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Features

<p>Research has found that women who’re anxious or depressed are less likely to have the number of children they want </p>

Let's Unpack That

My mental health is bad – and it makes me scared to become a mother

Having a baby can be a bigger risk for those with anxiety and depression. Lydia Spencer-Elliott asks the experts if pregnancy is still a good idea – and how women can keep themselves safe

<p>British-American couple Felix (Will Sharpe) and Jessica (Megan Stalter) in ‘Too Much’</p>

First Person

Lena Dunham’s an American who fell for a Brit. I know the struggle

<p>Georgia Harrison had tried everything to have a baby over the six years since she met her partner Duncan in 2019 – here seen with their baby Sunny whom they had via a surrogate in Mexico earlier this year </p>

‘Our surrogate went into labour in Mexico while we were mid-flight’

<p>Motorists beware: Being car-dependent might not be the key to happiness</p>

in focus

Get out of your car if you want to be less lonely

<p>Some women wear waist trainers – a long piece of tight fabric that squashes the torso into a smaller size – to the gym, to work or during sleep</p>

let's unpack that

Waist trainers are making a comeback – this is what you should know

<p>The Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders star in Netflix series ‘America’s Sweethearts’</p>

COMMENT

Netflix hit America’s Sweethearts is setting a sad example for girls

<p>Kylie Jenner, her sister Khloe Kardashian and their mother Kris Jenner, have all dished out details about their surgery treatments in recent weeks</p>

It’s not ‘empowering’ for the Kardashians to be honest about surgery

Latest news

More features

<p>Mirror, mirror, on the wall: Who’s the most self-obsessed of them all?</p>

Why becoming more self-obsessed is the last thing Gen Z needs

<p>Behavioural science has had a reckoning in the last 10 years</p>

The scandal that rocked behavioural science and sparked revolution

<p>Women undergoing IVF aren’t entitled to time off for treatment</p>

in focus

Of course women should be allowed time off work for IVF

<p>Writer Olivia Petter takes a break from the chaos (and heat) at one of the festival’s five Sensory Calm Spaces</p>

Glastonbury’s biggest change this year was also its quietest

Fitness and wellness

<p>According to experts, immunity and the gut are connected</p>

Fitness and wellbeing

Is there a link between gut health and allergies? An expert explains

Could what you eat really affect the severity of your symptoms?

Fitness and wellbeing

Is there a link between gut health and allergies? An expert explains

Could what you eat really affect the severity of your symptoms?

<p>According to experts, immunity and the gut are connected</p>

<p>I've tried everything to soothe my TMJ symptoms</p>

Fitness and wellbeing

Could botox for teeth grinding cure my TMJ? I tried it to find out

<p>A walking expert has shared the many benefits of going for a short walk after eating a meal </p>

Fitness and wellbeing

Expert says a walk after eating can protect health for decades to come

<p>Running a marathon for the first time has meant being discerning about my kit</p>

Sports & Fitness

I’m running the London Marathon – these are my training essentials

<p>I taped my mouth shut every night to see if the Tiktok trend might actually be worth it</p>

Fitness and wellbeing

I tried mouth taping for three weeks, and the results surprised me

<p>I taped my mouth shut every night to see if the Tiktok trend might actually be worth it</p>

Fitness and wellbeing

I tried mouth taping for three weeks, and the results surprised me

<p>My therapist advised me to pick up a copy of the book and the rest is history</p>

Fitness and wellbeing

How living with less changed my life

<p>The female-dominated New Age and the male-dominated realm of conspiracy theory are colliding in ‘conspirituality’</p>

Wellness is turning people into right-wing conspiracy theorists

Food features

<p>Harissa is one of Gurdeep Loyal’s go-to shortcuts for instant depth and heat</p>

The five ingredients that will change the way you cook

<p>Oak-smoked tinola chicken, served with soul and smoke – Shah’s take on the classic Filipino broth channels comfort food through a fire-kissed, modern bistro lens</p>

From ube to adobo: The man who made London crave Filipino food

<p>The sandwich in question: sweet, summery, and – depending on who you ask – possibly taxable</p>

Could the M&S strawberries and cream sandwich really get taxed?

