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OpenAI will retire several models, including GPT-4o, from ChatGPT next month

OpenAI announced it will retire several models from its ChatGPT chatbot next month. GPT‑4o, which is beloved for its warm conversational style, is one of the models that will be removed from the chatbot. OpenAI said just 0.1% of users are choosing to...

Starmer among friends

EVEN by the standards of thin-skinned tyrants, China’s leaders are supremely sensitive about how foreigners describe their country. Caught between his irascible hosts and a sceptical British public, Sir Keir Starmer has had to negotiate a verbal...

Starmer opens door to UK visit by Xi as China relationship is ‘reset’

Keir Starmer took a major step towards rapprochement with China yesterday, opening the door to a UK visit from Xi Jinping in a move that drew immediate anger from British critics of Beijing. During the first visit by a British prime minister to China...

2026 DREAM CRUISES

We asked eight top cruise travel agent bosses to choose their bucket-list cruise holidays. From far-flung destinations to animal magic, their choices will inspire you

Dinghy Show preview

Your guide to the RYA Dinghy and Watersports Show 2026

Jimmy Tarbuck: ‘I’m the last of an era, I’m Lucky Jim’

Jimmy Tarbuck, who is 85 and throughout the 1960s, 70s and 80s was one of the most popular entertainers on TV, lives in a large mock Georgian house on a private estate backing on to a golf course in Surrey – a setting which perfectly maps with the Venn...

Wild at heart

Imagine someone bobbing their head up and down, flapping their arms wildly and shouting as loudly as they can in the playground just to impress someone. For a human, this would seem strange, but for a lovebird, it is the height of romance. A male...

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FAMOUS FOR FIFTEEN

Fifteen years of 991? It seems scarcely believable, but according to how our favourite manufacturer classifies its legacy models, this massive-selling 911 will soon officially be a classic Porsche. Kinda odd, considering most of us consider the 991 to...

Space race

The future of Greenland has dominated the headlines in recent weeks, but increasingly the real action, both commercially and militarily, is taking place hundreds, even hundreds of thousands of miles above the Earth. “Over the decades that I’ve been...

Water bills set to rise by 6%

NORTHUMBRIAN Water customers are set to see bills rise by around 6% – but the company has announced major improvements. It revealed its biggest package of upgrades in its history, aiming to protect the environment and strengthen water and sewerage...

STAY IN STYLE

Private hot tubs, pools, pontoons and more – some of our favourite Cornish self-catering properties for 2026

How loose and lively rhetoric is remoulding British politics

Who was the last politician you listened to for any length of time? Perhaps it was Andy Burnham or Zack Polanski. Or maybe it was Wes Streeting, Nigel Farage or Zarah Sultana. Perhaps your dark secret is that it was Donald Trump. One thing these...

THE VELVET UNDERGROUND

Meet the Red Arrows’ new leader

Wing Commander Sasha Nash has become the first woman to lead the Red Arrows, the Royal Air Force (RAF) aerobatic display team. The Red Arrows have been putting on air displays since 1965. Nash said she was six years old when she knew she wanted to join...

Mural tribute ‘to keep Sean’s memory alive’

A Maidenhead family’s campaign for a permanent mural to remember their late 16year-old son and brother and ‘keep his memory alive’ has raised more than £1,500, writes Sam Leech. Graffiti underneath the railway bridge beside Maidenhead station has been...

Women’s pension payout is denied

WOMEN affected by the way changes to the state pension age were communicated have been told for the second time they will not receive compensation. Labour’s previous policy not to offer redress was reviewed after the rediscovery of a 2007 Department...

Control handed over for ‘neglected’ Home Park

The Crown Estate will take over the management of Windsor’s Home Park after ‘decades of neglect’ and ‘underinvestment’ so residents can continue to enjoy the space, writes Elena Chiujdea, local democracy reporter. Until 1846, Home Park was used as...

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Pc GUILTY OF ‘A BLATANT DISREGARD FOR THE LAW ON DATA USE’

A POLICE officer sent details of a suspect to a friend, a court heard. In total, Pc Jake Olner, 34 – who resigned from the force – admitted nine breaches of data legislation in what prosecutors said was “deliberate and blatant” disregard of the law.

‘Distracted’ PC caused death of Post legend

A POLICE officer has admitted killing former Nottingham Post photographer Trevor Bartlett, who died when he was hit by a force van on the A52. Driver PC Steven Allcock was distracted by a prisoner in the back and struck Mr Bartlett as he crossed the...

CITY POTBANK BOUNCES BACK TO RECRUIT NEW WORKERS

POTTERY firm Emma Bridgewater is bouncing back from short-time working and job cuts – after enjoying a buoyant Halloween, Black Friday and Christmas. The Hanley firm endured a turbulent 2024/25 as the potbank adopted a four-day working week and staged...

Control handed over for ‘neglected’ Home Park

The Crown Estate will take over the management of Windsor’s Home Park after ‘decades of neglect’ and ‘underinvestment’ so residents can continue to enjoy the space, writes Elena Chiujdea, local democracy reporter. Until 1846, Home Park was used as...

Multimillion-pound makeover FUNDING WINS FOR MARGATE, RAMSGATE AND BROADSTAIRS AS COUNCIL CONSIDERS DRAFT SPENDING BUDGET

Multimillion-pound makeover

MISCONDUCT RAP FOR POLICE OVER ‘FAILINGS’ BEFORE CLAIRE’S MURDER

THE £7.5m upgrade of Royal Parade is expected to finish ahead of schedule – but there will be road closures first. Plymouth City Council had pencilled in April as the completion date to allow for any unforeseen issues, but the scheme’s smooth progress...

‘We’re just furious’

CROWBOROUGH residents have said they are furious Labour is risking the safety of their loved ones by moving migrants into a nearby army camp. In the early hours of Thursday, January 22, the first group of 27 migrants was moved into the Crowborough...

Talking Horses – These Days: Birmingham’s Next Indie Breakthrough Hits Its Stride

After five years of relentless graft, Talking Horses arrive at a defining moment with These Days, the first single lifted from their forthcoming debut album I Will Work Harder. Released on 16 January 2026, the track captures a band no longer searching...

TOTAL SHUTDOWN

A MEGAPICKET organised by Strike Map in support of the striking Birmingham bin workers will close down all the city’s refuse sites this morning as thousands of trade unionists are expected to attend the biggest show of support since their walkouts...

Children invited to Send sport festival

CROYDON Council and Access Sport will host its annual festival of sport for disabled children and young people at New Addington Leisure Centre on Thursday, February 19. The free event will offer taster sessions for people aged five to 25 in a variety...

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HEALTH One in four people no longer drinking alcohol

Almost a quarter of people do not drink alcohol – with young people and increasing numbers of men shunning booze, new figures suggest. Data from the Governmentbacked Health Survey for England found 24% of people had not drunk alcohol in the last 12...

Hydrotherapy tubs Sisters launch city’s first dedicated spa for babies

BRISTOL’S love affair with spas dates back hundreds of years with well-heeled folk flocking to take the waters at the Hotwells resort during Georgian times. And now it seems the pursuit is attracting a very new generation of fans. The city has...

£15m plans to tackle pothole menace across roads in county

AN extra £15 million will be ploughed into fixing roads across the county including Burton and Uttoxeter - over the next two years as part of a new drive to tackle a ‘pothole backlog.’ Staffordshire County Council says it will be targeting...

I just want less work and more play, says Prue

DAME Prue Leith has said her decision to quit The Great British Bake Off came from a desire to “work less and play more”. It was announced last week that Dame Prue was stepping down as a judge on the popular Channel 4 baking show after nine series,...

New junior school head on mission to make it ‘the best in the country’

THE new head at a Hull junior school has declared her plans to make it the best in the country. Imogen Cowan has moved more than 160 miles with her family to take up her new role as head of Hymers College Junior School. Hymers College has more than...

Authority seeks views on tram proposals

THE West Yorkshire Combined Authority is asking for responses from people and businesses on how the proposed mass transit system can drive economic growth and development. Mayor Tracy Brabin has pledged to bring a tram network to the region, promising...

Man admits to causing explosion that wrecked homes

A 57-year-old man has admitted causing an explosion that destroyed homes in Eden Street, Alvaston. Paul Solway pleaded guilty to six counts of damaging property and being reckless as to whether life was endangered at Derby Crown Court. Paul Solway...

BIG BRANDS, MORE JOBS!

Plans for a major new retail development in Sunderland promise hundreds of jobs and more shopping choice for Wearsiders. The £15million scheme, submitted to Sunderland City Council, includes an M&S Foodhall, Aldi supermarket and Starbucks drive-thru...

THUMBS UP FOR BIG 10K RACE

Buchlyvie run marks 20 years

Welsh Labour voters turn against PM - poll

KEIR Starmer’s popularity in Wales has hit a new low, with nearly three-quarters of people saying he is doing a bad job, poll findings show. People in Wales are overwhelmingly negative about the performances of the Labour administrations in both...

SWINNEY ON THE RACK OVER NHS BUG DEATH BOMBSHELL

NHS chiefs came under ‘political’ pressure to open a £1billion superhospital despite fears for patient safety, it was claimed yesterday. In fiery exchanges at First Minister’s Questions, Anas Sarwar produced a bombshell document he said proved bosses...

