27
This year there was a complication to that tradition: she has her own house now. I can’t say how long this will go on, but we’ll enjoy it while it does. I know she has a lot of cool stuff planned for 2026 and I’m glad to get to be part of some of them. In the meantime: She’s great and I love her. If you want to wish her a happy birthday in the comments, that would be swell.
Source:The Guardian
December 23, 2025 20:20 UTC
Kate Winslet’s Reveal: Cruel Body Shaming In Her Youth
Kate Winslet, the Oscar-winning actress and timeless cinema icon, has recently shared shocking revelations about her difficult teenage years and the beginning of her acting career. The Bitter Words of a Drama Teacher: “Settle for Fat Girl Roles!”In an interview with BBC Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, Kate Winslet recalled a painful memory from her school days. Pointing to her success today, the acclaimed actress addresses those critics saying: “Look at me now!”Devastating Impact on Mental Health and Extreme DietsThe bitter experiences of her teenage years left deep scars on Kate Winslet’s physical and mental health. She says: “I didn’t let them ruin the path I had set for myself.”In recent years, Kate Winslet has become one of the leading advocates for “natural beauty” in cinema. A Look at Kate Winslet’s Recent ActivitiesThe talented actress, who recently completed her directorial debut with the film Goodbye June, continues to break stereotypes.
Source:The Guardian
December 23, 2025 19:21 UTC
Lidl Christmas and Boxing Day opening times: What time are stores open during the Bank Holiday?
BUDGET supermarket Lidl has revealed the opening hours for all of its branches across the UK during the Christmas period. When is Lidl open over Christmas and Boxing Day? Customers cutting it close can still shop on Christmas Eve, with stores open from 7am until 6pm. These handy tools show up‑to‑date opening and closing times, helping Christmastime customers avoid wasted journeys during the busy holiday period. Lidl’s official festive-hours statement reads: “As in previous years, all Lidl stores will be closed on Christmas Day.
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 18:50 UTC
Finland uses a progressive scale for speeding tickets; the f...
This site is made possible by member support. 💞Big thanks to Arcustech for hosting the site and offering amazing tech support. When you buy through links on kottke.org, I may earn an affiliate commission. Thanks for supporting the site! home of fine hypertext products since 1998.
Source:The Guardian
December 23, 2025 18:38 UTC
Labour sows discord with another belated U-turn on farmers’ tax
Act now to keep your subscriptionWe've tried to contact you several times as we haven't been able to take payment. You must update your payment details via My Account or by clicking update payment details to keep your subscription.
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 18:14 UTC
Russell Brand charged with new offences of rape and sexual assault
Russell Brand has been charged with two further offences including one count of rape, the Metropolitan Police has said. In a new statement, the police force said the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) has authorised an additional charge of rape and a charge of sexual assault relating to two further women. The broadcaster, comedian and actor previously pleaded not guilty to five charges including two counts of rape, two counts of sexual assault and one count of indecent assault in relation to four women. Mr Brand, 50, is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 20 January 2026 in relation to the two new charges.
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 17:21 UTC
'Best walk ever' - Workington Rambling Club reflects on 2025
Heading down from Walla Crag to Keswick (Image: Workington Rambling Club)To the northeast, Great Mell Fell was just visible, poking through the cloud. Ribblehead Viaduct 01 Heading down from Walla Crag to Keswick 5 January 2025 (Image: Workington Rambling Club)Early autumn brought clear vistas over Coniston from the Old Man. Views on the way to Great Carrs (Image: Workington Rambling Club)Another outing from Bootle to Silecroft took place in thick mist. Workington Rambling Club offers a choice of low-level, medium, or more challenging hill walks. Clough Head summit (Image: Workington Rambling Club)Coach walks take place every other Sunday with pickups from High Harrington, Great Clifton, Cockermouth, and Workington.
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 17:06 UTC
Institute chairman insists club will continue to rise to challenges after navigating ‘strange year’
Institute chairman Bill Anderson insists the club will continue to rise to every challenge moving forward after navigating a “strange year” both on and off the pitch for the north-west club. It has been a roller coaster year for the Brandywell-based club as, on the pitch, they finished seventh in the Playr-Fit Championship before losing manager Kevin Deery to Ruaidhri Higgins coaching staff after taking over at Coleraine.
