Move over, ‘Davos Man’, climate is the big issue this year January 21, 2020 It’s that time of the year again: policymakers, politicians, bankers, activists, journalists, and a swathe of cameras are descending upon the snowy peaks of Davos for the World Economic Forum (WEF). Once branded the playground for the elite, epitomised by the stereotypical champagne swashing “Davos Man”, this year the gathering ostensibly seems to be morphing [...]
In the impeachment saga, Trump Derangement Syndrome is destroying the Democrats January 20, 2020 In politics, as in life, hatred can get in the way. And the base of the Democratic party, even more than its leadership, hates Donald Trump beyond reason. Over the impeachment saga, hatred is killing them. There are, of course, myriad reasons — some of which I share — to despise the President. Trump’s ugly braggadocio, [...]
FTSE 100 subdued ahead of US-China trade deal meeting January 15, 2020 The FTSE 100 has opened almost flat ahead of US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Chinese vice premier Liu He, where the pair are set to sign an initial trade deal. Britain’s blue chip index was sitting 0.08 per cent up in morning trading ahead of the signing on Wednesday. Both US and Asian markets [...]
DEBATE: Is a new ‘Trump deal’ the answer to the Iran nuclear problem? January 15, 2020 Is a new “Trump deal” the answer to the Iran nuclear problem? YES, says Ben Kelly, a commentator for Reaction. Does anyone genuinely believe that Donald Trump’s objection to the Iran nuclear deal was based on detailed analysis of its contents? No. Trump rejected it as part of his obsession with dismantling Barack Obama’s legacy. [...]
Donald Trump says US will impose additional sanctions on Iran January 8, 2020 US president Donald Trump has said that the US will “immediately impose punishing additional sanctions” on Iran after the Islamic Republic fired missiles at two US bases in Iraq. The president said that no Americans were harmed in last night’s attacks, and that the US would continue to assess its options in response. Read more: [...]
Qassem Soleimani’s death is the UK’s first test of post-Brexit foreign policy January 8, 2020 It would be safe to say that the last thing our new government expected at the start of 2020 — flush with enthusiasm for its domestic agenda — was a foreign policy crisis, much less so one sprung upon it by the reaction of the mercurial Trump administration. But in truth, the drone strike on [...]
Qasem Soleimani: Trump threatens Iraq with sanctions if US troops are expelled January 6, 2020 President Donald Trump has threatened Iraq with severe sanctions after its parliament called for US forces to leave the country, as the backlash over the killing of Iranian military commander Qasem Soleimani intensifies. “We have a very extraordinarily expensive air base that’s [in Iraq]. It cost billions of dollars to build, long before my time. [...]
‘US will pay for Soleimani assassination for years to come’, says Iran President January 4, 2020 Iran President Hassan Rouhani has said the assassination of general Qassem Soleimani will “never be forgotten” as he compared it to the US-led coup that reinstated the Shah in 1953 and threatened a lengthy retaliation. A US airstrike on Friday killed the head of the Quds Force, Soleimani, widely considered the second most influential person [...]
UK nationals warned against travelling to Iraq and Iran January 4, 2020 The UK has warned its nationals to avoid travelling to Iraq or Iran in the wake of the US airstrike which killed Iranian general Qassem Soleimani on Friday. Soleimani, widely considered the second in command to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei and the architect of the Islamic Republic’s regional policy, was assassinated at Baghdad airport in [...]
World leaders call for restraint as Iran promises revenge for killing January 3, 2020 World leaders have urged calm amid simmering tensions after the US confirmed it was responsible for an air strike which killed top Iranian general Qasem Soleimani in Baghdad. Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei, said that harsh revenge awaited the “criminals” who killed Soleimani. Read more: European stocks falter after US kills top Iranian general [...]