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 emailsNew Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern has finally tied the knot with her longtime partner, Clarke Gayford, in a private ceremony in the scenic Hawke’s Bay region of Aotearoa.The former Kiwi prime minister’s engagement was extended after Ms Ardern’s government placed strict Covid restrictions on the country, forcing the couple to postpone their 2022 wedding date. The ceremony is reported to have been staged at a luxury vineyard in the Kiwi food and wine region, 200 miles…

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 was considering the problems of a winger who cost Manchester United a fortune. “He caused them, so he has to sort them out,” he said. He was not discussing Jadon Sancho, exiled first to train with the Under-18s and now on loan to Borussia Dortmund with a perfunctory message from the United manager. “I hope he is doing well. I wish him the best of good luck,” Ten Hag said. Instead, he was pondering…

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 emailsAfter two months of continual Iran-backed Houthi attacks on commercial vessels, the US and the UK have launched more than 100 strikes against the militant group’s positions across western Yemen.Huge explosions were seen in Yemeni cities including Sana’a and Hodeidah in the early hours of Friday, with the US military saying 60 strikes were launched against 16 sites linked to the Houthis’ military operations.Below, The Independent looks at how the attacks unfolded and what weapons…

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 Eddie Howe believes Newcastle would have already been active in the transfer market during the January window had the club not been held back by Financial Fair Play restrictions.The club were dealt a further blow to their already injury-plagued season when Joelinton was ruled out for six weeks during a quad injury sustained during the Magpies’ FA Cup win over local rivals Sunderland.Along with the Brazilian, Sandro Tonali is suspended, Nick Pope, Joe Willock, Harvey Barnes, Jacob…

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 emailsBritain’s economy grew by more than expected in November, boosting hopes that the country can avoid recession in 2024.Gross domestic product (GDP) rose by 0.3 per cent in November, after declining by 0.3 per cent in October, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).Economists had been expecting GDP to rise by 0.2 per cent, as the prospect of the country entering a recession at the end of the year hangs in the balance.Chancellor Jeremy…

Stay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletterStay ahead of the trend in fashion and beyond with our free weekly Lifestyle Edit newsletter The Pentagon has slammed Fox News host Jesse Watters after he said Taylor Swift could be a “psy-op” for the US government.During Tuesday’s Jesse Watters Primetime, the Fox News host played a video that he falsely claimed showed a Department of Defense official suggesting Taylor Swift was a Pentagon psy-op for combating misinformation.“I like her music,” Mr Watters began the segment by saying. “She’s all right, but I mean,…

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 Chief executive Darren Eales has admitted even Newcastle could not resist a “£1billion” bid for one of their biggest names after reporting a loss of £73.4million.The Magpies, who are 80 per cent owned by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, are considered one of the world’s richest football clubs, but like all their Premier League counterparts they have to operate within profit and sustainability rules.Sporting director Dan Ashworth has insisted in the past that spending £200m a year…

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inboxGet our free Inside Washington emailHours ahead of closing arguments in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial in New York, a bomb threat was made at the home of the judge overseeing the case, according to New York courts and law enforcement officials.Early Thursday morning, a “swatting” investigation was underway at the home of Judge Arthur Engoron, the Nassau County Police Department told The Independent.“At this time it has been deemed unfounded, the investigation is ongoing,” a spokesperson for the police department said.Mr Engoron…

Guardiola welcomes return of ‘unique’ Kevin De Bruyne: ‘These guys win games’The January transfer window can be a strange beast on occasions, slow to start but frenzied at the end of the month as teams try to fix flaws or add depth in a compressed timeframe – and often with clubs who don’t want to deal. That can result in inflated fees or extremely late deals being done, but the rumours themselves start early and simply keep going.This month, Arsenal and Chelsea are expected to be two of the teams trying to bring in at least one player each, with…

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailRishi Sunak is facing calls to suspend new public contracts with Fujitsu, after it emerged that the IT giant has won billions in deals with the government despite knowing about its involvement in the Horizon scandal.Postal minister Kevin Hollinrake said the government believes it has a “solution” to overturn the wrongful convictions of Post Office staff – promising an “imminent” announcement.It comes as the spotlight turns on the company at the centre of the scandal, after Fujitsu’s faulty accounting software…