Latest news with #WorldWarTwo-style
Irish Daily Mirror
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Irish Daily Mirror
Chilling new strategy warns Brits must 'actively prepare' for war on UK soil
The British public must "actively prepare" for war on UK soil, a chilling new Government document has warned. The newly-published National Security Strategy said the years ahead will test the UK - with a World War Two-style spirit needed to deal with growing threats. It said tackling the danger of nuclear weapons will be "more complex than it was even in the Cold War", reports The Mirror. The document went on to warn that major powers like China and Russia are seeking to gain an upper hand in "outer space, cyberspace, the deep sea, and at the Arctic and Antarctic poles". And the report also warned that hostile states may join forces with terror groups and criminals to carry out attacks on British shores. It states: "For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario." Warning of hostile states acting within the UK, Keir Starmer said the country is in a period of "radical uncertainty". He has pledged to spend 5 per cent of GDP on national security within a decade - a move the strategy says will draw together civilian and military priorities "in a way not seen since 1945". The document says: "The years ahead will test the United Kingdom... The direction it takes – and the decisions we take – will reverberate through the decades. "We will need agility and courage to succeed, but we should be optimistic. We remain a resolute country, rich in history, values and in our capabilities. But most of all, there is the determination of the British people themselves. After all, we do not need to look too far into our history for an example of a whole-of-society effort, motivated by a collective will to keep each other safe. "We can mobilise that spirit again and use it both for our national security and the rebuilding of our country." The strategy said arms control measures had failed to keep up with the spread of nuclear weapons - highlighted by alarm over Iran's nuclear weapons programme. It said: "The threat to the UK and our allies from nuclear weapons is once again growing. "Tackling this challenge is likely to be more complex than it was even in the Cold War, with more states with more nuclear weapons, the further proliferation of nuclear and disruptive technology, and the failure of international arms control arrangements to keep pace." The Irish Mirror's Crime Writers Michael O'Toole and Paul Healy are writing a new weekly newsletter called Crime Ireland. Click here to sign up and get it delivered to your inbox every week And the grim document added that the UK is "directly threatened" by hostile activities including assassination, intimidation, espionage, sabotage, cyber attacks and other forms of democratic interference. It stated that critical national infrastructure, such as undersea cables, energy pipelines, transportation and logistics hubs, are also a target. And the strategy warns: "It may become more difficult to identify hostile state activity as they make use of terrorist and criminal groups as their proxies." Referencing North Korea's support for Russian forces in Ukraine, the strategy said hostile nations are more willing to work together. "As our adversaries and competitors engage in further military modernisation, issues like technology transfer and sanctions enforcement are going to become increasingly important," the strategy states. Addressing MPs in the Commons, cabinet office minister Pat McFadden said the UK Government needs to be "clear-eyed and hard-edged". Mr McFadden said ministers would work on protecting security at home by bolstering borders and making the UK "more resilient to future threats". He said more would need to be done with international allies to defend collective security - especially in the UK's relations with major powers like China. The strategy warned that "instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years". Mr McFadden also set out the UK's priority to rebuild its defence industries and building "advantages in new frontier technologies" like AI. "All of this will make us a stronger and more resilient country," he added.
Daily Record
14 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Record
Scots must 'actively prepare' for war on UK soil in chilling government strategy warning
It comes as Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has warned of a period of "radical uncertainty". Scots should prepare for war on British soil, it has been claimed. The Bombshell prediction was made in the UK Government's National Security Strategy document. It states that citizens must "actively prepare" for war in the United Kindgom. The newly-published guidance warns the years ahead will test the nation. And it says a World War Two-style spirit needs to be mobilised, The Mirror reports. It states: "For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario." Warning of hostile states acting within the UK, Keir Starmer said the country is in a period of "radical uncertainty". He has pledged to spend 5% of GDP on national security within a decade. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. A move the strategy says will draw together civilian and military priorities "in a way not seen since 1945". And it said tackling the threat of nuclear weapons will be "more complex than it was even in the Cold War". The document says: "The years ahead will test the United Kingdom... The direction it takes – and the decisions we take – will reverberate through the decades. "We will need agility and courage to succeed, but we should be optimistic. "We remain a resolute country, rich in history, values and in our capabilities. But most of all, there is the determination of the British people themselves. "After all, we do not need to look too far into our history for an example of a whole-of-society effort, motivated by a collective will to keep each other safe. "We can mobilise that spirit again and use it both for our national security and the rebuilding of our country."
