66 m. ago All gardeners urged to put tennis balls in garden this winter

The humble tennis ball can be used for more than just games or playing fetch with the dog, as it can help wildlife like hedgehogs and birds in the colder months

Politics

69 m. ago Lidl launches wrapping stations with paper based on what we all buy

Pop-up wrapping stations will be launched in 10 stores across the UK

Politics

69 m. ago Awkward moment Real Housewives Of London cast gives very unenthusiastic reaction when asked if they would want Meghan Markle on their show

Real Housewives of London Juliet Angus, Amanda Cronin, Karen Loderick-Peace, Juliet Mayhew, Panthea Parker and Nessie Welschinger were less than enthusiastic.

Politics

84 m. ago First European performances of Dog Man The Musical will be in London next year

The show is adapted from the children books by Captain Underpants creator Dav Pilkey.

Politics

85 m. ago Man's life 'turns into horror movie' after buying strange book from jumble sale

A man has been sleeping with one eye open after buying a book from a jumble sale and discovering two photographs and a sketch drawing inside it, and it has made him question everything

Economics

87 m. ago AI poses unprecedented threats. Congress must act now | Bernie Sanders

Despite the speed at which it is progressing, AI is getting far too little discussion in Congress, the media and within the general population. That has got to changeArtificial intelligence and robotics will transform the world. It will bring unimaginable changes to our economy, our politics, warfare, our emotional wellbeing, our environment, and how we educate and raise our children. Further, there is a very real fear that, in the not-so-distant future, a super-intelligent AI could replace humans in controlling the planet.Despite the extraordinary importance of this issue and the speed at which it is progressing, AI is getting far too little discussion in Congress, the media and within the general population. That has got to change. Now. Continue reading...

Events

94 m. ago Lorraine Kelly urges public to ‘help a child reach safety’ as she backs The Independent’s SafeCall campaign

Lorraine Kelly has backed The Independent’s SafeCall campaign, which aims to raise £165,000 to support the 70,000 children who go missing every year in the UK.

Politics

1 hour ago Cream of local businesses recognised at West Lothian Chamber of Commerce’s Business Excellence Awards

More than 150 guests, including local MP Kirsteen Sullivan and MSP Fiona Hyslop, attended the glittering ceremony at the Macdonald Houstoun House Hotel, where Capital Service Solutions Group was voted Best Business of the Year.

Events

1 hour ago China introduces ‘condom tax’ as it tries to get people to have more children

Beginning January, contraceptive medicines and devices, including condoms, will be subjected to a 13% value-added tax for first time since 1993

Politics

1 hour ago Welsh households urged to put bowl of salt on windowsills this winter

As the weather becomes colder and wetter, moisture can build up in your home - but there's a simple and cheap solution to help reduce condensation and mould

Politics

2 h. ago Supermarket eggs are 'fresher, richer and better' if shoppers check 1 thing before buying

Eggs are a staple in many households, but not all eggs are created equal. An egg expert has shared one thing to look for on supermarket egg boxes before buying

Economics

2 h. ago Three school children in 'kidnap attempt' as man 'acting suspiciously' arrested

A 35-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnap after allegedly approaching three school-aged children in Ashington, Northumberland over the weekend

Events

2 h. ago Hours left to buy a MacBook Air for much cheaper price in Sky Christmas sale

Sky Mobile is offering the MacBook Air M2 for £17 per month in an end-of-year bonanza

Economics

2 h. ago Social media 'chipping away at attention spans', Ofsted chief warns

Sir Martyn Oliver used his annual report to say schools should be a 'sanctuary' for children away from their mobile phones, and that they “clearly” drive disruptive behaviour

Events

2 h. ago “I wear mine every day” Shoppers rush for this Christmas ring deal from Hope Rings

“I didn’t expect to love it this much, but the ring I bought from Hope Rings is the one I reach for every morning,” a recent buyer said as orders climbed ahead of the delivery cut-off.

Economics

2 h. ago Revealed: 28% of Brits buying extra Christmas lights and decorations to compete with neighbours

28% of Brits admit they've snapped up more dazzling holiday decor to keep up with the Joneses, according to a survey by Compare the Market

Politics

2 h. ago Why did I ever buy my kids refillable advent calendars? | Zoe Williams

Twenty-four tiny drawers of fun stuff sounds delightful – but not when you’re the one filling the thingMaybe 10 years ago, I bought permanent Advent calendars for the kids: Scandi-looking Christmas houses with 24 tiny drawers, from Sainsbury’s. I think my original plan was that some of the draws could contain something other than chocolate, not because I’m the kind of almond mum who won’t let anyone eat sweets before breakfast, but because their dad and I are separated and have them half the time each, so it wasn’t unusual for them to wake up and have six Lindt chocolate balls to chomp through before they’d opened their curtains.The tiny drawers are a curse. Some years I could only find stuff for one of the kids (erasers in the shape of hedgehogs; lip balm); other years, a different one was in luck (Lego Yodas; magnets). It was never, ever fair. One year, I found tons of different batteries for the drawers, and I thought it was the most genius thing I’d ever done, but they said: “Ho...

Politics

2 h. ago The White House’s new media ‘bias’ tracker is a desperate gimmick | Margaret Sullivan

The site isn’t exposing misleading reporting – it’s revealing the bubble Trump increasingly inhabitsDonald Trump has used the mainstream press as a punching bag for many years, but in recent weeks his jabs have become even more frequent – and more ill-tempered.He threatened to sue the BBC for $1bn last month over the editing of a documentary that aired more than a year ago. He called one White House reporter “piggy”, and told another – the well-regarded Mary Bruce of ABC News – that she was a “terrible person and a terrible reporter”. He called a New York Times reporter “ugly, both inside and out”.Margaret Sullivan is a Guardian US columnist writing on media, politics and culture Continue reading...

Events

2 h. ago Samuel Pepys' old school wants to ban house named after him over his 'abuse' of women

The former school of a famed 17th century diarist has proposed scrapping a house named after him over accusations abuse and exploitation of women.

Events

2 h. ago Life Invisible: the fight against superbugs starts in the driest place on Earth

Cristina Dorador is on an urgent mission in the world’s highest desert, the Atacama in Chile. As the rise of drug-resistant superbugs kills millions per year, Cristina has made it her mission to uncover new, life-saving antibiotics in the stunning salt flats she has studied since she was 14. Against the magnificent backdrop of endless plains, microscopic discoveries lead her team of scientists to question how critically lithium mining is damaging the delicate ecosystem and impacting Indigenous communities Continue reading...

Politics