17 h. ago EU leaders defend Ukraine’s freedom to decide future ahead of Trump

Statement on Ukrainian sovereignty signed by all EU leaders except for Viktor Orbán before call with TrumpEurope live – latest updatesRead all our coverage of the Ukraine warEuropean Union leaders made a rallying call to defend Ukraine’s freedom to decide its own future in advance of their virtual summit with Donald Trump – convened to discuss US strategy before the president’s talks with Vladimir Putin on Friday.With the exception of Hungary, all EU leaders signed a joint statement, with Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign policy chief, also calling for the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to attend the Trump-Putin summit in Alaska on Friday. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Merz invites Trump to emergency call with EU leaders before Putin summit

Proposal, which would also include Volodymyr Zelenskyy, comes as European calls grow for red lines in Ukraine talksThe German chancellor has invited Donald Trump to join emergency virtual talks with EU leaders and Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, as European demands grow that the US president agree red lines before Friday’s summit in Alaska with Vladimir Putin.Neither Zelenskyy nor European leaders have been invited to Trump’s meeting with the Russian president. Continue reading...

Politics

39 h. ago Finland charges tanker crew members with sabotage of undersea cables

Captain and first and second officers of Eagle S, understood to be part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, charged over incidentFinnish authorities have filed charges against members of the crew of an oil tanker suspected of damaging five undersea cables by dragging its anchor between Finland and Estonia.Finland’s deputy prosecutor general’s office said on Monday it had filed charges of aggravated sabotage and aggravated interference with telecommunications against the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S. The Cook Islands-registered tanker is understood to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” – comprising vessels that sail under foreign flags to evade sanctions. Continue reading...

Events

39 h. ago Finland accuses tanker crew members of using anchor to sabotage undersea cables

Captain and first and second officers of vessel, understood to be part of Russia’s ‘shadow fleet’, charged over incidentFinnish authorities have filed charges against members of the crew of an oil tanker suspected of damaging five undersea cables by dragging its anchor between Finland and Estonia.Finland’s deputy prosecutor general’s office said on Monday it had filed charges of aggravated sabotage and aggravated interference with telecommunications against the captain and first and second officers of the Eagle S. The Cook Islands-registered tanker is understood to be part of Russia’s “shadow fleet” – comprising vessels that sail under foreign flags to evade sanctions. Continue reading...

Events

39 h. ago EU leaders push to consult with Trump ahead of Putin meeting on Ukraine

Foreign ministers expected to demand Russia agree to ceasefire and include Zelenskyy during emergency meetingEurope live – latest updatesEuropean leaders claiming Russia represents an existential threat to their continent are pushing for consultations with Donald Trump to spell out Europe’s red lines before his meeting with Vladimir Putin to discuss the Ukraine war on Friday in Alaska.The Polish prime minister, Donald Tusk, said he was optimistic the US president would formally consult with European leaders before his meeting, adding that the summit between Trump and Putin filled him with hope and fear. Continue reading...

Politics

42 h. ago Trump is losing his foolish trade war. This will cost ordinary Americans greatly | Steven Greenhouse

Trump’s trade war has pushed up inflation, slashed US job gains, slowed economic growth and caused the manufacturing sector to sputterThe ever-bombastic Donald Trump has boasted repeatedly of his trade victories, while White House news releases trumpet his “historic trade wins”. The Wall Street Journal echoed Trump’s triumphalism with a headline saying, “Trump is Winning His Trade War”, and last week the New York Times used the exact same words in a headline. That must have been music to the president’s ears.Forgive me for being a spoilsport, but I don’t see where the victory is or how Trump is winning. I keep reading how Trump’s trade war and tariff machinations have pushed up inflation, slashed US job gains, slowed economic growth and caused the manufacturing sector to sputter.Steven Greenhouse is a journalist and author, focusing on labour and the workplace, as well as economic and legal issues Continue reading...

Politics

65 h. ago Love? Actually, no: Emma Thompson reveals Donald Trump asked her on a date

Actor said Trump phoned her to make the offer on the day her divorce from Kenneth Branagh was confirmed in 1998Emma Thompson has accepted Academy Awards, Baftas and even a damehood over a glittering career, but there was one offer she had to turn down.The actor says she once got asked out on a date by Donald Trump on the same day her divorced was confirmed. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Bolsonaro supporters pray for Trump rescue as coup plot trial verdict nears

Far-right ex-president’s devotees pin hopes on pressure campaign but tariffs and sanctions appear likely to failEach morning, Edite Costa steps out of her bungalow on Brasília’s sun-baked savannah, stands beneath a mango tree and lifts her hands to the sky in prayer. “I ask God to work so that not just Trump but all Americans come to help us rip out the evil that has taken hold of the country I love,” said the 66-year-old Baptist, who is a fervent supporter of Brazil’s far-right former president Jair Bolsonaro.Bolsonaro could face decades in jail for allegedly leading a murderous conspiracy to seize power after his leftwing rival Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva beat him in the 2022 presidential election. But Costa believes her populist leader can still be saved – if her prayers are answered and Donald Trump intervenes. Continue reading...

