54 m. ago What happened next: how KPop Demon Hunters became a global phenomenon and outranked Lady Gaga

It’s the Korean fantasy movie that came out of nowhere to become Netflix’s most-watched film ever. And social media mentions of its characters are outranking those of real-life superstarsWhen KPop Demon Hunters landed on Netflix in late June, no one predicted it would become a globe-sweeping, chart-topping phenomenon. The near-instant success of the animated kids’ film caught the industry by surprise, and six months later, fans are still hungry for merchandise, music, spin-offs and more stories. Here’s what you may have missed.It’s an animated ‘musical urban fantasy film’The story follows a K-pop girl group called Huntr/x (pronounced “Huntrix”), who are also demon hunters, responsible for protecting humanity from supernatural threats with their combat skills and empowering pop. Their rivals are the Saja Boys, who are secretly demons. When the groups are pitted against one another, the stakes are peace on Earth, and in particular the Honmoon: the magical barrier that protects humans ...

Politics

3 h. ago Mature beauty buffs 'ditch' concealer for £38 cult product from Kate Middleton

"Silky smooth and unlike most concealers it’s not heavy and thick but still very effective as a concealer"

Politics

4 h. ago Traveller caravans on unauthorised sites rise 20% in a YEAR: Fury as Labour refuses to act while green fields are tarmacked over by groups 'gaming the system' to build in beauty spots

Ministers have been accused of a 'soft-touch approach' after official statistics showed 4,464 mobile homes parked on land without planning permission this summer, the most since 2013.

Culture

5 h. ago Best deals in Amazon’s January sale 2026, from beauty to tech

The retail giant has slashed prices on top-rated big-name brandsFollow live: All the best deals in the January sales

Economics

6 h. ago The last hostage: After over 800 days, elite Israeli police officer who ran towards danger in October 7 attack is the last remaining in Gaza as his mother clings to fragile hope he is still alive

It is in many ways a remarkable testament to the will of the Israeli people that of the 251 taken captive by Hamas on October 7, 2023, only one now remains.

Events

7 h. ago PM vows to ‘defeat decline and division’ by ‘staying the course’ in new year

Sir Keir Starmer conceded life is still ‘harder than it should be’ for many but said more people will begin to feel ‘a sense of hope’ in 2026.

Politics

11 h. ago Harry Randall and buoyant Bristol keen to carry form into new year

England scrum-half returned from injury to a side on the crest of a wave and will hope to catch Steve Borthwick’s eyeHarry Randall and Bristol enter the new year with high hopes. The scrum-half has returned to fitness ahead of schedule after hamstring surgery and marked his 150th Bears appearance in the win against Newcastle last Saturday.Pat Lam’s side approach the Prem encounter with Sale at Ashton Gate on Friday after five straight victories, sitting fourth in the table, their attractive style having clicked. A fresh assault on the playoffs looks likely. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Hot dinners, a warm bed & hope for the future how Prem club West Ham opened its doors to rough sleepers this Christmas

THE final touches of straightening bedsheets, popping dinner in the oven, and then preparing for guests are taking place.  This isn’t a hotel, nor is it a family home waiting for the influx of far-flung relatives at Christmas. It’s West Ham’s community centre The Foundry, which has been hosting rough sleepers for eight days over...

Events

12 h. ago Shoppers 'feel like a new woman' with £23 hair kit that smells 'out of this world'

"Feel like a new woman. My hair is so silky. I'll be ordering again."

Economics

12 h. ago The strangest and funniest stories to happen in Greater Manchester in 2025

It’s a funny old town.

Politics

12 h. ago I've tried fillers and Botox to look younger. Nothing worked until I came across this non

The popularity of beauty tech - that's gadgets you use at home to improve your appearance - has exploded in recent years.

Politics

14 h. ago I started cosmetics brand from council flat, now it’s loved by celebs & worth more than £20million

MAKE-UP mogul Jamie Genevieve is toasting her latest success after raising £9million for the cosmetics brand she founded in her council flat. The glam influencer, from Glasgow, has a huge army of followers who swear by her easy-to-follow tutorials and even considers Drew Barrymore as a celebrity client list. She was working on a beauty...

