'Weak excuses' lambasted for skipped bin collections on road
Several households in a Maidenhead street have questioned repeated missed bin collections – with one resident hitting out at ‘weak excuses’ for the problem. Danesh Gangahar lives in the cul-de-sac end of the street and noticed that their blue recycling bin wasn’t collected on December 5 – and not for the first time. Moreover, neighbours also faced problems with the black general waste bin not being collected that day, and a green garden waste bin that wasn’t collected on December 12. He feels this shows that RBWM’s bin collectors are producing ‘arbitrary, weak excuses’ for not picking up the bins. A spokesperson for RBWM said: “We have been in contact with residents and our contractors to answer concerns around waste collection.
Source:Express
December 24, 2025 16:43 UTC
Epstein: “Our President Also Shares Our Love of Young, Nubile Girls”
The short message references President Donald Trump and, according to another released file, was submitted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a handwriting analysis on July 31, 2020, after Epstein died. The FBI New York Office of Public Affairs declined to comment when asked about the results of the handwriting analysis. “Our president also shares our love of young, nubile girls,” Epstein purportedly wrote in the letter to Nassar, according to the document posted online by Trump’s DOJ. A White House spokesperson didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment about the letter. The Associated Press reported in 2023 that a letter from Epstein to Nassar was found returned in the jail’s mailroom weeks after Epstein’s death.’From:https://www.detroitnews.com/…/doj-releases…/87894273007Also see:https://www.forbes.com/…/major-epstein-files-release…https://www.theguardian.com/…/epstein-files-larry…https://www.cnn.com/…/liv…/trump-epstein-files-12-23-25c
Source:The Guardian
December 24, 2025 16:36 UTC
Seven of the UK’s most majestic winter wildlife encounters
And although it may not be picnic weather, winter is no exception. Their population has since swelled but while they’re secretive in summer, they gather as noisy flocks in winter. Wilderness Scotland’s Winter Wildlife holiday includes a full day in the Cairngorms Mountains; you’ll also visit wetlands and Caledonian pine forest to boost your species count. Their honking calls are a highlight of winter days at Slimbridge, a Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust reserve beside the River Severn (from £19; wwt.org.uk). Start at the Welsh Wildlife Centre to ask about recent sightings, then head out to try your luck from the viewing hides (free; welshwildlife.org).
Source:The Times
December 24, 2025 16:24 UTC
West Bromwich Albion's tracksuit rebels of 1963
In the days before Christmas 1963, West Bromwich Albion's first-team players revolted. It was bitterly cold, but their manager would not let them train in their full tracksuits. Temperatures were hovering around zero, the ground was rock hard, and other top teams had escaped to practise on the continent. When the players asked to warm up in trousers, Williams recalled Hagan said: "No, do you play in a tracksuit?" "He says: 'Well, you train and you play in the same, to keep used to it.'"
Source:The Times
December 24, 2025 16:03 UTC
UK Small Businesses Embrace TikTok Shop for Expanded Reach
19 hours agoNews SummaryTikTok Shop, launched in the UK in 2021, has rapidly become a significant e-commerce platform for over 200,000 small and medium businesses. This platform enables brands to sell directly within TikTok through videos and livestreams, capitalizing on impulse buying behavior. Major retailers like Marks & Spencer and Sainsbury’s have joined, with Sainsbury’s experiencing a successful campaign for its Tu Christmas pyjamas. L’ERA, a London-based jewellery brand, anticipates generating £145,000 in revenue from TikTok sales this year, highlighting the platform’s potential for increasing reach and sales. Despite its benefits, the platform also pressures small businesses to constantly create content and reduces focus on brand building.
Source:The Guardian
December 24, 2025 16:02 UTC
Inmates could escape jail on drones, warns top prison governor
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 24, 2025 16:01 UTC
The video games readers couldn’t switch off in 2025
Once again, we are approaching the cherished time of year between Christmas and New Year when we might actually have the time to play some video games. Over the past few weeks you have been sending in your favourite games of the year. PS: The pigs and hotdog section was beyond funny!” Simon Watson“My favourite game this year has to be a triumphant return to the Lies of P universe and the DLC, Overture. Big fan.” Tara Cooper“My favourite game of the year has been my favourite for years: Ghost of Yōtei. Just unique, and a perfect follow-up to the equally weird Paradise Killer.” Paul Jones“My favourite game of the year is, very much, Dispatch – and I can’t wait for the final episodes to drop tonight.
