48 m. ago Record number of people in UK live in ‘very deep poverty’, analysis shows

Joseph Rowntree Foundation finds problem is ‘deeper and more damaging than at any point in the last 30 years’The UK’s poorest families are getting poorer, with record numbers of people classed as in “very deep poverty” – meaning their annual household incomes fail to cover the cost of food, energy bills and clothing, according to analysis.Although overall relative poverty levels have flatlined in recent years at about 21% of the population, life for those below the breadline has got materially worse as they try to subsist on incomes many thousands of pounds beneath the poverty threshold. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Over 500,000 households to be shielded from ‘unfair’ energy bill price hikes after Brits hit with 450% increases

OVER 500,000 households will be shielded from unfair energy bill price hikes after Brits were hit with price increases of up to 450%. Ofgem is introducing heat network regulation for the first time after customers experienced a significant hike in prices. As of tomorrow, Tuesday, January 27, the regulations will come into force. The previously...

Society

2 h. ago One thousand pubs face closing doors for final time as they struggle with ‘perfect storm’ of higher costs

A THOUSAND pubs face closure as they struggle with higher costs, industry estimates reveal. Business rates rises, beer duty taxes, employment costs and high energy bills are to blame. It means around 21 boozers a week could shut their doors for good over the next year. An enhanced financial package for pubs is imminent from...

Events

4 h. ago Scientists launch AI DinoTracker app that identifies dinosaur footprints

Researchers say artificial intelligence system matches human expert classification about 90% of the timeExperts have created an app that uses artificial intelligence to identify dinosaurs from the footprints left behind after they stomped across the land tens of millions of years ago.“When we find a dinosaur footprint, we try to do the Cinderella thing and find the foot that matches the slipper,” said Prof Steve Brusatte, a co-author of the work, from the University of Edinburgh. “But it’s not so simple, because the shape of a dinosaur footprint depends not only on the shape of the dinosaur’s foot but also the type of sand or mud it was walking through, and the motion of its foot.” Continue reading...

Politics

6 h. ago Number of people living in extreme heat to double by 2050 if 2C rise occurs, study finds

Scientists expect 41% of the projected global population to face the extremes, with ‘no part of the world’ immuneThe number of people living with extreme heat will more than double by 2050 if global heating reaches 2C, according to a new study that shows how the energy demands for air conditioners and heating systems are expected to change across the world.No region will escape the impact, say the authors. Although the tropics and southern hemisphere will be worst affected by rising heat, the countries in the north will also find it difficult to adapt because their built environments are primarily designed to deal with a cooler climate. Continue reading...

Politics

7 h. ago Tory bid to ‘wreck’ Chagos deal is ‘a simple political stunt’, minister says

Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty said it is ‘absolute nonsense’ to present a 1966 UK-US agreement as a ‘gotcha’.

Politics

8 h. ago Replacing a manager midseason is a big call, and not as simple as it sounds | Jonathan Wilson

Liverpool and Tottenham are in different situations but face the same problem: a manager in the hot seat but few ideal optionsSign up for Soccer with Jonathan Wilson hereAnother weekend, another few days of soul-searching for Liverpool and Tottenham. Liverpool had been on a 13-game unbeaten run before Saturday’s defeat to Bournemouth, but nobody could claim a string of results that included home draws with all three promoted clubs was convincing. Spurs had won just two of their 13 league games before Saturday’s away draw at Burnley, which was salvaged only thanks to an injury-time goal from Cristian Romero.For both, European competition had offered some relief – Liverpool looked very good in a 3-0 win away to Marseille while Spurs, at least in the first half, produced probably their best performance since August in beating Borussia Dortmund 2-0 – but the sad truth is that the vast majority of European sides these days simply cannot live with the physicality of the Premier League. Th...

