1 hour 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

39 h. ago Violent Israeli settlers under UK sanctions join illegal West Bank outpost

Exclusive: Neria Ben Pazi and Zohar Sabah witnessed visiting base set up to drive Palestinians from homes• Middle East crisis live – latest updatesTwo violent Israeli settlers on whom sanctions were imposed by the UK government this week have joined a campaign to drive Palestinians from their homes in the West Bank village of Mughayyir al-Deir.Neria Ben Pazi’s organisation, Neria’s Farm, had sanctions imposed by London on Tuesday, as the UK suspended negotiations on a new free-trade deal with Israel over its refusal to allow aid into Gaza and cabinet ministers’ calls to “purify Gaza” by expelling Palestinians. Continue reading...

Politics

67 h. ago US sanctions two members of a Mexican drug trafficking group known as the Northeast Cartel

The United States has imposed sanctions on two members of the Mexican drug trafficking organization Cartel del Noreste, the Northeast Cartel, which was formerly known as Los Zetas

Events

67 h. ago Starmer pressed to ‘impose the strongest possible sanctions on Israel’

Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill warned the Prime Minister that the ‘world is watching’.

Politics

68 h. ago European unity against Putin in peril if Trump moves to ease sanctions

EU’s hopes of US increasing pressure on Kremlin have been dashed, and Hungary could yet make situation worseEuropean leaders – who have promised to impose “massive” new sanctions on Russia after Vladimir Putin’s rejection of a ceasefire in Ukraine – face the prospect of having to introduce their planned expansion of economic restrictions on the Russian war economy without the United States.European hopes that Donald Trump might increase the pressure on the Kremlin were dashed after the US president’s two-hour inconclusive phone call with Putin on Monday. Trump did not follow through on previous threats to introduce “large-scale” sanctions on Russia if there was no ceasefire, but instead extolled the prospect of restarting trade with Moscow. Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago Rubio says US will impose new sanctions on Russia if no progress on peace deal

Secretary of state defends Donald Trump’s handling of call with Vladimir Putin

Economics

3 d. ago Rubio says US will impose may sanctions on Russia if no progress on peace deal

Secretary of state defends Donald Trump’s handling of call with Vladimir Putin

Economics

3 d. ago Rubio says US may impose sanctions on Russia if no progress on peace deal

Secretary of state defends Donald Trump’s handling of call with Vladimir Putin

Economics

3 d. ago New EU sanctions target Russia's shadow fleet of tankers illicitly transporting oil and gas

The European Union has agreed fresh sanctions to impose on Russia, notably targeting almost 200 ships from the shadow fleet illicitly transporting oil to skirt Western restrictions imposed over the war on Ukraine

Events

3 d. ago UK imposes sanctions on British accountant over Russia shadow fleet deals

John Michael Ormerod was allegedly involved in the procurement of oil tankers

Economics

5 d. ago EU foreign ministers call for coordinated action on Russian ‘shadow fleet’ in Baltic Sea

Fleet of tankers sailing under flags of convenience estimated to carry up to 85% of Russia’s oil exportsCalls to step up and coordinate the interdiction of the unflagged Russian “shadow fleet” of oil tankers in the Baltic Sea were made this weekend ahead of the EU foreign ministers meeting on Monday that is set to impose sanctions on 180 ships, taking the total number of ships sanctioned by the EU to 350.The efforts to stop the fleet, estimated to be carrying as much as 85% of Russia’s oil exports and so funding roughly a third of Russia’s budget, is seen as a critical proof of the EU’s determination to keep the economic pressure on Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

5 d. ago EU ministers call for coordinated action on Russian ‘shadow fleet’ in Baltic Sea

Fleet of tankers sailing under flags of convenience estimated to carry up to 85% of Russia’s oil exportsCalls to step up and coordinate the interdiction of the unflagged Russian “shadow fleet” of oil tankers in the Baltic Sea were made this weekend before the EU foreign ministers’ meeting on Monday, which is expected to impose sanctions on 180 ships, taking the total number of ships sanctioned by the EU to 350.The efforts to stop the fleet, estimated to be carrying as much as 85% of Russia’s oil exports and so funding roughly a third of Russia’s budget, is seen as a critical proof of the EU’s determination to keep the economic pressure on Russia. Continue reading...

Politics

1 week ago Setback for Europe after Trump insists Ukraine has ‘immediate’ peace talks with Russia

Zelenskyy had no choice but to accept Putin’s invitation to talks, diplomats sayEurope live – latest updatesDonald Trump’s social media post insisting Ukraine must immediately start peace talks with Russia has set back, and possibly jeopardised, Europe’s carefully laid plans to persuade the US to impose sanctions on Moscow for refusing the US president’s proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, European diplomats have said.Volodymyr Zelenskyy had no choice but to accept Vladimir Putin’s invitation to talks in Istanbul on Thursday for fear of offending Trump, diplomats said. Putin made the offer in a bid not to alienate the US president, and avoid the growing European pressure on Trump to impose harsher sanctions. Western diplomats say they have no reason to believe that Trump acted in collusion with the Russian leader. Continue reading...

Politics

2 w. ago Kier Starmer vows to destroy Putin's 'shadow fleet' surveying UK waters amid fears Russia could cause 'worldwide internet blackouts' by sabotaging undersea cables

Moscow was accused of sabotaging gas pipes in the North Sea in 2022 and the Baltic in 2023, and No 10 said its shadow fleet ships were 'known to be damaging infrastructure'.

Politics

2 w. ago Royal Navy warship tracks Russian submarine and ships passing through English Channel as armed forces minister warns of Kremlin 'threat' to UK

HMS Tyne was deployed as part of a NATO operation to shadow Russia 's submarine Krasnodar as it surfaced back to the country from the Mediterranean.

Events

2 w. ago Jobs saved by "historic" US trade deal, Rightmove set for growth and British Airways orders new Boeing fleet

From a last-minute US trade deal and a £699m property merger to new aircraft orders, rising resale listings, and plans to build on London’s green belt, here are today’s top stories in UK business in under two minutes.

Society

2 w. ago Revealed: The chilling number of ordinary Brits targeted by gangs and criminals to become money mules and help launder dirty cash

EXCLUSIVE: A growing trend has seen criminals ask British youngsters to hold cash in their accounts before sending it on elsewhere.

Events

2 w. ago Labour's 'tough' punishments for convicts who refuse to face victims at court include... being banned from watching TV for six weeks

Labour's sanctions faced ridicule after it emerged the new punishments will be imposed for mere weeks.

Events

2 w. ago Ridicule as it emerges Labour's 'tough' punishments for convicts who refuse to face victims at court include... being banned from watching TV for six weeks

Labour's sanctions faced ridicule after it emerged the new punishments will be imposed for mere weeks.

Events

2 w. ago US imposes sanctions on Myanmar ethnic militia for 'facilitating cyber scams'

An ethnic militia group in southeastern Myanmar that faces sanctions by the United States over its alleged involvement with human trafficking and online scams has criticized Washington’s actions

Politics