Trump taps Scott Bessent for Treasury, capping long drama over choice November 23, 2024 President-elect Donald Trump on Friday said he will nominate prominent investor Scott Bessent as US Treasury secretary, ending days of twists that saw high profile candidates pitted against each other for the cabinet position with vast influence over economic, regulatory and international affairs. Wall Street has been closely watching who Trump would choose, especially given his plans to [...]
Cop29 draft finance deal rejected as negotiators walk out of UN climate talks November 23, 2024 The latest rough draft of a deal on climate finance is thought to have been soundly rejected by developing economies at Cop29, a day after the UN summit was scheduled to finish. Negotiators from rich and poor nations are huddled in one room as the talks to reach a deal on money for developing countries [...]
Finance deal remains elusive at Cop29 as UN climate talks stretch into overtime November 23, 2024 Countries have worked through the night to broker a deal on climate finance at the UN climate summit as negotiations stretched into overtime. Patience is wearing thin on the ground at Cop29 in Azerbaijan as negotiations in the host city, Baku, hit a deadlock again on Saturday afternoon – almost 24 hours after the summit [...]
Asda brings back industry veteran Leighton as chair November 23, 2024 Asda brought back retail industry veteran Allan Leighton as its executive chair on Saturday, replacing Stuart Rose at Britain’s third largest supermarket. Rose will remain on the board to ensure an orderly transition before stepping down, the company, majority owned by private equity firm TDR Capital, said in a statement. In addition to holding the [...]
Ministers seek EU negotiator to lead reset talks November 23, 2024 Ministers are hiring a new EU negotiator as Keir Starmer seeks to reset Britain’s relationship with Europe. The post, worth at least £150,000 a year and advertised by the Cabinet Office, would act as a “sherpa” for all of the UK’s dealings with the bloc. The role is described as “principal adviser to the prime [...]
Police carry out ‘controlled explosion’ at US embassy in London’s Nine Elms November 22, 2024 A “controlled explosion” has been carried out by Metropolitan Police officers outside the US embassy in Nine Elms, London. It followed reports of a suspicious package outside the embassy. The police said in a statement: “We’re aware of speculation online about an incident in the vicinity of the US Embassy in Nine Elms. “Cordons are in place in the area as a [...]
Defence giant Thales faces UK bribery and corruption probe November 21, 2024 The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into French defence giant Thales for suspected bribery and corruption. Authorities in the UK and France said they are carrying out a joint probe into the firm, which employs more than 7,000 staff in the UK. Thales is one of the government’s key defence contractors, and built hundreds of lightweight [...]
Nestle ramps up cost-cutting by another £2.2bn in overhaul November 19, 2024 KitKat maker Nestle has revealed plans to slash costs by at least another 2.5bn Swiss francs (£2.2bn) and spin off its premium water and drink business as part of a turnaround being led by its new boss. Recently-appointed chief executive Laurent Freixe said the Swiss group will make the mammoth savings by the end of [...]
Peers want to force Chagos Islands referendum to stop handover deal November 16, 2024 A group of Lords wants to force a referendum over the handover of the Chagos Islands, in a move that could delay the treaty from taking effect until after Donald Trump takes office. Lord Bellingham is leading a group of peers who plan to introduce an amendment to the treaty when it reaches the House [...]
Japanese minister visits Ukraine over North Korean troops November 16, 2024 Japan’s foreign minister has arrived in Kyiv to discuss North Korea’s deepening military alliance with Russia, including the deployment of thousands of troops to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. Takeshi Iwaya will meet his Ukrainian counterpart, Andrii Sybiha, to reaffirm Japan’s “strong support” for Ukraine against Russia’s invasion and to discuss further sanctions against Moscow, [...]
