65 m. ago ‘We’re an antidote’: Boss of Legoland owner on the thrill of theme parks in a world of technology

Fiona Eastwood says real-life experiences that bring people together are vital amid a battle for attention in the digital eraArtificial intelligence is in the process of upending the business models of companies all over the world, but when it comes to the $100bn (£73bn) global theme park business the thrill of “big metal” rollercoasters is still the biggest draw.Fiona Eastwood, the boss of the sector’s second biggest operator, Merlin Entertainments, says that in a world dominated by battles over screen time it is real-life experiences that provide families with an “antidote to phones and digital technology”. Continue reading...

Science

11 h. ago Scotland's lawyers need to embrace the digital transformation

Clients want to manage their affairs securely, remotely and on their own terms, writes Josif Grace

Politics

12 h. ago Julian McMahon’s death is a sad, dramatic end to a magnetic talent, whose star was on the rise again | Luke Buckmaster

The Australian actor broke into Hollywood playing suave villains in Nip/Tuck and Fantastic Four – but one of his final roles was some of his best workJulian McMahon – a life in picturesJulian McMahon dies aged 56The Australian-American actor Julian McMahon, who has died from cancer aged 56, had a long and accomplished career. Like many Australian actors, it began with a soap opera – McMahon played Ben Lucini in 150 episodes of Home and Away – but he soon broke free to pursue a more ambitious and challenging oeuvre.McMahon, the son of former prime minister Sir William “Billy” McMahon, made a name for himself overseas through US television in his 30s. On supernatural drama Charmed he played Cole Turner, a half-human, half-demon assassin turned love interest for one of the witches he was hired to kill. McMahon took to the show’s campy tone with aplomb, delivering lines like “I’m going straight to hell, cause it’s got to be a sin to look this good” with a twinkle in his eye. Continue re...

Events

14 h. ago 'Just ignore Farage': Boris Johnson tells Tories how to counter the rise of Reform

The former prime minister, who led the Tories when the Brexit Party, now known as Reform, was polling at 'zero per cent,' believes that attacking them head-on is a waste of energy.

Politics

22 h. ago What are the most popular dog names? Oasis tour sparks rise in pups being called Noel or Liam

New data shows which Gallagher brother is inspiring the biggest spike in pet names.

Politics

22 h. ago John Rentoul answers your questions on Labour’s future – from welfare U

Chief political commentator John Rentoul answers your questions on Labour’s deepening welfare crisis, the rise of a Corbyn-Sultana breakaway party, and what it all means for Keir Starmer’s grip on government

Politics

24 h. ago Technology community event hosted at Scottish Parliament by Lanarkshire MSP

'We are looking into ways to use digital technology to innovate and improve public services'

Politics

24 h. ago WHO warns of 'significant rise' in new Stratus Covid variant

Levels of the XFG variant are "growing rapidly", health bosses have warned

Events

24 h. ago Oasis in row with photo agencies over pictures from reunion shows

Exclusive: Band’s management tell agencies and publishers they can only use shots of first gig in Cardiff for a yearSongwriters ‘missing millions in royalties from more than 100,000 UK gigs’A row has broken out over restrictions imposed on how newspapers, magazines, TV broadcasters and digital publishers can use pictures taken at Oasis reunion gigs, as the band prepare to play the first night of what is expected to be the most profitable tour in UK history.Photo agencies and publishers have been told they can use shots of the first concert, which takes place in Cardiff on Friday, for one year and then the rights revert back to the band and management. Continue reading...

Culture

24 h. ago As cases skyrocket, here’s how to keep yourself safe from salmonella

Rob Kingsley details how to avoid a nasty case of Salmonella as cases are on the rise in the UK

Events

25 h. ago UKHSA confirms new Stratus Covid variant is now dominant strain in England

Global health bosses have warned there has been a "significant rise" in cases of the new XFG variant

Politics

27 h. ago Alarming baby name trend on the rise as parents unwittingly inspired by true crime are giving newborns the same monikers as famous murderers

Popular culture has a bigger influence on baby names than we might realise, but one particular genre has been unexpectedly providing new parents with inspiration.

Events

27 h. ago Voices: Youth is wasted on the young – and recent reports prove it

This week, poet and artist Frieda Hughes reflects on the news that students will spend up to 25 years on their phones – and how digital devices shrink their brains

Politics

28 h. ago Inside the rise of AI Jesus and godbots: What happened when I prayed at the artificial altar

Can a chatbot generate a true religious experience — or open the door to something far darker?

Politics

30 h. ago ‘They made me feel I could do something with my life’: indie music legends pick their favourite Oasis songs

Devendra Banhart finds mysticism in Acquiesce, Snail Mail gets chills from Stand By Me and Johnny Marr chooses an absolute curveball as 17 musicians analyse the reunited band’s genius• Simon Armitage on why Oasis still enthrall usThere are a lot of similarities between us and Oasis: two brothers in the band, Creation Records, working-class kids, guitar band, etc. In the mid-90s, we couldn’t get arrested and had to watch their meteoric rise, but I couldn’t dislike the great music. Rock ’n’ Roll Star was on a compilation tape on the ill-fated US tour when we broke up. We’d had a punch-up on stage at the House of Blues in Los Angeles and back in my hotel room we were hanging around with a bunch of druggies. I was thinking “Where did it all go wrong?” when this song came on. I knew I’d remember that moment for the rest of my life. To me, Rock ’n’ Roll Star is like Johnny Rotten singing with Slade. It’s punk rock, but in 1994. I love the self-belief: Noel [Gallagher] wrote it before he w...

Events

30 h. ago Oil tycoon falls to his death from elite Moscow apartment block in latest mystery death to hit Russia

The body of Andrey Badalov, 62, was discovered this morning at the bottom of a luxury high-rise apartment building in Moscow's affluent Rublevskoye neighbourhood.

Events

30 h. ago UK bank launches regular savings account with whopping 7.10% interest rate

Digital bank Zopa has launched a regular savings account paying an industry-beating 7.10 per cent interest rate - and it can be opened with just a £1 deposit

Economics

30 h. ago King Charles to land £100million pay rise after significant issue

Despite economic pressures affecting thousands of households in the UK, the Royal Family is set to see a boost to their Sovereign Grant to fix a significant problem

Economics

32 h. ago Home Office fails to collect 'basic information' about UK visa holders, MPs warn

An inquiry has revealed that data on whether someone left the UK after their visa expired was not collected by the government

Events

35 h. ago Foreign medical residents fill critical positions at US hospitals, but are running into visa issues

Some hospitals in the U.S. are without essential staff because international medical residents set to start their training this week were delayed by the Trump administration’s travel and visa restrictions

Science