Politics

8 h. ago Robins will flock to your garden time and time again if you do 1 simple task in January

Wildlife experts have shared a simple task you can do in the garden to help robins find food during winter

Politics

8 h. ago Robins will keep coming back to your garden if you do 1 simple task in January

Wildlife experts have shared a simple winter task that can help attract robins to your garden when the ground is frozen in winter

Politics

11 h. ago Ryanair flight 'in tears' after passenger does something totally unexpected

Sebbie Hall recently left a Ryanair flight "in tears" after he performed a simple action during a plane journey. Passengers were left sobbing after the unexpected incident

Politics

11 h. ago The dangerous side of Hyrox you don't see on Instagram: Why the global fitness craze should NOT be part of your January health kick

Hyrox, the new, high-energy workout touted by influencers across the globe, might look like the perfect addition to a January health kick.

Politics

12 h. ago West Lothian woman is feeling fab at 50 thanks to six stone weight loss

Debbie Oswald, from East Calder, marked the milestone this year with more confidence, energy and happiness than she’s felt in years – and for good reason.

Politics

12 h. ago ‘They lied to me and destroyed my house’: Thousands left in limbo over botched energy scheme

Victims of the failed energy efficiency scheme tellThe Independent how they have been let down

Politics

13 h. ago Major energy firm giving away 16 hours of free electricity every Sunday

To get free electricity, customers need to shift their electricity use away from weekday peak hours each week, which are from 4pm to 7pm

Science

14 h. ago Households urged to apply for energy bill support worth £200 NOW ahead of scheme closing for good

HOUSEHOLDS are being urged to apply for energy bill support worth £200 ahead of a scheme closing for good. Hard-up families and individuals can get support via the government’s Household Support Fund (HSF). The scheme has been extended multiple times with the latest round running between April 2025 and March 2026. Each council in England has been allocated a share of the...

Economics

14 h. ago Ofgem important alert for customers of Octopus, British Gas, OVO, EDF and E.ON

Ofgem is the energy supply regulator for gas and electricity suppliers across Great Britain, setting maximum prices and working to protect users

Economics

16 h. ago Sam Darnold: after five teams and plenty of mockery, ‘Ginger Cuz’ reaches the Super Bowl

The Seattle Seahawks quarterback has endured a rocky NFL career. But in the biggest game of his career, he delivered the performance of a lifetimeMoments after clinching a Super Bowl berth, Sam Darnold strolled over for his obligatory television interview. He was thrilled; the Seahawks had just toppled the Rams in a 31-27 thriller. But he was also measured. Unlike receiver Jaxon Smith-Njigba, who would follow and was teeming with emotion, Darnold simply spoke about his love for his teammates. And when asked about his improbable journey, he replied, “I haven’t really thought about it that much.”He may not have, but the rest of us have. And whether Darnold likes it or not, his comeback story will be the prevailing storyline of Super Bowl 60. How can it not, especially after the quarterback saved what may have been the best performance of his life for Seattle’s third, and most important, tilt with the Rams this season. Continue reading...

Politics

16 h. ago Bangladesh boycott brings a sad reality to T20 World Cup countdown | Taha Hashim

Swirling force of subcontinental politics and a governing body lacking in credibility has led to a far from joyous situationThe R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo may be hosting a one-day international series at the moment, but the real show begins in less than two weeks. The venue has been dressed with branding for the upcoming men’s T20 World Cup, co-hosted by Sri Lanka and India: a banner hangs out the front, an image of the trophy accompanied by a simple tagline: “Feel the thrill”.This, of course, is how it should be as you approach a global tournament, a real buzz as the world is welcomed on to an island. Spotted in the stadium during Sri Lanka’s second ODI against England on Saturday was a poster reading: “We will repeat 2014”, a nod to their tournament victory 12 years ago, a crowning moment for the departing Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. With Italy among the 20 teams competing, the upcoming showpiece looks like a genuinely global event unlike the more exclusive 50-ove...

Politics

20 h. ago Stop your hydrangeas being flowerless by avoiding 1 simple mistake most people make

Hydrangeas are a popular flowering shrub thanks to their large blooms and extended flowering season. However, one common pruning timing error can result in a lack of flowers

Politics

21 h. ago I saved £20 a week on groceries thanks to one easy switch I wish I made earlier

One very simple change to my shopping habits has cut my weekly grocery bill by £20 without changing what I buy

Economics