Forest surrounding Chernobyl ablaze as Russia reports stable levels of radiation March 28, 2022 There is a large forest fire burning in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, which have lead to heightened levels of radioactive air pollution, a Ukrainian official has warned. There is a threat to neighbouring European countries, as there is more than 10,000 hectares of forest ablaze, according to commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for [...]
Interventions have merit, but government mustn’t get hooked on meddling March 28, 2022 The drumbeat towards another Sunakian save-the-day package has begun, it seems. It is barely weeks since the Chancellor’s first energy market intervention, a devillishly complicated scheme of rebates and discounts to reduce the pain of higher energy prices. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has now added further upward pressure on those same costs, and it is [...]
Sunak eyes another council tax rebate after poor response to his spring statement March 28, 2022 Rishi Sunak is considering a further council tax rebate for Brits struggling with the cost of living crisis, after his spring economic statement was met by a very poor response on Wednesday. The chancellor is reportedly now looking into offering a further multi-billion pound package to help people with soaring energy bills and other household [...]
Ukraine war: Peace talks set to resume as Kyiv recaptures villages March 27, 2022 Ukrainian and Russian officials will resume peace talks in Turkey tomorrow, after Kyiv claimed that its forces have re-taken villages near two major cities under fierce attack. David Arakhamiya, a member of the Ukrainian negotiating team, today said on a Facebook video that another round of in-person negotiations will happen between 28 and 30 March. [...]
Ukraine: Antony Blinken says US not seeking regime change in Russia March 27, 2022 The US is not looking to pursue regime change in Russia in spite of comments made by Joe Biden yesterday, secretary of state Antony Blinken has said. The US President said last night in Warsaw that Putin was a “butcher” who “cannot remain in power”, before White House officials quickly backtracked and said Biden was [...]
Truss: UK could lift Russia sanctions if Putin withdraws from Ukraine March 27, 2022 The UK could lift its set of crippling economic sanctions on Russia if Vladimir Putin withdraws his troops from Ukraine and promises to commit “no further aggression”, foreign secretary Liz Truss has said. Truss said last night that an “off ramp” could be offered to Putin if he stops his invasion of Ukraine, but that [...]
UK minister says Russian regime change ‘up to Russian people’ in Biden rebuke March 27, 2022 Education minister Nadhim Zahawi has said it is “up to the Russian people” whether or not they remove Vladimir Putin in an apparent rebuke of Joe Biden’s comments in Poland yesterday. The US President said last night in Warsaw that Putin “cannot remain in power”, before White House officials quickly backtracked and said Biden was [...]
Sadiq Khan calls on UK to do more for Ukrainian refugees March 26, 2022 London mayor Sadiq Khan has called on the UK to “do more” for Ukrainian refugees. “It is important throughout the next few days, weeks to make it far, far easier, and much more easier for those who are fleeing Ukraine to come here,” he told PA news agency before joining a demonstration in support of [...]
Putin should be very worried about evaporating support at home, says UK’s former ambassador in Moscow March 26, 2022 Russia has become a “despicable tyranny” under the rule of Vladimir Putin, according to the UK’s former ambassador to Moscow. Sir Andrew Wood was commenting on news of the jailing of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny for nine years on fraud charges in what has been described as sham trial. Wood also claimed rising numbers [...]
Business of Space: Can the relationship with Roscosmos ever be repaired? March 25, 2022 This week: Isotropic Systems on track for first commercial launches Space cooperation between Russia and Europe “destroyed” OneWeb goes on deal-making spree Isotropic Systems Satellite firm Isotropic Systems is on track for its first commercial launches this year, following the final successful round of testing its multi-link satellite tech. The ground terminal provider has developed technology which [...]