Author: David Pike

Neighbours ‘hope and pray sisters found safe’ Missing Aberdeen sisters latest: Police reveal eerie final text sent to landlady at same time as last sighting A major police update has revealed a final eerie text was sent from the phone of one of the missing Aberdeen sisters at the same time as the last sighting of the pair. The pair’s landlady received the message from Henrietta Huszti’s phone, which indicated they would not be returning…

February 2025 dates for benefits and pensions as DWP PIP cuts rumoured  With 2025 well underway, millions continue to look for ways to keep household costs low as new expenses seem to wait around every corner. Household bills, groceries, mortgages and rents have all hit record highs over the past year, as the country navigates the ongoing cost of living crisis. Chancellor Rachel Reeves had a bumpy start to the year, as the pound slumped…

Vet Amir Anwary went viral on TikTok for his hot takes on dog breeds Five dog breeds you shouldn’t own as a pet, according to a vet  A vet has given his “brutally honest” advice about the five dog breeds that he would advise pet owners to think twice about owning. In a divisive new video, which has three million views on TikTok, South African vet Amir Anwary shared his top five breeds that might…

Mr Trump’s swearing-in as the 47th president is set to be followed by scores of executive orders and a massive shift in domestic and global policy as allies hail his Maga revolution while critics fear a resurgence of fascism Trump to start ‘two year race’ to change America and the world as he returns to the White House Donald Trump and his team will be in “a two-year race” to change the US – and…

Santander already announced it was cutting more than 1,400 jobs across its UK business Santander ‘considering quitting the UK’ after two decades on the high street Santander is reportedly reviewing its presence on the British high street after shedding hundreds of jobs in the last year. The UK arm of the bank has seen lower returns than overseas markets, according to the Financial Times, and the company is said to be considering a number of…

Exclusive: Maria Juliana Marquez Monsalve says she was forced to pay over £700 for new flights to the UK after airline refused to let her board Woman stranded in Brazil after airline ‘refuses to allow her to board flight home to UK with eVisa’  A woman says she was left stranded in Brazil when airline staff refused to let her board her flight home to the UK after refusing to accept her eVisa. Maria Juliana…

The former Labour leader was accused of breaking through police lines at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign in central London Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell interviewed by police under caution after attending pro-Palestine rally  Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell agreed to be interviewed by police under caution after they appeared at a pro-Palestine rally in central London. The former Labour leader and his former shadow chancellor were among hundreds of people who attended a Palestine Solidarity…

Labour chancellor will try to attract overseas investment at World Economic Forum meeting this week while row rages at home over tax changes for millionaire foreign nationals living in the UK Reeves blasted over Davos investment drive while millionaire non-doms desert the UK  Labour has been accused of trying to have it both ways as Rachel Reeves jets off to Davos to try to attract foreign investment while new figures show a millionaire leaves the…

An advert promoting the controversial Scientology religion at a London Tube station has caused shock and disbelief among commuters. The poster, which encourages Londoners to find out more about the group, was spotted over the weekend at a Tube platform. Scientology has been labelled a ‘cult’ by critics, and has been criticised for its claims about mental health, its finances and even abusive practices. The Tube advert says in large writing ‘I’m a Scientologist’, accompanied by…

The long-awaited ceasefire in Gaza has come into force after a delay of nearly three hours, and thousands of Gazans are beginning to return home. The first three Israeli female hostages are expected to be freed later – Hamas has named them as 31-year-old Doron Steinbrecher, dual British-Israeli Emily Damari, 28, and 24-year-old Romi Gonen.

Several thousand Pro-Palestinian supporters have taken part in a demonstration in central London. The rally – the latest UK protest organised by the Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) since the war in Gaza began in 2023 – comes as Israel and Hamas agreed to a ceasefire and hostage release deal.

TikTok has gone offline in the US, hours before a new law banning the platform was due to come into effect. A message appearing on the app for US users said a law banning TikTok had been enacted, meaning “you can’t use TikTok for now”.

A roundup of last night’s Premier League matches dominates the UK news. Arsenal threw away a 2-0 lead at home to draw 2-2 with Aston Villa, potentially throwing away any chances of winning the title. Liverpool beat Brentford 2-0 yesterday, going six points clear at the top of the table.

World-first urine test ‘detects lung cancer’ Scientists have created a first-of-its-kind urine test which they say catches lung cancer early, potentially improving outcomes for the millions of people who will go on to develop the disease. Created by the University of Cambridge, England, the test identifies ‘zombie’ cell proteins in urine. These proteins can be markers of tissue changes that occur long before lung cancer becomes visible through scans or physical symptoms. Researchers developed an…

A mostly cloudy day, with a risk of drizzle and snow grains in the south where cloud is thick enough. Some brighter spells possible in in the north and west, although patchy rain in the far west later. Chilly. Tonight: Cloudy for most with patchy rain across western Scotland and Northern Ireland easing by dawn. Turning chilly with some mist and fog, especially under any clear spells.