Mum’s anger over ‘justice denied’ for 20 years

DEATHS IN HORROR

€500K DEPOSIT HELPED FLATLEY WIN BACK SHOW

MICHAEL Flatley has pledged to stage ‘the greatest show ever’ in Dublin next week after overturning a court order that had barred him from interfering with the upcoming Lord Of The Dance tour. An 11th-hour deposit of €500,000 from a financial backer...

Bid for huge bike factory ‘on hold’

Plans for an eyecatching multimillion-pound bike factory have been put on hold - despite the ambitious project being approved a year ago. Bosses at Brompton Bicycle say they need to see a “meaningful recovery in market conditions” before they can...

Former university professor to stand for Reform UK at by-election

A former University of Kent professor is the Reform candidate for a high-profile by-election. Matthew Goodwin served as a professor of politics at Canterbury’s University of Kent for almost a decade, but is now a GB News host and a right-wing...

Code-breaker coin will net winner golden prize

A COIN will form part of a nationwide code-breaking challenge, with the eventual chance for competition entrants to win a gold bar. The £5 denomination coin includes numbers, letters, and symbols that can be used to uncover layers of secrets, riddles...

Joshua: I no longer fear death

Anthony Joshua was close to tears as he paid tribute to the two friends killed in the car crash from which he narrowly escaped death. In his first video message since last month’s accident in Nigeria, Britain’s two-time world heavyweight champion was...

‘I was dismissed by docs 20 times’

A 31-year-old says she has “lost all faith in the NHS” after she was diagnosed with incurable cancer despite being told repeatedly that she was fine. Victoria Rodwell from East Malling should be spending her time planning her wedding this summer, but...

Freezy does it!

AREFRIGERATED vehicle company with 400 lancashire workers has won council support towards building a new £14million HQ in Rossendale. Solomon Commercials wants planning permission to build a new manufacturing site and head office in...

RESPECTTHE EXCLUSION ZONE

A strong appeal has been made to drivers to comply with a Perth school exclusion zone for the safety of children amid a row over cars parking dangerously during pick-up times. This week councillors voted to reduce the size of the “challenging” zone to...

Tributes to Jim Wallace – ‘one of the architects of modern Scotland’

Tributes have been paid to “one of the architects of modern Scotland” following the death of former deputy first minister Jim Wallace at the age of 71. Lord Wallace, who served as Holyrood’s first ever deputy first minister, was undergoing a procedure...

Blocking Burnham

Labour’s internal divisions were thrust into the open this week after Keir Starmer blocked Andy Burnham from returning to Westminster. The Greater Manchester Mayor needs to become an MP again to be eligible to stand for the party leadership, and senior...

BAFTA NOMINATION HONOUR FOR FILMMAKER

An animator from Campbeltown has been shortlisted for a BAFTA. Luke Angus found out this week that he’s one of three in the final for Best British Short Animation. The 35-year-old was over the moon to discover his film Solstice was going head-to-head...

Celtic in talks for Ghedjemis and Redzic

CELTIC have opened discussions with Italian side Frosinone over a deal for French winger Fares Ghedjemis. And the Parkhead side are also working on an agreement for Hungarian international attacker Damir Redzic from Slovak side DAC Dunajska...

‘The muzzle is off!’

MT-10SP BUYER’S GUIDE

EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS HEAD-TURNING HOOLIGAN

POSTCODE AREA OWES £196K IN COUNCIL TAXES

SOME addresses in Dundee owe tens of thousands of pounds in council tax, it has been revealed. The tenants of one property in the city have racked up debts of more than £29,000 alone. A freedom of information request has also revealed the top 20...

Newport duo in custody after back-to-back golf club burglaries

TWO men have pleaded guilty after targeting golf clubs in Haverfordwest and Carmarthen in an overnight burglary-spree. Mikael Bourkhari, aged 45, and Simon Dickey, aged 38 – both from Newport, South Wales – were charged with two counts of burglary and...

Cuts back on the table

Controversial cost-cutting proposals – which would affect some of the area’s most vulnerable people – are expected to be reconsidered later this year. Decision-makers were deadlocked on eight measures drafted to help close a multi-million-pound budget...

Rebelles are history makers

History is made as rugby side host their first Aspiring League fixture.

City’s Flying Pig pub is staying grounded while all around it...

CONSTRUCTION work on two new office blocks continues around the Flying Pig pub in Cambridge. Pictures show how cranes have been moved onto the site in Hills Road and now tower over the pub. The new office blocks will form part of the Botanic Place...

Failed by her hospital

AN independent medical review has found that systemic failures at an Enniskillen hospital left a Fermanagh woman without the cancer care she needed, after substandard treatment and missed warning signs reduced her chances of survival and ultimately...

A could-do list February

Get up early to cook yourself a hot breakfast Sow broad beans and salad leaves indoors Watch some wild waves at the coast Bake a type of bread you’ve never tried Read a new wellbeing book that speaks to you Try drawing a self portrait Try some of...

Vol 214 | Issue № 5

Guardian Weekly is an edited selection of some of the best journalism found in the Guardian’s digital editions in the UK, US and Australia, and the Guardian newspaper in the UK. The weekly magazine has an international focus and four editions: global,...

SWINNEY’SPLEDGETO BURNSFARM

Scotland’s First Minister has pledged to visit Dumfriesshire’s Ellisland Farm and see for himself the work under way to raise £12m to save it for the future. John Swinney, pictured inset left, said he would be “delighted” to come and see first-hand...

Government pulls plug on 6 out of 7 planned elections

SIX of the seven local elections due to take place in Lancashire in May have been called off by the government. The plug has been pulled on polls that were due to take place in the Hyndburn, Blackburn with Darwen, Burnley, Chorley, Preston and West...

PATIENTS AT CITY HOSPITAL

PATIENTS say they are “frozen” at a hospital after heating issues have forced family members to bring blankets in.

Outdated GP IT systems are ‘putting patients at risk’

SCOTLAND’S frustrated GPS have condemned “stagnant” IT systems that take 20 minutes to switch on and cannot communicate safely across the NHS, which they say is putting patient safety at risk. The Royal College of General Practitioners Scotland (RCGP)...

Does natural Ozempic really work?

Iam a 26-year-old man who works in fashion. A little subtext for this sentence: in the GLP-1 injectable era in which we live, almost everybody I interact with either a) fat jabs themselves —with Mounjaro, Wegovy, Ozempic — you name it, b) has recently...

Son of Jimmy Lai's plea to Starmer in China: Help bring my jailed father home

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‘HE MAY DIE A BROKEN MAN’

A woman has told how her husband has been trapped in an Oban hospital for nine months because there is no care package to allow him home. Teresa Russell says spouse John, who had a stroke in May, is deteriorating fast and fears he could die if...

Ran Gvili and Israel’s refusal to leave anyone behind

▶ THE RECOVERY of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage, after 843 days, brought a moment of emotional release so overwhelming it defies description. For Israel – and for Jews far beyond its borders, including here in Britain – it was not merely the...

LIGHT TRAILS

12 pages of pro insights for low-light and after-dark shooting ✓ Camera settings ✓ Tripod setup ✓ Focusing tips ✓ Editing

GREAT BALL OF CHINA

ARSENAL fan Sir Keir Starmer gave China President Xi Jinping, a Man Utd supporter, the match ball from the Red Devils’ 3-2 win against the Gunners. FOUL!

Neighbours confront masked men who stole safe from property

A GANG of masked men attacked a woman after they stole a safe from a home on a quiet Dunbar street in a shocking incident caught on camera. The brazen theft, which has shocked the community, took place at 7pm on Reid Avenue, part of the Cala Homes...

FIFTY WAIT HALF A DAY AT IRH A&E

MORE than 50 people were left waiting in excess of 12 hours to be treated at Inverclyde Royal Hospital’s A&E department earlier this month - one of the highest weekly totals since records began. New statistics released by Public Health Scotland show...

TRUMP’S WAR THREAT TO IRAN

DONALD Trump has warned Iran that his massive armada of US warships will launch a devastating attack unless it comes to the table for nuclear talks. The President is said to be considering targets including weapons caches and members of the...

MAN DIES AFTER PETROL STATION CRASH

AN elderly man was killed yesterday after a car crashed into a petrol station Spar store. Emergency services including the NI Air Ambulance were called to the scene in Clonoe outside Coalisland, Co Tyrone, but Gerard “Jock” Rafferty, 71, sadly passed...

RETURN SURGE IN CAMPUS SEX ATTACKS

SEX attack and harassment cases have soared at Scots universities with more than 600 reports in five years. Survivors yesterday accused education chiefs of failing to tackle the torrent of alleged offences by students and staff. Kate Wilson, 23,...

SOPHIE’S PLEA: DON’T SNATCH HOPE AWAY FROM US

TERMINALLY ill mother Sophie Blake has issued a desperate plea to seven peers blocking the assisted dying bill in the House of Lords. The 52-year-old, who has stage four breast cancer, fears a change in the law will come too late for her if a small...

