The Latest Breaking News from The Independent

‘Growing disparity’ between most and least advantaged students, say experts – as education secretary defends ‘rude’ comments about record grade-drop

A bizarre case has enthralled people all across the globe – involving mushroom poisoning, a series of deaths, a tearful interview and now reports of a past mystery illness. Tara Cobham and Bevan Hurley report

Eris desends from Omicron and is now the most prevalent Covid variant in the US

The former president has long been able to rely on the loyalty of his underlings to help keep him out of trouble. But this time might be different, writes Andrew Feinberg

People moved to hotel told they will not be back on board for up to five weeks, as water system ‘flushed’ and retested

Jordan DeMay, 17, killed himself after being blackmailed by a group of men overseas who posed as a woman on Instagram and coerced him into sending them nudes. His mother tells Andrea Blanco how she hopes the extradition and prosecution of the suspects will set a precedent for the handling…

The cost-of-living crisis, post-Covid travel and climate change are all driving a bed-bug epidemic that is sweeping the UK.

West Midlands mayor Andy Street called for the pub to be ‘rebuilt brick by brick’, as hopes of the famed pub’s reconstruction remain high. Eleanor Noyce and Albert Toth report

‘There is extreme negligence by the venue and their security team regarding the safety of patrons exiting the venue,’ the letter states

New mother defended the clip, explaining she and her husband ‘like to laugh and have fun’

Ben Stokes does not have to bowl or take a wicket to affect a cricket match, Ollie Pope tells The Independent