Reform UK leader Nigel Farage visited The Big Club in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, after Reform made gains against both Labour and the Conservatives across England in local polls (PA)“The party that I lead is expanding. Sir Keir has faced calls to change tack after Reform UK gained an MP in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, winning by six votes, and took control of the previously Labour-run Doncaster Council. Clive Efford, Labour MP for Eltham and Chislehurst, said it was “madness” to keep doing the same thing. Sir Keir is expected to set out a proposed crackdown on immigration in a white paper due to be released in the coming weeks, according to reports. Shadow chief Treasury secretary Richard Fuller said Reform UK would soon find out there are “no simple answers” to local public finances and have to make “difficult choices”.

(Photo credit: Thames Valley Police)A United Nations judge has been sentenced to six years and four months in prison for forcing a woman to work as a domestic slave in the UK.Lydia Mugambe, 50, who was pursuing a PhD in law at the University of Oxford, was found to have kept a young Ugandan woman as an unpaid domestic worker and nanny at her residence.Mugambe was convicted in March of several charges, including conspiring to breach UK immigration law, facilitating travel for exploitation, forcing labor, and intimidating a witness.Mugambe, who serves as a high court judge in Uganda, prevented the woman from securing regular employment and required her to serve as a domestic worker and provide childcare services, according to prosecutors.During sentencing, Judge David Foxton noted the defendant's complete lack of remorse and her attempts to shift responsibility onto the victim.Mugambe obtained a fraudulent visa for the woman, which specified employment as a private servant at the diplomatic residence of John Mugerwa, Uganda's former deputy high commissioner in London.Prosecutors indicated that Mugerwa supported the victim's visa application, knowing she would work in servitude for Mugambe. In exchange, Mugambe offered assistance with his legal proceedings in Uganda.The court learned that Mugambe arranged the victim's travel and airport collection, after which the young woman became enslaved at the judge's Kidlington, Oxfordshire residence.In court, prosecutor Caroline Haughey KC read the victim's statement, describing her "almost constant fear" due to Mugambe's influential position in Uganda.The unnamed victim expressed inability to return to Uganda, fearing consequences and possible permanent separation from her mother.Haughey stated that Mugambe took advantage of her victim's unfamiliarity with employment rights and misrepresented the purpose of her UK visit.The court highlighted a "clear and significant imbalance of power" in the relationship between Mugambe and her victim.The Crown Prosecution Service authorised charges against Mugambe's associate, Mr. Mugerwa, for conspiracy, but he had diplomatic immunity, which the Ugandan government did not waive.Mugambe, however, denied the accusations, insisting she "always" treated the young Ugandan woman with "love, care and patience."

It’s the newest of Castle Howard’s stays, which also include a caravan and campsite with holiday homes, plus six other cottages in nearby villages. Walls are lined with replica wallpaper from the estate’s archives and portraits of earls who have lived at Castle Howard. Aside from its extraordinary country house, the Howardian Hills have become synonymous with high-quality local food and drink. Here I drop into the Woodlark and pick up a beautifully carved oak cheeseboard, its label telling me “provenance: the Castle Howard estate” (thewoodlark.com). The restaurant’s ethos is “micro seasonality” and it uses foraged ingredients, such as wild mushrooms, medlars and apples, from the Castle Howard estate.

Live EventsEuropean carriers including Lufthansa, British Airways, SWISS, ITA Airways, and LOT Polish Airlines have begun rerouting flights to avoid Pakistani airspace, even as Pakistan had already closed certain airways to Indian carriers. On May 2, Lufthansa, ITA Airways, and LOT Polish Airlines also started diverting flights away from Pakistan.Affected flights include Lufthansa’s services on routes such as Munich–Delhi, Frankfurt–Mumbai, Frankfurt–Hyderabad, and Bangkok–Munich. Similarly, LOT’s Warsaw–Delhi and ITA Airways’ Rome–Delhi flights were seen bypassing Pakistan. The moment India–Pakistan conflict escalates, all flights will steer clear of the conflict zones. If a region is considered unsafe—even in the absence of formal NOTAMs—they may choose to reroute aircraft to maintain safety.

✕ Close Mercedes reveal trailer for Kimi Antonelli 'The Seat' documentary on NetflixMax Verstappen took pole in a close qualifying session at the Miami Grand Prix on Saturday as Oscar Piastri finished outside the top three for the first time this season. The Australian was fourth, with Lando Norris backing up his win in Saturday’s sprint with second, only 0.065s off Verstappen’s pace. Teenager Kimi Antonelli sprung the surprise of the season so far by taking pole position for Saturday’s sprint race in Miami and continued his brilliant rookie campaign with third place in qualifying, 0.002s shy of Norris. His teammate Charles Leclerc fared little better as both drivers struggled with their cars, with the Monegasque qualifying ninth. Follow live coverage of the Miami Grand Prix with The Independent

Prince Harry shocked the producers of his bombshell BBC interview after he spoke for 20 minutes over their agreed time in an emotionally charged interview. The chief of communications for their Archewell Foundation, Meredith Maines, had been the chief architect of the interview, the outlet reported. 'There have been so many disagreements between myself and some of my family,' Harry said in the interview. The Duke also alleged the Royal Household exploited security 'to imprison' members of the Royal Family, blocking them 'from being able to choose a different life'. After the backlash surrounding the interview, Harry seemingly doubled down on his remarks in a statement he issued.