COUNTDOWN TO CONFLAGRATION

DONALD Trump last night issued a chilling threat to Iran: make a nuclear deal or face an overwhelming military onslaught. As the US President’s ‘beautiful armada’ of warships moved into position, the Tehran regime said any attack would be ‘an act of...

‘NO WAITING’ BAN FOR COV STREETS

A NEW ‘no waiting’ ban has been unveiled for junctions at seven streets in Coventry. The plan has been revealed in a traffic order proposed for the city council. It states that the council plans to introduce ‘No Waiting at Any Time’ restrictions at...

Puppy comes to the aid of stricken puffin

A NINE-month-old golden retriever attempted to rescue a young puffin in Aberdour on Sunday. Paul Kane, from Inverkeithing, was out for a walk at Silver Sands Beach with his partner, Darren Paterson, their dog Phoebe, and some family friends when they...

اتساع عدوان إسرائيل في الضفة... ونتنياهو يجدد تهديداته

نيويورك - غزة - «القدس العربي» من عبد احلميد صيام وأشرف الهور وسعيد أبو معال: طرح مســؤول أممي رفيع املستوى شكوكا حول مســتقبل قطاع غزة، رغم وقــف إطالق النار الهّش الذي يخرقه االحتالل اإلســرائيلي بشــكل يومي، ويعرقل بدء تطبيق املرحلة الثانية...

ALL SYSTEMS ARE GO!!!

I Nthe last issue we launched an ambitious bid to be the first magazine in the world to send one of its readers to the moon. And whilst previous NASA moonshots were years in the planning, we were not going to fanny about, and decided on a shorter...

INLA linked to shooting of man cleared in connection to drugs haul

A faction of the INLA is being blamed for the paramilitary-style shooting of a man in both legs in north Belfast. The victim, who is in his late 30s, was recently cleared of drugs offences. He was shot once in each leg in an alleyway in Strathroy...

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SPEEDLIMITPLAN HASBACKFIRED

The move to limit speeds in Springholm to 20mph appears to have “spectacularly backfired”. Galloway and West Dumfries MSP Finlay Carson, pictured right, has claimed that rather than resolving transport issues within the community, the new measures...

Stonehaven rail crash made worse by lack of modern safety features, inquiry told

AN inquiry into the derailment of a train in Aberdeenshire has heard the outcome would “more likely than not” have been better if the train had been built to modern safety standards. The train crashed at Carmont near Stonehaven on August 12, 2020...

NFUS: FFIS needs re-run

NFU Scotland has renewed calls for a re-run of the Future Farming Investment Scheme (FFIS). It is arguing that fresh funding set out in the Scottish Government’s latest Budget provides an opportunity to improve how capital support is targeted across...

Front page INFAMY

How my cheating ex made the headlines

Seas swell as winter storms hit Cornwall

»Early-morning walkers watch large waves caused by the arrival of Storm Ingrid at Gyllyngvase beach, Falmouth, last Friday.

Come on in!

In the old days, they called them a ‘whoopsie baby’: when you thought your family was complete but Mother Nature has other ideas. This week, April shares how shocked she was to get a positive pregnancy test when she and her hubby Shawnpail already had...

COOL AND CRAZY SPACE EXPERIMENTS

WHIP RULES

‘I FREELY ADMIT THAT THE BEST OF MY FUN I OWE IT TO HORSE AND HOUND’ - Whyte Melville

DREAM HAIR TODAY

✢ Longer-lasting colour ✢ Thicker tresses ✢ Celebrity styles to suit you

COUNCIL SHUT DOWN TWO HMO SITES DUE TO STATE OF THE PROPERTIES

TWO private rental properties have been closed following ‘serious safety failures’ in Tamworth. Tamworth Borough Council has issued emergency prohibition notices after finding private sector housing tenants living in unsafe conditions at rental...

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Welcome

Although it is almost universally agreed that the Second World War began in 1939, with the invasion of Poland, it is fascinating to study the several conflicts that preceded and influenced the outbreak of the global war. In China the struggle against...

Pro kits good and bad

SD WORX-PROTIME A few years ago, SD Worx-protime held their media day in KMSKA, Antwerp’s premier art gallery, and we wonder if this explosion of colour was inspired by Rhythm of Light Waves by Jules Schmalzigaug (see below). There’s definitely a...

Are the Tories broken?

Why vote Conservative? There were two occasions in the previous decade when the answer was practical if not positive: the Tories provided the most effectual means of preventing the country being governed by fanatics of the hue of Jeremy Corbyn and...

Authentic, meaningful, responsible travel since 1993

What better way to begin a new year than by thinking about where travel might take us next: new plans, new resolutions, and journeys that carry meaning. Increasingly, it also means pausing to consider the impact of how and where we travel. That...

લંȏડનાનાા હીીથ્રોો એરાપોર્ટટ પરા બેેગુેજમાંાȏ પ્રવાહીીનાી 100 મિમાંમિલંનાી માંયાાષદાા નાાબેૂદા, હીવે બેે મિલંર્ટરા સેુધીીનાી છૂર્ટ

REACHFORTHESKY

Sky has confirmed plans for a major investment in an expanded, state-of-the-art Scottish office in Livingston, with a full planning application having been submitted. long-term commitment to West Lothian and will support thousands of jobs and drive...

Every penny counts as council tenants’ rent rise given the go-ahead

BASSETLAW District Council has approved a 4.8 per cent rent increase for its 6,504 council homes. The decision was made by Cabinet members on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, and aligns with the Government’s National Social Rent Policy, which governs all...

HELP CALL AFTER ‘SUSPICIOUS’ MAN SEEN IN VILLAGE

SOUTH Wales Police have said they are aware of two separate incidents which have been reported involving a “suspicious male” in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil. Officers say inquiries are currently ongoing and the force said its local community policing...

Neighbours confront masked men who stole safe from property

A GANG of masked men attacked a woman after they stole a safe from a home on a quiet East Lothian street in a shocking incident caught on camera. The brazen theft, which has shocked the community, took place at 7pm on Reid Avenue, part of the Cala...

Safety plea following ‘terrifying’ collision

An urgent call has gone out to close a major Horsham road junction following a ‘terrifying’ crash. A family of four had a miracle escape after a 4x4 vehicle travelling on the wrong side of the road crashed into their van at the notorious Bar Lane...

Growing calls made to upgrade rail line

ACAMPAIGN to see passenger rail services return to Bideford is gathering pace but desperately needed improvements to the Barnstaple to Exeter (Tarka Line) line remains the top priority in North Devon. It comes after the line was closed between...

Y MUNI DRAWS IN 10,000 VISITORS

PEOPLE have flocked to a well-known arts centre in the first year since it reopened. A report has found that more than 10,000 visitors have been to over 200 events at Y Muni in Pontypridd in the first 12 months after it reopened to the public.

HELP CALL AFTER ‘SUSPICIOUS’ MAN SEEN IN VILLAGE

SOUTH Wales Police have said they are aware of two separate incidents which have been reported involving a “suspicious male” in Troedyrhiw, Merthyr Tydfil. Officers say inquiries are currently ongoing and the force said its local community policing...

Council in contempt over bollard dispute

CORNWALL Council has been found to be in contempt and ordered to pay £35,000 in costs to a resident of Portreath who had initially complained about it blocking vehicle access to her home by installing four bollards nearby. In a judgement shared with...

Going above and beyond

We’re here when you need us most, but we genuinely hope you won’t.

Government agrees to cancel city elections despite opposition plea

THE government has confirmed that Exeter’s 202 city council elections can be abandoned. The council’s Labour administration had asked the Secretary of State for local government Steve Reed to take up the offer of calling off the polls scheduled for...

‘Running scared’ Decision on postponing election is attacked

ELECTIONS in Cheltenham will be postponed this year. The Government confirmed it will bring forward legislation to postpone elections for 29 councils that provided sufficient evidence on how postponement would release capacity to help deliver local...

Good Samaritans bring A27 supplies

Two Good Samaritans have spoken out, after a video went viral of a man handing out drinks and crisps to stranded motorists on the A27 in Chichester. While the road was closed on Monday morning due to a ‘medical incident’, Zara Best saw all the...

Landslip disrupts rail travel

DISRUPTION to rail travel in Dorking and the surrounding areas is set to continue for multiple weeks as work to fix a landslide will take longer than initially expected. A landslip was discovered by rail teams on Monday and has left the track between...

Care hub hits the high street

A NEW NHS community diagnostic centre (CDC) has opened inside a Surrey shopping centre and is set to make it easier for thousands to access CT scans, X-rays, ECGS, ultrasounds, and respiratory tests. Surrey and Sussex Healthcare (SSH) NHS Trust and...

Well-travelled doll boards the 999 helicopter appeal

A HANDMADE knitted Chris Martin doll, created by local crafter Sandra Witcombe to celebrate the band’s Glastonbury 2024 headline performance and signed by Coldplay, is being offered in a Crowdfunder Prize Draw to support Dorset and Somerset Air...

Councillor uses AI to keep his voice

A COUNCILLOR who struggles to speak after developing motor neurone disease (MND) is using pioneering AI technology to communicate using his own recorded voice. Nick Varley, 58, who represents Kippington on Sevenoaks district and town councils as a...

