The Prince of Wales has paid tribute to the great “personal sacrifice” of Britain’s servicemen and women in a Christmas message to the armed forces. Charles spoke of his admiration for those who endure “great danger” to protect the country, and the families who support them. And he praised the “professionalism, understanding and cultural sensitivity” of those in the military. ...

Millions of shoppers have hit the Boxing Day sales on high streets across the UK, seeking out the best bargains. The keenest queued from the early hours, with some stores opening their doors from 06:00 GMT. Retailers including Harrods, Liberty, House of Fraser, Next and Marks & Spencer dropped their prices in store, and offered more discounts online. Wealthy Chinese ...

Heavy rain has caused more flooding in northern England, with homes evacuated in Lancashire and Yorkshire, and rivers overflowing in Manchester and Leeds. Damage has included the destruction of a former pub in Greater Manchester, and a large hole has appeared in the M62. The Met Office has issued two severe weather warnings, meaning danger to life, for further rainfall. More ...

Several children are among at least 18 people who drowned when their boat capsized trying to cross from Turkey to Greece, officials say. The wood boat capsized in high waves as it tried to cross from Turkey’s Izmir province to the Greek island of Lesbos. Twenty-one people were rescued. At least 24 people have died in two similar sinkings this ...

One hundred years after the inception of Sykes-Picot, world powers are back fighting over the same spit of land. A century ago today, a 36-year-old author and purported Arabist named Mark Sykes made his way to 10 Downing Street in London to meet the leaders of Britain and discuss the tricky issue of dividing the spoils of the collapsing Ottoman ...

Russian President Vladimir Putin presented visiting Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi a page from the diary of Mahatma Gandhi and an 18th century Indian sword, an official statement said on Thursday. Putin presented the items to Modi while hosting the latter for a private dinner on Wednesday evening. “President Putin presented to the Prime Minister a page from the diary ...

If you are an employee, you know that staying healthy benefits you in many ways: fewer missed work days, greater productivity, and less stress. Staying healthy is good for your pockets too, in the form of lower health care costs and health insurance premiums. 10 best practices to staying healthy at work: 1. Wash your hands often: Hand-washing is the ...

Drinking a cup of warm lemon water every morning is one of the simplest, most affordable and natural ways to improve your health which has incredible benefits on your health. Energizes your Body It gives your body a lasting boost of energy, making it a healthier alternative to your morning tea or coffee. Healthy Digestion The minerals and vitamins found ...

Weight-loss surgery can cut the risk of diabetes and heart attacks as well as keep fat off, a UK study suggests. It is the largest comprehensive investigation of bariatric surgery – spanning around four years in nearly 8,000 patients. The health benefits of the surgery are clear and substantial for people who are severely overweight, the authors told PLoS Medicine. ...

Regularly popping pills for a headache can make it worse, says a new study. What else can you do? Don’t buy expensive painkillers Avoid painkillers that say ‘plus’ or ‘extra’. People choose them because they assume they will work faster, but they simply contain added ingredients like caffeine or codeine that might not be suitable for you. See your GP ...