Winston Churchill stood in London and addressed the crowds, 80 years ago next week. “This is your hour.”War in Europe was at last over. “The lights went out and the bombs came down. But every man, woman and child in the country had no thought of quitting.”As Big Ben strikes midday on Monday, the nation will hear Churchill’s words again, read by an actor, to mark the beginning of a week of commemorations of Britain’s 80th Victory in Europe Day (VE Day). Then, 1,300 members of the armed forces will process from Parliament Square to

A WACKY scientist has allowed the world's deadliest snakes to bite him over 200 times to help create an "unparalleled" anti-venom. The American initially allowed himself to be bitten to help further his career on YouTube where he handled a range of snakes. 6 Tim holding a snake in his hands Credit: You Tube/ Tim Friede6 Tim has been bitten by a snake over 200 times Credit: You TubeOut of 19 test subjects, 13 survived lethal doses of snake venom. Currently, testing has only been done on elapid snake venom which covers the two most common families of deadly snakes. The team are now preparing to test its antivenom cocktail in Australia on dogs who have been bitten by a snake.

Jaguar Land Rover has begun sending cars to the US again after halting shipping on the back of President Donald Trump’s trade war. The British firm paused deliveries across the Atlantic on April 7 after Trump announced a 25 per cent levy on vehicles manufactured overseas. A spokesman for the company told The Times: “The US is an important market for JLR’s luxury brands and 25 per cent tariffs on autos remain in place. The 25 per cent tariff on car imports were not included in the pause providing little respite for the global automaker industry. Several firms refrained from providing guidance for the year ahead after the uncertainty triggered from Trump’s tariffs.

In a BBC television interview after losing the latest round in his court battle over his security, the Duke of Sussex said: “This, at the heart of it, is a family dispute”. When asked if Charles had been approached to use his influence in Harry’s legal problems, the duke appeared to imply the King was a hindrance, a comment likely to deepen the rift with his father and his brother, the Prince of Wales. 🇨🇦 The King and Queen will visit Canada from Monday 26th to Tuesday 27th May. 🇨🇦 Le Roi et la Reine effectueront une visite au Canada le lundi 26 et le mardi 27 mai. “And effectively what it does is imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life.”

Ryan Garcia was seen crying in a car just moments after suffering a devastating unanimous decision loss to Rolando 'Rolly' Romero in Times Square, New York City. The video, posted on X, captured Garcia slumped inside a sleek black SUV, the door ajar, as the bustling energy of Times Square glowed in the background. The post's caption read, 'Ryan Garcia crying the car after losing to Rolly Romero'. The loss not only cost Garcia the WBA welterweight title but also derailed plans for the highly anticipated Garcia-Haney II showdown, which was meant to be announced at the end of the Times Square card. Boxing analysts are now questioning whether Garcia can bounce back from this loss, especially with the Haney rematch now in jeopardy.

(Reuters) -Jaguar Land Rover has restarted shipments of vehicles to the United States after pausing them in the face of U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs, London's Times newspaper reported on Saturday. The first shipments of JLR vehicles bound for the U.S. for almost a month left Britain on Wednesday, the report said. A JLR spokesperson said in an emailed statement that the U.S. is a key market for its luxury brands, with 25% tariffs on autos still in effect. The United States is the second-biggest importer of British-made cars after the European Union, with a near 20% share, data from industry body SMMT shows. (Reporting by Rishabh Jaiswal and Rajveer Singh Pardesi in BengaluruAdditional reporting by Bipasha DeyEditing by Andrew Heavens and Frances Kerry)

Live EventsThe UK government is preparing to unveil a new initiative aimed at attracting top international researchers, in a move that comes as academic freedoms face increased scrutiny in the United States. These sectors include life sciences, artificial intelligence, and green energy.The plan will initially support the relocation of around 10 research teams to the UK. The move also comes amid calls from within the British research community for broader reforms to improve the UK’s appeal to global talent.Visa costs have been identified as a key barrier. Last month, Canada launched its Canada Leads 100 Challenge, targeting early-career scientists, especially from the US. Norway and France have also rolled out initiatives to recruit researchers in fields such as health, climate change, and digital technologies.

Lessons to take from her longevityLessons for a Healthy LifeWe all want to live long; our desire usually stems out of love (seeing your children settled, grandchildren flourishing, and if you are lucky, even great grandchildren!) Now, Ethel Caterham has become the oldest living woman in the world, touching the remarkable age of 115 this year. She moved around the world, in places like Hong Kong and Gibraltar before relocating to the UK. Staying hydrated and eating moderate portions are common traits among those who live long lives. Combined with a balanced diet and gentle activity, these habits can support a longer, happier life.

As workers tighten bolts on a steel ring platform beneath the glare of LED billboards in Times Square on a sun-splashed Thursday afternoon, Eddie Hearn is still wrapping his head around the reality of what he’s helped build. Closing down Times Square – it’s iconic. Let’s go again.’”Hearn’s role in the Times Square project is a curious one. But he just keeps going.”View image in fullscreen Eddie Hearn makes the media rounds in New York City ahead of Friday’s boxing card in Times Square. Life-changing.”View image in fullscreen Eddie Hearn, left, watches the December rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury alongside Saudi Arabia’s boxing czar Turki al-Sheikh.