Legally Blonde on the big stage

OVERFLOWING

A MAJOR incident has been declared in Somerset in the wake of Storm Chandra. More than 50mm of rain fell across parts of the county during the height of the storm on Monday ( January 27), causing rivers to burst their banks, flooding homes and...

» Sofa stars at national photography awards

APHOTO of a dumped sofa that became an unexpected tourist attraction has won a Portrait of Britain award. The image, taken by local photographer Alex Elton-Wall, shows a young girl, Amaya, sat on a fly-tipped sofa in the Forest of Dean. Alex found...

‘Difficult choices’ for Essex force warns police chief

A NEW Essex Police budget could see 110 staff roles cut and a ‘reduction in operational capabilities’ to investigate serious and organised crime. It comes as the force plans to raise an extra £11.95 million through an increase to council tax...

Scott: ‘Mega-force’ police reforms just won’t work

EVERY police force in the country will be able to use live facial recognition vans as part of the biggest shake-up in policing in decades. An existing 10 vans will rise to 50, rolled out nationwide, to catch criminals on police watchlists – and will...

Domestic abuse team reaches big milestone

A SPECIALIST police team dedicated to protecting people in Hertfordshire from domestic abuse has marked its 10th birthday. Hertfordshire Constabulary’s Domestic Abuse Investigation and Safeguarding Unit (DAISU) reached the milestone this...

FIREFIGHTER FEARS STATION CLOSURE

CLOSING Henley fire station will put more pressure on neighbouring services, it has been claimed. Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service is currently consulting on plans to improve response times across the county. The on-call station in West Street is...

Jealous teen nephew KILLED my little boy

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GRAMMARFLATS WORKUNDERWAY

Work is underway to convert the long-vacant former Lanark Grammar annexe building into flats, with the homes in the converted B-listed building set to be completed by June. Clyde Valley Housing Association (CVHA) is working in partnership with Wilson...

Take back control

It’s been almost a full decade since Britain voted to leave the European Union. Inside Labour, whatever words are muttered about accepting the referendum’s result, the consensus remains that Brexit was a mistake. Ministers compete to see who can flirt...

VALENTINE’S CARDS

6

Tributes to former mayor and councillor who was ‘keen to foster unity’ in council

AFORMER mayor and Cornwall councillor has died and his legendary last words have been shared. Graham Coad was elected to Hayle Town Council in 2007 and served as the town’s mayor between 2014 and 2016. He was also elected the Independent Cornwall...

Future of Clair Hall reaches milestone

The future of a former Haywards Heath theatre and community hall has reached a major milestone. During a cabinet meeting on Monday (February 2), Mid Sussex District Council will decide whether or not to accept a Community Interest Company (CIC) bid...

WELCOME

From the outside looking in, it seemed like the halcyon days of synth-pop were a sparkling world of luxury living, experimental thrills and unified camaraderie, enveloped in an exciting new wash of colour. And while many of the pioneers in the early...

DIGITAL CONNECTIONS

Half-marathon hoping to bring the community together

Community garden group’s £1,500 boost

THE Wonky Garden in Widnes has used a donation from Redrow’s community fund to support their hedgehog rescue network. The group works hard to enhance the local environment by providing support for wildlife in the area through enriching biodiversity...

Pieces put in place for Jigsaw Festival

Crieff’s groundbreaking 2025 Jigsaw Festival was the first of its kind in Scotland, and organisers are already gearing up for an expanded second year. Following on from last year’s inaugural festival, which saw hundreds of jigsaws completed at the...

POLICE REFORM ‘DOOMED TO FAIL’

VESPA & LAMBRETTA TECHNICAL GUIDE UPDATES INSIDE…

Parking price rise

Calderdale Council has reviewed parking and has said the changes to parking charges are in response to demand for parking spaces and to manage provision in the six main towns. The changes come into force on Sunday, February 22. Coun Sarah Courtney,...

Mum ‘finally feels in control’ after losing six stone

AYOUNG Southport woman who gained weight after her mum died when she was a teenager has spoken about how her life has been transformed after she lost over six-and-a-half stone with the support of her local Slimming World group. Social worker Ellie...

What’s new?

I’d say it’s right about now that we are all craving some newness in our lives. The glitter of Christmas is long gone, but so too, hopefully, is the glumness of January (while many people love the excuse to retreat and reset, I am not one for...

HOMESATFORMER UWSCAMPUSSITE

A major housing development transforming the prominent former University of the West of Scotland (UWS) campus in Hamilton has been given the green light. Permission has been granted for 122 houses and 20 flats at the site on Almada Street, which has...

Body in river murder probe

Detectives have confirmed that they are treating the death of a man whose body was found in the River Nene on Saturday (January 24) as murder. The man has also been named as Conor Kinlan, 30, of no fixed address. Officers were called to Pleasure Fair...

FORCE ACCUSED OF ‘COVER-UP’

SOUTH Wales Police has been accused of “abusing” its powers to shield officers from open justice. Arfon Jones, pictured, who had a long career as a police officer before spending five years as police and crime commissioner (PCC) for North Wales,...

‘I can still remember sound of fatal crash’

THE husband of a woman charged with causing the death of a man by careless driving has described the fatal moment a motorcyclist smashed into the back of their car. Craig Landt was the first witness in the trial of Sarah Landt, who is accused of...

Keeping it real

Ithink we’re getting better in this country at remembering that not everybody celebrates everything in the same way. When Mother’s Day comes around at GH, I hear at least as many people sharing supportive and consoling words with one another as I do...

“DOOM HAS COME UPON THE WORLD. XAL’ATATH HAS ASCENDED.”

World of Warcraft has had its ups and downs over the years, but one thing I feel it has never let up on is its epic-scale fantasy storytelling, something that remains as true as ever in its current Worldsoul Saga. And now, in WoW: Midnight, the...

Man told terrified woman to ‘pray to your God’ as he strangled and raped her

A ‘VIOLENT’ man chased a woman after she escaped from a bathroom window following a horrific three-hour rape and false imprisonment ordeal, a court heard. Humberside Police were called by a neighbour who heard the terrified victim’s screams as she...

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Hello!

Please forgive the clumsy Valentine’s reference, but there is no better time than February to reignite our passion for running. If you’ve got a spring race in the diary, this is just where it’s going to start feeling ouchy, while if you’re a new-ish...

DOUBT OVER PLANS FOR £1.5BN PLANT

FRESH doubt has been cast over ambitious plans for a £1.5 billion North Ayrshire development after the newly rebranded company behind the project refused to commit to Hunterston as its host location. A planning application for the project was given...

TRAIN ARROWWOR D your BRAIN

Enter your answer to each clue in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Incredible war stories buried beneath Fife soil

FORMER science teacher at Beath and Lochgelly high schools, Ian Mitchell, has been digging into the past. He’s an important person in Cowdenbeath Rotary Club’s work in involving local primary schools in the VE Day and VJ Day commemorations that took...

Mayor Lou gets set for Wokingham half marathon

WOKINGHAM town mayor Lou Timlin is lacing up her trainers and putting in the training miles ahead of the David Cliff Wokingham half marathon on February 22, where she is raising funds for her chosen charity, CLASP. Lou is the first to admit she’s not...

SOLBERG LANDS HIS BIGGEST WIN WITH MONTE CARLO TRIUMPH

Oliver Solberg and British co-driver Elliott Edmondson stunned the World Rally Championship regulars by taking a commanding win on the Monte Carlo Rally last weekend. Solberg, 24, is in his first full season as a factory Toyota Gazoo Racing driver and...

Maritime treasures

One of my favourite outings as a child was to the beach at Instow, in North Devon, to play on the shipwreck. Half buried in the sand, we used to climb up onto the deck and hide in the hull before taking a death-defying plunge off the starboard...

CAN THE EX60 GIVE VOLVO THE SUCCESS IT CRAVES?

Volvo is proof that the path of electrification does not run smoothly. In 2019 I attended the launch of its first electric car, the XC40 Recharge, when boss Håkan Samuelsson boldly vowed that EVS would account for half of the firm’s sales by 2025 and...

CALL FOR ACTION ON OFF-ROAD BIKERS AT COAL TIPS

THERE have been calls for more hard-hitting communications about the dangers of off-road biking at coal tips. A councillor said he had “significant concerns” about off-roading in Tonypandy on the tips above Nantgwyn and right across the borough. But...

VOLVO EX60

We get the inside line on Swedish brand’s revolutionary new SUV

Move to a new Mac — we show how!

THE VILLAGE NOTICEBOARD

Our columnist Paula Sutton on the beating heart of the village: the shop

Convicted terrorist set to stand in May election

ABIRMINGHAM Muslim activist who was jailed for his part in an armed terror plot is seeking election to represent Sparkhill on the city council. Shahid Butt, 60, has openly encouraged the city’s Muslim youth to ‘work out at the gym and learn to fight’...

Welcome

This year Steve Reich, one of the most influential composers of the past 60 years, turns 90. A leading voice in the minimalist movement, alongside fellow Americans Philip Glass and Terry Riley – and instantly recognisable with his trademark cap – Reich...

