56 m. ago ‘There’s always an empty space’: The families who spend Christmas waiting for someone who never comes home

For families of missing children, Christmas can be the hardest time of all. As The Independent’s SafeCall campaign reaches £165,000, parents and siblings open up about the ‘horrific’ pain of the festive season. Tara Cobham and Harriette Boucher report

Society

8 h. ago 'My parents will spend Christmas in horror Iran prison for crime they didn't commit'

It's been nearly a year since Lindsay and Craig Foreman were arrested on charges of espionage, which they vehemently deny, by Iranian authorities, leaving their children heartbroken this Christmas

Events

9 h. ago Controlling boyfriend who flushed partner's rabbit down the toilet will spend Christmas behind bars after being caught on the run in Thailand

Nicholas Cash, 26, was arrested on Tuesday after three years missing and now faces extradition back to the UK. He carried out a nine-month campaign of abuse against his ex Olivia Croft.

Events

10 h. ago Mother pens heartbreaking letter to murdered son as she spends second Christmas without him after he was shot dead in Liverpool while riding bike with friends

Life 'feels pointless' now for Carolyn Cox after her son Ellis Cox was gunned down on June 23, 2024, close to the Liverpool Loop Line on the Liver Industrial Estate.

Events

13 h. ago Prince Harry's Christmas Eve tradition with William that came to heartbreaking end

Before their bitter rift tore tham apart, Prince William and Prince Harry would spend nearly every Christmas together with the rest of the Royal Family at Sandringham - and on a Christmas Eve, they both used to take part in a fun but very competitive tradition

Politics

13 h. ago Baby killer Lucy Letby spends second Christmas in jail with no visits or presents

Letby will be faced with a stark reminder of her new life in jail at HMP Bronzefield in Surrey.

Events

13 h. ago Toddler spending Christmas in hospital after family notice odd rash

Shaunna Bourne noticed rashes and bruising on then two-year-old Marley's body

Politics

13 h. ago Sara Sharif's vile stepmum's jail Christmas 'moaning over job' with Lucy Letby

Sara Sharif's stepmum, Beinash Batool, is serving 33 years in prison for the murder of the 10 year-old girl and is locked up in the same jail as notorious killer Lucy Letby

Events

14 h. ago Lucy Letby's lonely Christmas in prison with no family visits or presents and zero privileges

In August 2023, Letby was found guilty on seven counts each of murder and attempted murder. She was found not guilty on two counts of attempted murder and the jury could not reach a verdict on the remaining six counts

Events

15 h. ago Cops allegedly make a disturbing discovery at the home of man accused of PRAISING the Bondi Beach terror attack

A Perth man will spend Christmas behind bars after an alleged antisemitic post on social media triggered a search of his home.

Events

17 h. ago King Charles' heartbreaking wish as he spends another Christmas not seeing Archie and Lilibet

King Charles and his estranged son Prince Harry will spend Christmas Day thousands of miles apart, meaning that the monarch will once again not see Archie and Lilibet

Politics

20 h. ago Christmas spending brings £3.5bn boost to Scotland's struggling shops and stores

The Scottish Retail Consortium expect consumer spending during the month of December to generate £3.5 billion for struggling shops and stores.

Economics

24 h. ago Why holiday bookings are expected to surge at 6.30pm on Christmas Eve

On Christmas Eve, many will be spending quality time with their family and friends, enjoying the festivities. But tens of thousands are expected to be booking holidays too.

Politics

24 h. ago Fergie and Andrew's farewell party: Couple were set to throw a last Christmas bash at Royal Lodge for friends

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were reportedly intending to do 'all sorts of entertaining' this festive season - as they spend their last Christmas at Royal Lodge.

Politics

28 h. ago People say I’m ‘ridiculous’ for spending £1,060 on M&S Christmas dinner & claim I’m causing pain for struggling families

A MUM has been slammed after sharing her haul of Christmas food for the year, which cost her £1,060. The mum who goes by UKnewfood on social media and reviews food items, shared the haul of Christmas goodies she finally picked up after ordering them in September. In the clip, she said: "I picked up...

Economics

30 h. ago Manchester mum spending less than £10 making Christmas dinner for six people

The mum of three says she kept costs down by shopping around and using just one hob and an air fryer

Economics

33 h. ago ‘We were dreaming of Christmas on the canal boat – now we’ve got to spend it in a hotel’

Geoff and Pamela Poole were planning on spending Christmas on their canal boat when a huge sinkhole opened up in Llangollen Canal in Shropshire

Politics

33 h. ago Emmerdale's Michelle Hardwick enjoys festive break from the Dales with Corrie boss wife

The actress is spending time away from the Dales this Christmas

Politics

34 h. ago 'My Portuguese dad won't spend Christmas in UK with me for baffling reason'

A Portuguese woman living in the UK has shared how her dad was reluctant to travel from Portugal to see her and her daughter at Christmas for one confusing reason

Politics

36 h. ago From Norfolk to Santa Barbara: here's where the royals are spending Christmas this year

With Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor stripped of his titles, there have been some adjustments to the Sandringham guestlist this year

Politics