Events

4 d. ago Trump officials reportedly met at White House to discuss strategy around Epstein files

Legal group sues for records related to officials’ correspondence about Epstein documents and about Epstein and Trump’s relationshipAn advocacy group sued the US justice department and the FBI on Friday for records detailing their handling of the sex-trafficking investigation into the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The legal organization Democracy Forward is seeking records related to senior administration officials’ communication about Epstein documents and any regarding correspondence between Epstein and Donald Trump. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Gold futures jump to record high after US tariffs on cast bars

Imposition of 39% import rate described as ‘another blow’ to Switzerland’s world-leading refining industryThe price of gold futures have soared to a record high after it emerged that the US would put tariffs on imports of 1kg bars in a further trade blow to Switzerland, which dominates the world’s refining industry.Swiss exports to the US were hit by a crippling 39% tariff on Thursday after the country’s president returned empty-handed from a last-minute dash to Washington in an attempt to get the rate, among the highest imposed by Donald Trump, lowered. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Gold futures soar to record high after reports of US tariffs on Swiss bars

Imposition of 39% export rate described as ‘another blow’ to Switzerland’s world leading refining industryThe price of gold futures have soared to a record high after it was reported that the US would put tariffs on imports of 1kg bars in a further trade blow to Switzerland, which dominates the world’s refining industry.Swiss exports to the US were hit by a crippling 39% tariff on Thursday after the country’s president returned empty-handed from a last-minute dash to Washington in an attempt to get the rate, among the highest imposed by Donald Trump, lowered. Continue reading...

Politics

4 d. ago Trump’s attempts to distance himself from the Epstein files are failing | Sidney Blumenthal

The president has tried to distract from the Epstein story – but his ill-conceived Mar-a-Lago tale has undermined himOne of Trump’s preternatural abilities is his apparent animal instinct to lie on the spot whenever he senses he might be cornered. His initial Pavlovian training by his mob lawyer Roy Cohn and subsequent experience in more than 4,000 lawsuits and countless scandals seem to have ingrained in him that lying, the more outrageous the better, buys him time, plays to his credulous followers as insouciant defiance, and wears down his accusers.When Trump’s distractions failed to distract from the Jeffrey Epstein files, he offered a story without missing a beat to distance himself from any taint. In his tale, he was traduced by Epstein. Trump was taken advantage of, violated, despoiled. There could be no guilt by association; Trump was a victim, too. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago Trump claims to have reached ‘historic’ peace deal between Armenia and Azerbaijan

The two sworn enemies went to war twice over the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which Azerbaijan eventually captured in 2023US president Donald Trump announced he will host the leaders of Armenia and Azerbaijan on Friday for what he called a “Historic Peace Summit” aimed at ending decades of hostilities between the two former Soviet republics.Armenian prime minister Nikol Pashinyan and president Ilham Aliyev of Azerbaijan “will join me at the White House for an official Peace Signing Ceremony,” Trump posted Thursday on his Truth Social platform. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago Trump hails ‘great progress’ after Witkoff meets Putin for talks on Ukraine

US president calls meeting ‘highly productive’ amid unconfirmed reports on halt to long-range strikesDonald Trump has claimed “great progress was made” during talks on ending the war in Ukraine between his special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and Vladimir Putin in the Kremlin on Wednesday.The three-hour talks came two days before a deadline the US president set for Russia to reach a peace deal in the war or face fresh sanctions. Continue reading...

Politics

6 d. ago ‘No to illegal migration, no to euro’ says Karol Nawrocki in inaugural speech as Poland’s president – Europe live

Inauguration is a difficult moment for Donald Tusk’s ruling coalition after months of controversy over allegations of voting irregularitiesNawrocki will take part in a number of ceremonial appointments throughout the day. I will keep an eye on this.But let’s go back to Russia and Ukraine, as Interfax is now reporting that – as expected (8:59) – Russian president Vladimir Putin is meeting US special envoy Steve Witkoff for their crunch talks ahead of this Friday’s Trump deadline to end the war in Ukraine. Continue reading...

Politics

7 d. ago Trump readies fresh US sanctions against Russia’s shadow fleet

US president has threatened Vladimir Putin with punitive measures to force him to end war in Ukraine

Events

8 d. ago Fears Russia will sink its own ships in a 'false flag' and blame the West after the Kremlin accused Britain of preparing 'mass raids'

Russia is feared to be preparing false flag attacks on its shadow fleet of sea vessels in order to deter the West from further sanctioning them. 

Politics

8 d. ago Trump firing of labor statistics chief ‘undermines credibility’, ex

Former commissioners call on Congress to act after Trump fires Erika McEntarfer over ‘rigged’ employment dataThe former Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) commissioners and non-partisan economic groups have criticized Donald Trump’s shock firing of BLS commissioner Erika McEntarfer after the July jobs report data revealed jobs growth stalled this summer.Trump, without any evidence to back his claims, alleged McEntarfer “faked” employment numbers in the run-up to the 2024 election to boost Kamala Harris’s chances and said that the recent data was “rigged” to make Trump and Republicans look bad. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Investor confidence in EU drops after Trump’s Brussels trade deal

Agreement is said to ‘dampen the mood’, with the US viewed as the winner at the expense of the eurozoneInvestor confidence in the EU has fallen sharply after Donald Trump’s trade agreement with Brussels, amid mounting concern about the economic hit from the US president’s tariff war.The latest snapshot from the Sentix index showed that investor sentiment fell significantly at the start of the month after the deal last week between Trump and the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen. Continue reading...

Economics

8 d. ago How Trump is contorting Department of Justice into his ‘personal weapon’

Critics say DoJ has been ‘politicized like never before’ and the main job requirement is now ‘loyalty to Donald Trump’As Donald Trump’s Department of Justice expands investigations of his foes and ousts dozens of lawyers and staff who worked on cases targeting himself and his allies, scholars and ex-prosecutors say the rule of law is under siege in the US as the department morphs into Trump’s “personal weapon”.The justice department’s politicization to please Trump was underscored by an announcement on 23 July of a new “ strike force” to investigate unsubstantiated charges that ex-president Barack Obama and top officials conspired to hurt Trump’s 2016 campaign and his presidency with inquiries into Russian influence operations to help Trump win, say critics. Continue reading...

Politics