Last week in the aftermath of the burning of Jordanian pilot, Moaz al-Kasasbeh, I took the decision to watch the video created by ISIS, as well as the videos of the beheadings that proceeded it. I had been thinking about the reasons why a human would inflict such a brutal death upon another. In order to better … More A historical parallel to ISIS from 11th century Iran
It a little over a week before the November 24th, the date when negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 are set to conclude. Attention is focused firmly on Vienna as the world’s most powerful nations and Iran attempt to reach an agreement on the future of the Iranian nuclear program. Key issues include the amount and type of centrifuges … More Iran Signs Nuclear Deal (only with Russia)
In August I created a Meetup group out of sheer inquisitiveness really. I have been interested in Iran for several years now, having written my undergraduate dissertation on Iranian Foreign Policy. I realised that Iran was probably the thing that differentiated me from most people. It has become my hobby, much in the same way … More The Inaugural “London Iranophiles” Meetup
Twitter users in France can now tweet money #TweetingMoney. Is this the future of financial transactions? Twitter will surely hope so after announcing that its users in France can now transfer money to anyone in the country with a twitter handle. The announcement will come as a coup for Twitter, which has stolen a march … More FT Monday 13th October 2014
It has been quite something watching the events going on in Hong Kong in recent days. I have been captivated and humbled by the scale and speed in which the public has mobilised itself in demonstrating its anger at the central government in Beijing and its refusal to grant true democracy in the territory. Living … More On Demonstrations in Hong Kong
David Cameron and Hassan Rouhani meet in UN amid signs of thaw David Cameron, the British prime minister, held talks with Hassan Rouhani, President of the Islamic Republic, in New York on Wednesday, in what was the first meeting of the political leaders of the two countries since the Islamic Revolution of 1979. David Cameron … More FT Thursday 25th September 2014
Alibaba IPO hits record $25bn The much anticipated IPO of Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba has not failed to disappoint. Expectations about the size of the IPO and the market capitalisation of the company have been met and then some. It is thought that the first public offering of shares in the company has raised the … More FT Monday 22nd September 2014
Facebook market cap tops $200bn Social media giant Facebook has reached the symbolic market capitialisation figure of £200bn. The share price of the California-based company rose by 0.8% on Monday to $77.89, giving the company a value of $200.9bn. Facebook is now worth more than Coca Cola. Significantly, Facebook has reached this milestone in … More FT Tuesday 9th September 2014
Cameron’s fate as prime minister hangs on Scotland vote The referendum over Scottish independence is now just ten days away, and having looked all year as though the Better Together campaign would secure the continued existence of the 307 year union, the tide looks to have turned. If the Scots do vote to leave the … More FT Monday 8th September 2014
Apple’s rivals plan to revamp products ahead of iPhone 6 launch Apple’s latest release in the hotly competitive smartphone market, the iPhone 6 is now just days away. The iPhone 6 will become Apple’s flagship phone and is expected be accompanied by a PR bus that could blow all of its rivals out of the … More FT Friday 5th of September 2014
Chris Holton 