Nearly half of all 11 to 17-year-olds admit to gambling, a Gambling Commission survey has revealed. The watchdog’s annual report on Young People and Gambling found that 49 per cent had gambled, “but not necessarily spending their own money on doing so”. On behalf of the Gambling Commission, Ipsos surveyed 3,666 British school children aged 11 to 17, between January and June 2025, on their exposure and involvement in gambling in the previous twelve months. He said: “It doesn’t feel like gambling but it’s the normalisation of gambling. Sixteen per cent of all respondents said “that influencers had advertised gambling-related content to them”.

The flu strain ripping through the UK, known as H3N2, is relatively new, meaning many people may not have immunity. By November 18, flu cases were already surging, according to latest data from the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). In a normal flu season, the R rate – the average number of people an infected person passes the virus on to – is around 1.1 to 1.2. And it follows the biggest flu season in Australia’s history, which is often an indication of what is to come in England and the rest of the northern hemisphere. In the UK, flu vaccines are available for everyone aged 65 and over, under 65s who are at clinical risk, pregnant women, care home residents and carers.

The Daily Mirror, external says the former prime minister's handling of the crisis was "inexcusable," as it highlights the finding that he repeated mistakes. "It's amazing what £200m worth of hindsight can buy you," suggests the Times, external sketchwriter, Tom Peck. Many of the papers pay tribute to the Stone Roses and Primal Scream bassist Gary Mounfield - best known as Mani - who has died at 63. The Mirror, external says he was the soul of the Stone Roses. For the Times, external, he was the "beating heart" of the band.

This year, King’s College London (KCL) has been ranked 65th in the Global Employability University Rankings for 2026, decreasing from 64th place in 2025. However, it ranked 6th in the UK Employability rankings, beating UCL in 7th place. KCL’s highest ranking in the Global Employability rankings was 21st in 2020. The process is as follows:In comparison to our competitors, UCL ranked 98th, LSE came in at 19th and Imperial College London came out on top in 9th place. Despite our rankings, King’s Careers and Employability gives graduates the opportunity to network with their various alumni in London through mentoring schemes and events.

A new General Medical Council (GMC) report has revealed that 4,880 doctors who trained abroad left the UK workforce in 2024 – a 26% increase on 3,869 in 2023. Doctors who qualified outside of the UK currently make up around 42% of the workforce, it said. GMC chief executive Charlie Massey said: “Doctors represent a mobile workforce, whose skills are in high demand around the world. “Doctors who qualified outside of the UK make up 42% of those working in the UK. He acknowledged that two-thirds of the 30,000 doctors applying for 10,000 training places are international medical graduates.

For the first time, scientists are tracking the migration of monarch butterflies across much of North America. The butterflies are on their way to overwinter in which country?

England v Australia First Test LIVE: Scorecard, UK times, team news and where to watch Ashes opener in PerthEngland will hope to kickstart their Ashes campaign with victory in the First Test against Australia in Perth this week. 3 Stokes and England will begin their Ashes campaign with the First Test in Perth Credit: GettyEngland told they've made major mistake before Ashes down under even beginsIt has also been a decade since England won an Ashes series home or away. England vs Australia: Date and how to follow First TestThe First Ashes Test will take place from Friday, November 21 to Tuesday, November 25. The talkSPORT Cricket YouTube channel will feature regular content throughout the series, including a daily show. "Ashes cricket is played with more venom behind it but these players have played a lot of international cricket and enough to know what it's about.

The British government announced plans on Thursday to extend the time required for legal immigrants to be granted permanent residency, saying foreign workers would have to “earn” the right to remain in the country indefinitely. The proposals are part of a tightening of immigration rules under the center-left Labour government as it tries to counter the rise of Reform U.K., a right-wing populist party that has put cutting immigration at the heart of its identity. How would the rules for legal immigrants change? Under the current system, most people who come to Britain legally can apply for permanent residency, also known as “settled status,” after five years of living and working in the country. Settled status — which is roughly similar to having a green card in the United States — allows people to study or work in any job.

Cost and times of flag removals in Derby not given after public questionsDerby City Council said it would remove flags on street furniture in SeptemberView Image Flags have been seen along Nottingham Road, from Pentagon Island to Chaddesden (Image: Derby Telegraph)Derby City Council’s leader has failed to provide the cost of removing England and Union Jack flags from city lampposts after a series of questions from the public. ‌Nadine Peatfield faced public questions on the matter, with answers sought on the cost of removing England and Union Jack flags put up across Derby. ‌However, she did not provide a cost sum or specific times in her answers. It came amid the Raise the Colours grassroots campaign which was in response to rising public concern surrounding illegal immigration. Initially, Derby City Council said it was not going to exercise “discretionary legal powers to remove flags or bunting that had been placed on street furniture”.

