
Oil trader 2Rivers, formerly Coral Energy, begins dissolution process
The company, which ceased trading activities in June, said the decision was taken with deep regret and under extraordinary pressure following the sanctions.
Western powers have imposed sanctions on Russia's fleet and network of traders, accusing them of circumventing sanctions and trading Russian oil above the Group of Seven nations' price cap.
2Rivers/Coral said it rejected any assertion that it violated sanctions measures, directly or indirectly, and that it was actively pursuing all avenues to challenge and seek the removal of the measures.
Britain sanctioned 2Rivers in December, before doubling down with asset freezes on several directors of the firm in May.
The EU added 2Rivers' Singapore and Dubai entities to its 18th sanctions package last month.
"The 2Rivers Group enables shipments and export of Russian oil, notably from Rosneft, by concealing the actual origin of the oil. In particular, the 2Rivers Group controls a large proportion of the vessels in Russia's so-called 'shadow fleet'," the EU said.
Coral Energy rebranded as 2Rivers in mid-2024 after a management buyout. It has also said it severed ties with its previous ownership, had stopped all new Russian oil deals at the end of 2022 and fully exited the market by early 2024.

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Telegraph
18 minutes ago
- Telegraph
Race-fixing scandal rocks horseracing as BHA launches investigation
A jockey is under investigation over an alleged race-fixing scandal, it has emerged. The unnamed rider is at the centre of claims horses had been stopped from running on their merits (which, under the rules, means jockeys pushing horses for timely, real and substantial effort). The probe has been launched by the British Horseracing Authority. According to The Sun, the jump jockey has been asked to hand over electrical devices, including laptops, tablets and a mobile phone. At least one other rider and a licensed trainer are also said to have been involved in inquiries. A BHA spokesperson said: 'The BHA will not comment on speculation surrounding any investigations or potential investigations.' The alleged race-fixing scandal is the first to hit racing since Danny Brock was banned for 15 years by a BHA-commissioned independent disciplinary panel. In January 2023, Brock was found guilty of stopping horses at three all-weather flat races between December 2018 and March 2019 from which a group of gamblers profited. Among the other parties disciplined in the case was Sean McBride – assistant trainer to his father Philip 'Charlie' McBride in Newmarket – who was banned for seven years, later reduced to five on appeal. 'This welcome outcome sends a powerful message that conduct of this nature will never be tolerated,' the BHA said at the time. 'The conduct of the individuals found in breach in this case risked undermining confidence in our sport and flagrantly disregarded the hard work and dedication of people up and down the country who carry out their duties in good faith. 'It is vital that supporters and bettors have faith in the fairness and integrity of our sport. At the same time, participants must have absolute confidence that they are competing on a level playing field. We are grateful to the panel for their diligence in hearing and passing judgment on this important case.' Brock stopped riding as a jockey in 2021 and became a greyhound trainer.


The Sun
an hour ago
- The Sun
My driving instructor dad abused me aged 12 while mum worked long hours in lockdown – he told me he was ‘educating' me
STANDING in the witness box, Amy Leigh's legs shook as she looked directly at the man in the dock who had sexually abused her from the age of 12. She hoped to catch a glimmer of remorse – instead her twisted father defiantly stared back at her. 6 6 6 Amy was preyed upon by her dad, Andrew Mackintosh, while her mum worked long hours at a supermarket during lockdown. He would make Amy walk around the house naked, control what she ate and beat her with a wooden spoon - while also claiming that the sexual abuse was his way of "educating" her And now she shares her harrowing story with The Sun, in the hopes other victims will find the strength to come forward... Like all victims of abuse, I'd been offered a screen behind which to tell my story in court, but I'd refused, wanting to stand up to my dad and to show him I'd survived, despite the damage he'd caused me. Even so, it was a huge challenge to face the man who was not only my abuser, but also my own father. Growing up in Warrington, Cheshire, my dad, Andrew