38+ min ago (639+ words) Fire damage related to candles typically costs more than "25,000 to put right, according to data from an insurer, which is urging households to take care over Christmas. Aviva, which looked at home insurance claims from 2021 to 2024, said that candle-related fires peak in the month of December, with the average claim amounting to more than "25,000. The insurer said its data indicates that candles are responsible for around 15% of fire claims during the month of December, with chimneys and fireplaces accounting for 6%. Examples of candle-related claims it has dealt with during the festive season include a candle catching the branch of a Christmas tree, and in another case, a fire spreading in a home due to the foliage of an advent wreath catching fire. It has also dealt with claims involving unattended Christmas candles setting fire to items and decorations nearby and…...

1+ hour, 10+ min ago (271+ words) Couples faced the high pressure test for the first time in the competition's history Lewis Cope and Katya Jones have emerged victorious in Strictly Come Dancing's first ever Instant Dance challenge. For the first time in the show's 21 year history, the contestants were tasked with choreographing a routine in a matter of seconds before performing for their judges. Each couple had to randomly select a dance style from those they have already learned during the competition. They were then allocated a backing track and were allotted just 10 seconds to come up with a loose strategy for their choreography. Emmerdale star Cope and seasoned Strictly pro Jones received the maximum six points from the judges for their jive to "Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go" by Wham during Saturday (29 November) night's show. Head judge Shirley Ballas praised the couple for taking…...

1+ hour, 43+ min ago (489+ words) Editorial: Fiona Hill, a former White House adviser, tells The Independent that the Russian president is manipulating his US counterpart and has no intention of stopping the war on Ukraine Vladimir Putin's "whole economy, his whole society, his whole politics, his whole preservation of self revolves around having this war go on, Fiona Hill, who was Donald Trump's adviser on Russia in his first presidential term, has told The Independent in an exclusive interview. She says that Putin knows exactly how to manipulate the US president and has no intention of stopping the war in Ukraine. The Russian president's reason for taking part in peace talks is that he hopes Mr Trump will bully the Ukrainians into surrender " or, if not explicit surrender, then a ceasefire agreement that so weakens them that Russian forces will be able to finish the…...

1+ hour, 57+ min ago (459+ words) Swiss voters are casting ballots to decide whether women, like men, must do national service in the military, civil protection teams or in other forms. Supporters of the "citizen service initiative" in the referendum ending Sunday hope it will boost social cohesion by adding jobs in areas like environmental prevention, food security and elderly care. Parliament overwhelmingly opposes the idea, mainly for cost reasons and out of concern that it could crimp the economy by taking tens of thousands of young people out of the workforce. While initial polls suggested a tight contest, a more recent survey showed the initiative was on track to fail. The vote gives an indication of how a European populace views mandatory national duty, at a time when there are worries about the possible spillover of Russia's war in Ukraine and other potential disruptions. "Clouds…...

2+ hour, 19+ min ago (521+ words) Events will include a meet-and-greet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to report Right-wing media outlets are set to be welcomed to the Pentagon next week, following the mass exodus of mainstream news organizations earlier this year in protest of government-imposed restrictions on their reporting. The outlets, which include the pro-Trump cable channel, One America News; right-wing website The Federalist; ultra-conservative newspaper The Epoch Times; and others, will be shown around, pick up credentials and meet senior officials,The Washington Post reported. Events will run Monday through Wednesday, and include a meet-and-greet with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, according to the outlet, along with a briefing from department press secretary Kingsley Wilson. Six weeks ago, dozens of journalists packed up their desks and handed in their press badges, rather than comply with new reporting restrictions imposed by Hegseth. Among the new…...

2+ hour, 25+ min ago (936+ words) Cat Murphy, a college student, has wanted to be a journalist since she was 11. Many of her friends don't understand why. When they engage with the news " if they do " they hear a cacophony of voices. They don't know who to believe. Reporters are biased. They make mistakes. Besides, why would you hitch your future to a dying industry? "There is a lot of commentary " "Oh, good for you. Look what you're walking into. You're going to be screaming into the void. You're going to be useless,'" said Murphy, a 21-year-old graduate student at the University of Maryland's journalism school. She is undeterred. And it's also why she's not surprised by the findings of a study this fall that documented negative attitudes toward the news media among 13- to 18-year-old Americans. The press rarely fares well in surveys of adults, but…...

3+ hour, 22+ min ago (635+ words) Reports have suggested that jury trials will be significantly restricted if Lammy's proposed changes go through Major reforms to the criminal justice system, set to be unveiled this week, will aim to "put victims front and centre", Justice Secretary David Lammy has announced, amid reports that jury trials could be significantly restricted. The proposed changes are expected to tackle the record-high backlog in crown courts, which the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) states will save victims "from years of torment and delay". While the MoJ has yet to release specific details of the shake-up, which Mr Lammy is anticipated to outline in the coming days, a memo seen by The Times newspaper suggests a radical shift. According to the document, penned by Mr Lammy to officials this month, juries would only preside over cases of rape, murder, manslaughter, and those deemed…...

5+ hour, 18+ min ago (537+ words) Amazon's Black Friday sale is here, and our favourite ereader has seen a discount Follow live: All the best Black Friday 2025 deals If you're a keen reader looking to upgrade your Kindle, Black Friday is the best time to invest in a new device. The latest Kindle paperwhite, which launched in 2024, remains our top pick in our guide to the best ereaders. And, right now, you can buy it for a fraction of the price in Amazon's Black Friday sale. But, as any bookworm will know, they don't come cheap " until Black Friday, that is. For its 2025 shopping event, Amazon has slashed the price of this Kindle by more than 20 per cent, bringing its cost down to less than "125. That's a brilliant saving on a piece of iconic tech that's sure to give you hours of entertainment, especially during those…...

5+ hour, 37+ min ago (418+ words) Mediterranean diet has long been recommended by experts for overall health and weight loss Health experts have praised the Mediterranean diet for years " which emphasizes fresh produce, fish, and extra virgin olive oil, among other foods " for those looking to lose weight or improve overall health. Researchers have consistently pointed to the nutritional value of the Mediterranean diet's meals, as well as its anti-inflammatory ingredients, such as dark leafy greens and olive oil, as reasons why it's considered one of the healthiest dietary options for a long life. But new research is pointing to another regimen that may yield better weight-loss results. A new study published in Frontiers divided 62 adults into two groups. Half followed the Mediterranean diet for 16 weeks, while the other consumed a low-fat vegan diet, including grains, beans, and fresh produce. At the end of the 16 weeks,…...

6+ hour, 21+ min ago (620+ words) The Texas GOP lawmaker is one of dozens of lawmakers who have announced plans to exit Congress Texas Republican Rep. Troy Nehls announced he's retiring from Congress, joining a growing list of Donald Trump's allies who are stepping down. In a social media post Saturday, Nehls explained that he decided to "focus on my family and return home after this Congress" following conversations with his wife and daughters over the Thanksgiving holiday. Nehls has represented Texas's 22nd congressional district since 2021. He's been an outspoken supporter of the president, serving as a major advocate of his immigration agenda. He's also pushed for legislation to honor the president, cosponsoring a bill requiring $100 bills to include a portrait of Trump and another renaming Washington Dulles International Airport after Trump. "Before making this decision, I called President Trump personally to let him know of my…...