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Highlights

In Focus

Russia is plotting attacks across Europe – and they’re getting worse

The Kremlin stands accused of everything from arson attacks in the UK to targeting GPS systems used to navigate flights, writes Keir Giles. As the country recruits more freelancers to act on its behalf, we should prepare for the dangers ahead

<p>Russian president Vladimir Putin speaking last month </p>

<p>Officers arrest a protestor who participated in an demonstration at the Columbia University campus</p>

The Longer Read

Could the Columbia Campus wars now tear British universities apart?

<p>The series forces us to question how well-equipped we are to deal with such a harrowing event </p>

First person

‘Baby Reindeer was more than weird story – it was about my life too’

<p>Is anybody there? If so, Voyager 1 will let them know we are here </p>

Inside Story

Voyager 1 is still surprising us from the edges of our solar system

Voices

<p>This is a case that on technical grounds Trump could lose, but still in real terms win</p>

Jon Sopel

Trump may lose his hush money trial – but it’s not his biggest worry

<p>Robbie Gibb, Theresa May’s former spin doctor, led a consortium that rescued the Jewish Chronicle from liquidation </p>

Alan Rusbridger

Who really funds the Jewish Chronicle? It’s troublingly unclear

<p>Metallica’s James Hetfield’s new tattoo is infused with the ashes of Motörhead frontman, Lemmy </p>

Sorry Lemmy and Metallica, but I’m giving cremation tattoos the finger

The Longer Read

<p>Good sex isn’t just about buying the right vibrator, it’s about connecting with your partner and, more importantly, with yourself</p>

In focus

Mind the pleasure gap: Why are women having such a bad time in bed?

With such a big focus on sex positivity and wellness, why does a new survey reveal women are feeling let down by what’s actually happening in bed? Olivia Petter talks to the experts to try and discover what’s going on and how to fix it…

<p>Trump supporters participate in a rally in Washington, on 6 Jan 2021, that some blame for fuelling the attack on the US Capitol</p>

The Longer Read

America’s next civil war has already started – this is how it will end

<p>The Garden of Earthly Delights by the Dutch painter Hieronymus Bosch, completed in 1500 </p>

Interview

Philosopher who warned Musk about an AI catastrophe has a new message

Politics Explained

<p>Former immigration minister Robert Jenrick has called for ‘a cap which would serve as a democratic lock on numbers’ </p>

Politics Explained

Will the Tories cave to pressure and cap net migration?

<p>Humza Yousaf spoke to the media during a visit to a housing site in Dundee on Friday </p>

Politics Explained

Could Humza Yousaf’s government in Scotland collapse?

<p>The Renters (Reform) Bill is on its third reading </p>

Politics Explained

How did a Tory promise to end no-fault evictions become stalled?

<p>Millions of voters will come across the new rules for the first time next week </p>

Politics Explained

How will new voting rules affect the local elections?

Most Commented

Ireland tells Sunak ‘stop sending us your migrants’ amid Rwanda row

338 comments

Tory plot to take sword to Sunak and make Mordaunt PM

376 comments

Palestinian president Abbas pleads with US to stop Israel’s assault on Rafah

136 comments

New benefits crackdown as disabled people may be offered vouchers instead of cash

125 comments

Editorials

<p>Rishi Sunak has declined to rule out a July poll</p>

The Independent View

Rishi Sunak’s general election dilemma is not getting any easier

<p>The self-harm rate among female IPP prisoners is more than 10 times the national average</p>

The Independent View

Indefinite prison sentences are still a stain on our justice system

<p>Last year, almost 26,000 members of NHS staff reported unwanted sexual behaviour from colleagues</p>

The Independent View

We deserve an NHS in which staff and patients are safe from harm

Culture

<p>Our guide to what to read this May </p>

The best new books to read this May

<p>The boss of the Southbank Centre said this week that £50m would be needed for building repairs </p>

Has the North stolen London’s arts crown?

<p>Thomas William Hodgson Crosland, British author, poet and journalist, died in 1924 </p>

Book of a lifetime: English Songs and Ballads by TWH Crosland

Travel

<p>A couple’s tour to Japan was paid for at a much higher exchange rate than experienced in the country on their trip </p>

Can we claim rate rebate after the yen dropped while we were in Japan?

