Ukrainian Parliament approves law ensuring independence of anti-graft watchdogs
Lawmakers in the Verkhovna Rada, the Ukrainian Parliament in Kyiv, approved Zelenskyy's new proposal with 331 votes and nine abstentions Thursday, official figures showed.
Last week's measure by Zelenskyy to place the watchdogs under the oversight of the prosecutor general prompted an outcry from Ukrainians, the European Union and international rights groups. It raised fears that the government could meddle in investigations and potentially shield its supporters from scrutiny.
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Time Business News
36 minutes ago
- Time Business News
Britain hopes crackdown on people-smugglers' social media ads will help curb Channel crossings
Source – LegalPressLondon, Aug 3 (AP) Britain says people who advertise fake passports or people-smuggling services on social medial could face up to five years in prison, in the government's latest effort to deter migrants from crossing the English Channel in small boats. The government said Sunday that anyone convicted of creating online materials intended to break UK immigration law will face prison time and a large fine. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper said the aim was to stop the 'brazen tactics on social media' used by smuggling gangs. 'Selling the false promise of a safe journey to the UK and a life in this country — whether on or offline — simply to make money, is nothing short of immoral,' she said. Assisting illegal immigration to the UK is already a crime, but officials believe a new offense — part of a border security bill currently going through Parliament — will give police and prosecutors more powers to disrupt gangs that send migrants on perilous journeys across one of the world's busiest shipping lanes. Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the crime gangs are a threat to global security and should be treated like terror networks. Since taking office a year ago, Starmer's centre-left Labour Party government has adopted powers to seize the assets of people-smugglers, beefed up UK border surveillance and increased law-enforcement cooperation with France and other countries to disrupt the journeys. Despite that, more than 25,000 people have reached Britain by boat so far this year, an increase of 50 per cent on the same period in 2024. Small boat crossings have become a potent political issue, fuelled by pictures of smugglers piling migrants into overcrowded, leaky inflatable boats on the French coast. Opposition parties say the government's plans aren't working — though the government argues the problems built up during 14 years when the Conservative Party was in power, The Conservatives say Starmer should not have scrapped the previous government's contentious and expensive plan to send migrants arriving by boat on a one-way trip to Rwanda. 'This is a panicked attempt to look tough after months of doing nothing,' Conservative immigration spokesman Chris Philp said. The government says it will take time to clear a backlog of applications that has left thousands of migrants stuck in temporary accommodation — often hotels — without the right to work. The hotels have become flashpoints for tension, attracting protests fuelled by a mix of local concern, misinformation and anti-immigrant agitation.(AP) TIME BUSINESS NEWS
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Switzerland could revise offer on Trump tariffs, business minister says
By John Revill ZURICH (Reuters) -The Swiss government is open to revising its offer to the United States in response to planned heavy tariffs, Business Minister Guy Parmelin said, as experts warned the 39% import duties announced by President Donald Trump could trigger a recession in Switzerland. Switzerland was left stunned on Friday after Trump hit the country with one of the highest tariffs in his global trade reset, with industry associations warning of tens of thousands of jobs being put at risk. The country's cabinet will hold a special meeting on Monday to discuss its next steps, with Parmelin telling broadcaster RTS that the government would move quickly before the U.S. tariffs are imposed on August 7. "We need to fully understand what happened, why the U.S. president made this decision. Once we have that on the table, we can decide how to proceed," Parmelin said. "The timeline is tight, it may be hard to achieve something by the 7th, but we'll do everything we can to show goodwill and revise our offer," he added. Parmelin said Trump was focused on the U.S. trade deficit with Switzerland, which stood at 38.5 billion Swiss francs ($48 billion) last year, with Switzerland buying U.S liquefied natural gas (LNG) among the options under consideration. Another option could be further investments by Swiss companies in the United States, Switzerland's biggest export market for its pharmaceuticals, watches and machinery. "Look at the European Union, they promised to buy LNG. Switzerland imports LNG too — maybe that's one path," Parmelin said. "Maybe more investments. But to be sure it's a strong enough basis for continuing talks, we have to fully understand what the U.S. expects." Both Parmelin and Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter were also ready to travel to Washington to pursue talks if necessary, he added. Swiss officials rejected reports that the higher than expected tariffs were imposed after a bad-tempered telephone call between Keller-Sutter and Trump late on Thursday. "The call was not a success, there was not a good outcome for Switzerland," a government source told Reuters. "But there was not a quarrel. Trump made it clear from the very beginning that he had a completely different point of view, that 10% tariffs were not enough. "We are working hard to find a solution and are in contact with the American side," the source added. "We hope we can find a