3 h. ago Reluctant trailblazer Khawaja confronts racial stereotypes before Sydney farewell | Taha Hashim

The first Muslim to play for Australia has been an inspiration for many in the way he has broken down barriers during his careerMore than half an hour into the press conference, with his retirement from Test cricket confirmed, Usman Khawaja was asked about the role of opening the batting and its relevance in the modern game. He answered with ease, detailing the specific mental challenges of facing the new ball. Minutes later, he was asked how Australia can unite after last month’s terrorist attack at Bondi Beach. Again, there was little hesitation before the lengthy reply. He cited the teachings of the prophet Muhammad, politicians who “try to divide and conquer” and closed with his reflections on the tragedy itself. This was no ordinary sporting farewell.Those who have tracked the path of Khawaja’s career closely will not have been surprised by the openness in the 50-minute press conference on Friday and the lines to have come from it. Reflecting on his proud journey as a Muslim bo...

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4 h. ago Ashes Fifth Test Australia v England: Prediction, Betting Tips & Odds

Following England’s first away Ashes win in almost 15 years, the series concludes with the Fifth Test in Sydney

Politics

5 h. ago From Donald Trump to Benjamin Netanyahu, let 2026 be a year of reckoning | Jonathan Freedland

These malign figures will do anything to avoid paying for the harm they have done, but accountability must eventually come to bothIt’s not quite a new year resolution, and it’s certainly not a prediction. Think of it instead as a hope or even a plea for the next 12 months. May the coming year see those leaders who have done so much damage to their own countries, and far beyond, at last be called to account. Let 2026 be a year of reckoning.Start with the man whose reach is longest, by dint of the mighty power he wields. Such is the nature of the US electoral system that Donald Trump, who returned to power less than a year ago, will face the judgment of voters in 10 months’ time. His name will not be on the ballot but, make no mistake, the midterm elections of 3 November will deliver a verdict on the second Trump presidency.Jonathan Freedland is a Guardian columnistGuardian newsroom: Year One of Trumpism: Is Britain Emulating the US? On Wednesday 21 January 2026, join Jonathan Freedla...

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6 h. ago Sydney’s tradition of goodbyes coincides with Bazball reckoning

England have a final chance to salvage something from tour but must accept Ashes defeat was self-inflicted and changes, however limited, must be madeAs well as being a bucket list venue for players and supporters, the Sydney Cricket Ground has a reputation in England as the ground of the one-cap wonders. This is based on Mason Crane, Scott Borthwick and Boyd Rankin getting a go at the end of recent Ashes tours, rather than anything more historically substantial.If anything, as the traditional scene for the final Test of the Australian summer, the SCG is more like the Oval – the ground where careers often come to an end. And on Friday, surrounded by his family and with a fair bit to get off his chest, Usman Khawaja confirmed the final instalment of this Ashes series, starting on Sunday, will be his international farewell. Continue reading...

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7 h. ago GMB’s Ranvir Singh switches traditional officewear for 'gorgeous' blue velvet co

Good Morning Britain's Ranvir Singh stepping up the traditional occasionwear look with a blue velvet suit you can still shop in all sizes - plus it's on sale

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8 h. ago Warning traditional fish and chip shops across UK could vanish in five years

Andrew Crook says traditional fish and chip shops are struggling to keep up their footfall

Events

8 h. ago Elton John breaks tradition and shows growing sons' faces for first time

Music legend Elton John has made a break with tradition by sharing the faces of the sons he calls his 'greatest achievement' with husband David Furnish in a New Year's Eve post

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8 h. ago Holly Ramsay reveals royal inspiration behind her wedding dress

‘I knew I wanted to wear something very traditional and quite modest, with lace,’ says the model

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8 h. ago Defiant Ben Stokes makes case for England to extend ‘Bazball’ double act with Brendon McCullum

The futures of Stokes and McCullum have been under the microscope after England’s Ashes disappointment

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10 h. ago Chelsea's squad split on Enzo Maresca axeing: Eight stars send emotional goodbyes but Cole Palmer leads FIFTEEN staying silent as they return to work without their manager

Chelsea players reported to their Cobham training base on Friday, with the squad having to put Maresca's exit behind them quickly to prepare to face Man City this weekend.

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10 h. ago Moment CNN anchors say Meghan's jam is 'something to say goodbye to' in the New Year on US television

Viewers were split over whether the mention of Meghan's jam by Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen on their 'New Year's Eve Live' show in Times Square was high-praise or a huge burn.

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10 h. ago ‘Social listening’: Unilever seeks to capitalise on Vaseline’s TikTok moment

Multinational boosts online chatter after social media users showcase product’s widespread use in life hacksAs a product discovered more than 150 years ago on a Pennsylvania oilfield, the humble pot of Vaseline may not seem like an obvious target for social media algorithms.Yet the brand’s emergence as a TikTok talking point has placed it at the forefront of an advertising revolution, in which large companies are spending big on content creators and putting fewer resources into promoting products in traditional media. Continue reading...

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11 h. ago Sydney Sweeney's box office flop streak officially ends as her new film The Housemaid pulls in millions during its first three days

The actress, 28, stars in thriller The Housemaid alongside Amanda Seyfried, Brandon Sklenar, Elizabeth Perkins, Michele Morrone and Indiana Elle.

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12 h. ago Brits divided over when Christmas decorations should be taken down

Some superstitions say leaving decorations up past the 12th night following Christmas will bring you bad luck in the coming year. Medieval tradition was to leave them up all the way until February 2.

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12 h. ago England set to hand out Ashes debut with Shoaib Bashir also in contention for fifth Test squad

Potts and Bashir have both been named in a 12-man squad for Sunday’s fifth Test at Sydney, with Brendon McCullum and Ben Stokes set to make a late call

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13 h. ago Iain Ballamy: Riversphere Vol 1 review | John Fordham's jazz album of the month

(Babel Label)The 80s sax star leads an A-list quartet, plus a shared trumpet role for Laura Jurd and Ballamy’s son CharlieOpening 2026’s jazz reviews with a story from the mid-1980s might be risking audience restiveness, but that was the decade in which a far-sighted young saxophonist on the UK jazz scene called Iain Ballamy first appeared on this writer’s radar. The cross-generational lineup and captivating ideas of Riversphere, his first solo release in years, testify to exactly why he has stayed there for 40 years.In their 20s, Ballamy and pianist/composer Django Bates frequently joined forces as two mavericks, skilfully respectful of the classic jazz tradition while adventurously and often mischievously transforming it. They were key figures in a gifted UK generation that created some of the sparkiest European jazz of the 1980s and 90s, most influentially in the revolutionary orchestra Loose Tubes, which brought together genres from old-school swing to vaudeville, improv and ava...

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14 h. ago Matthew Potts set for Ashes opportunity and England mull Shoaib Bashir option

Potts and Bashir have both been named in a 12-man squad for Sunday’s fifth Test at Sydney.

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14 h. ago Usman Khawaja details ‘racial stereotypes’ in Australian cricket ahead of final Test

The fifth Ashes Test in Khawaja’s hometown of Sydney will be the final act of a 15-year career in the Baggy Green

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14 h. ago Who is pregnant women in Max Branning's bed in EastEnders? Fans 'work out' twist

BBC viewers reckon they've worked out who the mystery woman is in the 2027 flashforward episode of EastEnders featuring Max Branning

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15 h. ago England seamer Matthew Potts likely to make Ashes debut in Sydney

Potts and spinner Shoaib Bashir have both been named in a 12-man squad for Sunday’s fifth Test at Sydney.

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