61 h. ago Starmer admits employer national insurance tax hikes piled pressure on British business

Keir Starmer said the government recognised it has ‘asked a lot’ of British firms since the general election

Economics

3 d. ago Trump hails ‘big win’ as Nato states agree to raise defence spending to 5% of GDP

US president appears relaxed and reaffirms commitment to military alliance – though Spain criticisedA relaxed Donald Trump said Nato’s decision to increase defence spending to 5% of GDP was a “big win” for western civilisation in a digressive press conference at a summit in The Hague where he reaffirmed the US’s commitment to the military alliance.There was every sign that the careful setup of the summit – in which most allies in Europe and Canada committed billions more on defence – had worked to keep Trump bound in to the alliance, with the US president praising Mark Rutte, its secretary general, and a night where he “slept beautiful” in the Dutch king’s palace. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Starmer insists Nato committed to mutual defence as Trump casts doubt on support

Nato’s Article 5 commits all members of the alliance to come to the defence of each other if attacked.

Politics

4 d. ago Trump ‘flying into big success’ at Nato summit, claims Rutte who praises his ‘decisive action’ in Iran – Europe live

US president shares screenshot of congratulatory text message from Nato chief as he travels to summit in The HagueAnalysis: Summit set to be triumphant for Trump but deflating for UkraineWhittaker also says that he is expecting US president Donald Trump “might deliver some remarks” on his views on the summit, as he stresses that “we need to make sure that everyone’s investing in the common defence of the Alliance.”“I don’t want to sort of steal what he might say, nor do I claim to be able to read his mind and know what he’s going to say. But I think he has demonstrated through, again, decisive action leading to peace.”“And again, that’s good for Europe, because there’s been a lot of irregular flows of migrants through Europe, from the Middle East because of the instability. And so hopefully, with Syria now appearing to be stable, with Iran, maybe in check a little more than they had been, I think we could really see a generational moment here where the Middle East is more stable tha...

Politics

4 d. ago Unthinkable Russia should outproduce us, Nato’s Rutte says, as summit waits for arrival of Trump – Europe live

Nato secretary general urges alliance to push for military investment before arrival of US president this eveningAnalysis: Summit set to be triumphant for Trump but deflating for UkraineWhittaker also says that he is expecting US president Donald Trump “might deliver some remarks” on his views on the summit, as he stresses that “we need to make sure that everyone’s investing in the common defence of the Alliance.”“I don’t want to sort of steal what he might say, nor do I claim to be able to read his mind and know what he’s going to say. But I think he has demonstrated through, again, decisive action leading to peace.”“And again, that’s good for Europe, because there’s been a lot of irregular flows of migrants through Europe, from the Middle East because of the instability. And so hopefully, with Syria now appearing to be stable, with Iran, maybe in check a little more than they had been, I think we could really see a generational moment here where the Middle East is more stable than...

Politics

4 d. ago ‘US is here to stay’, says Trump’s Nato representative, at ‘most consequential moment in alliance’s history’ – Europe live

US permanent representative to Nato says country ‘not going anywhere’ before Donald Trump visit to summitAnalysis: Summit set to be triumphant for Trump but deflating for UkraineWhittaker also says that he is expecting US president Donald Trump “might deliver some remarks” on his views on the summit, as he stresses that “we need to make sure that everyone’s investing in the common defence of the Alliance.”“I don’t want to sort of steal what he might say, nor do I claim to be able to read his mind and know what he’s going to say. But I think he has demonstrated through, again, decisive action leading to peace.”“And again, that’s good for Europe, because there’s been a lot of irregular flows of migrants through Europe, from the Middle East because of the instability. And so hopefully, with Syria now appearing to be stable, with Iran, maybe in check a little more than they had been, I think we could really see a generational moment here where the Middle East is more stable than it has ...

