CATEGORIES

GCSE English is dying, this is how we bring it back to life

Pearson, one of the three leading exam boards in the UK, has warned that urgent reform at GSCE level is needed. If English (as a subject) is to survive at both A-Level and higher education, it needs to be less pale, male and stale.

The last thing civil servants need is to babysit tech bros

There is a deep irony in a government that has kept making the same sort of mistakes now lecturing its civil servants who have to deal with the consequences) that they should adopt the test-and-learn culture” of the best digital companies and first-class” government projects.

A giant of UK civil rights you've likely never heard of

On Friday, I said goodbye to my godfather civil rights activist and Black Englishman, Dr Paul Stephenson OBE. A small private family funeral was held in Bristol’s Lord Mayor’s chapel for this very public figure who changed the course of UK race relations. But you may not even know his name.

It's foolish to think Assad's fall will make Europe safer

Four hundred years ago, Sir John Harington explained: Treason doth never prosper. What’s the reason? If treason prosper, none dare call it treason.” Maybe, terrorism is never successful as Western governments insist for much the same reason.

Jay-Z denies raping 13-yearold girl with Diddy in 2000

Jay-Z has denied allegations that he drugged and raped a 13year-old girl along with Sean \"Diddy\" Combs during an MTV Video Music Awards afterparty in 2000.

South Korean president banned from foreign travel

South Korea’s justice ministry has imposed a travel ban on president Yoon Suk Yeol while an investigation into his brief declaration of martial law is ongoing.

Suspect in CEO's murder arrested after McDonald's employee identifies him

Luigi Mangione was found with a ghost gun’ and fake ID

Teenage boy killed girl after teddy bear row, court hears

A teenage boy stabbed 15-year-old Elianne Andam to death ina fit of white-hot anger” at perceived disrespect in public by girls” after failing to hand over her friend’s teddy bear, a court has heard.

Student accused of murder was 'fascinated' by killing

A criminology student butchered” a woman by stabbing her to death in a random attack on Bournemouth beach after researching methods of murder, his trial has heard.

Family of Briton jailed in Dubai for 16 years pleads with PM to end 'nightmare'

Starmer urged to use UAE visit to push businessman's case

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.