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 emailsIsrael’s military says 31 of the hostages in Gaza are dead – a fifth of the 136 people still being held captive by Hamas.It comes after a document compiled by Israeli intelligence officers reported by the New York Times, suggested 32 have died since the Hamas attack inside Israel on 7 October and the Israeli bomardment of Gaza in response.Four military sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said Israel was also assessing unconfirmed intelligence…

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 Chelsea boss Emma Hayes has revealed her love of Star Wars as she described the sci-fi franchise as having messages that are “so essential in life”.Hayes’ side, in what will be their final campaign under her before she steps down to take charge of the United States national team, are navigating a busy schedule with Wednesday’s League Cup quarter-final against Sunderland their sixth game in 18 days.And when asked at a press conference ahead of the tie…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailDonald Trump has slammed what he called the “nation-destroying ruling” after his presidential immunity defence was struck down in an appeals court. The former president called the appeals court decision “nation-destroying” and repeated his baseless allegation that his multiple criminal indictments are a “political weapon” directed by President Joe Biden against him in a post on Truth Social on Tuesday. “A President of the United States must have Full Immunity in order to properly function and do what…

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 Mauricio Pochettino has rejected suggestions he said Chelsea’s players are not good enough, claiming his words following Sunday’s defeat by Wolves were taken out of context.Immediately after the 4-2 loss at Stamford Bridge that left his team in the bottom half of the Premier League table, the Argentinian appeared to say he did not have the squad to significantly remedy the club’s plight.Chelsea were booed off at half-time and again at the final whistle, with audible anger…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailAs if election season weren’t complicated enough already, Nevada Republicans are holding both a primary and a caucus this year – effectively giving registered conservative voters two chances to declare their preferred candidate for the party’s presidential nomination.The situation is the result of a dispute between the state and the local branch of the Republican party over a bipartisan bill passed by Nevada’s state legislature in 2021.The bill stipulated that the Silver State must hold political primaries if…

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 area outside the Brentford penalty box proved inauspicious surroundings for Erling Haaland to make his first Manchester City start in two months. Tightly enclosed by Brentford’s physical back three and deep-lying midfield, Haaland’s long-awaited return was not marked with a goal – Thomas Frank’s side remain the only Premier League team the Norwegian has not scored against. Pep Guardiola shook his head. “I cannot imagine one striker in the world, surrounded by six players for Brentford,…

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 emailsTom Holland is set to make his West End return in a new production of the Shakespeare classic, Romeo and Juliet.Holland, 27, is known to many for portraying schoolboy-turned-superhero Peter Parker in Marvel’s latest Spider-Man and Avengers films.Later this year, the film star will bring his talents to London’s Duke of York’s Theatre for a three-month run of one of the world’s most famous plays, starring as the romantic and ill-fated Romeo.Romeo and Juliet will…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USHad it not been for an elected Alabama circuit judge in 1996, Kenneth Eugene Smith might not have been put to death with nitrogen gas last week.That’s because the judge presiding over his trial, N Pride Tompkins, overruled the jury’s 11-to-1 recommendation for a life sentence without parole, rather than the death penalty. Until 2017, when the state legislature outlawed the practice, judges in Alabama had this right.Despite the practice being outlawed, past cases were not…

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 emailsHong Kong leader John Lee on Tuesday appeared to blame the organisers of Inter Miami’s pre-season friendly over Lionel Messi’s failure to play during the exhibition game.Hong Kong’s government has demanded an explanation for Messi’s no-show from the Tatler Asia magazine, the organiser of the match.Mr Lee was among the 38,000 spectators present at the jam-packed Hong Kong Stadium on Sunday to watch the much-hyped match against Hong Kong XI, where tickets were sold at…

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 emailsA year after northwest Syria was struck by deadly earthquakes – that also hit Turkey – an already vulnerable population is still grappling with the consequences in a country already devastated by years of civil war.In the aftermath of the earthquake, more than 4,500 deaths and 8,700 injuries were reported in northwest Syria, with thousands being made homeless as more than 10,600 buildings were partially or totally destroyed. Some of the worst quake-hit areas were…