Author: staff

The offers from Bern and Belgrade come as US President-elect Donald Trump seeks to convince Russian President Vladimir Putin to end his war in Ukraine. Switzerland and Serbia have both offered to host a potential meeting between incoming US President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, several days after the possibility of such talks was raised. Trump, who will become in charge of the White House again next Monday, said last week that his team were working to schedule a meeting with Putin. The Republican leader hopes to use the occasion to make good on his promise to…

At least 24 people have been killed and entire neighborhoods in Los Angeles reduced to ash as California faces what its governor, Gavin Newsom, said could be the worst natural disaster in United States history. Zelenskyy’s offer came after Donald Trump Jr., eldest son and adviser of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, took a swipe last week at Ukraine over the fires. “Oh look of course the LA fire department donated a bunch of their supplies to Ukraine,” Trump Jr. wrote on social media, sharing an article from 2022 about the Los Angeles County Fire Department donating surplus supplies like boots,…

It is expected to be released soon as part of a new so-called Competitiveness Compass to help make the EU economy compete with other world regions but was pushed back last week due to President Ursula von der Leyen’s bout of severe pneumonia. The text, called the 2025 Annual Single Market and Competitiveness Report, was first reported by Bloomberg. The EU executive raised concerns about its tech sector in the draft, flagging that the EU’s share of the global market in tech and digital services has halved over the past decade (to 10.8 percent) while the U.S. share has increased by a third (to…

Plug-in hybrids saw the most rapid growth in 2024, attracting a second generation of electric vehicle buyers who are nervous about buying pure EVs or looking for the more extended range that hybrids can provide. Sales of all types of electric vehicles rose more than 40% in China last year, while those of petrol-powered car plunged, industry data has revealed.A total of 31.4 million vehicles were sold last year in the world’s biggest market by sales, up 4.5% compared from a year earlier, the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers reported. Growth in sales outpaced production, which rose 3.7%.China’s exports of passenger…

Ellam is the latest of several former New Labour figures appointed to government roles by Starmer. Peter Mandelson, another No.10 communications chief, has been appointed as ambassador to the U.S., while ex No.10 chief of staff Jonathan Powell has been made national security adviser. Liz Lloyd, Blair’s former deputy chief of staff, has been given a job as director of policy delivery. Recruitment for Ellam’s new Cabinet Office role started last year with applications closing on Dec. 8. Brexit minister Nick Thomas-Symonds, who Ellam will work closely with, said he was “delighted” that the HSBC executive was “bringing his talents…

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested returning the soldiers to North Korea in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia. South Korea’s spy agency informed lawmakers on Monday that two North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces while fighting alongside Russia in its border region of Kursk have not expressed any intention to seek asylum in South Korea.Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on X that Ukraine is willing to return the soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners held by Russia.He added, “there may be other options” for North Korean soldiers unwilling to return, with a government-released video…

Russia’s brutal invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 created a humanitarian crisis and a need for immediate response from the EU. It is estimated that over six million Ukrainian refugees are now spread across the continent, with most concentrated in central Europe. Eurofound’s research presented data and recommended policy action to support displaced Ukrainians in their plight and to help thousands make their way into the labor market and gainful employment. These are by no means the only large-scale changes occurring in the labor market. New technologies have shown their potential to both drive efficiency and economic growth and facilitate excessive employee monitoring, curtailing autonomy. The bite…

Sky News’ deputy political editor Sam Coates and Politico’s Jack Blanchard have their guide to the day ahead in British politics – for one last time, because Jack has some big news. Once that’s out of the way, Sam and Jack turn to the state of the UK economy. With growth sitting around zero – what could be about to happen? And how tricky is this going to be for Chancellor Rachel Reeves? Meanwhile, why is prime minister focusing on artificial intelligence? You can send a WhatsApp to Jack and Sam on 07511 867 633 or email them: [email protected] 👉Listen to…

This is precisely why Ukraine joining NATO could provide the best offer for enduring and effective peace in Eastern Europe. Not only would the country’s membership serve as a credible deterrent against future Russian aggression, it would also ensure meaningful burden sharing among NATO members. And most crucially, even if a post-war settlement were to leave part of Ukraine’s territory under de facto Russian control, there’s still a responsible, realistic and reasonable way for Ukraine to join the alliance. To make this work, however, NATO and Ukraine would need to take three key steps: First, as part of any peace…

Labour MPs with finance-facing roles, such as those on the Treasury and business select committees, shared similar analysis privately. One MP with a background in economics, granted anonymity to speak candidly, said they were “not concerned” and “nothing material has changed in the last week from the U.K. side.”  But others looking further ahead confessed to deep worry about how the government will fund its promises to repair the NHS, address major court backlogs and keep local authorities afloat.  Two MPs voiced frustration that Reeves and Prime Minister Starmer had still not yet developed “a proper, positive narrative” to offset…