10 h. ago ‘We felt abandoned by Francis’: Pope Leo heads to traditional papal residence for summer break

Longstanding tradition set to resume as new pontiff opts to spend summer holiday in Castel GandolfoWhen, soon after being elected in 2013, Pope Francis broke from longstanding Vatican tradition by choosing not to spend his summer holiday in the papal retreat of Castel Gandolfo, a sleepy hilltop town overlooking a lake about an hour south of Rome, residents were taken aback.One shopkeeper, Anna, compared the perceived rejection to a divorce, while another said it slightly ruptured a sense of belonging. Continue reading...

Culture

15 h. ago Only pro gamers can spot the hidden headphones in this epic set

We all know pro gamers have lightning-fast reflexes, but they've also got incredible observation skills - whether they're hunting for enemies or searching for hidden treasure

Politics

58 h. ago When does Epic Games come back from summer break? Fortnite's next update arrives after short gap

Epic Games is currently on summer break, giving its developers a well-deserved rest - but when does it end and when can we expect the next Fortnite update?

Politics

3 d. ago Women in India don’t want ‘safe zones’ – they want to enjoy public spaces as equals | Nilanjana Bhowmick

Segregation does not make going outside any safer or more comfortable for women – it only reinforces the idea that the public sphere belongs to menA couple of weeks ago, I was in an upmarket neighbourhood in Delhi for a photoshoot. The sun was already unforgiving, and only a handful of walkers and joggers had dared to step out in the heat. A few children, on their summer break from school, gave curious glances in our direction, but they quickly lost interest and returned to their games. Women walking by offered quick looks, but the men stared – every single one who passed us.Then one went a step further. Mid-shoot, he walked straight up and interrupted us. At first, we smiled – out of habit, out of conditioning – thinking that he would leave. But he didn’t. Instead, his questions turned increasingly personal. From “What are you doing?” to “Do you have an Insta page?” and “Where do you stay?”, the questions grew increasingly intrusive. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Only pro gamers can spot the hidden headphones in this epic gaming setup in under 5 seconds

This optical illusion challenges readers to spot the headphones in the gamer setup - are you up for it?

Politics

4 d. ago Can you cancel holidays in extreme heat and wildfires? Simon Calder explains

With continental Europe on high alert as it faces its first major heatwave of the summer, and wildfires break out in Turkey, Simon Calder breaks down what travellers’ rights are if they wish to cancel their holidays.

Events

5 d. ago Pep Guardiola opens up on fears Club World Cup will 'destroy' Man City's main aim

Manchester City have reached the knockout phase of the Club World Cup while the vast majority of their Premier League rivals are still enjoying a summer break, recharging for the new season

Politics

8 d. ago Study reveals the best (and worst) British seaside spots for a summer break

Destinations like Brighton and Margate failed to ignite enthusiasm

Politics

9 d. ago More refunds are being sent to Fortnite players 'tricked' into unwanted purchases. How you can apply

The Federal Trade Commission is issuing more refunds to Fortnite players who it says were charged for unwanted purchases

Sport

9 d. ago Harvey Elliott transfer fee rises as Liverpool ace shows true colours – 'fear isn't there'

Harvey Elliott decided not to spend his summer break on a beach weighing up a transfer away from Liverpool but to help fire England to the brink of creating history

Politics

9 d. ago Plenty of family fun at Vue Livingston this school summer holiday

One adventure that’s simply out of this world, landing into Vue just in time for the summer break is the latest heartfelt and hilarious release from Pixar, Elio.

Politics

9 d. ago New scheme launched by Aldi to help parents in summer holidays

The cost of looking after children during the six-week school summer break is an added pressure on families

Politics

9 d. ago Fortnite players due compensation which could be worth £200 – and you can still claim

Fortnite players are reporting that they have received a substantial sum of money in their PayPal accounts, thanks to the FTC's recent ruling against Epic Games

Economics

9 d. ago Fortnite FTC refund rolls out $126 million of payouts to players, and you could get a payment today

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) ordered Epic Games to pay $72million after it ruled the company unlawfully charged players for unwanted purchases

Economics

9 d. ago The world wants China’s rare earth elements – what is life like in the city that produces them?

