United Kingdom
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
In the UK’s defense…
With all the current political upheaval in the UK, it is almost easy to forget that what prompted the current turmoil was a row...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Summer madness
As the days get longer and the chill of early spring starts to melt into much needed warmth around the world, so our mood...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
How should Europe weather a perfect storm?
The world is in chaos, with the situation changing by the minute. As I write, President Trump has announced a deal with the Ayatollah,...
United Kingdom
UK Government outlines measures to protect consumers and make Britain energy secure
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband unveiled on March 15 an accelerated package of energy interventions to protect consumers and boost the UK’s energy security,...
Minerals, Mining and Rare Earths
Uzbekistan, U.S. to jointly develop critical minerals, infrastructure, energy
Aiming to strengthen critical supply chains and drive economic growth, the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC) has announced a historic collaboration with the...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
The global economic tectonic plates are moving. So, what could this mean?
Love him or hate him, U.S. President Donald Trump will go down in history as the great disruptor, having completely shaken up the established...
Oil & Gas
Hit by oil price fall, BP suspends share buybacks
British oil giant BP on February 10 posted a drop in annual profits and suspended share buybacks, seeking to cut costs as the UK...
Energy
UK and Europe sign historic pact to boost North Sea wind energy
In an era of changing geopolitical landscape, high energy costs and severe impact of climate change, the United Kingdom and European allies signed on...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
After the chaos of an utterly confused UK Budget
The Chancellor has finally delivered her much-delayed Budget. The verdict? “Après Le Deluge” – or in this case, “after the chaos of an utterly...
Libya
Ten country statement on Libya stresses potential for unification
A strong, unified Libya is in everyone’s interest. A significant number of major powers have come together to emphasize an important new opportunity for...
The Negroni Diaries
Another Russia-tilting Trump peace proposal emerges
President Donald Trump apparently has no more refined strategy than to disrupt the flow of world business/diplomacy with an outrageous opening salvo to make...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Take a deep breath — the UK Budget is on its way
We have been softened up for what is going to be bad news, although no doubt there will be some sweeteners snuck in. So,...
Global Energy Insider
From Baku to Belém, COP30 works to salvage global climate action commitments
Ahead of COP30 UN talks in the Amazon city of Belém, Brazil, the second Baku Climate Action Week in Azerbaijan on September 29 to...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
The glitter is coming off gilts
Trust, confidence and expertise - these three words must be at the heart of the job description for any of the three high offices...
Espionage
MI6 launches new dark web portal as UK targets agents in Russia, Iran, China
The Secret Intelligence Service of the United Kingdom, commonly known as MI6, launched on September 19 a new dark web portal to recruit operatives...
Invasion of Ukraine
Trump’s Ukraine peace initiative stalls out
U.S. President Donald Trump’s summer of disrupting almost everything is now winding down with major peace agreements still eluding him, along with a potential...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Government and money
Autumn: a season of mellow fruitfulness, or of storms, shorter days and financially darker nights? Either way, it’s when Rachel Reeves’ next Budget is...
Trade
Trump trade deal leaves some in EU unhinged
U.S. President Donald Trump completed his five-day “private visit” to Scotland on July 25-29, which beyond his golf course visits included a number of...
Interviews
Sir David King: COP30 can be a turning point for climate and humanity
With heatwaves across Europe pushing temperatures up as the continent continues to suffer the effects of the climate emergency, COP30, the 30th annual global...
Canada
Alberta G7 Summit – forgotten before it ended?
One song that will never be associated with the June 15-18 Alberta G7 Summit is Nat King Cole’s “Unforgettable."
While this year’s Canada-hosted G7 Summit...
Defense & Security
United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius resolve the Chagos Islands issue
The United Kingdom agreed on May 22 to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, after a last-minute legal challenge was thrown out...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Back to the 1970s: Flared trousers and tank tops. Is this the result of Trump’s tariff tantrums?
There are somewhere some dreadful photographs of this author wearing what we all once thought were the height of fashion and style. Generally, that...
Invasion of Ukraine
EU leaders in Kyiv back Ukraine, but Trump won’t blame Russia
On the three-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European leaders travelled to Kyiv to meet President Volodymyr Zelensky and to declare their...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Tariff Trouble in Trump Town
President Trump has had many a cartoon about him as a child throwing toys and anything to hand out of the playpen. Now, of...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Stock Market or Not Market
So, what is a market? Obviously, it is somewhere where you can buy and sell “stuff.” In a successful economy having a market to...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
The Key Issue for a new Government
After 14 years in the political wilderness, the new UK Labour government could be excused for being somewhat rusty when it comes to running...
