4 d. ago How Porto pulled off a surprise transfer and took football back in time

Portuguese club kept Luuk de Jong’s move under wraps, stunning their fans and making André Villas-Boas happyTransfer news spreads like wildfire in this day and age. Leaks have become not only common but expected, by clubs, journalists and agents. So when Porto unveiled Luuk de Jong, it stunned the football world. Not even employees and teammates knew until moments before his presentation at a friendly against Atlético Madrid. So how did they pull it off?What unfolded was a story with the intrigue of a spy thriller. The striker was the last to board the plane he took from the Netherlands to Porto last Sunday and timed his arrival on matchday to avoid crossing paths with anyone. Upon landing, he was the first off the plane and ushered into a van with tinted windows that drove him to the stadium. His entourage – anonymous to fans – collected his luggage. Continue reading...

Sport

5 d. ago DWP state pensioners set to be given 'extra £352' completely free

The amount of State Pension you get increases in April each year, and the triple lock means the rise will either match the rate of inflation, average earnings or 2.5 per cent

Economics

5 d. ago Edinburgh Fringe 2025: Watch the surprise moment performer proposes live on stage at the Edinburgh Fringe

The couple’s award-winning musical comedy is the first show they’ve put on together

Politics

6 d. ago Emma Raducanu’s surprising 2025 earnings despite rising up the ranks before US Open

Emma Raducanu has had a solid year on the WTA Tour in 2025, but the British No. 1 has not made as much money as you'd expect ahead of the US Open

Politics

7 d. ago First Blood: Rambo’s first outing is a surprisingly poignant comment on masculinity

Directed by Wake in Fright filmmaker Ted Kotcheff, the 1982 ‘vetsploitation’ flick is brutal, destructive and tragic – just like the world that men createdIt was the early 80s, and Sylvester Stallone was on a roll. After years of making ends meet with bit parts, background artist work and pornography, he wrote and starred in Rocky in 1976, breaking into mainstream success. Before long he had carved out a new niche, writing, directing, and acting himself into stardom with a string of tough-guy movies including two hugely successful Rocky sequels.Then came Rambo. The character is peak 80s Stallone, a byword for pure testosterone. An absurd, improbably muscular slab of ham with a headband and an M60 machine gun, spraying bullets at racial caricatures in a jungle or a desert somewhere. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago London stocks rise on strong earnings; eyes on upcoming BoE rate decision

London stocks rise on strong earnings; eyes on upcoming BoE rate decision  Reuters

Politics

8 d. ago Love Island host Maya Jama shares true feelings over Shakira and Harry reunion

Love Island 2025's Harry was surprised to hear what host Maya Jama really thought of him and Shakira reuniting and making it to the final after recent comments on the series

Politics

9 d. ago Lafufu advent calendar slashed to £15.99 – 24 surprise toys inside

This cute advent calendar is going viral – and at 65% off, it’s the early Christmas gift that’ll make you look like a genius.

Economics

1 week ago Despite Trump, the US economy remains surprisingly resilient. But for how long? | Richard Partington

Thanks to stockpiling, neither the markets nor consumers have been as badly affected by the trade wars as feared. But signs of trouble are loomingChaotic and unpredictable, keeping up with Donald Trump’s volatile trade war – never mind his presidency – can be tough.Back in April after his “Liberation Day” tariff announcement, the talk was of the president crashing the global economy. Then, after a Wall Street backlash, the world learned the acronym “Taco”, which stands for “Trump Always Chickens Out”. Now, things are heating up again. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago London Grammar at All Together Now 2025: A surprise duet and a rapturous ending from Saturday’s headliners

London Grammar at All Together Now 2025: A surprise duet and a rapturous ending from Saturday’s headliners  The Irish Times

Politics

3 w. ago Captain Harry Wilson backs Wallabies to surprise British & Irish Lions in first Test

Australia’s No 8 says team will try to ‘win every moment’ on SaturdayNick Champion de Crespigny and Tom Lynagh come into injury-depleted squad Australia captain Harry Wilson said the Wallabies were confident of beating the British & Irish Lions in the first Test at Lang Park on Saturday despite being heavy underdogs after losing several key players to injury.The Wallabies have won only four of their last 11 Tests and on Saturday will be without regular fly-half Noah Lolesio and their best Test player of the last two years, loose forward Rob Valetini. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago No Squid Game? Or Patrick Schwarzenegger? This year’s biggest Emmy surprises

While Severance, The Studio and Adolescence triumphed, this year’s TV nominees also saw some major snubsEmmy nominations 2025: the list of key categoriesI don’t know if you had the time or the energy to watch today’s Emmy nominations on YouTube, but if you did – and you followed along with the comments in real time – then you will know that there was one glaring omission that has sent the entire world into a screaming tailspin of panic and terror. I am talking, of course, about Thanos from Squid Game.For some, Thanos – a purple-haired Konglish-spewing drug-addicted rapper played by the Korean performer T.O.P – was the standout actor of the entire year, in any genre or format. But not only was this a bad result for Thanos, it was a bad result for Squid Game altogether. A show that comprehensively did the numbers for Netflix found itself being locked out of all categories. Still, at least it finds itself in decent company; Black Doves, Netflix’s other wildly entertaining genre series,...

Events