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19:35

White House announces new sanctions on Russian elites and 'cronies' close to Putin

The White House has now issued details on further sanctions the US will impose on Russian oligarchs.

A statement from the White House, released for publication moments agone, states: "The United States, in coordination with allies and partners, is targeting boosted Russian elites and family members who continue supporting President Putin despite his savage invasion of Ukraine."

It continued that the individuals concerned had enriched themselves "at the expense of the Russian people, and some accept elevated their family members into high-ranking positions. Others sit down atop Russia's largest companies and are responsible for providing the resources necessary to back up Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"These individuals and their family members will exist cutting off from the U.S. financial system, their assets in the Usa will be frozen and their property will be blocked from utilise. Today, the United States volition sanction an expansive list of Putin's cronies and their family members."

The get-go individual mentioned is Alisher Usmanov, a metals magnate with ties to Britain's Everton soccer club.

When the European Spousal relationship imposed sanctions on him, the bloc described him as "one of Vladmir Putin'southward favourite oligarchs".

"His holding will be blocked from use in the Us and by U.South. persons – including his super yacht, i of the world's largest, and just seized by our ally Federal republic of germany, and his individual jet, one of Russia'due south largest privately-owned aircraft," the White House proclamation said.

Next on the list is multi-millionaire Dmitry Peskov, "who as Putin's spokesman is a top purveyor of Putin'due south propaganda", the White Firm said. The US likewise imposed visa restrictions on 19 oligarchs and 47 of their family members and close assembly.

Full sanctions were announced on: Nikolai Tokarev and his two luxury existent estate companies, Boris Rotenber, Arkady Rotenberg, Sergei Chemezo, Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his three companies, and members of their families. Also on Igor Shuvalov and his five companies, his married woman Olga, his son Evgeny and his company and jet, and his girl Maria and her company.

President Biden (@POTUS)

In my Land of the Union Accost, I said the United states is going after the crimes of Russian oligarchs.

Today, we're adding dozens of names to the list — and banning travel to America past more than 50 Russian oligarchs, their families, and shut assembly.

March 3, 2022

Updated at viii.59pm GMT

x.16pm GMT 22:16

Closing summary

That's information technology from the US politics live web log for today, thank yous for tuning in. Nosotros're closing earlier than usual at the moment to focus our resources on the Guardian's circular-the-clock global live blog on the crisis in Ukraine. Please click here to follow all the news developments in Russia's war, condemned by Joe Biden every bit "premeditated and unprovoked".

Here are the principal news events from today in United states politics.

• International nuclear talks with Iran could produce a bargain presently, despite tricky hurdles remaining, the Usa has indicated.
• Joe Biden promised the "strongest unified economical impact campaign on Vladimir Putin in all history" in announcing new sanctions on Russian oligarchs.
• The White House announced new sanctions on a host of Russian elites and what it called 'cronies' close to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
• The US is firmly resisting Ukraine'due south appeals for information technology to impose a no-fly zone for Russian military machine shipping over Ukraine, saying that would likely bring the US minto direct war machine conflict with Russia, which the US is steadfastly avoiding.
• Donald Trump may take committed federal crimes, including criminal conspiracy, in his various attempts to overturn his defeat by Joe Biden in the 2020 ballot, including inciting the insurrection at the US Congress on January vi, 2021, the bipartisan House commission investigating the mortiferous Capitol attack said in a court filing.

Updated at 10.18pm GMT

9.59pm GMT 21:59

Given the state of affairs in Ukraine, the United states politics live blog is endmost down earlier than usual at the moment, to provide more than resources to our round-the-clock, round-the-world Ukraine crisis alive web log covering developments in the war perpetrated by Russia.

So we won't accept live coverage of Joe Biden signing a new law that volition provide greater justice for victims of sexual set on and sexual harassment.

The Washington Mail service has the goods on this, however. Here are the details.

President Biden is poised to sign into law Thursday a bill that ends forced arbitration in workplace sexual assault and harassment cases, allowing survivors to file lawsuits in courtroom against perpetrators.

The new law would nullify agreements between employees and their employers in which the employees waive their rights to sue in the case of sexual assault or harassment and instead are required to settle their disputes by arbitration.

A bill-signing ceremony is scheduled for five p.m. Th at the White House.

"President Biden has long spoken against forced-arbitration clauses in employment contracts, and today marks an important milestone in empowering survivors of sexual assail and sexual harassment and protecting employee rights," White Firm press secretarial assistant Jen Psaki said Thursday afternoon.

