5 h. ago Vera Lynn’s audition records to be released 90 years after they were recorded

What A Difference A Day Makes will be released as a single on Friday to mark the 80th anniversary of VJ Day.

Politics

19 h. ago The enormity of the attacks on Ukraine is impossible to grasp. Let me show you the horror of a single day | Oleksandr Mykhed

The rumble, the explosions and the deaths: they are so frequent that they seem normal. It’s a fight to protect our homes, our cities and the psycheDay 1,254 of the invasion; 31 July 2025, Kyiv, 4.30am. The air-raid alarm started again just a moment ago. I wake up from the roar and rumble of rockets. It’s a sound that makes you want to flee in primeval terror.Time slows down. I roll over on the bed, embrace my girlfriend Dasha, make another half-turn and we drop down softly to the floor. I am not thinking or reflecting, I’m guided by instinct – move away from the windows, position our silhouettes as low as possible. I cover Dasha with my body. All she has time to ask for is: “The doggie? Where’s the dog?” From under the bed, we can hear the rustling of our old chihuahua’s paws.Oleksandr Mykhed is the author of The Language of War and a member of PEN Ukraine. Translated by Maryna Gibson Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago After a torrid 100 days, Germany’s Friedrich Merz is mocked as a ‘dead man walking’. He must fight back | John Kampfner

With the AfD surging, it could soon be the largest party here. But, if he acts now, that dark scenario need not come to passJohn Kampfner is the author of In Search of Berlin and Why the Germans Do It BetterThe passing of the 100-day milestone for any world leader usually denotes the end of their honeymoon period. Friedrich Merz has not been able to enjoy even a single day of grace, beginning with the very moment he was supposed to be elected Germany’s chancellor but wasn’t. On 6 May, as Angela Merkel watched from the visitors’ balcony, the Bundestag voted and declined to approve its new leader. For a few hours, chaos ensued, until the second round of voting saw his chancellorship approved, so the swearing in could proceed.It was a symbolic act of defiance, and because it was a secret ballot, it wasn’t clear how many of the 18 dissenters came from Merz’s Christian Democrats (CDU) or from their new coalition partners, the Social Democrats (SPD). But it cast a shadow over the new admi...

Events

4 d. ago Perfume expert recommends top vanilla scents to buy as autumn approaches

I'm a perfume expert who wears vanilla scents almost every single day, here are the best ones I've found

Science

5 d. ago People just realising all football stadium road signs contain glaring mistake

Many of us drive past road signs pointing us in the direction of a local football stadium every single day, but did you know that all of them have something wrong with them?

Sport

3 w. ago Disneyland at 70: artists on the park’s five best rides – and why they still captivate

The California theme park is busier than ever. We asked artists, designers and historians to weigh in on the attractions that stand the test of timeA visit to Disneyland can be an exhausting experience. The line for a ride can be hours long; there are hordes of overstimulated children and the sheer quantity of gift shops is overwhelming. When the park first opened, on 17 July 1955, an adult ticket cost $1 and kids were 50 cents: now a single day’s entry for one person can easily run $200 or more.Despite all the kitsch and cartoon capitalism, though, Disneyland still delivers moments of actual magic, and that’s largely due to the inventiveness of its theme park rides. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Daniel Lapin, Ukraine’s next big boxing hope, on Usyk bonds after Russia ‘broke’ early career

Light-heavyweight is a trusted member of Oleksandr Usyk’s camp and hopes to star on Saturday’s Wembley undercardDaniel Lapin pulls up a video on his phone and, having chatted away for 40 minutes, lets the images do the talking. Or, more accurately, the sounds. It is a scene he captured in the early hours of a Kyiv morning during the spring and what stands out above everything is the awful, incessant, gathering buzz of the Russian-controlled drones that plague Ukraine’s capital almost every night. Sleep is rendered impossible for residents during those attacks, partly due to the sheer noise and in huge degree to the fear that you, or your loved ones, will be struck next. “After a night like that you don’t want to train,” he says. “It can go on five nights in a row. You don’t want anything, you’re just walking around like a zombie.”On Saturday, though, Lapin will be fully alert to the task at hand. The light-heavyweight is Ukraine’s next boxing hope, his promise and pedigree immense, ...

Politics

3 w. ago Inside Queen Elizabeth's private dress fittings: Clear decisions, thoughtful details and a few furry companions

In her book Dressing The Queen, Angela Kelly offers an intimate look into Queen Elizabeth's meticulous fitting process, which could last up to half a day for a single session.

Politics