18 h. ago South Ayrshire Council hit by new leadership crisis as Chief Executive takes leave of absence

Mike Newall's duties at County Buildings are to be carried out by his deputy, Lyndsay McRoberts.

Events

23 h. ago Russia skirts Western sanctions to ramp up its military footprint in Africa

Even as it pursues its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is also expanding its military footprint in Africa

Events

4 d. ago Donald Trump and Elon Musk mocked by Putin's pal offering to 'facilitate peace'

Ex-Russian President and Security Council deputy head Dmitry Medvedev posted on X that he's willing to 'facilitate' building bridges between Donald Trump and Elon Musk - but there's one catch

Politics

6 d. ago Trump's support of Rose among the voices Manfred listened to in ruling MLB ban ended with death

President Donald Trump’s support of Pete Rose was among the factors Major Legaue Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred weighed when he decided last month that permanent bans by the sport ended with death, which allows the career hits leader to be considered for the Hall of Fame

Politics

7 d. ago Are Lindsey Graham’s contortions about to prod Trump into Russia sanctions?

The Republican senator known for sycophancy towards the president is pushing a bill that could reshape Ukraine policyHas Lindsey Graham been playing the long game with Donald Trump?Graham, who has calibrated his pro-Ukraine support since the inauguration to stay in the US president’s orbit, has said he expects this week that the Senate will begin moving his Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, a bill that he says would impose “bone-breaking sanctions” on Vladimir Putin and a 500% tariff on goods imported from countries that buy Russian oil and other goods, potentially targeting China and India. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Nigel Farage hits Scottish Labour leader with false race claim as Hamilton by

Nigel Farage has doubled down on attacks on Anas Sarwar in a row which has dominated the Hamilton by-election campaign

Politics

8 d. ago Nigel Farage blasts 'supertax' on North Sea oil and gas and backs giving Scotland new fundraising powers as he woos voters ahead of by

The Reform leader hit out at the overall rate of 78 - including the windfall tax - paid by companies who have made massive profits in recent years, on a visit to Aberdeen.

Politics

1 week ago Putin stages major war games on NATO's doorstep as submarine fires torpedoes at mock Western ship and Russia vows to conduct 'dozens' more naval drills this summer

Footage shows the dictator's warships practising military drills in the Baltic Sea - a major area of contention between NATO and Russia.

Events

1 week ago North Korea accused of ramping up military aid to Russia in clear breach of UN sanctions, say US and allies

The United States and 10 allies say the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea flagrantly violates U.N. sanctions and has helped Moscow increase its missile strikes on Ukrainian cities

Events

1 week ago US and allies accuse North Korea of ramping up military aid to Russia in UN sanctions breach

Multilateral Sanctions Monitoring Team says Russia sent air defense systems to Pyongyang and trained its forces in return

Events

1 week ago US and allies accuse North Korea and Russia of flagrantly violating UN sanctions in military deals

The United States and 10 allies say the military cooperation between Russia and North Korea flagrantly violates U.N. sanctions and has helped Moscow increase its missile strikes on Ukrainian cities

Events

1 week ago Trump reveals what could 'screw up' Ukraine peace deal as Putin issues his terms to end fighting

President Donald Trump on Wednesday explained why he hasn't levied more sanctions on Russia - despite being currently engaged in a war of words with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Politics

1 week ago Southeast Asian leaders hit out at Trump tariffs as China pledges support

Influential regional association’s summit with China and Gulf nations underscores ‘urgency of diversifying trade beyond traditional markets’

Politics

1 week ago Sarwar ready to challenge Farage ‘anytime, any place’ amid row over Reform ad

The Scottish Labour leader hit back after the Reform UK leader accused him of having ‘introduced sectarianism into Scottish politics’.

Events

2 w. ago Reform UK’s income tax plans ‘to cost up to £80bn’ warns IFS – UK politics live

Research institute says costs of plan to exclude those earning less than £20k from the tax will dwarf those of party’s winter fuel and two-child benefit changesThe co-leader of the Green party of England and Wales, Adrian Ramsay, has renewed his call for Russia to face greater sanctions. Posting to social media, the MP for Waveney Valley said “Putin has stepped up attacks on Ukrainian civilians because he thinks he’ll face no consequences. Much tougher sanctions are urgently needed to bring him into serious peace talks to end this horrific war.”As well as appearing on the media round today, shadow chancellor Mel Stride has written for the Daily Mail, saying that the Conservatives continue to back the two-child benefit cap. Continue reading...

Economics

2 w. ago ‘I’ve had enough! President Trump take action’ over Putin, demands GOP Senator Grassley

Grassley has previously called for the ‘toughest of sanctions’ on Putin ,and has said Russia is playing the US as a ‘patsy’

Politics

2 w. ago ‘I’ve had enough! President Trump take action’ against Putin, demands GOP Senator Grassley

Grassley has previously called for the ‘toughest of sanctions’ on Putin ,and has said Russia is playing the US as a ‘patsy’

Politics

2 w. ago Trump’s Russia sanctions refusal leaves Europe with few options but to wait

Frustration is growing amid increasing signs US could wash its hands of Ukraine, but some observers counsel patienceGen Keith Kellogg, Donald Trump’s somewhat estranged special envoy on Ukraine, is said by some US diplomats to like to joke that the president did indeed say he would solve the Ukraine crisis in 24 hours, he just never specified which 24 hours.Dark humour may be all that is left to Europeans as they absorb not just Trump’s refusal to impose the promised “bone-crushing sanctions” over Russia’s rejection of a 30-day ceasefire but also the increasing signs that the administration will wash its hands of Ukraine and instead focus on forging a new economic partnership with Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago G7 ministers threaten more sanctions against Russia over Ukraine war

Summit makes little progress on how to respond to Donald Trump’s trade war

Politics

2 w. ago The Guardian view on Russia sanctions: a brittle economy is Putin’s weakness | Editorial

Ukraine’s allies must dial up sanctions to expose the fragility of the Kremlin’s strategy for perpetual warDonald Trump’s pledge to end the war in Ukraine on the first day of his second term as US president was a sign of his unsuitability as a peace broker. A clearer sign was his apparent sympathy with Vladimir Putin. Mr Trump’s tone regarding the Russian president has cooled somewhat on the discovery that the conflict cannot be frozen by White House diktat. There are hints of recognition that the peace process is failing because the Kremlin is cynically playing for time. Sadly, any such insight hasn’t evolved into outrage at the criminal aggression that started the war in the first place.Accounts of a telephone call between the two leaders earlier this week indicate no increase in American pressure on Russia. Mr Trump’s impatience with the whole issue seems likelier to result in him walking away. Mr Putin relishes that prospect.Do you have an opinion on the issues raised in this ar...

Politics