Author: INDEPENDENT

Russian forces clear out abandoned military equipment after Ukrainian troops’ retreat from AvdiivkaFor free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emailsSign up to our free breaking news emailsUkrainian forces have repelled dozens of attacks across the 600-mile frontline over the past 24 hours, Kyiv has claimed, as well as shooting down multiple fighter jets.The Ukrainian military said there had been Russian attacks in all five regions through which the frontline bisects. The largest concentration of attacks, however, was in Donetsk Oblast, notably around the Avdiivka area where Russia has made…

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 Paul Pogba says he will appeal against his four-year ban from football after testing positive for a banned substance. In a statement, the former World Cup winner and Juventus midfielder said he was “sad, shocked and heartbroken” after the ruling from Italy’s national anti-doping body. Pogba insisted he has “never knowingly or deliberately” violated anti-doping rules after he tested positive for testosterone in September. The France international was provisionally suspended before a counter-analysis on a second sample…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USBaseball star Shohei Ohtani announced on his Instagram account that he is married. The two-way player joined the Los Angeles Dodgers in December on a $700 million, 10-year contract.He wrote on Instagram in Japanese: “The season is approaching but I would like to announce to everyone that I have gotten married.”He said his new wife in “Japanese woman” although he did not identify her. He said he would reveal more in an interview on March 1.…

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 Erik ten Hag has told Fulham that they should apologise for posting a video of Bruno Fernandes that mocked them and insisted they were “totally out of order”.Fulham put a clip on Tiktok of the Manchester United captain writhing in apparent pain after a challenge by Sasa Lukic during their 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on Saturday with the caption “so glad he’s ok”.And Ten Hag mounted a staunch defence of Fernandes, who he had said was…

President Joe Biden addresses Texas Panhandle wildfiresSign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planetGet our free Climate emailAt least two people have died as five wildfires rage across the Texas Panhandle, including the largest blaze in state history.83-year-old Joyce Blankenship was found dead in her destroyed Hutchinson County home, officials said. On Thursday it was confirmed that a second woman – Cindy Owens – had succumbed to her injuries after getting out of her truck and being severely burned on Tuesday.The Smokehouse Creek fire is now the largest in state history, burning 1,075,000…

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 Tottenham defender Ryan Sessegnon has been backed to bounce back from his latest hamstring surgery by a medical expert.Sessegnon had an operation on his right hamstring on Monday after the 23-year-old suffered a muscle injury in action for Spurs’ Under-21s on February 17.It was the second time Sessegnon has been operated on during the past 12 months, but significantly the previous surgery in July was on his left hamstring.The ex-Fulham player has struggled with muscle injuries over…

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 playwright and actor Jeremy O Harris has issued a rebuttal after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak criticised his West End theatre “Black Out” nights.Slave Play, written by Harris, will run at the Noël Coward Theatre in London from 29 June to 21 September and will star Kit Harington, best known for his role as Jon Snow in HBO’s Game of Thrones.Two nights – known as Black Out nights – will be aimed specifically at an…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailThe House and Senate voted to pass a stopgap spending bill, averting a looming government shutdown once again – and prompting pro-Trump Republicans to level fury against House Speaker Mike Johnson.The continuing resolution will keep the government open until 8 March. The bill came as part of a larger agreement from Mr Johnson, Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer, Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, and House minority leader Hakeem Jeffries as well as the leadership on the House and…

Mauricio Pochettino hailed Chelsea’s character after his side narrowly beat Leeds 3-2 in the last minute of their FA Cup clash, and once again responded to pundit Gary Neville.The manager has insisted that his players are “brave” after Neville labelled the Blues “billion-pound bottlejobs” in their Carabao Cup final loss to Liverpool last weekend.“Gary, my friend, [look] what you did. His opinion now is always around and around and around,” Pochettino said.“With all my love to Gary, I think it is not fair to use this type of word about a team that is so brave and a club that…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailThe youngest Republican woman to serve in the US Senate will deliver the response to President Biden’s State of the Union address next week.Alabama Senator Katie Britt is set to give the remarks – a rebuttal speech to the president’s address made by the opposing party – on 7 March, which she has promised will be a “candid discussion about the future of our nation”.At 42 years old, Ms Britt is the youngest Republican woman to ever serve…