28 h. ago Putin blamed as Russia warned it faces 'sharp increase' in rabies and grim diseases

Vladimir Putin's bonkers war on Ukraine could indirectly lead to a rise in rabies and other grim diseases in Russia - a group of veterinarians in Russia has warned of a vaccine shortage

Events

31 h. ago Shocking moment house explodes in enormous fireball 'caused by gas used to make super

The blast on Thursday in Spring Hall Grove, Halifax, West Yorkshire, has left two people hospitalised and in a critical condition, with a 'large number of butane gas canisters' found in the wreckage.

Events

31 h. ago Enormous house explosion that put two in hospital 'was caused by gas used to make super

The blast on Thursday in Spring Hall Grove, Halifax, West Yorkshire, has left two people hospitalised and in a critical condition, with a 'large number of butane gas canisters' found in the wreckage.

Society

33 h. ago Suspend UK from oil oversight body over protests crackdown, say campaign groups

Groups question UK membership of Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative after actions of successive governmentsA coalition of civil society groups is calling for the UK government to be suspended from a key global body that oversees how oil and gas companies are run.The campaigners say Keir Starmer’s Labour party has overseen a “fossil-fuel sponsored crackdown” on peaceful protest and direct action in the UK since it came to power last year. Continue reading...

Events

59 h. ago 'The nuclear threat is growing': Keir Starmer warns of 'grim reality' of threat from Putin's Russia after Britons are told to 'actively prepare' for WAR

The Prime Minister faced MPs today after attending the Nato summit this week and the G7 leaders' meeting last week, where the war in Ukraine was one of the main topics of discussion.

Events

3 d. ago Change in Nato mindset brought on by Vladimir Putin as much as Donald Trump

Allies agreed to raise defence spending to counter likely prospect of Russian remilitarisation if Ukraine war endsThe price was high, but for now, at least, a crisis in Nato has been averted. Donald Trump may like to take the credit for almost all of the 32 allies agreeing to a sharp increase in defence spending, but the reality is that the dramatic change in the Nato mindset was as much brought on by Vladimir Putin.The Russian president’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 was the first jolt, but there is a second uncomfortable reality. If there is a sustainable ceasefire in Ukraine, it will mean the deployment of a European-led peacekeeping force in the country – and after a while, Russia’s military might will inevitably recover. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Shell denies it is in talks to buy BP after reports of potential £60bn takeover

Spokesperson says report that it is considering bid for struggling rival is ‘further market speculation’Shell has denied talks are taking place for it to buy BP, amid reports that it is negotiating a historic £60bn takeover to create one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies.The so-called oil supermajors are reported to be discussing a potential deal after speculation earlier this year that Shell was considering a bid for its struggling rival, which would mark an end for the 120-year-old company. Continue reading...

Economics

3 d. ago Shell in early talks to buy rival BP to create oil giant – reports

Reported megamerger between supermajors would create British oil company worth more than £200bnShell is in early talks with BP over a historic £60bn deal that could create one of the world’s largest oil and gas companies, according to reports.The so-called oil supermajors are reported to be in talks over a potential deal following speculation earlier this year that Shell was considering a bid for its struggling rival. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Trump praises Nato leaders’ ‘historic’ agreement to hike defence spending

Prime minister Keir Starmer said this week’s Nato summit had sent a ‘decisive message to aggressors’ as allies ramped up their defence spending

Politics

3 d. ago Trump will look at giving Ukraine more Patriot missiles as he calls on Putin to end war

President doesn’t rule out more defense aid for Kyiv and voices frustration with Russian leader at end of NATO summit

Events

3 d. ago Trump says he will look at giving Ukraine more Patriot missiles as he calls on Putin to end war

President doesn’t rule out more defense aid for Kyiv and voices frustration with Russian leader at end of NATO summit

Events

3 d. ago Nato fully committed to Ukraine, PM insists, despite no condemnation of Russia

Sir Keir Starmer faced questions about whether Donald Trump, who wants to bring the Ukraine war to an end, did not want to condemn Vladimir Putin.

Politics

3 d. ago Putin's WW3 fears as he claims 'world closer to highly dangerous situation' than ever

Vladimir Putin appears to have a finger in every possible war pie going, and has now expressed his fears about World War Three for the second time in just two weeks

Politics

3 d. ago Ukrainian President Zelenskyy sidelined as NATO leaders meet to agree defense spending boost

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is looking on from the sidelines as NATO leaders meet to agree a significant boost in defense spending that is spurred by Russian aggression

Politics

4 d. ago Words of War review – Maxine Peake leads line as murdered Putin

Peake stars opposite Jason Isaacs, as Politkovskaya’s husband, in this sentimental look at the life of a woman who, 19 years after her death, remains a folk heroThis British-American co-production offers a dramatised portrait of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya (played by Maxine Peake) who was assassinated in 2006. Politkovskaya’s gutsy, impassioned reporting on the second Chechen war was highly critical of the Kremlin, the Russian army and Vladimir Putin personally. (The fact that she was murdered on his birthday was surely no coincidence.) Nineteen years after her death, she remains a folk hero worldwide for resistances to autocracy, especially given the rise in repression everywhere and constant threats to journalists.Given all that, the film deserves respect for the subject matter, even though this is a pretty basic rendition of Politkovskaya’s story, a little too sticky with hagiographic sentimentality and the cliches of crusading journalist-led movies. It also should be n...

Events

4 d. ago UK oil and gas industry welcomes talk of ceasefire in Middle East

The chief executive of Offshore Energies UK said there has already been a drop in oil prices.

Events

4 d. ago Zelenskyy warns Russia could attack a Nato member within five years as summit waits for Trump’s arrival – Europe live

Ukraine president urges leaders to increase defence spending more rapidly as Nato summit braces for Donald Trump to attendAnalysis: Summit set to be triumphant for Trump but deflating for UkraineKicking off the Nato Public Forum, Dutch justice and security minister David van Well says the organisers looked at some 40 scenarios that could disrupt the summit, including state actors, terrorists, activists, and cyber-attacks.I think you’re probably in one of the safest spaces in the world right now.“That could be sabotage, that’s one of the things that we’re looking into. And then the question is, well, who was behind it? That can be activist group, it can be state actor led, it can be any kind. “In my view, this is slow because we believe that starting from 2030 Putin can have significantly greater capabilities.Today, Ukraine is holding him up. He has no time to drill the army, and they are all getting annihilated and wiped out at the battlefield.” Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Zelensky warns Russia could attack Nato country within next five years

Volodymyr Zelensky has warned Russia could attack a Nato country within the next five years.

Events

5 d. ago UK to spend 5% of GDP on security as wars rage in Europe and Middle East, says Starmer ahead of Nato summit

The Prime Minister stressed Britain has been plunged into an ‘era of radical uncertainty’ by growing threats

Events

5 d. ago Putin ramps up production of hypersonic missiles as World War 3 threat looms

With Iran now striking American military bases in Qatar, and tensions in the Middle East spiralling, Russia's leader has said he is upping the number of warheads Russia holds

Events