58 m. ago Grab a romantic Valentine’s weekend spa break before they’re all gone

Book your ultimate Valentines escape before these affordable spa deals disappear.

Politics

1 hour ago Senior GP issues advice on when to get medical help as flu season grips Scotland

New strain causing more cases of ‘significant illness’ than in previous years, says head of BMA’s Scottish GP committee

Science

1 hour ago Toy touts, random spins and frantic bidding: the murky side of live auction site Whatnot

Quickfire lots fuel a booming business, but critics condemn gambling-style features and popularity with ‘scalpers’Christmas is fast approaching, the shopping days are ebbing away, and in one corner of the internet, the rush to grab highly prized Pokémon trading cards is boiling over into a competitive frenzy.“Got any cheap Mew?” asks one buyer, deploying the frantic tone of an addict, albeit one craving a rectangle depicting a creature from the all-conquering Japanese media franchise. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Best books to gift (and gift again) at Christmas: The Independent newsroom make their picks

When you give someone a book as a gift, what you’re really giving them is a few hours of pleasure. Indy staff share their trusted literary gifts this Christmas

Politics

3 h. ago Health expert warns Scots when to seek help as flu season grips the nation

A GP has shared which symptom of flu should be the trigger for you to seek medical attention.

Events

3 h. ago Autistic Scots rapper breaking down barriers with new project funded by Creative Scotland

Jacob Watters, from Busby, Glasgow, will launch his project, backed by the Government body which promotes the country’s artistic talent, with a show at the end of the month.

Politics

3 h. ago Member of 'worst gang in world' who Trump called 'sick and deranged' handed 1,300

A member of the notorious MS-13 gang member has been handed a huge sentence of more than 1,300 years for murders, extortion and other crimes - and he's not the only one facing long jail time

Politics

3 h. ago Pep Guardiola refuses Christmas request from Man City players after West Ham

Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola was so unimpressed with the 3-0 win over West Ham that he refused a request from the squad.

Sport

5 h. ago ‘Slightly haunted but manageable’: new signs cause confusion – and delight – in Christchurch

Six absurdist signs resembling official city council information boards have popped up across New Zealand’s second-largest cityOutside an abandoned building in New Zealand’s second-biggest city, a sign reads “slightly haunted but manageable”. In the middle of a busy shopping strip, pedestrians are warned to keep to a 2.83km/h walking speed. In another part of the Christchurch, one piece of signage declares simply “don’t”.The baffling boards are not an overzealous new council initiative, but a piece of art designed to “play with the way we take authority and signage so seriously”. Continue reading...

Politics

5 h. ago David Walliams is removed from Waterstones children's book festival after 'harassment' allegations

The comedian-turned-author will no longer appear at the bookseller's annual children's festival in February, with Waterstones confirming his removal on Sunday.

Events

6 h. ago Can YOU tell which of these people are sick? Take the test to see if you can detect subtle signs of illness in faces

At this time of year we're all trying to avoid falling sick - but are you able to detect the subtle signs that someone is ill?

Politics

6 h. ago Wes Streeting hints he will back rejoining the customs union with 'closer trading relationship with EU'

The Health Secretary on Sunday described the Prime Minister's 'reset' deal with Brussels, branded a surrender by the Tories and Reform, as a 'good start'.

Politics

6 h. ago 'I've got six months left and then I am gone!': Adolescence star Owen Cooper, 16, is leaving school straight after his GCSEs to pursue dream career

Owen Cooper has revealed that once he is done with his GCSEs he'll be 'gone' from school to pursue a career in acting.

Culture

7 h. ago 'She looked dead': Passengers tell of moment they thought a British family 'wheeled gran's body onto easyJet flight then told crew she was just tired'

Many of those on board thought the 89-year-old was no longer alive when she was first wheeled onto the easyJet flight from Málaga, Spain to London's Gatwick Airport.

Events

7 h. ago Shock twist in mystery of Vatican girl Emanuela Orlandi, 15, who vanished after music lesson as pal faces investigation

THE childhood friend of a Vatican school girl who vanished more than 40 years ago could hold the key to her mysterious disappearance. Laura Casagrande, 57, has been placed under investigation by Roman police after it was revealed she allegedly lied to prosecutors. Casagrande may have been the last person to see Emanuela Orlandi after...

Events

7 h. ago Actor James Ransone, known for his role in 'The Wire,' dead at 46

James Ransone, the actor who played Ziggy Sobotka in the HBO series “The Wire,” has died

Events

7 h. ago Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune tops 2025 UK bestsellers list

Fantasy, mystery and psychological thriller series dominate book sales, as adult colouring also makes a comebackFantasy, mystery and psychological thriller series dominate the UK’s bestsellers list for 2025, topped by Richard Osman’s The Impossible Fortune. The fifth book in his Thursday Murder Club series secured the top position at 391,429 hardback sales.Adult colouring also had a resurgence this year: colouring books aimed at all ages made it into the top 20 chart, according to analysis by NielsenIQ BookData. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago New equalities boss warns against ‘demonisation’ of migrants in UK

Mary-Ann Stephenson also says it would be a ‘mistake’ to leave European Convention on Human Rights

Events

7 h. ago Major warning over 'demonisation of migrants' including harm to British people

Mary-Ann Stephenson, chairwoman of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, warned the language around migration harms not only migrants but also ethnic minority British people

Events

7 h. ago Doctors return to work as hospitals work to recover from strike disruption

Health experts have warned that the impact of the strike will be felt into the new year ‘and beyond’.

Events