The European Union has made it clear that Russia must fully withdraw from Ukraine before any sanctions on Moscow can be lifted, in a sharp rebuke to US President Donald Trump’s hopes of striking a quick ceasefire deal. In a statement issued on Wednesday, the European Commission reiterated its stance that the cessation of Russia’s “unprovoked and unjustified aggression” in Ukraine, along with the unconditional withdrawal of all Russian military…

In a heated exchange caught on camera, far-right American politician Marjorie Taylor Greene told a British journalist to “go back to your own country” after being questioned about the accidental leaking of Houthi attack plans during an interview. The Republican representative for Georgia, a staunch ally of former President Donald Trump, became visibly agitated when Sky News reporter Martha Kelner, who is British, asked her about the incident dubbed “Signalgate.”…

When Dr Sophie Chandauka was appointed Chairman of the Board at Sentebale in July 2023, her arrival was seen as a breath of fresh air. Her credentials, which included a notable track record in business and social change, were praised by Prince Harry, who called her appointment a “tremendous benefit to Sentebale’s next chapter.” But little did anyone know that this next chapter would spiral into a personal and professional…

By Hannah Al-Othman Already one of the most impoverished towns in the UK, withdrawal of support has left many unsure how to cope. “It’s not very helpful really,” says Owen Sandford, 27, of the government’s spring statement. “I understand they’ve got a tough job, but we’ve got a tougher job trying to survive.” Sandford is in receipt of universal credit and has been applying for work – but he is struggling.…

The International Monetary Fund said on Tuesday discussions with Argentina on a new program are “advanced,” and that fund staff and its board have also met as part of the program’s proceedings. The IMF board was expected to meet on Tuesday, with Argentina’s qualification for a new program under the fund’s Exceptional Access Policy on the agenda, given that the country has borrowed beyond the fund’s regular lending limits. The…

The European Central Bank has issued a negative opinion on the application of so-called “Danish compromise” rules to the ongoing takeover by Banco BPM of Anima Holding. The Italian lender launched a buyout offer for the fund manager in November, contingent on the ECB allowing it to apply the Danish Compromise rules. These rules allow a bank to risk-weigh an insurance holding instead of deducting it in full from its…

British betting and gaming firm Evoke on Wednesday said its revenue growth rate would be slower in the first quarter than it had forecast for the full year, sending its shares tumbling even as it beat profit expectations for last year. Evoke forecast low single-digit percentage growth in first-quarter revenue, while reiterating expectations for annual revenue to grow 5%-9%, as it grapples with short-term hurdles related to regulatory curbs on…

A man who flew to Britain from Dubai to have sex with a 13-year-old girl he groomed online was relaxing in a hotel spa and wellness centre when he was arrested by police. Hamdan Alshamsi, 21, a university student from Abu Dhabi, met the vulnerable schoolgirl on the social media site Snapchat and bombarded her with messages for months. When she agreed to meet him, he flew to the UK and checked into a four-star…

Russia’s refusal to implement a ceasefire agreement with Ukraine in the Black Sea hinges on the lifting of international sanctions, a condition laid out by President Vladimir Putin following talks with the United States. In a dramatic twist to the ongoing conflict, Moscow has insisted that sanctions on Russian agriculture, fertiliser exports, and financial institutions be lifted before it will commit to the maritime truce. These demands were made clear…

The Duke of Sussex has stepped down from his charity, Sentebale, following a devastating breakdown in governance and trust within the organisation. In a deeply emotional statement released on Tuesday evening, Prince Harry revealed that he had resigned from his role at the helm of Sentebale, a charity he founded in 2006 in memory of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. His resignation comes in solidarity with the charity’s…

Buckingham Palace on Tuesday said that King Charles III and Queen Camilla have postponed a planned state visit to the Vatican in early April following medical advice from Pope Francis’ doctors. “Medical advice has now suggested that Pope Francis would benefit from an extended period of rest and recuperation. Their Majesties send the pope their best wishes for his convalescence and look forward to visiting him in The Holy See,…

Britain gave the green light on Tuesday to a new 10-billion-pound ($13 billion) road tunnel for the River Thames in southeast England, in its latest backing for an infrastructure project to help revive a sluggish economy. The Labour government has put speeding up the planning process to deliver new energy and transport projects at the heart of its growth agenda since it was elected last year, backing expansion at London’s…