2 h. ago The sudden rise of scabies: ‘I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy’

These microscopic mites, which burrow under your skin and cause ferocious itching, are incredibly hard to get rid of – and cases in the UK have soared. What is causing the outbreak, and is there anything we can do about it?Louise (not her real name) is listing the contents of a bin liner she has packed with fresh essentials in case of emergency. Clothes, toothbrushes, hairbrushes, a teddy “Although it should be two teddies,” she re-evaluates, quickly. I can hear her trying to quell her panic.A diehard survivalist preparing for catastrophe? Actually, a beleaguered 44-year-old mother recovering from scabies – an itchy rash caused by microscopic mites that burrow under human skin. Far-fetched as it sounds, emergency evacuation is exactly what she, her partner and children (six and four) resorted to in November in a desperate bid to beat the bugs. She is now on tenterhooks in case they return. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Dog dumped by Rochdale canal in 'worst' state now completely transformed

Perla was in an 'appalling' state when she was rescued as a puppy a year ago

Politics

4 h. ago Rampaging elephant which killed 22 remains at large as locals sleep on roof in fear

Villagers in Jharkhand over 700 miles from Delhi are taking to flat roofs or treetops to avoid the beast as it continues on one of the worst killing sprees by an elephant the district has seen

Events

4 h. ago How can we defend ourselves from the new plague of ‘human fracking’?

Big tech treats our attention like a resource to be mercilessly extracted. The fightback begins hereIn the last 15 years, a linked series of unprecedented technologies have changed the experience of personhood across most of the world. It is estimated that nearly 70% of the human population of the Earth currently possesses a smartphone, and these devices constitute about 95% of internet access-points on the planet. Globally, on average, people seem to spend close to half their waking hours looking at screens, and among young people in the rich world the number is a good deal higher than that.History teaches that new technologies always make possible new forms of exploitation, and this basic fact has been spectacularly exemplified by the rise of society-scale digital platforms. It has been driven by a remarkable new way of extracting money from human beings: call it “human fracking”. Just as petroleum frackers pump high-pressure, high-volume detergents into the ground to force a litt...

Politics

5 h. ago Blue Posts boss: If opening a pub becomes so risky, in the end people just won't do it

Pubs are community assets, says Layo Paskin, and they’re under threat

Events

8 h. ago Trump slams Supreme Leader as 'sick man' and Iran 'worst place to live'

US President Donald Trump has hit back at Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who blamed him for causing the anti-government protests where more than 3,000 people may have died

Politics

11 h. ago Hundreds of Scots parents have applications for additional support needs schools rejected

Hundreds of pupils were enrolled in mainstream education after being rejected from local authority specialist facilities last year - despite a national rise in the number of pupils with Additional Support Needs including ADHD and autism.

Politics

15 h. ago Woman killed by falling tree branch in NSW storms as landslide and flood warnings issued for Sydney

Residents near Narrabeen Lagoon told to leave on Saturday night, after death of woman near WollongongFollow our Australia news live blog for latest updatesGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastSummer storms on Australia’s east coast have claimed one life and threatened dozens more as flood waters rise.Residents and holidaymakers have been told they can return back after being evacuated Narrabeen Lagoon in Sydney’s northern beaches overnight on Saturday, while a landslide damaged three homes and injured at least one woman 20km north, at Great Mackerel beach. Continue reading...

Events

15 h. ago Fashion experts reveal the WORST trends to wear on a first date, from tube tops to sloppy sweats

Picking out the perfect first date outfit can be stressful...and while it can be tempting to embrace the latest trends, they can also be uncomfortable and sometimes off-putting. 

Politics

23 h. ago Trump to hit Europe with 10% tariffs until Greenland deal is agreed

US president said levies against eight nations would rise to 25% unless they support his acquisition of the island

Economics

23 h. ago Trump threatens UK with 10% tariff 'on all goods' until Greenland handed over

US President Donald Trump has threatened the UK and several European countries with a 10% tariff, which could rise to 25% in months, if Greenland is not made available to buy

Politics

28 h. ago Three ways you can get a refund on your BBC TV licence fee as prices set to rise to £200

HUNDREDS of thousands of Brits could qualify for a free TV licence, as the cost is set to rocket towards £200 a year. Households are being urged to check whether they are due a TV licence refund before April, when the fee typically goes up. The television licence currently costs £174.50, but the fee is likely to...

Economics

29 h. ago Dubai Invitational golfer recorded one of worst ever scores as huge questions hang over event

The DP World Tour's Dubai Invitational returns in 2026 with Tommy Fleetwood defending his title against Rory McIlroy

Sport

30 h. ago Rachel Reeves accused of slapping ‘wedding tax’ on brides as prices to rise by 24%

BLUSHING brides are facing a nightmare walk down the aisle as Rachel Reeves is accused of slapping a "wedding tax" on couples that will see prices soar. The Chancellor’s latest fiscal squeeze is set to send the cost of tying the knot skyrocketing, forcing heartbroken couples to slash guest lists or flee abroad to say...

Economics

30 h. ago Hamilton Accies boss looks for positives in senior player exodus

Darian MacKinnon hopes youngsters will rise to the challenge as the new ownership offload players to try and balance the books at the crisis-hit club

Sport

30 h. ago ‘There is a moment of clarity that life would be better without alcohol’: what we can learn from addiction memoirs

After losing her father to alcohol addiction, author Sophie Calon turned to writing – and found clarity, connection and hope in other stories of relapse and recoveryOn the night of Boxing Day 2021, my dad’s body was found near a Cardiff hostel. His death, at 55, was as sudden as it was not. For years, alcoholism had been changing the shape of his heart.He died less than a mile from his old office; top law firm, equity partner. Four miles from our once tight-knit home in a leafy neighbourhood. He had lost both his family and his job in 2019. Raised in Barry, working class, he had been proud of the beautiful life he had built for us. Others thought he “had it all”. He was widely adored, but drinking made him volatile. He was homeless and often behind bars in his final two years. Continue reading...

Politics

31 h. ago Teyana Taylor's remarkable rise from reality TV as she's tipped for Oscar glory despite just 20 minutes of screen time in One Battle After Another

It has been proven that having only 20 minutes of screen time in a movie can not just get you nominated for an award, but receive one.

Events

34 h. ago 10 worst TV show endings of all time ranked amid Stranger Things finale backlash

While some Stranger Things fans were disappointed by the finale, this isn’t the first time loyal fans have been let down by the ending of their favourite show

Culture

34 h. ago 10 worst TV show endings ranked as Stranger Things finale sparks backlash

Stranger Things recently wrapped up with an ambiguous ending that left fans disappointed. Here's a look at several other shows that left fans feeling equally incensed

Culture

34 h. ago 10 worst TV series endings ranked after Stranger Things backlash

Netflix's Stranger Things concluded with a finale that left many fans feeling underwhelmed with its ambiguous ending, but it's not the first show to do so.

Culture