Mackintosh, was the boss of our house. From my earliest memory, he'd always been strict, and nobody was allowed to challenge him, least of all me. Mum was out working long and unsociable hours in a supermarket, so often it was just us at home. If I forgot to do a chore or didn't listen, I was sent to my bedroom without any food. Once, when I was just a few minutes late home from a friend's house, he grounded me for a month. My childhood abuser walked free -Life stories When I reminded him that the month was up, he extended it to six months. I just couldn't win. He was violent, too, slapping my bare behind or hitting me with a wooden spoon that he carried everywhere with him. He'd drawn a sad face on one side and a happy one on the other and would show me the sad face when I'd done something 'wrong', before hitting me. More than once, he whacked me so hard that the spoon broke, then complained I was costing too much in replacements. Like any kid, I loved my dad and longed for his approval. But everything I did was wrong. I had lists of chores, and if I forgot the smallest thing, he'd scoff and say: 'You can't do a thing right. You'll never make anything of yourself.' In front of other people, he'd say: 'I'd never have had a child if I'd known she was going to be like this.' Slowly, I was brainwashed into thinking there was something wrong with me – it made me try all the harder to please him. One morning, when I was 12, after Mum left to work an early shift at the supermarket, Dad woke me and ordered me to climb into bed with him, saying we could cuddle. Uncertainly, I did as I was told, and it became a regular routine. He would wake me as soon as Mum went out to work, and I had to join him in bed. I lay, rigid and wide awake, wishing I could go back to my own room. I didn't know then that it was sexual abuse, but I hated it all the same – it was excruciating One morning, his hands moved under my T-shirt. 'This is 'our normal', other people could never understand. Our family is different from everyone else,' he said. I believed him. Besides, I was too afraid to question it. I didn't even dare tell my mother what was happening. Dad had isolated me from everyone, so I had nobody else I could turn to. Then he insisted that whenever Mum was out, I had to walk around the house naked. Of course, I desperately didn't want to, but saying 'no' wasn't an option. Later that year, after I'd turned 12, he began 'inspecting' my private parts, which was excruciating. I didn't know then that it was sexual abuse, but I hated it all the same. When I was 14, it escalated even further to him showing me pornography and abusing me, ignoring me when I begged him to stop. He got nothing out of it, he'd tell me. He was just trying to help me and educate me, and it was special between us. Afterwards, he sent me GIFs, as though the whole thing was a joke. It all felt so wrong, but I didn't know what to do. He belittled and humiliated me to the point where I had no confidence left. I became suicidal, believing I was worthless. I had nowhere to turn. During lockdown, Mum was a keyworker and out of the house for long hours. 6 6 6 But Dad was a driving instructor, and his work stopped completely, so we were alone for hours together. He made me watch films naked, and I wasn't allowed a blanket, even when it was cold. He also put up CCTV inside the house, telling me and Mum it was for our own safety, but I knew it was really there to monitor me when he was out. Once, Mum came home to find my underwear on the sofa, but Dad caused a row to make her feel she couldn't ask why it was there. He was clever at making everyone else feel like they were at fault for things he had done. He was strict with food, too, and even though I was slim, he'd weigh me weekly and record my weight. I worried all the time about what I was eating. 'I thought he was going to kill me' Aged 18, I finally left for university. I loved being away from home. For the first time in years, I wasn't living in fear of Dad creeping up on me and forcing an 'inspection'. I made friends and met a partner, yet I still felt I didn't fit in. Dad had drilled into me that I was different, and I believed that. One night, with my flatmates, I plucked up the courage to speak about Dad. But before I'd really started explaining, one of them said: 'That is not OK – you should go to the police.' I stared at her in confusion. It only made me think that Dad was right; nobody else could possibly understand our family. I clammed up again, thinking I'd made a mistake. Any time I went home, Dad would try to corner me. I did my best to avoid him, but