Critics of forced arbitration say that the practise has served just to further cultures of corruption in workplaces and that the new police would be disquisitional for holding perpetrators of sexual misconduct accountable. Well-nigh 60 million Americans are subject to arbitration clauses, and many of them do not know information technology because the provisions are buried in the fine impress of their employment contracts.

"Nosotros tin't ignore a bones reality of these clauses: They deprive victims of sexual harassment and assault of their bones rights past mandating that they seek remedy just behind the closed doors of private arbitration, with no other alternative," Senate Bulk Leader Charles Eastward. Schumer (D-N.Y.) said on the Senate floor Thursday morn.

The Catastrophe Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assail and Sexual Harassment Act, which was commencement introduced in 2017 past Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-North.Y.) and Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), was a rare product of bipartisan congressional back up. The #MeToo movement helped spur momentum for the bill afterward more victims spoke out about how they could not sue perpetrators considering they had unwittingly signed such clauses.

Final month, the House passed the bill, 335-97; the Senate passed it on a voice vote. Gillibrand touted it then equally "i of the nearly pregnant workplace reforms in American history," while Graham defended the bill against some Republican criticism that it would be bad for businesses.

"Information technology does not hurt business to make sure that people who are harassed in the workplace get treated fairly," Graham said then.

Former Flim-flam News host Gretchen Carlson, who was a central proponent of the bill, said in advocating for it that she had been shocked to learn that her employment contract included a forced arbitration clause. Her lawyers initially said the clause meant she could not sue then-Trick News CEO Roger Ailes, whom she accused of sexual harassment.

The full report is here.

9.52pm GMT 21:52

Martin Pengelly

US hopes of hosting men's and women's Rugby Earth Cups in 2029 and 2031 got a boost from Capitol Colina on Thursday, with the introduction of a bipartisan congressional resolution expressing support for the bid.

The resolution was introduced by the co-chairs of the Congressional Rugby Conclave, Alex Mooney, a West Virginia Republican, and Eleanor Holmes Norton, a Democrat from Washington DC.

Mooney said: "As a quondam college rugby role player at Dartmouth College, I continue to savor watching the sport … as co-chairman of the Congressional Rugby Caucus, I am proud to be an advocate for the Rugby World Cup."

Holmes Norton said: "Rugby has fabricated a departure to the youth of the Commune of Columbia and across the land in terms of health, self-esteem, teamwork and social skills. I am proud to back up the The states bids to host the men's and women'south Rugby Earth Cup tournaments."

Sean Casten, an Illinois Democrat, and two Republicans, Richard Hudson from North Carolina and Paul Gosar from Arizona, also co-sponsored the measure.

Total story:

ix.52pm GMT 21:52

Kimberly Guilfoyle, a prominent pro-Donald Trump Republican figure, who also happens to be engaged to Don Trump Jr, has been subpoenaed to provide evidence to the House select committee investigating the coup at the US Capitol on January 6 concluding yr and attempts by the-and then Usa president to overturn his ballot defeat.

Kimberly Guilfoyle speaks at the Conservative Political Activeness Conference (CPAC22) in Orlando, Florida last month. Photograph: Joe Marino/UPI/Male monarch/Shutterstock

The committee issued the subpoena this afternoon, Reuters reports. Guilfoyle is too a television receiver personality.

The agency writes:

Guilfoyle, who worked on the elder Trump's presidential entrada, abruptly ended an interview with the select committee on February 25, criticizing House of Representatives members who were present.

Her attorney issued a statement afterward maxim Guilfoyle had agreed to meet merely with attorneys for the Democratic-led House committee, non members of Congress.

Equally a result, the commission said it would result a subpoena to compel Guilfoyle'southward cooperation. The panel asked Guilfoyle to appear for a deposition on March xv.

"Guilfoyle met with (former President) Donald Trump inside the White House, spoke at the rally that took identify earlier the riot on January sixth, and apparently played a key office organizing and raising funds for that event," Representative Bennie Thompson, commission chairman, said in a statement.

Her attorney did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The Select Committee is trying to establish the actions of Trump and assembly before and during the attack on the Capitol by thousands of his supporters. The mobs attacked police force, vandalized the building and sent members of Congress and then-Vice President Mike Pence running for their lives every bit they gathered to certify Democrat Joe Biden's presidential election victory over Trump.

The Select Committee has so far interviewed more than 560 witnesses and issued more than 80 subpoenas as it probes the causes of the attack and the role played by Trump, who continues to push button false claims that his election defeat by Biden was the event of fraud.

Earlier on Th, the panel interviewed Judd Deere, a former White Firm spokesman who is now a Republican congressional adjutant.

