Three in four Britons believe it is becoming harder to think freely today

The Independent - Oct 13, 2026

As The Independent marks its 40th anniversary, we look at the challenges facing today’s society and find that social media is just one aspect hampering free thought. Dan Haygarth and Bryony Gooch report

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Why Saudi Arabia has struggled to defend itself against Houthis' recent attacks
Oct 13, 2026
Why Saudi Arabia has struggled to defend itself against Houthis' recent attacks

Saudi Arabia has one of the world’s most expensive and sophisticated arsenals, filled with American warplanes, missile defenses and other cutting-edge technology. But in recent days it has appeared helpless in the face of barrages of missiles and drones fired by the Houthi rebel group from neighboring Yemen. The attacks have struck Saudi airports, killed at least 14 people and forced schoolchildren and businesspeople to stay indoors and work from home. The Iran-backed Houthis, once seen as little more than a ragtag militia, have grown into a formidable fighting force. They have inflicted damage on the region’s top oil producer, threatened critical supply routes in the Red Sea and now risk reigniting a full-scale war on the Arabian Peninsula that displaced millions and killed tens of thousands. The Houthis are attacking Saudi Arabia because it supports government forces in Yemen the rebels seek to overthrow. As Saudi Arabia investigates how its air defenses failed to stop the Houthis' attacks, it must also consider how to respond and what the rebels might do next. Here’s what we kno

White House links $54 bil. in S. Korean investment to Alaska gas project
Oct 13, 2026
White House links $54 bil. in S. Korean investment to Alaska gas project

WASHINGTON — New White House Press Secretary Katie Zacharia said Tuesday that $54 billion was tied to an Alaska liquefied natural gas (LNG) project as part of a South Korean energy investment package, despite uncertainty over Seoul's participation in the project. Zacharia made the remarks during her first official press briefing at the White House while highlighting the South Korean energy investment package worth up to $200 billion that U.S. President Donald Trump announced earlier this month. "President Trump also unveiled a South Korea energy investment package of up to $200 billion in the United States. This is an amazing deal. This includes as much as $120 billion to build eight large-scale nuclear power plants," Zacharia said. "In addition to that, there is $54 billion tied to the Alaska LNG pipeline and terminal to service the Pacific Rim and sell fuel to our allies as well as $22.3 billion for a 6-gigawatt natural gas power facility in Texas." Following Trump's announcement, South Korea's industry ministry, however, said the Alaska project had not yet been finalized, stressing

Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery to remove lung nodule at Rome's Gemelli hospital
Oct 13, 2026
Pope Leo XIV undergoes surgery to remove lung nodule at Rome's Gemelli hospital

ROME — Pope Leo XIV underwent surgery Tuesday to remove a lung nodule, officials said, an operation that should determine whether the lesion is malignant and if other treatment is needed. After a quick drive from the Vatican, Leo walked into Rome's Gemelli hospital through the main entrance and waved to dozens of well-wishers who had gathered to greet him. The Vatican said the surgery would be performed by a team led by Gemelli’s chief thoracic surgeon, Dr. Stefano Margaritora. The surgery got under way as medical staff recited the Rosary prayer in the hospital chapel Tuesday evening, according to two people familiar with the plans who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly. “Let us join together in prayer, asking the Lord to sustain our bishop, Pope Leo, and to comfort all those who are hospitalized here,” said the Vicar of Rome, Cardinal Baldassare Reina, at the start of the prayer. The 71-year-old American pontiff has offered a rare level of transparency about the first publicly disclosed major health problem of his 17-month papacy.

Hyundai Motor Group bets $15.5 billion on India as global auto hub
Oct 13, 2026
Hyundai Motor Group bets $15.5 billion on India as global auto hub

Hyundai Motor Group said on Tuesday it would invest $15.5 billion in India through 2032, deepening its bet on the world's third-largest car market as a key driver of future growth. The South Korean automaker's seven-year plan includes about $700 million of investment in its Indian research and development centre, expansion of production capacity and a dedicated investment entity. India, the world's third-largest car market, is attracting billions of dollars in investment from global automakers seeking to tap rising demand and expand local manufacturing capacity, underscoring its position as a major automotive production hub. Hyundai said last year it would invest $5 billion to expand its manufacturing and research operations in India. Japan's Suzuki Motor, the majority owner of India's largest carmaker by volume, Maruti Suzuki, also laid out plans in 2025 to invest about $8 billion in the country. Carmakers such as Toyota and Honda have committed to expanding their manufacturing ambitions in India as well. Hyundai Motor, which employs more than 24,000 people in India, said the investment w

