39 m. ago ‘Buddhism and Björk help me handle fame’: novelist Ocean Vuong

On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous made him a literary superstar. Now the Vietnamese American author is exploring his working-class roots in an ambitious follow‑upThere are three kinds of family, muses the novelist and poet Ocean Vuong. There’s the nuclear family, “which often we talk about as the central tenet of American life”. There’s the chosen family, “the pushback”, the community and friendships built by people who have been rejected by their parents, often because of their sexuality or gender identity. And then there’s the family we talk about much less frequently, but spend most of our waking hours within – our colleagues, or what Vuong describes as “the circumstantial family around labour”.Vuong’s forthcoming second novel, The Emperor of Gladness, encompasses them all. There’s its 19-year‑old hero Hai’s relationship with his mother, a poor Vietnamese immigrant who believes that he has fulfilled her desperate aspirations for him by going to university, when he has actually...

Politics

70 m. ago Cheryl 'overwhelmed' by Liam Payne's fortune as she faces impossible question

Managing her ex Liam Payne’s £24m fortune for their son is a huge added pressure for heartbroken Cheryl, a source has revealed following the One Direction singer's tragic death

Politics

70 m. ago Emma Raducanu addresses 'mental' last minute change as tennis star served up opponent she wasn't expecting

The British No.2 was preparing to face Ekaterina Alexandrov and then it all changed

Politics

90 m. ago Simon Cowell’s devastating reaction to Liam Payne death revealed for first time

Simon Cowell was left “absolutely devastated” by the sudden death of Liam Payne, according to close friend Sinitta – who, in an exclusive interview, has revealed for the first time how the music mogul broke down in tears during an emotional phone call.

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90 m. ago Sinitta reveals Simon Cowell’s grief for first time after Liam Payne’s death

EXCLUSIVE: Simon Cowell was left "absolutely devastated" by the sudden death of Liam Payne, according to friend Sinitta – who reveals the music mogul broke down during an emotional call

Events

1 hour ago X Factor icon looks unrecognisable nine years after ITV appearance

An iconic X Factor star will leave fans shocked as she continues to showcase her transformative looks nine years after her appearance on the popular ITV programme

Culture

1 hour ago Ancient disease runs rampant with more than 1,000 cases reported and unvaccinated children dying

Ancient disease measles is running amok in the US where the number of cases has jumped to more than 1,000 and is continuing to climb while an unvaccinated child died

Events

2 h. ago Pete Doherty 'party row' death case closed by police despite 'new evidence' claims

Police told the mum of Mark Blanco, 30, who died after falling from the balcony of a flat where Libertines star Pete Doherty was partying, that his death 'will not be actively investigated further'

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2 h. ago The lasting legacy of ‘beloved’ football club chairman after shock death

Former Radcliffe FC chairman Paul Hilton is remembered in his home town for his 'tireless' work

Events

3 h. ago The death of boy, 8, that brings home true danger of terrifying fires

E-bike fires can leave victims homeless, lead to horrific burns and can even prove fatal.

Events

3 h. ago Bafta’s Best TV Drama winners ranked, from Happy Valley to Shameless

As the Bafta TV Awards return for another year, The Independent’s chief TV critic Nick Hilton recommends the best of the past winners in the drama category – from supernatural tales to working-class stories and crime capers

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4 h. ago Benidorm's barman Mateo actor unrecognisable 21 years since cheating death

Benidorm's flirty barman, Mateo, was played by Jake Canuso for 11 years from 2007 to 2018 and is now unrecognisable from his time on the hit ITV sitcom set in Spain

Events

5 h. ago Terrifying hidden detail in Trump's popular new executive order sparks fears of another pandemic

A closer look at the fine-print of the order suggests it does not go as far as some experts would like.

Events

5 h. ago Gardeners planting one 69p vegetable warned as one pest absolutely loves them

If you're growing this vegetable in your garden, beware of this crop-destroying pest that leaves plants vulnerable to disease - experts warn there is only one way to stop it

Events

5 h. ago The latest Foreign Office advice for anyone heading to four popular holiday destinations

Staying informed about these changes can help ensure everything runs smoothly

Politics

5 h. ago The beach near Cardiff that's almost empty compared to Barry Island

Swanbridge Bay is a 20-minute drive from the Welsh capital and offers a quiet, tucked-away stretch of coastline which feels like barely anyone seems to know about

Politics

6 h. ago Surprising baby names that have surged as most popular in America are revealed

The most popular baby names in America for 2024 has been revealed, with two unexpected names claiming the top spots.

Politics

7 h. ago UK airline copying Ryanair with strict hand luggage allowance rules

Another popular UK airline has followed in the footsteps of Ryanair and is charging passengers whose personal items don't fit under the seat in front of them

Politics

8 h. ago Urgent warning over popular hay fever remedy with alarming side

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said people should not buy Kenalog, which can be advertised on social media sites or by salons and beauty clinics. If sourced from unregulated sellers it could pose a risk to patient safety

Events

9 h. ago The soldier of fortune who Mugabe's thugs threatened to feed to the crocodiles: RICHARD KAY reflects on the extraordinary life of ex

As news of his sudden demise, aged 72, swept through London 's military clubland yesterday, some of his old comrades could not help wondering whether his death with his past catching up with him.

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