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 emailsBritish judges are taking tens of thousands of pounds to sit on Hong Kong’s top court despite a pro-China crackdown on dissent in the city.Five British judges are listed as overseas non-permanent judges for Hong Kong’s Court of Final Appeal and can be selected at any time to sit on appeal cases, for up to a month at a time.They are paid £40,000, with flights, accommodation and travel also expensed, according to a Freedom of…

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 Carlo Ancelotti insists he and his Real Madrid players remain hungry for more glory following their record-extending 15th Champions League success with victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley.Ruthless Real struck twice in the second half, having been outplayed for much of the evening.The tournament’s most successful team earned yet another trophy as Dani Carvajal and Vinicius Junior scored to secure a 2-0 victory.Ancelotti had warned his Real players on the eve of the final that they would…

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 A so-called European Super League was dealt a fresh blow on Saturday when Italian giant Juventus decided to rejoin the body of clubs opposing the controversial breakaway competition.Juventus had been with Real Madrid and Barcelona in pushing for a new competition that would replace the Champions League. But it will rejoin the European Club Association of 600 teams, which has fought strongly against attempts to create a Super League.“They are back. It is great,” ECA chairman Nasser…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailA contractor with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) has resigned in protest over the Biden administration’s support for the war in Gaza — and in an interview with The Independent said that political pressure from the White House was silencing dissent at the agency.Alex Smith, a senior adviser on gender, maternal health, child health, and nutrition, said he was given a choice of resigning or being fired after a presentation he was due to deliver on…

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 Marie-Antoinette Katoto left defending champions England with a mountain to climb as France came from behind to snatch a priceless Euro 2025 qualifier victory at St James’ Park.Beth Mead had given the Lionesses a 30th-minute lead in head coach Sarina Wiegman’s 50th game at the helm, but Elisa De Almeida levelled before the break to set the stage for Paris St Germain striker Katoto to secure a 2-1 win in front of a crowd of 42,561.The defeat…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailMichelle and Barack Obama led a chorus of politicians and celebrities in paying tribute to her late mother, Marian Robinson.Ms Robinson, known as the “first grandma” or “grandma in residence” during former president Obama’s time in office, died on Friday at the age of 86, according to a statement from her family.“My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed,” wrote Michelle Obama on Friday evening. “She was the same steady backstop for our…

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 Sarina Wiegman has challenged England to turn the tables on France to kick-start their Euro 2025 qualification campaign.The defending champions went down 2-1 to the French at St James’ Park on Friday evening and realistically need to avenge that defeat in St-Etienne on Tuesday to rekindle their faltering bid to make it to the finals automatically.Wiegman’s side have now taken just four points from their first three qualifiers and trail Group A3 leaders France by five points…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailFormer First Lady Michelle Obama’s mother, Marian Robinson, has died, according to family members.She was 86 years old.“My mom Marian Robinson was my rock, always there for whatever I needed,” Obama wrote on X on Friday. “She was the same steady backstop for our entire family, and we are heartbroken to share she passed away today.”Robinson was born in 1937, one of seven children raised in a “tiny upstairs apartment” that was “on the red-lined South Side of…

(Owen Humphreys/PA Wire)England take on Group A3 leaders France at Newcastle United’s St James’ Park tonight, as Sarina Wiegman’s Lionesses try to take charge of their Women’s Euros 2025 qualifying campaign.An opening 1-1 draw with Sweden was not in the script, but England bounced back with a 2-0 win over the Republic of Ireland, and victory tonight would send them to the top of the group, above tonight’s opponents France, who recorded 1-0 wins over both the Irish and the Swedes, and would relish the chance to continue their 100 per cent record against the reigning European champions.Lauren James has…

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 emailsGossip is a “woman’s thing”, Pope Francis is alleged to have told a group of priests at a recent meeting in Rome.The remark was said to have been made by the pontiff at a closed-door meeting just days after he apologised for reportedly using a homophobic slur.The head of the Catholic Church, 87, is said to have advised the priests, ordained within the past 10 years, of “badmouthing” in parishes and congregations“Gossip is a women’s…