67 h. ago Christie’s withdraws rare ‘first calculator’ from auction after French court halts export

Move comes after French scientists issued urgent appeal to prevent La Pascaline from leaving the countryA rare example of the first functioning calculating machine in history looks likely to stay in France after Christie’s withdrew it from auction pending a definitive ruling from a Paris court on whether or not it can be exported.La Pascaline, developed by the French mathematician and inventor Blaise Pascal in 1642, when he was just 19, and billed as “the most important scientific instrument ever offered at auction”, had been expected to fetch more than €2m (£1.8m). Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Man buys Ireland football top for £1 at charity shop is floored by resale price

Chris, a part-time Vinted and eBay seller, couldn't believe his eyes when he managed to bag quite the bargain with his charity shop purchases as he scooped an incredible profit

Economics

7 d. ago Retail expert urges people to buy three Christmas essentials in November

One TikTok user who worked in retail for more than 10 years has told people the exact time they should buy three Christmas essentials before they sell out

Politics

8 d. ago Amy Schumer's marriage on the BRINK as star sheds pounds and sells off homes amid 'difficult time'

The couple wed in 2018 but now sources have told the Daily Mail that the Trainwreck star is '100 percent' ending her marriage.

Politics

8 d. ago Celeste: Woman of Faces review – from chanson to prewar jazz, this timeless song cycle defies the easy sell

(Polydor)It’s a difficult second album for the chart-topping singer, in more ways than one – but her sombre songcraft ends up being spectacularIn theory, the making of Celeste’s second album should have been plain sailing. Boosted by a win in the BBC Sound of 2020 poll, and her single A Little Love appearing on the John Lewis Christmas ad the same year, her debut album Not Your Muse entered the charts at No 1, spawned two big hits – Stop This Flame and Strange – and ultimately went gold. That’s the perfect starting place from which to make a second album: success, acclaim and attention, but not on the kind of overwhelming scale that seems ultimately paralysing, where it’s impossible to work out how you can follow it up.And yet, the making of Woman of Faces has clearly been attended by some difficulty. Celeste has talked openly about butting heads with its producer, Jeff Bhasker, whose hugely impressive CV includes work with Harry Styles, Taylor Swift and Kanye West: she commissioned...

Events

1 week ago Is the poppy in decline? As many WW2 veterans remember fallen comrades for possibly the last time, some sellers say fewer people are buying the historic symbol of remembrance

The number of people wearing red poppies in the run up to Armistice Day on November 11 and Remembrance Sunday has been in decline in recent years.

Politics

2 w. ago Mel Gibson's Braveheart prop sells for four times over expected amount at auction

The Braveheart prop used by the Scots freedom fighter in the film attracted a flurry of bids

Politics

3 w. ago Man buys 'amazing' charity shop find for £4.50 is surprised by what it's truly worth

Chris, who is a part-time seller on eBay and Vinted, couldn't believe his eyes when he found this incredible charity shop item sitting on the shelf for a really low price

Economics

3 w. ago Mel Gibson faces backlash from conservatives after casting pro

Polish actor Kasia Smutniak, a women’s rights supporter, has been cast in Gibson’s new film ‘The Resurrection of the Christ’

Politics

3 w. ago Woman devastated after accidentally making £1,000 donation to charity

Jade Stibbs had been sitting on a valuable item for 20 years waiting for the right time to use it to make an investment - but when the time came to sell, it was nowhere to be seen

Economics

3 w. ago Rightmove issues housing market update and says whether now is a good time to buy or sell

The property site says "buyers have the upper hand right now"

Economics

4 w. ago Man buys £3.50 cardigan in charity shop is gobsmacked after learning true worth

Chris, who is a part-timer seller on eBay and Vinted, was left floored after coming across a big brand at his local charity shop. He bought it for £3.50 and couldn't believe what it was really worth

Economics

4 w. ago Spa worker sues after she was suspended for refusing to escort a transgender woman to the locker room

Jeriah Sellers, a devout Christian and part-time worker at Hershey’s MeltSpa in Pennsylvania, claims her employer violated her religious freedoms

Economics

4 w. ago Rare £20 note sells for 64 times its shop value – check if you have one

The rare collectible note sold for £1281.68 and is highly sought after for its unusual serial number, CC22222222, which features the number two repeated eight times

Economics