3 h. ago ‘There’s always an empty space’: The families who spend Christmas waiting for someone who never comes home

For families of missing children, Christmas can be the hardest time of all. As The Independent’s SafeCall campaign reaches £165,000, parents and siblings open up about the ‘horrific’ pain of the festive season. Tara Cobham and Harriette Boucher report

Society

28 h. ago Families wait in line for hours to buy masa for Christmas tamales at beloved LA grocer

During the weeks surrounding Christmas and New Year’s, tens of thousands of people will flock to Amapola Market in the Los Angeles area to buy freshly produced masa for making tamales, a cherished holiday tradition for Latin American families

Politics

45 h. ago Tesco, Asda, M&S, Aldi, Morrisons, Lidl, Sainsbury's and Waitrose Christmas opening hours

Here's when your local Tesco, Asda, M&S, Aldi, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Waitrose will be open over Christmas

Politics

64 h. ago Royal Mail update as 92 postcodes where deliveries 'not guaranteed' released Mon, Dec 22

It's bad news for some who are still waiting for their Christmas presents and cards

Politics

4 d. ago I tried M&S's rosé mulled wine and first sip really took me by surprise

While I'm not normally a big fan of wines, I was excited to learn Marks & Spencer has unveiled a new rosé mulled wine for its 2025 Christmas food release, and I couldn't wait to try it

Politics

6 d. ago I’ve found the best Xbox Series X deals ahead of the Boxing Day sales

There are savings to be made right now but it could pay to wait until the post-Christmas sales

Economics

6 d. ago Woman tries every supermarket Christmas party food range and names 'the best'

Becca Stock, 28, tested 30 Christmas party foods from Aldi, Tesco, M&S, Sainsbury's, Waitrose, Asda and Co-op to find the best value options - and one left her desperate for more

Society

7 d. ago 'The rule is no tongue': Keira Knightley reveals screen kiss 'etiquette' as she reflects on smooching Joe Wilkinson in the Waitrose Christmas advert

The actress, 40, and comedian, 50, star alongside each other in the retailer's Love Actually-inspired four-minute mini-movie inspired by Richard Curtis rom-coms, The Perfect Gift.

Politics

8 d. ago ‘Dangerous’ junior doctors’ strike begins today – putting ‘lives at risk’ as super flu cripples NHS

NHS patients should brace for long wait misery over Christmas as doctors’ strikes starting today will hit harder than previous walkouts. The British Medical Association voted to press ahead with the five-day walkout that will last until Monday. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the decision “irresponsible and dangerous”. It comes at the height of a...

Events

8 d. ago NHS patients warned to brave for long wait misery as strikes starts today – and it’ll hit harder than previous walkouts

NHS patients should brace for long wait misery over Christmas as doctors’ strikes starting today will hit harder than previous walkouts, health chiefs warn. The British Medical Association has voted to press ahead with the five-day walkout that will last until Monday. Health Secretary Wes Streeting called the decision “irresponsible and dangerous”. It comes at...

Events

9 d. ago Delivery driver with 'massive backlog' reportedly takes unusual step

It's by far the busiest time of year for delivery drivers. With less than two weeks left until Christmas Day, many of us are still waiting for presents to be delivered so we can get them wrapped

Politics

9 d. ago Jo Whiley admits her mother Christine is a 'shell of the person she used to be' while waiting for multiple operations as she prepares to care for her ailing parents over Christmas

Whiley says Christmas this year will be 'a bit different' while her mother Christine struggles with her own health issues and waits for three different surgical procedures

Politics

1 week ago Next's 'beautiful' £12 Christmas decorations shoppers 'can't wait to put on the tree'

The Decoris Set of 4 Santa Bows brings a touch of classic Christmas and is bang on trend for 2025

Economics

1 week ago My daughter, 28, died on Christmas Eve after waiting 12 hours in A&E where she worked as an exhausted student nurse

IT’S three years since Nick Bell held his daughter Zoe’s hand as she took her last breaths on Christmas Eve.  “I told her I loved her a thousand times,” he tells Sun Health. “She was my princess, she always will be.” Zoe was just 28 and in the final year of her nursing degree when...

Events

1 week ago Sophie Habboo gives a glimpse inside her London home at Christmas as she praises Jamie Laing for waiting on her hand and foot a week after giving birth to their baby boy Ziggy

Sophie Habboo has gushed that her husband Jamie Laing is taking good care of her as she basks in her newborn baby bubble.

Politics

1 week ago Sophie Habboo gives a glimpse inside her £12M London home at Christmas as she praises Jamie Laing for waiting on her hand and foot a week after giving birth to their baby boy Ziggy

Sophie Habboo has gushed that her husband Jamie Laing is taking good care of her as she basks in her newborn baby bubble.

Economics

2 w. ago Joyful, irreverent, endlessly quotable: why Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the perfect holiday movie

Taika Waititi’s quirky family caper has no explicit mention of Christmas – but that doesn’t stop it from being the best Christmas viewingPicking a Christmas movie is hard work. It needs to be suitable for the entire family, which rules out Die Hard, and entertaining for the whole family, which rules out It’s a Wonderful Life. It has to be good, which rules out Love Actually, and it has to suit distracted viewing, which rules out Muppet Christmas Carol, of which it’s a sin to miss a single second.There is, however, no rule that says Christmas movies must include Christmas. Which is why Taika Waititi’s Hunt for the Wilderpeople is the perfect Christmas movie. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago We've found Keira Knightley's exact outfits from the Waitrose Christmas advert at John Lewis

Keira Knightley was unveiled as the star of the Waitrose Christmas advert this year, which follows a mini romantic-comedy story between the actress and comedian Joe Wilkinson as widow Phil.

Politics

3 w. ago Chelsea Peers pyjamas shoppers 'can't wait to wear at Christmas' as price drops to £36

Shoppers have just three more days to snap up huge savings on lingerie, loungewear, nightwear and more

Economics

3 w. ago West Lothian shoppers wait in huge queues as new store opens ahead of Christmas

Over 300 people turned up in their droves to The Centre, Livingston at the weekend for the opening of the pop culture retailer MINISO over four hours before the store opened.

Politics