Economics

15 h. ago The New Year's Eve makeup that will make you look OLDER: From 'creased' concealer to lip liner fails, a beauty expert reveals the biggest mistakes to avoid

A flash of glittery eyeshadow and a bold red lip and you're ready for the most glamorous night of the year - but could your NYE party look actually be ageing you?

Events

15 h. ago It’s easy to feel powerless about climate chaos. Here’s what gives me hope | Nina Lakhani

I’ve spent six years writing about environmental justice. The uncomfortable truth is that we’re not all in it together – but people power is reshaping the fightIt’s been another year of climate chaos and inadequate political action. And it’s hard not to feel despondent and powerless.I joined the Guardian full time in 2019, as the paper’s first environmental justice correspondent, and have reported from across the US and the region over the past six years. It’s been painful to see so many families – and entire communities – devastated by fires, floods, extreme heat, sea level rise and food shortages. But what’s given me hope during these six years of reporting as both an environmental and climate justice reporter are the people fighting to save our planet from catastrophe – in their communities, on the streets and in courtrooms across the world. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago Yes, women’s rights are under threat around the world. But we’ve found hope in unlikely places | Rahila Gupta

From El Salvador to Russia, Iceland and Syria, women are pushing back against the rise of regressive forces. Let’s support their fightRahila Gupta is an anti-racist feminist activist and the co-author, with Beatrix Campbell, of Planet Patriarchy In 2025, the world that had been opened up by women has often seemed to be closing in. The forces behind the rollback of abortion rights in Donald Trump’s US are attempting to do the same in the UK. In Afghanistan, the Taliban has doubled down on its attacks on women and girls. Sexual violence is commonplace in Haiti and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In Mexico, even the president is not safe from sexual assault. A perverse rewilding appears to be taking place.You’d be forgiven for thinking that around the world, women’s rights are being concreted over. But in researching our book, Planet Patriarchy, Beatrix Campbell and I found women’s resistance erupting like green shoots through the cracks. In El Salvador, women can receive sentenc...

Events

15 h. ago ‘Even in the most unlikely places there is beauty’: stories of hope from newsrooms around the world

From the construction worker who won a place at medical school to an art exhibition in a country with no galleries, we asked journalists for their most optimistic tales of the yearFounder of the Migration Story, India Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Man City given injury boost for Sunderland but at least four players will miss Premier League clash

Manchester City will hope that Jeremy Doku can return against Sunderland with four players already ruled out of the game

Sport

16 h. ago From the World Cup to the return of Michaela Coel, 2026 promises to excite and bring joy

A very Long Wave-coded book, a landmark Nigerian film and more Black art, culture and sport on its way in the next 12 months• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereThe week between Christmas and New Year is a unique time. You’re free to not worry about what day of the week it is, or think too heavily on anything beyond your current state. But as we reach the new year, it is equally fun to think about the things we hope will bring some much-needed collective joy in the year ahead.This week, our colleagues from across the diaspora have shared the Black cultural events that they are looking forward to in 2026, from books and TV shows to Ghana beating England at the World Cup. Continue reading...

Politics

18 h. ago Adam Peaty's mum shares heartbreaking hope for 2026 as she says 'I deserve a year that doesn't hurt' and admits she's 'lost a piece of herself' after bitter feud with her son

Caroline was banned from her son and Holly Ramsay's lavish nuptials at the weekend amid a bitter feud that has been ongoing for months.

Politics

18 h. ago African football hit by fresh allegations over general secretary’s Caf conduct

Gabonese FA president was voted on to Caf exco in 2023Caf chief allegedly failed to act on reports of sexual abuseThe general secretary of the Confederation of African Football (Caf), Veron Mosengo-Omba, ignored a recommendation that Pierre-Alain Mounguengui was ineligible for election to its powerful executive committee because he had been accused of covering up widespread sexual abuse in Gabonese football, it can be revealed.Mounguengui, the president of the Gabonese football federation (Fegafoot), has been accused of failing to act on reports of sexual abuse and rape of young footballers in a series of stories that were first published by the Guardian in 2021. He has denied the allegations and there is no suggestion Mounguengui has been accused of sexual abuse himself. Although he has not yet been formally charged, Mounguengui spent six months in custody awaiting a decision from the authorities in Gabon and was visited by the Caf president, Patrice Motsepe, with a final ruling on...

Events