87 m. ago The North Road by Rob Cowen review – the poetry and pain of Britain’s backbone

A beautifully written study of our longest numbered route, the A1, is full of rich asides and haunting explorations, conjuring the visual pleasure of a road movieMost people know the North Road of this book’s title as the London-to-Edinburgh A1. But, as Rob Cowen writes, A1 is a cipher for a 400-mile multiplicity of roads – a historically diverse bundle that includes ancient trackways, a Roman road, the “Old North Road” and the “Great North Road” (the name generally applied to what became the A1 in the road-numbering scheme of the 1920s). This collective forms, as Cowen has it, our primary road – the “backbone” of Britain.As a frequent shuttler between north and south, I prefer the North Road to its rival, the bland, homogenous M1. It has verges and laybys, eccentric pit-stops where the coffee is not necessarily Costa, and a scruffy, improvised air, suggesting something organically arisen from the landscape. But whereas I have merely driven along the road, Cowen has communed with it...

Politics

1 hour ago Sunday with Paul Chowdhry: ‘I’ll have a big brunch, then lie around watching YouTube’

The comedian talks about visiting farmers’s markets now that he’s middle-class, getting ghosted by his cleaner and going to the gym with other losers and lonersSunday highlights? The farmers’ market in north London, now that I’ve worked my way into being middle-class. I’ll buy smoked trout, organic chickens, pheasant, vegetables and a very good Chinese chilli oil.How do you get there? On one of those electric bikes, like Uber cyclists. I’m usually stealthed up with a mask, else people go: ‘There’s Paul Chowdhry on a bike. What you doing on a bike, bruv?’Do you cook? I live on my own, so I have no choice. I’ll have a big brunch, then lie around watching YouTube.What do you watch? That’s a good question. Nowadays, you don’t even know. You just scroll through stuff. Then I might go to the gym.Who’s at the gym Sunday? Losers, loners, and reclusives, like me.Sunday evening? I’ll make dinner from what I bought from the farmers’ market. Before freezing most of the stuff you think: ‘Might a...

Politics

1 hour ago The Observer view on Equality Act ruling: A dignified compromise that respects the rights of everyone | Editorial

The supreme court judgment gives protections to women at the same level as other groupsThe meaning of “woman” and “female” in the Equality Act has become one of the most contested questions of recent years. Last week the supreme court settled it, in a landmark legal judgment that affirms the rights of women to the same level of legal protection afforded to other groups.The Equality Act protects people against discrimination on the basis of nine protected characteristics, including their sex, race, sexual orientation and gender reassignment. The question at stake was whether “sex” means someone’s biological sex, or their “certificated sex”; in other words, should those who are male but who have a gender recognition certificate (GRC) be treated as a woman under equalities law? Continue reading...

Politics

1 hour ago Football news: Arsenal striker boost as Bournemouth star's price tag revealed

A number of Premier League clubs including Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool are interested in adding to their attacks this summer with Antoine Semenyo and Viktor Gyokeres among those who could be on the move

Sport

2 h. ago 'I wanted to look good for Juliette' — Ralph Fiennes and Juliette Binoche reunite for The Return

They’ve been friends for 30 years — now Juliette Binoche and Ralph Fiennes are reprising their on-screen romance in a retelling of the greatest epic of them all: the Odyssey

Politics

2 h. ago Driving instructor shares 'clear signs' that show someone is a bad motorist

A driving instructor has taken to social media to share how he knew whether a student would be a 'good' and 'bad' driver after spending just 20 minutes in the car with them - and it's eye-opening

Transport

2 h. ago Marijuana holiday 4/20 coincides with Easter and Passover this year. Here's what to know

Marijuana culture’s high holiday known as 4/20 falls this year on Easter, as well as the last day of Passover

Politics

3 h. ago Martin Lewis explains Donald Trump tariff effects on UK energy bills

The US President has caused global markets to experience a rollercoaster few days, including historic falls followed by record rises

Politics

6 h. ago Troubled star Hayden Panettiere sends fans in frenzy as she debuts 'wild' transformation

Hayden Panettiere sent fans into a frenzy as she unveiled her 'wild' transformation in new photos shared to Instagram on Friday.

