18 h. ago Tim Dowling: it’s time to name our band’s new album, and there are no bad ideas (in theory at least)

For the final flourish on our latest record, we’ve wheeled in a harmonium. If only I knew how to play it I’m in a recording studio with two other members of the band I’m in, listening to stuff we’ve recorded, with an eye toward finishing touches. But really it’s a last chance to fix mistakes: ropey backing vocals; mistimed bass notes; a banjo part played with an out‑of-tune B string.“I can easily redo it,” I say, thinking: I don’t even remember playing it in the first place. Continue reading...

Culture

24 h. ago Fuzzy hats and a ban on swearing: the New Zealand town that bonds over curling

Scottish goldminers first brought the sport to Central Otago and the traditions live on as farmers sweep stones and catch up on the iceOn a July evening in Alexandra, a small town in New Zealand’s South Island, the temperature is a chilly 3C. While most of the town is in quiet darkness, at Ice Inline Molyneux Park, the lights are on and the banter is abundant. It’s a social curling night, and the shouts of “sweeeep!” can be heard from the car park. Players from teams with names such as the “Plonkers”, “Too Dam Cold” and “Doome and Broom” gather on the outdoor ice rink, sweeping furiously as 11kg curling stones move across the ice.L-R: A collection of enamel badges from curling competitions and tournaments. Curling stones ready to be put away after a Thursday night social curling game in Alexandra. Continue reading...

Politics

33 h. ago Israeli minister posts video online confronting Palestinian detainee in his prison cell – Middle East crisis live

Far-right national security minister Itamar Ben Gvir posts video showing him confronting Marwan Barghouti, who has spent more than 20 years in Israeli custodyAt least 16 Palestinian people, including five aid seekers, have been killed in Israeli attacks on Gaza since dawn, Al Jazeera is reporting, citing medical sources.Here are some of the latest images being sent to us over the newswires from Gaza: Continue reading...

Politics

35 h. ago Big City 2025: What to know about Kelvingrove Bandstand festival

Everything you need to know about Big City 2025, from when gates open and set times to if there are still tickets available.

Culture

38 h. ago Edinburgh fireworks: The 9 Edinburgh areas where Bonfire Night fireworks will be banned in 2025

One of the bans is being introduced to protect animals at Edinburgh Zoo

Events

40 h. ago Several Palestinian people reported injured in overnight attack by Israeli settlers in West Bank – Middle East crisis live

Settlers attacked Palestinian people in village of Susya, south of Hebron, while separately settlers reportedly attacked village of Atara and set fire to vehiclesHere is some more detail on the controversial plan to significantly expand a settlement near occupied East Jerusalem.The decision from the Supreme Planning Council, which meets next week, is expected to support the plan after rejecting objections by Israeli NGOs.The expected decision in favour will come after Israel’s far-right finance minister, Bezalel Smotrich – who backs both the plan and the imposition of Israeli sovereignty through the occupied West Bank – gloated that he believed construction on E1 would “bury the idea of a Palestinian state”. Continue reading...

Events

57 h. ago Yorùbá Boy Running by Biyi Bándélé audiobook review – from enslaved teenager to celebrated preacher

The novelist’s final work tells a remarkable tale of resilience, based on the life of Samuel Àjàyí Crowther, who was kidnapped by slavers but won his freedomSet in 19th-century Òsogùn in what is now Nigeria, Yorùbá Boy Running opens with 13-year-old Àjàyí reporting a premonition to his mother about dark days ahead. A week later, the town is surrounded by Malian slave raiders and Àjàyí is kidnapped along with his mother, sister, best friend and neighbours. He is taken to Lagos and sold to Portuguese slavers preparing to ship their human cargo to the Americas. But they are intercepted by the British navy, which releases Àjàyí in Sierra Leone, where he is recruited by missionaries. From there, he is put on a path that leads to him to study at Oxford and become a celebrated preacher, linguist and abolitionist who meets Queen Victoria.A remarkable tale of barbarism and resilience, Yorùbá Boy Running is the final work by the Nigerian novelist and film-maker Biyi Bándélé, who died in 2022 ...

