87 m. ago Michael Jackson is moonwalking back, but after the Springsteen flop is the pop biopic still relevant?

Jackson’s songs are back on charts and biopic trailer racked up 116m views in 24 hours, yet there is a certain hesitation Michael Jackson’s voodoo classic Thriller was high on Billboard’s Hot 100 in the week of 15 November, handing the 16-years-gone King of Pop a record for having a Top 10 hit across six different decades. Simultaneously, Jackson also broke records for receiving 116m views in 24 hours for the trailer of a new biopic, Michael, set for release in April.Millions of fans may be excited and primed for a Jackson biopic. For comparison, the trailer beat out Taylor Swift’s Eras tour preview and it will join a procession of recent music biopics about Bruce Springsteen, Amy Winehouse, Bob Dylan, Elvis Presley and Elton John. The most successful of all – the Freddie Mercury and Queen biopic Bohemian Rhapsody – took in nearly a billion dollars at the box office. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Ukraine war briefing: Drones hit Russia’s Ryazan oil refinery

Russian attacks kill four on Saturday; Serbian government faces deadline to oust Russian owners from state oil company. What we know on day 1,362 Ukraine’s army said on Saturday it struck a Russian oil refinery in the Ryazan region near Moscow, as “part of efforts to reduce the enemy’s ability to launch missile and bomb strikes”. Explosions and a large fire were observed at the site, said the military. Ryazan is located about 200km (125 miles) south-east of Moscow.Russian officials often do not admit such attacks have succeeded, and the Ryazan governor, Pavel Malkov, adopted the standard line that Ukrainian drones were shot down but debris happened to hit the target. “Falling debris caused a fire on the premises of one enterprise,” Malkov said. A wave of 25 Ukrainian drones attacked the region, Malkov said.Officials in southern Ukraine said four people were killed by Russian attacks on Saturday. Prosecutors in the Kherson region said “three civilians are known to have been killed” i...

Events

6 h. ago How a cockatoo who sings songs from Hamilton on TikTok is fuelling a cruel trade in stolen and smuggled exotic birds... as revealed by JANE FRYER

The thieves moved stealthily, under cover of darkness, well prepared and with a hit list: 40 budgies, 20 canaries, two cockatiels, three Bourke parakeets and two parrots.

Politics

7 h. ago Revealed: AI is being used by benefits claimants to maximise handouts amid fears welfare budget could hit £1billion by 2030

Programmes such as OpenAI 's ChatGPT are being used to generate answers and write forms for claimants - contributing to a welfare budget which is predicted to hit £100 billion a year by 2030.

Economics

8 h. ago I burned through a lot living large after Trainspotting took off, says IRVINE WELSH

Welsh is the writer best known for his 1993 novel, which has sold a million copies in the UK alone and was turned into a hit film starring Ewan McGregor.

Events

9 h. ago Ireland v Australia: Autumn Nations Series rugby union – as it happened

Hansen a revelation at fullback as Ireland dismantled the Wallabies8 mins. A clumsy breakdown effort from Ireland on the restart allows the Wallabies to win the ball back. However, their attack on the 22 is in about three minds and none of them have a discernible plan, which leads to O’Connor spilling the ball after a big hit from Prendergast. Yes, Prendergast, you read that right.6 mins. Ireland work back into the 22 and the pressure coming from the pace of the recycling forces Williams to drift offside. The ball is tapped by Gibson-Park and some quick hands find Hansen free under the posts to walk in. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago Exact day Scotland to be hit by first cold plunge of winter as Met Office warns Arctic blast on way

SCOTLAND is bracing for the first proper cold snap of winter as snow and a bone-chilling Arctic plunge are on the way. Parts of the country will wake up to fresh snowfall as early as next week as we creep towards December. Weather maps from WXCHARTS show a wintery system moving in from the east...

Events

9 h. ago ‘You can’t walk out with that and lose’ – Chris Eubank Jr’s flamboyant outfit divides fans in ring walk with 50 Cent

CHRIS EUBANK JR left fans divided with his ring walk before facing Conor Benn. The boxing star waltzed out at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the company of his legendary dad Eubank Sr. The pair were also accompanied by American rapper 50 Cent, who performed his hit song 'Many Men'. But it was Eubank Jr's...

Sport

10 h. ago Elizabeth Franz dead: Tributes pour in for Gilmore Girls and Death of a Salesman actress

Elizabeth Franz, who was best known for her role as Mia Bass in hit TV series Gilmore Girls, has died at the age of 84 after a battle with cancer, her husband has confirmed

Events

10 h. ago Horror as pregnant woman and unborn baby killed in crash as she walked across car park

A woman was with her husband and three-year-old son when she was hit while walking across the entrance to a car park in north Sydney, and she was rushed to hospital in a critical condition

Events

11 h. ago Major shock as Celtic star stretchered off in international clash as Hoops suffer fresh blow and injury crisis deepens

CELTIC have been hit with a fresh injury scare after another defender was forced off the pitch with a nasty knock while on international duty. Right-back Colby Donovan was stretchered off in the second half of Scotland Under 21s' clash with Gibraltar. The 19-year-old started the Euro qualifier and lasted 48 minutes before the horror...

Events

12 h. ago Strictly fans insist judges ‘have it in’ for star as they slam ‘harsh’ scores and say ‘it’s ridiculous’

STRICTLY Come Dancing fans have insisted that the show's judges 'have it in' for one of this year's stars. Viewers watching the BBC One contest at home have hit out at the panel after claiming they are continually offering up "harsh" marks to EastEnders actress Balvinder Sopal. The soap star, who is paired with Aussie...

Sport

12 h. ago Wayne Rooney says Donald Trump told him he was ‘f***ed’ if nuclear missiles hit as Man Utd icon reveals golf encounter

WAYNE ROONEY says he was warned that he would be "f***ed" if there was a nuclear attack - while he was playing golf with Donald Trump. The Manchester United and England legend was still on the books of MLS side DC United when he went head-to-head with the United States President. Rooney made a trip...

Events

13 h. ago Holly Willoughby breaks silence on Strictly Come Dancing hosting rumours with 10

The former This Morning presenter has been hotly tipped to take over from Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly on the hit BBC show

Politics

13 h. ago British woman killed after Storm Claudia hits campsite in Portugal

An ‘extreme wind phenomenon’ has hit Europe, Portugese broadcaster SIC reported

Events

13 h. ago Met Office weather maps show when snow will hit parts of England in the next few days

Temperatures are expected to drop in the coming days

Society

14 h. ago ITV Coronation Street Toyah actress hits back at rude troll as they mock huge new tattoo

Coronation Street star Georgia Taylor, who plays Toyah Battersby, has been inundated with support after she unveiled her new tattoo and she was quick to hit back at a troll

Events

15 h. ago Teenager who fatally hit pensioner filmed himself speeding one

Video showing a teenager filming himself driving one-handed at 80mph in a 30mph zone has been released by police after he was jailed for causing death by dangerous driving.

Events

16 h. ago Arctic blast on the way as emergency services deal with Storm Claudia flooding

A major incident was declared after parts of Wales were hit by flooding caused by heavy rain.

Events

17 h. ago Putin launches strike on apartment block home to Chernobyl survivors killing widow

Vladimir Putin's latest savage attack on Kyiv saw a missile hit an apartment block housing Chernobyl survivors killing Natalia Khodemchuk, 62, whose husband had died in the nuclear disaster

Events