Overseas matches, disruptive broadcast deals and a global network of delegates: how La Liga is trying to close the gap to the Premier League October 25, 2018 You may have noticed Spanish football in the headlines lately – and not only because this weekend sees the latest instalment of its biggest game, El Clasico, between Barcelona and Real Madrid. La Liga, the organisation that represents Barca, Madrid and the other 40 clubs that make up Spain’s top two divisions, and their straight-talking [...]
Is Trump Putin’s Trojan horse within Nato? July 3, 2018 Any world leaders meeting face-to-face should be seen as a good thing. But when it’s Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin, European officials are right to feel a little anxious. Political commentators expect a purely symbolic spectacle when the two meet in Finland on 16 July. But the backdrop to the event – just days after [...]
Brent crude oil prices rise above $75 per barrel, hitting highest level in two years April 24, 2018 Brent crude oil prices have risen above $75 (£53.75) a barrel, their highest level in over two years. Crude oil prices climbed as high as $75.20 a barrel, the highest since November 27, 2014. This follows a six-day rallying streak, with prices up more than 20 per cent since their drop in February. Read more: [...]
Russia moves to block encrypted messaging app Telegram April 6, 2018 Russia’s media regulator has filed a lawsuit to block the encrypted messaging app Telegram in the country. The watchdog Roskomnadzor is seeking to limit access to the app, a rival to WhatsApp, after the firm failed to give Russian FSB security service access to encrypted messages before a 4 April deadline. It follows reports that [...]
Venezuelan crude exports faced with 24m barrel backlog as export bottleneck continues June 7, 2018 The struggling Venezuelan oil production is nearly a month behind in crude shipping as tankers waiting to transport over 24m barrels still sit in Venezuela’s main port. PDVSA, the Venezuelan state-run oil company, has warned that if the tanker bottleneck causing a stagnation in exports continues, it could mean that deliveries to some of the [...]
Brent crude oil price: Donald Trump’s tweets send oil prices to December 2014 high of nearly $72 per barrel April 11, 2018 Oil prices have rocketed to their highest point since December 2014 after US President Donald Trump threatened to fire missiles at Syria in a tweet. “Russia vows to shoot down any and all missiles fired at Syria. Get ready Russia, because they will be coming,” the President wrote on Twitter. Oil prices had already been [...]
Brent crude oil rises above $68 a barrel for the first time since 2015 lifting shares in BP and Shell January 4, 2018 Oil prices rose to fresh two-and-a-half-year highs today with Brent crude oil climbing above $68 a barrel, on geopolitical tensions in Iran and a tighter market. Brent crude futures rose to $68.27 a barrel this morning, a high not seen since May 2015, before edging down slightly to $68.18 a barrel at the time of [...]
Why Opec matters June 20, 2018 Whether we like it or not oil prices matter, as they affect everything connected with a modern economy, from movement of goods and services, to the amount of disposable incomes for ordinary consumers. That is why this week’s Opec meeting is important in the context of future direction for oil prices, which have risen over [...]
World Cup 2018: Nordin Amrabat incident highlights football’s poor relationship with concussion June 20, 2018 Five days ago Nordin Amrabat lay prone at the side of the pitch. The Morocco right-back had collided with Iran’s Vahid Amiri during their World Cup match. His arms were rigid, his mind foggy. When he came round from his unconscious state he was slapped around the face and sprayed with water. He was substituted, [...]
Fifa gives Iraq blessing for return to home football for first time in three decades March 17, 2018 Iraq’s Prime Minister today hailed a decision by Fifa to lift a home ban on competitive international football matches. The country’s national side last played an official home game in 1990. Gianni Infantino, the president of football’s world governing body Fifa, yesterday announced the lifting of a ban on stadiums in Basra, Karbala and Erbil [...]