he became increasingly aggressive, as though not having me around was making him angry. One time, I forgot to bring the washing in and he began hitting me and dragged me off the chair by my hair. I felt like I was destroying his life, and Mum's too. Yet, deep down, I knew he was the one to blame, not me I thought he was going to kill me. I managed to get away and ran up to my room. Then I heard him leave the house. I was terrified of him coming back to hurt me again, so the next morning, I left without saying goodbye and vowed never to go back. That was the last time I saw him. Soon after, I started counselling because I'd developed an eating disorder. I was so used to Dad controlling everything I ate that, even with him gone, I kept denying myself food. I survived on a packet of crab sticks a day and went from 9-and-a-half stone to 7-and-a-half stone. I had no intention of talking about Dad to my counsellor, but suddenly it all spilled out. 'This is serious sexual abuse,' the counsellor told me. 'He has groomed you so that you thought it was normal. But it's not. Please go to the police.' I confided in my then partner, too, who agreed that I'd been abused and urged me to go to the authorities. It was so hard to go against years of control and brainwashing. After speaking to the counsellor, I was put into hiding where I was studying at John Moores University in Liverpool. I lost touch with my uni flatmates and ended up dropping out of my course because of my mental health. I knew I had to speak out, yet I still felt terrible guilt. My dad had concert tickets for a band he really liked, and my mum had an anniversary holiday planned for the two of them. I felt like I was destroying his life, and Mum's too. Yet, deep down, I knew he was the one to blame, not me. 'Ruined my childhood' Eventually, I realised I had to do something. Since I'd left home, I'd noticed how his temper had got worse, and I worried he might target another child. His job meant he had access to other young people, and I couldn't live with that on my conscience. Once I'd spoken to the police, I called Mum and told her everything. She was devastated. She'd had no idea. She'd always believed Dad and I were close, and that it was a normal parent-child relationship. After he was arrested, she left him. She rang me every day, saying she blamed herself and that she should have known what he was doing. But Dad knew how to manipulate her, just as he manipulated me, and I didn't blame her. Dad appeared at Liverpool Crown Court in March this year. It was another blow when he pleaded not guilty. Reliving what he'd done to me was so hard, but I was determined to face him to show him I'd survived, with support from my current partner. I'm sharing my story to help others, and I urge anyone in a similar situation to ask for help. I hope they'll come forward for support as I did, because staying silent is not the answer The jury heard how he'd sexually abused me throughout my teenage years, and how the abuse became more extreme as time went on. I shook as I read out my victim impact statement, saying: 'The pressure of living with this realisation of how I was sexually abused was too much, and my mental health deteriorated. "I experienced suicidal thoughts and didn't want to live with this weight on my shoulders any more, becoming heavier and heavier. I struggled to cope. 'He ruined my childhood, and I have to live with this for the rest of my life – what he did to me.' The jury found my dad guilty of six counts of sexual activity with a child, including penetration, and the judge sentenced him to 11 years in prison. He will be on the sex offenders register for life. Afterwards, Detective Constable Cadman said: 'He put [his victim] through the stress of a trial by cowardly refusing to admit responsibility for his sickening actions. "The sentence reflects the severity of his actions. He is a sexual predator who exploited an innocent young girl for his own selfish and twisted gratification.' I felt so proud of myself. I still suffer flashbacks about the abuse, which causes sleepless nights and nightmares, but behind bars, my father is no longer a danger, and that provides me with great comfort. I'm slowly recovering from my eating disorder and am training for a new job. While the effects of the abuse will stay with me, I refuse to let it define me. My dad ruined my past, but he will not steal another second of my future. I'm sharing my story to help others, and I urge anyone in a similar situation to ask for help. I hope they'll come forward for support as I did, because staying silent is not the answer.