These races, which took place at Skylark Garden Centre in Wimblington, attract high-profile runners from more than 70 miles away. The 10k race was won by Lee Hannaford, representing Manea Jogging and Running Group, with an impressive time of 43 minutes and 45.2 seconds, beating his closest rival by over two minutes. Before (Image: Supplied)Lee used the race to complete a personal challenge of running 200 miles in 10 days. Manea Jogging and Running Group is for people wanting to run for fitness, weight loss, or social purposes. The informal group welcomes beginner runners and meets at Manea Pit car park.

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Email * SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy noticeSir Keir Starmer is expected to formally approve a new 20,000 square metre Chinese embassy in central London despite espionage concerns, reports say. Proposals for the embassy were rejected by Tower Hamlets Council in 2022, with the Chinese opting not to appeal. MPs, peers and parliamentary staff were warned by the security service over suspected Chinese espionage via recruitment headhunters on Tuesday. He added that a decision on the Chinese embassy will be made by housing secretary Steve Reed in a “quasi-judicial capacity”.

With two hours’ free childcare a day per child, reliable video baby monitors and copious highchairs, it makes life easy for parents. In the spring five new rooms featuring wood-burners and private patios will open beside the walled garden. There’s garden produce in the salads and garnishes too (kale, pea shoots, tomatoes when in season), as well as local beer from the microbrewery Kettlesmith and wine from the nearby vineyard Quoins. The Victorian walled garden is under refurbishment and will reopen to guests — and its resident gaggle of chickens and Indian runner ducks — in spring. For two hours each day there’s free childcare in the Four Bears Den kids’ club (9.30am-11.30am or 2.30pm-4.30pm).

Live streaming: Where can Indians watch the clash? Live EventsFriday, November 21 – 1st Test, Perth Stadium, Perth, 8 a.m. ISTThursday, December 4 – 2nd Test (D/N), The Gabba, Brisbane, 10 a.m. ISTWednesday, December 17 – 3rd Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 5:30 a.m. ISTFriday, December 26 – 4th Test, Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne, 5 a.m. ISTSunday, January 4, 2026 – 5th Test, Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney, 5 a.m. ISTHead-to-headSquads for the first Testas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! The contests will also be broadcast on Star Sports 1 and Star Sports 1 HD.Full series scheduleThe two oldest rivals in Test cricket have met 361 times, with Australia taking 152 victories overall. In Ashes-specific encounters, Australia hold 142 wins from 345 matches. England still own the highest team total in the rivalry—903 for 7 declared at The Oval in August 1938—while Australia posted the lowest, bowled out for 36 at Edgbaston in May 1902.Australia: Steve Smith (C), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Brendan Doggett, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, Mitchell Starc, Jake Weatherald, Beau Webster.England: Ben Stokes (C), Jofra Archer , Gus Atkinson, Shoaib Bashir, Harry Brook, Brydon Carse, Zak Crawley, Ben Duckett, Ollie Pope, Joe Root, Jamie Smith (WK), Mark Wood.

Traders are ramping up bets against artificial intelligence (AI) darling Oracle by buying financial instruments intended to protect them in the event of a default. The price of Oracle’s credit-default swaps (CDS), financial instruments used to guard against potential non-payment of debts, has spiked in recent weeks to its highest level in three years. However, they can also be used by traders to manage risk or bet against a particular company, given that the instruments pay out if a business defaults. Investors have traded more than $5bn (£3.8bn) in these swaps since September, according to Jigar Patel, a Barclays analyst. “Oracle stands out dramatically,” Mr Reid said in a note to clients this week.

The Trump administration on Thursday announced plans to open the Pacific Ocean to new oil and gas leases for the first time in more than four decades. Advertisement“The Biden administration slammed the brakes on offshore oil and gas leasing and crippled the long-term pipeline of America’s offshore production,” Burgum said in a statement. The state has not seen new oil leases in federal waters since 1984, largely due to public opposition following a disastrous oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara in 1969. For decades, California has stood firm in our opposition to new offshore drilling, and nothing will change that. That is something the Sable Offshore Corp. is considering for its controversial project to restart oil drilling off of Santa Barbara.