Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny hospitalised after suspected poisoning August 20, 2020 Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny is in a serious condition in a Siberian hospital after suffering severe symptoms of suspected poisoning, his spokeswoman said today. Navalny, 44, is unconscious, in intensive care and on an artificial lung ventilator, his spokeswoman, Kira Yarmysh, said on social media. “We assume that Alexei was poisoned with something mixed [...]
Belarus: There will be no new election, says Lukashenko August 17, 2020 Belarus leader Alexander Lukashenko today said there would be no new presidential election despite calls from the opposition and nationwide anti-government protests, the Belta news agency reported. “You should never expect me to do something under pressure,” he was quoted as saying. “They (new elections) won’t happen.” Lukashenko’s reported comments came as he faces the [...]
Belarus protests continue as Lukashenko claims Nato tanks are on the border August 16, 2020 Tens of thousands of protesters have taken to the streets of Minsk again today to protest against the allegedly fixed election result that returned Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to power. The “March for Freedom” has seen Belarusian opponents of Lukashenko clash with police, after Lukashenko won last week’s electoin with 80 per cent of the [...]
The City View: Lord Barker on the ‘compelling case’ to extend the furlough scheme August 13, 2020 Subscribe to The City View Podcast: Apple / Google / Spotify / RSS In this episode Christian talks to former energy and climate change minister Greg (now Lord) Barker, who currently sits as executive chairman of Russian energy and metals giant EN+ Group. Lord Barker begins by assessing the current economic conditions and says there is a compelling case to extend the [...]
German institute says coronavirus vaccine could be available by autumn August 12, 2020 Germany’s leading infectious diseases institute said today a first vaccine against coronavirus could be available as early as autumn but warned that it may take longer to control the pandemic. “Preliminary projections make the availability of one or several vaccines seem possible by autumn 2020,” the Robert Koch Institute said in a statement. “It would [...]
Making it work: Why we need to start talking about who gets access to a coronavirus vaccine August 12, 2020 There is an unprecedented international scientific effort underway to develop an effective vaccine for SARS CoV-2 — the cause of Covid-19 — and we are all desperate for some good news. I have spent my life fighting infectious diseases around the world, from HIV to SARS to Ebola. Unfortunately, our collective track record for speedy [...]
Russia names new vaccine after iconic satellite Sputnik August 11, 2020 Russia has named its first approved coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V, in reference to the world’s first satellite launched by the Soviet Union in 1957. The choice in name was selected as a way of comparing the vaccine to what Russia views as its success in becoming the first country to approve a treatment, according to [...]
Activist investor Everest prevails in Petropavlovsk board battle August 10, 2020 Investor Everest Alliance has prevailed in a bitter boardroom showdown with Petropavlovsk as shareholders elected not to reappoint former chief executive Pavel Mavlovskiy. Shares plummeted on the back of the results, falling 8.7 per cent in the immediate aftermath of the meeting. Along with six other directors, Mavlovskiy was voted out at the firm’s previous [...]
Tory MPs in China Research Group targeted by phishing attacks August 6, 2020 Cybersecurity experts have slammed Parliament’s online security training as “appalling” after members of the Sino-sceptic China Research Group of Conservative MPs have been targeted by phishing attacks. China Research Group Tom Tugendhat, chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee and co–founder of the China Research Group, last week revealed he believed Chinese state-sponsored hackers were [...]
Petropavlovsk shareholders set for crunch vote after months of boardroom strife August 6, 2020 Shareholders at gold miner Petropavlovsk will on Monday vote to settle months of strife after a long-running tussle for control of the firm’s board. Voters will choose between rival proposals investors from Prosperity Capital Management and Everest Alliance over the future make-up of the board after seven directors, including chief executive Pavel Mavlovskiy, were ousted [...]