In this issue

August 14, 2022

Energy sector to ‘wargame’ rationing supply this winter

Gas power stations could be shut off to ration energy supplies as part of emergency plans to stave off widespread blackouts this winter, insiders have warned. Sources at two power stations, along with government officials, said they were preparing to "wargame" emergency plans next month, and that they had been asked to review measures to keep Britain's lights on in the worst-case scenario of dangerously low supplies.

3 mins

Sunak criticised for pledge to boost oil and gas drilling

Rishi Sunak has been accused of undermining the government's climate policy as he vowed to boost the production of oil and gas in the North Sea through a new deregulation drive.

3 mins

Rushdie suspect pleads not guilty to attempted murder

The author Salman Rushdie remained in hospital last night with serious injuries two days after he was repeatedly stabbed at a public appearance in New York state.

3 mins

Rowling gets death threat after tweet about Rushdie

JK Rowling has told her fans that the police are involved after a tweet about Salman Rushdie prompted a death threat on Twitter. The controversial Harry Potter author had expressed sympathy for Rushdie after he was stabbed onstage on Friday at a literary event in New York.

1 min

Voters unhappy with Tories' 'undemocratic' PM ballot

Almost half the country believes the power of Conservative Party members to pick the next prime minister is "undemocratic", a new poll for The Independent has found.

2 mins

Sunak's '£40bn tax breaks' for businesses and wealthy

Businesses and the wealthy received almost £40bn in tax cuts while Rishi Sunak was chancellor, leaving others footing the bill for Britain's recovery from the pandemic in the midst of a cost of living crisis, according to new analysis.

4 mins

Wildfires increase sixfold as water supply under pressure

Soaring temperatures have caused wildfires to increase by nearly 500 per cent, Dorset and Wiltshire Fire Service has warned, as drought conditions put pressure on the water supply in parts of the UK.

3 mins

Will Truss be the 'war on woke' prime minister?

It appears Liz Truss was getting a little bored of talking about terrifying energy bills and the nation's economic woes. The Tory leadership favourite has had little new to say about tax cuts and government "handouts" for several weeks now.

2 mins

Taliban fighters beat women at protest over right to work

Taliban fighters reportedly beat women protesters and fired into the air yesterday as they violently dispersed a rally in Kabul.

1 min

Explosives hidden in plastic limb kill top Taliban cleric

Prominent Taliban cleric Sheikh Rahimullah Haqqani was killed when an attacker detonated explosives hidden in a plastic artificial leg, according to officials. "Very sadly informed that respected cleric [Haqqani] was martyred in a cowardly attack by enemies," Bilal Karimi, a spokesperson for the Taliban administration, said in a statement.

1 min

Cancellation of Taiwan Pride event blamed on 'political considerations'

Taipei has blamed "political considerations" for the cancellation of WorldPride 2025 Taiwan after organisers insisted the name of the island state be removed from the title.

1 min

The attack on Rushdie is a reason not to privilege Islam

Salman Rushdie was stabbed on stage at the Chautauqua Institution in New York state on Friday just as he was about to give a lecture.

3 mins

Today's insults will damage the Tory party of tomorrow

Despite all the talk of coming together when this is over, and how much Liz Truss prefers Rishi Sunak to Keir Starmer, it seems that the candidates and their supporters cannot help themselves.

4 mins

Let politicians spend more time on the beach, not less

MPs escaping the day job will make better decisions if they have time to switch off and to think, writes John Rentoul

2 mins

United humiliated in fourgoal thrashing by Brentford

Brentford Dasilva (10), Jensen (18), Mee (30), Mbeumo (35) 4 | Manchester United 0

4 mins

How can I claim the cost of refreshment during a delay?

Q Last Tuesday, my flight to Naples made two attempts to land, but due to a thunderstorm it was eventually diverted to Rome. We then waited three hours before coaches were organised to take us to Naples.

1 min

Read all stories from The Independent

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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.