New Nato chief says top priority remains Ukraine
The Independent|October 02, 2024
Mark Rutte, the former Dutch premier, plays down fears of Donald Trump as he promises to strengthen the organisation
ALEXANDER BUTLER
New Nato chief says top priority remains Ukraine

The new Nato chief Mark Rutte has vowed to strengthen Western support for war-ravaged Ukraine as he takes charge of the alliance. The former Dutch prime minister officially replaced Jens Stoltenberg yesterday as Nato secretary general after his predecessor spent a decade in the job.

Mr Rutte's appointment comes at an important time for Nato, with the US election just weeks away, he will soon be working with a new president. The secretary general said during a press conference yesterday that he could work with either Donald Trump or Kamala Harris and appreciates that Ukraine will be his top priority.

Mr Rutte, 57, was prime minister of the Netherlands until he stepped down earlier this year following the collapse of his coalition government in 2023. In June he was appointed to the Nato role. "We have to make sure that Ukraine prevails as a sovereign, independent, democratic nation," Mr Rutte said at Nato's headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE INDEPENDENTView all
All Blacks offer benchmark for Irish great expectations
The Independent

All Blacks offer benchmark for Irish great expectations

Victory for Ireland over New Zealand this evening won't wash away the pain of 14 October 2023.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 08, 2024
Arteta's vision for Arsenal at a crossroads after Edu exit
The Independent

Arteta's vision for Arsenal at a crossroads after Edu exit

Arsenal have become unaccustomed to being underdogs.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 08, 2024
Centre stage for England's most in-form midfielder
The Independent

Centre stage for England's most in-form midfielder

After becoming a parent, after earning a place in the tabletopping team, after a stellar player-of-the-match performance in a high-profile game and after providing one of the Champions League highlights of the week, Curtis Jones has another milestone occasion in his sights: a first senior international cap for England.

time-read
4 mins  |
November 08, 2024
United win ends year-long wait for success in Europe
The Independent

United win ends year-long wait for success in Europe

For a club who have been champions of Europe three times, a win in continental competition really shouldn’t be such a rarity.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 08, 2024
Hoorah for interest cut but we need another one soon
The Independent

Hoorah for interest cut but we need another one soon

After a turbulent few weeks, the Bank of England yesterday delivered a soothing balm to Britain's hard-pressed borrowers with a quarter-point cut in interest rates.

time-read
3 mins  |
November 08, 2024
Sainsbury's to raise prices due to Budget 'pressure'
The Independent

Sainsbury's to raise prices due to Budget 'pressure'

Sainsbury's has said shoppers will face higher prices as a result of the surprise tax changes announced in last week's Budget, which will hit the retailer with an extra £140m in costs.

time-read
2 mins  |
November 08, 2024
Keyboard warriors: a night at the Superbowl of esports
The Independent

Keyboard warriors: a night at the Superbowl of esports

The O2 arena sold out in a Glastonbury-esque frenzy, with resale tickets going for up to 1,000 online. All this for the chance to watch people play a desktop game on a jumbo screen? Annabel Nugent went to see what the big deal is

time-read
5 mins  |
November 08, 2024
NOBODY'S PERFECT
The Independent

NOBODY'S PERFECT

Eddie Redmayne has won rave reviews as an assassin in a TV adaptation of The Day of the Jackal’ but Geoffrey Macnab says it isn’t a patch on the 1973 movie starring Edward Fox

time-read
7 mins  |
November 08, 2024
How a new generation is giving granny tights a leg up
The Independent

How a new generation is giving granny tights a leg up

Kayleigh Werner explores how Gen Z superstars like Sabrina Carpenter and Taylor Swift have reclaimed a hosiery staple most Brits associate with Nory sa and made it me

time-read
4 mins  |
November 08, 2024
PREACHY CLEAN
The Independent

PREACHY CLEAN

Videos of CleanTok influencers making their homes shine have more than 150 billion views. Ellie Muir looks at whether their bizarre methods are setting unhealthily high standards

time-read
5 mins  |
November 08, 2024