Japan to sign historic defence pact with UK as PM Kishida woos London business leaders May 5, 2022 A new defence pact in the Pacific and post-Brexit trade are high on the agenda, as Japan’s prime minister meets his UK counterpart today. Fumio Kishida and Boris Johnson are set to sign off on an agreement which allows British and Japanese forces to deploy together, against the backdrop of war in Ukraine. The deal [...]
Kremlin coup rumours growing in Moscow: Disgruntled generals join FSB looking to oust Putin and end Ukraine war May 5, 2022 Rumours are swirling in Moscow that a number of former generals and KGB officials are preparing to oust Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and plan to end the war in Ukraine, which is increasingly seen across Russia as a strategic mistake and, above all, an economic disaster. The top of Putin’s former employer – the Russian [...]
Chelsea facing administration unless Roman Abramovich drops plans to call in £1.5bn debt May 4, 2022 Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich will likely have to drop plans to call in his £1.5bn loan to the club or see it go into administration. Abramovich is reported to have scrapped an apparent previous commitment to write off the debt as part of the sale of the club. The sanctioned Russian oligarch is not allowed [...]
Government bans services exports to Russia – but UK lawyers excluded May 4, 2022 Ministers have announced a ban on services exports to Russia, including management consulting, accounting and public relations but excluding legal professions. In the latest tranche of sanctions from foreign secretary Liz Truss, Russian businesses will no longer be able to do businesses with UK professional services firms. Many businesses have already cut connections with the [...]
Johnson announces £300m military top-up for Ukraine, including radars, heavy-lifting drones and night vision equipment May 3, 2022 Boris Johnson has announced a new £300m military package for Ukraine, including radars to pinpoint artillery and heavy-lift drones to supply Kyiv’s army on the front line. The prime minister made the announcement during a speech to Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, which is the first time a world leader has addressed it since the [...]
Watch: Boris Johnson invokes Sir Winston Churchill during historic address to Ukraine’s Parliament: ‘This is your finest hour’ May 3, 2022 Boris Johnson invoked Sir Winston Churchill in an historic address to Ukraine’s Parliament, saying it was the country’s “finest hour” as it battled Russia”. Addressing members of the Verkhovna Rada, as well as president Vlodymyr Zelensky, the Prime Minister saluted Ukraine’s “courage with which you are meeting” the war being waged by Moscow. Praising the [...]
Russian broadcaster claims two captured Brits could face ‘death penalty’ May 3, 2022 A Russian television presenter has claimed two captured Brits may face the death penalty for fighting on the Ukrainian side int he war. The broadcaster , Rossiya 1, aired footage in the occupied Donetsk region, which Russia claims to have control over, and is rumoured to be planning an ‘independence’ referendum for. The two captured [...]
‘Huffy liver sausage’: Ukraine’s envoy in Germany hits out at ‘unstatesmanlike’ Chancellor Sholz over refusal to visit Kyiv May 3, 2022 Germany’s chancellor has been accused of being a “huffy liver sausage” by Ukraine’s ambassador in Berlin, after the world leader refused to visit Kyiv. Olaf Sholz was criticised by the Ukrainian diplomat as relations between the two countries continue to sour – with disagreements over arms, oil and relations with Russia. The chancellor, who took [...]
Would-be sponsors of Ukraine refugees threaten to drag Priti Patel and govt to court over visa delays May 3, 2022 Would-be sponsors under the Homes for Ukraine visa scheme are threatening the Government with legal action on behalf of hundreds of Ukrainian refugees who have spent weeks waiting to come to the UK. A class action lawsuit is being prepared over “inordinate and unreasonable delays” in processing hundreds of visa applications made in March. Figures [...]
‘Hitler also had Jewish blood’: Russian foreign minister causes fury with remarks about Zelensky and ‘de-Nazifying’ Ukraine May 2, 2022 Russia’s foreign minister has caused fury after claiming Hitler “had Jewish blood”, in a bid to justify the Kremlin’s so-called ‘de-Nazification’ of Ukraine. Moscow’s top diplomat Sergei Lavrov was condemned by Israel’s foreign minister Yair Lapid, after making his comments to Italian media this week, while referring to Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky. The Ukrainian [...]