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Nuclear weapons threat to UK 'growing' as challenge 'more complex than Cold War'
The threat of nuclear weapons to Britain is "growing" in an era of "radical uncertainty", the National Security Strategy review has revealed. It comes as the UK was told it must "actively prepare" for war on British soil, the government's review today concluded. The newly-published document warns the years ahead will test the nation - with a World War Two-style spirit needing to be mobilised. It said that tackling the threat of nuclear weapons will be "more complex than it was even in the Cold War". The strategy went on to warn that major powers like China and Russia are seeking to gain an upper hand in "outer space, cyberspace, the deep sea, and at the Arctic and Antarctic poles". The National Security Strategy states: "The foundations of strategic stability are being challenged. The threat to the UK and our allies from nuclear weapons is once again growing. Tackling this challenge is likely to be more complex than it was even in the Cold War, with more states with more nuclear weapons, the further proliferation of nuclear and disruptive technology, and the failure of international arms control arrangements to keep pace." The new report also warned that hostile states may join forces with terror groups and criminals to carry out attacks on these shores. It went on "For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario." The strategy said arms control measures had failed to keep up with the spread of nuclear weapons - highlighted by alarm over Iran's nuclear weapons programme. It said: "The threat to the UK and our allies from nuclear weapons is once again growing. Addressing MPs in the Commons, cabinet office minister Pat McFadden said the Government needs to be "clear-eyed and hard-edged". Mr McFadden said ministers would work on protecting security at home by bolstering borders and making the UK "more resilient to future threats". He said more would need to be done with international allies to defend collective security - especially in the UK's relations with major powers like China. The strategy warned that "instances of China's espionage, interference in our democracy and the undermining of our economic security have increased in recent years". Mr McFadden also set out the UK's priority to rebuild its defence industries and building "advantages in new frontier technologies" like AI. "All of this will make us a stronger and more resilient country," he added. , , , , or visit homepage.
Daily Mirror
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Daily Mirror
Brits must 'actively prepare' for war on UK soil, chilling strategy warns
The British public must "actively prepare" for war on UK soil, a grim new Government strategy warns. The newly-published National Security Strategy warns the years ahead will test the nation - with a World War Two-style spirit needing to be mobilised. It states: "For the first time in many years, we have to actively prepare for the possibility of the UK homeland coming under direct threat, potentially in a wartime scenario." Warning of hostile states acting within the UK, Keir Starmer said the country is in a period of "radical uncertainty". He has pledged to spend 5% of GDP on national security within a decade - a move the strategy says will draw together civilian and military priorities "in a way not seen since 1945". The document says: "The years ahead will test the United Kingdom... The direction it takes – and the decisions we take – will reverberate through the decades. "We will need agility and courage to succeed, but we should be optimistic. We remain a resolute country, rich in history, values and in our capabilities. But most of all, there is the determination of the British people themselves. After all, we do not need to look too far into our history for an example of a whole-of-society effort, motivated by a collective will to keep each other safe. "We can mobilise that spirit again and use it both for our national security and therebuilding of our country."
