Papua New Guinea to join NRL in £301m ‘diplomacy deal’ against China funded by taxpayer December 12, 2024 A team from Papua New Guinea will join Australian rugby league competition the NRL in a “diplomacy deal” that will cost the taxpayer £301m. It is understood the deal is part of an Australian push to counteract increasing Chinese influence in the Indo-Pacific and follows Australian support for Pacific island rugby union teams participating in [...]
French turmoil could be a boost for the City of London, says top lawyer December 3, 2024 Political turmoil in France and geopolitical tensions between China and the US are showcasing the UK’s status as an “independent financial centre” and destination for international IPOs, a leading capital markets figure has suggested. Mark Austin, a lawyer at Latham & Watkins who has masterminded many of the City’s reform efforts over the past two [...]
US funds soar in November while gold prices sink December 2, 2024 US-focused funds topped the charts in November following Donald Trump’s presidential victory, while gold and precious metal funds struggled to maintain their previously strong performance. The average North America-focused fund grew by 7.2 per cent throughout the month, with North American Smaller Companies growing by a whopping 11.9 per cent. This led the best performing [...]
Why the UK should follow Trump’s lead on tariffs November 29, 2024 Reliance on Chinese imports is a significant threat to UK manufacturing, implementing our own US-style tariffs could boost growth and create jobs, says Emma Parkinson The re-election of Donald Trump marks a seismic shift in global trade dynamics, particularly for heavy industries like steel. As Trump’s administration gears up to potentially impose substantial tariffs on [...]
Lagarde urges EU leaders to negotiate ‘not retaliate’ on Trump tariffs November 28, 2024 Christine Lagarde said that a global trade war was "in nobody's interest" and would likely lead to a "global reduction of GDP".
Chinese-owned MTR loses Elizabeth Line contract November 20, 2024 MTR will be succeeded by GTS Rail Operations Limited, a joint venture between the Go Ahead Group, Tokyo Metro and Sumitomo Corporation.
Starmer risks resurrecting Cameron’s failed China script November 19, 2024 The Prime Minister has been mingling with world leaders in Brazil, and while his government continues to face an array of domestic challenges (from tractor protests to debates on assisted dying) he has managed to pick up a hefty endorsement from one of the world’s most powerful people. “The new UK government is working to [...]
Taiwan is being excluded from international climate agreements – against its will November 17, 2024 As world leaders and delegates gather this month in Baku, Azerbaijan, for Cop29 to address the global threat of climate change, Taiwan – with its proactive net-zero policies, invaluable climate adaptation experience and demonstrated commitment to climate action – remains excluded from participating in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) for political [...]
Elon Musk and Fox News host chosen for Trump cabinet and advisory roles November 13, 2024 Tech billionaire Elon Musk and Fox News host Pete Hegseth have been asked to serve as advisors and in Donald Trump’s cabinet. Musk is set to lead a new US Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) which will advise the President on how to reform and make savings in the government, after he previously claimed he [...]
Baillie Gifford says shareholders can ditch China trust if underperformance persists November 13, 2024 Baillie Gifford has pledged to allow investors to refund their money from its £133m China-focused growth trust if it continues to underperform the wider market over the next four years. The trust’s share price has dropped by more than 33 per cent in the last five years, compared to a drop of just nine per [...]