Gladiator cop prove over woman stalker The Sun on Sunday reports a “cop probe” into allegations of stalking against Alex Gray, known as Apollo from the TV show Gladiators. Enhanced security measures were reportedly implemented after harassment incidents on set in Sheffield.

The new normal in the NHS A special report by the Sunday Mirror highlights pressures on the NHS, showing overcrowded emergency departments and ambulance handover delays. One doctor described the current level of care as “exhausting,” though the report notes that some hospitals are performing better than the national average.

‘Reeves debt’ would fund 300,000 nurses The Sunday Express critiques Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ budget, calling it “chaos unleashed.” The analysis suggests her plans could cost the country the equivalent of 300,000 nurses’ salaries, with borrowing projected to increase by £12bn. Reeves has defended her approach, promising to drive economic growth “further and faster.”

Third of pupils now get extra time in exams The Sunday Times reveals a sharp increase in students receiving extra time for exams, with nearly 420,000 pupils benefiting this year. Some educators express concerns that the system is being exploited, while others attribute the rise to increased recognition of special educational needs.

Gaza ceasefire on a knife edge The front page of The Independent leads on the ceasefire set to come into effect today. The paper notes that Israeli PM Netanyahu has warned it won’t go ahead unless Hamas provide a list of hostages that are due to be released and Netanyahu’s warning that Israel has the right to return to war. An image of Israeli demonstrators in Tel Aviv last night ahead of the truce makes…

Team Trump’s revenge on Starmer for ‘meddling’ in U.S. election The Mail on Sunday reports claims that members of Donald Trump’s team are backing Reform UK leader Nigel Farage in his bid for prime minister. The support is said to be in response to Labour’s involvement in Kamala Harris’s campaign during the U.S. presidential election.

Sunday’s front pages cover a variety of domestic and international stories, including the upcoming ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict and reports on Donald Trump’s inauguration on Monday.

Several papers report on domestic politics, with the latest poll showing that Reform UK is closing in on Labour and Conservatives. The NHS, the UK economy and education also lead the papers.

Last night’s Premier League matches make up the back pages as Arteta’s Arsenal throw away a 2-0 lead – and possibly the title race.

Listeria can cause flu like symptoms and even meningitis in severe cases Shoppers warned do not eat bacteria infested cheddar cheese from Lidl Lidl has issued an urgent recall of infected cheddar cheese over fears it can cause flu-like symptoms and severe infections to babies, the elderly and pregnant women. Some Deluxe Sriracha Cheddar Cheese Wedges, sold in branches of the budget supermarket in Northern Ireland, were found to contain a dangerous bacteria called Listeria…

The march comes after police curtailed organisers’ plans to walk past the BBC headquarters More than 70 arrested at pro-Palestine rally in London ahead of Israel-Hamas ceasefire  More than 70 pro-Palestinian protesters have been arrested in Trafalgar Square on suspicion of breaching protest conditions after demonstrators broke through a police line as they marched from a rally in Whitehall. The Palestine Solidarity Campaign (PSC) protest on Saturday was adjusted to be a static rally after…

Survivors of sexual violence among emotional demonstrators brought together in fight for equality when women’s rights under threat globally Tens of thousands take to streets across UK to march in solidarity with oppressed women around world Survivors of sexual violence were among the tens of thousands who have taken to the streets across the UK to march in solidarity with all oppressed women and girls around the world. Around 5,000 demonstrators walked alongside loved ones…

President-elect has recently ramped up threats over his desire for the US to gain control of Greenland and the Panama Canal Badenoch claims Trump ‘will be a force for good in the world’ as UK braces for possible tariff war Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has claimed Donald Trump will be a “force for good in the world”, days after Business secretary Jonathan Reynolds warned a “tariff war” inspired by the next US President could lead…

Exclusive: The first Techne UK weekly tracker poll of 2025 has put Reform ‘within the margin of error’ for a three-way split at the top with Labour and the Tories Nigel Farage’s big poll leap leaves Reform breathing down neck of Labour and Tories  The onward march of Reform has seen the party come “within the margin of error” of topping the first of 2025’s weekly tracker polls for The Independent in a major blow…

The Independent’s political editor David Maddox and White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg were at the Hay Adams hotel opposite the White House as Brexiteer Brits hosted the biggest inauguration party in town and plotted a populist future with their US allies Nigel Farage proclaimed ‘Britain’s future PM’ at champagne-fuelled Trump celebration party  Nigel Farage was proclaimed “the next prime minister of Great Britain” at a huge party overlooking the White House to celebrate the upcoming…