German President Dissolves Parliament, February Election

Your support for The Independent enables in-depth coverage of stories ranging from reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, with a commitment to factual reporting and accessibility. The UK government's proposed land use framework aims to balance agricultural needs with environmental concerns, potentially impacting farmers facing inheritance tax reforms. Environment Secretary Steve Reed emphasizes the framework's goal of protecting food production while addressing climate goals, despite farmer protests and concerns about land use restrictions....

The Isle of Man is scrapping its version of the triple lock on pensions due to affordability concerns, affecting residents who reached state pension age after April 5, 2019. The change introduces a watered down version of the UK's state pension triple lock, with treasury minister Dr Alex Allinson emphasizing that increased contributions should not burden workers and businesses. In contrast, UK Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch suggested means-testing the UK's triple lock, sparking criticism from...

A UK lottery ticket holder who won £83.4m in a recent EuroMillions draw is yet to claim their jackpot, as urged by National Lottery operator Allwyn. The winner matched all five main numbers and both Lucky Star numbers, with the winning numbers being 2, 11, 19, 30, 49, 3, and 8. Players are encouraged to check their tickets and call the National Lottery Line to make their claim as soon as possible. Full Article

Russian President Vladimir V. Putin has cracked down on free expression by blocking Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok due to a censorship law. Now, his government is targeting YouTube, deliberately slowing down the service to limit access to antiwar content. Despite efforts to throttle YouTube, tech-savvy Russians are using VPNs to continue accessing the platform, leading to a split in internet usage between domestic and foreign platforms. Full Article

A government strategy to stop violence against women, established following the murders of Sarah Everard and Sabine Nessa, has been deemed ineffective by a watchdog. Despite significant funding, outcomes for victims of violence against women and girls have not improved, with the Home Office failing to lead an effective cross-government response. With VAWG considered a significant and growing problem affecting one in 12 women, the failure to address the causes of violence has led to...

Captain Tom Moore, a decorated veteran of World War II, captured the hearts of the nation at 99 years old by embarking on a mission to raise money for the NHS during the COVID-19 pandemic. His goal was to walk 100 lengths of his garden with a walking frame before his 100th birthday, with the initial target of £1,000 quickly surpassed as his efforts gained global attention. Captain Tom's determination and spirit led him to...