Politics

4 d. ago Armed by America: how Europe’s militaries depend on the US – a visual analysis

The EU wants independence on defence but it is buying thousands of weapons from the US each yearEuropean leaders will meet with Donald Trump at a Nato summit on Tuesday, as the alliance prepares to approve a significant boost to defence spending. A new target for every member to spend 5% of GDP – more than double Nato’s current benchmark – marks a major win for the US president, who has long railed against America footing the bill for Europe’s security.That concern is now increasingly mutual. European governments are pursuing an unprecedented push for military independence, amid fears the US is no longer a reliable ally. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Macron labels Trump's Iran air strikes 'illegal', pressures Starmer to take a stand

Emmanuel Macron has hit out at Donald Trump's air strikes on Iran, branding them 'illegal' and deepening the row over whether the US action broke international law

Events

4 d. ago Macron labels Trump's Iran air strikes 'illegal', pressure increases on Starmer

Emmanuel Macron has broken ranks with allies by declaring that Donald Trump's air strikes on Iran were "illegal", deepening the row over whether the US action broke international law

Events

5 d. ago Zelenskyy calls Russia, Iran and North Korea a ‘coalition of murderers’ during UK visit

Ukrainian president’s remark came on visit to discuss Moscow’s war and defence cooperation with Kier StarmerVolodymyr Zelenskyy has described Russia, Iran and North Korea as a “coalition of murderers” during a visit to London in which he held talks with Keir Starmer on defence cooperation and how to put further pressure on Moscow.Ukraine’s president arrived in the UK on Monday, hours after the Kremlin launched another big air raid on Kyiv. It involved 352 drones – half of them were Iranian-designed Shaheds - and North Korean ballistic missiles in what Zelenskyy called “a completely cynical strike”. Continue reading...

Events

5 d. ago NATO leaders gather Tuesday for what could be a historic summit, or one marred by divisions

U.S. President Donald Trump and his NATO counterparts are gathering this week for what might be a historic summit

Politics

6 d. ago Mass protest in London against genocide in Gaza, war on Iran offered nothing but pressuring Starmer

Mass protest in London against genocide in Gaza, war on Iran offered nothing but pressuring Starmer  World Socialist Web Site

Events

9 d. ago Spain threatens to block NATO 5% defence spending target in snub to alliance chief who demanded nations boost spending

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is pushing bloc members to boost their defence spending to 5% GDP by 2032, after Trump declared America's allies were shirking their responsibilities

Events

9 d. ago An implosion, a collapse or a transition: what would regime change in Iran look like?

Some western leaders have welcomed the idea of the toppling of Iran’s supreme leader, but no planning has been made for the aftermath if it happensAt the G7 in Canada, differences within Europe about the wisdom of regime change in Iran could not have been more stark.The French president, Emmanuel Macron, warned against toppling a government “when you have no idea what comes next”. Insisting that he had no time for the Iranian government, Macron argued that it was for the people of Iran to choose their rulers. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Councils and institutions who failed young girls ‘will not be able to hide’ from new grooming gangs inquiry

Sir Keir Starmer bowed to months of mounting pressure over the issue ahead of the publication of a new report by Louise Casey

Events

1 week ago Labour ‘owe an apology’ for delay in grooming gangs inquiry, ex

Sir Keir Starmer bowed to months of mounting pressure over the issue ahead of the publication of a new report by Louise Casey

Events

1 week ago Keir Starmer bows to pressure to launch new grooming gangs investigation

New probe and statutory public inquiry will be a means to get ‘truth and justice’, home secretary saysKeir Starmer has launched a sweeping national operation to investigate grooming gangs and a statutory inquiry into institutional failure, marking a significant reversal after months of pressure on Labour to act.The National Crime Agency (NCA), the UK’s top investigative body, has been tasked with leading a coordinated national push to reopen historic group-based child sexual abuse cases and identify offenders who slipped through the cracks of previous police efforts. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago UK yet to commit to Nato plan for rise in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP

Nato chief Mark Rutte wants members to agree to plan at summit later this month but UK remains cautiousBritain has still not committed to agreeing an increase in defence spending to 3.5% of GDP by the mid-2030s at the Nato summit later this month in line with a proposal from the alliance secretary general, Mark Rutte, defence sources said.Though Rutte visited Downing St on Monday and the Nato chief expressed confidence in a speech in London afterwards that countries would sign up, senior insiders complained that Britain was still dragging its heels over the issue. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Russia is planning an attack on NATO territory to test the Western alliance's joint defence, German spy chief warns

Vladimir Putin is plotting to attack a NATO territory to test the bloc's mutual assistance clause, Germany's spy chief has warned. 

Events

2 w. ago 'Ramp up defence spending or start learning Russian': NATO boss Mark Rutte's chilling warning as he piles pressure on Keir Starmer to hike military budget by £30BILLION

Mark Rutte issued the chilling message while in London for talks with PM Sir Keir Starmer , ahead of a NATO summit later this month.

Events