Uzbeks see little chance for change in looming election
In the streets of Tashkent, there is little doubt as to who will win Sunday's...
1970-01-01 08:00
Syria brought Wagner Group fighters to heel as mutiny unfolded in Russia
By Suleiman Al-Khalidi, Maya Gebeily BEIRUT (Reuters) -As Wagner mercenaries advanced on Moscow in an attempted mutiny in late June,
1970-01-01 08:00
Trump Special Counsel Spent $5.4 Million Probing Former President So Far
Special Counsel Jack Smith spent $5.4 million on staff compensation and other expenses in his first four months
1970-01-01 08:00
Lewis Hamilton 15th in practice for British GP as Max Verstappen dominates again
Lewis Hamilton finished only 15th in practice on a troubling day for the home favourite at the British Grand Prix. As a dominant Max Verstappen carried over his crushing form to a sizzling Silverstone by completing an ominous practice double, Hamilton’s Mercedes team laboured in the heat. Hamilton finished 12th in the opening running, and then ended the day three places further back, 1.2 seconds adrift of Verstappen. Fellow Briton George Russell was a few places better off in 12th in the other Mercedes. Carlos Sainz took second for Ferrari, 0.022 sec behind Verstappen, with Alex Albon an impressive third in his Williams. Red Bull’s Sergio Perez finished fourth, with Albon’s Williams team-mate Logan Sargeant fifth. Verstappen, a winner at seven of the opening nine rounds of a one-sided campaign, has already established a commanding 81-point lead in his pursuit of a hat-trick of world championships. The Dutch driver cruised to the chequered flag a week ago at Red Bull’s home race in Austria, and he will head into the remainder of the weekend as the driver to beat following an emphatic start at Silverstone. Hamilton has won seven of the last 10 races staged here, but the Mercedes man will have to upset the odds to add to his tally on Sunday. Hamilton has a new front wing as Mercedes hope to claw back the deficit to their rivals. But their star driver was on the radio complaining about the bouncing his machine was suffering from, while Russell was also on the intercom to bemoan his unruly Mercedes. “I have no grip,” reported Russell. “The car is sliding all over the place.” Hamilton is in the midst of another up-and-down campaign. He arrived at the last round in Spielberg following consecutive podium finishes, but Mercedes struggled at the Red Bull Ring. Hamilton crossed the line in seventh and was demoted to eighth following a second timed penalty, and on the evidence of practice, he may be braced for another underwhelming weekend. Despite the threat of action from Just Stop Oil protesters, both practice sessions passed off without incident. However, F1 bosses, Silverstone and Northamptonshire Police remain on high alert that a protest could yet disrupt qualifying on Saturday and Sunday’s 52-lap race where 150,000 spectators are expected to attend. Elsewhere, Lando Norris was only 14th for McLaren, while Charles Leclerc finished rooted to the bottom of the order. The Monegasque was ruled out of the second running with an electrical failure on his Ferrari. Read More Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Lewis Hamilton promises to keep his cool on team radio after Austrian flashpoint Lewis Hamilton defends casting ‘iconic’ Brad Pitt as F1 driver in new film Max Verstappen hints he may retire from Formula One unless calendar reduced
1970-01-01 08:00
Kylian Mbappé 'honoured' to be in Cameroon
Sports fans are elated as the French football star visits Cameroon, where his father comes from.
1970-01-01 08:00
Special counsel Jack Smith has spent more than $5 million on Trump probes, DOJ says
The office of special counsel Jack Smith, who is leading several high-profile investigations into former President Donald Trump, has spent more than $5 million since his appointment in November, according to the first public accounting of his expenses.
1970-01-01 08:00
Ocasio-Cortez endorses Biden's reelection campaign, sending a strong signal of Democratic unity
Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has endorsed President Joe Biden’s reelection campaign, a sign of the president’s strength in uniting his party to have the backing of one of its most liberal members
1970-01-01 08:00
Edwin van der Sar in intensive care after suffering brain haemorrhage
Former Man Utd goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar has been admitted to hospital in Croatia after suffering a brain haemorrhage.
