3 h. ago MARK ALMOND: Putin was testing the West's resolve with his drone incursion in Poland

Are we teetering on the edge of World War Three after the brazen incursion by Russia's drones into our ally Poland's airspace?

Politics

9 h. ago Russia is brazenly provoking the west. Putin must be left in no doubt of the consequences | Paul Taylor

Germany and Italy may have legitimate fears of escalation but this was no accident – it was a violation of Nato territoryBy sending a barrage of drones into Polish airspace, Russia is testing Nato’s military response and Europe’s political resolve to stand behind Ukraine with arms and security guarantees in the event of escalation.The timing can hardly have been a coincidence. Less than a week ago, a 26-nation “coalition of the willing” led by France and the UK announced an agreement on a “reassurance force”, intended to help guarantee Ukraine’s security after any ceasefire in Russia’s relentless war of aggression. Vladimir Putin has stepped up the nightly bombardment of Ukraine in defiance of Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a peace deal, and rejected any presence of European forces on the ground.Paul Taylor is a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy CentreDo you have an opinion on the issues raised in this article? If you would like to submit a response of up to 300 words ...

Politics

17 h. ago The Bachelorette casting twist: Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star to lead season 22

Taylor Frankie Paul rose to fame on MomTok before joining Hulu’s reality series about Mormon influencers

Society

17 h. ago Bachelorette fans divided over Secret Lives of Mormon Wives star Taylor Frankie Paul’s casting

Taylor Frankie Paul rose to fame on MomTok before joining Hulu’s reality series about Mormon influencers

Society

3 d. ago The French government is on the brink – and Le Pen is the only winner | Paul Taylor

Saddled with a financial crisis and unpopular reforms, the prime minister, François Bayrou, seems doomed. Will he take Macron with him?François Bayrou may have thought it was a smart pre-emptive move to call a parliamentary vote of confidence in his minority government ahead of a planned national protest day on 10 September and the start of a fraught parliamentary budget season.Determined not to meet the same fate as his predecessor who was toppled by parliament last December, the French prime minister appears to have chosen political hara-kiri instead. His near-certain ejection by a hung parliament on Monday (8 September) is set to turn a smouldering political deadlock into a blazing crise de régime. Continue reading...

Politics

9 d. ago Xi Jinping criticises ‘bullying behaviour’ and Putin blames west for Ukraine war at Shanghai summit

China’s leader urges attendees to oppose ‘cold war mentality’ while Russian president claims Ukraine war was ‘provoked by the west’Xi Jinping has criticised the “bullying behaviour” of other countries while Vladimir Putin has blamed the west for his war on Ukraine, on the second day of a major summit in China which seeks to challenge western-led multilateral blocs.The Shanghai Cooperation Summit (SCO) began in the city of Tianjin on Sunday, with Xi welcoming dozens of leaders from Eurasian member states and other partner and observer countries, including Putin, and Indian prime minister Narendra Modi. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Putin persists, Trump dithers – and a just peace for Ukraine still seems a long way off | Olga Chyzh

The US president could embrace the role of peacemaker, or become the patsy who restored Russia’s imperial standingThe past few weeks have seen a flurry of activity billed as progress in the Russia-Ukraine peace process. Yet for Ukrainians, the reality remains unchanged: airstrikes still thunder across their cities, homes still burn, lives are still lost. Against this grim backdrop, the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, has seemed more than content to bask in the literal red-carpet treatment afforded by the president of the United States.Donald Trump, who has anointed himself mediator of this war, has nearly exhausted the lexicon of contradiction. Some days he proclaims that he alone can end this war. Then he insists that peace talks should be left to the two parties. At times he boasts that Putin “respects” him; at others, he castigates Putin for “going absolutely crazy”. This month, Trump vacillated between putting US troops on the table and ruling it out. Now he is reportedly consid...

Politics

1 week ago Ben Shelton breaks down in tears on grim day for America at US Open as Frances Tiafoe also crashes out

America has waited 22 years for another homegrown player to win the men's singles. After a grim afternoon, it's only Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul still standing.

