45 h. ago Seven warmest areas of UK listed as some Brits face 34C temperatures

The Met Office said that the UK is on day two of a heatwave and there is "overall a very hot, very warm week to come" while England is already suffering from 'nationally significant' water shortfalls

Events

3 d. ago Wildfires close Mount Vesuvius trails while fierce blazes continue in France

French officials says heatwave in southern Europe complicates efforts to contain biggest wildfire since 1949Tourist trails have been closed on Mount Vesuvius in southern Italy as firefighters tackle a huge blaze on the volcano’s slopes, while officials warned of another “challenging day” for those working to contain France’s biggest wildfire since 1949.The wildfire on Mount Vesuvius, close to Naples, broke out a few days ago and by Saturday afternoon had stretched to about 3km (1.9 miles) wide, destroying hundreds of hectares of woodland and killing wild animals. Thick smoke could be seen from Pompeii and Naples. Continue reading...

Events

3 d. ago Trump promised to be a dictator on day one. We’re now past day 200

Donald Trump’s second term has seen a sustained assault on democratic institutions – political, judicial, media, cultural, academic – that appears to be only accelerating The anger was raw and resolute. Speaking at the Republican congressman Mike Flood’s town hall in Lincoln, Nebraska, a woman pointed to the estimated $450m cost of “Alligator Alcatraz”, an immigration detention facility in Florida. “How much does it cost for fascism?” she demanded. “How much do the taxpayers have to pay for a fascist country?”The crowd erupted in applause and whoops. In the week that Donald Trump marked his 200th day in office, few mainstream political commentators are bandying around terms such as “fascist”. But many are warning of a societal march towards authoritarianism that, far from losing momentum, appears to be gathering pace. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Forever young? I’m another year older but I’ll never stop playing games

My love for video games has never wavered, I have no intention of growing up and moving onIt is my birthday this week. And while that may not sound like a worthy subject for Pushing Buttons, bear with me.I am now 54 – and so officially in my mid-50s – and I still write about video games for a living. I play video games every day; I work in a home office where I’m surrounded by video games. When I’m not playing them, I’m probably thinking about them. But at times like this, I think: maybe should I stop someday? Is there an upper limit on how long someone can do games journalism? Certainly I only know of a handful of people my age who are still writing about games on a full-time basis. Some of my friends outside the industry still play games, but usually only one or two a year – EA Sports FC, maybe, the latest blockbusting narrative adventure, Nintendo with the kids. If you’re not careful, life has a way of shepherding you away from your interests. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Higgins praises Princess Royal’s ‘significant contribution’ to UK

Anne is attending the official opening day of the 150th Dublin Horse Show at the Royal Dublin Society.

Politics

9 d. ago This free VE Day commemorative coin is a "gift to the nation"

The London Mint Office is giving away silver VE Day coins to mark 80 years since victory – and they’re completely free.

Politics

9 d. ago Labour reignites row with Nigel Farage as Home Office minister Jess Phillips says Reform UK is 'empowering modern

Home Office minister Jess Phillips launched a fresh attack on Reform's promise to scrap the Online Safety Act.

Politics

3 w. ago UK could see half a month’s rainfall in under 24 hours amid more weather warnings

Northern Ireland could see half a month’s worth of rainfall in less than a day on Sunday evening, Met Office warned

Events

3 w. ago The Open 2025: Scheffler continues to dominate on final day – live

Latest updates from the decisive day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email ScottRory McIlroy is out and about, soundtracked by the usual ozone-layer-bothering roars. An iron straight down the middle. An approach straight down the middle and over the flag. He’ll have a 20-foot putt coming back for birdie. Matt Fitzpatrick has some work to do, though, having dispatched his tee shot into the rough down the left, then sent a flyer over the back of the green. Meanwhile Hideki Matsuyama’s eagle putt at 12 shaves the hole, Tyrrell Hatton’s bunkered tee shot at 2 leads to bogey, and here’s how the top of the leaderboard looks right now.-14: Scheffler -10: Li -9: Fitzpatrick -8: Matsuyama (12), R Hojgaard (3), Hatton (2), English (1), Gotterup (1), McIlroy -7: DeChambeau (13), Fleetwood (11), Hall (7), MacIntyre (3), Henley (3), Schauffele (2) Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The Open 2025: chasing pack try to catch Scheffler on final day – live