1970-01-01 08:00
F1 welcomes Brad Pitt but is wary of protesters at British Grand Prix
Brad Pitt is joining the Formula One paddock for his new movie
1970-01-01 08:00
Kansas attorney general sues to prevent transgender people from changing driver's licenses
The Republican attorney general in Kansas is asking a state court to block transgender residents from changing their sex on their driver's licenses
1970-01-01 08:00
New satellite images show mystery ‘white objects’ on roof of Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
New satellite images depict “white objects” on the roof of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, days after Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky alleged that Russia had planted explosives there. Russian troops seized Europe’s largest nuclear facility on 5 March, shortly after its invasion began in February. The new photos were captured by satellite imagery company Planet Labs on Wednesday (5 July), showing five white shapes topping the plant at 7.51am UTC (8.51am BST). Notably, an image captured earlier at 5.27am UTC (6.27am BST) shows none. However, the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) has expressed that whilst unexplained, the “white objects” are “not conclusive” of Russian military activity at the plant. "Based on the imagery available, some changes can be observed at the ZNPP power plant on 5 July, with white objects observed on the roof of one of the buildings”, Joe Byrne, a research fellow on Open Source Intelligence and Analysis at the RUSI told The Independent. “However, this is not conclusive evidence of any Russian military activity designed to damage the plant,” he added. “More evidence, including and on the site access by IAEA monitors is needed to fully assess the situation." Darya Dolzikova, a research fellow in Proliferation and Nuclear Policy, noted the changes are “hard to judge” from the images. "It’s hard to judge from the imagery what the changes on the roofs show - including whether these are in any way related to the explosive devices that Ukrainian intelligence said may be present on reactor roofs at the ZNPP. “But the sourcing of independent, reliable imagery is important and can help in verifying claims of what is happening at the ZNPP”, Ms Dolzikova said. “However, the images - including the challenges related to verifying what they actually show - also once again stress the importance of granting the IAEA all the access that it is asking for at the ZNPP - including to the roofs of reactors 3 and 4 - so it can verify the presence or absence of explosives at the facility." On Tuesday), Mr Zelensky alleged that Russia has planted explosives on the nuclear power plant to simulate an attack, accusing Russian forces of planning to commit a “new evil” following the alleged attack on Kakhovka hydroelectric power plant in June 2023. The destruction of the Kakhovka hydroelectric station and dam triggered mass flooding and environmental havoc, forcing thousands of residents to flee their homes. Ukraine blames the explosion on Russia. “Now we have information from our intelligence that the Russian military has placed objects resembling explosives on the roof of several power units of the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant,” Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address on Tuesday. “Perhaps to simulate an attack on the plant. Perhaps they have some other scenario. But in any case, the world sees – can’t but see – that the only source of danger to the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant is Russia and no one else.” Read More Ukraine-Russia war – live: Putin’s troops ‘suffer new losses near Bakhmut’ as counteroffensive continues Preparing for an attack by Russia, Zaporizhzhia’s residents cannot escape the threat of nuclear disaster Zelensky says Russia has planted explosives on Ukraine nuclear plant Ukraine and Russia trade accusations of imminent attack on Europe's largest nuclear plant. After the flood: The nightmare is just beginning for those left to rebuild after the Ukraine dam explosion Russia reducing military presence and personnel at Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, says Ukraine The Body in the Woods | An Independent TV Original Documentary The harrowing discovery at centre of The Independent’s new documentary
1970-01-01 08:00
First look at Brad Pitt's F1 movie and car as filming gets underway at Silverstone
Apple Original Films has unveiled details of Oscar winner Brad Pitt's eagerly awaited Formula 1 feature film, as crews begin filming scenes with the actor at Silverstone, where Sunday's British Grand Prix is being staged.
1970-01-01 08:00