9.42pm GMT 21:42

Hugo Lowell

The Business firm select committee investigating the Capitol attack is hoping to prove through public hearings in April how information technology believes Donald Trump came to violate federal laws in his efforts to overturn the 2020 U.s. election results, the panel has indicated in court documents.

Chairman Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Vice Chair Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., of the Firm panel investigating the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrection, prove before the House Rules Committee at the Capitol in December. Lawmakers on the committee said for the start time last night that they have enough evidence to propose Trump committed crimes. Photograph: J Scott Applewhite/AP

The hearings are ready to be a major and historical political effect in America as the panel seeks to publicly show the extent of its investigations so far into the shocking events that saw a pro-Trump mob invade the Capitol in an attempt to stop the certification of the election of Joe Biden by Congress.

The panel alleged in a courtroom filing on Wednesday that Trump and his associates obstructed Congress and conspired to defraud the United States on six January, arguing it meant the quondam Trump lawyer John Eastman could non shield thousands of emails from the research.

But the public hearings – which are probable to come up late next month, the chair of the select committee, Bennie Thompson, told the Guardian – will address just how Trump came to interfere with the joint session of Congress through rhetoric he knew to be false or unlawful.

"The president's rhetoric persuaded thousands of Americans to travel to Washington for January 6, some of whom marched on the Capitol, breached security, and took other illegal actions. The select committee's hearings will address those issues in detail," the filing said.

The panel likewise said in its courtroom submission that the public hearings would accost how Trump appeared to lay the background for his rhetoric inciting the Capitol assault by promoting claims of ballot fraud in the 2020 election that he had been told were without merit.

"Despite being repeatedly told his allegations of campaign fraud were fake, the President connected to feature those same false allegations in ads seen past millions," the filing said. "The select committee volition accost these bug in detail in hearings this year."

The select committee indicated the public hearings would serve as the opportunity to cast a calorie-free on Trump's underground efforts to overturn the election, from his attempts to pressure the then vice-president, Mike Pence, to render him to office, to abuse of the justice department.

"We desire to paint a picture as clear as possible as to what occurred," Thompson told reporters on Capitol Hill on Thursday. "The public needs to know what to call up. We but have to show clearly what happened on January 6."

Read the total written report here.

nine.16pm GMT 21:16

Donald Trump will turn over some documents to New York's attorney general, Letitia James, for her civil probe into his business practices, but need not respond questions under oath while he appeals a judge's order that he bear witness.

The developments are part of an understanding struck today between the former US Republican president, his oldest children Don Jr. and Ivanka Trump, and AG James.

NY State Governor Kathy Hochul (left) and Chaser General of New York Letitia James (right) seen at New year Parade and Festival in Chinatown of New York Metropolis last calendar month. Photo: Anadolu Agency/Getty Images

Reuters reports that these developments:

Followed a February 17 ruling past Justice Arthur Engoron of a state court in Manhattan that James could enforce subpoenas for the Trumps' testimony and documents from Donald Trump, subsequently having found "copious" evidence of possible financial fraud.

The Trumps appealed on February 28. James' three-yr probe and a parallel criminal probe led by Manhattan district attorney Alvin Bragg have focused on whether the Trump System misstated the values of its existent estate properties to obtain favorable loans and tax benefits.

The Trumps take denied wrongdoing, and none has been accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Today's agreement, which Engoron approved, requires Donald Trump to comply "in full" with James' subpoena for documents and data by March 31.

Information technology besides requires the Trumps to submit for questioning within 14 days if the state appellate partitioning rejects their entreatment, unless that courtroom or the state's highest courtroom puts the case on hold.

Both sides volition speed up the appeals process, with conference completed by March 31.

In their appeal, the Trumps have said testifying in James' probe would violate their constitutional rights because their words could be used confronting them in Bragg's criminal probe.

Kara Scannell (@KaraScannell)

NEW: Trumps reach deal with NYAG to postpone depositions until subsequently an entreatment is heard. Expedited briefing schedule ends March 31. Trumps wouldn't sit down for depositions until 14 days after appeals court decision. pic.twitter.com/azJCYlZPpv

March 3, 2022

Donald Trump faces legal peril on several fronts, every bit Ed Pilkington has reported lately for Guardian U.s.a.. But the Manhattan criminal investigation is now in its own globe of trouble. Volition Teflon Donald ever come before a estimate?

Updated at 9.25pm GMT

9.04pm GMT 21:04

Joan East Greve

Congressman Tom Malinowski, a Democrat of New Jersey, is calling for the frozen avails of Russian oligarchs to be sold to benefit the Ukrainian people.
Malinowski, a erstwhile assistant secretary of country nether Barack Obama, has introduced a beak with Congressman Joe Wilson, a Republican of South Carolina, to sell the oligarchs' luxury assets like yachts.

