaders have called for a federal royal commission into the Bondi terror attack, as some members of the crowd booed Anthony Albanese on arrival at the commemoration marking one week since 15 people were killed on the first day of Hanukah.The president of the NSW Board of Jewish Deputies, David Ossip, said it “cannot be disputed” that a federal royal commission was needed, to loud cheers and applause from the crowd of up to 15,000 people gathered at Bondi, where a minute’s silence was held at 6.47pm, the time the attack began. Continue reading...

Events

26 h. ago Coronation Street spoilers for next week including Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

Viewers of the ITV soap will be left on the edge of their seats this festive season

Politics

36 h. ago 'I ate at Wetherspoons every day for a week and made one big mistake'

Sam Wilder decided to eat at the popular pub chain every day for a week

Politics

41 h. ago Christmas shoppers told to calm down on the roads as number of crashes soars

As the big day is now less than a week away, the race is on to get everything in for Christmas — but drivers are being warned not to cause a Christmas calamity with a car crash

Events

53 h. ago Cheapest place to buy Cadbury Heroes, Roses, Quality Street and Celebrations right now for Christmas

With less than a week until Christmas Day, supermarkets are competing for our custom

Politics

64 h. ago Christmas dinner will be '3D printed' and 'made from air' within 10 years

With the big day less than a week away, experts have revealed that humans are expected to be having Christmas dinners that are very different to what we are used to having today

Politics

68 h. ago Woman named after day of the week says she's tired of people assuming same thing

A woman who shares her name with a day of the week has said she's frustrated with people always making the same assumption about her - as it couldn't be further from the truth

Politics

69 h. ago Royal Mail issues delay warning to 47 postcodes over festive deliveries

Royal Mail has issued a warning to customers in 47 UK postcodes who may experience delays in receiving their post. The postal service said it aims to deliver to all addresses it has mail for, six days a week

Events

2 d. ago UK's 10 most desirable postcodes where it's almost impossible to buy a house

New research has revealed the most sought-after postcodes in the UK, with homes in Wiltshire, South Glasgow and Wales typically selling in under a week, over 30 days faster than the average.

Politics

3 d. ago Cafe banned from opening on Sundays after neighbours complain about the smell of hot food and drinks

Coco's Coffee Shop has been told it cannot trade on Sundays because locals in Fareham, Hampshire, want one day a week 'free of odours'.

Society

3 d. ago Royal Mail shares major update as 117 postcodes hit by severe disruption

The national delivery service said anyone living there could not be guaranteed deliveries of parcels or letters on six days a week

Events

3 d. ago Met Office releases official statement on UK's chances of a White Christmas

With the big day just one week away, the Met Office has revealed whether the UK will get to have a White Christmas this year, after some wet and crisp days in previous years

Politics

3 d. ago Man sues Tennessee county after he was jailed over meme related to Charlie Kirk killing

Lawsuit alleges that Larry Bushart’s first amendment rights were violated when he was arrested and jailed for 37 daysA former law enforcement officer in Tennessee is suing his county and sheriff after he was jailed for more than a month for posting a meme on Facebook related to the 10 September assassination of the conservative activist Charlie Kirk.According to the new 30-page lawsuit filed this week, 10 days after Kirk’s killing, Larry Bushart, 61, shared a post in the comments of a Facebook post about a vigil for Kirk in Perry county, Tennessee. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago The hospitals seeing the biggest increase in flu patients in England

Last week, an average of 3,140 flu patients were in hospital each day, up 18% from 2,660 the previous week

Science

5 d. ago The nightmare before Christmas! Map reveals the most gridlocked roads as Britain faces its busiest

The RAC said 37.5million leisure trips by car are planned between Wednesday and Christmas Eve - the most in the week before Christmas Day since its records began.

Transport

5 d. ago Mum found dead in canal after failing to pick up young daughters from babysitter

Jana Bahvalova, 29, was pulled from the Bridgewater Canal in Altrincham on Wednesday last week - two days earlier, she had not picked up her daughters from their babysitter

Events