No we will not pay for Russian energy in roubles, say united G7 as leading economies reject Putin demand March 28, 2022 Germany’s energy minister disclosed today that G7 countries have agreed not to give in to Moscow’s demand to pay for energy imports from Russia in roubles. Robert Habeck told reporters that “all G-7 ministers agreed completely that this (would be) a one-sided and clear breach of the existing contracts.” Habeck said that “payment in rouble [...]
‘Putin, come and meet me’ says Zelensky as Russia’s foreign minister Lavrov agrees the two presidents can meet March 28, 2022 Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, said today that his president, Vladimir Putin, and the president of Ukraine could meet. “The meeting is necessary once we have clarity regarding solutions on all key issues,” Lavrov said in an interview with Serbian media. His comments followed interviews by Ukraine’s president Zelensky, who said earlier today: “Ukraine must [...]
Sunak repeats tax cuts pledge despite playing down low-tax Chancellor image March 28, 2022 Rishi Sunak today reiterated his commitment to cutting taxes in the future, despite playing down claims he has styled himself as a low-tax Chancellor. Responding to a grilling by MPs on the cross-party Treasury Select Committee, Sunak said his “priority at this point forward is to keep cutting taxes, not to increase public spending”. However, [...]
Carlsberg follows Heineken with ‘difficult and immediate decision’ to quit Russia March 28, 2022 Carlsberg has followed Heineken in quitting Russia, saying the “difficult and immediate decision” would lead to a “substantial” loss. The Danish brewer becomes the latest major western firm to leave the Kremlin-ruled country in protest of Vladimir Putin’s war. The company said it has “taken the difficult and immediate decision to seek a full disposal [...]
Sunak says he is ‘prepared to act’ if energy bills soar again later this year March 28, 2022 Rishi Sunak has said he is “prepared to act” if energy prices continue to spiral out of control amid speculation he is ready to announce another multi-billion pound council tax rebate later this year. The chancellor told MPs on the Treasury Select Committee today that “It’s very difficult to sit here today and speculate on [...]
Cabinet row over wind farms as 90 per cent of Brits say they’d live near a turbine March 28, 2022 A cabinet row about offshore wind threatens to destabilise the UK’s energy policy, as a new poll suggests 90 per cent of Brits would be happy to live near a wind turbine. Two ministers clashed over the approval of wind farms off the Suffolk coast, which would generate enough energy to power 1.2 million homes. [...]
Patel launches probe into Sadiq Khan’s handling of Cressida Dick resignation from the Met March 28, 2022 Sadiq Khan’s handling of Dame Cressida Dick’s resignation as the Metropolitan Police commissioner is set to be probed by Whitehall, home secretary Priti Patel has announced. Patel today said in a written statement that the “circumstances in which the outgoing [Met] commissioner is leaving her role warrant a closer look at the legislation which governs [...]
Enough already: Worn out Zelensky says he is ready to offer security guarantees to Putin and declare Ukraine ‘neutral’ March 28, 2022 Ukraine would consider declaring neutrality and offering security guarantees to Russia, including keeping Ukraine nuclear-free, the country’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said. He told independent Russian journalists on Sunday that the issue of neutrality – and agreeing to stay out of Nato – should be put to Ukrainian voters in a referendum after Russian troops [...]
Forest surrounding Chernobyl ablaze as Russia reports stable levels of radiation March 28, 2022 There is a large forest fire burning in the Chernobyl exclusion zone, which have lead to heightened levels of radioactive air pollution, a Ukrainian official has warned. There is a threat to neighbouring European countries, as there is more than 10,000 hectares of forest ablaze, according to commissioner of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine for [...]
Interventions have merit, but government mustn’t get hooked on meddling March 28, 2022 The drumbeat towards another Sunakian save-the-day package has begun, it seems. It is barely weeks since the Chancellor’s first energy market intervention, a devillishly complicated scheme of rebates and discounts to reduce the pain of higher energy prices. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has now added further upward pressure on those same costs, and it is [...]