The Independent
11-02-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Ukraine-Russia war latest: Trump says Ukraine may be Russian someday while demanding $500bn rare earth deal
Donald Trump said Ukraine may or may not lose its sovereignty to Russia while claiming that the war-hit nation had 'essentially agreed' to a rare earth minerals deal with the US. "They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. 'But we're going to have all this money in [ Ukraine ] and I say, I want it back," the president said in an interview with Fox News. "I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earths, and they've essentially agreed to do that.' His remarks came as Russian deputy foreign minister Sergei Ryabkov said it would not be possible to reach a peace deal if Mr Trump undermined Mr Putin's fundamental aims. 'Without solving the problems which were the root causes of what is happening, it will not be possible to reach an agreement,' he said. 'So variations and half-measures are not the path we are prepared to go along.' What happened to the North Korean troops fighting Ukraine on the frontline? North Korean troops pulled from Ukraine war front line – what happened? Kim Jong Un sent roughly 11,000 soldiers to join Vladimir Putin's troops in November last year Alexander Butler11 February 2025 11:30 Mapped: Where are Ukraine's rare earth mineral resources and why does Trump want them? Mapped: Where are Ukraine's mineral resources and why does Trump want them? More than 50 per cent of Ukraine's critical rare earth mineral resources are in regions illegally annexed by Vladimir Putin and partially occupied by his forces Alexander Butler11 February 2025 11:00 The defenders of Kyiv using World War Two-style machine guns on farm trailers The defenders of Kyiv using World War Two-style machine guns on farm trailers Swarms of Iranian-made Russian Shahed unmanned drones target Ukraine almost every night – it is up to these men and their World War Two-style machine guns to shoot the UAVs out of the sky. World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley reports from the Kyiv region Alexander Butler11 February 2025 10:30 The fatal lengths North Korean soldiers will go to to avoid capture by Ukraine The extraordinary lengths North Korean soldiers will go to avoid capture in Ukraine The North Korean troops fighting for Russia are highly trained and will stop at nothing to avoid surrender, Ukrainian sources tell Sam Kiley, The Independent's World Affairs Editor, in Sumy Alexander Butler11 February 2025 10:00 Emergency restrictions in Ukraine after Russia pounds gas infrastructure Ukraine's energy minister has introduced emergency restrictions after Russia hit gas infrastructure overnight. "Another attack on Ukraine's energy system is under way," German Galushchenko said in the early hours of the morning. "At night, the enemy attacked the gas infrastructure. As of this morning, the energy sector is still under attack." Russia has consistently targeted Ukrainian energy infrastructure in a bid to economically cripple Kyiv and bring down morale. Alexander Butler11 February 2025 09:00 Ukraine's leading rapper is now leading drone warfare against Russia Ukraine's leading rapper is now leading drone warfare against Russia Ukraine's $1.3bn drone war is now being led by a rap artist who has been fighting on the frontline – and in his music - since the start of the war, Sam Kiley reports Alexander Butler11 February 2025 08:37 Trump aides to visit Ukraine for first time, Zelensky says "Serious" members of Trump's team will travel to Ukraine for the first time this week, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said late last night. He also confirmed plans to meet Vice President JD Vance at the Munich conference, which begins on Friday. Zelenskyy said his team were attempting to organise a meeting with Trump. "This week, some people from the Trump team, serious ones, will be in Ukraine - even before the Munich conference," he said. Alexander Butler11 February 2025 08:35 Poland activates aircraft after Russian strikes on Ukraine Polish and allied aircraft were activated early on Tuesday to ensure safety in areas bordering the threatened zones after Russia launched air strikes on Ukraine, the Operational Command of the Polish armed forces said. "The Operational Command of the Armed Forces is monitoring the current situation, and its forces and resources remain in full readiness for immediate response," the Command said on X. Alexander Butler11 February 2025 08:07 Trump says 'Ukraine may be Russian someday' Donald Trump has said Ukraine may or may not lose its sovereignty to Russia. The US president has also repeated his pitch for compensation from the war-hit country in return for the aid provided by the US, irrespective of how the war ends. "They may make a deal. They may not make a deal. They may be Russian someday, or they may not be Russian someday. But we're going to have all this money in (Ukraine) and I say, I want it back," Mr Trump said in an interview with Fox News's Bret Baier. Arpan Rai11 February 2025 07:40 Trump says Ukraine 'essentially agrees' to rare earth deal worth billions Donald Trump has claimed that Ukraine has "essentially agreed" to a $500b resource deal. "I told them that I want the equivalent of like $500 billion worth of rare earth (minerals), and they've essentially agreed to do that," the US president said.
