Latest news with #WestEuropean
Yahoo
a day ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Scaring Putin is the only route to a just peace
Nobody in their right mind thought Putin would come to the latest round of peace talks in Istanbul with any seriousness. And so it has proven. His demands are straight out of Soviet foreign minister Andrei Gromyko's negotiating playbook: demand the maximum, present ultimatums and do not give one inch. Putin's terms for a final settlement are no different from his diktats from the start, including international recognition of Moscow's occupation of the four regions he considers Russian territory, and a guarantee Ukraine never joins any international alliances. Even Putin's pathways to a temporary ceasefire require withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from all of the four regions, demobilisation of the armed forces, cessation of international military aid and electing a new government. In other words: total capitulation, with Ukraine surrendering its sovereignty, partitioned, isolated, disarmed and a Russian puppet government in Kyiv. That doesn't mean negotiations shouldn't continue in the hope of achieving less punitive terms. The Ukrainian government has already signalled it would be ready to accept the temporary occupation of territory Russia has already captured. But it is hard to see how Putin will climb down from his maximalist position without significant changes on the battlefield or to the economic situation. President Trump tried a softball approach with Putin, extending the prospect of major economic benefits through a return to normalisation in US-Russia relations. Putin hasn't bought that even though he has ham-fistedly attempted to mollify Trump and encourage him to abandon Ukraine with his disingenuous ploy of engaging in negotiations. Trump obviously sees right through that. He said he was 'p----d off' by Putin's proposal that Ukraine should be placed under external administration with elections overseen by the UN. The US now needs to try a different approach. Trump can say he did everything he could to end the bloodshed in the first months of his presidency but Putin's intransigence now demands different tactics. What would those tactics be? Continue to hold out an olive branch while doubling down on US military backing to Ukraine and pressuring European allies to do the same thing. It was Biden's faltering leadership that allowed most West European countries as well as the US to do the least they could get away with. That needs to change and we've already seen how Trumpian hectoring can compel Europeans to boost their own defence spending, both in his first term and even more in his second. Renewing US commitment to Nato would also help encourage European leaders. It would send a powerful message to Putin too, whose overriding strategic objective is dividing the West. We need to move on from providing Ukraine with just enough to defend themselves but never enough to prevail. The effort required to drive Russia back out of Ukraine is probably too much to expect, but the point would be to enable Kyiv to do even more damage to Russian forces to compel Putin to reconsider his current calculation that he can grind Ukraine down and outlast the West's support. Among the most harmful constraints Biden imposed on Ukraine was forbidding use of US-supplied weapons to attack Russian sovereign territory. That was the consequence of his fear of Russian escalation, both against Ukraine and Nato countries. It allowed Putin to continue to shield the Russian population from the conflict, keeping it limited to a 'special military operation'. Kyiv didn't play ball though, firing home-made drones into Russia and even mounting the first invasion of its territory since the Second World War. The latest breathtaking drone attack on Russia, which destroyed a large chunk of its strategic air force on the ground shows what can be done. Some say the US and European countries should distance themselves from that, dreading Moscow's retaliation. But irrespective of the diplomatic position they choose to take, they should do the opposite, by giving Ukraine what it needs to carry out further strikes to undermine Russian military capability, drive the war home to the population and humiliate Putin. Trump should start to do real economic damage to Russia. Much can be achieved by more effective military action to increase weapons and equipment loss rates, potentially forcing Putin to transition the economy to a full war footing. The half-hearted sanctions against Russia have not been good enough and European countries have paid more to Russia for hydrocarbons than they have given in aid to Ukraine. We need to turn the screws by tougher measures against the Russian energy sector, finally detaching Moscow from the international banking system and disrupting the ghost tanker fleet that has allowed oil revenues to surge. A bitter blow would also be landed by seizing the entirety of Russia's $330 billion of frozen assets in Western countries to pay for the war, or at least plan to do so subject to negotiations. Putin showed yet again in Istanbul that he doesn't eat carrots, so Trump now needs to propel him towards a proper deal by applying a very large stick. Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Embassy staffer puts up 'wanted' posters for Israeli PM Netanyahu; MHA informed, Delhi Police say
NEW DELHI: Delhi police found that a foreign citizen employed at the Embassy of a West European country put up posters containing Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's picture with the word "wanted" written on it, in Chanakyapuri area. Senior police officials have reported the issue to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs. Sources said that Chanakyapuri station police personnel spotted two such posters pasted on street light poles around 7.15 am, one near Malcha Marga and another near the American Embassy School. Several foreign missions are situated in the area, sources said. A police source said that they had informed their seniors about the posters and they had in turn informed the MHA. Police had been instructed to scan CCTV footage in the area from the past one week to identify the culprit, he added.
