19+ min ago (600+ words) Two new books analyse what makes the "perfect pub" and both come to a sobering conclusion: Irish pubs are in trouble Like triple-distilled whiskey, Irish pubs appear to have timeless appeal. They are staple setting in films, books and plays, draw tourists to Ireland, replicate themselves around the world and induce social media quests for the perfect snug and the perfect pint. Scholars have now bestowed academic imprimatur on this cultural treasure status by examining " and celebrating " pubs through the lens of history, sociology, architecture, psychology, design, art and literature. Two new books, The Irish Pub: Invention and Reinvention, and The Dublin Pub: A Social and Cultural History, brim with footnotes, data and lore as they analyse what makes a "perfect pub" and the mysterious alchemy that produces "craic". However, in each case the authors come to a sobering conclusion:…...

19+ min ago (386+ words) Big deal-breakers are all very well, but the seemingly small things often tell in the end. How do they feel about sell-by dates? Will they walk out of a bad film? Not asking will come back to haunt you A friend of mine once declined a date with a kind, funny, clever man because she hated his shoes. When she relayed this to our group of twentysomethings, it didn't warrant comment or discussion, because it was such a rational decision, which we all would have made. I mean, come on " you can't go out with someone with bad trainers, can you? Fortunately for the continuation of the human race, today's daters appear to be a little less fastidious. A recent report on relationships by the dating app Plenty of Fish not only failed to mention footwear, but showed that people…...

1+ hour, 19+ min ago (751+ words) Exclusive: French artist planning to cover bridge over Seine in tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude The enigmatic French artist JR will undertake what he says is his biggest ever challenge next year when he "wraps" Pont Neuf, the oldest standing bridge across the Seine River in Paris, in a tribute to a monumental art project by Christo and Jeanne-Claude. For three weeks next June, the 232-metre (761ft) long bridge will be wrapped in fabric, 40 years after the married artists known for their large-scale, site-specific environmental installations did the same thing. In an exclusive interview with the Guardian in his Paris studio, JR said the project " titled the Pont Neuf Cavern " was "100% the most challenging thing I've ever done". "Suddenly, I realised I could actually wrap this bridge and create a real cave in it. "You're going to see this big rock…...

1+ hour, 21+ min ago (220+ words) Australian opener "preparing for anything" in Brisbane Agrees with Pat Cummins that batting order "overrated" Last month Pat Cummins, Australia"s currently-injured captain, described the concept of batting orders as "pretty overrated, insisting quality players "can bat wherever " an opinion Head echoed. Head reiterated his readiness to open the batting again in Brisbane this week and that he was "preparing for anything at this stage. One thing he is not doing, however, is worrying about the pink ball - "It"s still a cricket ball " and the impact of playing much of the match under floodlights. "There"s a lot talked about lights and when it does things and what it does and doesn"t do, he said. "You"ve just got to play the game in front of you. Some wickets are greener, some flatten out, some crack, some spin....

1+ hour, 30+ min ago (535+ words) Australian campaigners demand Albanese government cancel planned fossil fuel projects and tax existing operations at 78% Activists have blocked another two coal ships from entering the Port of Newcastle on the fourth day of the Rising Tide protests, bringing the total number of ships turned around by campaigners this weekend to three. Thousands of people have gathered at Rising Tide's annual climate protest at the world's largest coal port. It began on Thursday and will continue until Tuesday. Hundreds have kayaked into the port with many more watching on from the beach. Three activists secured themselves to the anchor chain and sides of a ship on Sunday as part of a Greenpeace Australia Pacific action, the environment group said in a statement. Australian musicians Oli and Louis Leimbach, who had earlier performed at the protest as part of the band Lime…...

1+ hour, 43+ min ago (386+ words) Melbourne star says recovery "going well" Eli Katoa remains hopeful of a return to the NRL, saying his recovery from brain surgery is "going well" as he paid tribute to his partner and fans for supporting him. Katoa was ruled out of the 2026 NRL season after undergoing emergency surgery in New Zealand to treat a brain bleed that he suffered while playing for Tonga in the Pacific Championships in early November. The Melbourne Storm second-rower"s career was thrown into doubt after he suffered three head knocks in 90 minutes and required oxygen on the sidelines. Katoa spent more than two weeks in hospital before consulting with specialists in Melbourne, who advised that he not play next season. The 25-year-old is continuing his rehabilitation and recovery under the watch of the Storm medical staff, and said he hoped to play again....

2+ hour, 18+ min ago (150+ words) News and discussion as we build up to the day's actionPremier League things | Get in touch Morning, all. Here comes more football, and it's a big day in the capital as the top two take on each other and the fallen champions visit West Ham. Oh, and before that, Manchester United visit Crystal Palace. Keep it here for all the buildup and news.Join me. Continue reading... Chelsea v Arsenal buildup, Slot under pressure at Liverpool, and more " matchday live News and discussion as we build up to the day's action Premier League things | Get in touch Morning, all. Here comes more football, and it's a big day in the capital as the top two take on each other and the fallen champions visit West Ham. Oh, and before that, Manchester United visit Crystal Palace. Keep it here for all…...

2+ hour, 19+ min ago (255+ words) Not long ago the Norwegian giants were relegated and almost bankrupt " now a first title in 34 years is in reach There were moments last weekend when Viking's latest must-win game at Fredrikstad seemed to turn on a coin toss. The chances came thick and fast; both goalkeepers were forced into acrobatic saves; on the stroke of half-time, the Fredrikstad forward Henrik Skogvold unleashed a shot that cracked the underside of the bar and seemed to defy the laws of physics by spinning away. If Viking win their final match on Sunday, back in their Stavanger home against V'lerenga, they are guaranteed a first league title in 34 years. Bod/Glimt start one point behind with a vastly superior goal difference. Relegation was an ice-cold wake-up call. There were wholesale changes in management and administration to the point that only a handful…...

2+ hour, 19+ min ago (589+ words) Pay mistake is latest setback to image of exclusive Qatar-owned London retailer after a series of crises Harrods warehouse staff have been underpaid thousands of pounds after the temporary recruitment agency employing the workers failed to award them the correct levels of holiday pay. The error, which possibly equates to a six-figure debt owed to hundreds of lower-paid personnel, marks the latest setback to the image of the exclusive Knightsbridge retailer, which is owned by Qatar's sovereign wealth fund and has spent the past 12 months firefighting a series of crises. The recent difficulties have included Harrods establishing a compensation scheme in March for survivors of alleged sexual abuse by the former owner Mohamed Al Fayed, while in May the department store warned customers their personal data may have been taken after a high-profile IT breach. Harrods warehouse workers were underpaid…...

3+ hour, 18+ min ago (776+ words) Criminals send thousands of texts about an undelivered bargain buy and ask for a redelivery fee in a bid to mine your data and bank details You have landed a lot of bargains in the run-up to Black Friday and most of your Christmas shopping is done. So when a text arrives about a delivery, it's no surprise. A quick click on a link and you have paid the "2 redelivery charge it's asking for. The problem is, the package in the text does not exist, and you have just handed your bank details to a criminal gang which has been "spraying" thousands of similar messages to mobile phones around the UK after one of the year's biggest shopping days. Warnings have been issued by the government, mobile phone operators and delivery companies as fraud reaches record levels in the run-up…...