16 h. ago The Guardian view on Trump and Venezuela: a return to seeking regime change | Editorial

The US is ramping up the pressure on Nicolás Maduro with a tanker seizure and expanded sanctions following threats and boat strikesEarly in his first term, Donald Trump mooted a “military option” for Venezuela to dislodge its president, Nicolás Maduro. Reports suggest that he eagerly discussed the prospect of an invasion behind closed doors. Advisers eventually talked him down. Instead, the US pursued a “maximum pressure” strategy of sanctions and threats.But Mr Maduro is still in place. And Mr Trump’s attempts to remove him are ramping up again. The US has amassed its largest military presence in the Caribbean since the 1989 invasion of Panama. It has carried out more than 20 shocking strikes on alleged drug boats. Mr Trump reportedly delivered an ultimatum late last month, telling the Venezuelan leader that he could have safe passage from his country if he left immediately. There was already a $50m bounty on his head. This week came expanded sanctions and the seizure of a tanker.D...

Politics

7 d. ago Spy HQ 'attacked' by Ukraine as Russian drone attack kills boy, 12

Horror Russian drone attack kills boy, 12, as Ukraine's shadowy kamikaze drone teams target Chechnyan spy headquarters in latest war twist as Zelensky lashes out at Putin delays

Events

8 d. ago Family of Salisbury Novichok victim Dawn Sturgess condemn inquiry's 'unanswered questions' as it finds Vladimir Putin ordered attack on Sergei Skripal 'to show Russian power'

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, pictured here with daughter Yulia, was poisoned by Novichok at his home in Salisbury. A report today found Putin authorised the hit as a show of Russian strength.

Events

8 d. ago Vladimir Putin was 'morally responsible' for death of Dawn Sturgess in Salisbury Novichok poisonings after authorising attack as a 'public demonstration of Russian power', inquiry finds

Former Russian spy Sergei Skripal, pictured here with daughter Yulia, was poisoned by Novichok at his home in Salisbury. A report today found Putin authorised the hit as a show of Russian strength.

Events

8 d. ago How Salisbury Novichok poisonings entangled a spy and Russian hit squad

Dawn Sturgess became the unlikely victim of the poisonings – with an inquiry into her death publishing its findings today

Events

8 d. ago Novichok poisonings, Russia’s role and UK response: key questions of inquiry

Innocent people were caught up in an assassination attempt on a former Russian spy in Salisbury in March 2018. How did this happen?The novichok attack on Salisbury in south-west England in March 2018 was an extraordinary event, sending shock waves across the world. The targeted man, the former Russian agent Sergei Skripal, recovered from an audacious assassination attempt, but an innocent British citizen, Dawn Sturgess, died. An inquiry was heard in Salisbury and London last year investigating the attack on the Skripals, the response of the emergency services and other public bodies, and how Sturgess was tragically caught up in an international incident. Here are some of the key questions it examined. Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Salisbury Novichok latest: Dawn Sturgess inquiry to reveal findings over Russian spy poisoning

Public inquiry to publish findings on Russian Novichok poisonings

Politics

9 d. ago Salisbury Novichok poisonings timeline: How Russian spy incident unfolded in 2018

Dawn Sturgess was killed by the Russian nerve agent, while a police officer and a former Russian spy and his daughter were poisoned

Politics

9 d. ago Britain and Norway to launch joint fleet of warships to hunt down Russian spy vessels amid growing concern over threat from Putin

The new defence pact between the two Nato member states is aimed at protecting critical undersea cables which are under increasing threat from Vladimir Putin 's forces.

Events

9 d. ago British & Norwegian warships to team up in hunt for Russian subs including laser

BRITISH and Norwegian navies will hunt down Russian submarines together, as the threat of war continues to escalate across Europe. The first-of-its-kind defence pact will be signed today at Downing Street, as part of a £10 billion warship deal between the UK and Norway. The agreement is aimed at protecting critical undersea cables in the...

Events

1 week ago Ukraine war briefing: Peace push fizzles as Witkoff leaves Moscow with no sign of deal

Zelenskyy says ready to meet Trump and that Russia is hoping US loses interest; Briton held in Ukraine on Russian spy allegations. What we know on day 1,379See all our Ukraine war coverageSteve Witkoff was reported to have flown out of Moscow on Tuesday night after Kremlin aides said no progress was made towards ending the Ukraine war. It came after two weeks of diplomatic chaos and haggling beginning with the Russian leaking of a 28-point wishlist that Moscow had discussed with the US, followed by frenzied efforts involving Ukraine and Europe to produce a counter-proposal more acceptable to Kyiv.Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov said that after their five-hour meeting the two sides were “neither further nor closer to resolving the crisis in Ukraine. There is a lot of work to be done.” On Tuesday, a video feed showed Vladimir Putin asking Witkoff, Donald Trump’s envoy, about a short tour of Moscow he had taken before the meeting, with Witkoff calling it a “magnificent city”. The feed then c...

Economics

1 week ago Father's 'shock' as British soldier is accused of helping Russia kill Ukrainians

Former British soldier Ross David Cutmore was detained in Ukraine on suspicion of covertly working for the Russians to supply firearms for major assassinations.

Events

1 week ago Ukraine detains British military instructor 'acting as Russian spy' who 'supplied weapons for three high profile killings by Putin's secret services'

A British military instructor in Ukraine has been detained on suspicion of covertly working for the Russians to supply firearms for major assassinations.

Events

2 w. ago 'Phenomenal' spy thriller based on wild true story fans rate 10/10 is on Film 4 tonight

The action packed film released in 2010 sees Angelina Jolie playing a CIA officer who is turned into a fugitive after being accused of being a Russian spy

Politics

2 w. ago 'Russian submarine spy device' found underwater off UK coast

Volunteer diver litter pickers discovered the suspected Russian spy device off the UK coast that was wedged in a gulley - it comes as Russia continues to send vessels into and around Briish waters

Politics

2 w. ago Russian spy ship lurking in UK waters tried to jam Royal Navy frigate's GPS systems

Defence Secretary John Healey last week revealed the research vessel Yantar had been spotted lurking north of Scotland and attempted to blind RAF pilots using military-grade lasers.

Politics

3 w. ago Moment diver finds ‘Russian spy buoy’ off UK coast on route used by Britain’s nuclear submarines

A SUSPECTED Russian spying device has been found on a route used by our nuclear subs.  The cylindrical “sonobuoy” was hauled up by volunteer divers who were clearing the sea of litter.  It had lurked undetected beneath the Irish Sea near Skomer Island, off the southwestern tip of Wales. A Navy source said it may have been...

Events

3 w. ago Russian spy boat link to Orkney power cut is ‘wild speculation’ but probe remains open

SSEN said that a "network fault" was to blame for Wednesday's power cut in Orkney.

Politics

3 w. ago QUENTIN LETTS: Moscow spies slumped at their monitors, sent into a coma by our oh

Russian spy ship Yantar, with a full complement of knobbly-headed Ivans, was spotted north of Scotland this week.

Politics

3 w. ago Could Russia attack the UK and what would happen if it did?' Russian spy ship prompts concern

UK officials express readiness as Russian spy ship Yantar approaches, amid concerns of laser interference

Events