Author: INDEPENDENT

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsMarine Le Pen’s National Rally (RN) party is increasing its lead in the polls as campaigning reached its final stages in France’s snap election on Friday.It is a pivotal and polarising vote called by president Emmanuel Macron, with his centrist government risking a potentially fatal beating at the hands of the far right. France goes to the ballot box on Sunday in the first round of a two-round vote.With pollsters indicating that the far right…

Anthony Gordon sported grazes on his face and arms as he gave a press conference after falling off his bike on a warm-down session at Euro 2024.The Newcastle forward admitted he had been trying to record a video message for his family while riding an electric bike when he crashed off.”In England, the front brake is on the right-hand side,” he explained.”Here, I tried to press the left [brake] just to slow down and, next minute, it has not slowed down, it has fully come to a stop … and I haven’t. I have gone 10 feet in the air,…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailThe New York Times Editorial Board has called for Joe Biden to exit the 2024 presidential race following his weak debate performance against Donald Trump.The editorial comes after the president appeared frail during the Thursday evening debate. His voice was soft and raspy, which his campaign attributed to a cold. He also interrupted himself and gave rambling answers to multiple questions. Vice President Kamala Harris even admitted Biden struggled: “Yes, it was a slow start,” she said Thursday.…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Anthony Gordon has promised to do a cycling celebration if he scores at Euro 2024 after the England forward was left covered in grazes following a bike accident.The Newcastle winger came out to train on Thursday morning with cuts to his nose, chin, hands and knees and it later transpired he had crashed off an electric bike a day earlier.Gordon admitted he had been trying to record a video message for his family when he hit the…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USFour people were killed and nine were hospitalized on Friday when a car drove through the wall of a nail salon in Long Island, New York.Officials said the crash took place around 4:42pm at the Hawaii Nail & Spa in the town of Deer Park, Suffolk County.The driver, as well as multiple people trapped inside the nail salon, survived and were taken to a nearby hospital, ABC 7 New York reports. “A motorist drove through the…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Cole Palmer’s first major tournament as an England player has already lasted longer than the first one he went to as a fan, with Roy Hodgson’s men out of the World Cup by the time he landed in Brazil.Now, a decade on, the Chelsea star is ready to shine for the national team whenever called upon as Gareth Southgate’s side step up their quest for Euro 2024 glory.Palmer made a promising tournament debut off the bench in…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailNearly everyone agrees — including President Joe Biden — that he botched the first presidential debate of the 2024 general election, but the question remains as to how much a debate performance matters when it comes to reclaiming the White House.History shows the 81-year-old Democrat could still recover.Pew Research shows that 63 percent of voters said the presidential debates were “very or somewhat helpful” in deciding which candidate to back. But it’s not clear when voters make up…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter England supporters will be served normal-strength beer during Sunday’s Euro 2024 last-16 match against Slovakia in Gelsenkirchen but will be unable to drink alcohol in the stands.Fans were only able to purchase low-alcohol pints when Gareth Southgate’s side took on Serbia in their Group C opener at the Veltins-Arena in the German city on June 16.Fan group the Free Lions Fan Embassy welcomed the eased restrictions, but is disappointed about some of the other measures set to…

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsThe pier built by the US military to bring aid to Gaza is being removed due to weather to protect it, and officials say they are considering not re-installing it unless aid begins flowing out into the population again.While the military has helped deliver desperately needed food through the pier, the vast majority of it is still sitting in the adjacent storage yard because of the difficulty that agencies have had moving it to areas…

Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for freeSign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Bukayo Saka has insisted he is not the answer to England’s left-back problem.The Arsenal winger has operated as a left wing-back earlier in his career while Gareth Southgate has used Kieran Trippier out of position on the left of his defence in the extended absence of Luke Shaw.Saka’s mentor Ian Wright has voiced his opinion that he could fill in to give England a natural left-footer and someone who can provide more attacking incision from defence.But the…