Culture

57 h. ago September 2025 bank holiday payment dates for benefits and pensions plus cost of living support

All the essential cost of living information you need in September

Economics

3 d. ago Gary Neville’s row with Nottingham Forest unresolved as new season beckons

Sky pundit was banned from final game of last seasonForest looking for assurances before welcoming him backNottingham Forest have not resolved their dispute with Gary Neville before the new Premier League season and want assurances from the Sky Sports pundit before welcoming him back to the City Ground.The former Manchester United captain was banned by Forest from the final game of last season after an intervention from their owner, Evangelos Marinakis, who had taken exception to Neville’s criticisms of his conduct. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Spanish town ordered to scrap religious festivals ban mainly impacting Muslims

Jumilla’s ban on gatherings in public sports centres breaches right to religious freedom, says MadridSpain’s central government has ordered officials in a Spanish town to scrap a ban on religious gatherings in public sports centres, describing it as a “discriminatory” measure that breaches the right to religious freedom as it will mainly impact Muslims.“There can be no half-measures when it comes to intolerance,” Ángel Víctor Torres, the minister for territorial policy, wrote on social media on Monday. Rightwing opposition parties, he added, “cannot decide who has freedom of worship and who does not”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Leeds Festival 2025: your guide to this year’s festival including travel, set times and banned items

What time should you arrive to Bramham Park in 2025 and what are your travel options this year?

Events

5 d. ago Oasis at Murrayfield 2025: Here are 15 amazing pictures of the band's 'biblical' Edinburgh gigs

Oasis fans were in heaven over the weekend as the band played the first two nights of a three-gig residency at Edinburgh’s Murrayfield Stdium,

Politics

6 d. ago Palestine Action ban protest: half of those arrested were 60 or over, data shows

Total of 532 arrests at London protest on Saturday, most for displaying placards or signs in support of proscribed groupHalf of the people arrested during the protest in relation to Palestine Action in London on Saturday were aged 60 or above, according to police figures.A total of 532 people were arrested at the largest demonstration relating to the group since it was proscribed last month. All but 10 were under Section 13 of the Terrorism Act for displaying supportive placards or signs. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Police arrest 532 people at London protest over Palestine Action ban

Met police say hundreds arrested at largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since group was proscribedA total of 532 people were arrested in London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was banned, the Metropolitan police have said.Hundreds attended Saturday’s demonstration in Parliament Square, organised by the campaign group Defend Our Juries, which had asked participants to hold up signs saying: “I oppose genocide. I support Palestine Action.” Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Police arrest 474 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London

Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisationMore than 450 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital before the planned event, which was anticipated to result in large numbers of people being detained. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Police arrest 466 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London

Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisationMore than 450 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital before the planned event, which was anticipated to result in large numbers of people being detained. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Police arrest 365 people at protest over Palestine Action ban in London

Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisationMore than 350 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital before the planned event, which was anticipated to result in large numbers of people being detained. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago More than 200 arrested at protest over Palestine Action ban in London

Met officers and other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisationMore than 200 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital before the planned event, which was anticipated to result in large numbers of people being detained. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Met police arrest more than 150 people at protest over Palestine Action in London

Other UK forces form ‘significant presence’ in largest protest since group was proscribed as terrorist organisationMore than 150 people have been arrested in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital as it faces a busy weekend of protests. Continue reading...

Events

7 d. ago Arrests begin in London at largest protest over Palestine Action since group’s ban

Met police says it has drawn officers from other forces to form ‘significant presence’ in busy weekend of protestsMiddle East crisis – live updatesArrests have begun in central London at the largest demonstration relating to Palestine Action since the group was proscribed as a terrorist organisation.The Metropolitan police said they had drawn officers from other forces to help form a “significant policing presence” in the capital as it faces a busy weekend of protests. Continue reading...

Events