53 m. ago I spent day on ‘UK’s unhealthiest street’ – I smashed through around 7k calories for £30 shopkeeper’s words baffled me

THE Las Vegas Strip and London’s Oxford Street make up some of the most iconic high streets in the world — and now joining their ranks is Stockport Road, dubbed 'the UK’s unhealthiest street'. Armed with just £30, we headed to the three-mile stretch of high street, fittingly sandwiched by two McDonald’s restaurants, to see...

Economics

86 m. ago M11 crash LIVE: Major UK motorway closed after collision sparks huge queues

Long queues have been reported on a stretch of the M11 this morning after a collision caused two lanes to close - with drivers warned to expect traffic and queues continuing for miles

Events

2 h. ago I tasted Baileys, Coole Swan and Aldi's Irish Cream — one is best by miles

The taste is consistent throughout without that alcohol 'hit'

Politics

4 h. ago ‘It’s underrated as a weekend trip’ – The pretty city with unique black cab tours, waterfall walks & £15 Ryanair flights

OUR Spotlight On column rounds up the best things to see and do in top holiday destinations - and shines a light on some lesser-known spots too. This week we’re spotlighting Belfast - the Northern Irish capital bursting with charm, heritage and plenty of good craic! Travel Writer Jenna Stevens recently spent a weekend in...

Society

4 h. ago Grizzly bear kills one and injures 11 in attack on schoolchildren in Canada

The ‘aggressive’ bear charged a group of children and teachers in Bella Coola, with police and conservation officers now searching for the animal

Events

4 h. ago He travelled more than 200 miles hoping to commit 'appalling offences' against a child

The 60-year-old began speaking to a child online before travelling a considerable distance to meet the youngster

Politics

4 h. ago The Black Swan review: This astounding BBC documentary about crooked lawyers knocked me for six

Four-part documentary The Black Swan, which (secretly) takes place in one (bent) lawyer's office in Copenhagen, is gripping, astounding television and it knocked me for six.

Politics

5 h. ago L'Occitane festive beauty crackers work out at under £4 each with little

The L'Occitane Festive Crackers Collection is a set of four crackers, containing a mini body product and a hand cream - and there's a way to get them for the equivalent of less than £4 each

Economics

5 h. ago As new rape allegation rocks Strictly Come Dancing, why this could be the show's last dance...

With its neon-soaked skyline, giant mirror ball and historic Tower Ballroom, Blackpool isn't just a town, it's the annual milestone for Strictly Come Dancing contestants.

Events

5 h. ago I'm A Celebrity star Aitch said there was one thing he 'never wanted to change' as career took off

'[People from Manchester] are like the coolest people in the world, don’t let anyone else tell you differently'

Politics

6 h. ago Which country is the fourth most successful in Olympic swimming? The Saturday quiz

From pop stars in space to non-primates with fingerprints, test your knowledge with the Saturday quiz1 Whose last words in 1963 were “Nobody’s gonna shoot at me”?2 What symbol originated as a ligature of the letters e and t?3 What is the largest artificial prehistoric mound in Europe?4 Which marsupial is the only non-primate with fingerprints?5 Which pop star went into space in April?6 The old Hotel Moskva appears on bottles of what spirit?7 In what decade was divorce legalised in Ireland?8 Which landlocked country is the fourth most successful in Olympic swimming?What links: 9 Harry Bailey; Joss Merlyn; Abbey Potterson; Mistress Quickly; the Thénardiers?10 Spanish, 1701-14; Austrian, 1740-48; Roy family, 2018-23?11 Main belt; trojans; near-Earth?12 Dominica; Guatemala; Kiribati; Papua New Guinea; Uganda?13 45th state; largest city in Nebraska; Au; queen of the Roman gods; Excalibur?14 SET India; Cocomelon; T-Series; MrBeast?15 Basket V; hand and net VII; base IX; foot XI? Continue ...

