Author: INDEPENDENT

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…

Nikki Haley stars in Saturday Night Live skit opposite ‘Donald Trump’ 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 given the names of two possible candidates to be his running mate in the event that he beats Nikki Haley to become the Republican Party’s nominee for president, as it is widely expected he will.Interviewed by Maria Bartiromo for her Fox show Sunday Morning Futures, Mr Trump was asked when qualities he was looking for in a prospective vice president and said: “It’s got…

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 For a game that featured a big win and was about getting on the front foot in the title race, so much of the aftermath of Arsenal v Liverpool felt focused on responding to setbacks. Jurgen Klopp was even philosophical in discussing his team’s first league defeat since October.”We didn’t lose recently many games,” the German began. “That means dealing with defeats is a challenge… for human kind, actually.”Mikel Arteta might empathise. He spoke about how his…

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 emailsParis has voted in favour of a huge increase in parking prices for SUVs in the city.A referendum was held on Sunday that saw sweeping changes to parking prices in the French capital presses on with long-term plans to become a fully bikeable city.Some 54.5% of Parisians voted in favour of the measure, while 45.5% rejected it. Only 5.7% of voters turned out in the consultation decided by the municipality, according to official results.The referendum,…

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 2026 World Cup will kick off Mexico City’s Azteca Stadium on June 11, with the final at the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey 38 days later, governing body Fifa has announced.The showpiece event, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will involve 48 teams for the first time.Mexico hosted the finals alone in both 1970, when Brazil lifted the trophy, and in 1986 – when Diego Maradona guided Argentina to success after…

Atmospheric river comes to SoCal Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planetGet our free Climate emailThe National Weather Service in Los Angeles issued a stern warning on Sunday afternoon, saying that the incoming storm is “dangerous” and comes “with major risks to life and property,” including “substantial flooding”.“Residents should heed any evacuation orders. Stay off the roads, especially the freeways, this afternoon through at least Monday morning,” they said.The first-ever hurricane-force wind warning was issued in northern California in the early hours of Sunday, with wind gusts of almost 90mph reported even…

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 Inter Milan moved four points clear at the top of Serie A with a 1-0 win over title rivals Juventus 1-0 in the Derby d’Italia at the San Siro.The Nerazzurri made the breakthrough just before half-time when Juve defender Federico Gatti diverted a cross into his own net.Juve keeper Wojciech Szczesny produced a fine late save from Inter substitute Marko Arnautovic as Simone Inzaghi’s men put themselves firmly in the driving seat for the Scudetto.Charles De Ketelaere…

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 emailsAustralian-Chinese writer Yang Hengjun has been sentenced to death in China five years after he was accused of spying, foreign minister Penny Wong confirmed. It is a suspended sentence that can be commuted to life imprisonment after two years.Yang, a pro-democracy blogger, was arrested at the Guangzhou airport in 2019 and booked for spying on an undisclosed foreign country. He received a closed-door trial in Beijing in May 2021. Calling his sentencing “harrowing” and “appalling”,…

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 MetLife Stadium in New Jersey will host the 2026 World Cup final and the 39-day tournament will kick off at Mexico City’s Aztec Stadium.Governing body FIFA confirmed the match schedule on Sunday for the showpiece event, which will be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, will involve 48 teams for the first time.The MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford is home for NFL teams the New York Giants and New York Jets and has a capacity…