In recent weeks, the British public, increasingly alarmed at the behaviour of Vladimir Putin, has learnt that the army stands at its lowest strength since the Napoleonic wars, that both of our otherwise magnificent aircraft carriers have trouble getting seaborne, that one of our warships crashed into another because of “faulty wiring”, and that Donald Trump has threatened to withdraw the US commitment to Nato.
Even the special forces, the finest of their kind in the world, are now being accused of war crimes in Afghanistan. It’s not inspiring confidence...
Why are our missiles misfiring?
Something to do with telemetrics, maybe. If anyone does know, then it’s a secret. The MoD says “an anomaly occurred” – a refreshingly novel euphemism for failure – and that the incident was “event specific”. Even so, a similar thing apparently happened in 2016. The government assures us that “there are no implications for the reliability of the wider Trident missile systems and stockpile”. Phew.
Is our independent nuclear deterrent still a deterrent?
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 22, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة February 22, 2024 من The Independent.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Ricciardo set for axe - and only has himself to blame
When handed a second chance in Formula One last summer, Daniel Ricciardo had his aspirations set higher than a paltry seat at Red Bull's sister team.
Sri Lankans vote today in shadow of political dynasty
Protesters who toppled the Rajapaksa government in 2022 are hoping for change, but two of the candidates are closely linked to the establishmen
Israeli strike in Beirut kills top Hezbollah commander
Israel says it has killed a top Hezbollah commander in a strike on Beirut yesterday, fuelling fears of an all-out war on the IsraeliLebanon border. Israeli military said that Ibrahim Aqi Aqil, who served on Hezbollah's top military body and was the acting commander of the group's elite Radwan force, was killed along with other senior commanders of the unit.
'The West needs a Russia strategy in place come Putin's inevitable downfall'
In the second part of his exclusive interview, freed dissident Vladimir Kara-Murza tells Tom Watling that the long-term security of Europe rests on a free and democratic Russia
Mother blames hospital for death of 'terrified' daughter
A young woman \"traumatised\" by a stay in a scandal-hit hospital as a teenager died after trying to take her own life years later, an inquest has heard. Melissa Parrish was admitted to Huntercombe Hospital in Maidenhead in 2009 for an eating disorder when she was 15 years old, but the experience left her terrified of being admitted to hospital.
Ninety-four-year-old dies after 'hugger mugger' attack
A 94-year-old man died after he was hugged by a mugger who snatched his bank cards in a bustling London town centre.
Work starts to build refuge after £25,000 donated by one person anonymously
The Independent is thrilled to reveal we can break ground and start building a refuge after an incredible response to the Brick by Brick campaign. Geordie Greig, the publication's editor-in-chief, thanked readers for their generous donations of £71,050 so far, including £25,000 from a mystery supporter.
'Trailblazing' film and soap.star Sylvestre dies aged 79
Actor Cleo Sylvestre has died aged 79, her agent has confirmed.
Cherie Blair: Abuser pushed me down the stairs in court
The KC reveals her decades-long commitment to victims of domestic abuse as she backs our campaign with Refuge
Starmer's five missions at risk of becoming impossible
For a party which won a stonking majority of 174 only two months ago, Labour's annual conference starting tomorrow would normally be a celebration. Yet Keir Starmer can't allow more than a brief nod to his landslide victory, which already feels a long time ago.