The Guardian
an hour ago
- The Guardian
Women call out ‘creepy' experiences on Vinted as trolls and image thieves target site
Users of secondhand clothing websites such as Vinted are warning about the danger their images will be used against their will on pornography sites, and sounding the alarm about the spread of sexually charged harassment under their posts. The potential for hijacking photos posted on the internet for real or faked erotic content has long been known, but victims and their advocates say culprits appear to have zeroed in on Vinted with targeted campaigns. Founded in 2008, the Lithuanian online marketplace for buying, selling and originally swapping secondhand and new clothing has developed into the most successful website of its kind in Europe, with more than 65 million registered users. Its popularity, particularly among young women, appears to have also made it a draw for misogynist trolls, image thieves and unwanted sexualised content. In Germany, the EU's largest economy, there has been a wave of recent complaints, prompting media scrutiny of the website as users in France, Italy and Britain have also reported problems. One young female Vinted user identified as Mina went on social media last month to recount her ordeal and caution others. Her Instagram post has been watched more than 1.7m times and is captioned with a plea: 'Please share so a lot of women will see it!' In the tearful video, Mina said pictures she had put on Vinted had apparently been copied and then posted on 'porn sites'. She said a Google search of her name now brought up links to that content, just as she was applying for jobs. The Guardian could not independently confirm her account. In the Instagram video, she said she had reported the matter to Google and the German police, who do not comment on individual criminal complaints. This week the German news outlet Der Spiegel published an interview with Mina, saying she was 22 years old, lived in Cologne and wished to keep her surname private. It said she had used Vinted for 'several years'. 'The idea of a secondhand platform for clothes is super and important, also considering climate change,' she said. But she lamented Vinted was no longer a 'safe space' for her, calling her experiences there 'creepy'. She said she had received a barrage of abusive messages via Vinted's messaging system including: 'Hello, I'd like to buy this item of clothing but I'd like you to try it on without underwear first', and: 'Can I also buy you?' Others demanded 'more intimate' pictures than the ones she posted. Mina said even more disturbing was the fact photos in which she posed in clothing she was trying to sell including bikini tops and summer dresses had resurfaced on other websites depicting her as an 'erotic model' and saying she was a 'naked OnlyFans star'. She said she had never posted nude photos online and had no account on the amateur pornography site. Spiegel said it found her name and images on sex-focused German-language forums, with links back to her Vinted and Instagram accounts. Several investigations have turned up similar complaints. In April, a joint report by the German newspaper Süddeutsche Zeitung and public broadcasters NDR and WDR exposed a public Telegram channel called Girls of Vinted launched in June 2024, and featuring more than 1,000 pictures taken from the marketplace platform and placed in a sexualised context. The report said the Telegram channel featured women who appeared to be selling sexual services based on information included in their profiles, while most were there as legitimate Vinted users and showcased involuntarily. Several of the more than 130 women shown, many of them from Germany, Italy and France, reported then receiving lurid messages on their Vinted accounts. Before the Telegram channel was shut down earlier this year, it had accumulated 2,000 mainly male subscribers. In October, the UK broadcaster Channel 4 revealed a comparable website called Vinted Sluts. Sign up to Headlines Europe A digest of the morning's main headlines from the Europe edition emailed direct to you every week day after newsletter promotion The German joint-investigation highlighted the case of a 26-year-old student from Berlin identified as Bella who had been spotlighted against her will on Girls of Vinted, sparking a deluge of crude come-ons and insults in several languages. Under one of her posts, a user asked in a Vinted chat with her: 'Is it still available?' about an item of clothing, followed by: 'And the underwear underneath?' 'It felt disgusting,' Bella said. 'Creepy.' Sonja, a 32-year-old lawyer who has been registered on Vinted since 2011, said she started receiving 'offensive messages' daily after she was unwittingly listed on Girls of Vinted with photos of her body from the neck down wearing clothing she had aimed to sell. 'It feels like a digital version of the street' with its cat-calling and sexual objectification, she said. Vinted said it exercised a 'zero-tolerance policy' for unwanted sexually explicit communication via its site, removing such content as soon as it is notified. In its updated online help centre, it allows users to report inappropriate behaviour and content. This was an option used by Bella and Sonja, who said Vinted then shut down the offending accounts after about a week. They soon received new offensive messages from other accounts, however. Vinted said if users found their photos on third-party sites, it would contact those platforms to request removal 'where possible'. 'We have already reported such cases to Telegram via various channels and, in connection with the Channel 4 documentary, achieved the shutdown of a named website,' a company spokesperson said. Vinted advises its members in its community standards not to share photos in which their face is visible and to keep personal information such as full names, addresses and bank details out of private messages, while minimising data included on shipping labels. 'We are aware of the challenges online platforms face in addressing inappropriate behaviour and take our members' negative experiences very seriously. Safeguarding our members is an ongoing priority,' the spokesperson said. 'We will continue to review and evolve our systems to prevent incidents and to respond swiftly whenever issues arise.' Legal experts advise users whose images have been hijacked for sexualised content to report it to the authorities in their country as well as the websites where they are posted. The EU's Digital Services Act has required online platforms since February 2024 to delete illegal content that is flagged to them.