<p>Tamimi says his mission is simple: to keep talking about Palestine – and feeding its stories to the world</p>

Ottolenghi co-founder: ‘We must keep Palestine alive through food’

Recipes

<p>Brownies as they should be – dark, fudgy, unapologetically intense</p>

These ultra-fudgy brownies don’t mess around

<p>Sticky, smoky and crisped to perfection – these wings don’t hold back on flavour</p>

Sweet, smoky, crispy: These chicken wings have it all

<p>Paccheri never looked so punchy – this fiery, boozy pasta is all about maximum flavour with minimal effort</p>

This fennel sausage pasta is loud, spicy and a little bit boozy

Life Stories

<p>After having five children of her own, Charlotte Johnson-Daniels decided to help childless couples and become a surrogate in 2022</p>

‘I’m a surrogate – but I don’t want to make money from a baby’

<p>Mohammed Nayef Salem is 18 and has been training as an entertainer since he was 12</p>

‘I’m a clown in a war zone – it’s an incredibly important job’

<p>Lauren Bateman, who received under-eye filler from a woman without medical qualifications</p>

‘I got under-eye filler – then felt like my face was going to explode’

<p>Rachael Doman and her husband Paul with their three children</p>

‘I went from zero children to being a mum to three kids overnight’

Independent TV

Loose Women star breaks down in tears as she reveals she is leaving UK

<p>Victoria Beckham poses with her daughter Harper Beckham in front of the Prada Caffe in Harrods, London</p>

Harper Beckham sings Spice Girls in new video released by Victoria

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Moment Jane Birkin’s original Hermès handbag sells for millions

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How to get rid of flying ants: An expert’s advice

Deals

<p>Enjoy Garden Trading’s amazing site-wide deals</p>

Enjoy 20% off all homeware and garden at Garden Trading

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Marks & Spencer discount codes for July – save 10% site-wide

Save up to 60% on luxury bags, jewellery and more at Aspinal of London

<p>Enjoy the best of Jacamo with these deals</p>

Save over 25% on fashion, tech and gaming at Jacamo

Design

How to elevate your outdoor space and celebrate Happy Hour with these creative finds… (Forest Garden/PA)

9 ways to raise the bar

From open units to wall cabinets, these furnishings give you the freedom to make a feature (Mustard Made/PA)

9 shelving ideas to flaunt favourite finds

<p>Custom-built sleeping nooks seamlessly incorporated into cabinetry are becoming more common</p>

Creature comforts: How pets are shaping home design

Royal Family

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King shares behind-the-scenes video of State Banquet at Windsor Castle

<p>The Prince and Princess of Wales helped host the French President and his wife at Windsor</p>

Kate stuns in Givenchy gown at royal state banquet return

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Princess of Wales shares touching moment with cancer patients

Women

<p>Readers debate whether women should have to work the week of their period</p>

‘Try working 12-hours on your period’: Readers torn on menstrual leave

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The Independent Influence List list on display at the Outernet

<p>Some are calling Blue’s stunt a bizarre cash grab while others have called it a trauma response</p>

Bonnie Blue isn’t the problem: it’s the men who want to sleep with her

Dating and Relationships

<p>Dating app Bumble will shed 30 percent of its workforce as it explores how AI can be deployed in online dating</p>

Major layoffs at dating app Bumble with business at ‘inflection point’

<p>‘It’s usually men who make it an issue’: Readers on height in dating</p>

‘It’s usually men who make it an issue’: Readers on height in dating

<p>The couple at an event held by the Clooney Foundation for Justice in New York in 2024</p>

George Clooney says he’s never argued with his wife – that’s a problem

indy100

sport

Christian Horner's most memorable Drive To Survive scenes following Red Bull sacking

Christian Horner's most memorable Drive To Survive scenes following Red Bull sacking

news

Ex-England midfielder Jill Scott replaces Prince of Wales as charity president

news

One essential item may get a 200 per cent tariff thanks to Trump

news

Kim Jong Un is being sued for abuse - here's everything we know so far

news

Ed Sheeran launches exhibition of his Cosmic Carpark Paintings in London

news

Ed Sheeran launches exhibition of his Cosmic Carpark Paintings in London

viral

Moo Deng fans worldwide travel to Thailand to celebrate the hippo's 1st birthday

news

France unveils goal for robot army - and it's coming sooner than you think