90 m. ago Do YOU live near Britain's best takeaways? Interactive map reveals the locations of award

You might well have your own most cherished local takeaway - yet only a favoured few find themselves highly prized enough to win glittering awards ceremony glory.

Society

1 hour ago For the age of Amorim, this Manchester derby feels like a decisive moment

Against a backdrop of internal strife, facing their sky blue rivals provides a struggling team with chance to rebuild the brandThis brave overhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, this collection of generic spires with a massive plastic handkerchief chucked over the top. Three weeks on from first sight of the conceptual drawings for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stately pleasure dome, also known as the proposed Manchester United Stadium Soccer Product Hub, there is still a sense of double-take about the whole thing.Early impressions of the new ground ranged from a defunct Venusian mercury mine, to Dubai Butlin’s, to a pointed corporate monument to our divided world. Welcome to the Staff Lunch Arena, embodiment of the 21st-century conviction that if you just stopped buying so many sandwiches and also fired the tea lady you could probably afford a vast and unattainable house. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Unlikely critter turns to booze to get lucky with the opposite sex with no hangover

We've all tried a bit of Dutch courage before trying our chances of mating, but it seems we're not the only animal to use alcohol to increase the chances of copulation

Politics

5 h. ago No forgetting my encounter with two giants of the stage | Tim Lewis

Old pals Ewan McGregor and Michael Grandage prepare for their new play, My Master Builder, by chuckling about everything that could go wrong and hasFor today’s Observer New Review I had the not-exactly-onerous assignment of spending an hour with the actor Ewan McGregor and director Michael Grandage, as they prepared to put on a new play, My Master Builder, in London’s West End. The two men go way back, and mostly they were cracking each other up with knockabout old stories – much of which there wasn’t room for in my article. McGregor recalled one of his first roles on stage, as Orlando in As You Like It, and how when Simon Callow – multiple Olivier and Bafta award winner – played the part in 1979, he walked out on stage at the National Theatre only to promptly forget the first line of the play.“If you’re a woman and you’re about to have a baby, everybody tells you nightmare stories about childbirth,” said McGregor. “And when you’re an actor about to do a play, everybody tells you te...

Politics

6 h. ago 'There's no way': Mikel Arteta baffled by Everton penalty award as Arsenal title bid ends

Myles Lewis-Skelly gave away the spotkick as the Gunners dropped valuable points

Events

6 h. ago Ndiaye on the spot as Everton put dent in Arsenal’s slim title hopes

Liverpool need no favours to win the Premier League, but the neighbours did them one anyway. Everton denied Arsenal victory courtesy of a controversial penalty, effectively ending their forlorn pursuit of the leaders in the process. Mikel Arteta did not rage against the dying of the light on his return to Goodison Park. The game is up and he knows it.Arsenal took the lead through Leandro Trossard’s fine first-half finish, dominated possession and edged the chances, but never performed with the conviction or quality of serious title contenders. They paid the price when Myles Lewis-Skelly was adjudged to have fouled Jack Harrison inside the area, presenting Iliman Ndiaye with the penalty that earned Everton a fifth draw in six games. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Everton v Arsenal LIVE: Leandro Trossard fires Gunners in front at Goodison Park

Arsenal have the chance to trim Liverpool’s advantage to nine points in the early kick-off

Events

9 h. ago Man United have perfect chance to complete transfer that Ineos wanted to eradicate

Manchester United are heading into the summer transfer window looking to end bad habits but perhaps this deal would be too good to resist

Politics

10 h. ago F1 weather forecast: Chances of rain for Japan Grand Prix in Suzuka

The third race of the 2025 F1 season could be impacted by rain in Suzuka

Sport

10 h. ago BRIT Award winning 90s pop star unrecognisable as she swaps showbiz for flipping burgers

She was in one of the biggest girlbands of the 1990s - but now she's turned 50, this singer has revealed she's made a very different career move away from the music industry

Events

10 h. ago Everton v Arsenal LIVE: Gunners look to cut Liverpool’s Premier League lead on Merseyside

Arsenal have the chance to trim Liverpool’s advantage to nine points in the early kick-off

Politics

10 h. ago ‘The law is another form of storytelling’: Philippe Sands in conversation with Juan Gabriel Vásquez

When Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was arrested in London in 1998, lawyer Philippe Sands was part of the prosecution. As his book about the case comes out, he talks to the Colombian novelist about literature and justiceWhat do law and literature have in common? Do they represent similar impulses towards understanding human motives and behaviour, or are they fundamentally different systems? In his new book, 38 Londres Street, lawyer and writer Philippe Sands revisits the attempts to extradite and prosecute former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet, beginning in 1998, in which he was involved. He also finds himself on the trail of Walther Rauff, a former SS officer featured in Sands’s award-winning book East West Street, who went on to seek refuge in Chile, later becoming involved in the Pinochet regime’s arrangements for the detention, torture and murder of its opponents. The Colombian novelist Juan Gabriel Vásquez, who trained as a lawyer but decided...

Politics

11 h. ago I went on a blind friendship date with five total strangers after being matched by a personality algorithm

ELLY BLAKE: I stumbled across Timeleft on Instagram. A glossy-looking advert promises me the chance to 'meet new people over dinner'. In the pursuit of 'trying new things' I sign up.

Politics

11 h. ago Emma Sleep drops price of 'the best' memory foam pillow to less than £50 in Easter sale

Emma Sleep's award-winning mattresses and bedding have also been discounted

Economics

12 h. ago How Jason Isaacs became the latest White Lotus star to have a renaissance

The Harry Potter and Death of Stalin actor has found fame with a new audience in hit TV showHe has worked in the industry for more than three decades, and appeared in blockbusters, but for a long time Jason Isaacs had managed to eschew the limelight.Then came The White Lotus, and suddenly the 61-year-old Liverpudlian became an internet sensation. He presented an award at the Brits, and was part of ITV’s Oscars coverage last month, bemusing viewers with his refreshing honesty. “Whoever at ITV decided to get Jason Isaacs as part of their coverage is a genius,” one fan commented. Continue reading...

Events

12 h. ago Doncaster star Joseph Olowu opens up on community hero role after EFL award win

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Doncaster Rovers central defender Joseph Olowu's sterling charity work has seen him crowned as the EFL League Two Community Player of the Season

Events

14 h. ago Gardeners 'must do' one key job in April or you'll ‘miss your chance’

A gardening expert is urging people to get to work sooner rather than later as you may miss your chance for a beautiful display

Politics

16 h. ago Ruben Amorim has perfect chance to show he's fixed Man United problem he identified in December

Man Utd have struggled at Old Trafford this season but they have been better recently and a win on derby day could be a sign that a corner has been turned.

Politics

17 h. ago Rachel Reeves speaks on whether tax rises will hit workers after Donald Trump tariffs announcement

The UK Chancellor was forced to make unpopular cuts to the welfare bill after the country's growth forecasts were downgraded.

Economics

18 h. ago Alex Ovechkin ties Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record with 894th goal

Russian star scores two goals in win over Blackhawks39-year-old has chance to beat record on SundayAlex Ovechkin tied Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record by scoring the 893rd and 894th goals of his career, the second the game winner, as the Washington Capitals rallied to beat the Chicago Blackhawks 5-3 on Friday night.Ovechkin scored No 894 on the power play with 13:47 left in regulation to put Washington ahead after Dylan Strome tied it earlier in the third period. The 39-year-old Russian superstar also opened the scoring with his 893rd less than four minutes into game. Continue reading...

Politics