99 m. ago Ukraine war briefing: Fire sale of Lukoil assets before start of US sanctions on Russia

Foreign properties may be nationalised if Lukoil doesn’t sell, or the proceeds frozen if it does; Zelenskyy grapples with corruption scandal fallout. What we know on day 1,359The foreign oil refineries and other assets of Russian company Lukoil are attracting potential buyers as time runs out to strike cheap deals before US sanctions come into force on 21 November. The sanctions, put in place in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, have already disrupted Lukoil’s operations in Iraq, at pump stations in Finland and a refinery in Bulgaria. Kazakhstan’s state firm KazMunayGas is studying a bid for Lukoil’s assets in the country, two sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Shell is interested in Lukoil deepwater assets in Ghana and Nigeria, two other sources said. Shell declined to comment to Reuters.The government of Moldova has started talks to nationalise Lukoil’s infrastructure at Chisinau airport, said the airport’s director, Serdgiu Spoiala. Bulgaria is working towards seiz...

Events

4 h. ago Toxic briefing that backfired on Keir: How No 10's bid to block a Streeting challenge left him quipping I'm a Faithful not a Traitor!

Wes Streeting took to social media to praise the newly elected socialist mayor of New York, Zohran Mamdani, heralding a victory that held 'lessons for progressives'.

Events

4 h. ago Fishing lures. Pet toys. Art supplies. Advent calendars offer personalized ways to count down

Advent and other countdown calendars have evolved from simple candy-filled boxes to creative outlets for artists and brands

Politics

5 h. ago UFC 322: Start time, schedule, fight card, how to watch and latest odds

British former champion in action in New York

Sport

5 h. ago Harvey Weinstein prosecutors say defense's jury misconduct claims are 'implausible'

Prosecutors are urging a judge to reject Harvey Weinstein’s claims that his June sexual assault conviction was marred by threats and bullying among jurors

Events

5 h. ago Judge declines to dismiss sex trafficking case against real estate brothers

A federal judge says a two-decade pattern of alleged sex trafficking by two luxury real estate brokers and their brother wasn’t “just men behaving badly.”

Events

6 h. ago Evoking a Pacific Northwest past, 'Train Dreams' stirs a plaintive elegy

It’s popular in Hollywood to follow the tax credits wherever they go, but that was never going to be much of an option for “Train Dreams.”

Politics

6 h. ago Judge orders release of 600 migrants swept up in ICE’s ‘Midway Blitz’ operation in Chicago

District Judge Jeff Cummings issued the release order Wednesday morning

Events

6 h. ago Starmer's last stand? PM clings to chief aide Morgan McSweeney despite Labour demands for sackings over No 10's 'unacceptable' attacks on Cabinet

Just a fortnight before a crucial Budget, Keir Starmer has been plunged deeper into chaos  by an extraordinary pre-emptive strike on plotters.

Events

7 h. ago £400 Shark Stratos cordless vacuum slashed to £199 in huge Amazon deal

Amazon’s early Black Friday deals strike again – Shark’s premium Stratos vacuum is now half price at just £199

Economics

8 h. ago Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey partner with ElevenLabs for AI voice cloning

Oscar-winning actors Michael Caine and Matthew McConaughey have partnered with voice-cloning company ElevenLabs

Politics

8 h. ago MSNBC's name is being replaced, but its leaders insist that its mission will remain the same

MSNBC enters the hall of retired corporate names this weekend, with the network formally switching over to MS NOW

Politics

9 h. ago Adele will make her acting debut in Tom Ford’s adaptation of ‘Cry to Heaven’

Tom Ford has enlisted Adele to co-star in an adaptation of Anne Rice’s “Cry to Heaven."

Politics

9 h. ago Cop30 live: ‘literally insane’ that we are letting global heating happen, says Al Gore

Former US vice-president also critical of Donald Trump and Bill Gates as negotiations begin in earnestHello comrades, this is Nina Lakhani in chilly New York City taking over the blog for the next few hours. Thanks very much to my colleague Matt Taylor in London Town who will be back in the hot seat on Friday morning.Leading climate activists and influencers have signed a letter criticising PR firm Edelman over its role at the Cop30 summit in Brazil. Continue reading...

Society

9 h. ago Celebrating literature is good – but I’m running out of patience with celebrity book clubs | Emma Brockes

Sarah Jessica Parker swept all before her at the Booker prize ceremony, but is fame the best way to encourage reading?In these turbulent times, we take small joys where we can find them. And this week we’ll take this: the spectacle of various literary people at the Booker prize award ceremony jamming themselves into photos alongside Sarah Jessica Parker. The actor – if you missed the long piece about it in the New York Times, or the many social media posts promoting Parker’s involvement – served as a judge for the Booker this year, a process that required her to read 153 books, some of them on the New York subway while being followed by a film crew. “Oh let me try!!!!” Parker had posted to Booker organisers last year, and for reasons that became obvious this week, they did.I know what you are going to say; that anything short of full-throated support for Parker’s adorable engagement with books in general and the Booker prize in particular is just unacceptable snobbery. There is noth...

Culture

9 h. ago British Medical Association ‘threat to future of NHS’, says Streeting ahead of doctors’ strike

Health secretary accuses doctors’ union of ‘cartel-like behaviour’ and tells it to ‘get real’ over pay demandsUK politics live – latest updatesThe British Medical Association is acting like a cartel and its “antics” are endangering the NHS’s future, the health secretary has said before the latest doctors’ strike begins on Friday.Wes Streeting launched his most strongly worded attack yet on the doctors’ union, coming close to accusing resident doctors in England of being greedy in their pay demands. Continue reading...

Events

10 h. ago With their government contracts in limbo, small businesses await a historic shutdown's end

The end of the longest U.S. government shutdown in history would be a relief for small businesses that depend on federal contracts or funding

Politics

10 h. ago Starmer's last stand? PM clings to chief aide Morgan McSweeney' despite Labour demands for sackings over No10's 'unacceptable' attacks on Cabinet

Just a fortnight before a crucial Budget, Keir Starmer has been plunged deeper into chaos  by an extraordinary pre-emptive strike on plotters.

Events

10 h. ago Winter is a great time to visit New York. Here’s a tourist’s guide to a short break

At four centuries old, New York is more vibrant than ever

Politics

11 h. ago Anthropic announces $50B investment in new US data centers to meet AI demand

Anthropic has announced a $50 billion investment in computing infrastructure

Economics