UK fails to stop RWE Dea North Sea oil sale to Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman March 1, 2015 The UK government could face legal action if it attempts to interfere with a Russian billionaire’s bid for several North Sea energy assets. An investment vehicle called Letter One, which is owned by Russian tycoon Mikhail Fridman, is buying German oil company RWE Dea in a €5.1bn (£3.7bn) deal expected to be closed today. RWE [...]
Russians protest death of Kremlin critic March 1, 2015 TENS of thousands of Russians marched through central Moscow yesterday, carrying banners declaring “I am not afraid” and chanting “Russia without Putin” in memory of murdered Kremlin critic Boris Nemtsov. Families, the old and young walked slowly, with many holding portraits of the opposition politician and former deputy prime minister who was shot dead on [...]
Government blocks Russian oligarch and Lord Browne-run fund buying North Sea oil fields over sanctions worries March 1, 2015 The government has blocked the sale of North Sea oil and gas fields to Russian oligarch Mikhail Fridman and his LetterOne fund run by former BP man Lord Browne due to worries over Russian sanctions. Energy secretary Ed Davey warned it would not approve the sale of 12 oil and gas fields by the German [...]
Boris Nemtsov: Key facts about the Russian politician shot dead in Moscow this morning February 28, 2015 Boris Nemtsov, a fierce critic of the Putin administration, was killed just metres away from the Kremlin in Moscow late last night. The 55-year-old opposition politician was shot four times by a gun from a passing car, just hours after trying to garner support for a march against the crisis in Ukraine. Nemtsov was [...]
The UK might have an ambassador for the Arctic – but what would they actually do? February 27, 2015 There will certainly be no fancy parties with circling plates of Ferrero Rocher – just freezing ice, which occasionally melts, and plenty of polar bears waiting for a meal. The Arctic is far from being the most pleasant place in the world, but its abundance of fossil fuels has attracted interest from countries around the [...]
EU takes a stand against high Russian import taxes at the World Trade Organisation February 26, 2015 The European Union (EU) is upping its battle against high import taxes imposed on it by Russia. On Thursday, the bloc posted a request for the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to establish a dispute settlement panel over the matter, accusing the Kremlin of placing unreasonably high import duties on a wide range of products. [...]
UK to send advisers to Ukraine – David Cameron February 24, 2015 Britain is to send military advisers into Ukraine for the first time, the Prime Minister has confirmed. Speaking to before a committee of MPs, David Cameron said the UK would send personnel to the stricken country to support government troops battling separatists. Britain, Cameron said, would be the “strongest pole in the tent.” The Ministry [...]
Yanis Varoufakis demolishes Jeroen Dijsselbloem and Angela Merkel in this awesome rap battle February 24, 2015 Is it just us or has much of the western world has been developing a crush on rock-star economist-turned-Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis? When he's not wrangling with Germany over his country's debt crisis, he's out watching cool plays or throwing in casual references to literary giants. https://twitter.com/yanisvaroufakis/status/568563479076081664 He's been brought in on [...]
DFS Furniture targets £585m market debut February 23, 2015 DFS FURNITURE has set a price range of 245p to 310p per share as the sofa retailer pushes ahead with plans for a float on the London Stock Exchange next month. The price range would mean that, at its mid-point, DFS would be valued at £585m although it is understood that its enterprise value including [...]
Ukraine fears further attacks February 23, 2015 UKRAINE said yesterday it feared unrest could spread beyond territory held by pro-Russian separatists, after an explosion killed two people at a memorial rally in an eastern city far from the front line. Kiev said it arrested four people who had been armed and trained in Russia after the blast, which killed a policeman and [...]