Publication

War spreads across world as US says: We have only just begun

Donald Trump’s war with Iran widened beyond the Middle East yesterday as Nato was forced to intercept a missile headed for Turkey and the US torpedoed an Iranian frigate off Sri Lanka, killing dozens. While Washington hailed its first sinking of an...

Starmer's 'no Churchill' says Trump as warship is deployed to Cyprus

Sir Keir Starmer has deployed the Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon and a fleet of armed helicopters to Cyprus in a major escalation of Britain’s involvement in Donald Trump’s chaotic war on Iran. The move comes after the RAF Akrotiri airbase was attacked...

Trump warns 'big wave' yet to come in US war on Iran

● "We're knocking the crap out of them, president boasts in phone call to CNN ● Starmer rejects Trump criticism - and RAF base in Cyprus is hit by drone ● Conflict widens again as Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah exchange attacks ● Oil and gas prices...

Three US troops dead as attacks escalate across Middle East

• More than 200 killed across Iran, Tehran says – and at least 11 die in Israel • Plan to evacuate tourists as tens of thousands stranded by grounded flights • Trump says Iran ‘wants to talk’ and claims US has destroyed nine warships • UK terrorism...

Tehran strikes back across Middle East as Trump bombs Iran

• Ayatollah Khamenei killed in airstrike on his compound, Israel official says • US president launches 'major combat operation' to 'obliterate' Iran regime • Dubai hotel in flames, sirens sound in Israel as Iran retaliates with missiles • Global...

Labour swept away by Green tidal wave (Can PM survive it?)

• Nightmare for Labour as they lose 'safe' Gorton and Denton seat to Greens • Angela Rayner warns result must be wake-up call as PM faces calls to quit • Starmer vows to fight on: I won't allow extreme Greens to divide Britain • Reform pushes Labour...

Scandal of 4-year delays for criminal cases to go to trial

Dozens of criminal trials will not take place for another four years, according to damning new figures. Huge backlogs mean a shocking 29 cases – including violent crimes and drug offences – have been scheduled to start as far away as 2030, leaving...

Four years on, the true cost of Putin's invasion

203% rise in drone strikes on civilians in Ukraine in 2025, according to non-profit conflict specialist Armed Conflict Location and Event Data (ACLED) 13,866 total attacks on Ukrainian civilians since war began (ACLED) 55,000+ Ukrainian soldiers...

Revealed: the new way stalkers are tailing victims

Apple AirTags and small GPS tracking devices are being weaponised by stalkers, fuelling a surge in cases, while leaving victims in fear for their lives. Abusers have been using the coin-sized devices, which can be bought for £35, along with apps made...

The only place to hide from Putin's killer drones is our underground school

In a harrowing dispatch from the frontline city of Nikopol - so close to Russian forces that few journalists have ventured there - Sam Kiley talks to children, parents and teachers who are hunted daily by Putin's deadly quadcopters, yet have somehow...

Palace braces for results of raids on Andrew's homes

Police investigating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s links to paedophile Jeffrey Epstein have urged former bodyguards to “consider carefully whether anything they saw or heard” is relevant to their inquiries. Detectives are also working with the US...

Andrew arrested as King leaves him to his fate

• King's brother arrested on 66th birthday on suspicion of misconduct in public office • Charles offers 'wholehearted' support to authorities: 'Law must take its course' • Andrew investigated for passing confidential reports to Epstein while trade...

Trump is wrong – Ukraine can win this dreadful war

As the fourth anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine approaches, the peace process, such as it is, mirrors more than ever the stalemate on the battlefield – slow, attritional progress getting stuck in the mud of Ukraine’s eastern Donbas...

Secret files show plan to end prison scandal will fail

Damning figures uncovered by The Independent reveal the government’s plan to tackle the scandal of indefinite jail terms will still leave hundreds of prisoners to rot. At least 520 inmates still serving the nowabolished imprisonment for public...

Another Starmer U-turn as local poll delays abandoned

Sir Keir Starmer has dropped plans to postpone elections across 30 councils this May after being warned it would be illegal – another embarrassing U-turn for the government. Ministers had paused polling of more than 4.5 million voters during a major...

This is a critical point for Ukraine – and for Europe

Almost four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the situation on the ground and in the diplomatic arena has become critical. Our report from Kyiv graphically depicts the plight of so many residents in Ukraine’s capital city, who face...

Putin arch-rival Navalny poisoned by the Kremlin

The Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny died after being poisoned with a lethal toxin and Moscow is to blame for the attack, Britain and its European allies have said. In a dramatic press conference held at the Munich Security Conference...

PM: We can't rely on US - British security depends on Europe

Britain’s “Brexit years” are over, Sir Keir Starmer will tell world leaders today as he calls for closer security ties with Europe – and less reliance on Donald Trump’s America. After tensions flared over the US president’s threats to take Greenland...

Ratcliffe's own goal over 'apology' for UK migrants slur

Sir Jim Ratcliffe offered a lukewarm apology yesterday for his claim Britain has been “colonised by immigrants”, as the FA said it will look into whether the remark brought the game into disrepute. The co-owner of Manchester United said he was sorry if...

