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Voices

<p>Trump has frequently insulted, attacked or threatened the press in assorted public addresses </p>
alan rusbridger

Trump’s war on the press is straight out the Putin playbook

The incoming president and his acolytes are promising retribution for critical journalists, writes Alan Rusbridger. It is already having a chilling impact – and poses grave threats to the future of the free press

<p>Rohingya refugees gather at a temporary shelter in the basement of a government building in Banda Aceh </p>
joe freeman

Myanmar must be held to account – or the world risks looking powerless

<p>The name of Gisele Pelicot will now occupy an honoured place in the history of women’s rights and feminism in France</p>
Mary Dejevsky

France may shrug off Gisele Pelicot’s rape ordeals as ‘provincial’

<p>The Inbetweeners’ infamous ‘bus w***er’ scene</p>
Sean O’Grady

It’s time to punish young male drivers… but not young women

<p>‘Things came to a head recently at a family funeral when I told my grandchild off for behaving badly...’ </p>
dear vix

I’m the ‘evil’ mother-in-law and I’m dreading Christmas with my family

<p>A new report recommends teachers should also be able to escalate matters to police, the NHS and social services if parents don’t engage with the school </p>
charlotte cripps

The last thing we need is teachers being forced to act like the police

<p>‘In asking “What’s up?” the characters open the door to a longer friendship’ </p>
lewis buxton

25 years ago, this advert changed men’s friendships forever

<p>‘I love being single – but for some reason it feels like a curse this time of year'</p>
emma clarke

Spare a thought for ‘the single one’ this Christmas

<p>I’ve learnt the hard way that you can’t trust a politician’s promises</p>
Catherine Pepinster

As a ‘cuspy Waspi’ woman I’ve another reason to be furious with Labour

<p>Thames Water is Britain’s biggest water firm (Rui Vieira/PA)</p>
James Moore

Households shouldn’t pay the price to rescue the water companies

<p>Random seating was determined / By the picking of tickets; blue for boys, pink for girls</p>
frieda hughes

What happened at a dinner party where seating was decided by a raffle

<p>Reform leader and the party treasurer visited the tech billionaire at Donald Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate </p>
andrew grice

Musk and Farage have handed Starmer a golden opportunity...

<p>Lily Allen has spoken about her struggles with eating on her podcast, <em>Miss Me? </em></p>
sharan dhaliwal

Telling women they look ‘skinny’ isn’t the compliment you think it is

<p>‘As Brooklyn said, wine <em>is </em>very special, it does bring people together and I love that he loves sharing it’</p>
rosamund hall

Why I’ll be raising a glass to ‘vinfluencer’ Brooklyn Beckham

<p>‘Elon Musk may have been talked into donating to a political party that has no future without its figurehead, Nigel Farage’ </p>
Letters

Does Elon Musk want to donate to Reform UK… or buy it?

<p>There has been recent talk of an oppressive and draconian law, introducing harsher punishments for women who expose their hair, forearms or lower legs – even executions</p>
jemima shelley

Iran’s brutal oppression of women has entered a dark new phase

<p>President Joe Biden and son Hunter in Nantucket, Massachusetts </p>
jon sopel

Biden has handed Trump a get-out-jail-free card – he will be delighted

Granting his son, Hunter, a pardon from convictions involving tax fraud, guns and drugs is a disastrous final act by a compromised president, writes Jon Sopel. Never has the rule of law in American looked so perilous – and there is every danger that Trump will use that to his advantage

    <p>Pretty in pink: Jaguar Type 00 design vision is a two-door coupe with butterfly doors</p>
    Jamie Windust

    The Jag relaunch is a triumph for non-binary petrolheads like me

    <p>Growing the almonds needed to make a single glass of ‘mylk’ takes 130 pints of water – more than a morning shower</p>
    paul clements

    Trust me, becoming a vegan doesn’t mean you’re green…

    Explore news for you

    More Voices

    <p>‘Labour had promised to pay the compensation suggested by the pensions ombudsman – but has now made the decision not to’ </p>
    Letters

