Syria crisis: London mayor Boris Johnson says UK should work with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad December 7, 2015 London mayor Boris Johnson has said that the UK should work with Russian president Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad to defeat the Islamic State (Isis). Writing in the Telegraph, Johnson said: "This is the time to set aside our Cold War mindset. It is just not true that whatever is good for Putin must automatically [...]
Fifa crisis: Corruption charges keeps sponsors away December 5, 2015 Fifa is struggling to attract new sponsors as it battles to repair its image in the wake of numerous corruption scandals. Football's under-fire governing body has 27 slots allocated for potential partners unfilled, having failed to attract a single new sponsor for over two years. Fifa suffered a £67m loss in 2015 as sponsors steered [...]
Saudi Arabia set to come under fire at OPEC meeting but not expected to back down over production levels December 3, 2015 Smaller nations are expected to put further pressure on Saudi Arabia to reduce oil production levels later today when cartel members meeting in Vienna. OPEC made the historic decision to maintained its production levels last year despite a more than 50 per cent fall in price over the past 18 months. City A.M. understands Saudi Arabia [...]
Polyus Gold is the latest Russian company to leave the London Stock Exchange today December 3, 2015 Russia's largest goldminer Polyus Gold leaves the London Stock Exchange today. Polyus was taken over by a shell company Sacturino, which is controlled by billionaire Suleiman Kerimov's family. Their company, Wandle Holdings, was the majority 40 per cent stakeholder in Polyus and completed its compulsory acquisition early in November. It's the latest in a flurry of Russian [...]
Russia levies Islamic state oil claims at Turkey December 2, 2015 Russia's defence ministry today claimed that it has proof Turkish president Tayyip Erdogan and his family were benefiting from the illegal smuggling of oil from Islamic State (Isis) held territory in Syria and Iraq. Deputy defence minister, Anatoly Antonov, said during a major briefing on new findings concerning Isis funding by Moscow: "Today, we are presenting only some facts [...]
Fifa sponsors call on under-fire organisation to accept independent oversight of reforms December 2, 2015 Five Fifa sponsors have written to world football's governing body to demand "cultural change" and "independent oversight" of reforms. Adidas, McDonald's, Coca-Cola, Visa and Budweiser parent company Anheuser-Busch sent the letter to Fifa this week as it discusses reform proposals. Following a string of corruption allegations levelled against the organisation which have culminated in American [...]
Moody’s says the outlook for 2016 is stable despite China slowdown and commodities and oil rout December 1, 2015 Despite the ongoing commodities route, falling oil prices and Chinese slowdown, Moody's is optimistic, and thinks the outlook in Europe is stable for 2016. Non-financial companies in Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) can look forward to increased consumer confidence, solid market liquidity, low default rates, and "sustained" though "slow" growth of around two per cent in Europe. The ratings agency [...]
Sanctions will cost Turkey and Russia billions, IHS economists warn November 30, 2015 The Russian and Turkish economies will both suffer heavy losses after Moscow imposed economic sanctions in response to the downing of a fighter jet, a new economic report has warned. Turkey was a major beneficiary of sanctions imposed on Russia by the EU last year in response to its involvement in the annexation of Crimea in [...]
David Cameron’s case for going to war in Syria is built on sand November 29, 2015 As the 19th century French foreign minister Talleyrand witheringly said of his Bourbon masters, “they forgot nothing and learned nothing”. So it is with Prime Minister David Cameron’s intellectually feeble effort to rally the Commons to go to war in Syria. Cameron has dutifully memorised the vague catechism for going to war – the precise [...]
Stop the War coalition organises march on Downing Street today November 28, 2015 With Prime Minister David Cameron's campaign to persuade the House of Commons of the need for air strikes in Syria gaining more support, the Stop the War coalition has called for a protest march in London today. Thousands of protesters are expected to turn up outside Downing Street to urge the Prime Minister to change [...]