95 minutes ago Tennessee has a new execution method, 2.5 years after last scheduled execution abruptly halted

More than 2 years after Tennessee abruptly halted the execution of inmate Oscar Smith, the state has announced a new lethal injection method

Politics

8 hours ago My family call it Old Lady Clubbing, but my giddy ‘nights out’ have lit up a dismal 2024 | Gaby Hinsliff

Dance till you drop, then home by 10pm – daytime events offer a glorious escape for those of us bogged down by responsibilityLast Saturday night, I went clubbing with friends. Once upon a time, this wouldn’t have been a remotely odd sentence to type, because it was what I did pretty much every weekend. But a lot has changed since then – let’s just say that in my peak raving years there was a Labour government in power, only it was actually popular – and like most people whose happy place was once on the dancefloor, inevitably with time comes the feeling that you no longer belong. Deep down, you still come to life when the bassline kicks in. But you morph from hardened raver to the kind of person who’s always up for dancing at parties and weddings, and then finally into the kind of person whose friends aren’t getting married any more and who spends their Saturday nights giving their children lifts to parties. So eventually you tell yourself sadly that those days are over now, and tha...

Society

7 hours ago 13 little treats to buy for yourself in the winter sales if Santa didn't quite deliver

Let's face it: sometimes Santa gets it wrong, no matter how many 'subtle' suggestions you send or Christmas lists you write.

Economics

29 hours ago Chelsea vs Fulham LIVE: Premier League latest goals and updates as Cole Palmer scores brilliant opener

The Blues welcome Fulham for a west London derby as they look to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the table

Sport

82 minutes ago Holocaust survivor, 83, is 'stabbed to death' outside her nursing home in Israel by 'Palestinian terrorist who was former West Bank informant before his cover was blown'

Ludmila Lipovsky was attacked while waiting for her daughter to pick her up to take her to a medical appointment in the city of Herzliya on the outskirts of Tel Aviv on Friday morning.

Events

38 hours ago ‘I get spotted in the M&S knicker department’: Lorraine Ashbourne on her 2024 TV takeover

From Bridgerton to Sherwood and Alma’s Not Normal, the actor has lit up our screens all year – and her ‘victory lap’ is only just starting Lorraine Ashbourne has had a massive year. “I know! People keep saying: oh God, Lorraine, get off the telly, we want somebody else,” she says. “But it has been extraordinary.” She kicked things off in January with ITV’s entertaining disaster thriller After the Flood, playing Sophie Rundle’s tough, grieving mother, Molly. As the year went on, she returned to two of her biggest and most significant roles yet, as the former secret spy cop Daphne Sparrow in Sherwood, and Grandma Joan in the wrenching, hilarious second series of Alma’s Not Normal. Has she ended up in such outstanding shows because she’s picky? “Absolutely not. I’ll do anything! I’m a cheap date. It’s just timing that these things have fallen into place.”Right now, Ashbourne is at home in north London. She grew up in Manchester, where she went to drama school. She met her husband, Andy...

Culture

31 hours ago Doctor's receptionist shared patients' medical records to 'impress friends'

Arman Vyas, 23, was employed by two GP practices in the north of Glasgow and in East Dunbartonshire.

Science

2 hours ago Secrets of Melania Trump's brilliant style tactics: From statuesque suits to Dior opulence... how the First Lady now lets restrained elegance do all the talking

Even when she says nothing - Melania seems intent on being heard. Impeccably attired in a Ralph Lauren Collection chalk grey and white flannel double-breasted pant suit - she stood out.

Politics

8 hours ago We're stuck in Britain's downsizing gridlock: As the price of bungalows soars, the retirees struggling to buy a smaller home with the proceeds of selling their larger family house

Anne Savory (pictured) and her husband Ted want to sell their three-bedroom bungalow in West Suffolk and move closer to their children.

Society

30 hours ago Best Boxing Day deals with discounts up to 60% off fitness wear, including Lululemon and Gymshark

From huge savings on leggings to tops and sports bras, these are the best Boxing Day sales to shop now if you're looking to stock up on stylish activewear essentials

Economics

37 hours ago How to watch Chelsea vs Fulham: TV channel and live stream for Premier League today

A tasty west London derby is on the cards at Stamford Bridge

Sport

1 hour ago Tornadoes tear through Texas and Louisiana as thunderstorms sweep across South

Barns were damaged in a county just west of Houston but no injuries were reported

Events

3 hours ago Starmer’s VAT raid will ensure private schools become even more elitist

Letters to the editor: our readers share their views. Please send your letters to letters@independent.co.uk

Politics

11 hours ago Wild weather for New Year's Eve as Met Office forecast flags major change for UK

North-east England will enjoy the brightest weather of the day, with some sunshine in Aberdeenshire in the afternoon and temperatures of about 10C to 12C across the country

