56 m. ago China outlines more controls on exports of rare earths and technology

China has outlined new curbs on exports of rare earths and related technologies, extending controls over the use of the elements critical for many products

Politics

58 m. ago The Poems of Seamus Heaney review – collected works reveal his colossal achievement

The complete works, including previously unpublished poems and expert notes, are brought together in one volume for the first timeBaudelaire introduced ordinary objects into poetry – likening the sky to a pan lid – and by doing so revolutionised poetic language. Likewise, Seamus Heaney introduced Northern Irish vernacular into the English lyric, peppering his lines with words like glarry, the Ulster word for muddy; kesh, from Irish ceis, a wickerwork causeway; and dailigone, “daylight gone” or dusk, from Ulster-Scots. It is this that gives his writing a mulchy richness and cultural resonance that remain unique in contemporary poetry. One of the key poems in North (1975) is a version of Baudelaire’s The Digging Skeleton, to which Heaney brings an Irish flavour – the skeletons dig the earth “like navvies”. It’s especially rich as digging for Heaney is also a metaphor for writing, while the archaeological metaphor resonates with the darkly symbolic bog poems.Bringing all Heaney’s poems...

Economics

1 hour ago Private schools say rolls down more than 1,000 since VAT imposed on fees

Body that represents institutions says ‘vindictive and flawed’ policy will ultimately cost taxpayers money

Politics

1 hour ago How to start an art collection — top London gallerists reveal how to find your style and where to buy

Daunted by investing in ‘proper art’? You needn’t be, with our insiders’ guide

Politics

2 h. ago Two supermarkets launch huge 50% off toy sale ahead of Christmas

Getting some of your Christmas shopping done now is a great way to spread the cost out - and with supermarkets offering huge savings, you could snap up some brilliant deals

Economics

6 h. ago Governments are spending billions on their own ‘sovereign’ AI technologies – is it a big waste of money?

Many US-built AI systems fall short but competing against tech giants neither easy nor cheapIn Singapore, a government-funded artificial intelligence model can converse in 11 languages, from Bahasa Indonesia to Lao. In Malaysia, ILMUchat, built by a local construction conglomerate, boasts that it “knows which Georgetown you’re referring to” – that is, the capital of Penang and not the private university in the US. Meanwhile, Switzerland’s Apertus, unveiled in September, understands when to use the Swiss German “ss” and not the German-language character “ß”.Around the world, language models like these are part of an AI arms race worth hundreds of billions of dollars mostly driven by a few powerful companies in the US and China. As giants such as OpenAI, Meta and Alibaba plough vast sums into developing increasingly powerful models, middle powers and developing countries are watching the landscape carefully, and sometimes placing their own, expensive bets. Continue reading...

Economics

7 h. ago Subway reveals new dish involving classic full English and its perfect for hangovers

Subway has announced a limited edition Big Breakwich Spud to aid drowsy freshers students during their opening weeks of university

Politics

8 h. ago Donald Trump poised to give Gaza peace deal update as private note spotted at White House

The President was attending a roundtable of far-right online personalities when Secretary of State Marco Rubio passed him a handwritten note

Economics

8 h. ago Louis Tomlinson reveals whether One Direction will reunite after Liam Payne's death

Louis Tomlinson opened up about Liam Payne's heartbreaking death in a rare new interview and opened up on whether One Direction would reunite on stage without him

Events

9 h. ago ‘Don’t collect talent’ – Thomas Tuchel sends warning to Jude Bellingham & Co about World Cup spots after shock snubs

THOMAS TUCHEL claims England will be underdogs at the World Cup finals. And the Three Lions manager, preparing for the friendly with Wales at Wembley, insisted he will not be “collecting talent” when picking his teams with Jude Bellingham, Phil Foden and Jack Grealish all controversially missing out on this squad. Tuchel, who will be...

Events

10 h. ago Micheal Martin apologises to Fianna Fail TDs and Senators after Gavin withdrawal

The Fianna Fail parliamentary party met in private on Wednesday night after Mr Gavin’s dramatic withdrawal.

Events

10 h. ago Metaquest VR headset with rare £93 Amazon Prime Day reduction is an ideal Christmas present

'An amazing bit of kit with plenty of games and apps in virtual reality'

Economics

10 h. ago Mel C makes rare red carpet appearance with boyfriend Chris Dingwall as couple attend premiere of Victoria Beckham's Netflix documentary

The Spice Girls singer, 51, put on a loved-up display with the model as they posed together on red carpet.

Politics

10 h. ago Tuchel insists England should embrace underdog status at 2026 World Cup

Tuchel: ‘I don’t see why we should burden ourselves’Head coach ‘not just collecting most talented players’Thomas Tuchel has said England would be underdogs at the World Cup and would be stronger if they did not allow themselves to become burdened by expectation.Tuchel, who delivered another warning to Jude Bellingham and Phil Foden by reiterating that he is not looking to collect talents, was adamant that his side would not be one of the favourites next summer. The German stressed that England, who have been losing finalists in two successive European Championships, should not get carried away given they have not won the men’s World Cup since 1966. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago Daniel Craig ‘incredibly proud’ to open BFI London Film Festival with Knives Out

Craig reprises his role as the famed private detective, Benoit Blanc, in the third instalment of the Knives Out series, titled, Wake Up, Dead Man.

Culture

11 h. ago Straighteners beauty editors 'rave about' reduced from £120 to £30

The straighteners are 75% off in Amazon's Prime Big Deal sale

Economics

12 h. ago Ben Affleck's sweet comment about Jennifer Garner amid Bennifer reunion rumours

Just days after flirting with ex wife Jennifer Lopez on a red carpet, Ben Affleck made rare comments about his other ex wife, Jennifer Garner

Politics

12 h. ago Netflix getting ready to bid for Champions League games in massive £4.3bn development

UEFA and European clubs are set to rake in £4.3billion a season in the forthcoming television rights sale, with the Premier League's biggest sides set for a share of that pot

Sport

12 h. ago Loop earplugs ‘transformed my sleep’ and they’re now cheaper than ever thanks to Prime Day

Here’s how to get your hands on the rare 25 per cent discount

Politics

12 h. ago Senate again fails to pass stopgap funding bill as government shutdown drags into eighth day – live

Senate fails for sixth time to pass a funding bill in 54-45 vote – three Democrats sided with Republicans in attempt to reach 60-vote thresholdUS airport staffing shortages set to cause more delays amid shutdownDemocrat bill aims to help federal workers cover childcare costsA series of “violent” texts sent by a Democrat seeking to become Virginia’s attorney general has shaken up the state’s governor’s race, with Republican candidate Winsome Earle-Sears seizing on the controversy to try to reverse her opponent’s double-digit polling lead.Earle-Sears has released new campaign advertisements condemning Democratic former congresswoman Abigail Spanberger, her opponenent in the governor’s race, for continuing to support Jay Jones, whose private texts three years ago speculated about a senior state Republican getting “two bullets to the head” and “breeding little fascists”. Continue reading...

Economics