Connect with us

International News

Putin Faces New Blow as UK Unleashes 70 Sanctions, Targets Russia’s Shadow Fleet

Published

on

The United Kingdom has announced 70 new sanctions against Russia, escalating efforts to pressure Moscow into ending its prolonged war against Ukraine.

The measures were unveiled on Tuesday by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer during a special session of the G7 Summit in Evian-les-Bains, France, where leaders of the world’s leading economies gathered to discuss support for Ukraine and ways to increase pressure on the Kremlin.

The latest sanctions target Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet” of oil tankers, military procurement networks, and financial channels allegedly used to bypass existing international restrictions.

ALSO READ: JUST IN: Putin Pushes New Nuclear Doctrine

Announcing the move, Starmer reaffirmed Britain’s commitment to working with its allies to weaken Russia’s war capabilities.

“Working with our G7 allies, we will continue to increase the pressure on Putin and his circle of collaborators until Russia’s war machine is brought to a halt and peace returns to our continent,” Starmer said.

According to a joint statement issued by the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Prime Minister’s Office, the sanctions are aimed at Russia’s “decrepit shadow fleet, military procurement supply chains and illicit finance networks used to circumvent sanctions.”

The statement added that the measures “will choke Russia’s war effort across multiple fronts” by targeting key sectors supporting Moscow’s military operations.

Among those affected are more than 20 oil tankers linked to Russia’s shadow fleet, a network of vessels reportedly used to transport energy products and other assets under different national flags in an attempt to evade sanctions.

The UK government also revealed that Britain has become the first G7 member nation to sanction several Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) vessels recently acquired by Russia to support its already-sanctioned Arctic LNG project.

The announcement comes shortly after fresh Russian missile and drone attacks struck several locations across Ukraine on Monday, killing at least 11 people and triggering a fire at one of Kyiv’s most significant Orthodox monasteries.

Starmer is expected to urge fellow G7 leaders to take stronger collective action in support of Ukraine.

According to his office, the British leader will tell the summit that “the G7 should collectively go further to ensure Ukraine secures the just and lasting peace it deserves.”

In addition to the sanctions package, the UK government announced a new agreement to provide enriched uranium for Ukraine’s nuclear power stations.

The deal, backed by £210 million ($282 million) in export finance, will allow UK-based nuclear fuel supplier Urenco to deliver enriched uranium to Ukraine’s state-owned nuclear energy company, Energoatom.

British officials said the arrangement is expected to help power Ukraine’s nuclear facilities for the next two years as the country continues to grapple with the impact of the ongoing conflict.

 

International News

Ferrari’s First Electric Car Makes History With Record $40m Auction Sale

Published

on

Ferrari’s first fully electric car, the Luce, has made automotive history after a bespoke version of the vehicle sold for a record $40 million at a charity auction in California.

The tailor-made Ferrari Luce “Chassis 0” was sold during Monterey Car Week on Saturday, becoming the most expensive new car ever sold at auction, according to collector car auction company RM Sotheby’s.

The winning bid was 36 times the car’s original estimate of $1.1 million.

SEE MORE: Police Arrest Man For Driving Fake Ferrari In Italy

Ferrari USA celebrated the landmark sale in an Instagram post, saying, “The bids kept climbing. Then, history was made,” while describing the transaction as a new record for the highest-priced new car ever sold at auction.

The sale comes months after Ferrari unveiled the Luce in May. The electric model features a distinctive bubble-like design that differs significantly from the Italian automaker’s traditional angular styling and has received mixed reactions from some Ferrari enthusiasts.

Ferrari previously described the Luce as “a different sort of Ferrari for a different sort of Ferrari client.”
The Luce is powered by four electric motors, with one motor driving each of its four wheels.

The exclusive “Chassis 0” features a pearl-like semi-gloss finish with a personalised pigment that produces changing reflections ranging from green to violet when struck by light.

Its interior is equally distinctive, featuring Perla Le Mans metallic leather and black design elements against a predominantly white background.

Ferrari said proceeds from the record-breaking auction will go to The Ferrari Foundation to support educational initiatives.

Following the auction, the vehicle will return to Maranello, northern Italy, where it was built, before being delivered to the unnamed winning bidder in the first quarter of 2027.

