Sunak in China row over Confucius Institute U-turn May 18, 2023 Downing Street has refused to elaborate on Rishi Sunak’s decision not to ban controversial Confucius Institutes from operating in the UK. The Prime Minister previously pledged during his leadership bid to bar the 30 Beijing-linked organisations from running on UK soil. Confucius institutes are Chinese cultural and language outposts. But he has now walked back [...]
Russian oil exports reach highest levels since Ukraine invasion as China and India buy up supplies May 16, 2023 Russian oil exports shot up to their highest levels since its invasion of Ukraine, with the majority heading towards China and India, according to the International Energy Agency. In its latest monthly oil report, the Paris-based climate agency said total oil shipments reached “a post-invasion high” in April rising to 8.3m barrels per day (bpd), [...]
Kremlin approves sale of Volkswagen’s Russian assets for nearly £110m May 16, 2023 Russia’s government has approved a deal for Volkswagen to sell its Russian assets to autodealer group Avilon for up to $137.6m (£108.64), the Interfax news agency reported on Tuesday, citing a source. Should Volkswagen extract money from Russia while exiting, it would buck the trend of other major automakers, most of which have sold their assets [...]
Kyiv wakes up to loud explosions as Russia launches drone and missile attacks – after Zelensky’s whirlwind Europe arms visit May 16, 2023 Loud explosions sounded above Kyiv early on Tuesday as Russia launched an intense air attack on the capital using a combination of drones, cruise missiles and possible ballistic missiles. Russia’s latest attack on Kyiv was “exceptional in its density — the maximum number of attacking missiles in the shortest period of time”, said Serhii Popko, [...]
Bitcoin and Ethereum face challenges, Liechtenstein embraces BTC, and Tether reports huge profit May 15, 2023 Data shows the price of Bitcoin started the week on a downward trend, moving from around $28,000 to a low of roughly $26,500.
‘Welcome back!’: Sunak embraces Ukraine’s Zelensky as he visits UK in bid for more help to fight Russia May 15, 2023 The UK will provide Ukraine with air defence missiles and attack drones, Downing Street has announced, as Volodymyr Zelensky met Rishi Sunak at Chequers. In the latest leg of the Ukrainian president’s tour of western allies, Mr Zelensky said the two leaders would have “substantive negotiations” on the response to Russia’s invasion. Downing Street said [...]
Is the current crypto wobble being caused by Binance? May 12, 2023 Jason Deane reflects on a hectic week for Bitcoin, and an attempts to pinpoint reasons behind the current stumble in the price of Bitcoin.
Ukraine’s Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool: Is Moscow competing, can Russia vote and are they broadcasting it? May 12, 2023 The 67th Eurovision Song Contest is taking place in Liverpool this year after the UK was chosen to host on behalf of war-torn Ukraine. It is the first time the competition has been held in the UK for 25 years – and Russia will not be competing. Why is Russia absent from the contest? Russia, [...]
Tennis star Rybakina reaches ranking she’d have held if Wimbledon handed out points May 11, 2023 Reigning Wimbledon champion Elena Rybakina has risen in the WTA tennis world rankings to the position she would have held if the British Grand Slam had dished out ranking points. The 23-year-old player from Kazakhstan is now the world No6, a spot she was denied due to the ATP and WTA denying the Championships the [...]
UK donates long-range cruise missiles to help defence of Ukraine May 11, 2023 Ukrainians will have the “best chance to defend themselves” after the UK’s donation of Storm Shadow cruise missiles, the defence secretary has said. Ben Wallace confirmed that he and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak had agreed to authorise the donation after continued Russian attacks on Ukraine. He told the House of Commons: “Today I can confirm [...]