20 h. ago The Guardian view on the BBC World Service: a boon to the UK, as well as audiences elsewhere | Editorial

Britain would benefit from pledging more sustained and committed support in this age of disinformation and global turmoilTwo years ago, BBC Arabic radio left the airwaves after decades. Soon afterwards, Russia’s Sputnik service began broadcasting on the frequency left vacant in Lebanon. That detail illuminates a larger picture. China, Russia and others see global-facing media as central to their global ambitions and are investing accordingly – pumping out propaganda to muddle or drown out objective, independently minded journalism. These outlets are state-controlled as well as state-owned.Meanwhile, conspiracy theories and disinformation proliferate online, attacks on press freedom intensify and the Trump administration is dismantling media organisations including Voice of America and Radio Free Asia (RFA), which have been essential sources of information for audiences under repressive regimes. Official Chinese media were gleeful at what RFA’s president, Bay Fang, cal...

Events

41 h. ago G7 nations paper over differences on tariffs and Ukraine, agree to address 'imbalances'

Top finance officials from the world’s seven wealthiest democracies set aside stark differences on U.S. tariffs and agreed to counter global “economic imbalances,” a swipe at China’s trade practices

Economics

52 h. ago Protests against prime minister in Mongolia could lead to government shake

Mongolia’s 10-month-old coalition government appears to be breaking up as daily protests calling on the prime minister to resign enter their ninth day

Politics

3 d. ago How Trump's $175billion Golden Dome missile defence can make US 'invulnerable' to nukes from China, Russia, or North Korea

Such a defence programme is 'long overdue' and 'absolutely necessary' amid growing threats from China, North Korea and Russia, experts have warned.

Events

3 d. ago Trump unveils plans for $175 billion ‘Golden Dome’ missile defence system

The US President expects the programme will be ‘fully operational’ by 2029 to counter threats from Russia and China

Events

4 d. ago 'Dad's Army' to return FOR REAL as UK military plans defence against Russian invasion

The Home Guard will be a civilian unit tasked with protecting key infrastructure such as nuclear power plants, airports and telecommunications sites

Events

5 d. ago Captain Mainwaring set to march again as Britain plans to bring back real Dad’s Army

The new Home Guard would protect nuclear power plants and airports against attack from enemy states and terrorists

Events

5 d. ago China and Russia make pact to build nuclear power station on the moon

The lunar power station could be completed by the two superpowers in just over a decade, and comes in the wake of US plan's to pull back a number of the space exploration plan's

Events

9 d. ago NATO weighs a US demand to massively hike defense spending as some struggle to meet the current goal

NATO foreign ministers are debating a U.S. demand to massively ramp up defense investment to 5% of gross domestic product over the next 7 years

Events

1 week ago How Russia is pushing to take control of Africa’s nuclear future

Russia has signed deals with at least 20 countries across the continent, Nick Ferris writes, and that is unlikely to slow down as Trump cuts funding to energy projects

Events

2 w. ago China, Russia, Iran, North Korea... The terrifying threat of the alliance of autocrats now menacing us seems utterly lost on Europe's naive leaders: ANDREW NEIL

There was a gathering of the ghouls in Moscow yesterday as Russia held its own commemoration of the end of the Second World War, bringing to life the image of an alliance of autocrats taking shape.

Events

2 w. ago Putin takes a jab at Trump in war of words over who REALLY won World War Two as Russia stages huge Victory Day parade and hosts China's Xi

The Russian and Chinese leaders nestled side-by-side to watch the parade in a show of unity after they issued a statement yesterday condemning Trump 's plan for a missile defence system

Politics

2 w. ago Russia stages Victory Day parade as China's President Xi joins Putin in Moscow amid Ukraine war

Ukraine accuses Putin of flouting his unilateral 72-hour ceasefire to coincide with the Victory Day celebrations

Politics

2 w. ago China and Russia pledge to deepen ties as they criticise US on Victory Day

In joint statement, Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin accuse ‘certain countries’ of trying to ‘tamper with the results of the victory of the second world war’ China and Russia pledged to further deepen their already “no limits” partnership in a joint statement published ahead of Russia’s military parade on Friday, as the two sides stressed the importance of maintaining the “correct view” of second world war history.In a lengthy statement published during Xi Jinping’s visit to Moscow for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the end of the second world war, which Russia celebrates on 9 May as Victory Day, Xi and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin said “certain countries are attempting to tamper with the results of the victory of the second world war”. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago After Spain's blackout, questions about renewable energy are back

The massive power outage that hit the Iberian peninsula last month has reignited a debate in Spain over the country’s plan to phase out its nuclear reactors and generate more power with renewable energy

Politics

2 w. ago Abandoned infrastructure one of the biggest polluters in the world – report

Emissions from abandoned coalmines, oil and gas wells globally are larger than any single country except China, the US and RussiaAbandoned coalmines and oil and gas wells are now one of the biggest sources of the powerful greenhouse gas methane, new data shows, and little effort is being made to clean them up.The methane emissions from abandoned fossil fuel infrastructure now exceed those from Iran, and if considered as a country would be the fourth biggest source in the world, behind China, the US and Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Russian drone strike caused tens of millions worth of damage to Chornobyl

Exclusive: Attack damaged €1.5bn containment structure over nuclear reactor with repair costs likely to be borne by western governmentsA Russian Shahed drone costing up to £75,000 is estimated to have inflicted tens of millions worth of damage to the site of the Chornobyl nuclear power plant, according to initial assessments and engineering experts.The cost of a full fix is likely to be borne by western governments including the UK, because initial estimates are that a complete repair will cost more than the €25m available in a special international contingency fund. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Pakistan decries ‘act of war’ as it retaliates against India missile attack

India claimed strikes, which followed attack on Hindu tourists in Kashmir last month, targeted ‘terrorist infrastructure’India-Pakistan crisis - live updatesAt least eight people, including a child, have been killed and 35 injured after India launched attacks on what it claimed were nine sites of “terrorist infrastructure” inside Pakistan and Pakistani Kashmir, in a sharp escalation of hostilities between the two nuclear-armed neighbours.Loud explosions were heard early on Wednesday, and power was knocked out in Muzaffarabad, the capital of Pakistani Kashmir, witnesses said. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Putin pal's WW3 threat as he 'can't wait' for troops to march through Europe

A close Putin ally and TV presenter said he was hopeful Russia would one day march through Europe alongside troops from China and North Korea in a chilling on-air message

Politics

2 w. ago Starmer ignored nuclear watchdog when he blamed regulations for delays

Office for Nuclear Regulation told government that claims about reactor delays in press release were ‘not true’Keir Starmer ignored warnings from his nuclear safety watchdog that it was wrong to blame regulations for delays building new reactors when he launched a plan to revive the nuclear power industry.The prime minister unveiled the nuclear renaissance strategy in February and said investment had slumped because the industry was “suffocated by regulations”. Continue reading...

Events