Time to worry: The Iranian nuclear crisis still threatens global stability February 16, 2014 ONE OF the areas of overlap between the business and political worlds concerns negotiation; any businessman or government-type worth their salt surely loves the chance to play at being that master actor-negotiator Peter O’Toole, if only for a limited audience. Some of my fondest memories of my decade in Washington involve behaving outrageously – asking [...]
On the brink: Iraq’s survival as a viable state is far from assured June 11, 2014 THE TAKEOVER of Mosul, Iraq’s second major city, and Tikrit by the forces of the Islamic State of Iraq and al Sham (ISIS) is a major event in the history of post-Saddam Iraq, and has repercussions for the entire region. Iraq is creaking at the seams, and the war in Syria has given strength (both [...]
Energy crunch: Oil prices rise over Iraq fears as cost of gas jumps after Ukraine cut-off June 16, 2014 Fears of a disruptive energy price spike grew yesterday as conflict escalated in Iraq and Ukraine’s gas supplies from Russia were abruptly cut off. Experts warned that growing geopolitical risk could send oil and gas prices sharply upwards, prompting a more severe market reaction and even a slowdown in the global economic recovery. The US [...]
Here’s how a market in organs could clear kidney waiting lists February 24, 2014 Scotland has just seen the successful example of a kidney pairing scheme that allowed Sue Heathcote, 55, to receive a transplant. The scheme involves swapping kidneys between one incompatible donor and recipient and another mismatched pair. Sue had been unable to find a match until she registered for the scheme. "We did not get a [...]
Britain’s energy security is under threat: It’s time to frack June 12, 2014 WITH extremist ISIS fighters less than 60 miles from Baghdad, rogue generals in Libya periodically blockading its ports, and continued dependence on a volatile Russia, concern about the security of our energy supplies is high and rising. We were already in a bad state. UK energy resource production fell by 6.5 per cent in 2013 [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 12 June 2014 June 11, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Renminbi boost for London Britain’s bid to become the leading centre for offshore trading in the renminbi is set to receive a boost with the designation of China Construction Bank , the country’s second-largest lender, as a clearing bank in London for the Chinese currency. The move – filling a gap in the [...]
Now is the time for Argentina to deliver June 10, 2014 BRAZIL haven’t lost a competitive game on home soil since 1975 and are warm market leaders for the World Cup. Luis Felipe Scolari has consistently proved he is one of the best international managers in the game and he’ll be bidding to become the first man since Italy’s Vittorio Pozzo (1934 and 1938) to win [...]
How to defeat Isis: We already have a playbook for beating these extremists July 6, 2014 MUNICH – As the Fourth of July comes and goes, I have been jokingly told by friends that I share a trait found more often in East Asian cultures; that of ancestor worship. One of my sons is named after both Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson, so fervently do I believe in the civic religion [...]
Two steps forward for Iranian nuclear deal January 20, 2014 In November, an historic deal between Iran and the US, Russia, China and European powers was struck. Today, two significant things regarding the deal are happening. Part of the agreement was that Iran begin curbing its uranium enrichment. That curbing has started today, according to state TV. And today is also the day the UN [...]
Ukraine pleads for action from UK and America March 11, 2014 THE NEW government in Ukraine has called on leaders in the UK and America to uphold their end of a bargain made in 1994 to protect the troubled state. The desperate call came as Russia said yesterday it would recognise the outcome of the vote in Crimea on Sunday, said to be a line in the [...]