14 h. ago MI6 chief warns Brits to prepare for new form of conscription to tackle Putin

As concerns over Russia grow, the former head of MI6 has suggested Britain should introduce a new type of conscription for Brits ahead of suspicious Russian activity

Events

17 h. ago Our world affairs editor answers your questions as former MI6 chief says Britain must get ready for war

The Conversation continues as world affairs editor Sam Kiley tackles some of your questions on Russia, Trump, war in Europe, and conscription in the UK

Events

35 h. ago Britain may need to introduce new form of conscription to take on Putin, MI6 chief warns

Former head of MI6 Sir Alex Younger said the Government could require powers to compel Britons to 'give their service one way or another', in the face of new international threats.

Events

36 h. ago Former MI6 Chief ‘worried’ Trump has bias that Russia has right to Ukraine due to its size

The former head of MI6 said he is concerned that Donald Trump holds a biased view, believing Russia has a right to Ukraine due to its size.

Politics

67 h. ago Former MI6 Chief: Putin lacks rationality unless in a ‘permanent state of antagonism’

Former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger told The Independent’s Sam Kiley that Vladimir Putin lacks rationality unless in a “permanent state of antagonism,” offering Russia only “security.” This remark comes just months after the third anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Politics

2 d. ago Voices: As former MI6 chief says the UK must be ready for war – should Britain bring back national service?

Have your say: As former MI6 chief Sir Alex Younger warns Britain must revive national service to face global threats, the debate over military readiness intensifies

Events

4 d. ago Asian stocks slid after Wall Street surrendered to a hit by Trump's tariffs

Asian markets are retreating after Wall Street led the biggest loss among world's markets over worries about U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs

Politics

7 d. ago Bank of Japan survey says big manufacturers gloomier as Trump tariffs loom

A survey by Japan’s central bank has found a decline in business sentiment among large manufacturers for the first time in a year, partly because of worries about U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs

Economics

8 d. ago Germany looks to bring back conscription as country's top general warns it is the only way it can prepare for Russian invasion

Defence chiefs have been looking to increase the size of the armed forces since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine, but have struggled to muster a target of 20,000.

Events

1 week ago Putin vows to 'finish off' Ukraine and mocks British Army in furious rant

President Vladimir Putin made outrageous claims about the future of Ukraine and even laid into the size of the British military in fresh act of bravado - despite ongoing so-called peace talks

Politics

1 week ago Former MI6 chief and Rusi boss discuss Russia, Trump and the future of the West – how to watch our panel

The panel, chaired by world affairs editor Sam Kiley, will feature Alex Younger, former MI6 chief, and Rachel Ellehuus, director-general of RUSI, discussing global security, US foreign policy under Trump, and the future of Ukraine and Nato

Politics

1 week ago MI6 and Rusi experts discuss Russia, Trump and the future of the West – how to watch our panel

The panel, chaired by world affairs editor Sam Kiley, will feature Alex Younger, former MI6 chief, and Rachel Ellehuus, director-general of RUSI, discussing global security, US foreign policy under Trump, and the future of Ukraine and Nato

Politics

1 week ago What Is Free Speech? by Fara Dabhoiwala review – a brilliant history of a weaponised mantra

This fascinating book questions whether such a misunderstood ideal should be lauded as an end in itselfThis book arrives at an interesting moment. Elon Musk has declared himself a “free speech absolutist”. JD Vance worries that free speech in Europe is “in retreat”. Donald Trump issues an executive order “restoring freedom of speech and ending federal censorship”. Meanwhile, journalists are routinely abused, threatened with lawsuits and branded enemies of the people. US federal agencies circulate lists of red-flag words such as “equality”, “gender” and “disabled”, and reporters are denied White House access for referring to the Gulf of Mexico by its actual name. Free speech is, shall we say, an elastic concept.In fact, as Fara Dabhoiwala explains in this meticulous and much-needed history, it has long been a “weaponized mantra” in a public sphere dominated by the moneyed and the powerful. Many of those who think of free speech as being uniquely under threat today are rich, white men...

Events

1 week ago Trump’s cuts to US government raise worries over economic data quality

America’s ‘gold standard’ statistics are closely scrutinised by investors, policymakers and researchers

Politics

2 w. ago ‘Not hyperbole’: Federal judges are worried for their safety as Trump ramps up attacks on judiciary

White House adviser Elon Musk has echoed calls to impeach federal judges who oppose Trump administration moves

Events

2 w. ago MI6 has never had a female spy chief. That could be about to change

Real-life spies say their world is nothing like that of James Bond, but in one way truth may soon follow fiction: MI6 could be about to get its first female leader

Politics

2 w. ago John Roberts made Trump’s authoritarianism possible. He could still save his own legacy | Steven Greenhouse

The supreme court judge has emboldened and enabled Trump, but the president’s second term must surely have him worriedJohn Roberts, chief justice of the US supreme court, should be very worried about how history will regard him. Roberts sees himself as a cautious conservative committed to protecting our institutions, but it increasingly looks as if history will view him very differently – as a deeply flawed chief justice who paved the way for the US to become an authoritarian state.Roberts can’t possibly want to be viewed that way. But it is inarguable that several decisions he played a huge role in – most notably Citizens United and last year’s startling ruling that gave presidents far-reaching immunity from prosecution – helped lay the groundwork for Donald Trump’s increasingly authoritarian presidency. How could Roberts not realize that the immunity decision he authored would embolden Trump to violate law after law and act like an authoritarian? Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Americans increasingly worried about tariffs despite Trump’s assurances, new poll shows

Exclusive: 90% of Democrats, 57% of Republicans are worried about tariffs, with similar concerns about recessionNever miss global breaking news. Download our free app to keep up with key stories in real time.Americans are increasingly concerned about Donald Trump’s effort to overhaul the US economy with sweeping tariffs on foreign goods, according to an exclusive poll for the Guardian, despite the US president’s efforts to downplay the risks of his strategy.“Have no fear, we will WIN everything!!!” Trump wrote on Truth Social on Thursday, claiming that tariffs were already “pouring money” into the country.90% of Democrats and 69% of independents said they are concerned about tariffs, compared to 57% of Republicans.89% of Democrats and 75% of independents said they are concerned about a potential recession in the US, compared to 65% of Republicans.85% of Democrats and 62% of independents said it will take years for the US economy to recover from the tariffs, compared with 52% of Repu...

Politics

3 w. ago Washington worried with Trump back in town: ‘The atmosphere is toxic here’

The Kennedy Center and BLM mural have been targeted, the newspaper is in freefall – and the Maga movement is gaining a footholdIt was an audience more accustomed to stifling a cough or resisting the temptation to unwrap a sweet. But when they spotted vice-president JD Vance taking his seat at the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Thursday night, classical music-goers erupted in unrestrained boos, jeers and shouts of “You ruined this place!”The noisy protest exemplified a culture clash taking place in the nation’s capital. It came in the same week that work began to remove a giant “Black Lives Matter” mural near the White House, a top political columnist quit the Washington Post newspaper and a spending bill passed by the House of Representatives sought to impose drastic budget cuts of $1.1bn on the District of Columbia (DC). Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago US junk bonds slide as Trump’s tariffs spark economic worries

Premium investors’ demand to hold riskier debt jumps to highest level in six months

Economics