Saudi Arabia strikes Yemen capital as Houthis vow to retaliate
Oct 13, 2026
Saudi Arabia strikes Yemen capital as Houthis vow to retaliate

RIYADH — Yemen's Iran-allied Houthis said Saudi Arabia was attacking the Yemeni capital Sanaa on Tuesday after a Saudi-led coalition warned civilians to stay away from an oil depot on the city outskirts, part of a rapidly escalating war between the sides. The Houthis have for a week been targeting Saudi airports, including a strike on Riyadh on Saturday that killed 13 people, in retaliation for the kingdom's backing of government forces against the Houthis in Yemen's reignited civil war. Houthi-run Al-Masirah television reported that the Saudi-led coalition had targeted the Yemen Petroleum Company's Sabah central station, a fuel depot on the outskirts of Sanaa. YPC said the facility did not currently hold any stocks of petroleum products and that targeting it did not affect oil reserves or supply chains. However, the Houthis had earlier threatened a "harsh and painful" response to any strikes on Sanaa, with spokesperson Yahya Saree saying targets could include the Saudi Aramco headquarters in Dhahran and an oil refinery in Riyadh. The group renewed earlier warnings it had issued to oil

NK gaining troop deployment, combat experience in Ukraine war: USFK chief
Oct 13, 2026
NK gaining troop deployment, combat experience in Ukraine war: USFK chief

WASHINGTON — North Korea is gaining experience in deploying troops and sustaining military operations over long distances through its involvement in Russia's war against Ukraine, the commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) said Tuesday. U.S. Gen. Xavier Brunson made the remarks during a dialogue hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, highlighting the military benefits Pyongyang has gained from deploying troops and supplying weapons to support Moscow in the war. "They've learned how to go from North Korea to find themselves in Russia to move men, weapons and equipment there, as well to build supply lines that would allow them to support the Russian war effort," Brunson said when asked about the experiences Pyongyang gained through its participation in the conflict. Brunson stressed that North Korea's military has gained experience in strategic movement, mobilization and logistics, allowing it to develop capabilities that extend beyond tactical lessons learned on the battlefield. The commander warned that North Korea's military is becoming increasingly

Carney 1812 tweet references British-Canadian forces routing US
Oct 13, 2026
Carney 1812 tweet references British-Canadian forces routing US

Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney on Tuesday made a reference to a 1812 U.S.-British battle in which forces from the United Kingdom were victorious. “On this day in 1812,” Carney said in a post on the social platform X that also featured a photo of a small sculpture of what appears to be a British...

Trump rails against ‘disgusting’ nemesis Letitia James handling Cornell rape investigation
Oct 13, 2026
Trump rails against ‘disgusting’ nemesis Letitia James handling Cornell rape investigation

Donald Trump on Tuesday demanded that New York Attorney General Letitia James be removed from an investigation into an alleged rape at Cornell University, calling the state’s top prosecutor a “disgusting cop” with “zero credibility.”

Yorkshire tiger latest: Family pay tribute to ‘bright, warm and engaging young man’ killed at wildlife park
Oct 13, 2026
Yorkshire tiger latest: Family pay tribute to ‘bright, warm and engaging young man’ killed at wildlife park

William Chapman’s family said he ‘suffered from significant mental illness’ and had been prescribed ‘strong medication’

Atletico Madrid v Man United LIVE: Michael Carrick responds after bombshell Lisandro Martinez interview
Oct 13, 2026
Atletico Madrid v Man United LIVE: Michael Carrick responds after bombshell Lisandro Martinez interview

Atletico Madrid 2-0 Manchester United: Michael Carrick’s side missed chances as they failed to recover from a nightmare start and conceding inside 60 seconds

Vatican says Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and that the lower lobe of his right lung was removed
Oct 13, 2026
Vatican says Pope Leo XIV has lung cancer and that the lower lobe of his right lung was removed

Pope Leo XIV was diagnosed with lung cancer, the Vatican said Tuesday, after he underwent surgery to remove a nodule from his lung. The 90-minute procedure was successful and removed the lower lobe of his right lung. The Vatican said the pope was recovering and that there were no planned changes to his hospitalization time,...

Arsenal thrash Lille as Atletico Madrid beat Manchester United
Oct 13, 2026
Arsenal thrash Lille as Atletico Madrid beat Manchester United

Arsenal scored three goals in seven second-half minutes on Tuesday to beat Lille 3-0 and maintain their perfect Champions League start, while Atletico Madrid defeated Manchester United 2-0 to deepen the pressure on Michael Carrick. Bayern Munich were held to a shock 3-3 draw by Norway’s Viking after Michael Olise was sent off.

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