solution before August 7." Tariffs would have a huge impact on Switzerland's export-orientated economy and raised the risk of a recession, said Hans Gersbach, an economist at ETH, a university in Zurich. Swiss economic output would be reduced by 0.3% to 0.6% if the 39% tariff was imposed, a figure which could rise to above 0.7% if pharmaceuticals - which are currently not covered by the U.S. import duties - were included. Prolonged disruptions could shrink Swiss GDP by more 1%, Gersbach said. "There would be a risk of a recession," Gersbach said. Swiss shares are expected to be hit by the tariffs news when the stock market reopens on Monday after being closed during the Swiss National Day holiday on Friday. The tariffs could also see the Swiss National Bank cut interest rates in September, said Nomura. "We expect one more 25bp policy rate cut from the SNB in September, which would take the rate to -0.25%," the bank said. "A hit to growth from U.S. tariffs on exports would likely weaken economic growth and cause further deflation pressures, adding to the likelihood of easing to a negative policy rate." Error while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
Ukraine drone attack sparks fire in Russian resort city
Ukrainian drone attacks sparked a massive fire at an oil depot in a rare attack on the Black Sea resort of Sochi. Plumes of thick smoke rose above the city, forcing the airport to close and requiring more than 100 firefighters to tackle the blaze. The oil refinery was struck by debris from one of the estimated 93 Ukrainian drones flown into Russia overnight, including 60 over the Black Sea region. Sochi, which hosted the 2014 Olympic Winter Games and where Vladimir Putin once owned a holiday home, has witnessed only a limited number of Ukrainian attacks over the course of the war. However, the attack on Sunday appears to be part of a wider strategy to hit oil refineries and worsen potential gasoline shortages in Russia this month. Low domestic stocks, peak seasonal demand and repair work at domestic refineries are likely to choke the supply of gasoline in August, trade sources told Reuters on Friday. Russian authorities said that the Sochi drone attack was accompanied by Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries in the southern Russian cities of Ryazan, Penza and Voronezh. Ukraine's military said on Saturday that it had struck oil facilities inside Russia, including a major refinery, as well as a military airfield for drones and an electronics factory. Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces said they had hit the oil refinery in Ryazan, about 180 km (110 miles) south-east of Moscow, causing a fire on its premises. Also hit was the Annanefteprodukt oil storage facility in the Voronezh region that borders on northeastern Ukraine. Emergency officials reported that the fuel tank in Sochi had a capacity of 2,000 cubic metres (70,000 cubic feet), requiring 127 firefighters to tackle the blaze Tourists at the Black Sea city told the Russian news agency that they hid in underground passages as sirens blared in the resort city. 'There were a lot of explosions right next to us, orange flashes in the sky,' one shaken tourist told the Krasnodar TV channel. 'The sound was terrible, the siren was screaming… my hands are still trembling.' Some tourists, however, created videos of themselves posing in front of the fire lip-syncing to a popular rap song. Andrey Prushunin, the mayor of Sochi, wrote on Telegram that 'a fuel tank caught fire at an oil depot' in the Adlersky city district of Sochi, adding: 'I express my gratitude to the air defence services for their professionalism.' Rosaviatsia, Russia's civil aviation authority, announced that flights had been halted at Sochi airport in response to the attack. Airports in Russia have been repeatedly disrupted by Ukrainian attacks in recent months as part of a campaign to bring the war home to Russians, with some reporting that at least one airport was shut down temporarily on almost every single day in July. The shutdowns have sparked frustration across Russia during tourist season and pose a surging cost for its aviation and tourism industries. Meanwhile, in Russia's overnight attacks on southern Ukraine, seven people were wounded by a missile strike on a residential area of the city of Mykolaiv. It came at the end of one of the bloodiest weeks in Ukraine in recent months, after a Russian drone and missile barrage on Kyiv killed 31 people and injured 179 on Thursday. 02:54 PM BST Our live coverage has ended. Here's a round-up of today's events: Ukrainian drones hit an oil depot near the Black Sea resort of Sochi in Russia, sparking a huge blaze and halting flights Russia and China carried out scheduled joint artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov said a change of leadership in the Kremlin 'won't change anything' A Ukrainian FPV drone destroyed a mined bridge in Russia's Bryansk region Ukrainian officials were arrested for a large-scale bribery scheme Ukraine and Russia agreed on a fresh prisoner exchange of 1,200 people 02:27 PM BST Ukraine and Russia agree on fresh prisoner swap Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that Ukraine and Russia have agreed to exchange 1,200 prisoners after their latest round of negotiations in July. 'There is an agreement to exchange 1,200 people, and work on the lists is ongoing,' Mr Zelensky wrote on X, adding 'we are also working to unblock the return of our civilians and are verifying data on each individual.' Prisoner exchanges have occurred in each round of negotiations between the countries this year as the parties make little progress towards a ceasefire or other agreements. Russia has not yet commented on the prisoner swap. 02:16 PM BST Pictured: Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a Russian drone strike 12:36 PM BST Russia carries out second airstrike on bridge in Kherson Russia struck a road bridge in Kherson used to transport military logistics for a second consecutive day. Russian forces reportedly dropped two guided bombs on the bridge, which connects the city to the Korabel neighbourhood. Oleksandr Prokudin, the regional governor, urged residents of the Korabel neighbourhood to evacuate, noting 'it will be difficult to deliver food and other things for the time being.' 