4 h. ago What’s better than a cafe, wilderness retreat or spa? A silent cafe, wilderness retreat or spa | Emma Beddington

Imagine going somewhere and not having to hear all about a stranger’s toxic boyfriend, pitch deck or hernia opDemand for silent experiences is on the rise: apparently silent book clubs, a concept launched in San Francisco in 2012, are spreading like quiet wildfire, with “1,600 chapters in 54 countries”, according to the BBC, including about 100 in the UK. In the same article, Eventbrite reported a 460% increase in silent book events organised at the beginning of 2025 compared with the same period in 2024.Silent cafes – sacred safe spaces where you won’t have to hear about anyone’s transversal skill set, toxic boyfriend, pitch deck or hernia op – are proliferating, too. The algorithm thinks, correctly, that I would enjoy a silent reading cafe in Tokyo and there are silent cafes in Osaka, China and Turkey. Silent travel was decreed a “top travel trend” last year by Condé Nast Traveller, spanning everything from full-on week-long retreats and a certified “wilderness quiet park” in Ecua...

Politics

29 h. ago Ukraine war live: Zelenskyy welcomes Putin calls for talks but says Russia must agree to ‘full, lasting, reliable’ ceasefire

In late-night address in Moscow, Russian president dismissed calls by European leaders for 30-day ceasefire to start on MondayVladimir Putin’s proposal for “direct talks” with Kyiv came hours after leaders from the UK, France, Germany and Poland travelled to Kyiv to meet Volodymyr Zelenskyy.As my colleague Shaun Walker notes in this story, the European leaders told the Russian president to sign up to an unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face increased sanctions and weapons transfers to Ukraine.It is a positive sign that the Russians have finally begun to consider ending the war.The entire world has been waiting for this for a very long time. And the very first step in truly ending any war is a ceasefire. There is no point in continuing the killing even for a single day. Continue reading...

Events

32 h. ago I felt fit, healthy and was running 10km a day before I started experiencing a strange feeling in my legs. I had stage four lung cancer and I'd never smoked

Prior to her life altering diagnosis, the preschool teacher, from Newcastle, New South Wales, described herself as 'healthy' and 'fit' with an active lifestyle.

Events

36 h. ago The doctors told me I was fit and healthy. A few weeks later my life changed forever

Peter couldn't understand how his healthy lifestyle could have led to what happened but the GP claims that is exactly what saved his life.

Society

48 h. ago Ukraine war live: European leaders tell Putin to agree to unconditional ceasefire by Monday or face ‘massive’ sanctions

European leaders, in coordination with Donald Trump, are proposing a 30-day unconditional ceasefire starting 12 MayIt is the first time the leaders of the four European nations (France, the UK, Germany and Poland) have made a joint visit to Ukraine, reports Agence France-Presse (AFP).“We are clear the bloodshed must end. Russia must stop its illegal invasion,” the leaders said in a joint statement, adding:Alongside the US, we call on Russia to agree a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire to create the space for talks on a just and lasting peace.We will continue to increase our support for Ukraine. Until Russia agrees to an enduring ceasefire, we will ratchet up pressure on Russia’s war machine. Continue reading...

Politics

51 h. ago John Legend says he feels sad to see ‘devolution’ of mentor Kanye West

The singer said it had become difficult to sustain his relationship with the rapper due to their differing political views.

Politics

68 h. ago Martin Couvra in pole position at Turkish Open as he chases first DP World Tour title

The 22-year-old rookie started the day in a three-way tie at the top of the leaderboard

Politics

3 d. ago Chinese troops march with Russian forces as Xi joins Putin for Victory Day parade

Moscow stages largest Victory Day parade since start of Ukraine war with Putin using celebrations to justify invasionRussian troops fighting in Ukraine marched together with Chinese forces on Moscow’s Red Square to mark the 80th anniversary of Nazi Germany’s defeat, in a Victory Day celebration marked by greater spectacle than in recent years.After several scaled-back Victory Days – with reduced military displays and few foreign guests – Vladimir Putin on Friday addressed the largest parade since his 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. “The Soviet Union took upon itself the most ferocious, merciless blows of the enemy,” the Russian president said of the victory over Nazi Germany, before turning to his invasion of Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago UK set to be hotter than Barcelona this weekend as warm weather returns

