9 h. ago Lockheed Martin approaches UK government with air defence pitch

Talks with British officials come as US looks to build ‘Golden Dome’ missile shield

Politics

24 h. ago PMQs: Rayner signals UK would not join any US attack on Iran – UK politics live

Deputy prime minister says government seeking a diplomatic approachAngela Rayner, the deputy PM, will be taking PMQs shortly. And she will be up against Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary.When Kemi Badenoch became Tory leader, she did not appoint a deputy (or even a “de factor deputy”, a post that has existed in Tory politics in recent years) and she said she would decide who would stand in for her at PMQs on a case by case basis. Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, got the gig the first time Starmer was away.Chris Philp follows Alex Burghart in rotating for Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. One Westminster wag asks “When is it going to be Robert Jenrick’s turn?”We have this profound challenge of the number of people joining the armed forces being outweighed by the outflow the people leaving. So ultimately its about retention.And the number one issue reason cited in last month’s attitude survey for the armed forces for leaving was family life. We know the quality of housing ...

Politics

31 h. ago How has Iran managed to breach Israel’s Iron Dome air defence system?

For many years, the Iron Dome has repelled missile attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah. Two experts explain how Iranian missiles have punctured Israel’s defence

Politics

38 h. ago MPs suggest Government treats councils’ financial woes as ‘normalised noise’

A report by the Public Accounts Committee highlighted perceived flaws or a lack of urgency in the Government’s approach to local government reforms.

Politics

45 h. ago How has Iran managed to breach Israel’s Iron Dome air defence?

For many years, the Iron Dome has repelled missile attacks from Hamas and Hezbollah. Two experts explain how Iranian missiles have punctured Israel’s defence

Politics

3 d. ago Israel hits Iran’s energy industry and defence ministry as conflict escalates

Iranian missiles evade Israeli air defences to hit refinery and apartment block south of Tel AvivMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael attacked Iran’s energy industry and defence ministry on the third day of an escalating conflict, as several Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to hit a refinery and rip through a high-rise apartment block south of Tel Aviv.As fuel depots outside Tehran blazed, Donald Trump presided over the US’s biggest military parade in decades. He later said the arsenal on display could be deployed against Iran if it targeted American assets. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago At least eight killed in Iranian strikes on Israel while Israeli attacks set Tehran oil depot on fire – live updates

At least 35 missing after strike hits town south of Tel Aviv; Iran says situation at Shahron oil depot under controlIsrael claims it has gained control of airspace over TehranHello and welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the Middle East.Israel and Iran exchanged another round of strikes late on Saturday and into Sunday, with at least eight people killed in Israel when Iranian missiles penetrated air defences in the north and centre of the country as well as hitting a science institute near Tel Aviv.At least eight people are dead and more than 100 injured after Iran launched a barrage of missile strikes at Israel overnight, in retaliation for Israel’s Friday strikes which Israel said targeted Tehran’s nuclear program, hitting key sites including its defence ministry.An unknown number of missiles evaded Israel’s air defence system to hit Rehovot and Bat Yam in Tel Aviv, killing a 69-year-old woman, an 80-year-old woman, and two children including a 10-year-old boy, according to...

Events

5 d. ago Israel’s air might and Iran’s nuclear bunkers may make for lengthy conflict

Lightning air strikes have weakened Iran’s military leadership, but its nuclear facilities are deeply defendedMiddle East crisis – live updatesIsrael’s assault on Iran demonstrates a ruthless combination of air power and intelligence – and a significant disparity between the two countries in a conflict that is likely to be a long one if the goal is to eliminate Tehran’s nuclear capability.Israel’s air force undertook waves of airstrikes, beginning at about 3am on Friday, aimed, briefings indicated, first at Iran’s military leaders and intelligence in Tehran, then switching to air defence batteries, missile launch sites and, above all, the critical facility at Natanz where uranium can be enriched to weapons grade. Continue reading...

Events

6 d. ago Iran vows revenge for Israeli strikes, saying it will write ‘end of this story’

Israel says Iran launched 100 drones towards its territory after attack on Iranian nuclear sites and killing of military leadersMiddle East crisis – latest updatesIran vowed to avenge the attack on its nuclear sites and the assassination in Tehran of its senior military leadership, saying it would respond forcefully and that the “end of this story will be written by Iran’s hand”.In the first signs of a counterstrike, Israel said Iran had launched 100 drones towards Israel and that its air defences were intercepting them outside Israeli territory. Iraq said more than 100 Iranian drones had crossed its airspace, and, soon after, neighbouring Jordan said its air force and defence systems had intercepted several missiles and drones that had entered its airspace, for fear they would fall in its territory. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Israel’s Iran threat is familiar, but it is unlikely to attack without US backing

Israel has threatened to destroy Tehran’s nuclear programme before, ultimately holding back in absence of Washington’s supportThe withdrawal of non-essential US personnel from parts of the Middle East and the anonymously sourced US reports in the past 24 hours that Israel is on the brink of an all-out attack on Iran are all deeply alarming, but they are also familiar.The Israeli government has approached the same precipice, of a war to destroy Tehran’s nuclear programme, several times in the past two decades, going as far as honing detailed plans and conducting practice air sorties. Continue reading...

