40 h. ago AD FEATURE: Travel anywhere in Scotland by train for just £20 return with ScotRail

Explore Scotland for less with our fantastic offer and travel between January 9 and March 31, 2026

Economics

40 h. ago FIFA World Cup 2026 tickets: How to buy and full price list for every match

The World Cup 2026 is edging ever closer, with fans anxious to secure tickets for their country's matches across the USA, Canada and Mexico

Economics

42 h. ago Harry Potter fans can soon ride 'real Hogwarts Express' launching in 2026

Calling all Potterheads. A new Harry Potter experience is set to open this year, where visitors can take a real-life journey to Hogwarts and interact with characters onboard

Events

43 h. ago The best recent science fiction, fantasy and horror – review roundup

Godfall by Van Jensen; The Salt Bind by Rebecca Ferrier; The Poet Empress by Shen Tao; A Hole in the Sky by Peter F Hamilton; Hello Earth, Are You There? by Brian AldissGodfall by Van Jensen (Bantam, £20)The debut novel by a popular comic-book writer is set in a small town in Nebraska, after the landing of a three-mile-long alien figure dubbed “the Giant”. Local sheriff David Blunt is struggling to do his job following the sudden boom in population: in addition to scientists, government agents and soldiers at the highly classified research area established around the mystery from outer space, many more enthusiasts flood to the town, possibly including a serial killer. Two people have been killed in a horrifically brutal way when the FBI takes over and tries to shut him out. But when the next victim is a man he’s known all his life, Blunt is more determined than ever to catch the killer. His investigation draws him to infiltrate a doomsday cult and to discover more about the tangled ...

Events

46 h. ago AD FEATURE: Set the stage for an exciting 2026 with tickets to these fantastic live shows in Manchester

New year, new experiences? Miles Kane, Jason Derulo, All Time Low, and Bellowhead are all coming to the city this year

Sport

55 h. ago Return of the Emirates Groan: Arsenal fans restless on night of stalemate with Liverpool | Jonathan Liew

Only one club are sitting pretty at the top of the Premier League, but the supporters’ anxiety after 22 years without the title risks infecting the playersFull-time and handshakes. A little Tears for Fears tinkles over the public address system. Beyond that what, exactly? How to describe this swirling, velvety anti-noise? The sound of no gloves clapping? The sound of time physically disappearing down a vortex? The sound of no emotions?It began with North London Forever and by the end we felt as though we had been in north London for ever: stuck on an endless loop of William Saliba passing to Jurriën Timber, of Virgil van Dijk pausing as he tried to bait a press that would never come. Long periods of this game were played at literal walking pace. Continue reading...

Sport

58 h. ago Manchester United fan group seeks to oust ‘incompetent clown’ Jim Ratcliffe

The 1958 says club has become a ‘laughing stock’Protest planned at Old Trafford in early FebruaryManchester United supporters group The 1958 has called for a vote of no confidence in the club’s ownership model, calling Sir Jim Ratcliffe “an incompetent clown”. The organisation will also hold a protest at the home match against Fulham on 1 February to make their voices heard at Old Trafford.The group wants the removal of the Glazer family and Ratcliffe from the club. Concerns were also expressed in relation to the work of the chief executive, Omar Berrada, and the director of football, Jason Wilcox, in the aftermath of Ruben Amorim’s sacking, which will lead to an interim replacement. Continue reading...

Sport

68 h. ago ‘The club is in a mess’: Manchester United fans voice feelings before the next interim twist

Supporters serenaded Solskjær, Carrick and Fletcher among others at Burnley and staged a brief anti-Ratcliffe protest“Jim can’t fix it,” the sign said. A dozen red letters nestled on a white background, a stark contrast in an away end at Burnley full of dark-coated figures in front of which they were held aloft. It was small, a couple of square metres of material, maybe. But the message to Sir Jim Ratcliffe was powerful. Remember your lane, Jim? Yeah, stick in it, pal.As Darren Fletcher, in Manchester United blazer and red tie, strolled along the touchline, flanked by tracksuited his former teammate and friend Jonny Evans, the flag flew. And then it was gone. The protest was done. Continue reading...

