The Independent - August 16, 2024

In this issue

August 16, 2024

British tanks deployed in Ukraine's Russia incursion

British tanks have been used to force back Vladimir Putin's troops during Ukraine's audacious incursion into Russia.

4 mins

Judge quits media freedom panel over Hong Kong case

A British judge who was condemned for upholding the conviction of pro-democracy campaigner Jimmy Lai in Hong Kong has quit a top media freedom panel.

2 mins

A-level top grades see rise but inequality gap widens

A-level students are celebrating an increase in top grades this year – with almost one in 10 awarded an A* – but inequalities have widened between private and state schools, and boys and girls. Hundreds of thousands of pupils received their A-level results yesterday morning, with more than a quarter (27.8 per cent) awarded an A or A* grade – a rise of 0.6 percentage points on last year.

4 mins

Former nursing watchdog chief said 'whistleblower can go take a running jump'

The former chief executive of the UK’s scandal-hit nursing regulator allegedly said a whistleblower should “take a running jump” after they raised concerns about public safety.

3 mins

Does the strike deal mean there's light at the end of the tunnel for passengers?

Difficult though it may be to believe, industrial peace is about to descend on Britain’s railways. The government and the leaders of the train drivers’ union, Aslef, have agreed a “no strings” pay rise of 15 per cent, and the union’s members are expected to vote to accept it.

3 mins

Tens of thousands of train fare convictions are invalid

Judge says he will quash close to 75,000 cases in October

2 mins

Infected blood payment scheme to start this year

Victims of the infected blood scandal can receive support scheme payments for life, while those who were subjected to unethical research will get up to £15,000 extra under changes to a multibillion-pound compensation plan.

2 mins

'Help...we are in the water'

Desperate SOS sent from doomed migrant boat is revealed

2 mins

Extinction Rebellion plans protest at Windsor Castle

Extinction Rebellion (XR) is planning to occupy Windsor Castle for three days of mass protest across the royal grounds, it can be revealed.

3 mins

'Ketamine Queen' among five held over Perry death

Five people have been arrested and charged with providing Friends star Matthew Perry with the ketamine that killed him last October, authorities said yesterday. At a press conference, US attorney E Martin Estrada said the suspects include Perry's personal assistant, two doctors, and a North Hollywood woman known as “the Ketamine Queen”.

3 mins

Harry and Meghan begin four-day tour of Colombia

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were welcomed to Colombia yesterday as they began their four-day tour of the South American nation. Harry and Meghan were met in the capital Bogota by Colombia’s vice-president Francia Marquez and her husband Rafael Yerney Pinillo.

3 mins

Gaza death toll over 40,000 as fresh ceasefire talks start

Fears of Iran attacking Israel give discussions extra urgency

3 mins

Protests held in India over rape and murder of doctor

Tens of thousands of women took to the streets across India on Wednesday night in protest over the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at a prominent state-run hospital in West Bengal.

4 mins

Trump lawyers seek to delay hush-money sentencing

Attempt to push decision back to after election in November

2 mins

The Jimmy Lai verdict is a grave and troubling injustice

Jimmy Lai, together with his friends in Hong Kong, ranks alongside the world’s greatest dissidents and champions of freedom. Lai along with Martin Lee, the father of Hong Kong’s democracy movement, lawyers Margaret Ng and Albert Ho, trade unionist Lee Cheuk-yan, social activist Leung Kwok-hung, and pro-democracy politician Cyd Ho and others have been key figures in Hong Kong’s fight for freedom.

4 mins

THAT TASTES RICH

As a London neighbourhood fights gentrification in the shape of bougie bakery Gail's, Hannah Twiggs looks at the foodie signs that your postcode is on the way up - or down

6 mins

UK economy is the fastest growing in G7, experts say

But economists warn first-half gains are unlikely to continue

3 mins

Good food, good beer and 160mph on a country lane

During F1’s quiet period, Kieran Jackson heads down to the unorthodox setting of rural Worcestershire for the Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb, a racing event with some old-school speed

4 mins

Premier League prices may bring supporters together

As fans feel the squeeze it could force positive change

5 mins

De Ligt buy proves Ten Hag is all-in on Dutch gamble

“Manchester is red,” read the message on a football club’s social-media account; though not from the Manchester club who play in red. It was a cheeky point made by Ajax, surveying Manchester United’s recruitment drive and the addition of two of their alumni, Matthis de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, on the same day. It means that, in the former Ajax manager Erik ten Hag’s reign, United have now spent around a quarter of a billion pounds on his Ajax players.

4 mins

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