Greece bailout deadline: ECB raises pressure for agreement but extends new loans to Greek banks February 12, 2015 Greek banks have been given an extra €5bn (£3.7bn) worth of emergency loans by the European Central Bank (ECB). The decision was made during a phone call between members of the bank's governing council earlier today, and will take the country's emergency funding up from €60bn (£44bn) to €65bn (£48bn). "It is key that [...]
Ukraine crisis: Vladimir Putin announces ceasefire after Minsk talks February 12, 2015 Russian President Vladimir Putin has announced that a ceasefire for eastern Ukraine will begin on 15 February. The announcement comes after marathon talks in Minsk, which swayed between reports a deal could be imminent and claims that Russia's terms were unacceptable. With the news comes an announcement from the IMF, which reported it would replace [...]
Ukraine crisis: Valdimir Putin and Petro Poroshenko agree to sign joint document – reports February 12, 2015 It had seemed could be light at the end of the tunnel for Ukraine. After marathon peace talks in Minsk involving Russian President Vladimir Putin, Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, French President Francois Hollande, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko it was reported that both Putin and Poroshenko would sign a joint document; offering [...]
SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon calls for boost to UK state spending February 11, 2015 As the Scottish First Minister sets out her election agenda, Chris Papadopoullos reports from University College London Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon ventured to University College London (UCL) yesterday where she received the backing of loyalists and anti-cuts activists, as she laid out her election pledges. “I am impressed with Sturgeon thus far, [...]
Boris Johnson’s mini-Manhattan in Old Oak Common: Why we must speak up for local housing needs February 11, 2015 London’s population is at an all-time high. By 2020, we will have over 9m people living in our city; 10m by 2030. So it is essential that we plan for the growing needs of the capital. London needs a transport system fit for the 21st century. We need a thriving jobs market built on secure, [...]
Greece Eurogroup meeting: Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis lists four key principles for renegotiation February 11, 2015 Today, Greece's finance minister met with leaders from the Eurozone's other member states to discuss a renegotiation of its bailout package. Yanis Varoufakis is part of the radical left party Syriza, which won a parliamentary vote on 25 January on the back of its promise to bring the country out of austerity. It [...]
PMQs descends into mud-slinging match as Cameron and Miliband attempt to distance themselves from HSBC tax taint February 11, 2015 HSBC dominated Prime Minister's Questions today as David Cameron and Ed Miliband traded insults over which party had closest ties to those clients on the list of alleged tax evaders. The two took turns to sling mud at each other over the matter, with the Labour leader describing his counterpart as a "dodgy Prime [...]
Obama phones Putin, warns him to negotiate ahead of Minsk summit February 11, 2015 US President Barack Obama has upped the rhetoric over Ukraine, using a phone call to tell Vladimir Putin to negotiate a peaceful settlement this week. The phone call came after Obama confirmed he had asked officials to look into supplying the Ukrainian government with weapons to fight the Russian-backed separatists in Ukraine. Putin is meeting [...]
New Look IPO: We’re dressed up and ready for a float, says chief exec February 10, 2015 New Look is ready to consider another attempt at an initial public offering (IPO), the fashion retailer’s chief executive said yesterday, as it blamed the warm weather for a fall in third quarter sales. Anders Kristiansen has consistently brushed off rumours that the retailer is planning a return to the market. New Look pulled a [...]
Conservative silent auction: Who will be shoe shopping with Theresa May? February 10, 2015 The annual Conservative Party black and white fundraising ball was on Monday night at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Mayfair. The highlight of the evening was an auction, with various exclusive lots up for grabs. Lots this year included budgets signed by George Osborne, and doing an Iron Man (not quiet man) Endeavour with [...]