Fed intends to keep interest rates low long after tapering ends July 30, 2014 Today's dovish monetary policy statement from the Federal Reserve confirmed expectations that it would look to delay the hiking of interest rates for a long time after tapering ends. It affirmed its commitment to stimulating the economy, saying that it wants to hold short-term interest rates near zero until well into 2015. Also [...]
Britain can handle Ebola virus threat, says foreign secretary July 30, 2014 Today, foreign secretary Philip Hammond held an emergency cobra meeting with ministers and health advisers to discuss the threat of Ebola to the UK. The current epidemic of the disease, described as the worst in history, has already killed over 670 people in West Africa where it has been spreading since February. It has [...]
London 2050: How £1.3 trillion needs to be spent on infrastructure in the next 35 years July 30, 2014 London Mayor Boris Johnson has outlined ambitious investment plans to improve the capital’s infrastructure which could require £1.3tn of spending from now until 2050. As London’s population continues to expand, the “London Infrastructure Plan 2050” outlines the spending needed for the capital to remain one of the world’s leading cities. Transport and housing make up [...]
Eastbourne Pier fire: Pictures of East Sussex landmark show devastation July 30, 2014 A huge fire has engulfed an arcades building at Eastbourne Pier in East Sussex, and thick plumes of smoke are currently spreading across the seafront. Eight crews of firefighters have been sent to the site after East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service was alerted to the incident shortly before 3.15pm. There are approximately 60 fighters [...]
Bolt: Everything you need to know about the new Instagram app to rival Snapchat July 30, 2014 Bolt is the new instant messaging app from Instagram. Available on iOS and Android, the app allows users to send photos to their friends with one tap. On Bolt, your friends are listed at the bottom of a camera screen and their icons act as the shutter. Click on their face, send them the photo. [...]
HSBC to close accounts of Muslim organisations July 30, 2014 HSBC has written to Muslim organisations across the UK to inform them that it is closing their bank accounts. The letters say that continuing to provide services to them would be beyond the bank's “risk appetite”, and that it made the decision because it was "applying a programme of strategic assessments to all of [...]
Santander no longer have a “moral problem” with circus group account July 30, 2014 Santander has reversed its position on denying a circus group a bank account because the troupe's burlesque acts presented a "moral problem" to the bank. Founder of Circus Uncertainty Joshua Morris had applied for a Santander business account in Bristol but later received a call saying his company could not bank with Santander because it [...]
Real Madrid beaten by Barcelona as Catalans announce record-breaking revenue July 30, 2014 FC Barcelona have announced a record annual revenue of €530m (£395m), the highest in sporting history. The record had previously belonged to Barcelona’s arch-rivals Real Madrid, who enjoyed an annual revenue of €521m last season. Madrid are yet to announce their revenue for the 2013/2014 season and although they could well reclaim top spot [...]
North Korea has fired four new missiles, South Korea says July 30, 2014 North Korea has launched four missiles off its east coast, according to South Korean officials. The short-range projectiles were fired from Mount Myohyang, northeast of the North Korean capital Pyongyang, an anonymous official from the South Korean Defence Ministry said. They added that two of the them were fired off in the morning [...]
US tax battle: Kansas more complicated than critics condemn it for July 30, 2014 A heated tax battle is brewing in Kansas that could have major implications on future fiscal reforms throughout the United States. After Gov. Sam Brownback and the Republican-controlled State Legislature passed reforms lowering income tax rates among other tweaks to the code, critics are raising alarms about declining revenues. So, “What’s the Matter With Kansas?,” [...]