60 m. ago From Sherlock Holmes to Poirot, Bridget Phillipson reveals the books which inspired her to read growing up

Exclusive: The education secretary has written for The Independent about the books that inspired her growing up and the joy of reading to her own children as she declares 2026 as National Reading Year

Politics

62 m. ago Business news live: Trump sends 12 nations new tariff rates letters and Apple appeal €500m EU fine

Stock markets updates and business news from Tuesday

Politics

64 m. ago New Look's £59 cowboy boots are comfortable and stylish enough for every festival

From Glastonbury to the city, these Western-inspired boots are the must-have shoe of the season

Economics

84 m. ago Bookish writer admits he stole clever Doctor Who plot device for new crime show

Mark Gatiss returns to the box with a brand new period drama on U&Alibi. But he's admitted he's taken inspiration from another popular show for his new series' plot.

Events

94 m. ago New exhibition Everything Flows: Music in North Lanarkshire taking place at Coatbridge's Summerlee Museum

Celebration of music and musicians that came from, and were inspired by, the area from the 1970s to the early 2000s.

Culture

1 hour ago ‘They feel cleansed, they cry some really don’t like it!’ The 12

Inspired by club culture and reincarnation, Tianzhuo Chen and Asian Dope Boys have devised a mesmerising show that unfolds in six two-hour chapters. Prepare to enter hell and then be healedNaked performers covered in paint roll around atop dirt and foliage. Menacing sculptures hang from the ceiling and walls. The costumes have a beastly quality. At one point, a stream of feathers are strewn across the stage; at another, pink petals float down from above. This is Trance, an immersive psychedelic experience inspired by an eclectic mix of influences from electronic music and rave culture to Buddhism, cartoons and Japanese Butoh dance theatre.When 39-year-old Chinese artist and director Tianzhuo Chen first had the idea for Trance in 2019, it was to accompany a solo exhibition of his work at M Woods Museum in Beijing. The initial result was a three-day performance with each fraction spanning 12 continuous hours. It has since been whittled down to a single 12-hour-long production. This mo...

Politics

2 h. ago Texas floods latest: Hopes fade for missing Camp Mystic victims as death toll crosses 100

Threat from rain and flooding continues throughout central Texas, as White House declares major disaster

Events

2 h. ago Frankie Freako review – cheap and cheesy comedy horror channels 80s schlock

Ineffectual office worker Conor calls on the services of a gremlin that looks like someone dipped a Muppet in latex, covered it in caustic soda, and ran a car over it a few timesCanadian writer-director Steven Kostanski has been one of the creative forces behind a bunch of silly-sweet horror pictures such as The Void and PG: Psycho Goreman that appear to skew towards a younger demographic. Or perhaps his target audience is really the gen X crowd that never outgrew its affection for 1980s fare such as Critters or Gremlins, cheap and cheesy schlock reliant on practical special effects. Luckily, the latter happens to be Kostanski’s speciality; he’s also worked as a prosthetic FX artist on bigger budget films such as Crimson Peak and the TV series Hannibal. All of that comes together for this daft comedy horror farrago, seemingly set in the 80s, about a nebbishy Canadian office worker called Conor (Conor Sweeney).Conor’s beige jumper alone bespeaks a man deeply risk averse and afraid of...

Events

2 h. ago Greta Lee rumoured to star in twisted tale of housing crisis written by Killing Eve alum

Former Killing Eve writer and showrunner, Suzanne Heathcote, is delving into the sinister world of the modern housing market for her next project, which is an adaptation of the novel Best Offer Wins

Events

2 h. ago Tears in Texas as mourners hold moving candlelight vigil for flood victims after death toll passes 100

At least 27 of the victims were students or staff at the Christian summer camp for girls.

Events

3 h. ago Texas floods latest: Death toll surpasses 100 as desperate search for Camp Mystic victims continues

Threat from rain and flooding continues throughout central Texas on Monday, as White House declares major disaster

Events

3 h. ago Charlize Theron’s The Old Guard 2 comments reveal a depressing truth about female

The ‘Mad Max’ star has spoken about the reluctance among film studios to make action films with female leads. When you dig into the state of the modern box office, it’s clear she’s onto something, writes Louis Chilton

Politics

3 h. ago ‘Like an academic’: private papers reveal John le Carré’s attention to detail

Exclusive: Oxford’s Bodleian libraries to put archive items on display for first time, celebrating spy author’s ‘tradecraft’The extent of John le Carré’s meticulous research and attention to detail are among insights into his working methods that will be revealed when the master of spy thrillers’ private archive goes on display for the first time this autumn.His classic cold war-era espionage novels have sold tens of millions of copies worldwide and inspired acclaimed films and television adaptations.John le Carré: Tradecraft opens at the Weston library, Bodleian libraries, on 1 October, running until 6 April 2026. An accompanying book, Tradecraft: Writers on John le Carré, will be released by Bodleian Library Publishing. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Tour de France stage four preview: Dream day for breakaway artists on climb

The likes of Mathieu van der Poel and the peloton’s huge range of puncheurs and climbers will all be in with a shout at victory on a tricky outing

Politics

7 h. ago Father's defiant message of hope after tragically losing twin daughters as death toll of Texas floods surpasses 100: Live Updates

At least 27 of the victims were students or staff at the Christian summer camp for girls.

Events

7 h. ago Camp Mystic witness describes heartbreaking sight as parents' worst fears come true

More than 100 people have died amid catastrophic flooding in Texas, US, as search-and-rescue teams continue to wade into swollen rivers to find Camp Mystic's missing youngsters

Politics

7 h. ago Texas Senator seen holidaying in Europe as flood death toll reaches 100

Senator Ted Cruz was allegedly spotted touring Europe as the death toll from catastrophic flash floods in Texas continued to climb after a river swelled and ripped through summer camps

Events

8 h. ago 'Hero' swimmer saves 165 people in Texas floods that killed over 100 including 27 campers

At least 89 people were killed after floods swept through central Texas over the July Fourth weekend. The death toll includes 27 campers and counselors from an all-girls summer camp in Kerr County.

Events

9 h. ago Oasis' official tour art is by punk artist who wound up the Queen with tattoo portrait

EXCLUSIVE: Oasis have chosen punk artist Mark Sloper to do their official 2025 tour art after he wound up the late Queen Elizabeth II by painting the royal with a neck tattoo

Politics

10 h. ago Texas flooding death toll surpasses 100 as Camp Mystic mourners hold memorial service tonight: Live updates

At least 27 of the victims were students or staff at the Christian summer camp for girls.

Events