Europe

Boris Johnson says he wants this lockdown ‘to be the last’

independent– Boris Johnson has said he wants the current nationwide coronavirus lockdown “to be the last”. But he almost immediately added that he could give no guarantee that he would not have to introduce restrictions for a fourth time, as ministers battle the coronavirus global

Latest News

Cliff Richard described Van Morrison as ‘irascible and difficult’ before hit breakthrough

express– The Summer Holiday singer, born Harry Rodger Webb, has performed with some of the world’s most renowned musicians. They have included Sir Elton John, Cilla Black, Olivia Newton-John, Janet Jackson and Bonnie Tyler. But one recording session that frustrated Sir Cliff was with Van Morrison. Sir Cliff recalled meeting “the strangest bedfellows in rock and pop”

Business

National Insurance rules could be imposed on state pensioners – ‘small changes’ predicted

express– The Spring Budget is a matter of weeks away, with the Chancellor Rishi Sunak due to deliver his Budget statement in the House of Commons on March 3. So far, he has kept quiet about the plans in the pipeline for the upcoming tax year. Last week, the Chancellor was asked for some details on […]

Sports

Rafael Nadal uses own injury experience to warn Novak Djokovic at Australian Open

express– Rafael Nadal has appeared to warn Novak Djokovic over playing through the pain barrier at the Australian Open. Both Nadal and Djokovic have struggled with injury during the tournament in Melbourne. The Spaniard has a back problem and the Serbian an abdominal issue. Nadal beat Fabio Fognini in straight sets on Monday to reach the quarter-final stage.

Latest News

Donald Trump is permanently banned from Twitter, says tech firm’s chief financial officer

independent.ie– Donald Trump is permanently banned from Twitter, even if he runs for the presidency again, the social media site’s chief financial officer has said. Speaking in an interview with CNBC, CFO Ned Segal said Twitter’s policies do not allow someone to come back once they have been removed. “The way our policies work, when […]

Fashion

Meet the Irish designers adding colour to our lives… and a little light into our lockdown

independent.ie– It’s been exciting to watch Irish designer Katie Ann McGuigan wow at London Fashion Week repeatedly every season because of her highly original eye for digital graphic prints. Katie Ann grew up with colour, spending every day after school and her weekends at her parents’ Orior furniture and interiors business in Newry, surrounded by the […]

Asia

Soldiers shoot live rounds at protesters in Myanmar crisis

independent.ie– A woman was fighting for her life last night after security forces in Myanmar fired live rounds at protesters opposed to last week’s military coup. The activist was taking part in a demonstration in Naypyitaw, the capital of Myanmar, when she was shot in the head with the bullet penetrating deep into her skull […]

Africa News

Ghana Suspends Parliament Amid A Surge In COVID-19 Cases

republicworld– Ghana’s parliament has been suspended for at least three weeks following a surge in COVID-19 cases among parliament members and staff. Speaker Alban Bagbin announced the suspension late Tuesday, saying that at least 17 members of parliament and 151 staffers have tested positive for the coronavirus. He has urged lawmakers and other parliament staffers

Middle East

Gazans Hope For Vote After Years Of Hamas Rule, Isolation

republicworld– Palestinian poll workers fanned out across the Gaza Strip on Wednesday, where they found voters eager to register ahead of elections that could serve as the first referendum on Hamas’ rule since the militant group seized power more than a decade ago. The outreach came a day after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas’ Fatah party […]

Sports

Serena Williams sparkles with Stan Wawrinka poor – and more Australian Open observations

express– Serena Williams raced into the third round of the Australian Open in her FloJo-inspired catsuit today. But fellow Grand Slam champions Stan Wawrinka, Bianca Andreescu and Petra Kvitova all made sharp exits from Melbourne. And US Open champion Dominic Thiem, who finished runner-up last year, showed he is also a contender for the title […]