The Independent - March 08, 2025

In this issue

March 08, 2025

So much progress, but the fight for equality continues

As International Women’s Day is marked around the world, The Independent crunches the numbers on women’s lives

6 mins

Pelicot tells abuse survivors they will never be alone’

Gisele Pelicot has told sexual violence survivors they will never be alone” in a powerful message marking International Women’s Day.

2 mins

We'll revolutionise support in the workplace for women

Empowering women will make us stronger, fairer and more prosperous, writes deputy prime minister Angela Rayner

2 mins

Ukraine crisis has helped Starmer to find his voice

It’s eight months since the general election, but suddenly it feels like Britain has a new prime minister.

4 mins

Eurostar chaos as WWII bomb found on Paris track

Service likely to resume today following lengthy disruption

2 mins

Bulgarians found guilty of spying for Russia in the UK

A sophisticated” UK-based spy ring that passed secrets to Russia for nearly three years has been found guilty of espionage, in one of the most complex investigations carried out by the Met Police.

3 mins

How Bulgarian gang used James Bond-style spyware

Counterterrorism services reveal gadgets used to collect intelligence for Russians from spy ties’ to Coke cameras

4 mins

Hackman probably died one week after wife, officials say

Actor had Alzheimer’s while partner succumbed to illness

3 mins

Millions of Ukrainians face Russian army conscription

Russia has issued millions of passports to Ukrainians living in illegally Russian-occupied territory, leaving them at risk of conscription into its army, the UK Ministry of Defence has said.

2 mins

Trump threatens Russia with large scale’ sanctions

After weeks of softening US policy towards Russia by pulling military and intelligence support for Ukraine, Donald Trump yesterday threatened Moscow with further economic and trade sanctions after a massive Russian drone attack on the Ukrainian port city of Odessa triggered fires and damaged energy infrastructure.

3 mins

South African farmers are welcome in US, says Trump

Donald Trump has offered a fast path to citizenship for South African farmers, after cutting aid to the country over what he termed \"unjust racial discrimination\" against Afrikaners.

3 mins

‘They are coming because they are being persecuted’

UN special rapporteur Richard Bennett tells Arpan Rai the UK must do more to help Afghan refugees fleeing the Taliban

4 mins

First inmate executed in US by firing squad for 15 years

Brad Sigmon, the first US inmate to be put to death by firing squad in 15 years, was executed yesterday for the double murder of his former girlfriend’s parents.

3 mins

The Trump Slump’ is real and it has echoes of Brexit

Leaving the EU would reverse our economic fortune, Britain was told nine years ago now the US president raves about a new era for America. We shall see, warns Chris Blackhurst

4 mins

England can silence critics with bold’ win over Italy

There is a famous television interview that came to stand as a signature memory of Steve Borthwick’s oft-maligned tenure as England captain.

4 mins

Rashford’s form will excite long-time admirer Tuchel

There’s an excitement at Aston Villa, and for more reasons than the fact they are on the brink of a first Champions League quarter-final in 42 years.

3 mins

‘It almost felt like a home Games in a weird way’

Keely Hodgkinson’s life changed forever when she won gold in the 800m at the Paris Olympics. She tells Jack Rathborn about her magical’ triumph and coping with the spotlight

4 mins

The Afghan women fighting back against Taliban rule

Having been robbed of their freedom by the brutal regime, an underground resistance movement is stirring at grassroots level but these women need help, says Shabnam Nasimi

7 mins

Functionality over form

Sean O’Grady test-drives the top-of-the-range D-Max and finds it’s got everything covered if you like a bit of rough

4 mins

LOVE WITH NO LIMITS

Helen Coffey digs into data to find out if age gaps are not so much taboo as the new normal and shouldn’t hold us back

7 mins

‘Doing this show was some of the best healing I’ve had’

Brian Tyree Henry talks to Hannah J Davies about acting as therapy, the ties that bind him to his character in new crime series Dope Thief’ and how it’s really a love story in disguise

7 mins

Lady Gaga lost her edge but is on the right track, baby

Having spent a decade in an oddly anonymous haze, her new album Mayhem’ is a return to form and her comments on regained confidence sound promising, writes Adam White

4 mins

Mother Monster is back to wreak mayhem at long last

Fans will rejoice as Lady Gaga finally returns to all her shockhorror-bop glory for new album Mayhem’, says Helen Brown

2 mins

Meatloaf meets Katy Perry in UK’s Eurovision entry

Remember Monday are flying the flag with carefree abandon on What the Hell Just Happened?’, writes Roisin O’Connor

2 mins

WHTTE KNUCKLE RIDE

James Graham’s ‘Punch’ is a powerful yet sometimes preachy take on violence and restorative justice, writes Alice Saville

2 mins

Osman’s remarks say a lot about our celebrity culture

The presenter’s apparent criticism of Oscar winners Adrien Brody and Mikey Madison has caused an outcry. But he has a point about Britain’s incurious attitude, writes Louis Chilton

3 mins

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The Independent has been at the frontline of journalism since 1986, with its mission to challenge and debate always ahead of its time. The Independent is free-thinking and free of bias in an increasingly fragmented world where communities locally, regionally and across continents are disenfranchised with traditional establishments. They want real facts and frank opinions delivered first-hand from a news source that is ready to stand for something, not everything.