CHINA SPIES ‘HACKED LIZ TRUSS PHONE FOR NUDE PICS’

EVIL Chinese spies hacked into No10 mobile phones – in the hope of finding “compromising” pics of former UK Prime Minister Liz Truss. A high-tech spying op is said to have compromised some senior members of the Government, exposing private...

Welcome

One of the trees I’ve planted in the garden since moving to my current home is a magnolia – Magnolia x loebneri ‘Leonard Messel’, to be precise – and I’m happy to report that it’s thriving. Ever since I firmed it into the ground, my attention in...

The time for pretence is over

In one of those opening lines at which he excelled, WH Auden caught the temper of his time, and our time too: “The earth turns over, our side feels the cold.” China is an increasingly assertive power whose rival economic system is throwing off great...

Kitting out for your British bike

■ Buy a radio. It gets tiring talking to yourself. ■ Get some shelves, and some storage boxes to put on them. Big discount stores are good for these, old fruit boxes look cool, and old Post Office letter sorting boxes are brilliant. For big items, the...

Chaos outside The Oracle: Police order teens to flee after fight breaks out

POLICE have confirmed that a fight involving a group of youths led to a dispersal order and a heavy police presence in Reading town centre. Thames Valley Police said officers were called to a public order incident outside the Hollywood Bowl near The...

NOT AGAIN!

STORM Ingrid wreaked havoc in seaside towns across the south coast, breaching the sea wall again at Dawlish and washing away part of Teignmouth’s Victorian pier. Then just yesterday another named storm, Chandra, dumped up to 80mm of rain across...

LET IT GLOW

It might still be gloomy outside, but don’t let that get you down, as a glittering light show is back to brighten up the skies this weekend. The Gravesham Light Festival is returning for a fifth year and, this time, the main attraction is a five-metre...

Dot Robinson tells Bill Gibb all about the blankets she’s knitting for Guide Dog puppies

FOR the best part of 30 years, Dot Robinson has devoted her time to a charity close to her heart. As a fosterer for Guide Dogs, eighty-year-old Dot has provided vital care and nurturing, loving every single one – and being left heartbroken when she...

Hello!

Golden oldies Every year, the beauty industry produces a dizzying array of new products to excite and enthuse us. However, there are also beauty offerings on the shelves that have truly stood the test of time, rightly and steadfastly remaining in the...

Miss Jemima Gray

Jemima is the founder of country-clothing brand Cotswold Fox. She is the daughter of Paul and Sarah Gray of Faringdon, Oxfordshire.

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STYWWOA Y S O C L A I M

HEALTH SHAKE-UP DECISION LOOMING

HEALTH bosses will consider potential changes to healthcare services across the region at a special meeting next month. Last summer Hywel Dda University Health Board consulted with people on nine healthcare services to improve access and standards,...

From tattoo studio to library art exhibition

A TATTOO artist has swapped needle and skin for pen and paper to put on an exhibition of her work at Brentwood Library. Rachael Gater has worked as a tattoo artist at Urban Ink in Hart Street, Brentwood, for eight years. Now she’s channelled her...

‘Withdraw funds for waste site’

Outspoken North Ayrshire environmental campaigners have written to energy giant Octopus asking them to withdraw financial support for a controversial Irvine waste incinerator. However, the plant owners have this week defended their waste to energy...

BARRHEAD BARBER JAILED FOR RAPING TWO WOMEN

A BARBER who raped two traumatised women has been jailed for 10 years. Barrhead man Anas Almarjeh, 27, was sentenced at the High Court in Glasgow yesterday. [email protected] He preyed on his first victim while she was asleep at a...

Arundel Castle Medieval period comes to life

Arundel Castle is excited to open its 2026 events calendar with the ever-popular Easter Medieval Festival (April 3-5). This immersive experience invites visitors of all ages to journey back to the year 1189. The castle’s lower lawns will be...

Preparing for the worst

THIS may look like a selection of scenes from the Second World War, but as Corporal Jones would say, ‘Don’t Panic!’ It was actually seventeen years after the war had ended, and shows one of our famous local regiments carrying out an exercise, with the...

COUNCIL SETS OUT LOCAL PLAN TIMETABLE

A DERBYSHIRE council has agreed to stump up more than £3million to help fund the removal of trees affected by ash dieback disease. At a meeting of Derbyshire County Council, cabinet members approved setting aside £3.81million to dispose of trees hit...

SEX OFFENDER SENT INTIMATE VID TO ‘GIRL, 12’

A CONVICTED sex offender sent a video of himself engaging in a sexual act to someone he believed was a 12-year-old girl but was in fact an undercover police officer. He later told the decoy to delete the video and asked her for naked images of...

GOVERNMENT GREEN LIGHT ELECTIONS AFTER LEADER OUSTED

THE government has ruled that Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council 2026 elections should go ahead - hours after its leader was sensationally ousted. The Housing Secretary Steve Reed announced that 29 local council elections in May will be postponed...

Locals facing an uncertain future with closing time looming for some

A LOCAL pub organisation has warned that pubs across the county “face an uncertain future” after the Government’s U-turn on business rate hikes. Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman for the Campaign For Real Ale, said: “Pubs in Lincolnshire, and across the...

PARK LIVE!

BOSTON is set to have a live music festival after councillors agreed to additional funding for community events. Members of the Boston Town Area Committee (BTAC) agreed an events budget of £65,500 which includes a £17,000 funding contribution for a...

Locals facing an uncertain future with closing time looming for some

A LOCAL pub organisation has warned that pubs across the county “face an uncertain future” after the Government’s U-turn on business rate hikes. Ash Corbett-Collins, chairman for the Campaign For Real Ale, said: “Pubs in Lincolnshire, and across the...

‘I BEGAN TO DREAM OF WHAT COULD BE’

STAFFORD Rangers has welcomed a significant financial boost from another US-based backer. Wolverhampton-born Nathan Owen has become the latest investor in the Rangers, following a recent sixfigure investment from Dallas-based businessman George...

IT’SNOWTIMETO COMECLEAN

Holyrood health chiefs have been accused of ‘playing politics’ with Ayr’s Carrick Glen Hospital. Tory MSP Sharon Dowey claims the medical site will be sold off after May’s Scottish Parliament election. She reckons the SNP-led Scottish Government are...

NUNS FOUND GUILTYOF ABUSE

Two former nuns and a retired support worker have been convicted of abusing vulnerable young people at children’s homes in Ayrshire and Midlothian over 40 years ago. Carol Buirds, 75, Eileen McElhinney, 78, and Dorothy Kane, 68, were all found guilty...

Coercive abuser laughed at victim as she spoke in court

AVIOLENT thug was seen laughing and joking as he was questioned by police over a horrific campaign of controlling abuse. Drug user James Saxon isolated his victim from friends and family and monitored her movements, even following her in his car and...

I’m sick of new AI features on my phone. Here’s what it needs instead

Before we begin, it’s worth emphasising that I’m not an AI hater by any means. The technology is genuinely helpful, and I end up using it one way or another. You can’t really avoid it since it’s built into almost every platform and device now,...

Huge homes scheme gets green light

ALARGE housing development that would almost merge Smithy Bridge and Littleborough has been approved. The controversial 199home scheme off Smithy Bridge Road will bring more than just houses to the area, with a relief road to reduce traffic congestion...

TfL admits LTNs and bus lanes slowed traffic on some streets

EXTRA bus lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have increased congestion for private cars on some of London’s streets, Transport for London (TfL) officials have admitted. The transport body has been shifting policy away from accommodating...

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STYWWOA Y S O C L A I M

A beautiful burst of colour to beat the winter blues

6Patience pays off for photographer as he captures stunning images of a kingfisher at boating lake.

TfL admits LTNs and bus lanes slowed traffic on some streets

EXTRA bus lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have increased congestion for private cars on some of London’s streets, Transport for London (TfL) officials have admitted. The transport body has been shifting policy away from accommodating...

Young dancers fly flag for Scotland in Dublin

EIGHT talented girls from Renfrewshire have earned the honour of representing Scotland at the Dance World Cup in Dublin this summer. Isla, 14, and Bella, 12, from Park Mains High School, Lilliana, 11, Annabel, 11, Annalise, 10, Orla, 10, and Jenni,...

Editor’s letter

Decorating on a budget sounds sensible. But once you’ve pinned every image of Nigel Slater’s kitchen to your moodboard or fallen down a video-tour rabbit hole of Kendall Jenner’s mountain house, decorating on a budget can also sound a bit… dull. This...

TfL admits LTNs and bus lanes slowed traffic on some streets

EXTRA bus lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have increased congestion for private cars on some of London’s streets, Transport for London (TfL) officials have admitted. The transport body has been shifting policy away from accommodating...

TfL admits LTNs and bus lanes slowed traffic on some streets

EXTRA bus lanes and Low Traffic Neighbourhoods (LTNs) have increased congestion for private cars on some of London’s streets, Transport for London (TfL) officials have admitted. The transport body has been shifting policy away from accommodating...

