58 m. ago Brendon McCullum admits England’s Ashes preparation ‘didn’t work’

England finally took a Test match into the fifth day in South Australia but an 82-run defeat leaves them 3-0 down to Australia.

Politics

74 m. ago How Man United should line up vs Aston Villa in Premier League clash

Manchester United travel to Aston Villa this afternoon hoping to end Unai Emery's side's exceptional run of form

Politics

74 m. ago China has set a bear trap for Keir Starmer – and our naive PM is walking straight into it | Simon Tisdall

The conviction of Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong is another hostile act. How can Britain ignore Beijing’s provocations and human rights abuses?The UK pushed hard to secure the release of Jimmy Lai, the newspaper publisher and British citizen who was a leading light in Hong Kong’s brutally suppressed pro-democracy movement. So, too, did press freedom and human rights campaigners. But the Beijing-appointed high court judges in the former colony convicted him anyway, finding Lai guilty last week on fake charges of trying to “destabilise” the Chinese Communist party (CCP). For Xi Jinping, China’s dictator-emperor, there is no greater crime.Protesting to China’s ambassador, the UK’s foreign secretary, Yvette Cooper, condemned the trial as “politically motivated”. She’s right, of course – but her angry words will make no difference. Beijing’s contempt for Britain’s views is as painfully obvious as the UK’s weakness and indecision in the face of Chinese hubris. The breaking of its solemn promise t...

Politics

75 m. ago Top tips from celebrities, chefs and critics for food shopping in London

Whether you’re doing the final big shop for Christmas lunch or contemplating a meal that doesn’t consist of turkey, here’s where to shop in London

Economics

75 m. ago City girl, canyon mood: Escape LA in Topanga with Alana Hadid

Canyon sunsets, misty hot tubs by a crackling fire, artisanal treasures this Californian gem keeps pulling the film-maker and fashion designer back

Politics

75 m. ago London leaver: 'We swapped Putney for Essex to get dogs — and halved our living costs in the process'

The couple left London for a bigger home for their dogs and haven’t looked back

Politics

75 m. ago Meet Man Utd target's rapper girlfriend who 'wants £70m transfer to Manchester'

Manchester United are set to enter the transfer window looking to bolster Ruben Amorim’s ranks and the Red Devils’ key target’s wife would 'welcome a move to Manchester'

Economics

79 m. ago What Heathrow Airport's third runway means for London, the environment and rival European hubs

Heathrow's third runway is back on the table, and this time, this time, the government says it's serious again

Society

98 m. ago NFL Week 16 injuries to monitor for Sunday's games: Falcons WR Drake London expected to play

NFL Week 16 injuries to monitor for Sunday's games: Falcons WR Drake London expected to play  NFL.com

Events

2 h. ago Dunelm's reversible 'no iron' bedding can be picked up for £7 with little

There's a way to knock a big chunk off the price of this stylish winter set

Economics

2 h. ago My weirdest Christmas: I tried to catch out Santa with a whoopee cushion – but the Big Man outwitted me

Who was Santa, really? Aged eight, I devised a cunning plan to catch him in the act, involving a booby trap and a camera. Unfortunately, the joke was on me It was Christmas Eve, 1987. The cold war was beginning to emit its last frosty guffs, Thatcher had set her sights on gay children, and Michael Fish was keeping his head down. In England’s deep south, my sister and I conspired in our bedroom. We are twins: she got the brains; I, being the eldest by a full six minutes, was to inherit the estates and titles, except there were none because my idealistic pinko parents had spent their working lives in public service.Earlier in the year, my sister had attempted to prove the existence of God. Worried about the health of her pet rabbit, Wodger, she penned him a letter pleading for help, with a rather clever “Please tick if you have read this” box at the end. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Spain’s ruling party faces crunch regional poll amid corruption and harassment claims

Results of Sunday’s snap election in Extremadura are seen as key test of Pedro Sánchez and his PSOE partySpain’s beleaguered prime minister, Pedro Sánchez, faces a key test on Sunday when voters in the south-western region of Extremadura cast their ballots in the first major election to be held since a series of corruption and sexual harassment allegations enveloped his inner circle, his party and his administration.Extremadura, once a stronghold of Sánchez’s Spanish Socialist Workers’ party (PSOE), has been in the hands of the conservative People’s party (PP) since 2023, when the latter managed to form a short-lived coalition government with the far-right Vox party, despite finishing just behind the socialists. Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago ‘Hidden crisis’ of 40,000 women and girls going missing every year due to violence

Women open up about abuse that led to disappearance, after government VAWG strategy is silent on missing people, as The Independent hopes to launch national lifeline SafeCall

Events

2 h. ago I tried a Christmas pie and it was the perfect alternative to the roast

There is no getting away from the fact that we eat a roast most days in the run up to December 25, but what if you made a pie out of the Christmas dinner?

Politics

2 h. ago Starc breaks England hearts again as Australia retain the Ashes in tense third Test

Third Test, D5: Australia, 371 & 349?, bt England, 286 & 352 by 82 runsEngland show grit in Adelaide but fall short as hosts wins series 3-0The England supporters on the hill in front of the heritage-listed scoreboard never gave up and, to their credit, neither did their team. But in the end, despite losing Nathan Lyon to a hamstring injury, it was Australia who prevailed by 82 runs to win this Ashes series with two Tests to spare.Needing just 11 days of play to claim an unassailable 3-0 lead, Pat Cummins and his men equalled Steve Waugh’s sides in 2001 and 2002/03 for the fastest Ashes wins. This one, sealed after England’s attempt to chase down a record 435 ended at 352 all out, comes with an extra dollop of relish. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Dominant Australia defeat England in third Test to retain Ashes – live reaction

Australia win by 82 runs as England fall short of record run chase in Adelaide Ashes top 100 | Get the Spin newsletter | Email James66th over: England 214-6 (Smith 9, Jacks 11) Smith pushes a single off Lyon. It’s the only run off the over. Oohs and ahhs from the Aussie fielders, I wouldn’t say Marnus is quiet exactly.65th over: England 213-6 (Smith 8, Jacks 11) Smith drives Cameron Green for three more but it was uppish and not too far away from the bowler’s gargantuan wing span in his follow through. Jacks then nearly nicks off with a loosey goosey drive. Gah. To channel Ray Winstone in The Departed – I’m here to tell you there are ways to get out and ways to not get out, getting out caught and bowled to a loose drive is not a way to get out. Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Anger as four independent Hampstead Heath cafes handed to Daisy Green group

The City of London Corporation chose Australian-inspired cafe group Daisy Green to take over next spring.

Politics

4 h. ago New cruise ship you can live on forever and it costs less than a London flat

Villa Vie Residences has announced plans for a new residential cruise ship where people can buy cabins and live at sea permanently - with prices starting lower than average London property

Politics

5 h. ago La Voix lined up for Strictly presenting gig with bosses 'determined to find a role' for drag performer

The cabaret star, aged 45, whose real name is Christopher Dennis, impressed during her run on Strictly with her quick wit and repartee, and made no secret of her hosting ambitions.

Politics

5 h. ago So what DID Britain's Got Talent bosses know about David Walliams' behaviour? KATIE HIND reveals he hosted teenage girls in his dressing room but producers said nothing

It was one of the nation's most-watched Saturday night shows - and he one of its star judges.

Politics