Source:The Guardian
December 24, 2025 15:36 UTC
Canterbury East train death: Investigation launched
Police were called to the tracks near Canterbury East station at around 11.20pm on December 23. Officers attended alongside paramedics, however a person was pronounced dead at the scene. The incident led to lines being closed between Faversham and Dover Priory, with no services running into the following morning, impacting trains between London Victoria and Kent. A British Transport Police spokesperson said: “Officers were called to the line near Canterbury East railway station at 11.19pm yesterday (23 December) following reports of a casualty on the tracks. “Paramedics also attended, however sadly a person was pronounced dead at the scene.
Source:The Times
December 24, 2025 14:15 UTC
Institutionalized Scarcity: Eugene Kolkevich Releases Report on the Artificial Drivers of the U.S. Physician Shortage
mytsv.com is a premier platform for investigative healthcare research and economic analysis, founded by Eugene Kolkevich to provide transparency into the systemic challenges facing the American medical landscape. E. Kolkevich, CEO of mytsv.com, has released a comprehensive research report uncovering the institutional mechanisms that sustain the physician shortage in USA. DEERFIELD, IL, UNITED STATES, December 24, 2025 / EINPresswire.com / --Institutionalized Scarcity: CEO Eugene Kolkevich Releases Report on the Artificial Drivers of the U.S. Physician Shortage Eugene Kolkevich, CEO of mytsv.com , has released a provocative new research report detailing how the U.S. physician shortage is being sustained through institutionalized legislative bottlenecks and strategic market control by health insurance conglomerates. "The narrative that our doctor shortage is a natural byproduct of an aging population is only half the story," said Eugene Kolkevich, CEO of mytsv.com.
Source:The Guardian
December 24, 2025 14:03 UTC
Why are drug prices so high in America? Trump doesn’t have the right answer | Susi Geiger and Théo Bourgeron
When Donald Trump spoke about drug prices on 19 December, he struck a familiar note. Countries like France, Germany and Japan, he argued, were piggybacking on the United States by keeping their drug prices low. Trump claimed he had told the French president that France would have to double or triple its drug prices – and that France would ultimately give in. Thanks to this tough approach, Trump promised to cut US drug prices “by 700%”, a figure so nonsensical it barely merits scrutiny. Drug prices are eye-wateringly high.
Source:The Guardian
December 24, 2025 14:00 UTC
Mikel Arteta offers Arsenal injury update after concerning Carabao Cup moment
Arsenal beat Crystal Palace on penalties at the EmiratesArsenal boss Mikel Arteta has admitted Gabriel Martinelli "could not carry on" as the Gunners were handed a fresh injury concern during their Carabao Cup quarter-final triumph. "He could not carry on so what we had to make the sub," Arteta explained following the victory. Despite the fitness setback, the Spanish tactician was delighted to see his squad edge closer to a Wembley appearance. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT Stopper Kepa seized a rare opportunity to shine after spending the league campaign as understudy to David Raya. Article continues below ADVERTISEMENT "I think we play so well and then they changed, they adapt a little bit," he told Sky Sports after the win.
Source:Express
December 24, 2025 13:14 UTC
Mortgage rules eased to help first-time buyers and self-employed
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 24, 2025 12:43 UTC
How do modern Christmases compare to Victorian times?
The published entries are part of a much larger document which has been passed down the generations – totalling 11 volumes of almost daily entries. But the sheer volume of entries meant that the 300 plus pages of the published work represented just a fraction of the whole. Were they to do so I might find the time to turn my attention to the nine volumes of my Great Great Grandfather’s diary! This year, very few of the entries have been published before. This time I have included a few extracts relating to family issues which demanded his attention despite the business of the festive season.
Source:The Times
December 24, 2025 12:07 UTC
BP sells majority stake in Castrol for $6 billion to pay down debt
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 24, 2025 11:59 UTC
Breckland Council's 'shocking' work from home policy sparks row
A Norfolk council’s working from home policy has been branded ‘utter madness’ by a councillor who said he ‘regularly struggles to find anyone in the building’. “Of course there are exceptions to any rule, but to have an entire workforce on this policy is utter madness.”Breckland Council. Picture: LDRSBreckland first moved towards a remote working policy around a year before the pandemic. Rob Walker (right), has defended the council's policy. The concept, which has been discussed by 25 councils across the UK, has come under significant criticism in recent months.
Source:Express
December 24, 2025 11:41 UTC