Society

30 hours ago Boxing Day sales slash the price on iconic fitness wear brands, with up to 60% off

With Boxing Day sales in full swing, now's the time to start shopping all of the must-have fitness wear pieces - and we've found the best deals you won't want to miss

Economics

40 hours ago Sydney to Hobart yacht race 2024: reigning champion LawConnect leads fleet out of heads

Favourite for line honours Master Lock Comanche was in hot pursuitFleet of 104 expected to move quickly down NSW coast in north-easterly breezeReigning line honours champion LawConnect has led the Sydney to Hobart fleet out of the Sydney Heads as the 79th running of the blue-water classic gets under way.Favourite for line honours Master Lock Comanche was in hot pursuit behind her rival 100ft supermaxi, the pair leaving the iconic Sydney Harbour behind at about 1:15pm – 15 minutes after the start. Continue reading...

Sport

1 hour ago 'I forgot I let the PDC use my song for the World Champs – I can't believe it's a cult hit'

Italian band Planet Funk had no idea their song 'Chase the Sun' had become the sound of darts until they heard it blaring out inside the lobby of a London hotel

Events

4 hours ago Across the west, the centre right is collapsing – and with it, any notion of what is ‘too extreme’ | Owen Jones

So-called moderates are mimicking populist demagogues, with potentially disastrous consequencesIt was once known as the “centre right”, and this was the year it definitively perished. It never had a coherent political philosophy, but it tended to blend deference to the perceived needs of large business interests, the championing of so-called traditional values that were actually longstanding prejudices, and admiration for established institutions. Above all else, it supposedly offered a cordon sanitaire, preventing anything further to the right from acquiring political legitimacy.That hasn’t quite worked to plan. Nigel Farage now claims his populist-right Reform party has a higher membership than the Tories: if true, it is the first time in British history that members of a rightwing rival have outnumbered the Conservative party’s. Nearly two decades ago, then Tory leader, David Cameron, dismissed Farage’s Ukip as “fruitcakes and loonies and closet racists mostly”; but today, Camero...

Politics

35 hours ago UK weather: Leave the umbrella at home! Boxing Day will be dry and mild and perfect for a post

Boxing Day temperatures are set to reach a high of 12C in the south-west of England, and 11C in Wales, the Met Office said.

Society

32 hours ago A Silicon Valley nudist resort is on sale for $30m – but will its new owner ‘go textile’?

Members are in limbo as Lupin Lodge is on the market after nearly 90 years – with next buyer likely to require clothesAfter nearly 90 years as a historic nudist resort, California’s Lupin Lodge is up for sale – and its next owners are likely to require guests to wear clothes.The 112-acre Silicon Valley property became a retreat for members of the “naturist” movement in 1935. Today, its hundreds of members enjoy the resort’s clothing-optional hiking trails, pickleball court and its nude-only community pool. (Yes: the members really do hike naked.) Continue reading...

Economics

3 hours ago Biden administration pledges additional military aid to Ukraine amid Russia war

Security assistance package in works as North Korean troops are deployed in Kursk after Putin-Kim agreementThe Biden administration is pledging to approve fresh military aid to Ukraine in the coming days, including crucial air defense systems, as North Korean forces face mounting casualties in their first major deployment to a European conflict.John Kirby, the US national security communications adviser, told reporters on Friday that in just the last week North Korean troops had suffered more than 1,000 casualties in what he referred to as failed “human wave” assaults near the Kursk border-region, which confirms similar figures reported by South Korea. Continue reading...

Events

5 hours ago The best spa hotels in New York City for jet lag cures and treatments with a view

From bespoke treatments to tranquil escapes admist the urban buzz, these are our favourite hotels with spas that the Big Apple has to offer

Politics

36 hours ago In a Japanese restaurant in west London, this Chinese woman felt truly at home | Xinran

In my younger years I travelled all over China. But on a culinary tour of Bayswater with my son, I tasted belongingIn our end of year series, writers and public figures remember the place or time when they felt most at homeIn 2006, during his gap year before starting university, my son Pan set out to discover a “world beyond books”. After spending four months backpacking through Australia and New Zealand, he shared with me his most profound realisation from his travels: the meaning of home.He told me: “Some people live in luxurious mansions but rarely share dinners or weekends with their families. Others, in crowded cottages, are enveloped daily by the sounds of children playing and the aroma of home-cooked meals. Some reside deep in the mountains, knowing every blade of grass, bird and rabbit, while others traverse busy city districts yet remain strangers to their own neighbours.” His words made me think about the places I have called home.Xinran is founder of the Mothers’ Bridge o...