Tom Malinowski (@Malinowski)

A $600 million yacht can help pay for rebuilding Ukraine.

So today, I'thou introducing a bipartisan bill with @RepJoeWilson to give the administration a new authority to dispose of sanctioned Russian oligarchs' frozen assets, and to utilise the gain to help Ukrainians. pic.twitter.com/dE0EyHA6ae

March 3, 2022

"A $600 million yacht can aid pay for rebuilding Ukraine," Malinowski said on Twitter. "So today, I'm introducing a bipartisan bill with @RepJoeWilson to give the assistants a new say-so to dispose of sanctioned Russian oligarchs' frozen assets, and to use the gain to assist Ukrainians."

The introduction of Malinowski's bill comes as Joe Biden announced a new round of sanctions on Russian oligarchs and their families, restricting their access to American banks and banning them from traveling to the US.
"Our interest is in maintaining the strongest unified economical bear on campaign on Putin in all of history, and I call back we're well on the style to doing that," Biden said in his cabinet meeting this afternoon.

Business Insider has more details on the bill from Malinowski and Wilson calling on the federal government to sell seized Russian avails to benefit the Ukrainian people:

"Funds from such sales could be used on post-conflict reconstruction in Ukraine, humanitarian back up, weapons for Ukraine's military machine, provisions for refugees, and engineering science goods. Cash could also exist diverted to humanitarian assist for Russians, 'including commonwealth and human rights programming and monitoring,' co-ordinate to the neb.
Authority provided by the bill would last for two years after its passage, giving President Joe Biden prolonged power over Russian oligarchs parking their wealth in the U.s..

The idea could proceeds farther bipartisan traction in Congress. Democratic representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington said she was 'absolutely' on board.

Updated at 9.30pm GMT

viii.50pm GMT 20:50

Possible nuclear bargain with Iran virtually merely issues remain - United states of america State Dept

American diplomacy is on hold with Russia right now but live and well with Islamic republic of iran.

There has been meaning progress in nuclear talks with Iran and world powers may be shut to reaching a bargain with Tehran, Reuters reports, while quoting the US government saying a number of difficult issues nonetheless remain unresolved.

At that place will not be an Iran nuclear deal unless those issues are quickly resolved, State Department spokeswoman Jalina Porter told reporters.

Marathon talks recently hit a roadblock. It'southward not clear even so what might have cleared forth the way for a deal to be closer to fruition, simply there are reports of "significant progress".

Talks had been going on in Vienna between the due west, Russia, Iran and China.

Iran is pushing for all sanctions in place confronting it to be lifted, but the U.s.a. says some sanctions are linked to man rights and terrorists abuses, and are not linked to the nuclear deal.

The Guardian's Patrick Wintour previously noted that an agreement is designed to bring the Usa, and afterward Iran, back into the original nuclear deal signed in 2015 from which the U.s.a. withdrew in 2018.

The talks have been held against a properties of repeated warnings from the w stretching dorsum months that the talks can continue merely for a few more weeks considering Iran is coming always closer to obtaining irreversibly the material and knowledge required to make a nuclear weapon.

8.33pm GMT 20:33

The American version of RT, the Russia-controlled TV network that pumps out Putin propaganda and has at present been banned in Europe and dropped by platforms around the earth, is patently seeing an impact in the US of the invasion of Ukraine.

The production company behind the RT operation in the US laid off virtually of its staff today, CNN has reported.

The cable network promises more reporting, simply for now writes on its website that:

Misha Solodovnikov, the full general manager of the product company, T&R Productions, told staff that it will be "ceasing product" at all of its locations "every bit a result of unforeseen business interruption events.""Unfortunately, we anticipate this layoff volition be permanent, meaning that this will result in the permanent separation from employment of most T&R employees at all locations," Solodovnikov wrote in his memo to employees.

The layoffs would mean an effective cease to RT America. The network, one of Russian President Vladimir Putin'due south primary mouthpieces in the Us, was dropped earlier this calendar week past DirecTV. The satellite carrier was one of the two major tv set providers in the United states of america to bear the network.

Oliver Darcy (@oliverdarcy)

BREAKING: RT America is ceasing productions and laying off its staff, according to a memo I have obtained from the production company behind the Russia-backed network. https://t.co/l2wcGA85Zg

March 3, 2022

8.13pm GMT 20:13

Biden: 'Strongest unified economic impact campaign on Putin in all history'

Joe Biden made remarks a little earlier at the top of a meeting of his chiffonier about the new sanctions announced by the US against oligarchs shut to Russian president Vladimir Putin, over the invasion of Ukraine.

