15 h. ago Voices: Building affordable homes would be a powerful way to generate growth for Britain

With a new National Housing Bank in the works, and the government pledging £39 billion for affordable homes, the UK has a chance to transform more than just the housing sector, says Charlie Nunn, CEO of Lloyds Banking Group

Politics

21 h. ago The Tree of Authenticity review – talking tree explains Congo’s struggle to overcome colonial past

Sammy Baloji’s experimental documentary juxtaposes observations from both sides of the divide in its exploration of European exploitation of the country’s natural resourcesIn his first solo directorial feature, photographer and visual artist Sammy Baloji excavates the colonial legacies in the Congo basin, the second largest tropical forest in the world. Building on a decades-spanning archive from the Yangambi National Institute of Agronomic Studies and Research, the film is loosely divided into three sections, each guided by a different voice that speaks to the complicated environmental history of the area. The first segment is informed by the journal entries of Congolese agronomist Paul Panda Farnana. Working both within and outside Belgium’s colonial control during the 1910s and 1920s, Farnana wrote of his frustration with the extractive regime, as well as meteorological statistics related to rainfall and temperature, which are narrated in voiceover. This is combined with largely ...

Politics

43 h. ago US tariffs on European goods threaten to shake up the world's largest 2

America’s largest trade partner is awaiting word on whether U.S. President Donald Trump will impose punishing tariffs on its goods

Events

65 h. ago First look at the world’s largest Legoland resort built with 85 million bricks

Lego man Dada welcomed visitors to the new Legoland resort in Shanghai

Politics

66 h. ago ‘We don’t want contact because you are bad’: loggers close in on uncontacted people in Peruvian Amazon

Logging, drug trafficking and the climate crisis endanger the world’s largest isolated Indigenous group, on the border with BrazilIn 1999, Beatriz Huertas, then a young anthropologist, travelled deep into the Peruvian Amazon to investigate reports of uncontacted Indigenous peoples. Along the Las Piedras River, people in Monte Salvado, a Yine Indigenous village, described how every summer, “aislados” – those who avoid sustained contact with outsiders – would appear across the river.“They were coming into the fields and taking bananas,” says Huertas. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Edinburgh University Students welcomed by British Embassy in Bolivia ahead of landmark altitude expedition

A team of over 80 students from the University of Edinburgh was warmly welcomed this week at the British Ambassador’s Residence in La Paz, ahead of what is set to be the world’s largest controlled ascent for scientific research.

Culture

6 d. ago University of Glasgow marks 30 years since Srebrenica Genocide

Remembering Srebrenica, the world’s largest commemorator of the Srebrenica Genocide outside of Bosnia, is organising two important events taking place in June and July at the University of Glasgow to mark the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica Genocide.

Politics

6 d. ago Man spends 17 hours at Britain's biggest Wetherspoons and bill leaves him floored

With the nation's boozers under threat, the UK's – and the world's – largest Wetherspoons is on a mission to challenge cheap supermarket alcohol prices

Economics

1 week ago Kamala Harris is trying to gain momentum for a California governor run — but ‘no one is incredibly pumped,’ report says

Former vice president set self-imposed deadline of late summer on whether she will run to lead world’s fourth-largest economy at challenging time

Politics

1 week ago Shell denies it is in talks to buy BP after reports of potential £60bn takeover

Spokesperson says report that it is considering bid for struggling rival is ‘further market speculation’Shell has denied talks are taking place for it to buy BP, amid reports that it is negotiating a historic £60bn takeover to create one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies.The so-called oil supermajors are reported to be discussing a potential deal after speculation earlier this year that Shell was considering a bid for its struggling rival, which would mark an end for the 120-year-old company. Continue reading...

Economics

1 week ago Shell in early talks to buy rival BP to create oil giant – reports

Reported megamerger between supermajors would create British oil company worth more than £200bnShell is in early talks with BP over a historic £60bn deal that could create one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, according to reports.The so-called oil supermajors are reported to be in talks over a potential deal following speculation earlier this year that Shell was considering a bid for its struggling rival. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Scientists sound the alarm for Nullarbor’s fragile limestone caves and unique underground creatures

A massive renewable energy project threatens the treasures that lie beneath, including rare cave animals and a record of ancient life forms, experts warnAustralia news live: latest politics updatesSign up for climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s free Clear Air newsletter hereOn the Nullarbor plain, the world’s largest hydrogen export hub is being developed, a colossal renewable energy and industrial project comprising up to 3,000 wind turbines and 60m solar modules – which, at 70GW capacity, is larger than the national grid.Beneath it lies an internationally significant limestone cave system, a fragile home to globally unique creatures, and a time capsule of life since the Pliocene. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago WHO says attack on Sudanese hospital killed more than 40 civilians

Five health workers reportedly among the dead in West Kordofan as paramilitary RSF blames Sudanese militaryThe head of the World Health Organization has condemned an attack on a hospital in Sudan that he said killed more than 40 civilians, as the country’s civil war, which has caused the world’s largest humanitarian crisis, rages on.The attack on al-Mujlad hospital in West Kordofan happened on Saturday close to the frontline between the Sudanese military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. The WHO’s local office, which did not assign blame, said six children and five health workers were among the dead and that there were “dozens of injuries”. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Charitable giving in 2024 was up, according to new Giving USA report

Charities received $592.5 billion in donations in 2024, a 3.3% increase over 2023, after adjusting for inflation, according to the most recent ”Giving USA″ report, which takes a comprehensive look at U.S. philanthropy

Politics

1 week ago Google could be forced to change UK search as watchdog takes steps

CMA proposes tightening regulation, which could lead to site giving users option to choose alternative servicesBusiness live – latest updatesGoogle could be forced to make a series of changes to its search business, including giving internet users an option to choose alternative services, after the UK competition watchdog proposed to tighten regulation of the company.The Competition and Market Authority (CMA) is preparing to designate the world’s largest search engine with “strategic market status” – a term that gives the watchdog extra powers to regulate technology companies deemed to have considerable market heft. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago The photograph so detailed it's impossible to see with the naked eye: Vera C Rubin Observatory releases the first images from its whopping 3,200 MEGAPIXEL camera

Scientists have revealed the first images from the world's largest digital camera, the Vera C Rubin Observatory.

Economics

2 w. ago Quarter of women fleeing abuse unable to secure suitable refuge vacancy, new report finds

The Independent launched its Brick by Brick campaign in response to the national shortage of refuge spaces

Events

2 w. ago London’s Largest Ancient Roman Fresco Makes for the ‘World’s Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle’

London’s Largest Ancient Roman Fresco Makes for the ‘World’s Most Difficult Jigsaw Puzzle’  thisiscolossal.com

Politics

2 w. ago The number of abortions kept rising in 2024 because of telehealth prescriptions, report finds

A new report finds that the number of abortions in the U.S. grew in 2024 as more women obtained pills through telehealth

Politics

2 w. ago World's largest camera snaps its first picture: Incredible photo shot by the Vera Rubin observatory shows the Trifid and Lagoon nebulae in stunning detail

Scientists have revealed the first images from the world's largest digital camera, the Vera C Rubin Observatory.

Culture