Society

33 hours ago Mohammed Kudus set surprising new target amid £85m January transfer links

Mohammed Kudus is being linked with a move to Manchester City but West Ham head coach Julen Lopetegui is calling on the Ghana star to focus more on his defensive work

Economics

4 hours ago Man in court charged with attempted murder over incident in London’s West End

Anthony Gilheaney was remanded in custody to appear at the Old Bailey next year.

Events

5 hours ago Liverpool XI vs West Ham: Confirmed team news, predicted lineup and injury latest for Premier League

Ibrahima Konate Conor Bradley closing in on comeback for Arne Slot’s leaders

Politics

36 hours ago In a Japanese restaurant in west London, this Chinese woman felt truly at home

In a Japanese restaurant in west London, this Chinese woman felt truly at home  The Guardian

Society

35 hours ago A massive West End Boxing Day sale has just started, with tickets from £13

A massive West End Boxing Day sale has just started, with tickets from £13  Time Out London

Economics

4 hours ago Man, 30, appears in court charged with four attempted murders after four pedestrians were hit by car in Shaftesbury Avenue on Christmas Day

Anthony Gilheaney, 30, has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after four pedestrians were hit by a car in London's West End on Christmas Day, the Metropolitan Police said.

Events

6 hours ago Enzo Maresca outlines Noni Madueke’s route back after being dropped from Chelsea squad

The England winger was not even on the bench as the Blues suffered a rare home defeat in the west London derby

Politics

5 hours ago Squid Game 2 reviews: Smash hit Netflix series underwhelms critics who claim latest outing has 'lost its edge' and is a 'thorough letdown'

The South Korean series' first outing back in 2021 swiftly became the streaming service's biggest ever show and racked up a whopping 1.65 billion viewing hours.

Events

6 hours ago Britain's first surrogate mum interrogated by social services during labour and forced to 'abandon' child

Kim Cotton was the UK's first surrogate mother - a decision which changed her life forever and made her one of the most controversial women in Britain in the 80s

Politics

6 hours ago Weather warning issued for heavy rain in Scotland on final days of 2024

The Met Office said there could also be snow and strong winds in some areas on December 30 and 31.

Events

6 hours ago What do you want to change in your life in 2025? Let us know in our poll

Maybe you want to meet someone and get married, or maybe you plan to get more exercise and eat healthily.

Politics

6 hours ago Squid Game 2 reviews: Smash hit Netflix series divides critics who claim latest outing has 'lost its edge' and is a 'thorough letdown'

The South Korean series' first outing back in 2021 swiftly became the streaming service's biggest ever show and racked up a whopping 1.65 billion viewing hours.

Events

6 hours ago Israeli troops burn north Gaza hospital after forcibly removing staff and patients, officials say

Gaza's Health Ministry says Israeli troops have stormed one of the last hospitals operating in the northernmost part of the territory, forcing many of the staff and patients out of the facility

Politics

7 hours ago Police charge Anthony Gilheaney, 30, with four attempted murders after four pedestrians were hit by car in Shaftesbury Avenue on Christmas Day

Anthony Gilheaney, 30, has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after four pedestrians were hit by a car in London's West End on Christmas Day, the Metropolitan Police said.

Events

7 hours ago Avanti West Coast named as train operator with highest cancellations score

More than 360,000 trains across Britain were fully or part-cancelled over the past year

Politics

8 hours ago Man charged with attempted murder after group hit by car in London's West End on Christmas Day

Man charged with attempted murder after group hit by car in London's West End on Christmas Day  Sky News

Events

7 hours ago Noni Madueke in contention for Chelsea return after being dropped against Fulham

The England winger was not even on the bench as the Blues suffered a rare home defeat in the west London derby.

Politics

8 hours ago ‘It’s not London where indies can let their imaginations fly’ – Grace Dent’s restaurants of the year

‘It’s not London where indies can let their imaginations fly’ – Grace Dent’s restaurants of the year  The Guardian

Events

8 hours ago West Ham January transfer window guide: Priority clear but more big spending unlikely

Hammers splashed out big in the summer when they were the sixth-highest net spenders in Europe

Politics

9 hours ago ITV Emmerdale villain branded 'legend' as fans notice pattern after unexpected death

Kim Tate recreated an iconic moment in Emmerdale Christmas special

Events

9 hours ago Dragons, demons and Grand Theft Auto VI: the games to look out for in 2025

Vice City returns, but there are plenty of new games and reboots, from Monster Hunter Wilds and Atomfall to Civilization VII and DOOM: The Dark AgesExplore, expand, exploit, exterminate: the rules of Civilization haven’t changed, but this devilishly compelling strategy series has long been due an overhaul. Next year’s instalment lets you pick and choose between many more different leaders and peoples to guide to world domination, from antiquity and through the age of exploration to the modern era – peacefully, or otherwise. • Released 11 Feb 11; all platforms Continue reading...