Make it faster, more reliable and stretch further– no more dead spots! GET YOUR BEST EVER Wi Fi

✓ Best place for your router ✓ Set Wi-fi for each device ✓ Move to fastest channels ✓ Boost signal for just £25 ✓ Upgrade to Wi-fi 6... + ...But ignore Wi-fi 7

THISXLBULLYATE MYSON

A devastated mum is demanding answers after her son was eaten by an illegal XL bully in a horrifying attack. Scott Samson’s remains were discovered in his blood-soaked Rutherglen living room last March, alongside a dog he had agreed to watch for a...

PRICES SLIP AS BUYERS WISE UP

ritain’s classic hobby is booming – and in some great inflation-busting news, the admission price to join in the fun is actually less than it was this time last year. A CCW investigation of more than 5000 deals done at auctions over the past 12 months...

Teen stab victim was Farnham school pupil

SURREY Police has officially named the boy killed in a Guildford stabbing on Monday last week as two teens appeared in court charged with his murder. Officers were called to woodland off Lido Road, in Stoke Park, at 6.10pm on Monday, January 19...

BAREFOOT £666K WEED FARMER JAILED

A MAN from Vietnam caught fleeing a cannabis farm in Auchinleck with a potential street value of up to £666,000 has been jailed.

Youth centre welcomes almost £100k in funding

AN ALLOA youth centre has received a welcome funding boost of almost £100k to continue running its activities. It was allocated to The Hive on Mill Street by the National Lottery Fund’s Young Start Scotland Awards, and secures the service’s provision...

‘ADDICTION IS A FULL COMMUNITY ISSUE – WE NEED TO ADDRESS IT’

DARREN ANDERSON has more experience than most of the Ayrshire drug scene. A heroin addict for around 18 years, he spent much of his life in and out of prison for a series of drug-related crimes. It took the death of a close friend to help turn his...

Trust ‘over the moon’ with £16,000 donation

A CHARITY that was set up in memory of a Borderer has received a cash boost after employees at a Selkirk-based firm took on an epic walking challenge. Workers at Oregon Timber Frame conquered the St Cuthbert’s Way Challenge, trekking 100km from...

FIRMFINED FORHORROR INJURY

A man was left with a fractured skull, hearing loss and sight loss after a 4.5-ton machine toppled on him at an East Kilbride packaging factory. Matthew King was working for Multi Packaging Solutions UK Limited at its EK site on October 31, 2023, when...

Welsh Government intervenes to halt decision on falls power scheme

A DECISION on whether to approve a controversial hydro-electric scheme at a popular Eryri waterfall has been delayed after the Welsh Government intervened. The Eryri National Park Authority planning committee was due to decide on whether the proposed...

TARTAN BARMY!

Coatbridge MSP Fulton Macgregor has written to the Scottish Football Association ( SFA) to complain about Scotland’s national team NOT wearing kilts when travelling to matches at the World Cup in June. It was announced this month that Steve Clarke’s...

Changes to holiday let rules branded a missed opportunity

THE Welsh Government is to make three changes to holiday home rules in Wales - but operators have condemned the changes as a missed opportunity. Since 2023, self-catering properties in the country must be available for 252 days and let out for 182...

HOLLOW EARTH EXCLUSIVE!

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ROAD HOG!

Fury at letter that ‘sealed fate of village’

AFURIOUS councillor said a House of Commons select committee hearing into new towns appears to confirm a letter sent by Cheshire East’s leader and deputy had ‘sealed the fate of Adlington’, and both should resign. Cllr Hayley Whitaker was referring to...

‘After years of uncertainty this shows work is going to happen’

MORE than £50 million in funding has been approved for improvements to Leicester’s hospitals. The money will pay for a new £12.8 million urgent treatment centre at Leicester Royal Infirmary and a £39 million overhaul of facilities across the city’s...

IT’SNOWTIMETO COMECLEAN

Holyrood health chiefs have been accused of ‘playing politics’ with Ayr’s Carrick Glen Hospital. Tory MSP Sharon Dowey claims the medical site will be sold off after May’s Scottish Parliament election. She reckons the SNP-led Scottish Government are...

‘I loved and lost two great men – but I feel so lucky’ Look & feel good Golden Globe style Cosy winter classics Colourful accessories The latest beauty launches 33 Celeb fridge: Laura Anderson Lifestyle Cookery: Healthy one-pot recipes Better health

4 21 25 26 COVER STORY Winter skin saviours from £4.39 29 30 COVER STORY Lose 7lb in 7 days with the Terri-ann 123 Diet Plan 38 46 Bella The Traitors e40 COVER STORY Reader o er: Win a £1000 holiday to Ladram Bay! Bella

THE MAKING OF 5150 VAN HALE N AND THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF 1986!

THE MAKING OF 5150 VA N H A L E N AND THE GREATEST ALBUMS OF 1986 !

Denise van Outen

‘I used to wallow in break-ups, but all those experiences led to something better’ ‘I love dating apps now – they’re really fun’ ‘Having famous parents can be a disadvantage – but I’ll support Betsy if she wants to go into showbiz’

I’M YOUR MUM!

Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision

FROM FRI 6 FEBRUARY PRIME VIDEO King Charles III has always had a passion for the environment. Filmed across four continents in 2025, this documentary takes a look at His Majesty’s commitment to help protect our planet through the work of his charity,...

Trying

• Previously shown on Apple TV Season 2 of the comedy with Esther Smith and Rafe Spall (both above). Wannabe parents Nikki and Jason continue their adoption journey.

‘We promised NOT to talk about each other!’

STEAL JO’S STYLE

FROM £4.50

From the Editor

One of the great pleasures of my job is marvelling at the talents of RT’s staff. For the past few weeks they have been hard at work creating the definitive guide to the Winter Olympics, from establishing the fine details of when events will be...

baby steps

Oti Mabuse won scores of fans on Strictly with her dance talent and sunny personality. Now a TV star, Oti shares how she keeps the spark alive with her hubby while being a busy mum of a toddler, and why she’d love to dance with her old celeb partner...

2 free packets of seeds WORTH £7.18

MUM’S SON, 3, INGESTED HER COCAINE

AN AYR mum who allowed her three-year-old child to ingest cocaine while consuming the class A substance in her home over Christmas has been jailed. The woman in her 30s, who we have not named to protect the identity of her children, appeared at Ayr...

Has Lewis Hamilton spearheaded Riccardo Adami’s demotion at Ferrari?

Given its surprise yet complete inevitability, is the demotion of Riccardo Adami at Ferrari the first step towards change at Formula 1© s most historic team, spearheaded by Lewis Hamilton? Asking Ferrari to change its approach is a bit like asking an...

Questions asked as council agrees to loan £200,000 to a GP practice

MID Devon Distrrict Council has approved a loan of more than £200,000 to a doctor’s surgery even though the move drew some scrutiny. Redlands Primary Care, in Crediton, originally took out a £2.17 million loan from the council in 2021 for the...

TODD LEFT TO STARVE!

Welcome

Family history is an unusual hobby as far as cost goes. You can do a surprising amount of it for free by visiting libraries and archives as well as websites (our list of free online resources on page 35 is a great place to start), however, most keen...

SUNSHINE AND FLOWERS

Driven by a love of bright interiors, Edward Ray and Mark Leese have brought this seaside sanctuary to life

REFRESH YOUR HOME

Focus on houseplants Gorgeous natural buys Clutter-free & calm living

HARRY TELLS MEGHAN: ‘PLEASE DON’T DO THIS TO ME!’

ISSUE 1381 31 JANUARY - 6 FEBRUARY 2026

“I SET MY SIGHTS ON EARNING £1M IN FOUR YEARS”

Technology

The shadowy company reshaping global power

37

Victoria and her son Brooklyn were once inseparable I met David on tour

Expert advice

January 27, 2026 £3.25

26 in 2026

Well, as we all know, perfect planning prevents poor performance, so what you need to do is get planning your magical two-wheeled 2026 RIGHT NOW! And we’re here to help, with a massive list of top bikey stu to get you going. We’ve not listed 10n things...

Ontents Inside

“If this is the last third of my life how do I want to spend it?” So it’s a priviledge that we have seen the wonderfully colourful Prue Leith on our TVs until 86! She has explained that she is quitting to spend more time in the garden. I, too, have...

MUM’S SON , 3 , INGESTED HER COCAINE

AN AYR mum who allowed her three-year-old child to ingest cocaine while consuming the class A substance in her home over Christmas has been jailed. The woman in her 30s, who we have not named to protect the identity of her children, appeared at Ayr...

34

All About You Getting To Know – Peter Duncan “I’ve Raised Around £200,000 Since I Began Fundraising” “There Weren’t Many Women In The Hobby When We Were Growing Up” A Woman Called George PUZZLES & FUN Puzzle Quiz Brainboosters Mind Games Starry...

EDITOR’S LETTER

Like many I’m sure, I had hoped that the start of the new year would bring renewed energy and a more settled world for us to face. It must be especially daunting for young people today to envisage the future with so much hostility and conflict...

Canal collapse exposes ‘neglect of Britain’s failing waterways’

THE collapse of part of the Llangollen Canal embankment near Whitchurch has thrown a national spotlight on what campaigners have repeatedly said is a looming infrastructure crisis — and a failure in addressing it. The breach on December 22 sent tonnes...

