83 m. ago My cultural awakening: a punk band told me quit drinking. So I did

As a teen, I was surrounded by binge culture. But then a band called Minor Threat taught me it was radical to be sober – and it changed my lifeI started drinking when I was 14. It was how we’d have fun as kids in Aberdeen – I didn’t come across any youth clubs or anything particularly productive. You drank beer or alcopops in some shady lane, and you drank so quickly that you’d get drunk but then be sober enough to get home at 11pm so your parents wouldn’t notice anything. It wasn’t drinking for pleasure: binge drinking was just what everyone – regardless of social groups – seemed to be doing.During my teenage years I worked at a newsagent and I would read Kerrang! every week, which was extremely formative for me in discovering music. It’s incredible how many new bands I was introduced to, and just how my music taste evolved – from nu-metal bands such as Korn to Rage Against the Machine and, most influentially, Fugazi. Continue reading...

Culture

83 m. ago Distressing RSPCA video shows cruel woman whack dogs with garden spade

A pet owner was caught on video swinging a spade down onto her French Bulldogs - but she has not been banned from keeping dogs (WARNING: DISTRESSING CONTENT).

Culture

84 m. ago 'I cancelled my daughter's 16th birthday party after her ridiculous behaviour'

A dad sparked a debate after he hastily cancelled his daughter's extravagant 16th birthday party after her bad behaviour. Some people slammed him, but he stood by the decision

Politics

84 m. ago FCDO issues updated warning to Brits travelling to huge country 'do not travel'

A tourist-magnet country that welcomed more than 18 million international visitors last year will be hit hard by fresh travel warnings from the FCDO - and it could invalidate your insurance

Events

84 m. ago 'Keir Starmer has got it wrong – here's why we're not an island of strangers'

Real Britain reports on All Souls church, which closed in 1986, became a magnet for anti-social behaviour, until community worker Inayat Omarji decided to try to do something about it

Politics

2 h. ago Secret area passengers are 'banned' from on planes exposed by cabin crew

On long-haul flights, there is a tiny, and normally completely secret room that passengers are banned from entering, but one flight attendant has pulled back the curtain - literally

Events

2 h. ago Seaside town named one of best in the UK is loved by families who visit

Southwold's pristine beach makes it a hit for both families and those looking to dip their toes in the sea. Pier beach is flanked by a promenade that stretches all the way to the harbour

Politics

2 h. ago Arsenal sent fresh Alexander Isak transfer warning ahead of final decision

Newcastle striker Alexander Isak is one of a number of big names mentioned in connection with an Arsenal switch after Mikel Arteta's comments about the club's plans

Events

3 h. ago Little known offensive word Spanish use to describe British tourists

There is a specific term used to describe Brits abroad who take part in typically-loutish behaviour while on holiday in Spain, like excessive drinking

Politics

3 h. ago Germany trumpets its reckoning with its Nazi past – except when it’s inconvenient | Hanno Hauenstein

From a media prize with a dubious pedigree to the horrors of Gaza, the establishment forgets and remembers what suits it bestGrowing up in Germany, we were taught to believe we had done better. Better than our grandparents’ generation, who swept their complicity under a thick rug of silence. Better even than our parents, whose revolts in the late 1960s rarely led to any serious reckoning with the legacy of the Holocaust.Born in the late 1980s, my generation learned about Auschwitz early on. We visited former concentration camps and studied the Nazi regime not as an alien aberration, but as a warning: this is how democracies die. Today, with the far-right AfD and ethno-chauvinism on the rise, that warning has never felt more urgent.Hanno Hauenstein is a Berlin-based journalist and author. He worked as a senior editor in Berliner Zeitung’s culture department, specialising in contemporary art and politics Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Flight attendant issues important warning to people who fall asleep on planes

While it can be tempting to close your eyes while you're waiting for your flight to depart, a member of cabin crew has revealed why you should avoid having some shut-eye

Events

3 h. ago 'This rammed, sweaty hell makes it obvious holiday hotspots need to change'

Apply the breaks? Canary Islands protests show it’s time for a rethink about the impact of overtourism, as does a trip for travel editor Nigel Thompson to Santorini

Politics

3 h. ago I found crystal blue waters and fairy tale village just one hour from UK

The whole trip cost me just £200, an incredible bargain considering how much there is to do there

Politics

3 h. ago Gardeners urged to check underside of leaves immediately in May

As your plants begin to bloom this spring, experts warn to take care when checking your plant's leaves - you could be in a for a nasty shock that risks destroying your garden

Politics

3 h. ago Mum leading youth violence campaign urges kids to speak up in wake of Kayden Moy's death

Kayden Moy, 16, died after he was allegedly stabbed to death at Irvine Beach last weekend.

Events

4 h. ago UK households warned to check on blackbirds when they enter your garden

Scientists warn that a deadly disease has been culling blackbird populations - here's what you need to know and the signs that blackbirds in your garden may be infected

Events

5 h. ago 'I went to Disneyland Paris and found the hidden attraction most people miss'

Disneyland Paris has plenty of iconic rides and attractions but there's one hidden right by the Sleeping Beauty castle that most visitors will miss - and there isn't a queue

Politics

5 h. ago Gorgeous cove is so beautiful people travel from all over the world to see it

The World Heritage Site is so well-known people come from all over the world to pay it a visit. The beach also welcomes dogs all year round, making it a perfect spot for a family day out

Politics

5 h. ago Tiny UK seaside village predicted to be huge staycation spot this summer

With scenic coastal walks, a beautiful beach and sublime setting, visitors can enjoy the village’s natural splendour while feasting on award-winning meals that consistently receive rave reviews

Politics

6 h. ago Brooklyn and Romeo's poisonous rift exposed: 'Baffling' wedding behaviour by Nicola Peltz that drove them apart revealed as friends of Beckhams brand her a 'narcissist' to KATIE HIND

Those who overheard the two young brothers on that flight to the World Cup in Germany back in 2006 couldn't help but be touched by the tender affection between them.

Politics