    Waspi women have been shamelessly betrayed by Labour

    Letters

    Waspi women have been shamelessly betrayed by Labour

    Letters
    <p>‘Labour had promised to pay the compensation suggested by the pensions ombudsman – but has now made the decision not to’ </p>
    <p>Lord Mandelson – who has been deputy prime minister, EU trade commissioner – is much more a rule maker than a rule taker</p>
    Voices

    Mandelson is a gamble as US ambassador – but exactly what Trump needs

    <p>A new poll shows a majority in the UK feel they can trust European trading partners more than the Americans</p>
    UK Politics

    Readers want UK to prioritise EU relations – not US relationship

    <p>Now 79 and in frail health in a miserable prison cell, Aung San Suu Kyi is an increasingly forgotten and even despised figure</p>
    Voices

    Free Aung San Suu Kyi – and let her finish what she started

    <p>The Bank of England has held interest rates at 4.75%</p>
    Voices

    As interest rates remain high, should Britain fear ‘stagflation’?

    <p>The Bank of England has held interest rates at 4.75%</p>
    Voices

    As interest rates remain high, should Britain fear ‘stagflation’?

    19 December 2024
    The Independent View

    Starmer’s U-turns will come back to haunt him

    <p>‘Presents aren’t trivial, silly, or the preserve of spoiled children. They are a way of communication, of showing love, humour and appreciation’ </p>
    Voices

    How to give a ‘mindful’ gift this Christmas (and show real love)

    Most commented

    Peter Mandelson set to be appointed as UK ambassador to the US

    255 comments

    Gaza ceasefire believed to be close as expectations grow over deal

    252 comments

    ‘I got under-eye filler – then felt like my face was going to explode’

    118 comments

    Ukraine war live: Russia launches deadly missile and drone attack on Kyiv

    113 comments
    Join the Conversation

    More Voices

    <p>A new report has revealed that an alarming amount of children’s toys are unsafe </p>
    Voices

    Beware of dangerous Christmas toys found online

    <p>Caroline Darian bravely took to the stand to face her father last week</p>
    Voices

    The unimaginable horror Gisèle Pelicot’s daughter is dealing with

    <p>Sara Sharif was murdered by her father and stepmother </p>
    Letters

    Everyone who failed Sara Sharif must now answer for their inactions

    <p>Gisele Pelicot leaves the court in Avignon, France</p>
    Voices

    Where are all the men horrified by Gisele Pelicot’s rape trial?

    <p>Avanti West Coast workers are to strike over New Year after the latest deal was rejected</p>
    Voices

    The latest train strikes aren’t just disruptive – they’re dangerous

    <p>The price of alcoholic drinks surged, but price rises are accelerating across multiple categories </p>
    Voices

    Inflation is up again – and this time, it’s fired by ‘greedflation’

    <p>Gisele Pelicot leaves the court in Avignon, France</p>
    Voices

    Where are all the men horrified by Gisele Pelicot’s rape trial?

    <p>Avanti West Coast workers are to strike over New Year after the latest deal was rejected</p>
    Voices

    The latest train strikes aren’t just disruptive – they’re dangerous

    <p>The price of alcoholic drinks surged, but price rises are accelerating across multiple categories </p>
    Voices

    Inflation is up again – and this time, it’s fired by ‘greedflation’

    <p>Before the election, Keir Starmer described the Waspi women’s case as ‘a real injustice – we need to do something about it’ </p>
    Voices

    Labour’s betrayal of Waspi women shows its problems go far beyond OAPs

    Voices

    Labour’s betrayal of Waspi women shows its problems go far beyond OAPs

    John Rentoul
    <p>Before the election, Keir Starmer described the Waspi women’s case as ‘a real injustice – we need to do something about it’ </p>
    <p>Gisele Pelicot outside the Avignon court house on Thursday where judges are considering allegations she was drugged and raped over a period of years </p>
    Voices

    Gisele Pelicot’s ‘descent into hell’ shows why women are so furious

    <p>The services sector is the biggest in the UK economy</p>
    Voices

    The economy has shrunk again – but it’s too soon to utter the ‘R’ word

    <p>‘People started screengrabbing Mangione’s Twitter banner picture, which includes an image of Pokemon character Breloom, an X-ray of his spine and a topless snap – since dubbed a thirst trap’ </p>
    Voices

