Author: INDEPENDENT

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailChancellor Jeremy Hunt has been warned that Britain could already be in a technical recession, despite government claims of an economic recovery.Mr Hunt has insisted that the government’s plan “is working”, as he continues to dangle the prospect of fresh tax cuts at his March Budget.But leading economists have said fresh analysis of the UK’s poor growth figures suggest the country has hit a major slump.Martin Beck, chief economic adviser to the EY Item Club forecasters, said there is a…

Biden and Sunak spoke about Red Sea attacks, Gaza on phone call, according to White House 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 emailsHouthi rebels have vowed that the latest round of US and UK strikes against them in Yemen will no go unanswered – as their allies Hamas killed nearly two dozen Israeli soldiers in Gaza.The US launched their eighth attack on Houthi positions in western Yemen overnight, firing up to 30 munitions. UK defence secretary Grant Shapps said four Royal…

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 Thomas Frank confirmed Ivan Toney will captain Brentford against Nottingham Forest on Saturday in his first game back after his eight-month suspension.The 27-year-old has not played competitively since being banned in May for breaching Football Association gambling rules.He was permitted to return to training with his team-mates in September and has played in a number of behind-closed-doors friendlies in the run-up to becoming available again.With the team dealing with a number of absences both through injury and…

Florida governor Ron DeSantis suspends his presidential campaign 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 opened up an 11 percentage point lead over Nikki Haley, his rival for the Republican presidential nomination, ahead of Tuesday’s New Hampshire primary, according to the latest poll from CNN and the University of New Hampshire.The development comes as Florida governor Ron DeSantis announced on Sunday that he was suspending his campaign and endorsing Mr Trump, despite months of animosity between the two men.The candidate said in…

Al-Ettifaq censor Jordan Henderson’s rainbow armband in announcement videoThe January transfer window has been slow to get going this month but may be starting to heat up as clubs try to bolster their squads for the second half of the season.This month, Arsenal and Chelsea are expected to be two of the teams trying to bring in at least one player each, with Ivan Toney a name on both clubs’ wishlists. Brighton striker Evan Ferguson has also been linked with the Blues, although the Seagulls value the teenager at more than £100m. Given the strictness of financial fair play rules,…

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailThe government is considering a radical scheme to help first-time buyers by guaranteeing mortgages which would require just 1 per cent deposits.The prime minister and Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, are contemplating the bold plan to appeal to young voters struggling to get onto the property ladder, The Independent understands.Government sources said a Treasury-backed scheme to help “generation rent” is one of the big ideas being discussed for Mr Hunt’s spring Budget on 6 March.However, property experts warned that the “short-term…

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailCabinet minister Grant Shapps has condemned “disappointing” comments by Israel PM Benjamin Netanyahu rejecting Palestinian statehood.The defence secretary saying the UK government remains “wedded” to the idea of a two-state solution – arguing that there “isn’t another option”.Rishi Sunak’s government has largely resisted criticism of Israel since it launched strikes on Gaza in the wake of the 7 October Hamas terror attack.But Mr Shapps offer a strong rebuke of Mr Netanyahu’s rejection of Palestinian sovereignty and insistence his country needs…

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 Manchester United have pulled off a coup in the first major appointment of the Sir Jim Ratcliffe era, as Omar Berrada of Manchester City has been appointed chief executive.The recommendation came from Ineos, and was backed by the board, who have been looking to fill the role since Richard Arnold left last year.Although there had been expectation that Jean-Claude Blanc would step in as CEO, his preference is to stay with the wider sporting group owned by…

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inboxGet our free View from Westminster emailFor many young Britons hoping to buy a home the biggest barrier in the way remains the lump sum needed for a deposit.The struggle has become harder over the decades as soaring house prices have outstripped pay and robbed many on decent salaries the chance to get onto the property ladder.The Independent has revealed that Rishi Sunak’s government is considering a bold plan to help “generation rent” by creating 99 per cent mortgages.Instead of having to save tens of thousands,…

The latest headlines from our reporters across the US sent straight to your inbox each weekdayYour briefing on the latest headlines from across the USA 9-year-old boy was killed after crawling under a school bus, officials said.The boy, Elyas Marshall Rodriguez, had just gotten off the bus Tuesday afternoon near his home in Orlando, Florida when the incident occurred. Elyas “ran back” to the bus and “crawled underneath” it, the Florida Highway Patrol told WESH 2 News.Elyas was then hit by the bus while he was underneath it. According to NBC, the Orange County Medical Examiner’s Office ruled the death…