18 h. ago The Irish language is a joy not a burden: in what other tongue is a penis a wild carrot? | Una Mullally

Record numbers of pupils are seeking opt-outs from compulsory learning. This is misguided – Irish is a portal to a world of imaginationAmid a boom in Irish culture across music, literature, film and fashion, the Irish language – Gaeilge – is also experiencing a revival. Once the majority’s native tongue, it was assailed and diminished as a daily, working, spoken language under British colonialism and became largely confined to rural west coast districts for much of the 20th century, kept alive by generations of families. But over recent decades the number of schools teaching the national curriculum exclusively through Irish has risen significantly, from fewer than 20 in the 1970s, to more than 200 today. The 2022 census showed a 6% increase in the number of people able to speak Irish compared with 2016. Irish is a core subject on the curriculum and compulsory in all schools.Yet in the academic year of 2024-25, a record number of pupils – 14% of the post-primary school population – w...

Politics

25 h. ago 'Our neighbours came out into the street in their pyjamas to warn us'

Jewish people across the city heard the news of the devastating terrorist attack at a synagogue on the holiest day in the calendar

Events

36 h. ago Early warning sign of Parkinson’s could change how it’s treated

The toxins could potentially be used as ‘markers’ for doctors to identify Parkinson’s patients at a higher risk of developing dementia

Events

37 h. ago Brenda Blethyn seen as Emma Harte in A Woman Of Substance for the first time

Channel 4 describes the story as a ‘rags-to-riches tale of women through the 20th century’.

Politics

41 h. ago Coronation Street's Helen Flanagan issues cryptic warning after 'digging' up secrets she'd 'rather leave buried'

Coronation Street star Helen Flanagan looks stunning in our exclusive new shoot for her upcoming memoir - but which stars should be worried as actress vows to 'dig deep' to reveal truths and 'lay everything out there'

Events

49 h. ago Vance uses false claims to pin shutdown blame on Democrats as White House warns of layoffs

Vice-president falsely says Democrats calling for billions for ‘healthcare for illegal aliens’ as funding deadlock continuesJD Vance, the US vice-president, used false claims to blame Democrats for the government shutdown as the White House warned that worker layoffs were imminent.Federal departments have been closing since midnight after a deadlocked Congress failed to pass a funding measure. The crisis has higher stakes than previous shutdowns, with Trump racing to slash government departments and threatening to turn furloughs into mass firings. Continue reading...

Events

63 h. ago Colon cancer is on the rise among young people – and research points to one major culprit | Devi Sridhar

If smoking was the cancer villain of the 20th century, eating ultra-processed food may be its 21st-century counterpartProf Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of EdinburghCancer used to be seen as part of ageing: something that mainly afflicted people over the age of 60 or 70. But although it is still true that the majority of new cancer diagnoses affect the over-70s, the pattern is changing in subtle ways. Some cancers are increasingly found in younger people.Take colorectal (bowel) cancer: while rates have declined in those over 60, data shows a sharp increase in many developed countries among people under 50, in what’s called early-onset disease.Prof Devi Sridhar is chair of global public health at the University of Edinburgh Continue reading...

Science

65 h. ago US government shutdown live: first closure since 2018 begins after funding bill fails

Competing bills rejected in Senate as Republicans and Democrats accuse each other of partisan politics. Follow the latest news and updates after the US government shut downUS government shuts down after Democrats refuse to back Republican funding planThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Events

66 h. ago US government shuts down after failure to pass funding bill – live

Competing bills rejected in Senate as Republicans and Democrats accuse each other of partisan politicsUS government shuts down after Democrats refuse to back Republican funding planThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago Senate fails to pass stopgap funding bill as government heads for midnight shutdown – live

Resolution that would keep current levels of funding until 21 November failed to reach the 60 votes needed to passUS heads toward first government shutdown in nearly seven yearsThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Events

2 d. ago Senate fails to pass stopgap funding bill as government heads for midnight shutdown – follow live

Resolution that would keep current levels of funding until 21 November failed to reach the 60 votes needed to pass US heads toward first government shutdown in nearly seven yearsThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Trump says ‘no choice’ but to cut federal workers if government shuts down as midnight deadline looms – live

Democrats and Republicans exchange blame as Congress barrels toward deadline without a dealUS heads toward first government shutdown in nearly seven yearsThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump says government shutdown likely as House Democrats call out Republicans for delaying votes before funding deadline – live

Government funding is set to expire at midnight ET; Republican speaker Mike Johnson pushed back House return in order to prevent Democrats from negotiating furtherThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago How bacteria in your mouth and gut can be used to spot early stages of Parkinson’s disease

The toxins could potentially be used as ‘markers’ for doctors to identify Parkinson’s patients at a higher risk of developing dementia

Politics

3 d. ago Trump announces deal with Pfizer to lower drug prices; Hegseth and president outline military changes in rare gathering – live

US won’t pay more than other countries for Pfizer drugs; Trump tells hundreds of military leaders they will ‘straighten out’ US cities after Hegseth rails against ‘fat troops’Trump says US cities should be ‘training grounds for our military’ in incendiary speechThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Trump claims US faces ‘invasion from within’ in address to military leaders after Hegseth declares war on diversity efforts – live

US president tells hundreds of generals and admirals in Virginia they will ‘straighten out’ US cities after defense secretary rails against ‘fat troops’Hegseth declares war on racial and gender diversity efforts in US militaryThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Millions to get Ozempic on NHS, Wes Streeting vows: Health Secretary ramps up attacks on 'racist' Farage and promises to make booking GP appointments as easy as ordering cab

The health secretary vowed to 'stand up for the interests of patients' and make it as easy to book a medical appointment as it is to order a taxi or takeaway.

Society

3 d. ago US government heads toward first shutdown in six years as lawmakers fail to reach agreement

Republicans push legislation to fund government through late November, but Democrats refuse unless it includes concessions centered on healthcareUS politics – latest updatesThe US government is hurtling towards its first shutdown in six years, with no signs congressional leaders are near agreement on legislation to continue funding beyond the Tuesday night deadline to prevent workers from being furloughed and agencies from shutting their doors.Congress’s Republican majority is pushing legislation to fund the government through 21 November, but Democrats have refused to vote for it unless it includes a series of concessions centered on healthcare. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Doctors risk turning NHS into a 'museum for 20th century healthcare' if they continue to oppose new tech, Streeting warns

The health secretary vowed to 'stand up for the interests of patients' and make it as easy to book a medical appointment as it is to order a taxi or takeaway.

Events

3 d. ago Labour conference live: Farage may ‘do away with NHS’, Streeting warns doctors after strike threats

The prime minister is also expected to use his annual address to expand his attacks on Reform UK

Events