Professional communications teams may now package storytelling as strategy, but the craft of storytelling is far older, and far deeper, than any job description. For over 30 years, the Society for Storytelling has championed oral storytelling in all its forms. In oral storytelling, teller and listener co-create meaning in the moment. Oral storytelling builds empathy, and strengthens listening and imagination. Oral storytelling underpins literacy, enriches vocabulary and invites playful thinking long before written text.

Israel has become the first country to recognise Somaliland as a sovereign state, a breakthrough in its quest for international recognition since it declared independence from Somalia 34 years ago. The Israeli foreign minister, Gideon Sa’ar, announced on Friday that Israel and Somaliland had signed an agreement establishing full diplomatic relations, which would include the opening of embassies and the appointment of ambassadors. Somaliland controls the north-west tip of Somalia, where it operates a de facto state, and is bordered by Djibouti to the north-west and Ethiopia to the west and south. Not if, but when and who will lead the recognition of Somaliland,” Abdullahi told the Guardian. Cruz said Somaliland was an ally of Israel and that it had expressed support for the Abraham accords.

The jailed former Malaysian prime minister Najib Razak has been sentenced to an additional 15 years after he was found guilty of abuse of power, in the biggest trial yet in the multibillion-dollar fraud scandal related to the state fund 1MDB. In the latest case, Najib had been charged with four counts of corruption and 21 counts of money laundering for receiving illegal transfers of about 2.2bn ringgit ($544.15m) from 1MDB. Judge Collin Lawrence Sequerah, who was presiding, convicted Najib, 72, on all four counts of abuse of power. According to investigators, proceeds from the state fund were used to bankroll high-end real estate, a luxury yacht and precious artworks. Najib has apologised for allowing the 1MDB scandal to happen during his tenure, but maintains he knew nothing about illegal transfers from the fund.

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Diego Rossi 'wants' Celtic transfer reunion with Nancy as Jocelin Ta Bi agent breaks silence on talksThe Hoops are eyeing a busy January window after a disappointing summer spending spreeView 2 Images Diego Rossi #10 of the Columbus Crew celebrates (Image: MLS via Getty Images)Columbus Crew forward Diego Rossi reportedly wants to reunite with Wilfried Nancy at Celtic in the January window. It comes as talks ramp up to land winger Jocelin Ta Bi. Daizen Maeda has been filling the void but could move in January - despite Nancy insisting he wants the Japan international to stay. until June at Hapoel Petah Tikva. "In any case, Petah Tikva is aware of the offer that was submitted, as the player himself feels ready to move to a higher league."

Being indoors can give us a degree of protection from outdoor air pollution, but it can also trap pollution we produce inside our homes. Dr James Heydon and a team from the University of Nottingham measured air pollution in 20 UK homes for four weeks. “We found that wood burning can trigger sharp spikes in indoor air pollution,” he said. Simple choices, like not lighting a stove on poor air quality or low wind days, improving ventilation, and avoiding frequent refuelling can help make a real difference.”Cooking also adds to indoor air pollution. Prof Sarah West from the University of York is part of the Ingenious study that measured air pollution in 310 homes in Bradford.

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Netflix, from New Year’s DayY Crwydryn (The Wanderer)View image in fullscreen Keeping it alive … John Jones and Alun Roberts in Y Crwydryn (The Wanderer). BBC iPlayer, out nowMembers Only: Palm BeachView image in fullscreen Guilty pleasure … Hilary Musser in Member’s Only: Palm Beach. Photograph: NetflixThis true-crime documentary unravels the horrific story of influencers Jodi Hildebrandt and Ruby Franke. Netflix, from Tuesday 30 DecemberRicky Gervais: MortalityView image in fullscreen Monumental … Ricky Gervais: Mortality. Netflix, from New Year’s DayThe Teresa Battaglia CasesView image in fullscreen High altitude … Elena Sofia Ricci in The Teresa Battaglia Cases.

For a while, Boxing Day 2025 felt like a re-enactment of Boxing Day 2010. You had England choosing to bowl on a cloudy morning and finishing off the hosts in time for an early tea. In 2010, England owned the day, a Jimmy Anderson swing masterclass ripping out a paralysed middle order, Chris Tremlett lopping off top and tail like a légumier preparing string beans. That’s why the Boxing Day crowd in 2010 sat in shellshocked silence at the change of innings: the danger of a series loss stared 84,000 attendees in the face. The heartbreaker for Australia in 2010 wasn’t the 98 all out on day one, it was the 157 without loss that followed it by stumps.

Welcome to the new age of luxury holidays. A&K says that two out of three of its private jet journeys for next year are already sold out. Virtuoso is a global network of luxury travel specialists whose members have reported eye-watering room rates at popular European resorts last summer. Fly to SHA Mexico on a private jet MAUREEN EVANSThen there’s the rise of the health-conscious who want hyperpersonalised programmes at medi-spas that offer state-of-the-art screening using hospital-grade equipment. Likewise, a visit by private jet from London to SHA Mexico for its tailored longevity programme could rack up a bill of £220,000.

Working smarterNorth Cumbria's NHS trust has learned lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic and the acceleration it brought in services moving online. This could involve learning lessons from the Covid-19 pandemic, using digital innovations to monitor patients closer to home. Anxiety in young peopleGrowing-up during the upheaval of the Covid-19 pandemic was challenging for young people and may be responsible for deterioration in their mental health. Immediately following the Covid-19 pandemic, the service saw a rise in young people with anxiety about leaving the safety of their home. Leaders of statutory organisations such as NCIC and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service have said the issue is a factor in their struggles to recruit staff.

New York City announced plans for a second Times Square ball drop in 2026 to help launch celebrations marking America's 250th anniversary. The plan came from America250, the congressionally chartered body overseeing the nation's semiquincentennial, which partnered with One Times Square and the Times Square Alliance to stage the event. Organizers also unveiled plans for a redesigned Times Square ball, known as the Constellation Ball, featuring crystal panels and illuminated patterns inspired by Morse code. Michael Phillips, president of Jamestown L.P., which owns One Times Square, said the building has long served as a focal point during moments of national significance. Organizers said they designed the semiquincentennial to encourage broad participation, using the Times Square ball drop as a visible opening signal for a year of nationwide observances.

Sad sign of the times as Stoke City fans walk past Boxing Day homeless campThe tents have been pitched near the incineratorView Image A homeless camp near the incineratorStoke City fans have walked past a homeless camp - on their way to this afternoon's Boxing Day match. The tents have been erected on land near the incinerator. ‌It comes as Stoke City have entertained Preston North End in the Championship this afternoon. ‌Stoke-on-Trent City Council has pledged to get tough on homeless encampments in the city. It is part of moves to try to have the UK's most family friendly streets here in Stoke-on-Trent.

FeaturedUS says more strikes expected in Nigeriatheguardian.com International News Dec - 26 - 2025 , 15:51 4 minutes readThe US defence secretary, Pete Hegseth, has warned of new strikes against Islamic State targets in north-western Nigeria, hours after the US military took action against militant camps in what Donald Trump has characterised as efforts to stop the killing of Christians. Hegseth wrote on X: “The president was clear last month: the killing of innocent Christians in Nigeria (and elsewhere) must end. Merry Christmas!”Nigeria’s foreign minister, Yusuf Tuggar, said on Friday that the US strikes, which came after Trump had accused Nigeria’s government of failing to stop Christians being killed in the country, were “part of joint ongoing operations”. Nigeria is officially secular and its population is almost evenly split between Muslims (53%) and Christians (45%). Nigeria provided the intelligence for the airstrikes in Sokoto state, Tuggar told the country’s Channels Television on Friday.