2 h. ago White House clarifies Witkoff, not Trump, spoke to Putin as Ukraine denies US president’s claim its troops are encircled in Kursk – live

US president posted message saying ‘there is a very good chance this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end’Germany is close to unlocking the way to a massive increase in state borrowing and reforming the constitutional debt break as three major parties are reportedly about to reach an agreement on the proposed changes.The controversial proposal is a key part of the presumed next chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan for Germany. Continue reading...

Politics

2 h. ago Trump says US had ‘good and productive’ discussion with Putin and claims there is ‘good chance’ Ukraine war can end – Europe live

US president says discussion with Russia president were productive and could lead to end of ‘horrible bloody war’Germany is close to unlocking the way to a massive increase in state borrowing and reforming the constitutional debt break as three major parties are reportedly about to reach an agreement on the proposed changes.The controversial proposal is a key part of the presumed next chancellor Friedrich Merz’s plan for Germany. Continue reading...

Politics

24 h. ago Avanti West Coast strikes called off as RMT accepts rest day working deal

Staff had been due to continue Sunday walkouts until late May

Economics

26 h. ago UEFA release statement on controversial Real Madrid VAR decision and hint at major change

Real Madrid progressed to the quarter finals of the Champions League after beating neighbours Atletico Madrid in a hugely controversial shootout which saw one strike disallowed

Politics

45 h. ago Love Island’s Millie and Liam forced to make social media change after controversial Samie podcast

Samie Elishi appeared on the podcast hosted by Love Island winners Millie Court and Liam Reardon and made some explosive claims about her time in the villa

Politics

51 h. ago Princess Eugenie's reunion with Zara Tindall at Cheltenham as Camilla leads royals

Queen Camilla, Princess Eugenie and Mike and Zara Tindall were among the punters at the Cheltenham Festival today for 'Style Wednesday' - traditionally called Ladies Day

Politics

52 h. ago Cheltenham Festival Ladies Day: all the best outfits you need to see

Horse racing fans have descended on the iconic Prestbury Park for day two of Cheltenham Festival as the re-brand of Ladies Day gets underway with eye-catching outfits

Events

53 h. ago Family of controversial Irish teacher who was jailed for 'refusing to call a boy a girl' spotted on a flight to the US ahead of White House's St Patrick's Day celebration

The evangelical Christians, from Castlebar in Co Mayo, were spotted on a flight to Washington DC ahead of Taoiseach Micheal Martin's meeting with President Trump.

Society

57 h. ago Cheltenham Ladies Day is now called something different after controversial change

The second day of the Cheltenham Festival, formerly known as Ladies Day, was given a new name in 2024 and this controversial change continues into 2025 and beyond

Events

68 h. ago Wendy Williams breaks silence with worrying update after undergoing psychiatric evaluation

Wendy Williams has broken her silence after undergoing a psychiatric evaluation - and made a surprise call to Good Day New York on Tuesday to give a worrying update.

Politics

4 d. ago Craig Gordon names the key factors behind his retirement call from Hearts battle to Scotland prospects

The veteran Jambos No. 1 is out of contract in the summer and faces a big decision over whether to call it a day or continue playing

Events

4 d. ago ‘They came across as muppets’: Christo Grozev on being target of Bulgarian spy ring

Investigative journalist called ‘modern-day Sherlock’ by Alexei Navalny on unsettling photos, reprisals and being exiled from ViennaChristo Grozev was sitting in a New York cafe in February 2023, expecting to fly back to his home in Vienna that evening, when US law enforcement officials delivered some news that changed his life.“I was told that it’s not a good idea for me to leave back to Austria, because there’s been some intelligence suggesting there’s a red team waiting for you,” said Grozev, a Bulgarian-born investigative journalist who has infuriated the Kremlin by exposing numerous Russian intelligence operatives in recent years. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Eurovision Malta act changes song's lyrics after controversial ban by contest

It's not the first time Eurovision officials have been forced to step in and it may not be the end of the issue with the song deemed just close to a rather offensive word

Culture

5 d. ago Kanye West slammed for sickening post of racist robe calling it his 'outfit of the day'

Kanye West, who is no stranger so inciting anger with his outrageous, offensive rants and online posts across social media platforms, has sparked more fury with his latest share

Politics

6 d. ago Let's make it easier for girls and women to play the sports they love

Here, to mark International Women's Day, Cymru Women's Sport chair Professor Leigh Robinson calls for improved facilities for grassroots sport

Politics

6 d. ago It is time to dramatically pick up the pace towards equality this International Women’s Day

Editorial: Progress towards equal opportunity is going backwards rather than forwards in many countries. In keeping with the theme this International Women’s Day, The Independent calls for accelerated action to redress the balance

Events

8 d. ago Putin taunts Macron with warning that 'some people forget how Napoleon's Russian campaign ended' after French president called Moscow a 'threat to Europe' and offered nuke protection

Putin's warning came a day after the French leader called Moscow 'a threat to Europe' and raised the idea of putting other countries under France's nuclear umbrella.

Events

1 week ago Trump threatens to pull federal funds for US schools allowing ‘illegal protests’

US president also claims he will imprison ‘agitators’ a day after administration called for review at Columbia UniversityDonald Trump threatened on Tuesday to halt all federal funding for any college or school that allows “illegal protests” and vowed to imprison “agitators”.“All Federal Funding will STOP for any College, School, or University that allows illegal protests,” the US president wrote on Truth Social. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Scotland's unique Pancake Day history including why Scots call it Bannock Night

Pancake Day has been celebrated across the globe for centuries, but Scotland was once practiced rather different traditions

Events

1 week ago Emmerdale star Natalie Ann Jamieson defends controversial schedule change amid soap cuts

Emmerdale star Natalie Ann Jamieson left the ITV soap in February when her character Amy Wyatt was brutally killed off in the limo lake crash that left several characters dead

Politics