Category: UK

briefing, intel, UK, USLeave a comment

Top US Lobby Firm Had Hidden Ties to Iran, Russia Oil Tycoons

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ Qorvis worked for companies that authorities say are overseen by sanctioned kingpins. The firm says it doesn’t take sanctioned money. Ben BartensteinSeptember 10, 2026 at 5:00 AM EDT In early March, as the war in Iran sent oil prices soaring above $100 per barrel, executives at a Washington-based lobbying firm called Qorvis made an unusual suggestion to senior US officials, according to people familiar with the matter: The Trump administration should relax some sanctions on Iran and Russia to help stabilize the market. Within days, the Treasury Department issued short-term waivers allowing the sale and offloading of Iranian … Continue reading Top US Lobby Firm Had Hidden Ties to Iran, Russia Oil Tycoons

UKLeave a comment

Archive photos are your ticket to ride on a bus trip through 1960s Dundee

Colin Henderson

 Summarize ​ Graeme StrachanAugust 25, 2026, 6:00am Take a trip back to 1960s Dundee with this gallery of bus photographs. While the buses are the stars of the show, there’s plenty to see in the background too, including the Royal Arch and other landmarks that have long since vanished. From conductors and paper tickets to packed upper decks, these photographs offer a glimpse of a very different Dundee. Whether you remember those days or not, this journey is well worth the fare. Snowbound city Heavy snowfall brought Dundee to a standstill in January 1960. This school bus got stuck at Balgay before … Continue reading Archive photos are your ticket to ride on a bus trip through 1960s Dundee

Europe, NATO, UK, Ukraine

SAG-U handover confirmed

Colin Henderson

NATO] — SAG-U handover confirmed• Politico (Aug 1): US relinquishing leadership of Security Assistance Group–Ukraine (Wiesbaden), transition up to a year, American deputy remains. Completes the pattern: Norfolk→UK, Naples→Italy, Brunssum→Germany/Poland, now SAG-U→TBD European/Canadian officer.• Paired signal: Trump walked back the Ankara pledge to license Ukrainian Patriot production, hours before the Aug 1 Kyiv barrage (1 of 27 ballistic missiles intercepted). Kyiv notes irreplaceable US satellite ISR, targeting, heavy airlift.• Assessment: the downstream-consequence frame strengthens on both axes simultaneously — command architecture transferring to Europe while US materiel reliability degrades. Watch which nation takes SAG-U command; a UK or German flag … Continue reading SAG-U handover confirmed

iran, UK

Describes issues in US-Iran talks in 2026, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme and US sanctions

Colin Henderson

Research Briefing Published Friday, 24 April, 2026 Describes issues in US-Iran talks in 2026, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme and US sanctions. On 28 February 2026, Israel and the United States began a series of strikes against Iran. They said they aimed to induce regime change in the country and target its nuclear and ballistic missile programme. Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, was killed in the strikes. Iran has appointed Khamenei’s son as his successor and launched a series of counter-strikes against Israel, US military bases in the region, and military and civilian locations in Arab … Continue reading Describes issues in US-Iran talks in 2026, including the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programme and US sanctions

UK

Axel Springer wins approval for Telegraph takeover

Colin Henderson

German publisher vows to retain newspaper’s ‘British identity’ in £575m deal that ends years of uncertainty Christopher WilliamsBusiness Editor 14 April 2026 12:12pm BST The takeover of The Telegraph by the German publisher Axel Springer for £575m is to be waved through to end almost three years of uncertainty and unlock investment in its future. Lisa Nandy, the Culture Secretary, told the House of Commons that she had given permission for the Abu Dhabi-backed investor RedBird IMI to sell security over the newspaper to the owner of Politico and Business Insider. The security is structured to be immediately converted to … Continue reading Axel Springer wins approval for Telegraph takeover

Economy, EU, Geopolitics, IMF, UK, US

UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL IMBALANCES

Colin Henderson

#IMF March 3, 2026 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY After more than a decade of steady decline, global imbalances have widened in they reflect economic fundamentals and desirable policies, the buildup and persistence recent years. While current account surpluses and deficits can be appropriate when of large imbalances raise concerns when they are driven by policy distortions and unwind in a disorderly manner. The expansion of industrial policies and the rise in trade restrictions—often motivated by imbalances themselves—has intensified the debate on the causes and consequences of global imbalances, despite limited analytical and empirical clarity on how both policies affect the current account. … Continue reading UNDERSTANDING GLOBAL IMBALANCES

Canada, EU, UK

Europe update – Bloomberg

Colin Henderson

#geopolitics #risk President Donald Trump issued a direct threat to Iran, saying he’d hold the regime responsible for future attacks on shipping in the Suez Canal and southern Red Sea by Houthi rebels. His threat of retaliation against Tehran ratchets up the stakes even more after he authorized military strikes over the weekend on the group. The Houthi health ministry said 53 people were killed. Successive US administrations have accused Iran of supplying training, expertise and weapons to the Houthis, but taking on Iran directly would carry a fresh set of risks. Trump’s director of national intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard, said that other countries should … Continue reading Europe update – Bloomberg

regulation, UK4 Comments

First Look – UK Independent Commission on Banking report has a focus on new competition, but implementation will have practical difficulties

Colin Henderson

Executive Summary pdf 8 pages 0.4MB   Full Report pdf 214 pages 2.2 MB The report begins by summarising the impacts of the financial crisis on the UK banks. Table of Contents here The overall impact is summarised here: Despite recent de-leveraging, the total balance sheet of UK banks is more than four times annual GDP. More than 80% of RBS and more than 40% of Lloyds are in state ownership. Competition in UK banking has been seriously weakened as rivals to the largest retail banks have left the market or been absorbed into others. The general approach has three … Continue reading First Look – UK Independent Commission on Banking report has a focus on new competition, but implementation will have practical difficulties

UK

Some momentum in UK towards breaking up Lloyds and RBS

Colin Henderson

Lord Myners was financial services secretary from 2008 to 2010.  He indicates in this op/ed in the Financial Times that he has had a change of heart and recognises the British banks are simply to large and expose the UK economy to too much risk. Break up Britain’s uncompetitive big banks | ft.com To ensure a further contribution, Sir John should note that Britain’s banks are too concentrated and that each individually represents too great a portion of gross domestic product. Indeed its high operating margins and return on equity suggest the UK has one of the world’s most concentrated … Continue reading Some momentum in UK towards breaking up Lloyds and RBS