2 h. ago For the age of Amorim, this Manchester derby feels like a decisive moment

Against a backdrop of internal strife, facing their sky blue rivals provides a struggling team with chance to rebuild the brandThis brave overhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, this collection of generic spires with a massive plastic handkerchief chucked over the top. Three weeks on from first sight of the conceptual drawings for Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s stately pleasure dome, also known as the proposed Manchester United Stadium Soccer Product Hub, there is still a sense of double-take about the whole thing.Early impressions of the new ground ranged from a defunct Venusian mercury mine, to Dubai Butlin’s, to a pointed corporate monument to our divided world. Welcome to the Staff Lunch Arena, embodiment of the 21st-century conviction that if you just stopped buying so many sandwiches and also fired the tea lady you could probably afford a vast and unattainable house. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Penny Mordaunt claimed taxpayers' cash to have shoe rack removed from her office

Records show the former Paymaster General claimed £642 for a sprinter van and driver to collect “19x boxes, plus a shoe rack” from her Commons office

Economics

4 h. ago Amazon reduces £55 perfume to just £23 online that's 'cheaper than duty free'

"I’ve loved this perfume for over 20 years"

Economics

4 h. ago Volunteers collect 60 bags of rubbish in just two hours from Welsh beauty spot

It was the hard work of a new Litter Picking Hub which means anyone can borrow litter picking equipment for free

Politics

5 h. ago Marks and Spencer shoppers snap up luxury £40 Easter egg hamper for just £24 online

"This delightful collection features a variety of irresistible goodies, including the indulgent Scrummy Bunny Munch Loaded Half Easter Egg, an adorable Bubbly Bunny, and the perfect Baby Bunny."

Economics

6 h. ago Various: Chet Baker Re:imagined review – new reworkings by R&B, pop, soul and jazz artists

(Blue Note)There are hits and misses as 15 performers including Dodie, Mxmtoon and Ezra Collective’s Ife Ogunjobi give their personal take on Baker’s unique soundPossessing a whisper-soft voice and sweetly melodic trumpet tone, Chet Baker (1929-1988) had a sound that is often imitated yet almost impossible to master. For the latest edition of Blue Note’s Re:imagined series, in which the jazz label invites artists to produce cover versions of its back catalogue, 15 R&B, pop, soul and jazz artists have been given the unenviable task of interpreting Baker’s repertoire – with often surprising results.The trumpeter-vocalist’s supple take on jazz standards is well reflected in singer Dodie’s delicate version of Old Devil Moon as she emphasises the original’s swaying Latin percussion. British singer-songwriter Matt Maltese’s My Funny Valentine adds a beautifully elegiac guitar line to the well-worn melody. Other approaches work less well, with US singer Mxmtoon’s clean vocal tone overp...

Politics

7 h. ago ‘We’re not a third world country, we’re England’: anger rises as Birmingham’s bin strike takes toll on locals

With the city’s refuse collectors still on the picket line after four weeks, residents are pointing the finger of blame at the council Suhail Sadiq’s car repair business is thriving and he’s furious about it.The rats are responsible. “The amount of cars we’ve got coming in now with wiring chewed up by rats is unbelievable,” he says. Staff at Heartlands Auto Centre in Birmingham have repaired about 15 cars with chewed battery cables in the past week. The rats are drawn to the warmer cars at night, he says – rats gnaw to keep their teeth a manageable length. Continue reading...

Events

7 h. ago Voices: Tone it down, Macron – men drowning in fragrance is a total turnoff

Whether you’re the president of France or a teenage boy, drenching yourself in any kind of scent just isn’t the one, writes Olivia Petter

Politics

8 h. ago Space probe to map carbon content of world’s remotest tropical forests

Revolutionary scanner to be fired into Earth orbit this month to measure effects of deforestationScientists are about to take part in a revolutionary mission aimed at creating detailed 3D maps of the world’s remotest, densest and darkest tropical forests – from outer space. The feat will be achieved using a special radar scanner that has been fitted to a probe, named Biomass, that will be fired into the Earth’s orbit later this month.For the next five years, the 1.25-tonne spacecraft will sweep over the tropical rainforests of Africa, Asia and South America and peer through their dense 40m-high ­canopies to study the vegetation that lies beneath. The data collected by Biomass will then be used to create unique 3D maps of forests normally hidden from human sight. Continue reading...

Politics

11 h. ago ‘We can’t sit back and watch’: Former MI6 boss says Britain must get ready for war as Putin threatens Europe

Exclusive: As a Russia-Ukrainian ceasefire looks no closer, Sir Alex Younger tells The Independent how the UK is too detached from the threat posed by Putin – and that our ‘collective effort’ needs to change

Events

13 h. ago Here are four of the best cherry perfumes for your fragrance collection

With cherry beauty being all of the rage at the minute we rounded up some of the best cherry scents on the market

Politics

14 h. ago Highstreet brand Ghost loved by Kate Middleton unveils new affordable bridal collection

Ghost, a high street brand that the Duchess of Cambridge is a fan of, has launched an affordable bridal collection that's perfect for brides, bridesmaids, and wedding guests on a budget

Politics

14 h. ago Max Verstappen on pole after blistering final lap in F1 Japanese GP qualifying – live

Red Bull driver pips McLaren’s Lando Norris on final lapAny thoughts? Email or tweet @joeylynchyOne of the most striking features of the Suzuka Circuit are the cherry blossoms that can be found around the track, blooms which Haas have paid tribute to with a special livery for this weekend.We’re just under 20 minutes away from the start of qualifying and given that Verstappen has won from pole in the last three races at Suzuka, it could prove decisive. Continue reading...

Sport

16 h. ago Trump tariffs come into effect in ‘seismic’ shift to global trade

‘Baseline’ 10% import levy takes effect at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses on Saturday, with some higher tariffs to begin next weekUS customs agents began collecting President Donald Trump’s unilateral 10% tariff on all imports from many countries on Saturday, with higher levies on goods from 57 larger trading partners due to start next week.The initial 10% “baseline” tariff took effect at US seaports, airports and customs warehouses at 12.01am ET (0401 GMT), ushering in Trump’s full rejection of the post-second world war system of mutually agreed tariff rates. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Forgotten retro tech stored in your loft that can now fetch hundreds of pounds

Gadgets from decades ago are in demand from collectors and nostalgia hunters, with some phones or game consoles from the 80s and 90s now worth a small fortune

Politics

24 h. ago Beauty fans snap up three Victoria Beckham perfumes for £30 in fragrance set

The perfumes usually retail at £170 for a 50ml bottle making this set a great way to try them

Economics

26 h. ago Richard E Grant says Barry Keoghan will be ‘fantastic Ringo Starr’ in biopics

Sony Pictures announced a collection of four films about The Beatles with Keoghan set to play drummer Ringo Starr.

Sport

28 h. ago Save big on your next holiday with Club Med discount codes and travel deals

From The Bahamas to Val Thorens, Club Med’s exclusive collection of resorts has you covered

Economics

29 h. ago Antiques Roadshow guest roars 'never!' as she learns VERY lucky reason her grandfather's lantern is worth a fortune

An episode of the popular BBC show visited Floors Castle, Scotland and saw members of the public bring their collectables and heirlooms.

Culture

32 h. ago ‘Get round table and drop opposition,’ No 10 tells Unite amid Birmingham strike

The council declared a major incident earlier this week in a bid to increase collections of bin sacks amid a huge pile-up of waste on the street.

Events