Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Town crier announces government WhatsApp channel

00:34

Town crier announces government WhatsApp channel

The UK Government has launched a new WhatsApp channel with the aim of sending the latest news, updates, and helpful inromation to the public via the app.

Downing Street marked the launch with a video of London town crier, Alan Myatt, shouting “UK government now on WhatsApp.”

The video has been met with derision on social media, with many referencing the fact that both Rishi Sunak and Boris Johnson failed to provide WhatsApp messages from the pandemic during the Covid Inquiry in late 2023.

The system is entirely opt-in and will amplify key messages like information on childcare support and cost of living payments, according to the government.

Up next

Watch: Far-right protesters rally after German market attack

00:59

Watch: Far-right protesters rally after German market attack

German Christmas market attack: Child aged 9 among five killed

01:41

German Christmas market attack: Child aged 9 among five killed

Why are the trains always chaotic at Christmas?

01:32

Why are the trains always chaotic at Christmas?

Police swarm to arrest after Christmas market attack kills five

00:36

Police swarm to arrest after Christmas market attack kills five

Editor’s Picks

Cancelled: The rise and fall of Aung San Suu Kyi Documentary

56:11

Cancelled: The rise and fall of Aung San Suu Kyi Documentary

How to make the most of your city break in the USA

05:14

How to make the most of your city break in the USA

Netflix present our next great action hero in Rebel Ridge

01:35

Netflix present our next great action hero in Rebel Ridge

The A-Word | An Independent TV Documentary

44:07

The A-Word | An Independent TV Documentary

More Editor’s Picks

Travel Smart

The most magical Christmas markets to visit

05:23

The most magical Christmas markets to visit

The Travel Smart guide to southeast Asia

07:54

The Travel Smart guide to southeast Asia

The best European cruise holiday destinations

06:29

The best European cruise holiday destinations

Why Kentucky should be your next US destination choice

07:27

Why Kentucky should be your next US destination choice

More Travel Smart

That Dress

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

02:22

The green dress Keira Knightley wore everyone wanted

How Kim Kardashian’s attempt to honour Marilyn Monroe went wrong

02:21

How Kim Kardashian’s attempt to honour Marilyn Monroe went wrong

How Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy created a fashion staple

01:43

How Audrey Hepburn and Givenchy created a fashion staple

The powerful message behind Lady Gaga’s iconic meat dress

01:45

The powerful message behind Lady Gaga’s iconic meat dress

More That Dress

Binge Watch

Netflix present our next great action hero in Rebel Ridge

01:35

Netflix present our next great action hero in Rebel Ridge

The TV show drawing comparisons to Lost is a great Christmas watch

01:52

The TV show drawing comparisons to Lost is a great Christmas watch

Why this tale of a Japanese toilet attendant could save your Christmas

01:53

Why this tale of a Japanese toilet attendant could save your Christmas

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder bring the wit with Hacks

01:45

Jean Smart and Hannah Einbinder bring the wit with Hacks

More Binge Watch

Music Box

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

05:49

Lemoncello perform ‘Old Friend’ in Music Box session

Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

05:45

Lemoncello perform ‘Sunflower’ in Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

04:13

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Wishes’ for Music Box session

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

03:58

Boston trio Tiny Habits perform ‘Mudroom’ in Music Box session

On The Ground

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

03:51

Searching for the ‘Whitby Woman’

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

04:18

On the campaign trail with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg

Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

06:26

Life at 50C: Delhi’s streets struggling to cope with heatwave

Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

04:30

Indian farmers use election to make voices heard against Narendra Modi

More On The Ground

Behind The Headlines

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

10:42

What would a President Trump 2.0 look like?

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

06:27

When will the Cost of Living Crisis end?

How airlines greenwash the skies

07:23

How airlines greenwash the skies

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

06:35

Is it time to panic over AI? | Behind The Headlines

More Behind The Headlines

Decomplicated

What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

07:25

What is tactical voting - and why could it be a powerful tool?

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

04:31

Are ultra-processed foods bad for you?

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

07:30

Why are UK councils going bankrupt?

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

03:34

What causes the winter flu and how does it differ from other types?

