Vodafone launches partnership with Malala Yousafzai March 3, 2014 Mobile technology could bring 5.3m people out of illiteracy by 2020, according to telecoms operator Vodafone, which has released it's Vodafone Connected Women report. The research undertaken by Accenture and Oxford University's Said Business School, concluded that limiting female illiteracy in developing countries would allow women to gain new employment opportunities leading to an increase [...]
Serco bags 3 leading lights as non-execs March 3, 2014 After announcing at the end of last week that it’s appointed a new chief executive – in the form of current Aggreko chief Rupert Soames – government contractor Serco has said this morning that its drafted in three impressive new non-executives. Rachel Lomax, former deputy Bank of England governor, Mike Clasper, ex-BAA chief and chairman [...]
Russia hikes key interest rate to 7pc March 3, 2014 Russia’s central bank has said it’s upping its benchmark interest rate by 1.5 percentage points to seven per cent, as the rouble drops to a record low this morning to 36.90 per dollar. The move is in response to increased levels of volatility in financial markets, the bank said, and comes into immediate effect. "The [...]
Asian shares tumble amid Ukraine crisis March 3, 2014 Asian shares are taking a hit in the wake of the deteriorating situation in Ukraine, with Russian troops surrounded a number of Ukrainian military bases last night. The US Secretary of State John Kerry warned yesterday that Russia could be expelled from the G8 unless President Vladimir Putin puts an end to his “incredible act [...]
Ukraine: The brink of war March 3, 2014 ■ Cameron and Obama warn Russia to change course or face significant costs ■ Nato says Putin has broken the UN charter and threatens peace in Europe THE US Secretary of State John Kerry will fly to Kiev tomorrow, as Russia faces off against the West over its interests in Ukraine. David Cameron has vowed [...]
London is second priciest city for firms to situate staff March 3, 2014 SOARING rents have made London the world’s second most expensive city for companies to locate staff, trailing closely behind Hong Kong, according to research out today by property consultants Savills. The cost of renting living and office space for one employee in the capital reached $115,000 (£68,804) last year, up two per cent on 2012 [...]
Will Britain be called on to defend the Ukraine? March 3, 2014 ACCORDING to a treaty signed in 1994 by the UK, America and Russia, Britain is legally bound to defend the territorial integrity of Ukraine. The Budapest Memorandum centred around unrest in Crimea, which was under Russian control until 1954, and formed part of a nuclear disarmament deal that saw Ukraine destroy all of its Soviet-era [...]
Crimea: Home to Russia’s Black Sea Fleet March 3, 2014 PRESIDENT Putin has ordered Russian troops into the Crimea area of Ukraine, citing the need to protect his citizens living there. But Crimea is strategically important to Putin as a military base for the Black Sea Fleet, and concerns have been raised that the President could use troops on the ground to move into Ukraine [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 03 March 2014 March 3, 2014 FINANCIAL TIMES Britain to scrap VAT on Bitcoin trades Britain’s tax authority plans to ditch value added tax on Bitcoin trading only days after the collapse of Mt Gox, one of the virtual currency’s leading exchanges, losing almost $500m of customer deposits. In a meeting with a group of UK traders last week, HM Revenue [...]
UK energy fears rise after Russia warns it may end gas discounts March 3, 2014 CONCERNS about the security of the UK’s energy supply heightened over the weekend, as escalating political troubles in Ukraine cast uncertainty over gas shipments. Ukraine provides a key pipeline for transporting Russian gas into Europe, but a bitter dispute over the country’s ties has led Russia to issue several warnings that Ukraine may lose a [...]