OPEC+ hikes production targets by miniscule volumes of 100,000 barrels per day August 3, 2022 The OPEC+ coalition of oil producing countries today agreed to up its production targets by miniscule volumes of just 100,000 barrels of oil per day, in a hike that scuppered hopes for a more substantial increases that could have reversed the recent surge in prices that has wreaked havoc on the global economy. The [...]
Axa launches £840m share buyback scheme as higher earnings offset £250m hit from Ukraine August 3, 2022 French insurance giant Axa today said an uptick in earnings, driven by higher incomes from its investment portfolio, offset the €300m (£251m) hit to its business arising from the war in Ukraine. In reflecting its “robust performance,” Europe’s second biggest insurer vowed to buy back €1bn worth of its own shares from shareholders, after [...]
Claims globalisation has ‘had its heyday’ are premature, Lloyd’s chief executive says August 2, 2022 Claims the dual shocks of Covid and the war in Ukraine have halted the “all conquering forces of globalisation” are “premature,” Lloyd’s of London chief executive John Neal told City A.M. In an op-ed in this newspaper, the insurance chief said that while we will “rightly see a degree of retreat and retrenchment” in [...]
UK launches register of overseas property owners in clampdown on ‘corrupt elites’ August 1, 2022 Individuals that own UK properties via chains of “secretive” shell companies will from today be forced to reveal their true identities, after the UK government launched a new register of UK property owners today. The first-of-its-kind register will require those seeking to buy or own UK property via offshore entities to list the identities of [...]
‘A day of relief for the world’ as first grain ship leaves Ukraine port after Russia deal signed August 1, 2022 A ship carrying grain has left the Ukrainian port of Odessa under a new deal with Russia, in what officials have called “a day of relief for the world”. The vessel left Ukraine’s Black Sea port en route to Lebanon, in wake of a deal facilitated by Turkey to allow safe passage for ships. This [...]
Biden administration: 75,000 Russian troops have been killed or injured in Ukraine war so far July 28, 2022 Up to half the troops Russia has committed to the war in Ukraine have been killed or injured, according to classified information from the White House. Joe Biden’s administration officials told House lawmakers that 75,000 Russians have been killed or wounded during the ongoing war in Ukraine. Neither Russia or Ukraine have released official figures [...]
More than 100,000 Ukrainian refugees have settled in Britain since start of Kremlin’s war July 28, 2022 More than 100,000 Ukrainians fleeing the Kremlin’s war have made their homes in the UK. 25,300 who have had visas approved are still awaiting confirmation, through the Family and Sponsorship schemes set up earlier this year. More than 70,000 refugees arrived in Britain through the UK government’s sponsorship scheme, which allows applicants to settle if [...]
Former Everton FC director among new Russian sanctions: Officials with ties to ‘republics’ of Donetsk and Luhansk targeted July 27, 2022 A former director of Everton FC is among new UK sanctions on Russian officials, as the foreign office targets officials with links to the puppet administrations of the ‘Donetsk and Luhansk People’s Republics’ . Among those hit are Vitaly Khotsenko and Vladislav Kuznetsov, the Russian-imposed leaders of the so-called republics, in addition to Sanjar Ismailov, nephew of [...]
Staff cuts in crime agencies would ‘completely undermine’ UK’s fight against oligarchs, campaigners warn July 26, 2022 Campaigners have called on the UK government to rule out plans to slash headcounts in the enforcement agencies tasked with fighting economic crime, after warning any cuts would “completely undermine” Britain’s bid to crack down on the kleptocrats, criminals, and oligarchs that seek to launder dirty money in the UK. UK government plans to cut [...]
Russia and Ukraine agree deal to resume grain exports July 22, 2022 Russia and Ukraine reached a deal today that will resume grain exports from Ukrainian Black Sea ports. The agreement will restore Ukraine’s global grain exports after the war blockaded exports and caused a stoppage, sending food prices surging around the world and causing a global crisis. “The agreement signed today by Ukraine, the Russian Federation [...]