A beach barbecue of high stakes Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Scott Reid, associate partner14 June 2021 Good morning, If you follow any of the G7 leaders on social media, chances are you’ve been inundated by wholesome images of the attendees enjoying themselves at the Cornish resort of Carbis Bay while discussing their …
The mirage of multilateralism Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Tom Gillingham, associate partner8 June 2021 Good morning, Saturday was a historic day for multilateralism. Not so much as a proper comeback of the approach, but as a welcome sign that perhaps not all is lost when it comes to pursuing a common goal …
An Olympic déjà vu Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Iain Gibson, associate partner26 May 2021 Good morning, It seems like only yesterday that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) delayed the start of the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo by 12 months. That was in March last year, when most of us saw July 2021 …
Border out-of-control Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Scott Reid, associate partner20 May 2021 Good morning, The European Union’s only land border with Africa along the Strait of Gibraltar may be one of its shortest, but it has a long history. In November 1975, as Francisco Franco lay on his deathbed and the Spanish government …
A very Scottish election result Written by Alex Massie, correspondent-at-largeNews round-up by Javier Maquieira, senior associate10 May 2021 Good morning, Elections are typically considered clarifying moments; occasions when the will of a people, of a country, is made clear and new futures, dizzying in their possibility, suddenly become apparent. But this is Scotland and we …
Modi’s moment of reckoning Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Tom Gillingham, associate partner5 May 2021 Good morning, In 2014 Narendra Modi became India’s first prime minister born after the country’s independence from the British empire. As the leader of the Indian People’s Party, his campaigning revolved around the nationalistic goal of boosting India’s self-reliance. …
Wind of Change Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Scott Reid, associate partner22 April 2021 Good morning, It’s been a momentous week in Germany’s “super election year” (Superwahljahr), which began in mid-March with two state elections and will reach its peak on 26 September with the Bundestag general election – and the end of …
Colin goes to court Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Scott Reid, associate partner16 April 2021 Good morning, When you move to a different country, no one really tells you that adapting to a new culture is as much about learning the language, customs, and history as it is about getting to know its …
Vladimir the Destabiliser Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by David Gaffney, partner6 April 2021 Good morning, The history of tsarist Russia is one of revealing nicknames. There is Ivan the Terrible, Alexey Mikhailovich the Humblest, Peter and Catherine the Greats, Alexander I the Blessed, and Nicholas II the Bloodstained, to name just a few. Now, if …
Best shipping news Ever Given Written by Javier Maquieira, senior associate Edited by Iain Gibson, associate partner30 March 2021 Good morning, It’s moving, at last. After what has felt like a week-long re-run of Free Willy, efforts to refloat the Ever Given cargo ship stuck across the mud and sand of the Suez Canal finally bore fruit yesterday. The …