Updated – 13th January 2015: My colleague Ann Telnaeshas also had a go since Ryan’s elevation to Speaker of the House in the US Congress. Typically, it’s very good, in my estimation.
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The third in line to the throne has been caught with his pants down playing mixed billiards in Las Vegas. Film director Tony Scott of Top Gun fame has also died.
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The UK Standard Chartered Bank has paid a fine of $340 (£200m) to one US regulator for a persistent period of undisclosed trading which has been linked to businesses in Iran. That country is subject to some controversial economic and business sanctions from the international community led by the United States.
The complicated business situation for ‘universal global banks’ is also complicated by the convention to have most financial transactions denominated in US dollars and so, subject to US law and financial licensing. Difficult territory in a country where Iran is persistently a hot topic for discussion.
The story touches once more upon the problems of global business and national jurisdictions and the conflict between them. These issues have been much in evidence since the start of the global recession, the revelations about the insolvency of the finance houses and afterwards, of their associated governments.
Great success for British athletes at The London 2012 Olympic Games. This drawing on a speedy deadline after one Saturday in which twelve Brits alone topped the podium.
Congratulations to Greg Rutherford (long jump), Mo Farah (10,000 metres), Jessica Ennis (heptathlon), Dani King, Jo Rowsell, and Laura Trott (Women’s team pursuit). Sophie Hosking and Katherine Copeland (women’s lightweight double sculls) Pete Reed, Andy Gregory and Tom James, and Andy Triggs-Hodge (men’s four).
The video above imagines how the strange relationship all got started.
Updated Monday 6th August:News of an Autumn by-election following the resignation of Louise Mensch, Conservative MP for Corby and East Northamptonshire, adds spice to the tension inside the government coalition. The constituency is a marginal and, overheated speculation about the leadership ambitions of London Mayor Boris Johnson aside, promises to make an uncomfortable close to the year for David Cameron and Nick Clegg.
Boris Johnson is only going to stand as an MP in a constituency the Tories can win. Hence no interest in Corby.
It is notable Clegg’s statement includes an explicit commitment from the Lib Dems to veto any move to constituency boundary redrawing which is something the Conservatives have long wanted and need if they wish to secure future majorities in the House of Commons.
Britain’s largest football club is up for sale again. The club’s owners, The Glazer family, are attempting to encourage investors from the New York stock exchange to take a piece of the club. Interestingly, the advertising for the IPO (Initial Public Offering) describes the club as a global media company with access to the most popular game on earth. Much of this global commercial success is due to Sir Alex Ferguson, the irascible and wise old manager of the club.
The Glazers have, entirely legally, extracted a great deal of wealth from the club since acquiring it in 2005.
The Opinions of Tobias Grubbe for July 9th 1712 is published at this window – or click the picture. His patron Journalisted from the Media Standards Trust where you can read all about them.
Some pieces of public performance are irresistible for cartoonists and the procession of the Olympic Torch throughout Britain is certainly one of them. Perhaps if you look closely you’ll be able to identify the characters.
Somebody else invariably actually carries the torch for the Prime Minister.
