81 m. ago My marriage is healthy – except for my wife’s total refusal to touch me

I don’t want sex, I just long to be cuddled. But she continues to reject any such suggestion, and my resentment is growingAfter years of no sexual intimacy with my wife, I am now craving the comfort of somatic connection. Not actual sex, but simply cuddling and being held close while nude. But my wife has refused. I have suggested we try “progressive desensitisation” therapy, which would involve lying down together, with one item of clothing removed, but with no physical contact. We would build from there in the knowledge that this would not lead to sexual contact. My wife, when I suggested it, was not at all interested in this, and in fact, she was actively opposed.She told me the problem was in my head and that she had zero interest in physical intimacy. She also said that this was normal for older women. I told her it was my impression that older people actually craved appropriate physical touch. She then agreed that I could just lie in her bed fully clothed before retiring to my...

Politics

3 h. ago The best budget hotels in Los Angeles for location and style

From downtown high-rises to Hollywood hostels, here’s our pick of the most affordable places to stay in the City of Angels in 2025

Society

9 h. ago Gareth Bale stuns nation with bid to buy football team close to his heart

Gareth Bale has confirmed he is leading a consortium that is interested in buying Cardiff City and wants to be "part of growing the club"

Politics

10 h. ago Dramatic scenes as 180 residents evacuated from two tower blocks in massive Manchester mill inferno

Nearby apartment blocks close to Hotspur Press were evacuated due to the scale of the blaze

Events

10 h. ago Tottenham eye Eberechi Eze as statement signing for Thomas Frank

Spurs have long-held interest in Crystal Palace attackerEze’s contract reported to have a £68m release clauseTottenham are weighing up a move for Eberechi Eze and believe the Crystal Palace forward would be open to joining them.Spurs have a longstanding interest in Eze, not to mention close connections with the agency that represents him, and they have discussed whether to make him a statement signing for the new manager, Thomas Frank. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Latest Glastonbury weather forecast as Met Office predicts festival conditions

Glastonbury Festival goers have been warned to pack a mixed bag of weather gear as it is expected to see a mix of sun and rain before the event comes to a close

Society

11 h. ago MLB's Oakland A's celebrate groundbreaking on $1.75 billion stadium in Las Vegas

With mounds of dirt, construction vehicles and the exact location where home plate will be at the new A's Ballpark serving as the backdrop Monday morning, team owner John Fisher stood in front of a large gathering with one message: "We are Vegas' team"

Economics

12 h. ago Athletics celebrate groundbreaking of $1.75 billion stadium project in Las Vegas

With mounds of dirt, construction vehicles and the exact location where home plate will be at the new A’s Ballpark serving as the backdrop, team owner John Fisher stood in front of a large gathering with one message: “We are Vegas’ team.”

Economics

12 h. ago Boss of ‘Monty Python pub’ forced to close 10 days before award win blames Liz Truss

EXCLUSIVE: A stunning, award-winning, community boozer was given a lauded design award but by the time they were handed they had already shuttered the business for good

Events

14 h. ago Iranian closure of strait of Hormuz would be monumental act of self

UK foreign secretary wants Iran to return to negotiating table but refuses to endorse strikes by US and IsraelMiddle East crisis – live updatesAny Iranian move to close the strait of Hormuz waterway would be an act of monumental self-harm, said David Lammy, the UK foreign secretary, as he continued to refuse to endorse the Israeli and American strikes on Iran, or lay out the UK view of their lawfulness.Lammy said there was no need for the British government to say if the strikes were legal since the UK was not involved in the action and had not been asked by the US to take part, or to allow the US to use the UK’s Diego Garcia base in the Indian Ocean to target Iran. Continue reading...

Politics

15 h. ago Kroger to close more than 60 locations by the end of next year

The struggling supermarket plans to close dozens of stores by the end of next year — although the company says it hopes to move staff to other locations

Politics

15 h. ago Emma Raducanu opens up on 'genuine connection' with new doubles partner Carlos Alcaraz and reveals origins of their close friendship

MATTHEW LAMBWELL IN EASTBOURNE: Emma Raducanu spoke for the first time about the superstar pairing announced last week for the US Open's revamped, $1million mixed doubles.

Politics

15 h. ago Latest news: Construction loans close; Red coming to London; luxe lodges outperform

Latest news: Construction loans close; Red coming to London; luxe lodges outperform  Hotel Investment Today

Politics

15 h. ago The Strait of Hormuz is a vital route for oil. Closing it could backfire on Iran

The war between Israel and Iran has raised concerns that Iran could try to close the Strait of Hormuz, the world’s most important oil chokepoint

Events

16 h. ago Tens of millions swelter as heatwave blankets the central and eastern US

Several cities are under extreme heat warnings as high temperatures and humidity grip parts of the countryThe National Weather Service (NWS) has issued several extreme heat warnings and advisories as a dangerous and prolonged wave of high temperatures and humidity blankets much of the central and eastern US, with the worst conditions expected to persist into the middle of this week.Several locations recorded their hottest temperatures of the year over the weekend: Salt Lake City, Utah, hit 104F (40C) on Thursday, its first triple-digit reading of 2025, and on Saturday the city of Mitchell in South Dakota also reached 104F, surpassing its previous daily record of 101F (38.3C). Daily high records were broken in parts of Minnesota, Wyoming and Michigan. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Travellers ditch beach holidays for stunning 'cooler' locations

The trend for 'coolcations' has seen holidaymakers shun beach resorts in favour of destinations with less tourists this time of year

Society

16 h. ago Jude Law's ex Cat Harding's wedding to footballer Jorginho forced to move location due to rain

Jude Law's ex Cat Harding's wedding to Jorginho was forced to move location following a bout of unexpected rain on the big day.

Society

17 h. ago Why is Iran’s nuclear programme so essential to its identity?

Why does a country with large oil reserves feel such a need to have home-grown civil nuclear energy?Middle East crisis – live updatesIn October 1978, two leaders of the Iranian opposition to the British-backed shah of Iran met in the Paris suburbs of Neauphle-le-Château to plan for the final stages of the revolution, a revolution that after 46 momentous and often brutal years may now be close to expiring.The two men had little in common but their nationality, age and determination to remove the shah from power. Karim Sanjabi, the leader of the secular liberal National Front, was a former Sorbonne-educated professor of law. Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini was the leading Shia opponent of the Iranian monarchy since the 1960s. Both were in their 70s at the time. Continue reading...

Events

17 h. ago Trump pleads with oil companies to keep prices down after Iran blockade threat

Crude oil prices surged following Iran vote to close critical Strait of Hormuz in wake of US bombings

Politics

18 h. ago Goldman Sachs warns Brent crude could hit $100 per barrel if strait of Hormuz is disrupted; Trump demands cheaper oil – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial newsThe strait of Hormuz: what is it, and why does it matter to global trade?Price of oil could spike after Iran’s parliament votes to close key shipping routeThe eurozone economy has continued to flirt with stagnation this month, with little growth in its key sectors.The latest survey of purchasing managers across the euro area, just released by S&P Global, shows that the eurozone services sector is stalling this month, while factory growth slowed.“The eurozone economy is struggling to gain momentum. For six months now, growth has been minimal, with activity in the service sector stagnating and manufacturing output rising only moderately.In Germany, there are signs of a cautious improvement in the situation, but France continues to drag its feet. The momentum evident in the official growth figure of 0.6 percent for the first quarter is unlikely to have carried over into the second quarter, especially since special factors su...

Events