Russia hikes rates to 12 per cent as ruble plummets to lowest level since Ukraine invasion August 15, 2023 Russia’s central bank has raised its key interest rate by 3.5% in a move designed to fight inflation and strengthen the ruble after the country’s currency reached its lowest value since early in the war with Ukraine. The decision to hike the key rate to 12% was announced after an emergency meeting of the bank’s [...]
How bots came to rule the world, from Ticketmaster to global elections August 15, 2023 Bots are not only a problem on social media: they shape retailers like Ticketmaster and can influence politics, including global elections. Yet the danger they pose is underestimated, writes Elena Siniscalco
RAF scrambles jets to intercept two Russian bombers near Scottish islands August 14, 2023 The Royal Air Force (RAF) scrambled jets on Monday to intercept two Russian bombers that were travelling north of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. The incident saw the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J maritime patrol aircraft, used for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, monitored by RAF Typhoons in international airspace as they passed north of [...]
Unilever will look at Russia business with a ‘fresh pair of eyes’ after criticism August 14, 2023 The new chief of Unilever has vowed to look at the company’s decision to operate in Russia with a “fresh pair of eyes,” after it was criticised for continuing to operate in the country. Hein Schumacher, who took over as head of the Dove soap maker in July, made the claim in a letter to [...]
Is chess a sport? It soon may be chasing the Olympic Holy Grail August 10, 2023 Columnist Ed Warner discusses chess, funding fringe sports and what makes a solid sporting body chief executive. Where do you draw the line between games and sports? Mine is at the door of the pub, so ruling dominos, bar billiards, space invaders and darts out of the sporting firmament. I realise of course that this [...]
Explainer: Are Russian hackers involved in the Electoral Commission attack? August 9, 2023 During this otherwise quiet August week, the big story is the hacking of the Electoral Commission, which some are starting to tentatively attribute to Russian hackers. Yesterday, the Commission admitted it was hacked in 2021, but that it only discovered the attack in October 2022. It decided not to say anything to focus on stopping [...]
Coca-Cola bottling firm raises outlook on revenue spike as Russia volumes tank August 9, 2023 Coca-Cola HBC AG, the bottling company of the soft drink giant, reported a 19.3 per cent rise in revenues in its half year results as the group raised its outlook for the year. Operating profit for the bottler rose 15.9 per cent to €170m (£146m) as the group said it benefited from price increases in [...]
Russia hit with 25 new UK sanctions as Cleverly warns Putin there’s ‘nowhere to hide’ August 8, 2023 Britain said it is targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s access to foreign military supplies by imposing 25 new sanctions on individuals and businesses. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the action will “further diminish” Russia’s arsenal and shows there is “nowhere to hide” for those assisting the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Those sanctioned include companies based [...]
Data attacks set to enter new era under ‘FraudGPT’, warn cybersecurity execs August 8, 2023 A new breed of malicious AI models are “heralding an era of AI-enabled data attacks” on businesses, Darktrace VP of strategic cyber AI Nicole Carignan has warned. Speaking to City A.M., Carnigan said data attacks will become “faster and harder to defend against in the next few years” as new AI systems make attacks more [...]
Exclusive: IOC could ban Iran from Olympics over human rights abuses August 7, 2023 The International Olympic Committee (IOC) stands ready to ban Iranian athletes from competing at next year’s Olympic Games in Paris if human rights abuses in the country continue, City A.M. understands. With tensions in the nation between protestors and both the government and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, athletes have been targeted by the regime. Former [...]