CATEGORIES

Thousands being 'harmed' by cardiac surgery backlog

A national probe has been launched into the deaths and harm of thousands of NHS patients waiting for cardiac surgery, as doctors and experts warn of a \"crisis in heart care\", an investigation by The Independent has revealed.

Why does the civil service get targeted for reform?

Suddenly, radical reform of Whitehall is in fashion again. Sir Keir Starmer spoke last week of civil servants lingering in the \"tepid bath of managed decline\" and now his de facto deputy, cabinet office minister Pat McFadden, has urged departments to behave more like tech startups by adopting the \"test and learn culture” of the best digital companies, bringing in outsiders, and abandoning “mind-bogglingly bureaucratic and off-putting” application processes for civil service jobs.

No 10 suggests growth is a priority over human rights

Economic growth is more important than protecting human rights, Downing Street has suggested, amid questions over Sir Keir Starmer’s meeting with Saudi Arabia’s crown prince yesterday.

Reeves vows to stick to EU red lines after Brussels talks

Rachel Reeves has stubbornly insisted that the Labour government will stick to our red lines” over the Brexit reset with the EU despite growing evidence that a more fundamental change is needed in the relationship.

UK to pause Syrian asylum claims as Assad regime falls

The UK has paused decisions on Syrian asylum claims due to the uncertainty following the collapse of the Bashar al-Assad regime. It follows the decision of other countries, including Germany, Austria and Sweden, in suspending application decisions, after 13 years of civil war saw a coalition of rebel groups seize Damascus on Sunday.

Assad fall may make Syria a draw for Islamist extremists

The US bombing of Syria so quickly after the rebels seized power suggests nervousness in the West about what's coming

Syrians scour torture prison in hunt for the disappeared

Families of those imprisoned by Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime desperately searched the filthy cells of Syria’s most notorious prison yesterday for any signs of their loved ones as the country came to terms with the toppling of his rule.

Families crowd Assad torture jail after regime falls

Relatives hunt for loved ones missing under Syrian dictatorship as Britain says collapse is humiliation for Iran and Russia but doesn't guarantee peace - and Israel bombs chemical weapons facilities over fears of dangerous power vacuum

A robot was found 'dead' at work... no one knows why

The lives and deaths of artificially intelligent systems are posing an increasingly urgent question to the humans who live and work alongside them, writes Anthony Cuthbertson

What lies beyond the usual appeal of Sharm el-Sheikh?

What are the best things to do in Sharm el-Sheikh in Egypt? We are going there for a week in February.

People love a Christmas card and it needn't break the bank

It's that time of year again. When you search WhatsApp for \"address\" and \"postcode\" and \"new house\", in an attempt to find full addresses for your nearest and dearest.

We Syrians dared to dream after so much fear and pain

Whenever I think back to that first moment when the Syrian revolution began, it feels as though it happened yesterday.

Norris holds nerve to end McLaren's 26-year drought

There would be no second chances this time. Lando Norris has been prone to in-race lapses of judgement and concentration in 2024 but here, with a 26-year hoodoo solely in his hands, the Bristolian gave his beloved McLaren a long-awaited F1 constructors’ championship at the season finale.

Ashworth's exit puts an end to Old Trafford's latest farce

A leader at Manchester United was abruptly removed on Saturday. Yes, Bruno Fernandes was substituted in the defeat to Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal's title bid disrupted by VAR and feisty Fulham

A game of “millimetres”, as Mikel Arteta put it. Are these the fine lines on which titles are eventually won or lost? In the 90th minute of this 1-1 draw at Fulham, Gabriel Martinelli was waiting for that key pass and looking along the Fulham defence.

Chelsea feast as Tottenham melt in the middle again

Spurs were 2-0 up after 12 minutes, the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium was shaking with noise and Chelsea’s stumbling defender Marc Cucurella was so harrowed by his nightmare start that he’d had to change his boots.

South Korean prosecutors accuse president of treason

The leadership crisis in South Korea deepened further yesterday, after prosecutors named president Yoon Suk Yeol as the subject of a criminal investigation over his failed attempt to impose martial law, and as his former defence minister was arrested.

"They put a bag on my head and tied my limbs together'

Taliban critics and rebel collaborators’ face torture in Afghan prisons under the hardline Islamist regime, survivors say

House of Assad finally falls.but Syria may be torn apart

Syrians are celebrating for now but many neighbours have no interest in the country becoming united and peaceful

Ant and Dec crown the 2024 I'm a Celebrity winner

I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! has named its winner for 2024.

Al-Fayed faked dementia to dodge abuse probe, says son

Mohamed Al-Fayed's son has claimed his disgraced father faked having dementia in the later years of his life to avoid police questioning over accusations of sexual abuse.

Thousands left without any power after Storm Darragh

Thousands of people were last night still without power after Storm Darragh caused chaos across the country over the weekend.

'Less old men, less privately educated, less upper class'

Women MPs say the culture at Westminster has noticeably shifted with the 2024 intake on one side of the floor at least

Nuclear weapons ban fears add to Chagos deal tensions

Diplomatic tensions are rising over Sir Keir Starmer’s controversial Chagos Islands deal, with fears the UK government is unable to guarantee whether nuclear weapons will be able to be stored at the Diego Garcia base.

Bricks and mortar's crucial role in building for victory

Keir Starmer's speech last week was a difficult and confusing listen for those who switched on, with his different lists of six milestones, five missions, six first steps, seven pillars of economic stability and, not to forget, the three foundations.

Braverman responds after her husband joins Reform

Former home secretary Suella Braverman has spoken out about her husband Rael's defection to Reform UK to quell speculation about her own future.

Rayner: Homes plan won't undermine local democracy

Angela Rayner has denied that she is damaging local democracy after it was revealed she plans to force large developments on communities and bypass council planning committees.

Reeves turns to Europe to improve growth prospects

Chancellor pitches for reset of UK-EU economic relationship

Heart attack patients told to make their own way to A&E

Patients in the West Midlands, including some of those suffering heart attacks, are being asked to get themselves to hospital amid worsening pressures on ambulance services this winter.

Jubilant scenes on streets of Syria as Assad’s regime falls

Rebels in control of Damascus after dictator flees to Moscow 77 _