14 h. ago How do I know my life has gone wrong? Because I spend all my time at the tip | Zoe Williams

I am there so often that the man who runs the recyclables aisle knows my name – and he is seriously unimpressed with my offeringsYou know a lot of things have gone wrong for you when the guy at the municipal dump knows your name. It basically means you’re bereaved or getting divorced – because if you’re just a regular, organised person who goes to the dump a lot, you’re in and out of there like a ghost.So anyway, I wouldn’t call it a friendship, between me and the guy in the recyclable items aisle; it’s more of a Tom and Jerry thing. I try to leave stuff where it might find a new home, and he tries to get me to put it in landfill. I say, “But sir, it’s a brand new commode, there are people who’d bite your hand off for one of these,” and he says, “Give it back to the NHS,” and I say, “Do you think I haven’t tried that?”. And he shakes his head, and I put it in landfill, but then wait until his back is turned and run back with three Zimmer frames. Continue reading...

Politics

20 h. ago France has a massive debt crisis. So why is it spending billions a year subsidising business? | Alexander Hurst

The government is on the brink of collapse over planned austerity. Instead it must face up to the costs of its unnecessarily rigid labour marketAs someone who has always been against austerity, I find France, with a national debt at 114% of GDP and a budget deficit of 5.8% of GDP, a conundrum. Despite years of denunciation from his left and far-right opponents that Macron has engaged in “ultraneoliberalism”, there hasn’t been any. Not on a macro level, anyway, where both French government spending (57.3% of GDP) and tax receipts (51.4% of GDP) are among the highest in the world, including social spending, which outpaces any of its European neighbours.At the same time, it’s impossible to have spent the past decade in France without encountering the widely shared perception and accusation that public services are in decline. Doctors and nurses denounce a labour shortage in public hospitals; people who live in rural areas denounce the closing of rural train lines; students and academic...

Economics

34 h. ago Mum whose daughter, 3, died of chickenpox hits out at NHS vaccine rollout

Angie Bunce-Mason, from Devon, campaigned for the chickenpox vaccine to be added on the NHS after her child died. 'We were a happy little family and enjoyed dog walks, picnics and spending time together'

Events

37 h. ago Erik ten Hag’s sacking is a brutal end to historic failure at Bayer Leverkusen

Captain Robert Andrich bemoaned his team’s ‘misery’ while those upstairs did little to back Xabi Alonso’s successor“You say it best, when you say nothing at all,” was how Ronan Keating put it in a 1999 cover version. Whether Erik ten Hag will choose to get over his latest breakup with a tub of ice-cream in front of a rewatch of Notting Hill is open to conjecture but if he did, lyrics dotted through the film are sure to have an added poignancy.Ten Hag didn’t need telling that in only his second Bundesliga game in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, they and he had had a bad afternoon. Going to a diminished and depleted Werder Bremen (it is probably too early to say lowly, even though we strongly suspect that is the part of the table where they may end up spending most of their time), Die Werkself appeared to be on top of things, holding a 3-1 lead and a man advantage. Continue reading...

Events

37 h. ago Erik ten Hag’s sacking is a brutal end to historic failure at Bayer Leverkusen | Andy Brassell

Captain Robert Andrich bemoaned his team’s ‘misery’ while those upstairs did little to back Xabi Alonso’s successor“You say it best, when you say nothing at all,” was how Ronan Keating put it in a 1999 cover version. Whether Erik ten Hag will choose to get over his latest breakup with a tub of ice-cream in front of a rewatch of Notting Hill is open to conjecture but if he did, lyrics dotted through the film are sure to have an added poignancy.Ten Hag didn’t need telling that in only his second Bundesliga game in charge of Bayer Leverkusen, they and he had a bad afternoon. Going to a diminished and depleted Werder Bremen (it is probably too early to say lowly, even though we strongly suspect that is the part of the table where they may end up spending most of their time), Die Werkself appeared to be on top of things, holding a 3-1 lead and a man advantage. Continue reading...

Events

37 h. ago 'Cowboy hat' dad drugs his newborn baby with Benadryl to 'spend alone time' with his wife

Adam Canales Jr, 33, was found to have unintentionally killed his baby daughter after giving his child several medications, including Benadryl, to help make her "drowsy"

Events

58 h. ago Readers' Letters: As Scotland cries out for government, SNP wants to talk Gaza at Holyrood

MSPs have no business spending parliamentary time on Gaza, says reader

Politics

64 h. ago We banned screens during our family trip away and the change was staggering

If your summer holiday saw screen time soar, you’re not alone. New research shows kids spend up to 67 per cent of their time on them while off school. Mum-of-two Hannah Britt reveals how cutting back made her feel like a better parent - and you can do it too

Events

68 h. ago Expert's 20p hack means your child won't need new school shoes this September

A footwear expert has revealed a quick, easy and ultra-cheap hack could save you spending a small fortune on new school shoes, just in time for the back-to-school rush

Politics

3 d. ago 'Trumpet Crumpet' Alison Balsom will retire after final gig at last Night of the Proms to spend more time with Skyfall director husband Sam Mendes and rest of her family

The musician, who is married to Skyfall director Sam Mendes, confirmed this would be her 'last night on stage'.

Politics

4 d. ago Zoe Ball questions decision to quit BBC Radio 2 to spend time with daughter who’s ‘never here’

Zoe Ball said she quit her BBC Radio 2 show to be there for her daughter while she sat her GCSEs, but she is "never here."

Politics

4 d. ago Zoe Ball fumes ‘why did I quit?’ after leaving £950K Radio 2 job for daughter

Former BBC Radio 2 Breakfast Show presenter Zoe Ball has admitted she's second-guessing her decision to leave the show to spend more time with her family

Economics

4 d. ago Zoe Ball questions her decision to quit £950K Radio 2 Breakfast Show to spend time with daughter Nelly, 15, when the teen is never at home: 'What did I give it up for?'

The broadcaster 54, who shares Nelly, 15, and Woody, 24, with ex-husband Norman Cook, stepped down from the programme in December after six years to 'focus on family'.

Economics

5 d. ago The Scottish beach that is 'often completely deserted' perfect for end of summer walk

It has been called an ideal place "to spend some quiet time".

Politics

7 d. ago AI will replace human friends and family within the next 10 years, expert claims

An AI expert says that people are 'falling in love' with AI and are spending more time talking to the chat bot than they do with their friends and family, replacing human connection by 2035

Science

7 d. ago Meghan Markle says being forced to spend time in UK after Queen's death 'made her ill'

Meghan Markle said she was devastated when she had to spend the best part of a month in Britain when Queen Elizabeth died - and she wasn't best pleased

Politics

8 d. ago Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles Spotted Kissing in London: They've Been 'Spending Time' Together (Exclusive Source)

Zoë Kravitz and Harry Styles Spotted Kissing in London: They've Been 'Spending Time' Together (Exclusive Source)  People.com

Politics

8 d. ago Bayrou risks French premiership in confidence vote next month

Far-right opposition vows to topple premier for second time in a year over unpopular efforts to curb public spending

Politics

8 d. ago Blue haired North West, 12, gives petite mother Kim Kardashian a run for her money in the fashion stakes as they spend quality time together in Rome

The eldest child of the Skims founder and ex Kanye West , 12, debuted eye catching blue hair which was worn in bunches while leaving Pierluigi Restaurant.

Economics

8 d. ago Tommy Fury warned not to visit daughter Bambi during heated family exchange

Tommy Fury, who met his partner Molly-Mae Hague on Love Island back in 2019, was issued a stern warning about spending time with his young daughter Bambi

Events