3 m. ago Two days after arriving in the UK, he had started his £19,000 crime spree

Andrei Matei was involved in stealing more than £19,000 from ATMs at locations across the country

Economics

8 m. ago Number of asylum claims hits record 108,000 in a year following huge increase after Keir Starmer ditched Rwanda scheme

The biggest increase came in the second half of the year - following the general election - when 61,383 asylum bids were lodged, compared with 50,352 during the same period in 2023.

Events

8 m. ago BBC issues a grovelling apology over 'propaganda' Gaza documentary and says boy's father IS Hamas leader and WAS paid for featuring

In a statement the corporation acknowledged 'serious flaws in the making of the programme' which cost more than £400,000 to produce.

Politics

10 m. ago Jose Mourinho banned and fined £35,000 for comments after Istanbul derby

Galatasaray outlined their intention to ‘initiate criminal proceedings concerning the racist statements made’

Economics

18 m. ago Trump shuts down Independent reporter pressing Starmer on annexing Canada

Donald Trump cut off The Independent's White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg as he pressed Sir Keir Starmer about the US president’s desire to make Canada the 51st state.

Politics

20 m. ago Social Security Administration could lay off up to 50% of its workforce, source says – live

Social Security Administration expected to lay off at least 7,000 people, but a source tells Associated Press reduction could be as high as 50%As Donald Trump and tech billionaire Elon Musk work zealously to slash tens of billions in federal spending by axing thousands of jobs and gutting some government agencies, Musk faces mounting claims he has conflicts of interest and no oversight, legal and ethics experts say.Trump’s largest campaign donor and the world’s wealthiest man, Musk was tapped by the president to lead the so-called “department of government efficiency” (Doge) in a radical and opaque cost-cutting drive that allows him to keep control of SpaceX, Tesla and other huge companies with billions of dollars in federal contracts.We expect that today’s meeting will be the first in a series of such expert consultations that will bring us closer to overcoming the disagreements that have arisen with the American side, strengthening confidence-building measures. Continue reading...

Events

22 m. ago The São Paulo connection: a Brazilian gang is spreading its cocaine business into Australia

The PCC – First Capital Command – formed in a Sāo Paulo prison but is now spreading its tentacles around the worldIn September 2020, the Australian Border Force intercepted 552kg of cocaine concealed in 2,000 boxes of frozen banana pulp that had arrived at the port of Sydney on a ship from Brazil.Two years later, a diver was found floating dead next to 52kg of cocaine near the port of Newcastle, in New South Wales, Australia. Police later discovered that he was a Brazilian national who had been attempting to retrieve drugs from a cargo ship’s hull. Continue reading...

Events

26 m. ago An uncertain future for agricultural students at Black colleges after Trump cuts: ‘a clear attack’

The 1890 National Scholars program gives full rides to HBCU students in fields like botany, forestry and food safetyDr Marcus Bernard was shocked to learn last week that the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) had suspended the 1890 National Scholars program that funds undergraduate students’ education in agriculture or related fields at about 20 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs).Bernard is dean of the college of agriculture, health and natural resources at one of those institutions, Kentucky State University. At Kentucky State, close to 40 of the scholars have enrolled since the project’s inception in 1992. Nationwide, the program has supported more than 800 students, according to the USDA. Continue reading...

Politics

29 m. ago Ocado shares tumble again after online grocer posts £375m losses as it plans to cut R&D jobs

Ocado, which runs robotic warehouses for other firms alongside its Ocado Retail venture with M&S, has spent more than £800m on R&D over the past four years.

Economics

77 m. ago Social Security Administration could cut up to 50% of its workforce

The Social Security Administration is preparing to lay off at least 7,000 people from its workforce of 60,000 — and the final reduction in force number could be as high as 50%, according to two people familiar with the agency’s plans who are not authorized to speak publicly

Events

90 m. ago Jose Mourinho punishment announced by Turkish football federation after he was accused of racism by Galatasaray

The Fenerbahce head coach made comments to reporters after the incendiary derby between the two teams earlier this week about the Galatasaray bench 'jumping like monkeys'.

Events

1 hour ago Where are federal jobs affected by DOGE cuts? A look at congressional districts across the US

Civilian federal jobs are being cut by the thousands, as Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency continues to shrink the government workforce at the behest of President Donald Trump

Politics

1 hour ago Millions of immigrants to be surveilled under Trump, largest US immigration contractor says

Geo Group, an Ice partner, is moving at ‘unprecedented speed’ to build out its monitoring, executive chair saysThe Geo Group, the largest single private contractor to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), said it is building out its surveillance business to be able to monitor hundreds of thousands or millions more immigrants than it already does.The Geo Group, a private prison corporation and parent company of BI Inc, has contracted with Ice for nearly 20 years to manage the agency’s electronic monitoring program. It currently tracks approximately 186,000 immigrants using devices such as ankle monitors, smart watches and a facial recognition app, according to public Ice data. Due to increasing demand from Donald Trump’s administration, which has promised mass deportations, company executives said that they expect that number to grow past its previous peak of 370,000 to 450,000 immigrants within the next year. The remarks were made during the company’s fourth quarter earnings...

Events

1 hour ago Ice contractor plans for surveillance boom under Trump migrant crackdown

Geo Group, an Ice partner, is moving at ‘unprecedented speed’ to build out its monitoring, executive chair saysThe Geo Group, the largest single private contractor to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), said it was building out its surveillance business to be able to monitor hundreds of thousands or millions more immigrants than it already does.The Geo Group, a private prison corporation and parent company of BI Inc, has contracted with Ice for nearly 20 years to manage the agency’s electronic monitoring program. It currently tracks approximately 186,000 immigrants using devices such as ankle monitors, smart watches and a facial recognition app, according to public Ice data. Due to increasing demand from Donald Trump’s administration, which has promised mass deportations, company executives said that they expect that number to grow past its previous peak of 370,000 to 450,000 immigrants within the next year. The remarks were made during the company’s fourth-quarter earning...

Politics

2 h. ago Jose Mourinho handed hefty ban for 'insulting' statement that sparked 'racism' row

Jose Mourinho has been handed a four-game ban as well as a fine after the Fenerbahce boss made comments about Galatasaray as well as the standard on Turkish refereeing

Events

2 h. ago Egypt's 'Lost City of Gold' raised from the sands after 3,000 years

Archaeologists have finally completed a two-year-long dig at the site of Egypt 's 'Lost City of Gold,' which was buried beneath the sand for thousands of years.

Politics

2 h. ago North Lanarkshire councillors approve contract to help victims of domestic abuse

North Lanarkshire Council agreed to the award of the two year contract, worth almost £1.4 million, to Sacro.

Events

3 h. ago Trump's permanent USAID cuts slam humanitarian programs worldwide: 'We are being pushed off a cliff'

Health groups and non-governmental organizations have expressed surprise and outrage after the Trump administration’s decision to cut 90% of USAID’s foreign aid contracts

Politics

3 h. ago Best online pet shops in the UK for quality accessories and essentials

One-stop shops for all your furry, feathered and scaled friends’ needs

Politics

3 h. ago Best children’s wardrobes to keep bedrooms tidy and teach valuable organisation skills

Our curated selection of mini wardrobes fits every style and budget, ensuring you find the perfect storage solution for your little one's needs

Events