Politics

6 h. ago ‘So unchanged it is almost otherworldly’: the oasis town of Skoura, Morocco

For the explorer and author, the desert outpost, irrigated by water from the Atlas mountains, is the perfect place to decompressThe first thing I notice when I walk into the oasis is the temperature drop. Then, I hear the birdsong and the rustling of the palm trees. The harsh sun dims and there’s water and the smell of damp earth. It’s easy to understand why desert travellers yearned to reach these havens and why they have become synonymous with peace. I’m an explorer who’s walked through many oases with loaded camels, crossing Morocco and the Sahara on foot, but Skoura, a four-hour drive from Marrakech, is a place I visit to decompress.You may be imagining some kind of cartoon mirage oasis – a sole date palm shimmering above the endless sands. In fact, Skoura has a population of around 3,000 people living in a small town on the edge of the palms with 10 sq miles (25 sq km) of agricultural land. Many visitors to Morocco start in Fez or Marrakech and stop off in A...

Politics

6 h. ago I tried Yule logs from Tesco, Aldi and more — the best was better than Waitrose

The winner was surprisingly light yet delicious — and beat the more upmarket names

Politics

7 h. ago Who knew it would take an American pope to remind us of the value of art and good taste? | Jason Okundaye

Anti-AI and pro-beauty, Leo XIV has proved an unlikely custodian of culture – and a patron of meaningful work in a world of algorithmic slopSo, who figured that Pope Leo XIV would end up being kind of cool? Not me. Although as a lapsed Catholic I had little stake in the conclave race, I felt that there was something unglamorous, dare I say godless, about a first-ever supreme pontiff born in the US, let alone one hailing from Chicago, the same city as Hugh Hefner, Hillary Clinton and Kanye West. There were greater apprehensions beyond taste, too. Would this finally be the ordination of the reinvigorated Maga movement after the death of the compassionate Pope Francis? When Leo appeared on the balcony of St Peter’s Basilica wearing the traditional red mozzetta cape eschewed by his predecessor, it was too easy to jump to conclusions.By the grace of God, the red mozzetta was a red herring. Very quickly, American conservatives went into meltdown over the pope’s patent anti-Maga leanings a...

Politics

7 h. ago Lando Norris grabs F1 Las Vegas GP pole in wet as Oscar Piastri slips to fifth

Title race leader first in qualifying ahead of VerstappenHamilton woes continue with last-place finish for FerrariLando Norris claimed pole position at the Las Vegas Grand Prix in treacherous, wet conditions on the street circuit in Nevada to move one step closer to taking his first Formula One world championship. The British driver’s march to the title looks increasingly likely with pole at what has been a bogey circuit for McLaren.Norris beat the Red Bull of Max Verstappen into second and, with his closest title rival and teammate Oscar Piastri in fifth, he can further extend his advantage at the top of the standings on Sunday. Indeed, he had been so cool in advance that he took in spot of shut-eye before it began and then weathered the hazardous conditions with insouciance. Continue reading...

Politics

8 h. ago Saturday’s briefing: Gabriel misses ‘madhouse’ derby and Guardiola stays cool

Cole Palmer faces a lay-off for Chelsea after fracturing a toe in an accident at home.

Politics

8 h. ago Scots Come Dine With Me star to trek 50 miles in heels as Mrs Claus in memory of sister

Garry MacDonald hopes to raise cash for the young family of his sister Helen, who passed away aged 37 last year.

Politics

9 h. ago 'I tested Baileys, Coole Swan and Aldi's Irish Cream and one is better by miles'

I put three Irish Creams to the test just in time for Christmas - and here's what I thought

Politics

11 h. ago How the shape of your beer glass can change how your drink tastes

Researchers enlisted 49 men and women - all regular beer and wine drinkers - but did not tell them the purpose of their study.

Politics

12 h. ago As new rape allegations rock Strictly Come Dancing, why this could be the show's last dance...

With its neon-soaked skyline, giant mirror ball and historic Tower Ballroom, Blackpool isn't just a town, it's the annual milestone for Strictly Come Dancing contestants.

Events