Author: INDEPENDENT

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USThe McDonald’s just off I-70 looms nearly as large in small-town Rifle life as it does in Rep. Lauren Boebert’s origin story. The Republican provocateur quit high school for a shift manager position here – to her mother’s horror, she writes in her memoir – and it’s also where at 16 she met her now-ex-husband, Jayson, then 22.But on this sunny Friday, as diners flit in and out just before noon, the teen behind the cash…

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 Kim Kardashian was among a glamorous cast hired to announce the chosen venues for the 2026 World Cup on Sunday night. But what the ceremony didn’t reveal was the bitter battle behind the scenes for billions of eyeballs, in a fight to host the most watched sporting event on the planet.Venues made impassioned pitches to Fifa for the right to stage the World Cup final, and there were three early frontrunners: the SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles,…

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 emailsCara Delevingne will be making her stage debut in the West End’s award-winning revival of Cabaret.The British model and actor will join the cast in the role of Sally Bowles from 11 March until 1 June 2024, along with Luke Treadaway who will take over as the Emcee.The parts are currently played by musician Self Esteem – full name Rebecca Lucy Taylor – and Jake Shears in Rebecca Frecknall’s intimate production, which opened in 2021…

Sign up to Simon Calder’s free travel email for expert advice and money-saving discountsGet Simon Calder’s Travel emailBritish Airways has announced a major shake-up to its Executive Club loyalty scheme by switching all customers over to a fixed membership year from 2025.It removes one of the major complexities of the programme, by aligning the collection year for tier points – which determine status such as gold, silver or bronze – into a common calendar year, to run from April 1 to March 31.Related: BA frequent-flyer scheme becomes all about the moneyAt the moment, tier point collection years vary according 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 emailsUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said a broad “reset” of the country’s military and leadership is needed – suggesting his plans go beyond removing his army’s top commander, General Valery Zaluzhny.“Definitely a reset, a new beginning is necessary,” he said, when asked about rumours of General Zaluzhny’s dismissal by Italian outlet Rai News. “I have something serious in mind, which is not about a single person but about the direction of the country’s leadership.”Mr Zelensky…

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 “No one is safe,” said Mauricio Pochettino. And if the reality that he is the fifth man to take charge of a Chelsea game in the brief, ignominious reign of Clearlake Capital offers some proof, so does the maxim that it is cheaper to change the manager than the players. Especially when the context is that the manager was only given a two-year deal while 14 of the players have contracts until the 2030s, five more until…

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 Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has settled legal action brought by its former director-general who was fired last year following allegations about his behaviour.The business group said it and Tony Danker have agreed an undisclosed settlement following his sacking from the post in April 2023. Mr Danker’s sacking came after he faced allegations about his behaviour in the workplace.The claims were reported in the Guardian, and later other, more serious, allegations against different CBI…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USGoogle Doodle launched its new image on 4 February to celebrate the 76th Sri Lankan Independence Day.On 4 February 1948, Sri Lanka became politically independent after centuries under colonial rule. The country was under British rule at the time it made its steps towards independence.Various movements and constitutional reforms in the country all led to the achievement of independence. Sri Lanka gained its independence largely through a peaceful political movement that sought to transfer power to…

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 The schedule for the men’s 2026 World Cup has been announced, as Fifa unveiled a giant tournament both in geography and the sheer volume of football.The tournament will be played across Mexico, Canada and the USA in an expanded format with 48 teams included for the first time. They will be split across 12 groups of four, with the top two progressing automatically to the knockout stages and the eight best third-placed teams also going through 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 emailsCBI boss Tony Danker was sacked with immediate effect last week after allegations of misconduct rocked the influential business group.In his first interview since his firing, Mr Danker told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme on Wednesday his reputation had been “totally destroyed” following sexual misconduct allegations – claiming he had been made a “fall guy” by the business body.Below we take a look at who exactly the former CBI director general is, what the allegations…