63 h. ago Ukraine war: US readies new Russia sanctions if Putin rejects peace deal

The US is preparing a fresh round of sanctions on Russia’s energy sector to increase the pressure on Moscow should President Vladimir Putin reject a peace agreement with Ukraine, according to people familiar with the matter. The US is considering options, such as targeting vessels in Russia’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers used to transport Moscow’s oil, as well as traders who facilitate the transactions, said the people who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private...

Events

7 d. ago Tensions rise as US prepares to seize more tankers with Venezuelan oil

The United States is preparing to intercept more ships transporting Venezuelan oil following the seizure of a tanker this week, as it increases pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, six sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday. The seizure was the first interdiction of an oil cargo or tanker from Venezuela, which has been under US sanctions since 2019. It came as the US executes a large-scale military build-up in the southern Caribbean and as US President Donald Trump pushes...

Events

9 d. ago Trump says US seized oil tanker off Venezuela coast in major escalation

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that the United States had seized an oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela as tensions mount with the government of President Nicolas Maduro. Using US forces to take control of a merchant ship is incredibly unusual and marks the Trump administration’s latest push to increase pressure on Maduro, who has been charged with narcoterrorism in the United States. The US has built up the largest military presence in the region in decades and launched a series of...

Politics

1 week ago Why is China piling on the pressure with increasing naval operations near Japan?

Chinese naval vessels have ramped up pass-through operations as tensions between Beijing and Tokyo continue to rise. On Monday, a Chinese naval Type 054 destroyer sailed southeastward between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island, heading towards the Pacific Ocean, while another travelled eastward through the Osumi Strait, Japan’s defence ministry said on Tuesday. The operations came shortly after the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning charted an unusual course towards Japan’s home islands following...

Events

1 week ago Why is China piling on the pressure on Japan with increasing naval operations?

Chinese naval vessels have intensified pass-through operations as tensions between Beijing and Tokyo continue to rise. Japan’s defence ministry said on Tuesday that a PLA Navy Type 054 destroyer had sailed southeastwards between Okinawa Island and Miyako Island, heading towards the Pacific Ocean, while another travelled eastwards through the Osumi Strait. The operations on Monday came shortly after the Chinese aircraft carrier Liaoning charted an unusual course towards Japan’s main islands...

Events

2 w. ago Live: Macron calls for increasing pressure on Russian economy on last day of China visit

Live: Macron calls for increasing pressure on Russian economy on last day of China visit  France 24

Politics

2 w. ago Cyber scams threaten confidence in India’s outsourcing industry

India’s hard-won reputation as the world’s back office, built on trusted call-centre and IT services, is coming under pressure as increasingly sophisticated cyber scam networks emerge within the same digital ecosystem that underpins its outsourcing success. A police raid late last month on a Hyderabad call centre that allegedly trained tele-callers to mimic Australian accents has sharpened those concerns, with analysts warning that organised fraud rings could erode confidence in India’s service...

Events

3 w. ago PM Starmer says UK’s Andrew should testify in US Jeffrey Epstein investigation

Pressure is increasing for Andrew, the former British prince, to give evidence to a US congressional committee investigating the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after Britain’s prime minister suggested he should testify. Keir Starmer declined to comment directly about King Charles’ disgraced younger brother but told reporters travelling with him for the Group of 20 (G20) summit in Johannesburg that as a “general principle” people should provide evidence to investigators. “I don’t comment...

Events

4 w. ago As Hollywood Flops Pile Up, China’s Storytelling Giant Yuewen Tries A Different Approach

As Hollywood Flops Pile Up, China’s Storytelling Giant Yuewen Tries A Different Approach  Forbes

Politics