Events

1 week ago Shelton’s first career retirement and Tiafoe loss leave US men reeling at Open

Shelton retires hurt in third-round matchTiafoe beaten by qualifier Struff in straightsFritz and Paul are last US men still aliveIt was a punishing afternoon for American men’s tennis at the US Open as Ben Shelton and Frances Tiafoe exited less than an hour apart, leaving only Taylor Fritz and Tommy Paul still standing in the singles draw.Shelton, the No 6 seed and one of the leading contenders to end the United States’ 22-year wait for a men’s grand slam champion, retired from his third-round match against France’s Adrian Mannarino with a shoulder injury. It was the 22-year-old’s first career retirement and came as he led by two sets to one before disaster struck late in the third. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Iran faces return of sweeping sanctions from UK, France and Germany

Decision by European powers follows Iran’s failure to readmit UN inspectors to all of its nuclear sitesThe UK, France and Germany are expected to announce on Thursday that they will reimpose sweeping sanctions on Iran for failing to readmit UN inspectors into all of its nuclear sites.The decision, under consideration for months, is likely to provoke the worst crisis in Iran’s relations with the west since Israel’s attacks on the country’s nuclear sites in June. Iran is already preparing countermeasures. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago After a summer of submission to Trump, Europe knows it must defend Ukraine – and itself – alone | Paul Taylor

Can a European-led coalition really provide credible security guarantees? Past examples are not encouragingAfter an unusual August of geopolitical summitry, the reality is sinking in that Europe is on its own in defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and hence its own security against Russian aggression and cannot count on much support from the United States.The sense of strategic loneliness in an increasingly brutal global power contest follows a summer of submission in which the EU accepted a manifestly unbalanced trade deal imposed by Donald Trump and pledged improbably large investments in the US while European Nato members promised to boost their defence spending to an aspirational 5% of gross domestic product – all to appease Trump in hopes of keeping the US engaged in European security.Paul Taylor is a senior visiting fellow at the European Policy Centre Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Why Trump built a staff of incompetent sycophants | Robert Reich

Leaders who value loyalty above all else have a symbiotic relationship with those unable to succeed on their own meritsLast week, Trump officials reportedly left behind documents describing confidential planning for the Trump-Putin meeting in a public area of an Alaskan hotel.That’s nothing compared with the actions of Emil Bove, Trump’s new nominee for the US court of appeals for the third circuit, who reputedly told subordinates at the Department of Justice that they should “consider telling the courts ‘fuck you’” and ignoring any court order blocking a planned deportation flight.Totalitarianism in power invariably replaces all first-rate talents, regardless of their sympathies, with those crackpots and fools whose lack of intelligence and creativity is still the best guarantee of their loyalty.all the hundreds of ‘respectable’ guys who made careers out of boasting about their uncompromising integrity but have absolutely no loyalty . What I liked most about Roy Cohn was that he wo...

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine 'destroys key Russian train' as 'nothing left alive' in massive blow to Putin

The train, said to have been carrying Russian fuel and cars, was reportedly blown up and derailed following a Ukrainian military operation.

Politics

3 w. ago Ukraine 'destroys key Russian train' in massive blow to Putin as 'nothing left alive'

The train, said to have been carrying Russian fuel and cars, was reportedly blown up and derailed following a Ukrainian military operation which caused it to spew fire and smoke

Politics

3 w. ago Trump fury over 'Fake News' on Putin meeting over 'Biden’s stupid War'

Trump has been left furious following his meeting with Russian leader Vladimir Putin earlier this week, as he branded the invasion of Ukraine as 'Biden's stupid war'

Politics

3 w. ago Ukrainians left disappointed at Trump rolling out red carpet for ‘tyrant’ Putin

Ukrainians have reacted with anger to the welcome received by Russian president Vladimir Putin as he arrived in Alaska for a summit with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Friday (15 Aug).

Politics

3 w. ago Why Putin's grin as he left Alaska says it all: The 'Don and Vlad' show may have ended without a big finale, but there seems one clear winner, writes NICK ALLEN

The world had waited with bated breath but the Don and Vlad show ended in confusion rather than with a bang.

Politics

3 w. ago Why Putin's grin as he left Alaska says it all: The 'Don and Vlad' may have

The world had waited with bated breath but the Don and Vlad show ended in confusion rather than with a bang.

Politics

3 w. ago Five questions left unanswered after Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin's peace summit

The two world leaders met in Anchorage, Alaska, today for what was projected to be several hours worth of closed-door negotiations between senior teams in a bid to hammer out a Ukraine ceasefire.

Politics

3 w. ago Donald Trump's 'hangdog' face screams 'disappointment' after failed Russia

Donald Trump was left disappointed after his historic summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin failed to secure a peace deal in Ukraine, with his body language giving the game away

Politics