440

Leading X-ray space telescopes XMM-Newton and XRISM have spotted a never-seen-before blast from a supermassive black hole. In a matter of hours, the gravitational monster whipped up powerful winds, flinging material out into space at eye-watering speeds of
60,000 km per second.
427

Nigeria said its response to terrorism threats “goes beyond borders” after the U.S. launched airstrikes against Islamic State militants in the West African country on Thursday. “Nigeria’s focus remains the protection of innocent lives and the defeat of terrorism through coordinated action with partn…
321

The committee overseeing celebrations for America's 250th birthday next year announced Friday that the Times Square Ball in New York City will be featured in a pair of events on New Year's Eve and in July. America250 said the Times Square Ball, which attracts scores of tourists each year as it helps…
323

SPOILER ALERT: This story contains spoilers from Season 5, Volume 2 of “Stranger Things, now streaming on Netflix. In one week, we’ll have all the answers. But for now, we’ve got a lot of questions. During the Christmas Day release of Volume 2 of “Stranger Things 5,” many key plot points were fleshe…
331

Mudslides, big waves and atmospheric rivers slam state after LA’s wettest Christmas season in 54 yearsA strong storm system that has brought relentless winds, rain and snowfall to California was expected to ease on Friday, but there was still a risk of high surf along the coast, flash flooding near …
320

Gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) are among the most powerful explosions in the universe, second only to the Big Bang. The majority of these bursts are observed to flash and fade within a few seconds to minutes. But on 2 July 2025, astronomers were alerted to a GRB source that was exhibiting repeating bursts …
317

Elon Musk’s net worth increased by nearly 50% to $645bn with founders of Google and Amazon also seeing huge wealth gainsA stock market boom in artificial intelligence companies has added more than half a trillion dollars to the wealth of America’s tech barons in the past year, data shows.The top 10 …
319

From cheeseboard pies to spiced-up veg and one last sweet flourish, this is how to eat, waste less and savour the lull between Christmas and New Year• Sign up here for our weekly food newsletter, FeastAt this time of year, I like to stay home, shut off from the world and do as little as possible for…
233

President Trump's first year back in office saw a whirlwind of executive actions, the passage of a major reconciliation bill and the rapid remaking of the federal government. Trump campaigned in 2024 on bringing down prices, implementing the largest deportation program in American history and rollin…
222

When Israel launched a lightening attack on Iran’s military and nuclear sites on June 13, it kickstarted a conflict dubbed the “12-day war” by US President Donald Trump. Although the whirlwind clash lasted less than two weeks, it caused unprecedented destruction in Israel and considerably weakened t…
220

Danyah Miller responds to a pass notes column about companies that are hiring people to ‘own the narrative’Your article on the rise of storytelling as a corporate skill (Pass notes, 17 December) highlights something that storytellers have always known – that people crave meaningful human connection.…
220

Readers respond to the government’s plans to improve the lot of animalsThe government’s strategy for animal welfare offers substantial improvements in the lot of kept animals but, in keeping with precedent, free-living wildlife is sold short (Editorial, 23 December). The law protecting wildlife is o…
231

Pete Hegseth says ‘more to come’ as Nigerian FM confirms his country provided intelligence for first waveUS politics live: latest news updatesThe US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has warned of new strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria, hours after the US military took act…
218

Rick Gardner, CIO of RGA Investments, breaks down his outlook heading into the new year. Garnder says that its reasonable for investors to be 'optimistic' about markets in 2026, expecting uncertainty around policy to die down. Gardner said that as tech trade narrows, there is opportunity for investo…
220

Every Sunday, protesters from Florida and beyond go to the notorious immigration jail and advocate for its closureThey come on buses, in cars and RVs. Some ride on motorcycles. Every Sunday afternoon, convoys of protestors from all over Florida, and others from out of state, descend on the notorious…
211

