56 h. ago Serial rapist PC David Carrick slipped through police background checks

The former Met officer was among 131 rogue officers who committed offences after the force failed to follow vetting guidelines because of pressure from chiefs to boost workforce numbers, report reveals

Events

3 d. ago Many schools don’t think students can read full novels any more. That’s a tragedy | Margaret Sullivan

Increasingly, teens are given only parts of books, and they often read not in print but on school-issued laptopsReading fiction has been such a joy for me that my heart broke a little to learn recently that many schools no longer assign full books to high school students.Rather, teens are given excerpts of books, and they often read them not in print but on school-issued laptops, according to a survey of 2,000 teachers, students and parents by the New York Times.Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist writing on media, politics and culture Continue reading...

Culture

4 d. ago ICE is using Border Patrol mobile facial recognition technology to speed up arrests

The tool has been used more than 100,000 times so far, according to a new report

Events

4 d. ago London copper prices hit a fresh record, touching $13,000 for the first time

London copper prices hit a fresh record, touching $13,000 for the first time  investingLive

Economics

5 d. ago Mickey Rourke launches fundraiser to pay $60,000 in rent after threat of eviction

The 73-year-old Oscar-nominated actor was issued with an eviction notice in DecemberMickey Rourke has turned to fundraising to pay the US$59,100 (£44,000, A$89,000) he allegedly owes in rent, after being sued by his landlord and facing eviction from his Los Angeles home.The 73-year-old actor, who was nominated for an Academy Award and won a Golden Globe for his performance in the 2008 drama The Wrestler, has approved a GoFundMe page launched by Liya-Joelle Jones, a friend and member of Rourke’s management team. At time of writing, the fundraiser had raised US$33,000 of its US$100,000 goal. Continue reading...

Economics

6 d. ago Scots prisoners delivered late to court more than 10,000 times in just 10 months

Prisoner transfer company GEOAmey has a £238million contract and has already been fined about £4million over performance issues.

Events

7 d. ago 'Delaying tactics' may stop assisted dying Bill after more than 1,000 amendments proposed

Labour grandee Lord Falconer accused peers of trying to stop the legislation being passed in its allotted time after more than 1,000 amendments were proposed to it.

Events

7 d. ago FTSE 100 LIVE: London markets hit 10,000 points for first time as 2026 trading kicks off

FTSE 100 LIVE: London markets hit 10,000 points for first time as 2026 trading kicks off  Yahoo Finance UK

Events

7 d. ago London’s FTSE 100 tops milestone 10,000 mark for the first time after new year rally

The blue-chip index hit a new all-time intraday trading high on Friday

Politics

8 d. ago Police raids in 17 UK areas over Firestick illegal streaming

Modified Amazon Fire Sticks used for illegal streaming have been targeted in raids with users facing hefty fines up to £50,000 and even prison time

Events

1 week ago California delays revoking 17,000 commercial driver's licenses until March after immigrants sue

California has announced plans to delay the revocation of 17,000 commercial driver’s licenses until March, giving more time for truckers and bus drivers who legally qualify for the licenses to keep them

Events

1 week ago Trump officials shielded border czar Tom Homan from normal vetting despite bribery probe, report claims

Unclear how Homan obtained a security clearance after FBI agents believed that he was not able to pass a background check, according to report

Politics

1 week ago Agony as £180,000 dart misses target for second time at the Ally Pally

Luke Woodhouse joined Gary Anderson in going eight into a perfect nine dart attempt before missing the double 12

Economics

1 week ago UK civil service continues to grow despite pledge to ‘rewire state’

Number of full-time equivalent roles grew by more than 4,000 in the year to September

Politics

1 week ago Couple suing wealthy businessman after he crashed his McLaren supercar into their home for 'cheap thrills'

Zachary Hocking, 28, was drunk and driving at 91mph - three times the speed limit - when he lost control of the £90,000 sports car, in the early hours of December 23, 2003.

Events

1 week ago Background checks on employees delayed more than 51,000 times over just six months

Disclosure Scotland blames the implementation of new laws for the huge leap in applications it failed to process within the 14-day target.

Politics

2 w. ago Mixed sex wards used a record 5,000 times in a single month – despite Wes Streeting condemning practice

Exclusive: Health secretary hit out at Tories over breaches before last year’s election – but they’ve since reached a 15-year high

Events

2 w. ago Over 20,000 Scots died waiting for NHS care during Neil Gray's time as health secretary

The figures have been condemned by the Scottish Conservatives.

Society

2 w. 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

2 w. ago Council tax bombshell: Thousands more Londoners face bills over £2,000 for first time

Band D London homes are expected to see an average of almost £80 added to their annual levy from April 2026

Economics