Furious women MPs turn on Starmer over 'boys club' scandals

Senior female MPs have called on Sir Keir Starmer to appoint a woman to a top role to end the No 10 “boys club” culture exposed by the Matthew Doyle and Peter Mandelson scandals. The former deputy leader Harriet Harman urged the PM to fill the vacant...

Starmer peer loses Labour whip over links to paedophile

Sir Keir Starmer’s fightback against leadership challenges was last night overshadowed by a fresh scandal involving one of his former closest aides. Labour suspended the PM’s former communications chief Matthew Doyle over his links to Sean Morton – a...

PM loses another top No 10 aide but clings on... for now

Sir Keir Starmer is clinging to power with the support of key cabinet figures – even after being rocked by the departure of a second key aide and a demand for his resignation by Labour’s own Scottish leader. The prime minister was backed by several...

Starmer’s chief of staff quits over Mandelson scandal

Morgan McSweeney resigned as Sir Keir Starmer’s Downing Street chief of staff yesterday for his role in the appointment of Peter Mandelson as the US ambassador. Sir Keir’s righthand man, who was credited with masterminding Labour’s landslide election...

Starmer’s deputy gives warning of Mandelson impact

Sir Keir Starmer’s deputy has warned that the by-election in Gorton and Denton is a “dry run” for a general election, as the prime minister – wounded by the Peter Mandelson scandal – faces a battle to cling on to the historically safe Labour seat....

Mandelson’s homes searched by police in Epstein probe

Police searched two homes linked to Peter Mandelson yesterday after the peer was alleged to have leaked government information to Jeffrey Epstein. The Metropolitan Police said its officers carried out two warrants in Camden, north London and Wiltshire....

PM: I'm sorry for believing Mandelson's lies

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is sorry for believing the lies told by Peter Mandelson and for appointing him the UK’s ambassador to the US, as he tries to weather the crisis that has threatened to end his premiership. Following a barrage of criticism...

Furious MPs force Starmer into U-turn on Mandelson files

Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership has been plunged into turmoil after angry Labour MPs forced him into a climbdown over the full release of vetting documents relating to Peter Mandelson’s appointment as ambassador to the US. It followed intense pressure in...

PM: He let his country down

• Mandelson quits Lords as government begins move to strip him of title • Police launch criminal investigation into his alleged leaks to Epstein • Starmer orders inquiry into contacts - and fears more revelations ahead • PM 'gobsmacked' Mandelson...

MPs seek police probe into 'shocking' Epstein leak from Mandelson

• Emails suggest Mandelson forwarded internal No 10 advice on banks crisis • Gordon Brown demands inquiry into 'wholly unacceptable' disclosure • Special adviser who wrote 2009 email to PM 'disgusted by breach of trust' • Starmer says disgraced...

Police officers with convictions still allowed to serve

Police with convictions for violence, harassment and assault are still serving in UK forces, despite repeated pledges to crack down on rogue officers. New figures show that at least 49 serving police officers have kept their jobs despite being...

Andrew faces more Epstein questions

Disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is again under fire over his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein after new pictures and emails emerged in the latest tranche of files about the late paedophile financier. Photos which appear to show Andrew...

INTIMATE PRINCE ANDREW EMAILS REVEALED IN NEW EPSTEIN FILES

Betrayal of 3.8m women denied pension payout

Women affected by changes to the state pension accused the government of treating them with “utter contempt” after ministers rejected their bid for compensation. Campaigners say as many as 3.8 million “Waspi women” lost out because of the way the...

Son of Jimmy Lai's plea to Starmer in China: Help bring my jailed father home

Burnham takes the fight to Starmer with bid to become MP

Andy Burnham has confirmed that he is seeking to stand for Labour in the Gorton and Denton by-election, paving the way for a return to parliament and a potential leadership challenge to Sir Keir Starmer. The mayor of Greater Manchester said the...

Starmer blasts Trump: Say sorry for appalling slur on our war dead

PM launches furious attack on US president for insulting the sacrifice made by British troops killed in action against Taliban in Afghanistan after Trump claimed Nato troops stayed 'a little off the front lines'

Zelensky turns on Europe: You're all talk and no action

Volodymyr Zelensky has launched a scathing attack on European leaders over their support for Ukraine during a startling speech to the global elite at Davos. Taking to the stage shortly after a meeting with Donald Trump, the Ukrainian president declared...

All I want is a piece of ice: if you say no, we will remember

• Trump tells Davos he won't use force on Greenland but issues menacing demand • He backs down over trade tariffs after reaching framework of a deal' with Nato • He insists US must own Arctic territory in order to defend it with 'Golden Dome' • He...

Macron takes aim at ‘bully’ Trump

Emmanuel Macron took a swipe yesterday at Donald Trump, denouncing “bullies” in a Davos speech as European leaders ready for a showdown with the US over Greenland. As Mr Trump doubled down on his demands to take over the territory, the French president...

Starmer tells Trump to back off over threat of trade war

Sir Keir Starmer has stood up to Donald Trump and warned that he is “completely wrong” to threaten tariffs over his attempts to take control of Greenland. In his toughest message to the US president since last year’s inauguration, the prime minister...