Events

6 h. ago Liberals 'cancel' Hollywood star Vince Vaughn as he's pictured with Donald Trump in Oval Office

The Hollywood actor surprised fans after the White House shared a picture of him smiling next to President Trump in the Oval Office, with many saying they were unaware of his political leanings.

Politics

6 h. ago 'I couldn't wear bracelets when we were together. They broke when he held me down'

Chantelle Holloway has bravely decided to share her experience to raise awareness of domestic abuse following the conviction of her former partner Declan Slocombe

Politics

6 h. ago Revealed: Weirdest death row meals for predators including three entire buckets of KFC and a single, pitted olive

A final meal represents the last bit of power the world's worst killers will ever wield - and invites wild combinations, grand over-indulgence and statements of fury against the law.

Events

6 h. ago Rachel Stevens shares how S Club 7 'grieved together' following the tragic death of bandmate Paul Cattermole as she admits going on tour was 'healing'

Paul was found dead at the age of 46 in April 2023 at his home in Dorset, due to heart issues with no suspicious circumstances surrounding his sudden death.

Events

7 h. ago 31 works axed from No 11 as Rachel Reeves joins wokerati art vandals

Portraits of Sir Isaac Newton and former prime ministers including William Pitt and Henry Pelham have been replaced by baffling abstract paintings depicting 'Covid anxiety' and social distancing.

Politics

7 h. ago Jameela Jamil: ‘I used to be a massive troll and bitch on the internet’

The actor and podcaster on her cringiest celebrity encounter, why musicians should be older and uglier, and the dumb stunt that changed her lifeRead more 10 Chaotic QuestionsGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailWhat’s been your most cringeworthy run-in with a celebrity?I knocked over Al Pacino at a party. It was at the head of UTA’s house back in maybe 2015. I’d stolen a bunch of food – they had really good wagyu steaks, so I took 10 wrapped in a cloth napkin, they were kind of bleeding. I bundled them in between my legs, underneath my miniskirt, and was shuffling as fast as I could out of the party when I knocked over Al Pacino. And then I left him on the ground, because the steaks flew out from under my skirt, leaving this bloody streak across the white floor. I grabbed the steaks and ran out of the party and texted Judd Apatow: “Sorry, I had to leave. I hope they catch that guy that knocked over Al Pacino.” Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago ‘I butt heads with my family nearly every day’: Australians who have grown up in the family business

Three owners – from a gelato maker to a memorial mason – share what it’s like carrying on the family tradeFamily businesses account for about 70% of Australian businesses, which means a lot of people’s colleagues are also their flesh and blood. While there can be additional stress when working with your parents, siblings and children, there’s also the opportunity for collaboration, creative expression and tradition. Here, three business owners share the journey of joining the family trade and what they have learned in the process. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago ‘Breaking our spirits was the plan’: the lifelong impact of having gone to boarding school

As a new documentary explores Boarding School Syndrome, seven former pupils share their stories Boarded from the age of nine Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Britain’s Got Talent audience member asks for audition and wins a Golden Buzzer

The talent show was midway through auditions when a man shouted after star judge, Simon Cowell, asking him for ‘a chance’.

Events

10 h. ago Stacey Solomon 'truly devastated' as she shares 'heartbreaking' family news

Loose Women star Stacey Solomon has taken to her social media to share a lengthy post as she revealed her and her five children are "truly devastated" over their dog's health

Politics

10 h. ago BBC presenter Nick Owen shares emotional cancer update as he admits his diagnosis was the 'worst day of his life'

Nick Owen has shared an emotional cancer update as he expressed his gratitude at 'hopefully being cancer free' after reflecting on the day of his diagnosis as the 'worst day of his life'. 

Science