3 d. ago Monaka wears her cyclops mask to work: Niccolò Rastrelli’s best photograph

‘Japan is the mecca of cosplay. Monaka runs a cafe in Tokyo called Monster Party, where people go dressed as characters from a subculture known as tanganmen. Her brother is holding a picture of their mum’My personal projects have often focused on the topic of identity, so the world of cosplay immediately appealed to me. I knew nothing about it until I saw some photographs on Instagram and became interested in these people who spend their free time turning themselves into characters from manga, anime, movies and video games – or even into creations they’ve come up with by themselves.Italy’s biggest annual cosplay event is held in the region where I live, Tuscany. I started going and taking pictures, just on my phone at first, and that’s where I first approached cosplayers to ask if they’d like to help me with a project I had in mind. In the 1970s, John Olson took some portraits for Life magazine of musicians such as Frank Zappa and Elton John at home with their parents. They contrast...

Culture

5 d. ago The surprising destinations that are topping this year's wish list for Google travel trends

Our suitcases are getting bigger and our bucket list destinations more tropical

Politics

5 d. ago Six in 10 people will spend on ‘bucket list’ dream activities in 2025 – survey

Nearly half of people are planning to spend more on experiences this year and some will cut back on other spending to do so, according to Mastercard.

Politics

6 d. ago Cornwall, Wales and Cambridge among top UK bucket list experiences for spring

Staycation experiences was ranked following a study of 2,000 UK adults

Politics

8 d. ago Alan Titchmarsh says there's one thing left on bucket list as he launches new project

At the age of 75 Alan Titchmarsh is about to launch a brand new venture. The former Ground Force star has been gardening since he was a teenager, quitting school at 15 for a job as an apprentice with Ilkley Council

Politics

8 d. ago Every major UK airline rated for boarding with two ranked as the best

A 2025 customer survey of over 9,000 flights has revealed the best - and worst- UK airlines based on boarding experience. Find out how BA, Ryanair and other popular carriers ranked out of five stars.

Politics

9 d. ago Escort agency which sells women's virginity reveals record amount and why celebs love it

EXCLUSIVE: For most people, paying for sex is out of the ordinary, let alone spending millions, so what is it that makes the ultra-rich happy to part with such big sums to spend time with people they don’t even know?

Politics

1 week ago Metro should bring investment and prospects into the Valleys, says council leader

RCT leader Councillor Andrew Morgan said he didn't want to see it just take people and spend out of the Valleys

Politics

1 week ago Confidence plummeting among UK food and drink manufacturers, survey shows

Food and Drink Federation says business confidence fell to -47% amid inflation, energy and labour pressuresConfidence is tumbling among Britain’s food and drink manufacturers, as inflationary pressures including energy, labour and raw material costs gain pace, according to a survey by the industry body.Business confidence plummeted to -47% in the final three months of last year, according to the Food and Drink Federation (FDF), down from -6% in the previous quarter, as companies in the sector were hit by measures announced in the October budget. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Tourists reveal the best, worst, and most surprising European destinations they've visited

Here are some cities to add to your Europe bucket list - and some to leave off - according to Reddit travellers. Do YOU agree with them?

Politics

1 week ago We ditched our jobs to travel the world without paying a penny for hotels

Silvi Drebenstedt and Lucas Roth managed to visit bucket list destinations without breaking the bank. The couple have been able to save thousands by avoiding pricey hotels.

Society

1 week ago DWP confirms start date for Eligibility Verification and ‘monitoring’ bank accounts to tackle benefit fraud

The Eligibility Verification Measure will not give DWP direct access to bank accounts or enable investigators to see how people on benefits spend their money.

Economics

1 week ago Cape Verde: The hidden gem that is about to be on everyone's bucket list

A new flight route is about to make it easier than ever to reach these remarkable islands. Sarfraz Manzoor finds out why Cape Verde is the new must-visit destination

Politics

2 w. ago George Foreman's bizarre Scotland bucket list dream as boxing legend dies aged 76

George Foreman, one of the greatest heavyweight boxers ever, shared his love for Scotland years before his death

Events

2 w. ago Underrated European town is so magical it's named as a bucket list destination

Everyone loves a holiday and learning about other cultures. Considering the many different countries to explore, it's always a hard decision to choose where to go.

Politics

2 w. ago Call it a defence levy or even a patriot tax – but Labour is going to have to raise taxes, fast | Gaby Hinsliff

The world has shifted and defence spending has to rise. But time is running out for the government to make a case for itFive years ago this weekend, life as we knew it was suspended overnight. Though with hindsight it seems amazing that it took Britain so long to lock down in the face of a gathering pandemic, at the time the pace of events felt dizzyingly fast.It took a still-young government time to realise its manifesto was toast; that it would be forced into decisions either it or the public hated, which would nonetheless beat the alternative. The new chancellor, Rishi Sunak, was visibly reluctant to rip up a budget whose ink was barely dry and instead spend billions paying people not to go to work. Yet ironically, it is furlough for which history may remember him most kindly.Gaby Hinsliff is a Guardian columnist Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Hidden Cornwall beach dubbed 'best in UK' is now on everyone's bucket list

The UK's best beach has been revealed after a video of the picturesque spot went viral, with sun-seekers dreaming of visiting the location - and it's closer than you might think

Politics

2 w. ago Industrial evolution: a designer breathes new life into an old London warehouse

A Grade II-listed former storehouse on the edge of the Thames has become a modern home, but its historic character remains at the heart of its redesignIn the late 18th century, London was one of the busiest ports in the world, the docks in the east bustling with clippers, sailors and porters unloading tea, tobacco, rice, fruit, sugar and wine. It meant that industrial warehouses were thrown up along the banks of the Thames for much-needed storage. Almost two centuries later, only a handful of those Victorian storehouses survive, but those that do have been regenerated, inspired by the renovation of New York’s loft apartments in the 1980s.For South African interior designer Veronique Hopkinson, a historical home – specifically, a warehouse in London – was always on the bucket list. Her riverside apartment in a Grade II-listed warehouse is in Wapping with a balcony that overlooks the Thames. The busy city river traffic includes raucous party cruisers, dredgers and navy patrol boats. W...

Events

3 w. ago I'm a solo traveller and these are the best countries to visit when you're alone and the two that you should avoid

Solo female traveller Aleaya Duran (@aleayabella) has plenty of ideas for your bucket list if you also like travelling by yourself. Find out where she recommends...

Politics

3 w. ago Do women really need more sleep than men? Sleep myths debunked

Most people spend a third of their lives sleeping, but you may need more or less than eight hours a night

Politics