If appeal fails, every person in the UK who made App Store purchases between 2015 and 2024 could be entitled to compensationApple is seeking to overturn a landmark £1.5bn court ruling on behalf of millions of UK customers, which found the company overcharged them for years in its App Store.The iPhon…
219

Podcast host Joe Rogan on Thursday slammed President Trump's White House plaque describing former President Biden's time in office as "so crazy," saying it sets a bad precedent. "This is so crazy," Rogan told his guest, comedian Shane Gillis, on "The Joe Rogan Experience" released on Christmas Day. …
220

Exclusive: Imran Ahmed says US companies are ‘corrupting the system’ of politics by seeking to avoid accountabilityA British anti-disinformation campaigner told by the Trump administration that he faces possible removal from the US has said he is being targeted by arrogant and “sociopathic” tech com…
220

Scientists in Japan have confirmed that ultra-thin films of ruthenium dioxide belong to a newly recognized and powerful class of magnetic materials called altermagnets. These materials combine the best of two magnetic worlds: they’re stable against interference yet still allow fast, electrical reado…
220

Spaniard, who at 30 has been coaching for half his life, discusses Arteta, tactics and how to win players’ trustCarlos Cuesta, towards the end of his first major interview, briefly lets himself wonder how far his journey will take him. “Maybe one day it brings the Maldives,” he says with a laugh, th…
219

An elusive wild cat long feared extinct in Thailand has been rediscovered three decades after the last recorded sighting, conservation authorities said. Camera traps in southern Thailand’s Princess Sirindhorn Wildlife Sanctuary captured 29 detections, including a female with her cub, offering rare h…
221

⚽ Updates from the afternoon Boxing Day football action⚽ Live scores | Tables | Follow us on Bluesky | Mail BarryChampionship: Despite failing to properly get his head to a free-kick aimed towards the far post, Jack Robinson somehow manages to take advantage of some slapstick defending to bundle the…
231

In this week’s newsletter: as we head into 2026, we’ll be testing products to help you cut waste and lighten your load on the planet• Don’t get Down to Earth delivered to your inbox? Sign up hereChristmas Day is almost a relief when it arrives, isn’t it? The season of consumption – from overindulgin…
207

Readers share a range of responses to one of the commonest greetings in the English languageMy late father-in-law, who lived to be 104 and was a veteran of the Dunkirk evacuation and the north Africa war, would inevitably respond to the question “How are you?” (Letters, 23 December) with an enigmati…
220

The Archers: Live at 75, set at the Ambridge Flower & Produce show, will feature a rotating cast of actors from the hit radio dramaPeople have been tuning in to hear rural tales from the fictional village of Ambridge for 75 years, but now the colourful characters of BBC Radio 4’s The Archers will be…
210

South Korea on Friday announced plans to end foreign adoptions over a five-year period, aiming for zero by 2029, as UN investigators raise “serious concern” over decades of abuses. Many adoptees were sent abroad with falsified records or suffered mistreatment, and critics say Seoul has failed to pro…
221

For anyone who overindulged during the holidays, the hype around weight-loss drugs like Ozempic can be tempting. Originally developed to treat diabetes, the medication suppresses appetite—and in the U.S., where oversized portions and fast food reign, its effects are even noticeable in New York resta…
223

I had gone out with friends to mark the end of university, and one by one they disappeared. With the music throbbing, I learned I could be comfortable in my own companyBetween the ages of 16 and 21, the big night out wasn’t just a hobby, it was a calling. Getting together with friends, getting drunk…
231

Poll released by group as people gather for traditional Boxing Day hunts finds 76% of voters believe Labour prioritises urban issues over rural onesKeir Starmer’s government has been told it has “alienated rural people” as traditional Boxing Day hunts gathered across the UK ahead of plans to ban tra…
207

Several Republican lawmakers praised President Trump on Thursday for carrying out strikes on ISIS militants in Nigeria after he said they killed Christians in the African country's northwest region. Rep. Bill Huizenga (R-Mich.) and Sen. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) both called the strikes "decisive." "The Cong…