Resto special

SIR DAVID and LADY BECKHAM What’s next for the couple after their son BROOKLYN’s extraordinary outburst?

In hindsight, the footage felt strangely prophetic. As Brooklyn Peltz Beckham attempted to draw his wife, Nicola, into a family portrait at the premiere of his father’s Netflix documentary in late 2023, the friction within the group was palpable. With...

A MAMBA LITE RIFLESCOPE & TICKETS TO THE BSS 2026

Night of music nets £10k for local cause

REPRESENTATIVES of the local music community took to the stage in Guildford on Saturday January 10 for this year’s One Winter’s Night concert at The Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford. Produced and hosted by local singer, songwriter and producer Gavin...

WELCOME

There’s no better time for a new challenge than at the start of a new year. is month, we present what could be the ultimate UK sea fishing challenge – catching a halibut in British waters. It’s a goal that may be more achievable than you think with...

The editor's welcome

AS A TEENAGER FISHING ON THE BORDER ESK IN the late 1970s, I didn't think in my wildest dreams that I would one day work on an angling magazine – let alone one of the world's finest and most revered. Now, having worked on the 40th, 50th, 60th and, last...

FEEL MORE CONFIDENT

YOUR 2026 GUIDE

The best shows, events inside! & road trips

JUKE’S UP

GLOVES ON FOR FESTIVAL BATTLE WITH KING GEORGE SUPERSTARS PRIMED AND READY FOR SPRING

Feast

See inside for this week's issue

ALSO IN THIS ISSUE

NEW Saxdor 460 GTC NEW Beneteau GT50 NEW Nimbus 12 NEW Axopar 38 NEW Princess F54 Azimut 82 TESTED Cormate Utility 27 TESTED Bluegame BGF45 TESTED Linssen GS29.9 TESTED

MEMORY LANE

When Tranmere stunned Saints

Rea rmation

At the risk of sounding like so many editorial lead-ins in other magazines, I’d like to open this issue by wishing you all a happy New Year, and bringing a welcome to 2026 – a year in which we should all be making a concerted e ort to spend more time...

GHIA CADILLAC

Stephen Bayley and Turin’s take on Detroit

The SECRETS of SEALING

FOUR-MIDABLE!

RED-HOT Middlesbrough moved to within three points of Championship leaders Coventry by thrashing Preston 4-0 – and boss Kim Hellberg insists there is more to come. Tommy Conway led the way with a double, while Alan Browne and Morgan Whittaker also...

Big Ride: Spain

Cyclist heads to the Tabernas Desert for a taste of the Wild West on wheels

Russia’s ‘grey zone’ activity in the Baltic, from GPS interference to aggressive shadowing, is unsettling sailors

“Look, Gerd... what is that? Is it a boat? Is it moving?” Anke Schekahn was on watch with her husband, sailing their Malö 40 Emaloca from Władysławowo in northern Poland, to Klaipėda in Lithuania, on their way to Estonia early in the summer of 2025. In...

Welcome

Hello! Our homes aren’t the smart utopias once imagined, mostly because not everything works together in a reliable way. That’s changing as devices become smarter, new standards like Matter make more things compatible and platforms like Alexa become...

TIME WARP

Collaborations between watch brands can be very successful when each brand brings a strong visual identity of their own to the table, so when the richly traditional Swiss manufacture Ulysse Nardin announced a partnership with avant-garde Genevan...

VIEWPOINT

Welcome to the February issue. With the excesses of the festive season well behind us, this month has a way of prompting a reset. When I lived in Singapore, it often coincided with Lunar New Year and rituals of clearing out: dark recesses of kitchen...

PEP TALK

Our top moodboosting beauty buys

Here’s to them: the regulars who prop up the nation’s bars

Like satellite dishes, Fruit of the Loom T-shirts and living members of the Bee Gees, there are not as many pubs about as there used to be. Those still going are certainly having a rough time of it (prompting the Telegraph’s Save Our Pubs campaign),...

HOWELL’S SEX KILLER BODYGUARD

Killer dentist Colin Howell has teamed up with a rapist and murderer to harass vulnerable prisoners into attending his behind-bars prayer meetings. Howell’s bodyguard is Kris Alauya (above), a Nigerian national serving life for strangling and sexually...

DISGRACEFUL HYPOCRISY

BY REFORM’S London Mayor wannabe is accused of hypocrisy by pitching a tough stance on tackling crime after campaigning with a disgraced Tory exposed for “cocaine” antics. We can reveal how Laila Cunningham, 48 – running for Nigel Farage’s party...

XL BULLY ATE MY SON

AN ILLEGAL XL bully has eaten a man in a horrific attack at his home. Scott Samson’s remains were discovered in his blood-soaked living room with a dog he was watching for a friend. A post-mortem could not determine whether the 38-year-old was killed...

City keep up pressure as Liverpool fall at the last

Manchester City cut the gap on leaders Arsenal to four points with a comfortable 2-0 victory over Wolves. The hosts opened the scoring in the sixth minute as Matheus Nunes’s cross found Omar Marmoush – starting in place of the dropped Erling Haaland –...

STARMER COULD BE OUSTED – FM

THE Labour First Minister of Wales has not ruled out the possibility that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer could be ejected from Downing Street before the end of the year. Eluned Morgan also said there was a “danger” the UK could break up in future, if...

HEARTBROKEN AND APPALLED

FEDERAL ICE agents shot and killed a man in Minneapolis amid ongoing mass protests against Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. Rep. Ilhan Omar issued a statement after the shooting, saying: “I am absolutely heartbroken, horrified, and appalled that...

Man shot dead in Minneapolis ICE raid

A federal officer fires tear gas into a crowd of protesters after a man was shot dead in a confrontation with immigration officers in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The man was seen lying motionless in amateur video after being tackled by the officers

‘Trump’s U-turn simply pathetic’

Donald Trump has been accused of performing “a pathetic U-turn” over his slurs against British soldiers in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raised Trump’s comments about Nato troops in Afghanistan directly with the US president in a...

‘Trump’s U-turn simply pathetic’

Donald Trump has been accused of performing “a pathetic U-turn” over his slurs against British soldiers in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raised Trump’s comments about Nato troops in Afghanistan directly with the US president in a...

POLICE PROBE SIX DEATHS AT BUG HOSPITAL

POLICE are now investigating the deaths of six patients who contracted infections while being treated at Scotland’s scandal-hit £1 billion superhospital, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The deaths of three adults and three children at Queen Elizabeth...

Saints go back to Prem summit

PICTURE: Getty Images NORTHAMPTON Saints reclaimed top spot in the Prem with a thrilling 43–29 win over Sale in an 11-try contest last night. Saints scored seven tries, including a late burst led by Henry Pollock, to secure an eighth victory from 10...

TRUMP PLANS DOONBEG VISIT FOR IRISH OPEN

US PRESIDENT Donald Trump plans to visit Ireland to attend the Irish Open at his Doonbeg hotel and golf course, the Irish Mail on Sunday can reveal. The US Ambassador to Ireland, Edward S Walsh, this weekend confirmed he discussed ‘the possibility of...

A monstrous ‘masterplan’

AT the end of another extraordinary week, Jared Kushner, who holds no o cial position whatsoever, presented a “masterplan” for redeveloping Gaza into a high-tech metropolis during a speech at the Board of Peace charter signing ceremony in Davos,...

FULL THROTTLE!

STUART MAYNARD labelled his York goal machines ‘incredible’ after Ollie Pearce hit a hat-trick as the National League leaders demolished Braintree at the LNER Stadium. Pearce’s second treble of another prolific campaign took his league tally for the...

‘Trump’s U-turn simply pathetic’

Donald Trump has been accused of performing “a pathetic U-turn” over his slurs against British soldiers in Afghanistan. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer raised Trump’s comments about Nato troops in Afghanistan directly with the US president in a...

POSH SPICE BLOKE SIGNS FOR CELEBRITY TRAITORS

BBC bosses are set to shock Celebrity Traitors viewers by having a male Posh Spice impersonator on the next series. But those who know Alan Marshall, 61, from Crewe, Cheshire, warn that he is a vile monster – and once took a dump in a tradesman’s...

PEP TALK

Our top moodboosting beauty buys

The big picture

It’s the mid-1960s, Beatlemania is at its height and four familiar faces peek out through the gap in a woman’s overcoat in this photograph by Joseph McKenzie, taken in the Gorbals area on the south side of Glasgow. She looks very fashionable in her...

Image and reality

In 1959, The Observer published the photo that gave Don McCullin his first break. Within a few years he had become a renowned chronicler of violence in Vietnam, in Cyprus and Biafra. Is he happy to be given the title “war photographer”, Andrew Anthony...

Pupils’ sex misconduct cases soar

THE number of children sent home from school for sexual misconduct has more than doubled in three years, shock figures show. A record 6,479 were suspended for sexually assaulting or harassing teachers and classmates in 2024 – up from the 3,031...

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RUSSIAN SPIES WILL ‘STEP UP’ ATTACKS ON UK

RUSSIAN spies will step up attacks against the UK this year as part of an “undeclared war” on the West, a former spy chief has warned. Sir Richard Dearlove, who ran MI6 for five years, said there has been a “continual, gradual escalation in grey...