The US president did non take questions from the puddle reporters gathered to see the elevation of the meeting.

Only Biden talked from prepared remarks of his latest appear measures against Russian oligarchs as: "Severe economic sanctions on Putin and all of those folks around him, choking off access to technology too as cut off access to the global fiscal system."

He added: "Information technology's had a profound impact already. The goal was to maximize the affect on Putin and Russia and minimize the harm on us and our allies and friends around the earth.

"Our interest is in maintaining the strongest unified economic impact campaign on Putin in all history and I retrieve we're well on the mode to doing that."

Biden referred to his State of the Union accost on Tuesday evening, his first, in which he vowed that Putin would pay for his "unprovoked" set on on Russia's southern, democratic neighbour.

He said: "I announced that the Department of Justice is going later on the crimes of Russian oligarchs…who line their pockets with Russian peoples' coin while Ukraine and the people are hiding in the subway from Russian missiles that are being fired indiscriminately...

"Today I'm announcing that nosotros're adding dozens of names to the listing including one of Russia's wealthiest billionaires and I'yard banning travel to America by more than 50 Russian oligarchs, their families and their shut assembly. And we're going to go along to support Ukrainian people with direct aid."

Joe Biden speaks during a cabinet meeting in the White House this afternoon. Contrary him you tin can spot Deb Haaland, Kamala Harris, Merrick Garland, Marty Walsh and Jennifer Granholm. Immediately on Biden'southward right (not visible in this shot) is Janet Yellen and on his left, Lloyd Austin. Photo: Patrick Semansky/AP

Updated at 8.16pm GMT

7.35pm GMT xix:35

White House announces new sanctions on Russian elites and 'cronies' close to Putin

The White House has now issued details on further sanctions the US will impose on Russian oligarchs.

A statement from the White Firm, released for publication moments ago, states: "The United states of america, in coordination with allies and partners, is targeting boosted Russian elites and family members who go along supporting President Putin despite his savage invasion of Ukraine."

Information technology continued that the individuals concerned had enriched themselves "at the expense of the Russian people, and some take elevated their family unit members into high-ranking positions. Others sit atop Russia's largest companies and are responsible for providing the resources necessary to support Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

"These individuals and their family members will be cut off from the U.Due south. financial organisation, their assets in the U.s. volition exist frozen and their property will be blocked from apply. Today, the U.s.a. will sanction an expansive list of Putin'due south cronies and their family members."

The first individual mentioned is Alisher Usmanov, a metals magnate with ties to Britain's Everton soccer gild.

When the European Marriage imposed sanctions on him, the bloc described him as "one of Vladmir Putin's favourite oligarchs".

"His property will exist blocked from employ in the United States and by U.S. persons – including his super yacht, 1 of the globe'southward largest, and just seized by our ally Frg, and his private jet, one of Russia'southward largest privately-owned aircraft," the White Business firm announcement said.

Next on the list is multi-millionaire Dmitry Peskov, "who as Putin's spokesman is a top purveyor of Putin'due south propaganda", the White House said. The US also imposed visa restrictions on 19 oligarchs and 47 of their family members and close assembly.

Full sanctions were announced on: Nikolai Tokarev and his two luxury existent estate companies, Boris Rotenber, Arkady Rotenberg, Sergei Chemezo, Yevgeniy Prigozhin and his iii companies, and members of their families. Too on Igor Shuvalov and his five companies, his wife Olga, his son Evgeny and his company and jet, and his daughter Maria and her visitor.

President Biden (@POTUS)

In my Land of the Matrimony Address, I said the United States is going after the crimes of Russian oligarchs.

Today, we're adding dozens of names to the listing — and banning travel to America by more than 50 Russian oligarchs, their families, and close associates.

March three, 2022

Updated at 8.59pm GMT

7.05pm GMT xix:05

'We want him to feel the squeeze' – White House on extra sanctions on Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin

Joan East Greve

The White Firm will shortly issue new sanctions on Russian oligarchs and their families, equally Vladimir Putin showed no sign of deescalating Russian federation'due south devastating military attacks on Ukraine.

The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, confirmed the forthcoming sanctions and said the movement was meant to put more pressure level on Putin by targeting his inner circle of allies.

"We want him to feel the squeeze. We want the people around him to feel the clasp," Psaki said. "I don't believe this is going to be the last gear up of oligarchs."