Sport

69 h. ago Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles review – remastered 1997 classic is even more politically resonant now

PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch/Switch 2, Xbox, PC; Square-EnixThis landmark role-playing game remains a revolutionary tour de forceAt first glance, Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles, first released in 1997 and now available in newly remastered guise, does little to separate itself from other boilerplate fantasy fiction. There is a hero, Ramza – an idealistic nobleman with luscious blond hair who cavorts about the medieval-inspired realm of Ivalice in search of high adventure. But quickly, and with narrative elegance, the picture complicates: peasant revolutionaries duke it out with gilded monarchists; machiavellian plots plunge the kingdom into chaos. Ramza must navigate this knotty political matrix, all while experiencing his own ideological awakening.There is a strong case to be made that Final Fantasy Tactics tells a better story than the landmark Final Fantasy VII (which saw Cloud Strife and a ragtag bunch of eco-terrorist pals taking on the shady megacorporation S...

Politics

3 d. ago Elvis fans, carnival and Orthodox Christmas: photos of the day – Wednesday

The Guardian’s picture editors select photographs from around the world Continue reading...

Culture

4 d. ago West Midlands police insist decision to ban Maccabi fans ‘not politically influenced’

Police leaders defend position after being recalled to give further evidence in second hearing to home affairs committeePolice chiefs facing scrutiny over a decision to ban fans of an Israeli football team from attending a match in Birmingham have insisted the move was not politically influenced.West Midlands police (WMP) leaders defended their position at the home affairs committee on Tuesday after being recalled to give further evidence over the decision to ban fans of Maccabi Tel Aviv from attending a Europa League match against Aston Villa on 6 November. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Rosenior needs bright start at Chelsea to avoid being a focus for fan discontent | Jacob Steinberg

The club are in a decent position but there is dissatisfaction with the ownership and the new head coach must not get caught in the crossfireThe way Chelsea are run will come as no surprise to Liam Rosenior. He has longstanding relationships with three of the five sporting directors and will know from his time at Strasbourg, who are part of the same ownership, that the head coach’s best chance of surviving is not to make the mistake of rebelling against the structure.Rosenior will have to show more political savvy than Enzo Maresca, who talked himself out of the job last week. Yet given the 41-year-old is familiar with the working conditions at BlueCo, the investment vehicle that owns Chelsea and Strasbourg, his biggest challenge is unlikely to be managing upwards. Rosenior will know where to train his focus and not to rock the boat. Crucially, he does not inherit a team in crisis. Chelsea are fifth and earned a creditable draw at Manchester City on Sunday; despite the rancour of Ma...

Sport

4 d. ago Hockey fans throw thousands of teddy bears on to the ice for charity – video

Hockey fans threw thousands of stuffed animals on to the ice for the Hershey Bears annual teddy toss. The stuffed animals collected will now be distributed to over 60 local charities as part of the club’s Hershey Bears Cares program, where they will go to children in need.The Bears collected 81,796 stuffed animals, increasing the total number of teddy bears and stuffed animals collected to 648,246 since Hershey hosted its first Teddy Bear Toss event in 2001. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Love Island fans issue same complaint as All Stars 2026 cast revealed

Love Island All Stars is set to return for a third series in a matter of days

Politics

5 d. ago Critics' Choice Awards best dressed 2026: Elle Fanning, Ariana Grande, Jacob Elordi

As the Critics’ Choice Awards kick off awards season 2026, we comb through the first real red carpet of the year for the best looks

Events

6 d. ago Michael B. Jordan's unimpressed face sends fans wild as Timothee Chalamet cries on stage over Kylie Jenner

Michael B. Jordan's unimpressed reaction instantly stole the spotlight when Timothee Chalamet took the stage at the 2026 Critics Choice Awards - and fans couldn't look away.

Politics

6 d. ago Critics Choice Awards 2026: Ariana Grande dazzles in pink alongside Elle Fanning and Chelsea Handler as they lead best dressed stars on the red carpet

The Critics Choice Awards red carpet brought serious star power as Hollywood's biggest names stepped out in force for the annual ceremony celebrating the best in film and television.

Sport

6 d. ago Elle Fanning risks wardrobe malfunction at Critics Choice Awards 2026 with extremely low

The A Complete Unknown star, 27, nearly spilled out of the sultry ensemble and when she turned to the side she came very close to revealing a little too much to the cameras.

Events

6 d. ago Critics Choice Awards 2026: Elle Fanning takes the plunge in gold gown as she and Chelsea Handler lead best dressed stars on the red carpet

The Critics Choice Awards red carpet brought serious star power as Hollywood's biggest names stepped out in force for the annual ceremony celebrating the best in film and television.

Sport

7 d. ago Great British Bake Off opens submissions to fans for major change in 2026 – here’s how to get involved

Viewers must submit their ideas online by 18 January

Events