12:22 PM BST Explosions reported near Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant Explosions and smoke were reportedly observed at the Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant this weekend. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reportedly heard blasts and saw smoke rising from the direction of the plant, according to Rafael Mariano Grossi, the IAEA Director General. Plant staff said that the auxiliary site was hit by shelling and drone strikes. The auxiliary facility is located 1,200 metres from the plant's site perimeter. In a statement, Mr Grossi called for 'maximum military restraint', saying: 'Any attack in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant - regardless of the intended target - poses potential risks also for nuclear safety and must be avoided.' The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station is the largest nuclear power plant in Europe and was captured by Russia in March 2022. 12:02 PM BST Ukrainian officials arrested for large-scale bribery scheme A Ukrainian MP and other officials have been arrested for a large-scale bribery scheme in buying drones and electronic warfare systems. The scheme reportedly entailed state contracts with suppliers being signed at prices inflated by up to 30%. In a statement on X, Volodymyr Zelensky wrote that 'there can only be zero tolerance for corruption, clear teamwork in uncovering it, and ultimately, a fair sentence.' 'I am grateful to the anti-corruption agencies for their work,' Mr Zelensky added. It comes after Mr Zelensky faced backlash for introducing a bill to strip anti-corruption agencies of their autonomy. Their independence was later restored on Thursday after an unprecedented wave of protests across the country. 11:40 AM BST Pictured: Russian ambulance equipped with anti-drone protective cage With 70% of frontline casualties in the Russia-Ukraine war driven by airborne drone strikes, increasingly innovative methods have been used to ward off attacks from above. One of these methods is anti-drone mesh and netting, which aims to deflect or harmlessly capture incoming drones. Mesh, netting and elaborate metal cages are now frequently seen covering vehicles near the frontline on both sides. 11:35 AM BST Sochi fire has been contained, say Russian authorities Credit: @exilenova_plus / Telegram Regional authorities in Russia have announced that the fire sparked by a Ukrainian drone attack in Sochi has been contained. Earlier, footage showed flames licking up the Sochi oil depot as at least 120 firefighters were summoned to douse the blaze. Russian state media outlet TASS reported that 25 flights were delayed departing Sochi airport after the attack. The drone strike makes up part of Ukraine's disruptive strategy in Russia, aiming to bring the war closer to ordinary people. In July, at least one Russian airport reportedly shut down temporarily almost every single day of the month. 11:21 AM BST Pictured: Ukrainian FPV drone destroys Russian-mined bridge A Ukrainian FPV drone has apparently destroyed a bridge over the Tsata River in Russia's Bryansk region, according to footage posted to Telegram. The wreckage of the bridge is now said to be impassable. The strike reportedly came after Ukrainian forces identified that Russia had mined the bridge in order to use it for a potential retreat. 11:08 AM BST Russian and Chinese navies carry out joint drills The Russian and Chinese navies are carrying out artillery and anti-submarine drills in the Sea of Japan, Reuters has reported, citing the Russian Pacific Fleet. They take place two days after Donald Trump said that he had ordered two nuclear-capable submarines to be positioned in 'the appropriate regions' after 'highly provocative statements' by Russia's former president Dmitry Medvedev. The drills are said to be part of scheduled joint exercises and are not being carried out in response to Mr Trump's remarks. 10:57 AM BST No hope for change in Russia after Putin, says Ukrainian intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine's military intelligence chief, has said that a change of leadership in the Kremlin will not change Russia's trajectory. 'Their system is fairly robust and stress-resistant... The departure of Russia's current leader won't change anything,' Mr Budanov stated in an interview on Saturday. 'They have built a system in which any successor will, at the very least, remain within the same paradigm,' he added. 'A whole generation of people has grown up in Russia who were born and have lived under President Putin - and many have already died for him. They can't imagine any other reality.' 10:36 AM BST Russian missile attack injures seven in southern Ukraine A Russian missile attack on the city of Mykolaiv in southern Ukraine has injured seven people and damaged private houses, apartment buildings and cars, according to Vitaliy Kim, the regional governor. Writing on Telegram, Mr Kim shared photographs of the damage, adding that a 57-year-old and a 74-year-old man were hospitalised following the attacks. Ukraine's air force announced on Telegram that Russia launched 76 attack drones and seven missiles at Ukraine overnight, striking eight locations. 10:18 AM BST Good morning Ukrainian drones hit the Russian Black Sea resort of Sochi overnight, sparking a huge fire. Follow our live blog for the latest today. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. 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