May started off with the hottest day of the year so far with 29.3C heat in London

Events

4 d. ago Grandad says 'all men should do one thing' after cancer diagnosis

Nick was fit, healthy and active with no symptoms when he was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer

Science

4 d. ago Greater Manchester school issues major new ban as pupils told to surrender their mobile phones at the start of the day

The school said it aims to 'create an environment free from distractions', with kids to be forced to go without their devices for six hours until the end of the day

Politics

5 d. ago Morning Headlines newsletter: Get the biggest stories and expert analysis to start your day

Packed with the day’s biggest stories, key talking points and in-depth analysis from our award-winning journalists, Morning Headlines gives you everything you need to stay informed each weekday morning

Politics

5 d. ago A moment that changed me: I found out the identity of my troll – and it shook me

Who was behind the anonymous account sending nasty messages at 4am? The answer made me paranoid, then defiantWhen I first saw the message, I froze with shock. I had just woken up and, as usual, was spending the first half hour of my day in bed, clearing notifications from social media apps. That day, hidden in my Instagram message requests, was a troll. Their message, which read, “Your actually disgusting and you shouldn’t be promoting morbid obesity”, was sent from an anonymous account, at 4am. The message continued: “Stop pretending you love your body because your too lazy to diet or exercise.”I felt upset but, more than anything, I felt surveilled. Who could have sent me this attack? The more I read, the worse it got. I knew I should ignore the message – simply delete it and carry on with my day – but curiosity got the better of me. I started to look for clues. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Sharp Corner review – Ben Foster unravels in smart, darkly compelling thriller

Actor plays a father desperate to prove his worth in an entertainingly nasty look at dangers of entitled mediocrityStop me if you’ve heard this one before: happy family moves into dream home but discovers it’s actually a nightmare.It’s a setup so numbingly common that it’s started to border on parody. From smug moving day pizza on the box-strewn floor to hearing louder and louder bumps in the night to arguing over when and how to leave, it’s a descent that’s propped up far too many genre films. At the start of Sharp Corner, which quietly premiered at last year’s Toronto film festival, you’d be forgiven for expecting yet more of the same. But here, the threat is far more unusual and the nature of the unravelling far less predictable, the plot direction mirroring the title before it even comes into view. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago British royal family watches military parade marking start of VE Day events in London

British royal family watches military parade marking start of VE Day events in London  CNN

Events

7 d. ago VE Day 2025 flypast and parade LIVE: 80th anniversary celebrations start with Red Arrows display and Churchill speech

Britain today begins its celebrations to mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day

Culture

8 d. ago 10 things your pets hates and trigger anxiety explained by TV's Yorkshire Vet

Our four-legged friends feel stress and panic too. Matt Jackson-Smith from TV’s The Yorkshire Vet shares his insight and advice on dealing with an anxious dog for Dog Anxiety Awareness Week.

Politics

9 d. ago I'm 102 and the secret of my long life is a cocktail and teacake for breakfast every day

Gordon 'Pop' White was one of two survivors on a Royal Navy landing craft which was bombed during the Second World War. Nowadays he gets up at 4am and starts the day with a cocktail and chocolate teacake

Politics

9 d. ago One hundred days in, Donald Trump faces a problem: he can rage, but he can’t govern | Jonathan Freedland

Americans are beginning to worry about their future amid a shrinking economy, warnings of empty shelves – and the president’s failed promisesHe says it’s the “best 100-day start of any president in history”, but you can file that along with his boast about crowd sizes and his claim to have won the 2020 election. In truth, the first three months of Donald Trump’s second presidency have been calamitous on almost every measure. The single biggest achievement of those 100 days has been to serve as a warning of the perils of nationalist populism, which is effective in winning votes but disastrous when translated into reality. That warning applies across the democratic world – and is especially timely in Britain.Start with the numbers that matter most to Trump himself. A slew of polls appeared this week, but they all told the same story: that Trump’s approval ratings have collapsed, falling to the lowest level for a newly installed president in the postwar era. He has now edged ahead of h...

Politics

1 week ago Adam Collard reveals terrifying moment he was in 'unbearable pain' as Laura Woods called 999

Love Island star Adam Collard was rushed to hospital and had surgery after he was left 'biting and screaming into a pillow' in 'unbearable' pain before losing all feeling in his leg

Events