Events

8 d. ago What London wants from the Spending Review as speculation grows Rachel Reeves set to snub capital

A source close to Sadiq Khan said ministers ‘must not return to the damaging, anti-London approach of the last government’

Politics

9 d. ago Ukraine war briefing: Russia launches attacks on Kyiv and Odesa a day after massive drone bombardment

Russia launched almost 500 drones at Ukraine on Monday in the biggest overnight drone attack of the war. What we know on day 1,203See all our Ukraine war coverageKyiv and the port city of Odesa came under “massive” drone attacks from Russia early Tuesday, Ukrainian officials said. An AFP journalist in central Kyiv heard at least a dozen of explosions and gunfire, as air defences tried to down the drones. Buildings and cars in several districts were burning and debris fell near a school. Russian strikes on Odesa hit maternity and medical facilities that had been evacuated, local officials said, reporting no casualties there.The attack came a day after Russia launched almost 500 drones at Ukraine in the biggest overnight drone bombardment of the three-year war, according to the Ukrainian air force, as the Kremlin presses ahead with its summer offensive. In addition to the 479 drones, 20 missiles of various types were fired at different parts of Ukraine from Sunday to Monday, according...

Events

9 d. ago Nato chief Mark Rutte warns UK must spend more on defence or ‘learn to speak Russian’

Nato needs a 400% increase in air and missile defence, Mr Rutte says, warning Russia could be ready to use force against it within five years

Events

9 d. ago What London wants from the Spending Review as speculation grows Rachael Reeves set to snub capital

A source close to Sadiq Khan said ministers ‘must not return to the damaging, anti-London approach of the last government’

Politics

9 d. ago Mark Rutte warns NATO members must increase defence spending or ‘you better learn to speak Russian’

The NATO general secretary has called for a 400% increase in air and missile defence spending, claiming member states will need to “start learning Russian” otherwise.

Events

9 d. ago What London wants from the Spending Review as speculation grows Chancellor set to snub capital

A source close to Sadiq Khan said ministers ‘must not return to the damaging, anti-London approach of the last government’

Politics

1 week ago NATO chief says a '400% increase' in air and missile defence is required to protect Europe from Putin and become 'a more lethal alliance'

NATO head Mark Rutte will on Monday call for a 'quantum leap' in defence capacities including a '400-percent increase' in air and missile defence which 'protects' the alliance against Russia.

Events

1 week ago NATO needs 400% increase in air and missile defence, Rutte will say in London

NATO needs 400% increase in air and missile defence, Rutte will say in London  Reuters

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Poland scrambles planes to secure airspace as Russia targets western Ukraine

The Polish response comes as Russian troops advance on east-central Ukraine. What we know on day 1,202See all our Ukraine war coveragePoland and allied countries scrambled aircraft early on Monday to ensure the safety of Polish airspace after Russia launched airstrikes targeting western Ukraine near the Polish border, the operational command of the Polish armed forces said. “The steps taken are aimed at ensuring security in the regions bordering the areas at risk,” it said on X.All of Ukraine was under air raid alerts in the early hours of Monday after the Ukrainian air force warned of Russian missile and drone attacks.Russia launched an air attack on Kyiv, which Ukraine’s air defence units were trying to repel, the military administration of the Ukrainian capital said on the Telegram messaging app early on Monday.Russia says its forces are advancing to the edge of the east-central Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk for the first time in the three-year war, raising the prospect of a...

Events

2 w. ago Defence review plans will make army ‘10 times more lethal’, says John Healey – politics live

Defence secretary says ‘the world is more dangerous’ as he addresses MPs about strategic defence reviewHere is the clip of Keir Starmer in his Today programme interview refusing to say when the government will raise defence spending to 3% of GDP.In an interview with the Times published on Saturday John Healey, the defence secretary, said that he had “no doubt” that Britain would reach the 3% target by 2034 – ie, before the end of the next parliament. Yesterday he described this as an “ambition”. Continue reading...

Politics