Red-faced Putin: Russia now ready to ‘negotiate’ over Ukraine war December 25, 2022 President Vladimir Putin said Russia was ready to negotiate with all parties involved in the war in Ukraine but that Kyiv and its Western backers had refused to engage in talks. Russia’s Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine has triggered the most deadly conflict in Europe since World War Two and the biggest confrontation between Moscow and the West since [...]
UK condemns North Korea for supplying arms to Russian Wagner Group mercenaries December 23, 2022 The UK has condemned North Korea for completing an arms delivery to Russia’s mercenaries in the notorious Wagner Group. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly made his comments on Thursday after the US released information claiming Pyongyang had completed an arms delivery, which is in breach of UN Security Council resolutions. Cleverly said: “The UK supports the [...]
Watch Zelensky channel Churchill in rousing speech to Congress: ‘Ukraine will never surrender’ December 22, 2022 Ukraine’s president channeled the words of Sir Winston Churchill in a rousing speech to US Congress, saying his country ” will never surrender” against Russia. In an address to US lawmakers he wished them a “happy, victorious new year” while repeatedly asking America for more funding and weapons. Appearing in his now trademark military sweater, [...]
Elon Musk’s year in Tweets: Ukraine, buying Twitter, Trump, Bitcoin and blue ticks December 21, 2022 Elon Musk’s time as Twitter CEO has been controversial. Even before his purchase of the social media platform, the business magnate and investor was an avid Twitter user. After a turbulent year online – and off – we have done the painstaking task of trawling through the Tesla billionaire’s feed, for high (and low) points [...]
Government reforms needed to claim £1bn in extorted assets December 16, 2022 A potential £1bn of proceeds from political extortion are up for grabs if the UK Government undergoes reforms.
Russian oligarch seeks to block fraud lawsuit over sanctions December 14, 2022 A high-profile Russian oligarch is seeking to block an $850m (£685m) fraud lawsuit over claims the Russian banks suing him could use proceeds from the case to “fund the war in Ukraine”. Lawyers acting on behalf of Russian banker Boris Mints called for the High Court lawsuit to be put on hold in arguing any [...]
EU to push for greater sanctions compliance with new special envoy December 12, 2022 The EU is set to put one of its top civil servants to the task of pushing for greater compliance with sanctions against Russia, in third-countries including Turkey, Serbia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). David O’Sullivan, the bloc’s former ambassador to the US, is set to take up a new role in January, in [...]
Wealthy Russian businessman held by police officers investigating oligarchs December 3, 2022 A wealthy Russian businessman has been arrested at his multi-million-pound London home by officers investigating potential criminal activity by oligarchs. The 58-year-old man, who has not been named, was held by the National Crime Agency (NCA) on Thursday on suspicion of offences including money laundering, conspiracy to defraud the Home Office and conspiracy to commit [...]
Private bank Julius Baer fined £18m over ‘corrupt’ dealings with Yukos Oil November 30, 2022 The UK’s financial watchdog has fined private bank Julius Baer more than £18m over its “corrupt” dealings with Russian oil company Yukos Group. The UK’s Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) today fined Julius Baer’s international business £18,022,500 and sanctioned three of its executives, over the private bank’s use of third-party agents in carrying out business with [...]
Lloyd’s of London to face £735m court battle over Dubai owned aircraft seized by Russia November 18, 2022 Lloyd’s of London is being sued for $875m (£735m) over its failure to pay out on a multi-million-dollar insurance claim filed over the Russian state’s decision to seize hundreds of planes this March. Airplane leaser Dubai Aerospace Enterprises Ltd (DAE) has filed a High Court claim against Lloyd’s seeking more than $875m from the insurer, [...]