5 h. ago UK imposes sanctions on four RSF officers for ‘heinous’ mass killings in Sudan

Senior commanders accused of atrocities against civilians face asset freezes – but no action against key backer UAE The UK has placed sanctions on four senior commanders of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces suspected of involvement in “heinous” violence against civilians in the city of El Fasher, but decided not to take any action against their key military and diplomatic backer, the United Arab Emirates, or their chief commander.British officials suggested they preferred to use their leverage with the UAE and the RSF commander, Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, privately, but admitted there was little sign of a ceasefire in Sudan’s near three-year civil war. Continue reading...

Events

6 h. ago Interpreter cries as Ukrainian boy recalls mother’s death in Russian strike

An interpreter broke down in tears as she translated for a young Ukrainian boy, who recalled his mother’s death in a Russian strike.

Events

7 h. ago EU set to indefinitely freeze Russia assets despite opposition from Putin’s allies

These funds were frozen under sanctions imposed by the EU following Russia's full-scale invasion

Politics

32 h. ago ‘She was very, very thin’: witness tells of Ukrainian journalist’s final days in Russian prison

Soldier’s account corroborates reports Viktoriia Roshchyna was taken to prison deep inside Russia, where it is believed she diedDetails of the last days in captivity of the Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who died last year, have emerged with the witness account of a soldier who was with her when she was transported to a prison deep inside Russia.Roshchyna was seized while reporting from behind enemy lines in occupied Ukraine in the summer of 2022, one of an estimated 16,000 civilians detained by Russia since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Continue reading...

Events

56 h. ago Now shameless Rachel Reeves moans there were 'too many leaks' about Budget as she tells MPs she's hunting for a mole (but it definitely wasn't her)

Rachel Reeves insisted she was 'frustrated' and is now 'doing something about it' by launching an official probe into who was responsible.

Politics

4 d. ago Unruly Chicagoans throw snowballs at ICE agents as street turns into chaotic tear

Anti-ICE protestors hurled snowballs at federal agents on Saturday afternoon in Elgin, Illinois. In response, officials unleashed tear-gas into the chaotic and dystopian scene.

Politics

7 d. ago Trump administration moves to deny visas to factcheckers and content moderators

Action detailed in a state department memo directs officials to deny visas to any applicant engaging in ‘censorship’US politics live – latest updatesThe Trump administration has moved to formalize a crackdown on the issuance of visas for people who it deems to have engaged in censoring the free speech of US citizens.The action, detailed in a state department memo sent to overseas missions this week, first reported by Reuters and then NPR, directs consular officials to deny visas to any applicant “responsible for, or complicit in, censorship or attempted censorship of protected expression in the US”. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Royal Navy ships hunting Russian submarines have terrifying subsonic 'STRATUS' missiles

In the past two years there has been a 30 per cent surge in Russian ships approaching British waters - sparking a strong response from officials keen to face down Vladimir Putin

Events

8 d. ago US adds more penalties to those linked to Tren de Aragua gang

The U.S. has imposed sanctions on alleged affiliates of the Tren de Aragua gang

Events

9 d. ago Sabrina Carpenter condemns ‘evil and disgusting’ ICE video that uses her song

Pop star calls out White House’s ‘inhumane agenda’ after post that soundtracks immigration raids to her song JunoSabrina Carpenter has spoken out against Donald Trump’s White House for using her song Juno to soundtrack videos of immigration raids.In response to a video posted on the official White House X account, which depicts Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officials arresting several people in what appears to be Chicago, the singer wrote: “this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” Continue reading...

Culture

1 week ago Sabrina Carpenter slams ‘evil and disgusting’ ICE video that uses her song

Pop star calls out White House’s ‘inhumane agenda’ after post that soundtracks immigration raids to her song JunoSabrina Carpenter has spoken out against Donald Trump’s White House for using her song Juno to soundtrack videos of immigration raids.In response to a video posted on the official White House X account, which depicts Immigration Customs and Enforcement (ICE) officials arresting several people in what appears to be Chicago, the singer wrote: “this video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.” Continue reading...