Politics

9 hours ago Man charged with attempted murder after four hit by car in London’s West End on Christmas Day

One victim remains in a critical condition in hospital following the incident, police said

Events

9 hours ago DENSTUDIO Launches in London's West End, Revolutionizing Dental Care with Premier Services

DENSTUDIO Launches in London's West End, Revolutionizing Dental Care with Premier Services  Yahoo Finance

Politics

9 hours ago Man, 30, is charged with four attempted murders after four pedestrians were hit by car in Shaftesbury Avenue on Christmas Day

Anthony Gilheaney, 30, has been charged with four counts of attempted murder after four pedestrians were hit by a car in London's West End on Christmas Day, the Metropolitan Police said.

Events

10 hours ago The truth about Kim Kardashian's 'boob job': Plastic surgeon's verdict on how 44 year

Kim, who is thought to have breastfed two of her children, nearly spilled out of a low-cut red leather dress at a party in Los Angeles last week.

Politics

9 hours ago Gang member and kidnapper freed early from jail by Labour mocks Keir Starmer in Christmas rap song

The rapper said: ‘Now that I’m back, I’m raising the crime rate. Keir Starmer let me out now he wants me back, got me scratching my head like make up your mind, mate.’

Events

10 hours ago I've Noticed 5 London Oufit Colour Combinations That Keep Coming Up This Winter

I've Noticed 5 London Oufit Colour Combinations That Keep Coming Up This Winter  Who What Wear

Politics

9 hours ago Man charged with four counts of attempted murder after West End incident

Police said one victim remains in critical condition and is receiving treatment in hospital.

Events

10 hours ago Lucy Letby's disturbing Christmas Day error that blew her whole twisted cover

Baby killer Lucy Letby, who will be spending this festive season behind bars, made a damning error on Christmas Day 2015, which an expert claims sheds light on her 'macabre' state of mind

Politics

9 hours ago Weather tracker: storm brings well over a metre of snow to peaks in Alps

Several days of snow brought avalanche risk at Christmas, as wintry weather also caused four deaths in IndiaA snowstorm developed across the Alps on Saturday 21 December due to a low-pressure system situated over the Adriatic Sea. This depression allowed relatively warm and moist air to push into the Alps, condensing and falling as snow as it met the much colder alpine air mass. Snowfall continued for several days, allowing some of the peaks to see well over 1 metre of snow, with significant snowfall also seen across many ski villages. Consequently, there was a significant avalanche risk over the Christmas period.Ski resorts in Bulgaria also experienced significant snow starting on Christmas Day, which caused disruption in the mountainous west, where ski resorts had to temporarily shut down due to road closures. Towns such as Troyan, Samokov and Teteven were particularly badly affected with snowdrifts and power failures. Continue reading...

Events

10 hours ago Ukraine parades its 'first North Korean POW fighting for Putin in war'

A photograph allegedly shows the first fighter sent by Kim Jong Un to bolster Putin's war effort who is believed to have been held in Russia's Kursk region by Ukrainian forces

Politics

9 hours ago Weather tracker: Storm brings well over a metre of snow to peaks in Alps

Several days of snow brought avalanche risk at Christmas, as wintry weather also caused four deaths in IndiaA snowstorm developed across the Alps on Saturday 21 December due to a low-pressure system situated over the Adriatic Sea. This depression allowed relatively warm and moist air to push into the Alps, condensing and falling as snow as it met the much colder alpine air mass. Snowfall continued for several days, with well over 1 metre of snow on some peaks and significant snowfall across many ski villages. Consequently, there was a significant avalanche risk over the Christmas period.Ski resorts in Bulgaria also experienced significant snow starting on Christmas Day, which caused disruption in the mountainous west, where ski resorts had to temporarily shut down due to road closures. Towns such as Troyan, Samokov and Teteven were particularly badly affected with snowdrifts and power failures. Continue reading...

Events

11 hours ago ‘Let’s see who will be leaving’: Georgia’s presidential standoff nears crunch point

Georgian Dream government threatens pro-west president with jail if she refuses to leave office on SundayAll eyes in Georgia are fixed on the elegant 19th-century Orbeliani Palace in Tbilisi, where a defining moment looms. Who will occupy its halls on 29 December?On Sunday, Georgia’s pro-western president, Salome Zourabichvili, is supposed to hand over the keys to her successor, Mikheil Kavelashvili, a former football player turned far-right politician who is backed by the ruling and increasingly authoritarian Georgian Dream (GD) party. Continue reading...

Politics

9 hours ago Man on four counts of attempted murder after car hits pedestrians on Christmas Day

Anthony Gilheaney, 30, is due to appear in court after four people were hit by a car on Christmas Day in London's West End and rushed to hospital

Events