In this issue

April 23, 2024

Sunak insists that Rwanda flights will take off by July

Rishi Sunak has pledged to get flights to Rwanda in the air by July, despite the threat of legal challenges and delays even if he does manage to force the controversial asylum bill through parliament overnight.

3 mins

Tory researcher one of two accused of spying for China

A parliamentary researcher is one of two British men who have been charged with spying for China after an investigation by counter-terrorism police.

2 mins

Antisemitism campaigner 'provoked' confrontation, claims march organiser

An antisemitism campaigner who was threatened with arrest at a pro-Palestine demonstration has been accused of trying to “provoke” an incident to get the protests banned.

4 mins

What does Sunak's burst of activity say about the timing of the general election?

Rishi Sunak has launched a campaign to shore up the Conservative vote in next week’s local elections and his own position among his fractious backbenchers.

2 mins

Train drivers to strike again in long-running pay dispute

Members of Aslef union will walk out after May bank holiday

2 mins

Edwards leaves ‘on medical advice' with no BBC pay-off

BBC presenter Huw Edwards has resigned on medical advice” nearly a year after he was accused of paying a teenager thousands of pounds for sexually explicit images. The broadcaster has been off air since last July following newspaper reports claiming that a then unnamed BBC presenter funded a teenager’s alleged drug habit.

1 min

Smart motorways affected by frequent power outages

Technology designed to keep drivers safe on smart motorways frequently stops working, an investigation has found. There have been hundreds of incidents when safety equipment was out of action in recent years, latest figures show.

2 mins

Ukraine's forces prepare for Russian offensive from east

As a key town falls to Putin’s troops, Kyiv says it is expecting a huge assault before the US 61bn military package arrives

4 mins

Trump Decries ‘Unfair' Trial As Hush-Money Case Begins

Donald Trump unloaded on reporters and news cameras for nine minutes outside of a courtroom, where jurors were assembled for the first time to hear the first-ever criminal trial of an American president.

5 mins

Papuan PM rebukes Biden over 'cannibal' comment

Papua New Guinea’s prime minister James Marape has accused US president Joe Biden of disparaging the South Pacific island nation by implying that his uncle was eaten by “cannibals” there during the Second World War.

2 mins

Head of Israeli intelligence quits over 7 October failure

The head of Israel’s military intelligence has resigned over the failures surrounding the 7 October terror attack by Hamas, becoming the first senior figure to step down.

2 mins

Burning issue: why Indian men are setting fire to pants

‘Anti-male policies’ and women-centric gender-biased laws’ are stirring controversy but Shahana Yasmin says the claims of male campaigners don’t reflect the reality of women’s lives

5 mins

Heard the one about eight friends who walked into a bar and bought a racehorse?

The story of Showtime is a sporting thriller captured on TV, as Zoé Beaty talks to those who found meaning in a mare

5 mins

I'm confused about rights relating to the rail strike

Taxpayer subsidies are running at £2.8bn annually on top of the normal support.

1 min

It's not just the heartbreak, it's wasting the ‘baby years'

On her new album, Taylor Swift nails the specific grief of breakups for women in their thirties, writes Helen Coffey

4 mins

STUFF AND ONSENS

As Shogun’, the historical drama set in ancient Japan, rapidly becomes the biggest television hit of the year, Nicole Vassell visits some of the real-life locations that inspired the show

6 mins

Turbulence that won't make viewers stay in their seats

Shows set 40,000ft in the air usually provide plenty of drama but it’s a bumpy ride for ITV’s Red Eye’, says Louis Chilton

4 mins

Antony's gloating shows.just how clueless United are

The majority of Manchester United’s players were almost too embarrassed to celebrate such an undignified victory at Wembley.

2 mins

Clough would be disgusted by Forest's serial whinging

If the two highest points in Nottingham Forest’s history occurred in Munich and Madrid in 1979 and 1980 respectively, one of the lower moments occurred at Goodison Park in 2024.

3 mins

Palmer illness could rule him out against Arsenal

Cole Palmer is a major doubt for tonight’s Premier League encounter with Arsenal after the Chelsea forward missed yesterday’s training with illness.

3 mins

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.