Face the music: Universal Music Group and Warner Media pull out of Russia March 9, 2022 Universal Music Group has suspended all operations in Russia and closed its offices in the country, the company announced last night. In a statement, the music giant said: “Effective immediately, we are suspending all operations in Russia and closing our offices there.” “We urge an end to the violence in Ukraine as soon as possible. [...]
Recession kicked into long grass as UK steams ahead of Europe and US March 13, 2023 A recession hitting the UK economy is looking like an increasingly far flung prospect after yet more data today shows businesses and families are fending off the cost of living crunch. A net balance of 43 per cent of UK businesses are buoyant about the economy over the coming year, the highest level in a [...]
As we cut Russia off from our markets, we must also crack down on Western enablers May 20, 2022 During the nearly four year investigations into Russia’s efforts to interfere in the 2016 US elections, it became glaringly obvious the extent to which malign campaigns from Russia are in fact enabled by actors in the West. Bipartisan staff on the Senate Select Committee responsible for the inquiry became increasingly jaded by the depth of [...]
War in Europe kills 50 so far: Ukraine begs EU for urgent air defences while Russian Army conquers Chernobyl February 24, 2022 Ukraine is urging the European Union to urgently provide air defence and anti-missile support, and to use “all means” to jam Russian satelitte signals. The plea for help comes as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russian forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl nuclear plant, site of the world’s worst nuclear disaster. At the same time, Nato [...]
UK banks to ramp up data sharing in dirty money crackdown June 22, 2023 British banks are gearing up to share more data with their peers on suspected serious economic crime as part of wider efforts to stem dirty money flows into the country from Russia and elsewhere, four sources with knowledge of the matter told Reuters. More than half a dozen banks are in advanced talks with British [...]
Tanker docks in France as UK workers protest Russian oil March 6, 2022 UK dock workers refused to unload a tanker of Russian gas yesterday in protest at the country's invasion of Ukraine.
Boris Johnson to fly out to Munich today as tensions between Russia and Ukraine refuse to ease February 19, 2022 Prime Minister Boris Johnson is set to join senior Government ministers at a major security conference in Munich today amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine. It comes as the UK warned the crisis in the region is at a “critical juncture”, with Russia accused of “manufacturing a pretext” for launching an attack. At a [...]
Shell announces exit from Russian assets following Downing Street pressure February 28, 2022 Shell will exit is joint ventures with Gazprom following intense government pressure to divest from Kremlin-backed assets.
Foreign Office launches crack unit to counter Kremlin misinformation on social media March 20, 2022 The UK government is taking out adverts on Russian social media to counter the Kremlin’s narratives about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. A newly launched information warfare unit, set up by the Foreign Office at the end of February, is using local agencies to put out adverts on Russian social media platforms including VK, after the [...]
Pernod Ricard cautions ‘softer’ fourth quarter as China hit by Covid lockdowns April 28, 2022 Absolut vodka maker Pernod Ricard has warned it faces a softer fourth quarter against a backdrop of Covid restrictions in China. The spirits firm’s chief financial officer said it was anticipating “an impact” from Covid restrictions during the fourth quarter. “March was very impacted by the start of Covid restrictions,” Helene de Tissot told the [...]