Six things we know about Sir Tim Barrow, the UK’s new ambassador to the EU January 5, 2017 The Foreign Office moved rapidly yesterday to recruit a new ambassador to the EU, announcing senior diplomat Sir Tim Barrow's appointment within 48 hours of the resignation of his predecessor, Sir Ivan Rogers. But what do we know about the new man? Read more: Former EU ambassador “couldn't be trusted” by ministers says IDS 1. [...]
Russian “Methbots” show we need to ditch our digital advertising addiction January 3, 2017 The advertising industry had a serious problem in 2016. In recent years, the rise of digital advertising has gone from a new and welcome thrill for marketers, to a full-on addiction that has left brands robbed of money, and the reality of what has been going on behind their backs. It was only a matter [...]
Not so diplomatic: Now Russia’s foreign minister wants to expel US diplomats after Obama’s sanctions December 30, 2016 Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has suggested a tit-for-tat move against the US, after it announced sanctions against his country. Lavrov now wants to expel 35 US diplomats and ban them from using a dacha and a warehouse in Moscow, according to Russian news agencies. He said 31 would be removed from the Russian embassy [...]
Russian President Vladimir Putin announces new Syria ceasefire deal between government and opposition forces, with Russia and Turkey as guarantors December 29, 2016 The Syrian government and rebel groups have agreed a countrywide ceasefire that will take effect at midnight on 30 December, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced today. The agreement will be followed by peace talks between Bashar al-Assad's government and opposition forces in Kazakhstan at an as yet unspecified date. Syria's army said the ceasefire will begin [...]
Russia plane crash likely not terrorism says intelligence service as fragments of wreckage are found December 26, 2016 Terrorism is not among the main reasons being investigated for the plane crash in Russia which killed 92 people early on Christmas morning according to the country’s defence ministry, as it expands its search in an attempt to locate the aircraft’s black box flight recorder. Russia’s Ministry of Defence has found 86 fragments of the [...]
Wanted for 2017: A leader with a strong moral compass December 21, 2016 It feels like 2016 is never-ending. As I sit here writing my final column of the year I’m looking at the news: 12 killed in a lorry attack on a Berlin Christmas Market and the Russian ambassador shot dead in Turkey. In the last 12 months, the UK voted to leave the EU, Donald Trump was [...]
Ex-Deutsche Bank trader accused of manipulating markets by Russian central bank December 20, 2016 A former employee of Deutsche Bank's Russian division was accused today of manipulating markets to pocket himself and three of his relatives a profit of 255m rubles (£3.4m) over a two and a half year period. Russia's central bank claims Yuri Khilov, while acting on behalf of Deutsche's London branch, carried out 300bn rubles worth of trades [...]
Spot gold prices shed recent gains as investors steer clear of safe havens despite deadly attacks in Germany and Turkey December 20, 2016 Spot gold prices slid lower today, shedding gains made in the previous two sessions. The price of the yellow stuff fell 0.9 per cent to $1,127.94 an ounce in afternoon trading London time, according to data from Bloomberg, after optimistic remarks on the US labour market by Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen strengthened the possibility of further interest rate [...]
Russian hacking is a “fact” in post-truth strategy says UK government minister December 20, 2016 Britain must accept Russian hacking to influence elections in other countries as a “fact”, according to a government minister. Sir Alan Duncan, the minister for Europe and the Americas, also condemned the murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey as a "heinous attack", saying, "We obviously fully condemn this." Duncan said there was clear evidence [...]
The US Electoral College is set to back Trump for the White House December 19, 2016 The US Electoral College has shown no sign of moving its support from President-elect Donald Trump to losing Democrat candidate Hillary Clinton as voting begins today. Some Democrats urged the college – a group of 538 electors chosen by state parties – to change their votes to Clinton after she won the popular vote by a [...]