Russia and Saudi Arabia planning joint space mission May 25, 2021 Russia and Saudi Arabia are preparing for a joint manned space mission, the former’s government confirmed today, in another sign of warmer relations between the two countries. In a statement, the Kremlin said that Saudi astronauts were being trained in Russia while the mission is developed. “Speaking of the two countries’ work on the joint [...]
Put-in the diary: Biden to meet Russian President in June May 25, 2021 Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin will meet in Geneva for face-to-face talks next month. The meeting will be the first since Biden took the Presidency in January 2021. The White House said the conversation would touch on “the full range of pressing issues,” with relations between the two sour. Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump had a [...]
Belarus’ act of aviation piracy and kidnapping proves the obvious: anyone can bully the EU May 25, 2021 Yesterday, within about five minutes of one another, both my partner and a colleague drolly made the same comment: “I know Ryanair is tough about customer service, but I didn’t realise you had to pay extra to avoid being kidnapped.” There were, of course, referring to the dreadful act of piracy that occurred over the [...]
Hating Peter Tatchell director Christopher Amos on the controversial campaigner May 21, 2021 Launching on Netflix today is the documentary Hating Peter Tatchell, a look at the life of one of the most high-profile LGBTQ+ rights activists in the world. For most of his life, Tatchell has been on the front line of the fight for LGBTQ+ liberation, often using extreme means to get a media spotlight on [...]
Hating Peter Tatchell review – a profile of an anarchic hero May 20, 2021 The advent of social media has made activism a daily practice for many, and something that’s witnessed by many more. From symbolic gestures to mass demonstrations, it feels as though mobilising a group to get their voices heard is easier than ever. Hating Peter Tatchell looks at a man who was putting a spotlight on [...]
Former MI5 chief reveals secret documents in hollowed-out tree were eaten by squirrels May 18, 2021 A former MI5 chief has recalled the distress of a Russian intelligence officer discovering top secret documents concealed by an agent in a hollowed-out tree had been eaten by squirrels. Baroness Manningham-Buller, who served for more than three decades in the Security Service including five as director general, recounted the spying tale as she highlighted [...]
Rolls-Royce sticks to guidance as wait for travel restart continues May 13, 2021 Engineer Rolls-Royce this morning maintained that it would return to positive free cash flow in the second half of 2021 as vaccinations kick in and travellers return to the skies. In a trading update this morning, the blue-chip stock said that its performance so far this year to had been in line with expectations. It comes [...]
Ethereum founder Vitalik Buterin donates $1.2 billion of Doge doppelgangers to India’s Covid effort May 12, 2021 Ethereum creator Vitalik Buterin has been applauded for a charitable act that put a leash on dog meme coins and handed $1.2 billion to India’s Covid-19 relief fund.
80 per cent of BP shareholders reject climate proposals to reduce emissions May 12, 2021 Shareholders have voted against a plan that would have forced BP to strengthen its climate commitments. More than 79 per cent of investors voted against a resolution proposed by shareholder group Follow This, which pushes oil companies to reduce their emissions. BP said that 20.6 per cent of votes were in favour of the plan. [...]
Rolls Royce puts Norwegian unit back up for sale after Oslo blocked deal with Russians May 10, 2021 FTSE blue-chip Rolls Royce’s Norwegian maritime engine unit Bergen is back up for sale, less than two months after Oslo blocked a previous deal for it to be sold off to a Russian company. “The sale process has restarted,” a source told Reuters today. Norway in March stopped Rolls Royce from selling Bergen for €150m [...]