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High-stakes US push for Ukraine peace meets hard limits in Moscow

White House envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin Tuesday after a whirlwind weekend of negotiations with Ukraine aimed at securing a peace deal. All eyes are on Putin as Witkoff and Jared Kushner, President Donald Trump’s son-in-law and occasional foreign policy envoy, feel out whether Putin might agree to the 19-point proposal they finalized with Ukrainian counterparts following initial U.S.-Russian talks. The latest round of diplomacy represents...

Businesses left ‘in limbo’ during Budget speculation as confidence slumps

The UK’s private sector spent much of the autumn effectively “in limbo”, delaying investment and hiring decisions amid weeks of swirling Budget speculation that business leaders say left them bruised and uncertain about the government’s intentions. The latest monthly survey from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) reveals that firms sharply downgraded expectations for activity in the months ahead. The composite measure for anticipated private-sector activity fell to –27 in November, down from –20 in...

Zipcar to shut down UK operations as London prepares new EV Congestion Charge

Zipcar is preparing to withdraw from the UK after its US owner decided to wind down operations ahead of the introduction of London’s expanded Congestion Charge, which will apply to electric vehicles for the first time from next year. The car-sharing company has begun a formal consultation with its UK workforce and has suspended future bookings, a move expected to result in significant job losses. Zipcar will not accept any new reservations beyond 31 December...

Argos plunges to £223m loss as 2,000 jobs cut and sales slump

Argos has fallen to a £223.2 million pre-tax loss in its latest financial year after cutting more than 2,000 jobs and suffering a drop in sales amid a tough general merchandise market. The retailer — owned by Sainsbury’s since 2016 — saw its performance swing sharply from the £37.3 million profit it posted the previous year. Newly filed accounts for the 12 months to 1 March 2025 show revenue slipped from £4.22 billion to £4.13...

Trump warns Honduras of ‘hell to pay’ if election count changes, presses officials to finish tally

President Donald Trump threw himself in the middle of Honduras’ razor-thin presidential race on Monday, warning that there would be ‘hell to pay’ if election officials altered the results.   Writing on Truth Social, Trump, without offering evidence, accused Honduras of ‘trying to change the results.’ ‘If they do, there will be hell to pay! The people of Honduras voted in overwhelming numbers on November 30th,’ Trump said. The president’s remarks came hours after Ana...

Spec ops chief ordered deadly Caribbean strike ‘in self-defense’ with Hegseth’s sign-off, White House says

The White House confirmed and defended conducting a second strike against alleged drug smugglers in the Caribbean in September, amid the Trump administration’s crusade targeting the influx of drugs into the U.S.  The White House’s statement comes after the Washington Post reported Friday that Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth verbally ordered that a Sept. 2 attack kill everyone on board the alleged drug boat, drawing scrutiny from lawmakers who are requesting additional oversight into the...

House unanimously approves barring anyone tied to Hamas’ Oct 7 attack from entering US

The House unanimously passed a bill on Monday barring anyone linked to Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023 attack on Israel from moving to the United States. It’s a rare moment of bipartisanship on the topic of Israel, an issue that’s otherwise exacerbated deep fractures within both parties in the House of Representatives — particularly for Democrats. The Republican-led legislation is called the ‘No Immigration Benefits for Hamas Terrorists Act of 2025’ and was introduced by Rep....

How Global Recognition Awards Give Startups Credibility Without Big Budgets

Startups face a fundamental challenge when competing against established corporations. Limited marketing budgets often prevent early-stage companies from accessing traditional PR channels that larger competitors routinely utilize. Yet credibility remains essential for securing clients, attracting investors, and recruiting talent. Research from Global Recognition Awards reveals that 63% of award-winning small businesses report income increases, compared to 48% among large companies. The data suggests that recognition delivers disproportionate benefits to smaller organizations. While Fortune 500 companies...

Trump declares importance of not derailing ‘Syria’s evolution into a prosperous State’

President Donald Trump described it as ‘very important’ that ‘nothing’ transpire to derail Syria’s transformation ‘into a prosperous state.’ The commander-in-chief’s cryptic comments come days after Israel engaged in an operation in Syria. ‘The United States is very satisfied with the results displayed, through hard work and determination, in the Country of Syria. We are doing everything within our power to make sure the Government of Syria continues to do what was intended, which is...

Trump MRI results drop as White House confronts mounting questions over president’s health

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt released details on President Donald Trump’s MRI scan that was conducted in October, reading the results of the examination during Monday’s press briefing that showed he was in good health.  Trump’s health has fallen under increasing scrutiny from the media in recent months, including when it was revealed that Trump underwent a second routine physical for the year in October, which included an MRI scan. Leavitt reported the medical...