More Decomplicated

Sport

Tyson Fury breaks silence after storming out of ring in Usyk defeat

00:38

Tyson Fury breaks silence after storming out of ring in Usyk defeat

Zac Efron emotional tour-de-force in the wrestling ring

01:27

Zac Efron emotional tour-de-force in the wrestling ring

Arsenal v Monaco: Arteta predicts bigger and better for Saka

01:11

Arsenal v Monaco: Arteta predicts bigger and better for Saka

Ronaldo’s seven-word verdict on Saudi Arabia hosting World Cup

00:59

Ronaldo’s seven-word verdict on Saudi Arabia hosting World Cup

Climate

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

00:49

Surfers ride powerful 13ft waves amid weather warning

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

00:33

Floodwaters rage across Yelville as residents evacuated from homes

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

01:00

Greece shuts down Acropolis as temperatures hit almost 40 degrees

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

00:31

Eerie tornado sirens ring through downtown Chicago

Culture

Strictly stars fight back tears in special tribute to Caroline Flack

01:29

Strictly stars fight back tears in special tribute to Caroline Flack

Soap star says shock exit after 13 years left her hurt and shaking

00:46

Soap star says shock exit after 13 years left her hurt and shaking

Simon Cowell and rarely-seen son Eric enjoy father and son time

00:49

Simon Cowell and rarely-seen son Eric enjoy father and son time

First look at BBC Strictly 20th anniversary as famous faces reunite

00:36

First look at BBC Strictly 20th anniversary as famous faces reunite

Lifestyle

King Charles makes special Christmas Countryfile appearance

00:59

King Charles makes special Christmas Countryfile appearance

How to make the most of your city break in the USA

05:14

How to make the most of your city break in the USA

Millie Mackintosh makes big family announcement: ‘It was meant to be’

00:18

Millie Mackintosh makes big family announcement: ‘It was meant to be’

‘I’m a flight attendant — never do these five things on a plane’

02:16

‘I’m a flight attendant — never do these five things on a plane’

Will Bayley's Electric Road Trip

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

03:29

Paralympian Will Bayley puts his “Range Anxiety” to the test

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

03:07

The feel-good perks of living the Electric Vehicle lifestyle

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

03:07

Paralympian Will Bayley checks the performance of electric vehicles

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

03:24

To EV or not to EV? Paralympian Will Bayley considers electric cars

Saudi Cup

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

01:36

Saudi Cup: ‘A true display of horsemanship’, says Prince Bandar

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

00:42

Princess Nourah praises young fashion designers on show at Saudi Cup

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

01:26

Andrew Strauss says Saudi is an eye opener

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

00:32

Saudi Arabia is ‘pushing limits’ of fashion creativity

Galaxy The Ripple Effect

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

04:23

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on the imposter syndrome epidemic

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

04:26

Finance coach Ellie Austin-Williams on the psychology of money

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

01:01

Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE on how to tackle imposter syndrome

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

01:07

Simple ways to boost your money situation with Ellie Austin-Williams

Big In America

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

15:55

Can Willsow’s children’s books pique the interest of the US market?

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

16:33

Will the founders of Spice Kitchen be able to find US retailers?

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

16:06

Co-founders of See.Sense bring their cycle safe tech to New York City

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

15:01

Collctiv fintech founder Amy Whitell tries to crack the US tech market

More Big In America

Saudi Green Initiative

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

01:16

Saudi government doesn’t ‘pay lip service’ on climate action

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

00:36

SGI ‘seems like a nest of harmony’, journalist says

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

00:48

SGI ambitions are ‘extremely high’, says Saudi climate envoy

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

01:08

Saudi Green Initiative aims to ‘not just preserve, but create’

More Saudi Green Initiative

AlUla

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

01:51

Gérard Mestrallet on the challenges of bringing infrastructure to the region of AlUla

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

02:07

Sir George Iacobescu, chairman of the Canary Wharf Group on the investment into the historic region of AlUla

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

02:00

Oliver Ripley of sustainable hotel group Habitas talks about how AlUla challenged his preconceptions of Saudi Arabia

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard

02:09

Thomas Kaplan of wild cat conservation charity Panthera on the mission to save the Arabian Leopard