Source:Express
December 23, 2025 16:35 UTC
Police set to ditch non-crime hate incidents in favour of ‘common sense’
Controversial non-crime hate incidents (NCHIs) are set to be scrapped under “common sense” proposals that will be presented to the Home Secretary next month. Following a review, the College of Policing and National Police Chiefs’ Council have concluded that recording “information about non-crime incidents on a crime system is not the right solution”. The new ‘PLANE’ guidelines instruct police officers to consider five keywords before only logging serious incidents as “intelligence” reports: Proportionate, Legal, Accountable, Necessary and Ethical. ‘Policing tweets’Chairman of the College of Policing, Lord Herbert of South Downs, told The Daily Telegraph: “NCHIs will go as a concept. That system will be scrapped and replaced with a completely different system.
Source:The Guardian
December 23, 2025 16:30 UTC
Fact Check: Rumor that city in Sweden trained crows to pick up cigarette butts is for the birds
Advertisement AdvertisementAdvertisement AdvertisementIn fall 2025, a rumor circulated that a city in Sweden was using trained crows to pick up cigarette butts as litter. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025. Accessed 19 Dec. 2025.
Source:The Guardian
December 23, 2025 16:01 UTC
Two Indian Literary Giants Claim New York Times Top 10: Kiran Desai and Arundhati Roy Define 2025’s Best Books
In a historic moment for Indian literature, two books by Indian women authors claimed spots on The New York Times’ prestigious Top 10 Books of 2025 list—announced on December 2, 2025. Sunny is a struggling journalist in New York City attempting to flee his imperious mother and the violence of his warring clan. I cannot recommend it enough.”The simultaneous recognition of both Desai and Roy on The New York Times’ Top 10 list represents more than individual achievement—it marks a moment of global recognition for Indian women’s literary voices. Roy”According to New York Weekly Times, Roy and her brother came to call their mother “Mrs. According to Book Riot and Parade, The New York Times’ selection process was rigorous, with editors Gilbert Cruz and colleagues narrowing down from 100 notable books to these ten titles.
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 15:46 UTC
Globe-trotting fashion designer turns waste into clothing for dolls
To show how innovation can help tackle this growing waste problem, Epson - which commissioned the report - collaborated with fashion designer and sustainability trailblazer Priya Ahluwalia to create Fashion Play. The doll-sized fashion collection was made from textile waste using Epson’s Dry Fibre Technology and printed with Epson’s water-saving Monna Lisa digital textile printer. And 35 per cent of parents admitting to chucking some in the bin because they didn’t have time to do anything else. Children are bought around nine items of clothing by friends and family during the Christmas period, three of which won’t ever be worn. Designer Priya Ahluwalia said: “Travelling to India and Nigeria, I witnessed the true scale of textile waste as a result of the Western second-hand clothing industry.
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 15:25 UTC
Trump calls the New York Times ‘a threat to national security’ in late night social media rant
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticePresident Donald Trump accused the New York Times of “endangering national security”, calling the newspaper “a serious threat” in a late-night rant on his Truth Social platform. “The Failing New York Times, and their lies and purposeful misrepresentations, is a serious threat to the National Security of our Nation,” he wrote. open image in gallery Donald Trump has again lashed out at the New York Times ( Getty )It is not clear what particular article, if any, prompted the president’s rage. Another Times reporter was among a series of female journalists Trump has directly insulted in recent weeks.
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 14:33 UTC
King Henry VIII and Queen Victoria immortalised – on chocolate coins
The historical monarchs feature on giant, 20cm wide coins as well as more traditionally sized ones. Chocolatier Jen Lindsey-Clark was enlisted to create the festive coins using a total of 15kg of chocolate and more than 10g of metallic dust and spray. To accurately re-create each coin, 3D moulds were made and filled with hand poured chocolate ahead of being set and embellished. They were made to celebrate the opening of Cash Access UK’s 200th banking hub in Billericay, Essex. What’s more, 44 per cent save this festive money as part of their emergency fund – with Gen Z’s doing this the most (58 per cent).
Source:The Times
December 23, 2025 14:28 UTC
Jamie Carragher issues public apology after making controversial decision
Jamie Carragher has revealed why he excluded Moises Caicedo from his team of the season so farJamie Carragher has offered an apology to Chelsea fans after excluding Moises Caicedo from his team of the season thus far. On Monday Night Football, the former Liverpool defender revealed his standout XI of the campaign, with Caicedo being a conspicuous absence. Carragher selected Declan Rice, Granit Xhaka and Bruno Fernandes as his midfield trio. I've said I think Rice just has the edge on Caicedo. But I just felt the impact of Xhaka this season is the biggest impact of a signing or effect on a team.
Source:Express
December 23, 2025 13:43 UTC