Latest updates from the decisive day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email ScottRory McIlroy is out and about, soundtracked by the usual ozone-layer-bothering roars. An iron straight down the middle. An approach straight down the middle and over the flag. He’ll have a 20-foot putt coming back for birdie. Matt Fitzpatrick has some work to do, though, having dispatched his tee shot into the rough down the left, then sent a flyer over the back of the green. Meanwhile Hideki Matsuyama’s eagle putt at 12 shaves the hole, Tyrrell Hatton’s bunkered tee shot at 2 leads to bogey, and here’s how the top of the leaderboard looks right now.-14: Scheffler -10: Li -9: Fitzpatrick -8: Matsuyama (12), R Hojgaard (3), Hatton (2), English (1), Gotterup (1), McIlroy -7: DeChambeau (13), Fleetwood (11), Hall (7), MacIntyre (3), Henley (3), Schauffele (2) Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The Open 2025: McIlroy and chasing pack try to catch Scheffler on final day – live

Latest updates from the decisive day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email ScottRory McIlroy is out and about, soundtracked by the usual ozone-layer-bothering roars. An iron straight down the middle. An approach straight down the middle and over the flag. He’ll have a 20-foot putt coming back for birdie. Matt Fitzpatrick has some work to do, though, having dispatched his tee shot into the rough down the left, then sent a flyer over the back of the green. Meanwhile Hideki Matsuyama’s eagle putt at 12 shaves the hole, Tyrrell Hatton’s bunkered tee shot at 2 leads to bogey, and here’s how the top of the leaderboard looks right now.-14: Scheffler -10: Li -9: Fitzpatrick -8: Matsuyama (12), R Hojgaard (3), Hatton (2), English (1), Gotterup (1), McIlroy -7: DeChambeau (13), Fleetwood (11), Hall (7), MacIntyre (3), Henley (3), Schauffele (2) Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The Open 2025: final round updates from Royal Portrush – live

Latest updates from the decisive day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email ScottWhat Bryson DeChambeau would give to play his Thursday round again. A 78 had him almost certainly going home early, but he’s responded like the two-time major-winning champion he is: a 65 to avoid the cut with something to spare, a 68 yesterday, and now he’s five-under for his round today through 12 holes! Birdies at 3, 4, 7, 9 and 12. He’s -7 for the championship, and if he’d got his act together like this for his first round, he’d be thinking about breaking Henrik Stenson’s record for lowest winning total of 264, set at Troon in 2016, and it’d be Scottie Scheffler doing all the chasing today. But he didn’t, so he isn’t, and Scottie won’t be, so here we are. Still, what a response!Tommy Fleetwood is too far back to dream, but he appears to be in the mood to make up as much ground as possible anyway. He’s out in 32 after birdies at 3, 5, 7, 8 and 9. The Southport star is -7. Mean...

Politics

3 w. ago The Open 2025: big names chase leaders in second round at Royal Portrush – live

Latest updates from the second day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email ScottAdam Scott should have won this Championship in 2012. But he bogeyed holes 69 through 72 at Lytham, handing the Claret Jug to Ernie Els on a silver platter. What the genial Scott would give to play that stretch again. Ah well, he’ll always have Augusta National, nine months later. What the Big Easy would give for a green jacket. Scott started this morning on +1 after a 72 yesterday, but he’s going backwards now, after a clumsy double bogey, his first of the week, at the short par-three 3rd. He over-clubs, his ball disappearing down the swale at the back then he under-chips, his ball coming back towards his feet. A second chip doesn’t get close, and two putts later, he’s +3 and prodding the green with his putter in annoyance, not so genial right now.Sergio Garcia missed a five-foot putt to win the Open at Carnoustie in 2007. He had his chance to win at Hoylake in 2014 too, but faile...

Politics

3 w. ago Football Daily | England and Sweden get into spot of bother with an unmissable shootout

Sign up now! Sign up now! Sign up now? Sign up now!The strongest contender that Football Daily could find for the worst penalty shootout of all time was predictably held between two English teams. In January 1998, under-10 pair Mickleover Lightning Blue Sox and Chellaston Boys faced off in the Derby Community Cup. After the regular game finished 1-1, a total of 56 penalties failed to break the deadlock, with referee Peter Shieff even moving the spot two yards closer and offering a coin toss to decide the result (which the sides declined). Despite saving 31 consecutive spot-kicks in the sudden-death decider, Chellaston Boys’ goalkeeper Ben Hodder ended up on the losing side as Blue Sox romped home 2-1, after a grand total of 66 kicks had been taken, a world record verified by David Barber, the FA’s official statistician. A thought, then, for the parents that day 27 years ago, stood on the sidelines, outwardly encouraging their youngsters while internally being tortured and scorched w...

