40 m. ago ‘The hidden engine room’: how amateur historians are powering genealogical research

Wealth of datasets compiled as private passions are now a goldmine for those hunting for their ancestorsThe autumn sunlight is filtering through quietly falling leaves as Louise Cocker stands in front of the gravestone of James Henry Payne and takes a quick photograph. Payne died at the age of 73 in October 1917 and was buried in the Norfolk town of North Walsham, along with his wife Eleanor and son James Edward, who was killed in the Battle of Vimy Ridge in April 1917. “Not lost”, reads the simple slab, “but gone before”.This is far from the first Norfolk gravestone Cocker, 53, has photographed – in fact, over 24 years, she has captured almost half a million of them, driving around the county on her weekends and days off from her job in the local Lidl supermarket. As a result, she has produced a remarkable dataset of 615,000 names – many graves contain more than one person – which experts consider one of the most comprehensive photographic records of gravestones and memorials in En...

Politics

40 m. ago How Man United should line up vs Newcastle in Boxing Day Premier League fixture

Manchester United welcome Newcastle to Old Trafford this evening as they look to return to winning ways in the Premier League.

Politics

62 m. ago What to know about the militants targeted by US airstrikes in northwest Nigeria

The United States airstrikes targeting militants affiliated with the Islamic State in northwestern Nigeria are a major escalation of an offensive that Nigeria’s overstretched military has struggled with for years

Events

2 h. ago Why has Trump ordered strikes in Nigeria and what has it got to do with the persecution of Christians?

Parts of the US right have for years been amplifying claims that Christians face violence in Nigeria, a notion the US president has helped to encourageAfter spending weeks accusing Nigeria’s government of failing to tackle the persecution of Christians, Donald Trump announced a series of strikes on the west African country on Christmas Day.The strikes, targeting Islamic State militants in the country’s north, mark the latest overseas military intervention from Trump, who campaigned on a promise to extradite the US from decades of “endless wars” during his 2024 run for president. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Myanmar will hold its first general election in 5 years as criticism of the military rule mounts

Myanmar will hold the first phase of a general election on Sunday, its first vote in five years and an election framed by the ruling military as a return to multi-party democracy

Events

4 h. ago Trump announces strikes against ISIS in Nigeria and wishes Merry Christmas to ‘dead terrorists’

The president declared: ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues’

Events

5 h. ago Zimbabwean victims of sadistic sexual abuser John Smyth bring legal claim against Church of England after Justin Welby's resignation over scandal

Six men including Rocky Leanders who were abused as teenagers at John Smyth's  Christian holiday camps in the African country are among the seven claimants.

Events

5 h. ago Can you return Christmas gifts without a receipt? Know your consumer rights

All retailers will want to see some proof of purchase – though not necessarily the original receipt

Politics

6 h. ago Trump says US struck Isis targets in Nigeria over attacks on Christians

President posts on social media that the defence department ‘executed numerous perfect strikes’

Events

6 h. ago 'Merry Christmas to all, including dead terrorists': Donald Trump announces Christmas Day ISIS strikes in Nigeria

US President Donald Trump declared via Truth Social that America launched Christmas Day strikes against ISIS terrorists in Nigeria who have been killing Christians

Events

6 h. ago Trump launches 'powerful and deadly' strike on ISIS in Nigeria and warns of more if attacks persist

Donald Trump announced a 'powerful and deadly' Christmas Day strike on ISIS 'terrorist scum' in Nigeria and warned that radicals will continue to pay for the persecution of Christians

Events

6 h. ago Trump announces strikes against ISIS in Nigeria and wishes MERRY CHRISTMAS to ‘dead terrorists’ he claims are targeting Christians

The president declared on Truth Social: ‘MERRY CHRISTMAS to all, including the dead Terrorists, of which there will be many more if their slaughter of Christians continues.’

Events

6 h. ago Trump launches Christmas Day ISIS strikes in Nigeria as he targets 'terrorist scum'

Donald Trump has announced that the US has launched a series of strikes against ISIS in Nigeria, warning that there will be "many more" if they continue to target Christians

Events

6 h. ago Perrie Edwards cradles her baby bump in sweet Christmas snaps with fiancé Alex Oxlade

Pregnant Perrie Edwards cradled her baby bump as she posed for gorgeous Christmas snaps in front of her tree.

Events

6 h. ago Trump launches Christmas Day strike on ISIS in Nigeria over ‘slaughter of Christians’ and warns of more to come

DONALD Trump said the US forces launched "powerful and deadly" strikes against ISIS in Nigeria over the persecution of Christians. The commander in chief said that the Department of War executed "numerous perfect strikes" on Christmas Day - and vowed more attacks if the jihadists "continued killing Christians in the country. Trump wrote on Truth...

Events

6 h. ago US carries out strikes on Nigeria targeting Islamic State militants, Trump says

President claims strikes targeted militants in country’s north-west, accusing group of attacking Christian communitiesDonald Trump has said the US carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria on Thursday, after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.The president said in a post on his Truth Social platform: “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries! Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Coronation Street legend Gail Platt makes a surprise RETURN on Christmas Day in emotional scenes

The much-loved character, played by Helen Worth, bowed out of the cobbles after tying the knot with sixth husband Jesse Chadwick (John Thomson).

Politics

7 h. ago Two years on from October 7, the cradle of Christianity buzzes again as pilgrims cautiously return to Nazareth

Pilgrims and tourists are finally returning to the birthplace of Christianity for the first time since the war in Gaza broke out.

Politics

8 h. ago Man charged after allegedly performing Nazi salutes at Canberra shopping centres

Police allege the man also trespassed at ANU and ‘stuck propaganda-style stickers’ on buildings and other propertyGet our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcastAn 18-year-old has been charged with allegedly performing two separate Nazi salutes at Canberra shopping centres and putting up “propaganda-style stickers” in recent months.The man is expected to appear before ACT magistrates court on Friday, where police will allege in October a member of the public confronted him as he stuck stickers up at a shopping centre and then performed a Nazi salute before leaving the centre. Continue reading...

Economics

8 h. ago Scott McTominay's stance on Man Utd return as 'issues' emerge at Napoli

Scott McTominay has been linked with a return to the Premier League after a stunning start to life in Italy with Napoli, but the midfielder has previously spoken of his love for the Serie A side

Politics