CATEGORIES

Macron appoints Bayrou as new PM to try to end chaos

French president Emmanuel Macron has named his ally Francois Bayrou as the new prime minister and tasked the veteran centrist with steering the country out of its second major political crisis in months.

Thousands across Syria celebrate defeat of Assad

Bel Trew speaks to people in Damascus, hearing tales of sheer disbelief, hope, and recognition of the work ahead

The Independent's Rebecca Thomas wins prestigious award for health journalism

The Independent's health correspondent Rebecca Thomas has been named the best health journalist in the British Journalism Awards, and commended for the “huge impact” of her work.

New implant offers hope to millions with sleep apnoea

A new electronic chip that zaps the tongue's nerves could relieve millions of patients with a common disorder that stops them from breathing in their sleep.

Man who took murdered toddler out in buggy jailed

A man who murdered his new girlfriend’s toddler and hid her body in a pushchair while out shopping was jailed for life yesterday. Scott Jeff, 24, will will serve a minimum of 26 years in prison after subjecting two-year-old Isabella Wheildon to a “regime of escalating brutality” before she was found dead in a bathroom on 30 June, 2023.

GWR warns passengers not to try to travel tomorrow

Rail passengers have been urged not to travel on any Great Western Railway (GWR) main lines tomorrow.

Hospital non-emergency care cancelled ahead of pathology strike next week

Thousands of patients face having their procedures cancelled as a major strike forces an NHS trust to stop almost all non-emergency care, The Independent can reveal.

King briefed over Andrew's dealings with 'Chinese spy'

King Charles has reportedly been briefed by British security services over his brother Prince Andrew's relationship with an alleged Chinese spy.

The PM must not become known as 'air miles Starmer'

After a spate of foreign trips by Keir Starmer, jittery Labour MPs were reassured last month he would be spending more time on the domestic front. So they were disappointed when he popped up in two Gulf states and Cyprus this week.

Renewables to produce 95% of UK’s electricity by 2030

Government unveils most ambitious’ plan for clean energy

What it will cost to defend UK from the Russian threat

New secretary general of Nato Mark Rutte has warned that Russia is preparing for “long-term confrontation... with Ukraine, and with us” and has called for more defence spending to combat threats from Russia and its allies: China, Iran and North Korea.

UK unprepared for war with Russia, top general warns

Britain is not properly prepared to defend itself in a war with Russia and cannot rely on the United States and Nato, a retired senior general has warned.

Schumacher's former nurse implicated in blackmail plot

A former nurse of Michael Schumacher has been accused of attempting to blackmail the Formula One star’s family over private photographs.

Threatened Maori call on King to honour 1840 treaty

As New Zealand tries to roll back Indigenous rights, tribal leaders demand Charles steps in, writes Maroosha Muzaffar

The 'grey tribe' leanings of alleged murderer Mangione

The man accused of killing UnitedHeathcare CEO Brian Thompson had a telling social-media history, writes Io Dodds

Musk's war on the homeless is 'disgusting', say advocates

Billionaire Elon Musk claims homelessness is perpetuated to enrich NGOs – and his words are having a significant impact

Mother died after 'frankly barbaric' butt-lift surgery

A mother-of-three died after she was subjected to a catalogue of poor care and did not give informed consent when she underwent “Brazilian butt lift” surgery in Turkey, an inquest has heard.

Couple's lives ‘ruined' by Christmas eviction notice

“We haven’t slept since receiving the eviction notice,” Paulo Redal says.

Second Rotherham rioter jailed over arson attempt

A rioter who tried to set fire to a hotel used for asylum seekers while wearing a purple England kit during the UK summer riots has been jailed.

'Close confidante' of duke loses the right to enter UK

Chinese man ‘H6’ claimed to only have limited links to CCP

Brexiteers favour closer ties with the EU, poll suggests

Keir Starmer is being pushed to have more ambition in his Brexit relations reset with the EU after new polling suggested voters – even Brexiteers – now support reversing large parts of the UK’s departure from the bloc.

Is the NHS in more trouble than usual this winter?

Rather like Santa, mince pies, Wham!’s “Last Christmas” and the (execrable) Mrs Brown’s Boys special, the NHS winter crisis has become something of an annual ritual. Indeed, only those now in their sixties can recall a time when the media wasn’t routinely full of stories about overcrowded wards and emergency departments at breaking point.

Rayner faces backlash over plans to 'bulldoze' country

Angela Rayner is facing an angry backlash against controversial planning reforms set to force councils to surrender swathes of the green belt and see housebuilding surge by more than 60 per cent.

Nato chief warns West ‘not ready' for a war with Russia

Nato general secretary Mark Rutte has warned that the West is “not ready” to deal with the threat of war from Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

American 'pilgrim' emerges unscathed from Assad jail

An American who spent seven months in a Syrian prison after crossing into the country on foot on a Christian pilgrimage has been found.

'I sparked Syria's revolution now I'm here to finish it'

Muawiyah Syasneh was just a teenager when a simple act of rebellion lit the fuse that resulted in a civil war. Now, he talks to Bel Trew about his role in bringing the conflict to an end

Labour is right to build more houses - but must be mindful of its legacy

As it is in nature and architecture, so it is in planning – there is always a balance to be found.

What are the best spots for a Central America trip?

Q Due to some reorganisation where I work, I have the shortnotice chance of a two-month stint of unpaid leave from midJanuary next year to early March. I’ve always been interested in Central America.

Why two random men decide the fate of football

The sport globally is in the hands of two administrators. But how did they come to hold such power, asks Miguel Delaney

Win can't hide deep issues Amorim faces at United

A victory snatched from the jaws of defeat should give a new manager hope that there is fight among his charges, that the future is bright.