Psaki did not provide many details on the sanctions, although she did indicate they would include a U.s. travel ban on the oligarchs. Joe Biden is expected to provide more than details on the sanctions at his cabinet meeting on Th afternoon.

The annunciation marks an escalation by the Biden administration, which had already imposed sanctions on Putin, his foreign minister and some of the top executives of Russian federation'south largest companies following the invasion of Ukraine. Biden indicated in his Land of the Marriage speech on Tuesday that his administration would crack downwardly on oligarchs' avails as office of the West's efforts to farther isolate Putin.

"I say to the Russian oligarchs and the decadent leaders who've bilked billions of dollars off this violent regime: no more," Biden said Tuesday. "We're joining with European Allies to detect and seize their yachts, their luxury apartments, their private jets. Nosotros're coming for your ill-begotten gains."

The new sanctions came equally the White House asked Congress for another $10bn in aid to Ukraine. Shalanda Young, interim managing director of the Office of Management and Upkeep, said the money would be used to provide Ukraine with more defence equipment and emergency nutrient assistance, too as bolster enforcement of the sanctions against Russia.

"Given the quickly evolving situation in Ukraine, additional needs may arise over time," Immature said.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday that she supports including the funding for Ukraine in the motorbus spending package currently being debated in Congress. Pelosi also echoed demands to ban US imports of Russian oil, telling reporters, "I'm all for that. Ban it. Ban the oil coming from Russia."

But the White House has voiced a more skeptical opinion of sanctioning Russian oil companies, amid concerns that the crisis in Ukraine could bulldoze gas prices higher. "We don't have a strategic interest in reducing the global supply of energy," Psaki said. "That would heighten prices at the gas pump for the American people."

Whatever sanctions imposed by the White House may be coming too late for millions of Ukrainians. More than than 1 million people accept already fled the country because of the Russian invasion, and the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, has begged for more than help from Western allies to end Putin'southward airstrikes.

"If you do not accept the power to close the skies, then requite me planes!" he said Thursday. "If we are no more, then, God foreclose, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia volition be adjacent."

Expectations are low for the second round of peace talks between Ukrainian and Russian officials in Belarus. A phone call betwixt Putin and French President Emmanuel Macron on Th yielded no major breakthroughs, and concerns are mounting over a massive Russian convoy of tanks and artillery outside the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

The French Élysée palace said after the phone call, "We look the worst is yet to come up."

Updated at 7.54pm GMT

6.56pm GMT 18:56

US non planning to engineer Russian no-wing zone over Ukraine - White Business firm

White House printing secretary Jen Psaki reiterated moments ago that the Usa has no plans to take action to impose a no-wing zone for Russian military aircraft over Ukraine.

A reporter pointed out to Psaki that Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy has asked for the west to create a no-fly zone over his imperiled nation.

Psaki said: "The reason why that has not been a stride the president [Joe Biden] is willing to take considering it requires implementation. It requires essentially the US military shooting down Russian planes and causing a potential direct war with Russian federation - the verbal pace that we desire to avoid."

She added that Biden has increased support to Ukraine, including military equipment and weapons "merely we are not taking steps that would prompt a war betwixt the U.s. and Russia."

Today'southward ongoing press briefing at the White House with Jen Psaki. Photograph: Evelyn Hockstein/Reuters

6.24pm GMT 18:24

The U.s. believes that Russian forces have non, in fact, yet taken over the southern Ukrainian port city of Kherson, known for its shipbuilding industry, a senior United states defense official has said.

This is in contrast to most media reports and so far, including the Guardian's, which say that the Black Ocean port on Wed became the starting time major Ukrainian city to autumn under the de facto control of Russia forces.

This was afterwards Kherson'southward mayor, Igor Kolykhaiev, said in a Facebook post that Russian troops were in control of the metropolis hall and that residents should obey a curfew imposed by "armed visitors".

But the Reuters news bureau is now reporting that the Russian military offensive on Kherson could be role of a strategy for potentially moving to the much larger port of Mykolaiv a little to the west of Kherson on that southern declension of Ukraine.

So on to the urban center of Odesa on the Blackness Sea, which has a population close to a million.

Children wait out from a carriage window as a train prepares to depart from a station in Lviv, western Ukraine, enroute to the boondocks of Uzhhorod near the edge with Slovakia, today. Photograph: Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty Images

Reuters is citing an unnamed senior US defense officia. The bureau further reports:

Tanks entered the port town of Kherson, a provincial capital of around 250,000 people, and Russian forces occupied the regional assistants edifice, regional governor Hennadiy Laguta said in an online mail service on Th.

"There's still fighting there, so we're non ready to telephone call information technology one way or another," the U.S. official told reporters, adding that the situation on the ground was changing quickly.