Environment
In energy-rich Azerbaijan, COP29 preview targets a greener future
Ahead of the UN’s annual climate conference, COP29, key stakeholders from policy, private sector, finance, trade and investment, civil society, cities, regions, science and...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
A Source of Growth?
The most overused word at the moment has to be “growth.” From the politically naïve (or stupid) and thankfully short UK premiership of Liz...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
EU must strengthen financial protections for Hong Kong activists
Imagine leaving your homeland to escape tyranny, only to find the oppressive regime you fled can still reach you, manipulating your financial lifelines. This...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
The UK Economy – Another Twist in The Tale
Around the world most nations have been trying to recover their financial strength and where possible find some growth. Above all, they have been...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Good news – the UK is not in recession; Bad news – it doesn’t feel like it
One of the greatest problems that both economists and politicians face is the key element of communication. Yes, they may indeed be trying to...
Interviews
Tackling new threats to critical energy infrastructure
The explosions that targeted the Nord Stream pipelines from Russia to Germany in September 2022 and the suspected sabotage of Baltic-connector pipeline, which supplies...
Kazakhstan
UK and Kazakhstan deepen strategic cooperation
During a visit to Astana, UK Foreign Secretary David Cameron, and Kazakhstan’s Foreign Minister Murat Nurtleu signed a Strategic Partnership and Cooperation Agreement, opening...
Russia Sanctions
U.S. and U.K. take new steps to reduce Russia’s revenue from metals
On April 12, the U.S. Department of the Treasury, in coordination with the United Kingdom, issued two new prohibitions in order to disrupt the...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Clear Direction or Misleading Headlines
In a world full of stories all noisily striving for attention, the individual importance of some of them will be exaggerated through scary headlines...
Denmark
Viking Link undersea cable to power up UK and Denmark
On December 29, Danish transmission system operator (TSO) Energinet launched the Viking Link, the world’s longest electricity interconnector, establishing a subsea cable connection across...
United Kingdom
Ukraine, Middle East will dominate Cameron’s UK foreign policy agenda
David Cameron, who was made Foreign Secretary in a surprise move by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his cabinet reshuffle on November 13, is...
Interviews
Cameron’s return as Foreign Secretary raises UK’s international profile
David Cameron, who was made foreign secretary in a surprise move by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his cabinet reshuffle on November 13, brings...
Economy & Business
US-UK Strategic Sanctions Dialogue inaugurated
Building on the unique economic and security partnership between the two nations, the US Department of State hosted a senior UK government delegation for...
Energy
UK eyes energy security, increasing supplies amid stronger ties with Azerbaijan
Azerbaijan can play a special role in energy security in the new global environment, considering Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and transition to a green...
Interviews
Former MI5 chief warns of national cybersecurity threats
Following the US, EU, and UK's decisions to ban China’s TikTok from government phones over security fears and recent reports of a Russian cyber...
Defense & Security
When it comes to defense, the politicians must listen to those who know best – the generals
The halls of power are walked by people who know little, care even less and yet have the right to supersede and ignore the advice of those who know better.
Economy & Business
The economic bearpit – When “over there” becomes “over here”
An apology – with a ghastly diet of death, destruction and depravity currently raging around us, it may seem callous to examine the economic...
Energy
Despite heavy imports, France still biggest electricity exporter in Europe
France maintained its position as the biggest net exporter of power in Europe in the second half of 2021, despite an extreme reliance on...
Defense & Security
The West’s disunity stems from the latent Russophilia; anti-Anglo-Americanism of key EU nations
If you personify countries by combining their politics with their national identity, it's amazing how representative the characters are. For example, the UK is...
Economy & Business
The year of the squeeze
Few of us will mourn the passing of 2021. However, as the New Year party balloons lie flaccid on the floor, there seems little...
Energy
Scotland awards massive seabed rights for wind farms in North Sea
The Crown Estate Scotland announced on January 17 the results of the ScotWind seabed tender, after receiving 74 bids for the 15 areas that...
Op-Eds & Guest Contributors
Europe and Russia
It's always put my back up how conservative commentators have recently taken to comparing the current state of affairs in the West to the...
Albania
Conflict in Ukraine and Kosovo are connected
Vladimir Putin claims that protecting ethnic Russians justifies military action against Ukraine. Putin’s concern for Ukraine’s Russian minority is bombastic. His greater global goal...
Analysis
The Korean Peninsula should remain a security concern
With both South Korea and the United States focused on domestic matters – 2022 presidential race and 2022 midterm elections respectively, it will be...
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