Politics

    Bloomberg Russia gave a critical initial response to US security proposals aimed at defusing a crisis over Ukraine, saying they failed to address Moscow’s demands to prevent Nato expansion, though the Kremlin indicated talks are likely to continue. While President Vladimir Putin has read the documents and will take time to study them, “it cannot be said that ...

  Bloomberg Publication of the UK government’s investigation into pandemic parties in Boris Johnson’s office has slipped to next week as officials debate what details need to be redacted after police opened their own inquiry. Senior civil servant Sue Gray, who was commissioned by Johnson to look at allegations he and his staff broke lockdown rules with various gatherings in ...

  Bloomberg North Korea fired what were believed to be two short-range ballistic missiles, adding to one of its biggest barrage of tests since Kim Jong-un took power a decade ago. South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the military “detected two projectiles that appeared to be short-range ballistic missiles,” fired at around 8 am Thursday from around North Korea’s ...

Bloomberg Kenyan lawmakers approved legislation backed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, which will allow the formation of political coalitions without stripping constituent parties of their identities. Deputy President William Ruto and his allies opposed the Political Parties Amendment Bill as it will aid his main rival, Odinga, to set up a formidable alliance made up of ...

  Bloomberg President Joe Biden said he would consider personally sanctioning Vladimir Putin if he orders an invasion of Ukraine, escalating the US effort to deter the Russian leader from war. “Yes,” Biden said in Washington, in answer to a reporter’s question about whether he could see Putin facing US sanctions. “I would see that.” The US rarely levels sanctions ...

  Bloomberg Boris Johnson batted away calls from opposition Labour Party Leader Keir Starmer for him to resign over allegations of rule-breaking parties at Downing Street during lockdown. Johnson told the House of Commons he couldn’t comment on the matter while it’s still under investigation, and reiterated a promise to publish senior civil servant Sue Gray’s report in full once ...

  Bloomberg A coup in Burkina Faso will reverberate across West African economies and heighten concerns about growing instability in neighboring states. Soldiers toppled President Roch Marc Christian Kabore on Monday, accusing him of failing to tackle an insurgency that’s spreading in the region. The US and United Nations condemned the takeover, while the Economic Community of West African States ...

  Bloomberg Beijing said a US bid to let its diplomats exit China during the pandemic defied logic, after reports emerged American embassy officials were worried about the country’s tightening epidemic measures. “We find it difficult to understand the logic behind the US decision, which cannot be justified,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said Wednesday at a regular news ...

Bloomberg House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she is running for re-election to her San Francisco-area congressional seat, although she has previously indicated this would be her last term as the chamber’s top Democrat. In a video released by her campaign, Pelosi ticked off a list of unfinished business like “justice for immigrants” and issues related to education, housing, and other ...

  Bloomberg A Kremlin spokesman warned that a US move to put as many as 8,500 troops on alert “exacerbates tensions,” as a top White House official said the reinforcements for Nato forces in Eastern Europe are “ready to go at a moment’s notice.” Evidence also emerged that European governments are split on what Russian actions short of a military ...