5 h. ago ‘It’s blackmail’: Ukrainians react to Trump demand for $500bn share of minerals

Ukraine’s lithium deposits are among biggest in Europe and the US is looking for ‘payback’ for previous military assistanceDrawing in the snow with his finger, Mykola Hrechukha sketched out how Ukraine’s new lithium mine might look. It would have a deep central shaft, with a series of side tunnels, he said. “The lithium is good everywhere. The biggest concentration is at a depth of 200-500 metres,” he said. “We should be able to extract 4,300 tonnes a day. The potential is terrific.”For now, though, there is little sign of activity. The deposit is buried under a large sloping field, used in communist times to grow beetroot and wheat. The mine’s proposed entrance is in an abandoned former-Soviet village, Liodiane, today a scruffy grove of acacia and maple trees. The only inhabitant is a security guard, who lives on the 150-hectare site in an ancient Gaz-53 truck. Wild boar and even a wolf sometimes wander past. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Future of Pembrokeshire attraction that 'makes a real difference to thousands of lives' secured

The Willhome Farm Barn farm park, near Camrose, was refused retrospective permission by planning officers in 2023 - but has now been approved after a petition of support

Politics

4 d. ago Trump’s White House says Elon Musk not in charge of DOGE as top Social Security official quits: Live

Billionaire’s role in administration limited to senior adviser and employee status, court filing reveals, as acting commissioner Michelle King resigns over data access row

Politics

4 d. ago White House says Elon Musk not in charge of DOGE as top social security official exits: Live

Court filing reveals Musk's role in the Donald Trump administration is limited to a White House employee and senior adviser to the president

Society

5 d. ago Europe at ‘turning point’ as leaders meet in Paris to discuss Ukraine crisis

Ursula von der Leyen urges ‘emergency mindset’ in response to US decision to enter bilateral talks with RussiaEurope live – latest updatesEurope’s security is “at a turning point”, the president of the European Commission has said, as leaders from major European powers prepared to meet in Paris for emergency talks on their role in an eventual ceasefire in Ukraine.After last week’s shock move by the US to sideline Kyiv and its European backers from peace negotiations, Ursula von der Leyen said the issue was “about Ukraine – but also about us. We need an urgency mindset. We need a surge in defence. And we need both of them now.” Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Starmer warns UK faces ‘generational’ threat to security as PM to meet Trump in Washington: UK politics live

Badenoch claimed Western civilisation was in crisis as she spoke to global right-wing leaders on Monday

Events