    Luigi Mangione and the dark truth behind our reaction to his arrest

    <p>There has been a significant decrease in the number of job vacancies </p>
    Voices

    A weakened job market is a sign of things to come – it isn’t pretty

    <p>There has been a significant decrease in the number of job vacancies </p>
    Voices

    A weakened job market is a sign of things to come – it isn’t pretty

    <p>Volodomyr Zelensky, during a visit to Estonia, admitted: ‘Next year could be the year this war ends’ </p>
    The Independent View

    The one battle President Zelensky looks set to win

    <p>‘The Church of England lacks credibility – but the flock can believe without belonging’</p>
    Letters

    The Church of England’s moral authority is now gone

    <p>OnlyFans model Victoria Thomas Bowen was given a suspended sentence for throwing milkshake at Nigel Farage in Clacton, during the election campaign</p>
    Voices

    That ‘lenient’ milkshake sentence is a propaganda gift to Nigel Farage

    <p>Lieutenant general Igor Kirillov was assassinated by Ukrainian special forces in a residential neighbourhood of Moscow</p>
    Voices

    Ukraine’s scooter bomb killing could alter the course of the war

    <p>Sara Sharif, 10, was murdered by her father and stepmother</p>
    Voices

    Children like Sara Sharif deserve to be seen, heard and believed

    <p>The task of patriots like Yang is not to steal secrets. It is to influence their targets, to absorb their worries, to soften their impressions of a hostile regime and to create the conditions for appeasement and hesitation in a crisis</p>
    Voices

    Yang Tengbo isn’t just a Chinese ‘spy’ – he’s far more interesting

    <p>Elon Musk helped to get Donald Trump re-elected </p>
    Business Comment

    Why Elon Musk should get every cent of his $56 billion pay package

    <p>European Council President Antonio Costa (L) and Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer (R) meet at 10 Downing Street </p>
    UK Politics

    Who should the UK prioritise relations with – the US or the EU?

    <p>Aaron Taylor-Johnson is currently promoting two new movies </p>
    Voices

    There’s just one problem with Aaron Taylor-Johnson’s press tour

    <p>Prince Andrew and Yang Tengbo, during a ‘Pitch@Palace’ event</p>
    The Independent View

    Prince Andrew’s spy scandal shows we don’t know what to do about China

    <p>The salinity of the water extracted in Gaza makes it undrinkable </p>
    Voices

    Israel has weaponised water – and the damage is terrifying

    Voices

    Israel has weaponised water – and the damage is terrifying

    Brian Perlman
    <p>The salinity of the water extracted in Gaza makes it undrinkable </p>
    <p>Royal Mail was spun out from the Post Office and privatised just over a decade ago </p>
    Voices

    This ‘Czech Sphinx’ may have what it takes to turn Royal Mail around

    <p>Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the current Syrian leader, was once named by the US government as a ‘specially designated global terrorist’</p>
    Letters

    Is the Syrian leader someone Britain should be doing business with?

    <p>Archbishop of York Stephen Geoffrey Cottrell and the outgoing Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby</p>
    Voices

    Only a woman can fill the void at the top of the Church of England

    <p>Gary Lineker will still front the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup in 2026 </p>
    Voices

    Dumping Gary Lineker is a self-destructive move the BBC will regret

    <p>Gary Lineker will still front the BBC’s coverage of the World Cup in 2026 </p>
    Voices

    Dumping Gary Lineker is a self-destructive move the BBC will regret

    <p>Home secretary Yvette Cooper met with her Italian counterpart this week to discuss immigration </p>
    The Independent View

    The Tories failed on immigration – Labour must not follow suit

    <p>Have you perfected the art of the OOO message? </p>
    Voices

    This Christmas, spare a thought for the recipient of your OOO email

    <p>‘Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch forgets we know what her party did’</p>
    Letters

    The previous government would do well to show some contrition

    <p>Prince Andrew is said to have ‘ceased all contact’ with the alleged Chinese spy </p>
    Voices

