Belarus’s Strong-Arm Leader, Aleksandr Lukashenko, Cruises to Re-election

Rachel Reeves faced setbacks in her efforts to boost economic growth as the Bank of England downplayed the possibility of a significant interest rate cut, opting for a more cautious approach. Chief economist Huw Pill's comments came after the bank halved its growth forecast and warned of higher inflation and increased unemployment due to rising taxes and minimum wage. Reeves' future as chancellor is in question, with the Bank highlighting unexpected pay growth as a...

British conman Robert Hendy-Freegard, subject of a Netflix documentary, has been sentenced to six years in a French prison for injuring two police officers. Found guilty of posing as a spy for MI5 to defraud victims, he fled police questioning in Creuse, France, where he illegally bred dogs under a false name. Previously sentenced to life in 2005 in London for theft and deception, Hendy-Freegard's decade-long charade involved manipulating multiple unsuspecting individuals. Full Article

In September 2021, two men in Abingdon-on-Thames overdosed on isotonitazene-laced heroin, leading to their deaths, part of a spike in nitazene-related fatalities in the UK. By June 2023, a new outbreak in the West Midlands resulted in 21 deaths, with drug dealers adding xylazine to the mix. The National Crime Agency warns of the extreme potency of nitazenes and fentanyl, urging caution in the face of a global drug crisis. Full Article

The Independent relies on reader support to cover stories from reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, ensuring unbiased reporting without paywalls. Ed Miliband has shifted his stance on the Heathrow runway expansion, now supporting the government's plans despite previous environmental concerns and opposition from within the Labour Party. The project aims for construction to begin by the end of this parliament, increasing flight capacity from 480,000 to 720,000 per year, with financing through...

The UK government has ordered Apple to grant access to users' encrypted files under the Investigatory Powers Act 2016, sparking concerns about privacy rights. The Home Office requested a broad ability to view encrypted material, rather than access to specific accounts, but has not confirmed the existence of the order. Apple has emphasized privacy as a fundamental human right and stated that its current setup prevents anyone, including Apple, from accessing user data, with the...

Grenfell Tower, site of Britain's worst residential fire post-World War II, will be demolished due to a lethal combination of negligence and cost-cutting. Families of the victims are divided on the decision, with some wanting justice before demolition and others acknowledging the necessity. The government plans to preserve parts of the building for a future memorial, while facing debate over the significance of the tower as a crime scene and the need for closure in...