53 m. ago 'Worst crisis since Covid': Super flu tearing through London as Streeting he urges doctors to call off strike

The number of patients with flu in the capital’s hospitals has jumped 47% to 380

Events

66 m. ago Super flu – latest: Streeting ‘can’t guarantee patients’ safety’ if doctors strike during virus wave

Hospitalisations for flu in England hit highest ever levels for this time of year

Science

96 m. ago BBC doctor says anyone with 'real' Christmas trees should take 9p pill

It could be the reason behind some new problems that people thought were long gone

Science

1 hour ago Spying AI cameras should be used nationwide to catch more drivers illegally using their phones, ministers told

Minsters are being urged to take a 'modernised approach' to tackling two of the most persistent driving offences on the road: mobile phone misuse and seat belt non-compliance.

Politics

1 hour ago Europe must be ready to deter Russia as ‘shadow of war’ looms, minister warns

Warning comes after head of Nato called Europe ‘Russia’s next target’ and said countries must prepare for ‘scale of war our grandparents or great-grandparents endured’

Events

2 h. ago Strictly's Alexis Warr says George Clarke has been 'changed' amid 'angry' confession

It comes as the pair have this week been preparing for the penultimate week of the BBC One dance contest

Events

2 h. ago Strictly's Amber Davies admits 'I am heartbroken' as she's supported ahead of final fight

The actress and West End star has this week been preparing to compete in the semi-final of the BBC One dance contest

Sport

2 h. ago 'Super flu' is posing threat to NHS unlike any since Covid pandemic, warns Wes Streeting

The Health Secretary called on resident doctors to call off their industrial action amid a sharp rise in flu cases across the country.

Events

2 h. ago Michael Smith reveals what shocked him at Ally Pally as he makes winning start to World Championship title bid

Bully Boy makes winning start to his title bid and was thrilled with one feeling that he got as he beat Lisa Ashton

Events

3 h. ago Chess: Magnus Carlsen wins Freestyle Tour title despite defeat in final event

Norway’s world No 1, 35, lost 0.5-1.5 to the US veteran Levon Aronian, 43, in Cape Town but was already sure of overall victory and a prize of around $500kNorway’s world No 1, Magnus Carlsen, was shocked by a 0.5-1.5 loss to the US veteran Levon Aronian in Thursday’s final of the Freestyle Grand Slam Tour in Cape Town, but still finished the overall winner of the five-event Tour.Freestyle chess is also known as Fischer Random and Chess 960. Pieces start randomly placed on the two back rows, thus drastically limiting opening preparation. Its 2025 season, with a Tour financed mainly by a $12m investment from the venture firm Left Lane Capital, has featured tournaments in Weissenhaus, Karlsruhe, Paris and Las Vegas before the final in South Africa. Continue reading...

Politics

3 h. ago Ten of the best TV shows from 2025 that you need to see before the year’s end

If you're staying in this festive season, it's a great time to catch up on some of the year's outstanding TV shows

Culture

4 h. ago 'Shadow of war' is looming: UK's stark warning as conflict with Russia 'at Europe's door'

‘The shadow of war is knocking on Europe's door once more. That's the reality. We've got to be prepared to deter it’ - armed forces minister Al Carns

Events

4 h. ago ‘We walked in awe, gazing across the sea’: readers’ favourite travel discoveries of 2025

From Essex to Istanbul, and from a soul music bar to a dramatic mountain pass, our tipsters share their personal travel highlights of the yearMoments after stepping off the bus, I wanted to text my friend: “What have I done to you, why did you tell me to come here?” As I weaved my way through coach-party day trippers, my initial suspicions dissipated. I came to swim, but Piran offered so much more. Venetian squares provided a delicately ornate backdrop, while cobbled passageways housed bustling seafood restaurants, serving the day’s catch. The majestic Adriatic was made manageable by concrete diving platforms, fit for all ages. Naša Pekarna stocked delightfully crisp and filling böreks, and the bar/cafe Pri Starcu – owned by Patrik Ipavec, a former Slovenia international footballer – married warm hospitality with ice-cold beer and delicious early evening refreshments.Alex Continue reading...

Politics

4 h. ago Davina McCall says bombshell discovery aged 57 'changed my whole life'

TV presenter Davina McCall has opened up about a life-changing moment when doctors made a discovery that changed her self-perception after decades of believing one thing about herself

Events

6 h. ago Dr Ranj Singh becomes latest star to support The Independent’s SafeCall campaign for missing children

Celebrity doctor and former Strictly Come Dancing contestant backs launch of new national lifeline for young people in crisis after donations surged past £100,000 last weekend

Events

6 h. ago 'I believe one man can crush Luke Littler's World Championship – and it's not Luke Humphries'

Luke Littler beat Luke Humphries to win the World Darts Championship, and the world No.1 began his title defence with a first-round victory over Darius Labanauskas

Politics

6 h. ago Planning to visit the US? Take it from this American citizen – don’t | Eleanor Limprecht

I love many things about the land of my birth but Donald Trump’s America has become an unwelcoming country of deep divisions and waning trustI’m in the US right now, but if I didn’t have family here (and a US passport), I wouldn’t be. My teenagers and I flew over the week of Thanksgiving from Australia, preparing ourselves for long lines and extra questions at customs. It took less than five minutes in the US citizens’ line.With the news this week of the Trump administration planning to implement new invasive requirements for travellers from 42 countries, including Australia, that would require five years of social media history for visas, I would simply not travel here on another passport. There are plenty of places which welcome visitors without trawling their political opinions and family history. Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Scots doctor accused of sexually harassing students to be hauled before watchdog

Dr Adam Chesters will stand before the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) later this month.

Society

9 h. ago 'Europe must prepare': Minister warns Britain is on a war footing as Nato chief says conflict with Russia 'at our door'

Armed Forces minister Al Carns said the country was on a 'war footing' and warned that the 'shadow of war was at Europe's door'.

Events

10 h. ago US ‘prepares to board more Venezuela oil tankers’ as White House ‘won’t watch them sail the seas’ & sanctions 6 more

US officials are reportedly preparing to storm and seize more tankers transporting Venezuelan oil to put pressure on dictator Nicolás Maduro. Tensions between Washington and Caracas escalated when rifle-wielding US troops rappelled from helicopters to raid an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela. Stunning footage showed commandos sweeping through the ship as they executed...

Events