CATEGORIES

Prisoner swap could be sign of something major to come

It is, by a long way, the most elaborate and comprehensive East-West prisoner exchange since the Cold War, involving 24 individuals from at least half a dozen countries.

Farage's fumble has given the prime minister an open goal

Since his election, Nigel Farage has spoken twice in the Commons - once, on the first day of the new parliament, to announce \"We are the new kids on the block\"; and another to make his maiden speech, in which he called for a referendum on the UK's membership of the European Court of Human Rights.

How Ukraine's new F-16s can alter 'dynamics of war'

Zelensky takes delivery of six jets with scores more on way

Hezbollah chief says battle with Israel is in new phase

Hezbollah’s leader has warned that its conflict with Israel has entered a new phase,” as he addressed mourners at the funeral of a commander from the group who was killed by an Israeli airstrike this week in Beirut.

EU reveals its demands for better relationship with UK

The EU has warned Sir Keir Starmer his attempt to repair relations with the bloc may fail if he does not meet a list of eight demands, it has emerged.

Nandy grills BBC over its handling of Edwards crisis

BBC bosses have been put on notice by the new culture secretary Lisa Nandy regarding failures in dealing with disgraced presenter Huw Edwards.

Bank drops base rate to 5%, a first cut in over four years

Homeowners should not expect borrowing costs to drop rapidly in the coming months, the governor of the Bank of England warned yesterday, after interest rates were cut for the first time since 2020.

Is the GP strike the end of healthcare as we know it?

General practitioners in England have voted overwhelmingly to take a form of industrial action in protest at a 1.9 per cent increase in public funding for surgeries.

Starmer puts police on alert to deal with summer of riots

The prime minister has put police forces in Britain on a national footing to prepare for what many fear could be a summer of riots and violence by the far right.

Identity of the Southport stabbing suspect revealed

Teenager appears in court accused of murdering three girls

Putin critic poisoned and caged - but never silenced

Vladimir Kara-Murza was handed a 25-year sentence in a Siberian penal colony for speaking out against the war in Ukraine. Today, he has his freedom, writes Tom Watling

Wall Street Journal reporter jailed on hyped spy charges

Evan Gershkovich used his language skills to explain Russia to the outside world but fell foul of a regime determined to put on a Soviet-era show trial, writes Chris Stevenson

Journalists and dissidents freed in prisoner exchange between Russia and West

Putin hitman Vadim Krasikov among eight Russians released

More gymnastics horror for China as they collapse again

The reaction to the dramatic conclusion of the men's team allaround gymnastics final suggested a national crisis had hit China. Their spectacular collapse from what looked to be a certain gold to silver, allowing Japan to claim victory at the last moment, was met with sympathy and anger.

Spendolini-Sirieix conquers demons to snatch bronze

When her diving career is over, Andrea Spendolini-Sirieix wants to be a journalist, sharing other people's stories and finding the humanity in sport. \"You get to learn about people,\" the 19-year-old said, \"and that's a beautiful thing\". In Paris, Spendolini-Sirieix wrote a comeback story of her own, standing on the Olympic podium with Lois Toulson after winning bronze in the women’s synchronised 10m platform. It was the sort of tale of resilience and spirit she aspires to tell when no longer in the thick of the action.

Brownlee moment inspires Yee in triathlon gold drama

The first Games in 20 years without a Brownlee brother still bore their influence in both the men’s and women’s races

If nobody watches live telly any more, what does that mean for the licence fee?

When does linear TV end? The latest figures from Ofcom show what the media watchdog calls a \"stark generational divide\" in which 16- to 24-year-olds watch just 20 minutes of “live telly” daily.

Workers who refuse to take sick days 'cost UK £25bn'

People working through illness rather than taking the day off is costing the economy billions of pounds every year, according to new analysis. The figures come as The Institute for Public Policy Research IPPR) called for a transition to a health-led economy” with employers expected to do more to ensure good workplace health.

'My second role was as a dead prostitute on the floor'

Stoking Oscar buzz for coming-of-age film 'Didi', Joan Chen talks to Annabel Nugent about career regrets, her jump from China to Hollywood and being a doorknob in 'Twin Peaks'

The hi-tech shoes rewriting the Olympics record book

It's not just talent and dedication that will set athletes on the path to glory at the Games in Paris, writes Ben Bloom

Why Paris 2024 is turning into the teary Dadlympics'

When Tom Daley spoke after securing his fifth Olympic medal on Monday, the seasoned diver was clearly emotional. In Paris, the waterworks were in full operation. He may have won gold in Tokyo but he reckoned the silver he and his dive partner Noah Williams achieved in the 10m synchronised competition was the most significant of his stellar career. For the simple reason, he had achieved it in front of his two sons, Robbie and Phoenix.

Blame Farage and far right for fuelling Southport fictions

Rather than viewing Monday's horrifying attack in Southport, in which three young girls were killed, as an occasion for mourning, the UK far right viewed it as an opportunity to cause more havoc and hurt, and attempt to further their vile ideology.

Israel's assassination raises the Middle East threat level

At first sight, Israel's ability to strike a deadly blow at its key Palestinian enemy, in the heart of the Iranian capital, in the middle of the night, is evidence of its mastery of the modern battlefield.

Kerala landslides death toll rises with 225 still missing

Soldiers and rescuers are facing a race against time to find survivors in the hills of southern India's Kerala state, more than 24 hours after monsoon landslides claimed the lives of 166 people.

Ukraine repels wave after wave of Russian drones

Ukraine’s air force said it stopped one of Russia’s largest aerial attacks of the war, shooting down 89 drones launched at Kyiv and other regions.

Iran vows revenge for death of Hamas leader in Tehran

Fears of regional war rising as death came hours after Israel claimed to have killed a top Hezbollah commander in Beirut

Influencers warping pupils with misogyny, says Labour

Teachers are anxious for children, minister tells Independent

What room to manoeuvre does Reeves have on tax?

Who to blame for the fiscal \"black hole\" and how big it \"really\" is are questions that have hogged the political debate in recent days. Traducing Jeremy Hunt's integrity, by implication, has drawn a furious response from the former chancellor; his successor, Rachel Reeves, has been accused by Hunt of confecting the crisis to give in to the doctors’ pay demands, and to put up taxes, as she has planned all along.

Trickle-down economics? Reeves must keep urinal

Rachel Reeves has said she is unable to have a urinal removed from her office toilet because it is listed and cannot be altered. After the general election it was reported that plans were in place to take away the urinal from Ms Reeves's private office in Whitehall.

Ex-pensions minister pours scorn on winter fuel cuts

Chancellor Rachel Reeves has been warned that her plans to means-test winter fuel payments will not be possible because of ageing computer systems.