Edinburgh Reporter
17-05-2025
- General
- Edinburgh Reporter
Hedgehog warning for gardeners
The Scottish SPCA's dedicated small mammal team is currently looking after 14 hedgehogs at its National Wildlife Centre in Fishcross, Clackmannanshire. But they warned the number 'is growing every day' as people take advantage of the warm weather to take on garden tasks. Jenna Lister, triage assistant at the charity's National Wildlife Centre, said: 'With the arrival of warmer weather, we often see an increase in injured hedgehogs being brought into the centre — many of them hurt during gardening activities. 'Strimmer injuries can be devastating, ranging from infected wounds to broken or missing limbs, and in some cases, can be fatal.' The West European hedgehog (Erinaceus europaeus) has suffered a 30% population decline of in the past decade. Last year, its conservation status was raised from Least Concern to Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List, meaning it has moved one step closer to extinction. Key factors driving the decline of Britain's only spiny mammal include habitat fragmentation from urbanisation and agricultural expansion, vehicle collisions, pesticide use and garden mismanagement. The Scottish SPCA cared for 89 hedgehogs in the first quarter of 2024, with 59 of the prickly mammals already finding refuge with the charity so far this year. The charity frequently admits hedgehogs found out during the day in poor condition, which is usually a sign they're unwell and in urgent need of specialist care and encourages people to employing wildlife-friendly garden management practices. These include leaving natural materials like leaves, logs and moss, which make ideal nesting spots for hedgehogs; removing hazards such as netting and plastic and creating safe spaces for the animals to explore. Gardeners are urged to check carefully before strimming, digging, or doing other work as hedgehogs often hide in undergrowth or leaf piles, and support the creatures by putting out shallow dishes of water and offering cat food or specially formulated hedgehog food — but never bread or milk. Anyone who comes across a nest should check for signs of injury but avoid disturbing it and gently cover it back up if all seems well. Anyone who finds a hedgehog showing signs of distress — such as lying on its side, wobbling, limping, or walking in circles, trapped in netting, drains, or holes – or showing visible injuries should call a wildlife rescue centre or the Scottish SPCA's animal helpline 03000 999 999. Photo by Pixabay on Like this: Like Related
HKFP
03-05-2025
- Business
- HKFP
The Hong Kong government's latest craze? Marinas for millionaires
What is it about the Hong Kong government and luxury yachts? This used to be a non-topic. An occasional superyacht (no agreed definition, but generally over 24 metres long and with a crew of at least eight) would arrive and tie up at Ocean Terminal for a while. Well-off local residents owned less super yachts (under 24 metres long, with a crew between one and 10) which they kept at the Royal Hong Kong Yacht Club or the marina on Discovery Bay. This supported a small industry – someone once described a yacht as a hole in the sea that you pour money into – and attracted no official or political interest. Lately, though, our local leaders seem to have decided that this is a cow which can be milked. The South Lantau Eco-recreation Corridor (how do they think these names up?) has now graduated from a mention in last year's policy address to an outline which includes a marina for 150-200 yachts, up to 50 metres in length. Then there is Skytopia (see comment on names above), which is planned by the Hong Kong Airport Authority, will be built next to the airport and will have 500 berths. We now also have the proposed development of land around the Hong Kong Coliseum, which will include a marina with space for 200 yachts; size not specified yet. These plans have sparked a certain amount of scepticism. The owners of large crewed yachts can choose from a wide range of cruising grounds. The overwhelming favourites are the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. Your yacht can combine these by spending the summer in the Med and crossing the Atlantic to the Caribbean in the winter. The leading home port for big yachts is Fort Lauderdale, Florida. About a quarter of all superyachts