Johnson says Saudi Arabia ‘understands’ need to protect globe from energy price rises March 16, 2022 Boris Johnson has said Saudi Arabia “understands” the need to help protect the globe from current energy price spikes, after trying to get the country to increase its production of oil. Johnson said after his meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman today that “I think there was an understanding of the need to [...]
Ukraine and Russia make progress on draft peace plan March 16, 2022 Ukraine and Russia reportedly made progress yesterday on a draft 15-point peace plan, after almost four weeks of fighting. The draft plan includes an agreement to a ceasefire, Ukraine agreeing to become neutral between Russia and Nato and commitments from Volodymyr Zelensky to shrink the Ukrainian army. This would include Ukrainian promises to not host [...]
Truss confirms £394m paid to Iran to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe March 16, 2022 Liz Truss has confirmed in the House of Commons that the UK has paid its £393.8m debt to Iran to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, after six years in a Tehran prison. Fellow British-Iranian dual national Anousheh Ashouri was also freed after almost five years imprisonment, while Morad Tahbaz has been released “on furlough” and remains in [...]
Kremlin in sudden U-turn as ceasefire seems likely: Russia ‘changing tone’ as isolated Putin drops demands for Ukraine to surrender March 16, 2022 Despite fierce fighting in the last 24 hours, with Russia’s military forces blasting Ukraine’s capital region and other major cities. Russia has softened its stance in the talks over a possible settlement and is rapidly ‘changing tone’, according to people close to the Ukraine-Russia peace talks. In fact, a ceasefire seems increasingly likely. Ihor Zhovkva, [...]
Sweden refuses to launch research satellite on Russian Soyuz rocket March 16, 2022 Sweden has cancelled the launch of a research satellite via a Russian rocket, following the Kremlin-backed attack on neighbouring Ukraine. The launch was scheduled for the end of this year, after its initial scheduled launch in 2019 was delayed. “Preparing for a launch from Russia is unthinkable under the current circumstances,” a spokesperson for the [...]
Free at last: Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe to return to UK March 16, 2022 Talks to free Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe have made a breakthrough with the British-Iranian national on her way home to the UK.
Met officers deny offensive WhatsApp messages with murderer Wayne Couzens March 16, 2022 Two serving Met police constables and an ex-officer have denied sharing grossly offensive WhatsApp messages with Sarah Everard's murderer Wayne Couzens.
Long way to go: Hong Kong Covid-19 spiral appears to have peaked, says Lam March 16, 2022 Hong Kong’s Covid-19 spiral appears to have peaked, but there remains a long way to go for the finance hub as it ushers in extra medics from the mainland. The city of 7.4m people reported 29,272 new infections on Wednesday, and recorded 217deaths, compared with 228 in the previous 24 hours. Hong Kong leader [...]
Met police apologise over ‘traumatic’ strip search of Hackney schoolgirl March 16, 2022 The Metropolitan police have apologised after two officers strip searched a black schoolgirl who was wrongly suspected of carrying cannabis.
UK and US to have ‘transatlantic dialogues’ in bid to boost trade March 16, 2022 The UK and US will next week hold the first of a series of “transatlantic dialogues” in a bid to boost bilateral trade between the two countries post-Brexit. The Department for International Trade (DIT) said the dialogues “will bring together government ministers, senior officials, trade unions, businesses and civil society from both sides to discuss [...]