As Obama warns of spillover from the Iraq crisis, could it destabilise the whole region? June 23, 2014 Dr Simon Mabon, a lecturer in international relations at Lancaster University, says Yes. When ISIS forces seized Mosul earlier this month, a spokesperson for the group declared that this signalled “the beginning of the end of the Sykes-Picot agreement”, the deal that shaped the modern Middle East. This claim suggests that ISIS is looking to [...]
Oil price jumps as US considers a move on Iraq June 12, 2014 US PRESIDENT Barack Obama said last night that he would not rule out military action in Iraq, as the country descended further into violence following the fall of Mosul and Tikrit to Sunni Islamic insurgents. The turmoil has been reflected in global markets this week, with Brent crude oil hitting a three-month high of $112 [...]
Letters to the Editor – 13/06 – No blackouts soon, Best of Twitter June 12, 2014 No blackouts soon [Re: Are we returning to 1970s-style electricity rationing? yesterday] Paying companies to curb electricity use voluntarily at peak times is a simple and practical way to shift demand, allowing questions over new investment in generation to be resolved. The coincidence of different sets of EU and UK legislation has temporarily reduced supply [...]
Neighbours pose main threat to a home win June 10, 2014 ALL four previous World Cups in South America have been won by teams from the host continent, which goes some way to explaining why Brazil and Argentina are red-hot favourites. Spearheading the European challenge will be ever-improving Germany, while holders Spain, bidding to win an unprecedented fourth international tournament in a row, will also hope [...]
New York Report: Mergers lift US stocks despite fears over Iraq June 16, 2014 US stocks closed slightly higher yesterday, supported by a flurry of merger news, but turmoil in Iraq drove oil prices up and kept trading choppy. Energy stocks were the day’s winners, with the S&P energy index up 0.5 per cent. The S&P financial sector index was the biggest decliner, down 0.4 per cent. The United [...]
US seeks $10bn fine over BNP Paribas case May 29, 2014 BNP PARIBAS could face a fine of more than $10bn (£6bn) from the US Justice Department as part of its criminal probe into allegations the bank evaded US sanctions over Iran and other countries, according to reports last night. The resolution of the investigation into the French bank is still weeks away. However, if the [...]
French club gets female manager May 7, 2014 PORTUGUESE football coach Helena Costa has become the first woman to manage a high-profile European team after she was appointed by French second-tier club Clermont. Former Celtic scout Costa, 36, is to take charge this summer after three years coaching the women’s national teams of Qatar and more recently Iran, a post she left in [...]
Putin has won in Ukraine – but the West can still salvage the long game September 1, 2014 There’s only one way to make a fortune, and that’s to down the fellow who’s up against you." W Somerset Maugham, on poker ONE OF the many wonderful traditions at St Andrews University is that, if a student did well, they did not have to sit final exams until their last year. As a result, [...]
Risk tolerance: Why decadent Europe is whistling as chaos reaches its gates June 29, 2014 WILL the US ramp up its involvement in Iraq? And if so, on what terms? Will Europe build on its new partnership agreements with Ukraine, Moldova, and Georgia to draw an effective line over which an expansive Russia would not dare cross? Will Israel persist in rattling its sabre, while Western powers search for a [...]
Iraq’s new PM: Who is Haider al-Abadi and why will he be better than Maliki? August 15, 2014 Yesterday Nouri al-Maliki stepped down as Prime Minister of Iraq, following mounting pressure from the West and East alike. A divisive figure with a pro-Shiite attitude, he has been blamed for the deep schism that has formed between the Shia-led government and the country's Sunni minority, which accuses him of alienating them and not [...]