Markus Andrews

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreA Scottish rocket company has paused plans to build a spaceport in the Highlands.Orbex said it wanted to shift its focus from building the site in Sutherland to developing small and medium-sized rockets.It now aims to launch its first rockets from the SaxaVord Spaceport in Shetland.The Moray-based firm said it would retain its lease in Sutherland and did not rule out further construction in the future.The three staff employed at the site will be consulted to identify options for relocation or new roles, the company added.This decision will help us to reach first launch in 2025 and provides SaxaVord with another customer to further strengthen its commercial propositionOrbex chief executive officer Phil ChambersOrbex had planned to carry out its first launch from the “carbon neutral” spaceport next year, using a 19-metre-long rocket powered by liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).Initial construction in the area began last year after the firm was granted planning permission in 2020.Orbex chief executive officer Phil Chambers said the move would help the firm deliver on its core mission of producing rockets, rather than building spaceports.He said: “Orbex is first and foremost a launch services specialist. Our primary goal is to support the European space industry by achieving a sustainable series of satellite launches into low Earth orbit.“This is best achieved by focusing our resources and talents on developing launch vehicles and associated launch services.“This decision will help us to reach first launch in 2025 and provides SaxaVord with another customer to further strengthen its commercial proposition.“It’s a win-win for UK and Scottish space.”Orbex said it is planning to increase its manufacturing capability in Forres to meet demand for its smaller vehicle Prime.It said the site will also be used to develop new medium-launch vehicles that will enable it to put more satellites into orbit.Mr Chambers added: “While we appreciate this news means pausing the construction plans at Sutherland, we are still committed to the north of Scotland at our facilities in Forres and we look forward to building our presence at SaxaVord in Shetland as well.“The decision to pause construction was not taken lightly. We are incredibly grateful to the Sutherland community for being so supportive of our initial plans to build our first spaceport there.”Frank Strang, chief executive officer of the SaxaVord Spaceport, said: “We’re delighted to welcome Orbex to SaxaVord.“Given the scale of their ambition and the evolution of their offer to include a medium-sized launch vehicle, it makes sense for Orbex to start operations from SaxaVord Spaceport, which is already licensed and in a position to support their upcoming launches.“The UK’s space industry is developing very quickly and requires the associated economies of scale and synergies to maintain its competitiveness for launch services from Europe.” More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreWatch live as Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs on Wednesday (4 December) as his reset Brexit plans suffer another blow.The prime minister looks set to lose another key ally in a blow to his plans to reset the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the European Union.Michel Barnier looks likely to be ousted as French prime minister on Wednesday in a no-confidence motion after he pushed through a controversial budget without a vote.If passed, it will bring down the government and force Mr Barnier’s resignation after less than three months on the job.Wednesday’s head-to-head also comes as a report revealed UK interest rates will fall by less than expected over the next two years after the autumn Budget’s significant spending and borrowing plans.The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said UK inflation will also surpass previous forecasts next year, with a headline inflation of 2.7 per cent for next year. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead more Pope Francis met Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban at the Vatican on Wednesday and discussed with him the war in Ukraine, focusing on the humanitarian situation and efforts to promote peace in the region.Francis also discussed other themes with Orban, including the Hungarian presidency of the Council of the European Union as well as the “central role of the family and the protection of the young generations,” the Vatican said in a statement. During his visit in Hungary last year, Francis met with some 35,000 Ukrainian refugees who remained in Hungary. Nearly 2.5 million refugees entered the eastern European country early on in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.Orban has repeatedly called for a ceasefire in the war. But he has refused to supply Kyiv with weapons, and he has threatened to veto EU sanctions against Moscow while maintaining Hungary’s strong dependence on Russian energy.The Hungarian leader also met with Vatican Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Miroslaw Wachowski, the Vatican undersecretary for relations with states. More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreUK interest rates will fall more slowly than expected following the tax rises, spending hikes and increased borrowing Rachel Reeves announced in her autumn Budget, an influential report has warned.In its annual economic survey, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) said UK inflation will also surpass previous forecasts next year, and upgraded growth projections for the economy, because of a Budget boost.The OECD also warned that “risks and uncertainties are high” for the global economy, although added that it would “remain resilient” over the coming years.The global economy is predicted to grow by 3.2 per cent this year and 3.3 per cent next year, the organisation said.It reflects a slight improvement from its predictions of 3.1 per cent and 3.2 per cent respectively, from its September interim report.In October, the chancellor set out plans for almost £70 billion a year of extra public spending, funded through tax rises and increased borrowing More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreRail fares will continue to rise under Labour despite plans to bring the railways under public ownership, the new transport secretary has indicated.Heidi Alexander, who was appointed to the position after Louise Haigh was forced to resign last week, said the “commercial realities for the railways are very challenging at the moment”.She said there needs to be enough money to provide good services for fare payers, warning against entering into a “death spiral” of low fares and poor-quality rail networks.It comes after the government announced that South Western Railway’s services will be the first to transfer into public ownership next year.Heidi Alexander was appointed transport secretary last week More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreDonald Trump’s threatened tariffs could hit UK trade with the US as badly as Brexit affected trade with the EU, a leading think tank has warned, as campaigners call for Sir Keir Starmer to protect the UK by urgently rebuilding ties with Europe.The president-elect has threatened to impose tariffs of between 10 and 20 per cent on all imports to the US when he returns to the White House, with experts warning of a tit-for-tat global trade war that would fuel another spike in inflation.And, in a bombshell report published today, the Resolution Foundation said the impact of Trump’s plans would hit UK firms as hard as the trade barriers that came into place after Brexit.Keir Starmer has rejected calls to prioritise the EU over the US under Donald Trump More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreFears are growing that Labour could be planning a new tax raid after Rachel Reeves refused to confirm her recent pledge not to repeat her £40bn Budget hikes.The chancellor was pressed on the issue in the Commons by shadow chancellor Mel Stride, and again at a conference in the north of England, over her promise last week to the CBI conference.With her next major fiscal statement expected in the spring, there is confusion over Labour’s economic policy amid a rumoured shift from delivering growth to raising living standards.Sir Keir Starmer is set to outline the new focus in a speech on Thursday resetting the government’s agenda after just five months in office.Rachel Reeves refused to rule out more tax rises More

Your support helps us to tell the storyFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.CloseRead moreThe Israeli government has attacked David Lammy for using X (formerly Twitter) for diplomacy after he posted strong criticism about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.Less than 24 hours after the foreign secretary attended the Labour Friends of Israel annual lunch and met the mother of a hostage held by Hamas, he has provoked a row with Israel over his joint statement on the war in Gaza.Amid growing concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza following thousands of deaths and reports that aid angencies cannot get access, Mr Lammy and his German and French counterparts (the E3 group) agreed today to sennd an ultimatum to the Israeli government.Mr Lammy then posted on social media: “Together with France and Germany, I have written to the Israeli government to urge action on the unacceptable humanitarian situation in Gaza. Israel must implement the UN‘s winter plan now: send equipment to guard against cold & flooding, give access to fuel, repair vital infrastructure, and get aid in.”David Lammy More