Russia hikes rates to 12 per cent as ruble plummets to lowest level since Ukraine invasion August 15, 2023 Russia’s central bank has raised its key interest rate by 3.5% in a move designed to fight inflation and strengthen the ruble after the country’s currency reached its lowest value since early in the war with Ukraine. The decision to hike the key rate to 12% was announced after an emergency meeting of the bank’s [...]
Taxpayers shell out record amount on government spending August 15, 2023 British taxpayers spent a record amount this year funding government spending, a top think tank has calculated. Workers have spent more than 60 per cent of 2023 with their incomes going towards paying off the government’s spending and borrowing, according to the Adam Smith Institute (ASI). Today, August 15, marks, what it has dubbed as [...]
RAF scrambles jets to intercept two Russian bombers near Scottish islands August 14, 2023 The Royal Air Force (RAF) scrambled jets on Monday to intercept two Russian bombers that were travelling north of the Shetland Islands in Scotland. The incident saw the Russian Tu-142 Bear-F and Tu-142 Bear-J maritime patrol aircraft, used for reconnaissance and anti-submarine warfare, monitored by RAF Typhoons in international airspace as they passed north of [...]
‘Quit smoking’ message could be put inside cigarette packs August 14, 2023 ‘Quit smoking’ messages could be added to the inside of cigarette packs under draft proposals being considered by the government. The inserts would set out the health and financial benefits of giving up and signpost advice and support available to those trying to quit smoking, the Department of Health (DHSC) said. A consultation launched on [...]
Avoid ULEZ options but tackle air pollution, Starmer says August 14, 2023 Cities should look at other options for tackling air pollution instead of schemes like London’s ULEZ (ultra low emission zone), Sir Keir Starmer has suggested. The Labour leader said no-one in the UK should be “breathing dirty air” but added that proposals for reducing air pollution should not have a disproportionate impact on people’s pockets [...]
Tory MP failed to declare £70,000 shares in Shell while environment sec August 11, 2023 A Conservative MP failed to declare that she held shares valued at more than £70,000 in Shell while she was environment secretary. Theresa Villiers admitted her shareholding in the oil and gas company via her latest update to the register of members’ financial interests. Under the section “other shareholdings, valued at more than £70,000”, Ms [...]
Bishopsgate robbery: Two jailed for knife attack in City causing ‘savage injuries’ August 11, 2023 Two men have been jailed for their part in a daytime robbery and knife attack in central London in which members of the public suffered “savage injuries”. Tyrone Dean, 24, and Louis Parkinson, 26, wore masks when they tried to snatch mobile phones and flee on bicycles on October 6 but their plans were thwarted [...]
Biden declares ‘national emergency’ as he bans US investment in Chinese tech August 10, 2023 President Joe Biden on Wednesday signed an executive order that will prohibit some new U.S. investment in China in sensitive technologies like computer chips and require government notification in other tech sectors. The long-awaited order authorizes the U.S. Treasury secretary to prohibit or restrict U.S. investments in Chinese entities in three sectors: semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum information technologies [...]
Fifth of UK importers altered supply chains due to global tensions, with China in focus August 8, 2023 More than a fifth of UK importers have been forced to alter supply chains as a result of geopolitical tensions, with China in sharp focus, a new survey has found. Some 20.5 per cent of companies, which are importers, have altered supply chains as a result of global tensions, according to a survey of more [...]
Russia hit with 25 new UK sanctions as Cleverly warns Putin there’s ‘nowhere to hide’ August 8, 2023 Britain said it is targeting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s access to foreign military supplies by imposing 25 new sanctions on individuals and businesses. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said the action will “further diminish” Russia’s arsenal and shows there is “nowhere to hide” for those assisting the illegal invasion of Ukraine. Those sanctioned include companies based [...]