<p>The ruins of a Roman apartment block go unnoticed in the shadow of Rome’s Il Vittoriano and Santa Maria Aracoeli</p>

Beyond the Trevi Fountain: an the ancient roman’s guide to secret Rome

John RentoulThe Independent’s chief political commentator

<p>SNP leader Humza Yousaf says he will fight on in the face of challenges to his leadership </p>

Yousaf won’t be last leader forced to brink by impossible promises

<p>In my view, most of the elections to be held on 2 May are a write-off for the Tories</p>

Could we be heading for a winter general election?

<p>‘Alright, Mr DeMille, I’m ready for my musical gong’ </p>

Mea Culpa: ring the musical gong, someone

Andrew GricePolitical columnist who keeps his ear to the ground inside Westminster

<p>Now, after a miserable year as first minister, the man dubbed ‘Humza Useless’ has resigned </p>

Humza Yousaf is gone – and Labour can’t believe its luck

<p>Interviewed on Sky’s ‘Sunday Morning with Trevor Phillips’ programme, the PM declined to rule out a July election</p>

Sunak faces a make-or-break week – but he isn’t master of his own fate

<p>Rishi Sunak: One in three Tory voters say they will only consider the PM’s Rwanda plan a success if Channel crossings stop entirely</p>

Why Rishi Sunak’s rare good week won’t save him

Chris Blackhurst

<p>The hospitality industry is struggling without a steady stream of young staff </p>

Business Comment

Blocking a Brexit free-movement scheme is spiteful and unforgiveable

<p>A Czech billionaire wants to buy the Royal Mail</p>

Business Comment

Czechs armed with cheques take aim at some of Britain’s top firms

<p>That sinking feeling: the City spoke of Britain paying a ‘moron premium’ for the craziness caused by Liz Truss, </p>

Going for broke: the tragicomedy of Trussonomics

News analysis

<p>Rishi Sunak welcomes Rwanda’s president Paul Kagame to Downing Street earlier this month </p>

Is the capital of Rwanda really safer than London?

<p>Demonstrators wave Iran’s flag as they gather in front of the British embassy in Tehran</p>

Could conflict between Israel and Iran trigger a third world war?

<p>Israel has been encouraging clan militia groups to take over the security vacuum created in areas from which Hamas has been driven out</p>

Chaos and indiscipline are undermining Israel’s war, say insiders

<p>People gather around the ruins of a car used by US-based aid group World Central Kitchen that was hit by an Israeli strike</p>

Israel’s war is at a tipping point – and risks spinning out of control

Sport

<p>Nottingham Forest accused a Premier League official of bias in a controversial statement </p>

Shameless derby: How Forest made City clash a lose-lose for neutrals

<p>Taylor Swift has been supporting partner Travis Kelce throughout the playoffs </p>

As the NFL grows, could the Super Bowl soon touch down in London?

Mary DejevskyExpert on foreign affairs, Russian politics and diplomatic relations between the Kremlin and the west

<p>Wednesday’s meeting between Rishi Sunak and his German counterpart, Olaf Scholz, was overshadowed by a diplomatic gaffe </p>

Why Sunak is now banking on a special relationship with Germany

<p>Iranians protest in Tehran after Israel’s ‘limited’ attack on a strategically important military air base in Isfahan</p>

Iran and Israel won’t stop fighting, but WW3 has been averted… for now

<p>The attack was unprecedented not just in its scale, but in being, for the most part, launched directly from Iran</p>

The three urgent questions that arise from Iran’s assault on Israel

America

<p>Joe Biden speaks in Belfast on 25th anniversary of the Good Friday Agreement</p>

Biden says Brexit deal can bring ‘significant’ US investment to NI

<p>Such leaks remind countries like Russia – as well as US allies – of the sheer scale and reach of Washington’s operations</p>

The diplomatic damage done by the Pentagon leak won’t last long

<p>Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley wrote a tweet attacking ‘weak and woke’ ideology the day she declared her candidacy</p>

Republicans are running on ‘wokeism’ – but don’t know what it is