The Independent | Leading Articles

Barack Obama's farewell to arms in Berlin

When John F Kennedy spoke in Berlin half a century ago he unwittingly set the standard. Obama clearly felt he had a hard act to follow

MPs are right - banks need tougher regulation

Despite actions that have cost billions of pounds of taxpayers’ money, no senior bank executive has yet been tried for what may have been the biggest fraud in history

A state’s duty to protect its soldiers

The Ministry of Defence had maintained that the battlefield was beyond the reach of legislation, but now families of soldiers killed in Iraq have the right to sue

Editorial: In praise of a well-versed soldiery

The Israeli army thinks poetry could ruin a soldiers image. We beg to differ

Editorial: Our duty is to build a state as best we can

The onus of resisting the Taliban now rests on the frail Afghan national army

Letters: Islam and assaults on women

These letters appear in the Wednesday 19th June edition of the Independent

Editorial: Our national genius for self-deception

The British are nothing if not inventive. Faced with the tax-in-all-but-name that is the licence .....

Editorial: Don’t give up on the Co-op model

It provides a necessary and welcome antidote to the City's capitalism

Editorial: Laughing all the way to the bank

It must be a sign of how serious, stressed-out and generally po-faced we have become as a society.....

Editorial: A taxing subject for the G8 leaders

The question is whether they want to do more than sound tough

Editorial: Rouhani victory is a chance for the West to reset relations with Iran

Ordinary Iranians are weary of endless confrontation with the outside world

Editorial: Internet can be a force for good

Despite privacy fears, most people recognise that the benefits outweigh the costs

Editorial: Don’t rain on their parade

It’s a serious conference, of course it is. Nevertheless, it’s difficult to suppress a giggle at .....

Editorial: New ideas must get a sporting chance

Throwing money after sports participation has not achieved the desired results

Editorial: Syria’s red line should never have been drawn

One of the first rules of diplomacy is don’t issue threats that you can’t carry out

Editorial: Greece has lost a crucial voice with the closure of ERT

The public broadcaster's independent voice is needed now more than ever

Editorial: The oil tycoon, his divorce, and a victory for women and justice

The case of Michael and Yasmin Prest is a turning point for British courts

Editorial: Academic excellence - without the 11-plus

An obvious way to improve education – allowing schools to select by ability – is still taboo

Editorial: Great job, Network Rail. All punctuality targets missed

Nearly two out of every three taxpayer-subsidised trains arrived late

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Day In a Page

Babies behind bars: A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail

Babies behind bars

A Palestinian fertility doctor has become an unlikely hero by helping women conceive – even though their husbands are in jail
Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm for under 25s

Sonic youth: The high-pitched sound alarm

Is Mosquito, the alarm only under-25s can hear, a blessing or a bane?
The art of living in small spaces: Architects are learning how to make less, more

The art of living in small spaces

Space in cities at a premium so architects are learning how to make less, more...
Special report: The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

The story of Sir Mervyn King's reign at the Bank

After four 'nice' years as Governor of Bank of England, things turned decisively nasty
Zombie nation: Our enduring fascination with a world full of death and destruction

Zombie nation: Our fascination with death and destruction

A new season of shows on Radio 4 is inspired by dark tales of future dystopias. Meanwhile, zombies are marauding in the multiplexes...
Martin Stephen: 'Ofsted says comprehensives are failing the most able but teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

'Teaching bright children isn't rocket science'

It doesn't take a selective system to nurture the best minds, says a former head of St Paul's boys' school.
The retail empires strike back: Can new technology lure us back to the high street?

Can technology lure us back to the high street?

The high street has been bruised and battered by online firms but in-store technology is helping to enliven the retail experience...
The 10 Best new smartphones

The 10 Best new smartphones

Photos, films, music, apps and browsing - the latest mobiles can do it all
Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

Jenson Button: Downbeat driver cannot wait to put season behind him

McLaren man admits 'failed gamble' with car has left him pinning hopes on 2014 campaign
James Lawton: Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe

James Lawton

Firmer fist will be required to win Champions Trophy final battle with stouter foe
'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong': The true effect of the badger cull

The true effect of the badger cull

'To farm I have to rape the countryside. It’s got to be wrong'
Theatre review: Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's The Cripple of Inishmaan

First night: The Cripple of Inishmaan

Daniel Radcliffe gives an admirably honest performance in Michael Grandage's comedy
Girls Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

Guides drop religious reference but pledge to self and the Queen

After 103 years, organisation changes oath to welcome 'all girls, of all faiths, and none'
Steve Tongue: Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago

Steve Tongue

Joe Kinnear was one of the boys and a breath of fresh air... 21 years ago
Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Bradley Wiggins' exit

Chris Froome: Free from 'pain in neck' after Wiggins' exit

Sky's lead rider says he is in fantastic form for the Tour and happy pecking order debate is over