4 h. ago Dunelm shares tumble after subdued Christmas sales puts pressure on profits

Dunelm said a challenging macroeconomic environment and cautious consumer spending would eat into its annual profit.

Economics

4 h. ago Dunelm reveals subdued Christmas trading set to hold back profit growth

The retailer said profits are set to come in at the lower end of forecasts at between £214 million and £227 million.

Politics

3 w. ago Gaza suffers bloody Christmas as war truce threatened by violence

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threatens retaliation after soldier wounded and dwindling Christian population of 500-1,000 mark a subdued Christmas in the war-battered Strip

Events

3 w. ago Thousands flock to Bethlehem to revive Christmas spirit after 2 years of war in Gaza

After two years of subdued Christmas celebrations due to war, thousands of people flocked to Bethlehem's Manger Square on Christmas Eve

Events

3 w. ago The Devil’s Backbone review – rich, rousing ghost story is early gothic gem from Guillermo del Toro

Executed with trademark technical flair and empathy, this part-horror, part-fairytale set in a haunted orphanage from 2001 is one of the director’s bestHe’s a household name now after The Shape of Water and his new Frankenstein, but 25 years ago Guillermo del Toro was a virtual unknown, still bruised from the Harvey Weinstein-produced Hollywood flop Mimic. But, as this overlooked follow-up attests, he was always a class act. In fact, this is one of his best: a rich, rousing ghost story shrouded in trademark gothic gloom but executed with technical flair and a good deal of empathy.As with his later breakthrough Pan’s Labyrinth, it’s part-horror, part-fairytale, with children at its centre. The setting is a middle-of-nowhere boys’ orphanage in 1930s Spain, a leftist sanctuary from Franco’s fascists during the civil war. Newcomer Carlos (Fernando Tielve) must find his feet in this semi-surreal realm, with an unexploded bomb in the middle of the courtyard, some kindly adults (one-legged...

Science

3 w. ago US farmers say Trump’s $12bn package not enough to undo damage from tariffs

Thousands of farms set to go bankrupt as grain farmers in particular hit by trade disruptions caused by price hikesDonald Trump, having promised to “NEVER LET OUR FARMERS DOWN”, appeared to come through for them this month when he unveiled a $12bn aid package. Industry leaders say thousands of farms will still go bust this year.While the US president has vowed to increase domestic farm production, and even claimed this formed a “big part” of his plan to lower grocery prices for Americans, many US farmers are grappling with mounting financial issues – compounded by Trump’s agenda. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Consumer confidence improves but remains subdued ahead of Christmas

GfK’s long-running Consumer Confidence Index improved by two points to minus 17 for December.

Politics