If Kherson were to be captured, it would be the outset meaning urban heart to fall into the hands of Russian troops.

"What they may want to do is movement on (Mykolaiv) so that they tin can and then position themselves to the northeast of Odessa in instance, in fact, they desire to move on Odessa, not merely from the sea, but from the footing," said the official, speaking on the condition of anonymity.

The invasion, which started eight days ago, has not seen Russian aircraft control Ukraine'due south airspace. Russian troops are yet stalled about 16 miles exterior Kyiv'due south urban center center.

The official said that Russia had moved about 90% of its pre-staged combat ability into Ukraine and so far and about 480 missiles had been fired by Russian forces at Ukrainian targets.

British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace earlier on Th said Putin had deployed thermobaric weapons systems in Ukraine.

The U.S. official said: "We know that they take the launching systems available to them in Ukraine that could be used for rockets that accept a thermobaric warhead on them. Just nosotros cannot confirm that those weapons are in Ukraine and nosotros cannot ostend any examples of utilize."

Meanwhile, a massive Russian military machine convoy outside the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv is stalled for a third twenty-four hour period.

Updated at 6.27pm GMT

5.56pm GMT 17:56

Jessica Glenza

Smugglers accept breached the Trump administration'southward US-Mexico border wall more three,000 times, government maintenance records obtained past the Washington Post reveal.

Near 500 miles of barrier was synthetic past the Trump administration, commencement in 2019 and mostly in New Mexico and Arizona. Donald Trump touted the "big, cute wall" every bit the "Rolls-Royce" of barriers, but smugglers have breached it at least 3,272 times, mostly with common ability tools found at hardware stores.

"No construction is impenetrable, so nosotros will continue to work to focus resource on modern, effective border management measures to improve safety and security," Luis Miranda, a spokesperson for Community and Border Patrol (CBP), told the Mail.

Total story:

5.34pm GMT 17:34

Martin Pengelly

Bad news for Republicans not wholly on the Trump Train, it seems, from Arizona.

Doug Ducey. Photograph: Kirby Lee/U.s.a. Today Sports

The governor, Doug Ducey, has decided not to run for Senate against Marking Kelly, a former astronaut and one of two Democrats who currently represent Arizona in Washington.

Ducey* notified donors of his decision in a letter reported by the Arizona Commonwealth.

"Correct now I have the task I want," Ducey wrote, adding that he was "fully committed to helping elect a Republican United states senator from Arizona".

The other current senator in Arizona, Kyrsten Sinema, is unpopular with Democrats in her state and nationally but is upwards for re-election in 2024. Some fearfulness she could drag downwardly votes for Kelly.

The Senate is split 50-50 and controlled past the vote of the vice-president, Kamala Harris. Mitch McConnell, the Republican minority leader, has now seen three popular Republican governors decline to run for Senate: Larry Hogan, in Maryland, and Chris Sununu in New Hampshire are the others.

There's likewise the question of what effect the Trump Train itself might have. In Missouri, for instance, Trump has not all the same bestowed his endorsement in the race for the Republican nomination to replace a retiring Republican senator, Roy Edgeless. In that location are some rather farthermost candidates virtually, including Eric Greitens, a onetime governor who resigned in 2018 over allegations of sexual assault.

As in the House, some think also-extreme candidates could jeopardise Republicans' chances of taking command, past turning off the sort of contained or "moderate" voters who notably swung Republican in terminal year'southward gubernatorial election in Virginia.

* Note on Doug Ducey: he'due south the Republican governor of a country key to Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 ballot through lies about electoral fraud who was certifying results when Trump called him … and who let the phone call get through to voicemail**.

**Notation to the note virtually Doug Ducey: he's too the governor who recently said he needed the back up of a far-correct state senator who assembly with white nationalists and muses about building gallows for her enemies, because at least she isn't a Democrat.

Updated at 5.49pm GMT

5.17pm GMT 17:17

Sam Levine

In the late summer of 2020, Bruce Bartman went to Pennsylvania's voter registration website and signed up his mother and mother in law to vote. Both were expressionless.

A few months later, Bartman, who is white, requested a post-in ballot for his late female parent and cast her vote for Donald Trump. Bartman was arrested that Dec and charged with perjury and unlawful voting. Months afterwards, he pleaded guilty, admitted he made a "stupid mistake", was sentenced to five years of probation and barred from serving on a jury or voting for 4 years.

"There's not public benefit to him being incarcerated," Jack Stollsteimer, the local district chaser said at the fourth dimension. "This accused from the beginning has accepted responsibility for his deportment, and he has paid the price for them."

