68 m. ago Waterloo train station closes for Christmas but will be reopen for New Year's Eve fireworks

No trains in or out of UK’s second busiest station from December 25-28, then limited service until January 5

Events

69 m. ago Voices: I’m dreading Christmas with my family – we’re so different

The Independent’s agony aunt Victoria Richards is here to help. Email dearvix@independent.co.uk for advice on love, work, family and relationships

Society

74 m. ago Trump’s ‘Bah! Humbug!’ address suggests he is feeling the chill of opinion polls

Primetime speech – delivered with shouty spirit but no cheer – betrayed a figure dogged by a cost of living crisis and the looming release of the Epstein filesIt will go down in history as the “Bah! Humbug!” address.Surrounded by Christmas trees and garlands before a fireplace, Donald Trump on Wednesday gave a convincing rendition of Ebenezer Scrooge, the elderly miser who despises Christmas and blames everyone but himself. Continue reading...

Politics

79 m. ago Debenhams reduces £255 air fryer to £52 that's 'perfect' for Christmas cooking

'First-class air fryer"

Society

83 m. ago Albanese announces new hate speech laws as he concedes more could have been done before Bondi beach attack

Australian prime minister unveils new measures to combat antisemitism as Coalition outlines own plan Victims of Bondi beach shootingTen minutes of terror: how the Bondi mass shooting unfolded in real time – videoFollow the latest live updatesHate speech laws will be expanded to directly target “hate preachers” under a new push to stamp out antisemitism, as Anthony Albanese concedes more could have been done to combat anti-Jewish sentiment ahead of the Bondi beach massacre.The home affairs minister will also be granted powers to cancel and reject visas of people who spread “hate and division” under a five-point plan announced on Thursday, after days of intensifying pressure on the prime minister to do more to address antisemitism and radicalisation after Sunday’s terrorist attack on a Hanukah celebration. Continue reading...

Society

96 m. ago Swap screens for strings with last minute kids presents that 'boost concentration'

From keyboards to ukuleles, there are lots of options to help kids ditch the screen time this Christmas

Politics

2 h. ago Trump claims checks are ‘on the way’ to military service members for Christmas ‘warrior dividend’

It’s unclear where the estimated nearly $2.6 billion to fund these dividends is coming from

Events

2 h. ago A Chocolate Orange has doubled in price – and got smaller. Why?

From Quality Street to Toblerone to the Terry’s classic, festive treats are becoming more of a luxury – and it’s not just down to the price of cocoa You’re right – it is smaller. The Terry’s Chocolate Orange on shop shelves this Christmas weighs 12g less than it did this time last year. That’s a decrease in size of 8% – not as big a cut as when the product lost 10% of its mass in 2016, but a further whittling away of a favourite Christmas treat.Prices have been going up too, although it’s been a series of increases. Figures from market researchers Assosia show that across the big four supermarkets, the full price of a cChocolate oOrange has increased from £1.24 in December 2022 to about £2.25 today – a rise of 81%. If you factor in the size reduction, you’re actually paying 96% more. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago UK weather map shows SNOW forecast for Christmas Day as Arctic bite looms

The Met Office says temperatures are set to tumble in the coming days and overnight frost and fog, or freezing fog, is likely too as the weather looks unsettled before Christmas

Politics

2 h. ago Will it snow this Christmas? Met Office issues latest verdict

The threshold for a ‘white Christmas’ requires just a single snowflake to be observed falling on Christmas Day, anywhere in the UK, say the Met Office

Politics

2 h. ago Rick Stein warns 'don't do it' as he shares how to avoid gravy 'nightmare' this Christmas

Rick, known for such shows as Rick Stein's Food Stories, recently shared some culinary pearls of wisdom to help take the stress out of our festive dinner preparations

Events

2 h. ago Rob Reiner death latest: Devastated children Jake and Romy issue statement as brother Nick appears in court over parents’ murders

Jake and Romy Reiner described the ‘unimaginable pain’ in the wake of their parents’ deaths, calling them their ‘best friends’

Events

3 h. ago Trump to send checks to military as war looms with Venezuela

Donald Trump announced Wednesday night in a live White House address that he will be sending all active duty troops a $1,776 check before Christmas.

Events

4 h. ago Australia announces tougher hate speech laws in wake of Bondi terrorist attack

Federal police also confirmed further searches would be carried out in the coming days.

Events

4 h. ago Ashes 2025 live score: Root dismissed by Cummins with England 300 runs behind Australia

Alex Carey’s century on his home ground countered Jofra Archer’s excellent bowling to leave the third Test in the balance after day one in Adelaide

Politics

4 h. ago Cristiano Ronaldo's fiancée makes cheeky joke about 'the least he could offer' her

Cristiano Ronaldo, who has made more than 200 appearances for Portugal, became engaged to entrepreneur Georgina Rodriguez in the summer after nearly one decade of dating

Politics

5 h. ago Last year I had a gorgeous new lover and festive new home. Now it's turned to dust, says LIZ JONES... thanks to the mistake so many woman like me make

This year, I will be spending Christmas with my three border collies and rescued spaniel called Alice, writes LIZ JONES. There will be no company of the human variety.

Politics

5 h. ago Sainsbury's Grinch card is pulled from shelves after being identified as 'invalidating the lived experiences of trans people'

The card depicted the Dr Seuss character, The Grinch, alongside the caption: 'This Christmas, I'm identifying as a Grinch.'

Politics

5 h. ago Fans notice bizarre detail in Gary Busey's new video three months after he was handed groping sentence

'Hey, it's Gary Busey, and I have got a great Christmas present for you: listen to this,' said the 81-year-old, and then began loudly to honk like a goose.

Politics

6 h. ago Albanese announces new laws cracking down on hate speech and preachers of hate after Bondi beach attack

Australian prime minister unveils new measures to combat antisemitism in wake of Sunday’s massacre in Sydney The federal government will significantly strengthen hate speech laws – including to target religious preachers – and create new powers to cancel or reject visas of people who spread “hate and division” as part of a major escalation in its response to the Bondi massacre.The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, unveiled the measures on Thursday after days of intensifying pressure to do more to stamp out anti-Jewish hate in the wake of Sunday’s terrorist attack on a Hanukah celebration. Continue reading...

Society