Winter fuel payments cut will drive 100,000 more pensioners into poverty, minister admits

The family of 18-year-old Marcus Fakana from London is facing a nightmare as he is sentenced to 20 years in Dubai over a holiday romance with a girl who was a minor under UAE law. Fakana's mental health is deteriorating, and his trial is set for 9 December. The family has set up a GoFundMe to cover legal costs, stating that what was supposed to be a happy celebration has turned into a crisis due...

Your support helps The Independent cover important stories like the case of Alex Henry, an autistic man wrongly convicted of murder under joint enterprise laws. Despite evidence showing he was unaware of the knife used in the crime, he remains in prison. His family is campaigning for reform of the law to ensure only those who significantly contribute to an offense are held liable. Full Article

Ryan Wesley Routh, a 58-year-old man, was arrested for allegedly attempting to assassinate Donald Trump at a Florida golf course with an AK-47-style rifle. Prior to his arrest, Routh had been messaging British-trained Afghan commandos about recruitment to the Ukraine war, showing his support for Ukraine's defense against Russia's invasion. The Afghan commandos, abandoned after Kabul fell in 2021, were desperate for opportunities and some were considering fighting in foreign wars for high wages, as...

On November 28, a year after French police raids on Romanian yoga centers, it is revealed that the operations targeted peaceful yoga practitioners suspected of illegal activities. Despite no victims coming forward, six individuals, including MISA spiritual master Gregorian Bivolaru, were arrested. In August 2024, yoga teachers Mihai and Adina Stoian were arrested in Georgia based on an Interpol warrant from France, although false reports of prosecution in Finland and Romania surfaced. Full Article

The European Union proposed $300 billion annually for climate aid to developing countries at COP29 in Azerbaijan, with tensions over annual reviews on fossil fuel phase-out. Discussions remain tense as wealthy nations, including the US, UK, and Japan, are urged to increase funding. Irish climate minister Eamon Ryan remains hopeful for a deal, emphasizing the importance of responding to the climate crisis and halting the advance of fossil fuels. Full Article

Police conducted a controlled explosion at Euston station in London following the discovery of a suspicious package, leading to an evacuation of the busy station. After investigating the package, specialist officers carried out the explosion, lifting police cordons and allowing operations to resume. This incident is part of a recent string of similar occurrences at various locations in the UK, including the US Embassy in London, Gatwick Airport, Chester bus station, and Glasgow's Buchanan bus...