Culture

1 week ago Rachel Reeves given important backing after claims she 'lied' to public ahead of Budget

A top official from the Office for Budget Responsibility has agreed Chancellor Rachel Reeves was faced with having to make "very difficult choices"

Politics

2 w. ago US reportedly ready for next phase of Venezuela military operations – live

Trump administration labels Maduro as member of foreign terrorist organization and could impose fresh sanctions on countryDonald Trump is in Washington today. The only event on his schedule is an executive order signing at 4pm ET. That’s currently closed to the press, but we’ll let you know if that changes.Also today, we’ll see the first lady, Melania Trump, welcome the deliver of the White House Christmas tree at 12pm ET. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago US reportedly to launch new phase of operations against Venezuela – US politics live

Trump administration labels Maduro as member of foreign terrorist organization and could impose fresh sanctions on countryTrump has been escalating pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, and has now labelled him and government allies as members of a foreign terrorist organization.That designation is another step towards criminalizing Maduro – analysts say it could pressure Maduro into stepping down with the threat of military force.The US and Ukraine say they have made progress in talks on ending the war with Russia, with Marco Rubio announcing amendments to a “refined” draft agreement.However Donald Trump has lashed out at Ukraine’s leadership, saying Kyiv has shown “zero gratitude”.His administration has also designated Venezuela’s president, Nicolás Maduro, as a member of a foreign terrorist organisation, which could allow for the hit of new sanctions. Reports also emerged on the weekend that the US military could be set to move into a new phase of operations in the Car...

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s Ukraine peace plan is a gift to Putin | Kenneth Roth

The plan would leave Ukraine’s democracy in jeopardy and its sovereignty compromisedFor a moment, Donald Trump seemed to have seen the light on Ukraine. After promising “severe consequences” in August if Vladimir Putin continued to obstruct ceasefire talks – but then doing nothing as Putin did just that – Trump finally on 22 October imposed significant sanctions on Russia’s two largest oil companies, Rosneft and Lukoil, seriously compromising Putin’s ability to finance his invasion. But now, with his 28-point peace plan for Ukraine, drafted by US and Russian officials without Ukrainian or European participation, Trump has reverted to his pro-Putin norm.Trump’s plan would reward Putin for invading Ukraine while leaving Ukraine’s democracy in jeopardy. The plan’s ringing proclamation that “Ukraine’s sovereignty will be confirmed” rings hollow when so much of the plan compromises that sovereignty. A Kremlin dream, the plan would be a Ukrainian nightmare.Kenneth Roth, former executive d...

Politics

3 w. ago EU imposes sanctions on Russian prison officials responsible for death of Ukrainian journalist

Viktoriia Roshchyna died aged 27 after a year in extrajudicial detention at a jail notorious for tortureEurope live – latest updatesThe European Union has imposed sanctions against Russian prison officials responsible for the death of the Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna.Roshchyna was reporting on Russia’s systematic policy of extrajudicial detention and torture in occupied parts of Ukraine, before falling victim to it herself. She died at the age of 27 last year after more than a year in Russian captivity. Her body was returned earlier this year with some of the internal organs missing. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago WHO declares end of Indonesia's poliovirus outbreak following yearslong vaccination campaign

The World Health Organization has declared Indonesia’s polio outbreak officially over following nearly three years of intensive response efforts

Science

3 w. ago Stormont response to Covid characterised by ‘petty party politics’, say bereaved

Relatives of people who died in the pandemic said the latest Covid inquiry report vindicated their criticism of the official response in the region.

Politics

3 w. ago Coast Guard guidelines no longer consider swastikas, nooses, and the Confederate flag to be hate symbols: report

‘We don’t deserve the trust of the nation if we’re unclear about the divisiveness of swastikas,’ one Coast Guard official said in response to the alleged change

Politics

3 w. ago ‘Too little, too late’: damning report condemns UK’s Covid response

Report on handling of pandemic contains stinging criticism of ‘toxic and chaotic’ culture inside Boris Johnson’s No 10UK politics live –latest updatesThe UK’s response to Covid was “too little, too late”, a damning official report on the handling of the pandemic has concluded, saying the introduction of a lockdown even a week earlier than happened could have saved more than 20,000 lives.The document also has stinging criticism of a “toxic and chaotic” culture inside Boris Johnson’s Downing Street – which it said the then prime minister actively embraced – in which the loudest voices held sway and women were sidelined. Continue reading...

Politics