More than 80% of China’s rare earth reserves are located in Baotou, an industrial hub of 2.7 million people that abuts the Gobi desertCentral Baotou, an industrial hub of 2.7 million people that abuts the Gobi desert in north China, feels just like any other second-tier Chinese city. Large shopping malls featuring western chains including Starbucks and KFC stand alongside street after street of busy local restaurants, where people sit outside and children play late into the evening, enjoying the relative relief of the cooler temperatures that arrive after dark in Inner Mongolia’s baking summer.But a short drive into the city’s suburbs reveal another typical, less hospitable, Chinese scene. Factories crowd the city’s edges, with chimneys belching white plumes of smoke. As well as steel and silicon plants, Baotou is home to China’s monopoly on rare earths, the metallic elements that are used in oil refining equipment and car batteries and that have become a major sticking point in the...

Politics

1 week ago New school summer holiday start date may impact Royal Welsh Show

Critics say new summer break dates could reduce attendance at one Wales' biggest events

Culture

1 week ago Poop Cruise review – a fascinating look at a toilet disaster that still haunts passengers 12 years later

In 2013, more than 4,000 people on a malfunctioning 13-storey holiday boat had to spend days defecating into bags. This catch-up with passengers makes for a fun hour of unintentional comedyWith the latest instalments of the series Trainwreck, Netflix appears to be trying to grant us some brief summer break from the worst kind of horrors the true crime genre can offer. In contrast to previous episodes, which looked at the Woodstock 99 riots and Astroworld tragedy that saw 10 people die in a crowd crush at a massive Live Nation-organised concert – including a nine-year-old child – it has suddenly pivoted in tone.Last week it gave us Mayor of Mayhem, the tale of Rob “I am not a crack addict” Ford, the crack-addicted mayor of Toronto and his very un-Canadian way of doing municipal business. In coming weeks, there will be accounts of the balloon boy’s story, a private investigation agency run by soccer moms, and “the greatest shitpost ever made”. Whether this tonal change comes as a reli...

Events

1 week ago What is Fortnite Blitz Royale Avatar Returns? All you need to know including release date

Fortnite continues to evolve, as Epic Games prepares to launch a brand new Blitz Royale ruleset, which introduces Avatar: The Last Airbender gameplay – and there's much more to come

Economics

1 week ago The Legend of Rooney’s Ring: Wayne and Coleen get their very own summer panto

How has Motherland writer Helen Serafinowicz followed up her TV hits? With a rollicking, sub-Game of Thrones epic based on a Liverpudlian legend. Will the happy couple go and see it?The benefits of hosting Eurovision are contested. But Liverpool has that song contest to thank, improbably enough, for wooing an exiled writer back to her native city. Helen Serafinowicz is the co-writer of BBC sitcoms Motherland and, more recently, Amandaland. The world of TV, you might think, is at her feet – but instead she’s returning to Merseyside with a debut theatre show, a swords-and-sorcery pastiche about the relationship between Wayne and Coleen Rooney, rejoicing in the title The Legend of Rooney’s Ring.“I’ve started reconnecting with Liverpool recently,” says Serafinowicz, scouse accent unmistakable as she dishes up a cuppa at her home in Norwich. “And I was invited to the Eurovision song contest in the city a few years ago.” While there, she went to see her friend, the actor Keddy Sutton, in ...

Politics

2 w. ago Billy Gilmour parties with mystery blonde on cosy yacht trip in Spain

Billy Gilmour has been spotted soaking up the spanish sunshine on a luxurious yacht with a mystery lady as he enjoys a summer break away from the pitch

Politics