are owned by Americans. Most of the rest are owned in West European countries or Russia. There is a growing interest in Asian cruising, but this demands dependable sunshine and a supply of interesting destinations, so most of the traffic is in the region of Southeast Asia, such as Singapore and Indonesia. Whatever facilities are built here, Hong Kong will always have one serious drawback: typhoons. In short, this is not really a global industry. There are some rather outdated lists of top locations of yachts, leading marinas, and most ownerships. The idea that there are 900 or so big yachts out there just waiting for Hong Kong to provide parking spaces seems a bit of a stretch. Some cynical observers have suggested that Hong Kong might be interested in a niche market: moorings for yachts whose owners would fear confiscation or other problems if they were moored in Europe, or even Singapore. But there is already a very nice marina in Hainan which shares our political peculiarities, such as they are. Another disreputable theory is that owning a big yacht in Hong Kong might offer mainland millionaires a large floating asset – albeit a very expensive one to run – which could literally sail away at short notice. But of course, our government would not dream of conniving at that sort of thing. Given Hong Kong's highly uneven income distribution, it is difficult to see an expensive watery hobby producing a huge spurt in local demand. Indeed, a striking feature of Hong Kong life is the government's total indifference to the possibility that large numbers of people might enjoy messing about in boats. It is interesting to consider the contrast between Chichester Harbour and Tolo Harbour. Chichester Harbour, in England, is a heavily tidal mudflat on which everything runs aground twice a day. It is, nevertheless, usually full of boats and occasionally, indeed, congested. Tolo Harbour, in Hong Kong's northeastern New Territories, is big, sheltered and virtually non-tidal. It would be an ideal place for kids to catch the boating bug at little expense. There are big waterside towns in Sha Tin, Tai Po, and Ma On Shan. Facilities could be provided within walking distance of millions of people. They are not. Tolo Harbour, whatever the weather, is usually completely empty. We are apparently more interested in providing facilities for millionaires than facilities for the masses. Shame.
Russia Today
04-04-2025
- Business
- Russia Today
Poland deputy minister eyes key Ukrainian port
Poland should acquire a section of Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odessa to transport grain, Polish Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Michal Kolodziejczak has said. 'This is what I want to propose: Why don't we talk to the Ukrainians about selling a wharf or leasing it to us for 50 years so that the Poles could have their own grain port?' the official told Polsat News on Friday. 'Such a place could be found, for example, in Odessa, where Polish and European grain will be transported. This way, we will secure access to the Black Sea,' he added. Kolodziejczak suggested that the port could be used to export the grain from southeastern Poland. The deputy minister said that he was 'afraid' of Ukraine joining the EU 'because we don't know what will happen.' 'If [only] we had this on a platter: 500,000 hectares in Ukraine for Polish breeding companies,' he added. Kolodziejczak argued that if Ukraine joined the EU, its citizens should be banned from investing in Polish agriculture for 10 years. Ukraine applied to join the EU in February 2022. The bloc formally launched accession negotiations with Kiev in December 2023. Read more West European states want Russian assets to stay frozen Russia repeatedly struck the infrastructure of the port of Odessa, which it said was used by the Ukrainian army to launch seaborne kamikaze drones. In July 2022, Russia and Ukraine reached a UN-backed agreement to allow a safe passage of grain ships from Ukraine's ports. Moscow withdrew from the deal in 2023, accusing the West of failing to lift the sanctions on Russia. The Kremlin said last month that it would return to the deal if the West removed sanctions on banks and companies involved in food and fertilizer exports. Russia and the US are currently discussing a maritime truce as a step towards a comprehensive ceasefire between Moscow and Kiev.