When Bartman pleaded guilty, nearly 1,000 miles away, in Memphis, a Black Lives Matter activist named Pamela Moses was facing her own election-related criminal charges.

A few years previously, Moses, who is Blackness, permanently lost the right to vote afterward committing a felony. But no one had actually removed Moses from the voter rolls or told her she couldn't vote. And in 2019, when state officials began looking into her eligibility, a probation officer signed a certificate saying Moses had completed her sentence and was eligible to vote. So she applied to do and then. Even though corrections officials conceded they fabricated an error, Moses was indicted anyhow.

Moses was convicted by a jury in Nov. In late January, she was sentenced to six years and 1 day in prison.

Full story:

Updated at v.17pm GMT

iv.59pm GMT 16:59

Martin Pengelly

In his new volume, Donald Trump's old attorney general William Barr complains that in the US, the "most educated and influential people are more than attached to cocky-serving narratives than to factual truth".

The volume. Photo: AP

But in his ain narrative of his tumultuous time every bit Trump'due south acme lawyer, Barr regularly omits inconvenient truths or includes self-serving versions of events previously reported with his evident input.

Barr was only the 2nd Us attorney general to fill the role twice, working for George HW Bush-league from 1991 to 1993, then succeeding Jeff Sessions in 2019. His memoir, I Damn Thing Afterwards Another, will be published on 8 March. Excerpts accept been reported by U.s. news outlets. The Guardian obtained a copy.

Barr's accounts of controversies nether Trump are often highly selective or noticeably incomplete.

In June 2020, for instance, Barr was engulfed in controversy over the removal of Geoffrey Berman, the United states of america chaser in the southern district of New York.

Berman was investigating Trump'south business organization and allies including Rudy Giuliani. He was also supervising a case involving a Turkish bank which the Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, pressured Trump to driblet.

Soon after John Bolton, Trump'due south third national security adviser, said Trump promised Erdoğan he would get rid of leaders in the southern district, Barr announced Berman was stepping downwardly. When Berman said he would non quit, he was fired.

The incident prompted calls for Barr to resign, including from the New York Urban center Bar Association.

In his book, Barr praises the "quality and experience of the grouping of US attorneys I inherited" and says he told them "to go full speed ahead on the department'south existing priorities". He also says he regrets not installing an aide, Ed O'Callaghan, "into his dream job – The states chaser in the southern district of New York".

Only he does not mention Berman and how or why he fired him.

Full story:

4.47pm GMT sixteen:47

US to impose sanctions on more Russian oligarchs close to Putin – report

The United states today plans to impose economic sanctions on a wide array of Russian oligarchs and their families in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, two sources familiar with the thing take told Reuters.

Joe Biden warned at his offset state of the marriage accost that the US would exist coming after sick-gotten gains by Russian oligarchs close to Vladimir Putin. Photograph: Saul Loeb/AP

The news agency farther reports:

Washington has already striking a diverseness of oligarchs with asset-blocking sanctions. The source, speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, said some meaning names would be included in today's actions.

A 2d person familiar with the matter confirmed that at that place will be a number of oligarchs sanctioned on Th. The source besides said Russian officials close to Putin would likely be amidst those targeted.

Washington has and so far imposed several rounds of sanctions, including against Putin and the fundamental banking company, after Russia's forces invaded Ukraine in the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two. Moscow calls the assault a "special operation."

The measures have included sanctions against what the U.S. Treasury Department said were Russian "elites," including some with ties to Sberbank, VTB, Rosneft and the Federal Security Service (FSB).

The sources said the names cited by the United states would overlap with those already designated by the European Spousal relationship just would go beyond them by naming family members and business assembly.

The US is also expected to announce visa bans on some of those targeted, one of the sources said. The European union on Monday imposed sanctions on 26 prominent people over Russia'due south invasion of Ukraine, including oligarchs and business concern people agile in the oil, banking and finance sectors.

Several people included on the European union'southward list on Monday accept non withal been designated by the United states of america, including Nikolay Tokarev, the principal executive of free energy giant Transneft, Dmitry Chernyshenko, Russia's deputy prime minister, and Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

Washington has repeatedly warned that information technology is prepared to take further measures to hold Moscow to business relationship over its invasion of Ukraine.

In his State of the Union address on Tuesday dark, Joe Biden said the US would work to seize the yachts, luxury apartments and private jets of wealthy Russians with ties to Putin.

The United states and its allies concluding calendar week announced they would launch a task force to identify and freeze the assets of sanctioned Russian companies and oligarchs.

Updated at 4.49pm GMT

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