4 d. ago Australian Open title favourite stuns in skimpy bikini with newly single rival

Aryna Sabalenka is chasing yet another major title at the Australian Open as she gets back to business after wowing fans with her holiday snaps during the off season

Politics

7 d. ago ‘The locals don’t really benefit’: the dark side of Detty December party season

What began as a welcoming home for many in the global Black diaspora is threatening to cause frictions that no amount of fun can resolve• Don’t get The Long Wave delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereHello and welcome to The Long Wave. It is now unmistakably post-holiday season, and in some parts of Africa, the last of the “Detty December” revellers are packing their bags. The few weeks of heavy partying that attract Black diaspora travellers from all over the world have been a fixture on the calendars of cities such as Lagos and Accra for almost a decade. But this year, it feels as if the darker sides of the festivities are encroaching on the year-end celebrations. Have we reached peak “Detty December”?A party scene has taken off on the African coastlines. In less than a decade, an annual gathering, increasingly attracting members of the Black diaspora, grew large enough to gain its own name. “Detty December” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the untrammelled fun, indulgence and eve...

Politics

9 d. ago This year, I’m sticking with achievable New Year’s resolutions. Here are a few | Dave Schilling

This could be your year to worry less about your waistline and spend more time at the moviesWe are now more than a week into 2026, and it might shock you to know I’m feeling quite cheery. All the professional emails I’ve waited a month to send are out. The grout in my shower is scum-free. The music at the pharmacy is normal again. If you’re like me, and you find the holiday season a grim and lonely time that involves too much booze, too much food, too much Mariah Carey and not enough routine, the start of the new year is more than welcome.The one thing that dampens my cheer at being dragged back to my desk for the comfort of drudgery – besides the endless and brutal news headlines – is the New Year’s resolution. The tradition of picking a few things to promise yourself to do (or not do) in the spirit of wellness is centuries old, dating back as far as 2000BC. Not sure what the Babylonians were resolving to do. Tidy up the storage closet in the ziggurat? Finally finish that tower the...

Politics

9 d. ago Macaulay Culkin jokes it's 'weird' to see him 'outside the holiday season' in Golden Globes 2026 comeback with fiancée Brenda Song

Culkin, 45, who played Kevin McCallister in the 1990 mega-hitand its 1992 sequel Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, marked his first appearance at the event in 35 years.

Politics

1 week ago Booked a holiday in 2026? These 10 tummy control swimsuits will flatter everyone

Fashion editor Rachel Pugh says she struggled to find swimwear for a holiday out of summer season - but found one retailer with options that 'tick every box'

Politics

1 week ago Home Alone icon Daniel Stern, 68, cited for allegedly soliciting a prostitute

The actor, 68, was soliciting prostitution during the holiday season on December 10 in Camarillo, California, according to TMZ.

Politics

1 week ago Americans are sitting on $23 billion in gift cards—don’t let yours go to waste

U.S. shoppers were projected to spend around $29 billion on gift cards during the 2025 holiday season

Economics

1 week ago Check your pockets: Americans are sitting on $23 billion in unused gift cards

U.S. shoppers were projected to spend around $29 billion on gift cards during the 2025 holiday season

Economics

2 w. ago Flu season surged in the US over the holiday and already rivals last winter's harsh epidemic

U.S. flu infections are still surging, and health officials are calling it a severe season that is likely to get worse

Politics

2 w. ago 'I stayed at a caravan park in winter and it exceeded all my expectations'

Our writer Ben Whisson visited Haven's Devon Cliffs Holiday Park in November and discovered that off-season breaks offer brilliant family fun

Politics

2 w. ago I'm divorcing my husband of 15 years after the final straw this Christmas. You'll never guess what happened when he was with his mistress on New Year's Eve...

This was my last holiday season as a married woman - our final big, fake festive season in a big, beautiful house. Now, I feel as if only the building still stands.

Politics

3 w. ago Man critically injured after shooting just blocks away from Rockefeller Center during Christmas rush: police

The shooting occurred during the busy holiday season near several iconic landmarks in the city

Events

3 w. ago I stayed a weekend in Tenby out of season, here’s why I’ll never holiday there in summer again

Wales' craggy coastline is among the most beautiful in the world and can be enjoyed year-round

Politics

3 w. ago Hollywood bombshell who once romanced Al Pacino steps out looking unrecognizable in LA

The 61-year-old movie star - who rose to fame in the early 90s - kept a low profile for a solo excursion in Beverly Hills during the holiday season.

Events

3 w. ago Powerful winter storm to batter much of US with snow, rain and strong winds

Snowy holiday season in the upper midwest and north-east comes as a cold front is expected to hit the southA powerful winter storm was sweeping east from the Plains on Sunday, driven by what meteorologists describe as an intense cyclone that is expected to impact much of the US with a mixture of snow, ice, rain and strong winds.“Part of the storm system is getting heavy snow, other parts of the storm along the cold front are getting higher winds and much colder temperatures as the front passes,” said Bob Oravec, a lead forecaster at the National Weather Service (NWS) office in College Park, Maryland. “They’re all related to each other – different parts of the country will be receiving different effects from this storm.” Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago From childhood staple to luxury food: how Nigeria’s jollof became too expensive to eat

High inflation and a cost of living crisis mean that the familiar favourite has become a rare Detty December treat for many in the countryIn Lagos, the holiday season is well under way. For weeks, the roads have been jammed with traffic, concerts headlined by Afrobeats superstars are drawing crowds, and choice spots are filled with residents, returnees and tourists looking to indulge in the month-long enjoyment of Detty December.But the spotlight is on the contents of kitchen pots as much as it is on those shuffling to the trendy Oblee dance steps in clubs and street parties. Continue reading...

Society

3 w. ago ‘I actually screamed’: Inside the glorious Amandaland Christmas special

Irish actor Philippa Dunne, who plays Amanda’s best friend Anne, reveals the secrets behind the festive episode, what it was like acting with the two iconic ‘Ab Fab’ actors Joanna Lumley and Jennifer Saunders, and why the holiday season can be a flop for mothers everywhere

Politics

4 w. ago Tanger Outlet CEO calls shoppers ‘resilient’ as new report shows spending rose 4.2% this holiday season

‘I feel like the customer is very resilient. They’re looking to spend,’ Stephen Yalof said

Economics

4 w. ago Passenger asked same question 3 times on 1 flight says rude habit must stop

A woman has issued a stark message to anyone travelling by plane this holiday season - as she reminds them to 'be generous' following her recent experience on a flight

Politics

4 w. ago Ana De Armas isn't letting her workout routine slip over Christmas as the newly single actress shows off her abs at the gym following Tom Cruise split

Ana De Armas isn't letting her workout routine slip over the holiday season as she showed off her abs in a gym mirror selfie on Tuesday.

Culture