    A Chinese ‘spy’ befriending Prince Andrew is part of a dangerous game

    <p>It’s easy to get carried away at Christmas, especially when it comes to gift-giving</p>
    Voices

    How to talk to your children about money management this Christmas

    <p>‘My child is now aware of who Father Christmas is’ </p>
    Voices

    My toddler now knows about Father Christmas – and that’s a problem

    <p>Port is usually considered a festive drink, but it’s great to enjoy all year round </p>
    Voices

    Port isn’t just for Christmas – but it’s a jolly good time to try it

    <p>The ‘tractor tax’ will come into effect in April next year </p>
    The Independent View

    The ‘tractor tax’ needs to be rethought to protect family farms

    <p>Covid-19 vaccinations are currently offered to those at higher risk – including the elderly and frontline health workers</p>
    Letters

    The criteria for regular Covid jabs should be extended

    <p>The ‘tractor tax’ will add a tremendous strain on family farms </p>
    Voices

    Ed Davey: Now is not the time to turn our backs on family farms

    <p>The president-elect will likely come after Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act </p>
    Voices

    This is the best way to counter Trump-era climate denial

    Voices

    This is the best way to counter Trump-era climate denial

    Chris Wright
    <p>The president-elect will likely come after Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act </p>
    <p>‘Last year, my friends and I predicted a hung parliament’</p>
    Voices

    Keir Starmer proved the crystal ball wrong this year – so what next?

    <p>A trip to Selfridges took a sinister turn, yet no one seemed to care </p>
    Voices

    A man walked into my changing room – what happened next was shocking

    <p>‘I look up to cooks like Mary Berry, the patient aunt of the domestic oven’ </p>
    Voices

    Why we can’t let TikTok food trends kill off the cookbook

    <p>Keir Starmer heading to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit in November </p>
    Voices

    The prime minister must resist becoming ‘Air Miles Starmer’

    <p>Keir Starmer heading to Rio de Janeiro for the G20 summit in November </p>
    Voices

    The prime minister must resist becoming ‘Air Miles Starmer’

    The Independent View

    The government can no longer afford to say one thing and do another

    <p>Margaret Thatcher’s Right to Buy scheme sold off council housing at a considerable discount – without providing any replacement stock </p>
    Letters

    It’s time we gave up on Thatcher’s home-owning dream

    <p>‘In the manner of Tsar Nicholas II, abdication might be the way Vladimir Putin decides to go’</p>
    Voices

    Does Assad’s exile in Moscow mean Putin’s days are numbered?

    <p>Paul Webster, former editor of The Observer, with members of the National Union of Journalists </p>
    Voices

    The Observer strike raises questions we should all be worried about

    <p>And now the year is over and my deadline for updates / Is the day I send out the cards</p>
    Voices

    Do you send Christmas cards? Here’s why you should

    <p>Cush Jumbo and David Tennant during the curtain call at the West End opening night of Macbeth</p>
    Voices

    David Tennant’s play was stopped? As an actor, I’ve seen even worse

    The Independent View

    Labour is right to push hard to ease the housing crisis

    <p>Frank Ocean attended the 2019 Met Gala in a formal Prada suit with a quarter-zipper </p>
    Letters

    Got something to say about men’s clothes? Just zip it

    <p>Back to the office with you, the Met has said to civilian support staff </p>
    Voices

    The Met have shown how little they value women and disabled people

    <p>‘When I saw Starmer laughing about the need to conserve bats, I felt cheated’ </p>
    Voices

    Labour’s housing targets aren’t just shortsighted – they’re suicidal

    <p>Keir Starmer and his deputy, Angela Rayner, who is responsible for housebuilding targets </p>
    Voices

    Is Angela Rayner going to lose Keir Starmer the next election?

    Voices

    Is Angela Rayner going to lose Keir Starmer the next election?

