When Vladimir Putin last set foot in India almost exactly four years ago, the world order looked materially different. At that visit – lasting just five hours due to the Covid pandemic – Putin and the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi, discussed economic and military cooperation and reaffirmed their special relationship. Three months later, Russia’s … Read more
After Spanish police and Europol’s counter-terrorism section arrested three suspected members of the Base – a globally proscribed neo-Nazi terrorist group – in the eastern province of Castellón, its American leader living in Russia was defiant and signalled further actions. In a text message to the Guardian, Rinaldo Nazzaro called the arrests another “example of … Read more
It was both enjoyable and strange to see the EU enlargement commissioner, Marta Kos, present the news on Moldovan TV a couple of months ago. For one thing, she is Slovenian – and she is also a diplomat, not a news anchor. But there she was, announcing that Moldova had made more progress in the … Read more
Nigel Farage’s Reform UK party has received a £9m donation from Christopher Harborne, a leading cryptocurrency, defence and aviation-fuel investor who previously bankrolled the Brexit party. Harborne gave the record donation to Reform over the summer in a boost to the party’s finances before its autumn conference. This year Reform became the first political party … Read more
The failure of this week’s peace talks between Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff fits into a now well-established pattern of standoffs on Ukraine during Trump’s second term. But the dynamic that produced these talks may be becoming more entrenched. The US and Russian interests driving the process have not changed, while the … Read more
Before the harsh white glare of the Kremlin reception room came a telling prologue: Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Donald Trump’s self-described “deal guys”, being led by Kremlin officials through the sparkling streets of a festive Moscow. Wasn’t it lovely, Vladimir Putin asked later, as both sides sat down to a five-hour negotiation that seems … Read more
The UK is hoping to secure an agreement within weeks to rejoin the EU’s flagship student mobility programme, as part of a drive to pursue closer relations with Brussels after a setback on defence. Negotiators are aiming to finalise a deal by January that would allow the UK to participate in Erasmus from 2027 onwards, … Read more
Commons public accounts committee launches inquiry into Andrew’s lease arrangements at Royal Lodge The Commons public accounts committee is set to launch an inquiry into the crown estate following questions over its lease of Royal Lodge to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The PAC announced the inquiry as it published the unredacted lease given to Mountbatten-Windsor, and letters … Read more
Reeves rejects criticism from unnamed cabinet ministers that she wrongly withheld OBR forecasts from them Rachel Reeves, the chancellor, has denied misleading cabinet colleagues about the state of the public finances ahead of the budget. This morning the Times quoted an unnamed cabinet minster as saying “at no point were the cabinet told about the … Read more
When the Polish and German governments meet on Monday for annual political talks in Berlin – the first since Friedrich Merz became chancellor – the headlines are likely to be dominated by Ukraine. Amid growing US pressure for a peace deal with Russia, Warsaw and Berlin will want to send a signal of support for … Read more