Meanwhile, deliveries of the regular Ferrari Luce, priced at about €550,000 ($640,000), are expected to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026.

Continue Reading

International News

Trump Threatens to Bomb Oman Over Iran Deal

Published

on

US President Donald Trump has threatened to bomb Oman if the country obstructs efforts to reach a deal with Iran over the Strait of Hormuz.

Trump made the threat on Monday during an interview with Fox News journalist Trey Yingst, amid ongoing discussions between Oman and Iran concerning control and navigation through the strategic waterway.

SEE MORE: Trump Decrees Lower Petrol Prices

“If Oman gets in the way, we’ll bomb the shit out of them,” Trump told Yingst, referring to the talks between Oman and Iran while the United States pursues its own discussions with Tehran.

Iranian and Omani officials have been negotiating for weeks over future maritime navigation arrangements through the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s foreign ministry said on Monday that both sides were working towards a joint declaration.

The Strait of Hormuz has become a major flashpoint amid the ongoing Middle East conflict. Iran effectively restricted traffic through the waterway at the beginning of the war on February 28, while Trump has repeatedly insisted that the strategic route should be under US control.

On Friday, Trump said he could even declare the Strait of Hormuz part of US territory. Iran rejected the position, insisting that the crucial waterway would “remain Iranian.”

Before the outbreak of the US-Israeli war against Iran, the Strait of Hormuz was regarded as an open international waterway. The route is critical to global energy supplies and carries significant volumes of oil and other commodities.

Iran has used its control over the strait as leverage against US-led efforts to weaken its military capabilities and force Tehran to abandon its controversial nuclear programme.

Trump also called on Iran to surrender, saying Tehran should “put up the white flag of surrender.”

Despite the growing tensions and the political pressure surrounding the conflict ahead of the November midterm elections in the United States, Trump said he was not in a hurry to reach a deal.

He further disclosed that his administration maintains a direct back-channel with officials of Iran’s Revolutionary Guard.

“They’re good poker players, but they’re dying,” Trump was quoted as saying.

 

Continue Reading

International News

Petro Warns Colombia Is Heading Toward Civil War After Alleged Election Fraud

Published

on

Colombia’s outgoing President, Gustavo Petro, has warned that the country could descend into civil war following what he described as widespread fraud in the recent presidential election.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Petro claimed that the June presidential runoff was tainted by “algorithmic, systemic electoral fraud” involving a massive number of votes, insisting the results were manipulated against his political ally, Ivan Cepeda.

SEE MORE: Osun Election: Gunmen Invade PVC Centre, Cart Away Voter Cards

“We are facing fraud and an undoubtedly profound institutional problem, namely the inauguration of an illegitimate president,” Petro said.

The outgoing leader alleged that “foreign money and foreign companies with the capacity to manipulate algorithms” interfered in Colombia’s electoral process, accusing external actors of influencing the outcome of the election.

Petro’s remarks come just days before president-elect Abelardo de la Espriella is due to be sworn into office on Friday in the southwestern city of Cali, a departure from the longstanding tradition of holding presidential inaugurations before Congress in the capital, Bogota.

The Colombian leader also claimed that De la Espriella, who received the endorsement of United States President Donald Trump before the election, plans to extradite him to the United States on what he described as false charges.

Warning of the potential consequences, Petro said, “It’s crystal clear what a civil war in Colombia could look like,” arguing that public resistance to the incoming administration’s actions could trigger widespread unrest.

The political crisis has deepened further after the left-wing bloc in Congress, led by Cepeda, announced it would boycott De la Espriella’s inauguration and called for nationwide mobilization against the president-elect.

Observers have also raised concerns that Colombia could witness a return to violent street protests similar to those experienced between 2019 and 2021, which left dozens dead.

Despite having no prior political experience, De la Espriella has pledged to boost private investment, shrink the size of government by 40 percent, and intensify military operations against guerrilla groups and drug cartels as the country battles its worst surge in violence in a decade.

His inauguration is scheduled for Friday amid heightened political tensions and growing uncertainty over Colombia’s future.

Continue Reading

Copyright © 2022. Biztellers, powered by Alphaxristi.

0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x