STARMER IS CORNERED

LABOUR plunged deeper towards civil war last night as Andy Burnham announced his bid to become an MP – his first step in challenging Keir Starmer’s fragile leadership. In an 11th-hour move that sent shockwaves through Westminster, the selfstyled ‘King...

THE NEW CURIOSITY SHOP

The interiors of JW Anderson’s new store on Pimlico Road, London, have the qualities of a Vermeer painting: luminous, peaceful, domestic – the interiors you’d expect in a tastefully appointed home, rather than a retail space. Shelves sit against a...

ROD: Have I Told You Lately That I Hate You?

DONALD Trump last night issued a grovelling apology to British troops for badmouthing them. The US President backed down amid mounting pressure including a furious attack from rock legend Sir Rod Stewart. He blasted the Orange Manbaby as a “draft...

Denise Van outen

The star on her career, co-parenting and her one-woman show

Donatella’s Valentino tribute

Donatella Versace arrives for the funeral of the fashion designer Valentino at the Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels and Martyrs, in Rome yesterday. Among the mourners were Dame Anna Wintour and Elizabeth Hurley. Valentino died on Monday, aged 93

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Street where one half pays twice as much

Hazelbourne Road, in Clapham, southwest London, appears to be an ordinary street with terraced red-brick houses sitting neatly behind trimmed green hedges. Yet households on one side of the street pay almost £1,000 more in council tax than their...

CHRISTA ACKROYD A man who was pure gold – and one who deserves his statue

SOMETIMES in life you are lucky enough to meet someone who is truly a one-off. In the old days we would call them characters. Nowadays they would no doubt become global sensations simply by being unequivocally upfront and unashamed of their...

Fury over Trump’s ‘insult’ to UK troops

THE Westcountry father of a serviceman killed in Afghanistan is among those who have criticised US president Donald Trump’s comments diminishing the role of British troops in the conflict. Mr Trump made his comments in an interview with Fox News in...

I stepped back into work with a baby in my arms

THERE is something oddly calming about swaying softly while talking through a business cashflow. I’m aware that’s a strange thing to write, but my first KIT day or ‘keeping in touch’ day - from maternity leave arrived this week, with a baby tucked into...

Spurs approach Liverpool for defender in cut-price deal

Tottenham have made an approach to sign Andrew Robertson from Liverpool, who are open to allowing the long-serving left-back to leave with only five months remaining on his contract. Liverpool respect Robertson’s wish to sort his longterm future as...

From forgotten villa to luxury apartments

BY the time Alex Cooper first pushed open the door of The Hollies in the winter of 2012, rain was pouring through the roof, the windows were boarded with metal sheets, and the interior had been hacked into a warren of small, lowceilinged rooms. “It...

How I See It

This might be the last newspaper column I ever write, so I think I’ll use it to infuriate a lot of people. What the hell. I can’t be intimidated into blandness for the next 10 columns, as there isn’t a next 10 columns! It’s my final one in this space,...

The world’s GREATEST WILDLIFE holidays

Whether your dream wildlife holiday involves tracking big cats, watching elephant families at play, cetaceans breach, or Arctic predators on the prowl, this is the year to make it happen. The wildlife experiences described here span all of the planet’s...

I stepped back into work with a baby in my arms

THERE is something oddly calming about swaying softly while talking through a business cashflow. I’m aware that’s a strange thing to write, but my first KIT day or ‘keeping in touch’ day - from maternity leave arrived this week, with a baby tucked into...

Labour Left plots against Starmer – and Streeting

» Left-wingers fear a ‘Wes Streeting coronation’ as Prime Minister, if they don’t find strong rival candidate before any Labour leadership election » Dilemma for Keir Starmer on whether to block ‘King of the North’ Burnham from standing as MP in...

How to beat the phone-snatchers

More than 117,000 phone thefts were reported in London in 2024. That’s more than double the number from the previous year (52,000). The most common method involves thieves riding past on modified e-bikes, scooters, and mopeds and snatching phones from...

CALLED TO THE SPA

Fancy a break at a health retreat that costs £25 a day (full board with all your treatments thrown in)? In deepest Tajikistan, your dream could come true. Photographer Jo Kearney takes a trip

BEST PERIOD ROMANCE BRIDGERTON

If you’ve never watched this passionate costume drama before then the fourth series is, funnily enough, an easy place to start. It’s a Cinderella story between rebellious Benedict Bridgerton (Luke Thompson) and Sophie (Yerin Ha, left with Thompson) who...

‘I quit my job as a doctor to answer Saracens SOS’

Brendan Venter (left), a Saracens adviser, puts his arm around Mark McCall, the club’s director of rugby, as it was revealed the pair would be swapping jobs

MAGA and the world

ONCE PEOPLE thought Donald Trump was at heart an isolationist or a “restrainer”, a kind of isolationist-lite. Air strikes in the Middle East during his first term could be chalked up to the neoconservatives around him. Then the president returned to...

LAJUANA IS 89 SHE HAS THE BODY AND MIND OF SOMEONE DECADES YOUNGER SCIENTISTS WANT TO KNOW WHY

LAJUANA IS 89 SHE HAS THE BODY AND MIND OF SOMEONE DECADES YOUNGER

Welcome

The number of photographers that the average person in the street could name could be counted on one hand, with fingers to spare, but there is no doubt that Martin Parr was one of them. His unique eye for the quirks of modern culture (especially but...

PICTURE THIS...

WALES rugby player John Devereux celebrates winning his rst international cap with fellow students at South Glamorgan Institute, Cyncoed, Cardi , in January 1986

FROM THE EDITOR...

I’ve done some interesting races during my time on 220, but one thing I would never have considered doing is completing an iron-distance in Antarctica, swimming alongside a penguin and keeping half an eye out for peckish leopard seals. Maybe I’m just...

Chasing Glory

‘Quad God’ Ilia Malinin leads a Team USA figure skating squad that past champions describe as the strongest ever to go to the Winter Olympics.

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WIND FARM WATER ROW

The call has gone out for residents in Ardrishaig and beyond to have a final say on the proposed wind farm above the village as the consultation closes on Monday. New information was added to the plans for 10 turbines by developers Low Carbon but...

BUDGET BILL REACTION

Finance secretary Shona Robison’s budget speech, which sets out the government’s spending plans and priorities for 2026 to 2027, has received mixed reviews, both locally and nationally. The proposals outline how the Government plans to spend the money...

Pressure on pubs after spot checks

SOUTH Yorkshire Police and Barnsley Council are ramping up the pressure on pubs after an operation last weekend found more than half of licensed venues sold alcohol to underage kids without checking their ID. On Saturday, officers from Barnsley...

‘THUNDERBIRD’ DUTIES

UNBOXED: ARCS

Cast your mind back to 2018 – a simpler time when AI wasn’t sucking up all of the Earth’s water to create digital memes and Pandemic was something you played, rather than a global outbreak that forced you to stay inside for months on end. Sounds nice,...

911 2.0 UNCOVERED

Women to watch

Early days Growing up, I did every sport under the sun, but I started getting more seriously into running when I was 14. After joining a club where we would do athletics, cross country, mountain running and roadrelay champs, I represented New Zealand...

12 FITNESS BOOSTS PTs DON’T WANT YOU TO KNOW

(until now!)

Football’s 50 WONDERKIDS

JOHN ROBERTSON OFC PRO LEAGUE FIFA ARAB CUP GARY LINEKER Q&A WOMEN’S UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

WOMAN, 39, DIED IN DRUGS TRAGEDY

A WOMAN overdosed on a mix of drugs, an inquest has found. Natalie Jones, pictured above, and her boyfriend Jonathan Williams were found dead on February 21 last year at her flat in Hirwaun. The bodies were discovered after police forced entry to Ms...

Signs of hope

Pupils at St Benedict’s Catholic Primary School in Midsomer Norton joined a global moment of faith as Pope Leo officially closed the ‘Door of Hope’, marking the end of the Church’s Jubilee Year of Hope. Pupils reflected on hope and how to share it....

Hello

As we move further into the year, it feels like the perfect time to plan more 2026 knitting projects for celebrations, gifts or yourself. This issue is full of pieces that fit every mood: a slouchy colourwork jumper to curl up in, a delicate...

How eat well s y well

Ged Walters

suggests ten avenues to pursue in your quest for more power and distance

Also inside:

Welcome

I hope you all enjoyed a relaxing Christmas holiday, and managed to get out and about for some birding, despite the very cold weather. My own New Year’s Day list included a Slavonian Grebe and a Yellow-browed Warbler – both nice surprises in my part of...

Previews, reports, analysis, fight diary, small halls, UK results and in-depth amateur coverage

THREE THINGS THAT CAUGHT MY EYE

We can’t escape from Jack the Ripper. Every year a new book, a new theory, a new drama or a new documentary promises to reshape our understanding of this heinous murderer – although arguably few actually do. But Jack was not the only elusive serial...

Let’s go all in. What’s the worst that could happen?

We gained a lot when videogames made an almost wholesale shift from 2D to 3D in the 1990s, but we don’t often consider what was also lost. During the early days of Sony’s attack on the console hardware market, it was apparently next to impossible to...