WPP sells stake in ‘Davos in the Desert’ consulting firm Richard Attias & Associates January 31, 2019 WPP today said it is selling its stake in Richard Attias & Associates (RAA), the consulting firm behind the so-called Davos in the Desert conference in Saudi Arabia last year. The advertising group said it will sell its minority stake in RAA back to existing shareholders as part of an ongoing plan to simplify its [...]
Goldman Sachs chief executive warns that Brexit could affect UK investment plans January 26, 2019 Goldman Sachs’ new chief executive, David Solomon, has admitted that Brexit could affect its investment plans in the UK. Solomon said that while the number of employees in the UK has been stagnant, the company have increased its headcount in the EU, and Brexit could affect decisions regarding its people and resources. “If this [Brexit] [...]
UN human rights expert to visit Turkey to launch probe into Khashoggi murder January 25, 2019 A UN human rights expert will travel to Turkey next week to head an international inquiry into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Agnes Callamard, the UN’s special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary killings, will launch the investigation into the responsibility of different states and individuals for the murder. Read more: Saudi Arabia seeks [...]
ECB Headwinds, IMF downgrade for Europe – What Can We Expect from 2019? January 25, 2019 | City Talk This week bankers and leaders around the globe have come together for the World Economic Forum in Davos. A key topic has been what we can expect from 2019 and beyond, in the face of a global slowdown, climate change, the US shutdown, trade wars and Brexit. On top of that, the ECB revealed that [...]
BBC weighs new European headquarters in Brussels January 25, 2019 The BBC is considering opening a new office in Brussels ahead of the UK leaving the EU, according to Belgium prime minister Charles Michel. Michel, who is attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, said he has held meetings with BBC director general Tony Hall to discuss the possible move. Read more: Brussels launches campaign to [...]
Chancellor Philip Hammond refuses to rule out resigning after a no-deal Brexit January 25, 2019 Chancellor Philip Hammond has refused to say that he would not resign if Britain leaves the European Union without a deal. Speaking at the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos the chancellor said the government is looking for a deal with the European Union which will allow Britain to continue trading closely with [...]
The view from the slopes: This year’s Davos was stuck in aspic January 25, 2019 Leading up to Davos, all the talk was about the notable absentees. As high-profile delegates fell like dominoes, this year’s World Economic Forum looked in danger of becoming a damp squib. But something has been here, and people have been trying hard to pretend it isn’t. It’s the elephant, or even elephants, in the room. [...]
Editor’s Notes: Davos – a festival of irrelevance and hypocrisy January 25, 2019 Davos brings the same delights every year. From the press release about the number of private jet movements to Oxfam’s annual criticism of the global super-rich, there are predictable elements to this week-long event. Another thing you can always be assured of is that some staggering hypocrisy will be on display. I came across a [...]
‘No deal’ would be a betrayal of Leave voters’ hopes, warns Philip Hammond January 24, 2019 Leaving the EU without a deal would be a betrayal of the people who voted Leave in the hope of a better future, Chancellor Philip Hammond has warned as pressure grew on Theresa May to rule out exiting the bloc without an agreement. Just days before parliament resumes voting on Brexit, ministers, business leaders and trade [...]
EU tensions over taxation, migration and Italy’s budget highlighted at the World Economic Forum in Davos January 24, 2019 Tensions between European Union members were highlighted today at the World Economic Forum in Davos, where leaders clashed over migration and taxation. Dutch prime minister Mark Rutte said the bloc was divided from north to south and east to west over action on refugees and the commission’s handling of Italy’s 2019 budget, creating a “total [...]