Events

3 w. ago The Open 2025: McIlroy in action during second round at Royal Portrush – live

Latest updates from the second day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email MattAdam Scott should have won this Championship in 2012. But he bogeyed holes 69 through 72 at Lytham, handing the Claret Jug to Ernie Els on a silver platter. What the genial Scott would give to play that stretch again. Ah well, he’ll always have Augusta National, nine months later. What the Big Easy would give for a green jacket. Scott started this morning on +1 after a 72 yesterday, but he’s going backwards now, after a clumsy double bogey, his first of the week, at the short par-three 3rd. He over-clubs, his ball disappearing down the swale at the back then he under-chips, his ball coming back towards his feet. A second chip doesn’t get close, and two putts later, he’s +3 and prodding the green with his putter in annoyance, not so genial right now.Sergio Garcia missed a five-foot putt to win the Open at Carnoustie in 2007. He had his chance to win at Hoylake in 2014 too, but failed...

Politics

3 w. ago The Open 2025: second round updates from Royal Portrush – live

Latest updates from the second day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email Scott and we’re back. Less than nine hours ago, the first day of the 153rd edition of the Open Championship came to a close. Now we’re up and running again! Friday promises to be another Homeric odyssey, and we’ll be blogging about it ♫♪ all day looooooonng♫♪. Here’s how the very top of a star-studded leaderboard looked at the end of play last night -4: JS Olesen, Li, Fitzpatrick, Bezuidenhout, English -3: Jordan, Scheffler, Kaewkanjana, Hatton -2: N Højgaard, Westwood, Fowler, R Højgaard, Rai, Harman, McNealy, Rose, Glover, T Kim -1: Mickelson, Burns, Rahm, Lowry, Axelsen, Z Johnson, Garcia, Hidalgo, Leonard, Niemann, McIlroy, Finau E: J Smith, Kanaya, Schauffele, Svensson, Hillier, Novak, Burmester, McCarty, Im, Langasque, MacIntyre, Kimsey, Kokrak Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago The Open 2025: first round updates as Fitzpatrick shares lead at Royal Portrush – live

Latest updates from the opening day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can email ScottPadraig Harrington bogeys the par-three 3rd as well. Two putts from 42 feet far from a gimme and he doesn’t make them. His place at the top is taken by Jacob Skov Olesen: the 26-year-old Dane, making his professional debut at the Open – he finished in a tie for 60th at Troon as an amateur – tramlines a 40-foot putt on 1. Had that not hit the cup, it was halfway to Giant’s Causeway. A sizzling Danish start to the Open.-1: Højgaard (3), Olesen (1) E: Harrington (3), Migliozzi (2) Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago The Open 2025: first round updates from Royal Portrush – live

Latest updates from the opening day of the 153rd OpenLive official leaderboard | And you can drop Scott a mailGood morning and welcome to our live coverage of the 153rd Open Championship. Xander Schauffele, who saw off Billy Horschel, Justin Rose and Thriston Lawrence at Troon last year, is the defending champion and yet because this edition will be contested on the links of Royal Portrush in County Antrim, it kind of feels like Shane Lowry, the winner here in 2019, is defending too. Hey, we don’t write the rules, it just does.Another Irish winner on home soil, then? Lowry fancies doubling up, while course-record holder Rory McIlroy will doubtless think the old place owes him one after that quadruple-bogey start in 2019 and subsequent tearful missed cut. Tom McKibbin, 2007 and 2008 winner Padraig Harrington and 2011 champion Darren Clarke also hear Ireland’s call. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Met Office weather maps shows exact day band of rain will hit Wales in time for school holidays

There is a risk that thunders and hail could hit Wales as the school holidays begin

Culture

4 w. ago It’s no wonder staff fear returning to the office full time – it’s so expensive

New research shows employees are increasingly uneasy about being asked to return to the office for financial reasons. Hannah Ewens argues the cost of a typical in-office day is simply too high to justify

Politics