    John Rentoul
    <p>Keir Starmer and his deputy, Angela Rayner, who is responsible for housebuilding targets </p>
    <p>Health Secretary Wes Streeting to ban puberty blockers for young transgender people (Jordan Pettitt/PA)</p>
    Voices

    Wes Streeting’s puberty blockers ban will send trans kids to France

    <p>The country’s successful bid to host the competition is part of a broader ‘sportswashing’ strategy </p>
    Voices

    We should all be worried about Saudi Arabia hosting the 2034 World Cup

    <p>The NHS is bracing for a challenging winter</p>
    Health

    Are you worried about the NHS this winter?

    <p>Toby Jones in ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’</p>
    The Independent View

    Not enough has been done for Horizon Post Office scandal victims

    <p>Toby Jones in ‘Mr Bates vs The Post Office’</p>
    The Independent View

    Not enough has been done for Horizon Post Office scandal victims

    <p>From the rubble: a man waves a Syrian opposition flag in Aleppo, Syria</p>
    Letters

    Syria doesn’t have to become a jihadi hellhole

    <p>Justice secretary Shabana Mahmood announced a sentencing review during a visit to HMP Bedford</p>
    Voices

    Clear the courts… but not at the expense of trial by jury

    <p>An armed woman flashes the V for victory sign as Syrian Kurds celebrate the fall of Damascus</p>
    Voices

    After Assad, can the Kurds survive in Syria?

    <p>Chancellor Rachel Reeves, right, and chief secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones face challenges with spending review</p>
    Voices

    Is Rachel Reeves’ spending review a veiled return to austerity?

    <p>An aerial photo showing naval ships destroyed in an overnight Israeli attack on the Syrian port city of Latakia</p>
    The Independent View

    The West must stop Syria from becoming a failed state

    <p>Like him or loathe him – Farage has charisma in spades</p>
    Voices

    Want to see off Farage, Sir Keir? There’s one thing you need...

    <p>‘The Tories are on edge after top MPs have defected to Reform UK – but that won’t help Farage much’</p>
    Voices

    Nigel Farage isn’t the threat that Kemi Badenoch thinks he is

    <p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street in April 2020. (Stefan Rousseau/PA)</p>
    Voices

    Boris Johnson says he’s spectrum-y. As an autistic man, I’m disgusted

    <p>Like him or loathe him – Farage has charisma in spades</p>
    Voices

    Want to see off Farage, Sir Keir? There’s one thing you need...

    <p>‘The Tories are on edge after top MPs have defected to Reform UK – but that won’t help Farage much’</p>
    Voices

    Nigel Farage isn’t the threat that Kemi Badenoch thinks he is

    <p>Prime Minister Boris Johnson makes a statement outside 10 Downing Street in April 2020. (Stefan Rousseau/PA)</p>
    Voices

    Boris Johnson says he’s spectrum-y. As an autistic man, I’m disgusted

    <p>Some readers emphasised the lack of affordable EVs</p>
    Climate

    Readers debate the UK’s electric vehicle dilemma

    <p>A defaced portrait of ousted Syrian president Bashar al-Assad stands in a ransacked government security facility</p>
    Voices

    After the fall of Assad, what is the threat to Europe from Isis?

    <p>Chancellor Rachel Reeves and the president of the Eurogroup, Paschal Donohoe</p>
    The Independent View

    Reeves’ Eurogroup meeting is a positive step towards a UK-EU ‘reset’

    <p>The chancellor met with EU finance chiefs today </p>
    Voices

    Reeves must move beyond honeyed words to improve relations with the EU

    <p>‘Everybody should have the right to choose how and when they want to leave this world’</p>
    Letters

    Religion should have no place in the assisted dying bill

    <p> I have endeavoured to send all my cards at the start of December, long before the reluctance by Royal Mail to actually provide a delivery service became news</p>
    Letters

    A functioning postal service would be a Christmas miracle

    <p>In 1963, Paul Stephenson and the Black community challenged the Bristol Omnibus Company’s colour bar </p>
    Voices

    A key figure in UK civil rights – but you might not know his name

    <p>‘We should broaden our understanding and appreciation to include live literature, spoken word, performance poetry and dramatic monologue – alongside more traditional works’ </p>
    Voices

    GCSE English is too pale, male and stale – here’s how to change it up

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