32 m. ago How to turn 28 days of annual leave into 58 days holiday in 2026

How to maximise your annual leave over the coming year

Politics

33 m. ago Full list of all the 2026 Bank Holidays and major Boxing Day date change explained

When are all the eight UK bank holidays in 2026

Politics

45 m. ago Donald Trump 'more than welcome' to join Tartan Army at World Cup, says Stephen Flynn

The SNP Westminster leader said he “would prefer to go to the games with his mates” if he was offered a ticket to sit with the US President.

Politics

46 m. ago Radu Lupu: The Unreleased Recordings album review – treasures from the vaults are a wonderful surprise

(Decca, six CDs)This six-disc collection to mark the late pianist’s 80th birthday is full of treats and includes rare ventures into Chopin and Copland, along with Lupu’s legendary rendition of Bartók at Leeds in 1969First, a personal declaration. Of the many hundreds of pianists I must have heard in more than 50 years of recital going, a multitude that has included many of the greatest names of the 20th century, none gave me more consistent pleasure or a greater sense of wonder than Radu Lupu. If ever a pianist’s appearance, especially in his later years, belied the character of his playing it was Lupu: that the intensely serious, heavily bearded figure who hunched over the keyboard in a way more appropriate to a seance than a recital could produce playing of such velvety tonal beauty was extraordinary enough; that such a beguiling sound world was allied to a mind of such penetrating musical intelligence sometimes seemed miraculous.Lupu died in 2022, at the age of 76. He had retired...

Politics

51 m. ago Holiday lovers leave behind the chill with up to £500 off sunshine holidays from TUI

Jet-setters can grab seasonal savings on sand, sea and sunshine just a few hours from the UK

Economics

75 m. ago Two young British women went on a dream backpacking holiday. Only one came back alive

Bethany Clarke’s friend was one of six foreigners who died after drinking tainted vodka at a Laos hotel last year. More than a year later, the family and friends of those killed are calling for changes to protect travellers – and justice for their deaths. Alisha Rahaman Sarkar reports

Politics

1 hour ago Our king, priest and feudal lord – how AI is taking us back to the dark ages | Joseph de Weck

Since the Enlightenment, we’ve been making our own decisions. But now AI may be about to change thatThis summer, I found myself battling through traffic in the sweltering streets of Marseille. At a crossing, my friend in the passenger seat told me to turn right toward a spot known for its fish soup. But the navigation app Waze instructed us to go straight. Tired, and with the Renault feeling like a sauna on wheels, I followed Waze’s advice. Moments later, we were stuck at a construction site.A trivial moment, maybe. But one that captures perhaps the defining question of our era, in which technology touches nearly every aspect of our lives: who do we trust more – other human beings and our own instincts, or the machine?Joseph de Weck is a fellow with the Foreign Policy Research Institute Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Bruce Willis' wife Emma Heming posts emotional essay on complications holidays bring amid Die Hard star's dementia battle

Heming, 47, delved into detail about what she faces as she cares for her ailing spouse in an essay she posted to her website titled The Holidays Look Different Now.

Events

5 h. ago Save up to £170 on Dyson, Samsung and more in the Currys Boxing Day sale 2025

From hair straighteners and air fryers to cordless vacuums, here’s what could be on offer in this year’s sale

Economics

5 h. ago Zimbabwean victims of sadistic sexual abuser John Smyth bring legal claim against Church of England after Justin Welby's resignation over scandal

Six men including Rocky Leanders who were abused as teenagers at John Smyth's  Christian holiday camps in the African country are among the seven claimants.

Events

6 h. ago Brits to splash billions in Boxing Day sales – we reveal top offers to buy including PlayStation 5 with £300 off

BARGAIN-HUNTERS can pick up loads of cut-price deals in the Christmas sales, as shops slash prices on everything from booze to tech. Stash away presents for next year or simply use the opportunity to treat yourself. Shoppers are set to splash out £3.6billion today as 14.2million people race to shop the Boxing Day sales on...

Economics

6 h. ago European cities UK holidaymakers ‘most want to visit’ in 2026 revealed

Location often takes priority over luxury for holidaymakers when choosing accommodation for a city break, the survey indicated.

Politics

8 h. ago Kobbie Mainoo is ‘the future of Manchester United’, insists Amorim

Midfielder has not started a league match this seasonHead coach says ‘everything can change in two days’Ruben Amorim has claimed that ­Kobbie Mainoo is “the future of ­Manchester United” and that the 20-year-old’s versatility increases his chances of breaking into the team soon.Mainoo has a calf problem that rules him out of Newcastle’s visit to Old Trafford on Boxing Day but Amorim offered his firmest backing yet for a player he has not started in any of United’s 17 Premier League matches. Continue reading...

Politics

9 h. ago I’m a careers expert – how to relax and refocus during ‘Twixmas’ to make a job plan

AS the unofficial holiday between Boxing Day and New Year’s Day, ‘Twixmas’ generally involves lazy hours on the sofa scoffing the festive leftovers. But having a chance to switch off can often switch you on to a new career.Statistics show the number of people searching for new jobs rises 27 per cent over this period....

Politics

10 h. ago Michelle Obama shows off her youthful visage and enviable physique in loved

The former First Lady's youthful appearance in the holiday photo left fans doing a double take, as some mistook her for her daughter Malia and others claimed she was 'aging backwards.'

Politics

11 h. ago 'Steven Gerrard saved my Liverpool career with blunt reality check

Curtis Jones has now made more than 200 appearances for Liverpool and the midfielder has spoken about the impact of Steven Gerrard's guidance during his academy days

Politics

11 h. ago Don’t fret the first night and nap if you need: how to sleep well, away from home

Disturbed sleep is very common as you adapt to a new environment, but with good sleep hygiene and some practical adjustments you can quickly settle inRead more summer essentialsGet our weekend culture and lifestyle emailAs the working year draws to a close, many of us only have one hope for the season, and that’s a decent night’s sleep. While not every family visit or post-Christmas getaway is going to be a trip to Rancho Relaxo, a few things can help us catch holiday kip. Pre-departure apps can be useful, so can pillow mists and thermoregulation, but when it comes to maximising rest on the road, some say less is more. Continue reading...

Politics

12 h. ago Christmas decorations at a home in Texas became a viral sensation — so much that the city restricts visitor access

The restrictions will be in place for December 23 through Christmas

Politics

12 h. ago Michael van Gerwen’s colossal net worth and ‘difficult time’ after split from wife Daphne

World Darts Championship star Michael van Gerwen is a special guest on ITV show Bullseye on Christmas Day

Politics

13 h. ago The Guardian view on May 2026 elections: a new political geography is coming into view across Britain | Editorial

Over the holiday period, the Guardian leader column is looking ahead at the themes of 2026. Today we look at the impact of devolution on growing volatility of party political allegianceNext year will be pivotal in British politics, and 7 May will be the point around which things pivot. Elections to local councils, the Scottish parliament and the Welsh Senedd will give millions of voters across the UK a chance to express party preferences. Their verdicts could imperil Labour and Conservative leaders. In Wales, Labour might be sent into opposition for the first time since devolution. Plaid Cymru and Reform UK are set to make substantial gains. At Holyrood, the Scottish National party (SNP) is on course for a majority. That would be an extraordinary defiance of political gravity for a party weighed down by nearly two decades of incumbency.In England, both Labour and the Tories risk losing scores of councillors as their vote shares are gobbled up by the Liberal Democrats, Reform UK and ...

Politics