Now that you’re asking where your supplies come from, we should talk. January 11, 2023 As the world faces a shortfall of both energy supplies and critical metals, difficult decisions are being made to meet the growing supply gaps without risking new dependencies on unsustainable producers or compromised geopolitical actors. Quite a problem for some; particularly for a range of European countries and firms in light of the Russian invasion [...]
To ESG or not to ESG, why bother? January 11, 2023 There’s no denying the bombshell declaration of $9.5bn of “socially conscious funds” from ESG investments being tied up in Russian oil companies has come as a predictable shock. Or when ESG ratings company Truvalue Labs gave Sam Bank-Friedman’s FTX crypto enterprise a higher score on ‘leadership and governance’ than Exxon/Mobil. Being neither environmentally nor socially responsible, [...]
Putin yanks Russia out of European anti-corruption scheme January 10, 2023 Russia has opted out of a European convention on fighting corruption, a move that comes in the wake of its withdrawal from the Council of Europe following start of Moscow’s military action in Ukraine. Russian President Vladimir Putin asked the lower house of parliament, the State Duma, to terminate adherence to the Council of Europe’s convention on [...]
‘Nobody died’: Embarrassment for Putin as Russia claims missile strikes on Ukrainian base killed 600 January 9, 2023 Ukrainian officials say nobody died in missile attacks Russia claims killed 600 troops. Vladimir Putin’s Russian defence ministry said missiles hit two temporary bases housing 1,300 Ukrainian soldiers in Kramatorsk in the easter Donetsk region. The strikes were retaliation for Ukraine’s attack in Makiivka, which left at least 89 Russian troops died, ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said. [...]
Rishi Sunak hits back at critics of inflation promise but warns government ‘can’t help anybody’ if prices don’t fall January 8, 2023 Rishi Sunak has today claimed halving inflation by the end of the year – one of his five promises to the British public – will happen “because of the plans [the government] have put in place”. Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme, the prime minister doubled down on a series of pledges [...]
Putin: Raab to host London conference on Russian ‘war crimes’ in Ukraine January 7, 2023 London will host a major international conference led by Dominic Raab on Russia’s alleged war crimes during Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. The meeting will see justice secretary Dominic Raab join forces with Dutch justice minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius to co-host the conference in London’s Lancaster House. The conference aims to coordinate efforts to ensure the [...]
Gas prices down 20 per cent in last week but what does it mean for your energy bills? January 6, 2023 The average price of gas in the UK has fallen by 20 per cent in the last week, but Ofgem said it would have a “limited” impact on bills. Despite the drop, which is compared to the average price from February 2020, pre-Covid, the price of gas was still up one per cent on last [...]
Putin’s 36-hour Ukraine truce will ‘do nothing’ for peace, James Cleverly warns January 6, 2023 Vladimir Putin’s plans for a 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine over the Russian Orthodox Christmas holiday period will “do nothing to advance the prospects for peace”, the UK’s Foreign Secretary has said. Russia’s President Putin has ordered Moscow’s armed forces to observe the 36-hour ceasefire in Ukraine this weekend, when the Russian Orthodox Church, which uses [...]
Truce or a trap? Putin calls ‘Christmas Truce’ in Ukraine War January 5, 2023 Vladimir Putin has ordered a so-called Christmas Truce in the war on Ukraine for the Orthodox Christmas period – but Ukrainian officials fear a trap. The head of the Russian Orthodox Church, a Vladimir Putin ally, had called for both sides of the war in Ukraine to observe a Christmas truce. Many Orthodox Christians, including [...]
Under-pressure Putin to Ukraine: Give up territory before I’ll join negotiations January 5, 2023 President Vladimir Putin told Turkey’s Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday that Russia was open to dialogue over Ukraine but that Kyiv would have to accept the loss of territories claimed by Russia, the Kremlin said. “Vladimir Putin reaffirmed Russia’s openness to a serious dialogue, provided that the Kiev authorities fulfill the well–known and repeatedly voiced requirements [...]