Game on – Farage to take on Clegg over EU February 21, 2014 Nigel Farage has accepted Nick Clegg's challenge to debate Britain's membership of the European Union. Speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari show, Farage said: I have absolutely no choice I've got say yes. He added: I will do it with Nick Clegg, but the other two, I'd like to see them there as well. In the [...]
Ukraine President confirms early vote February 21, 2014 The Ukranian President Victor Yanukovych has confirmed that the country will be holding an early presidential poll. The President has agreed to a national unity government and to constitutional reforms designed to limit the power of the President. Earlier in the day the President released a statement saying an agreement was reached with opposition leaders and [...]
SES profits jump in wake of strong video focus February 21, 2014 Satellite and communications company SES has reported a jump in profit before tax of 9.1 per cent to €677m (£577m) for the year to 31 December. SES said it was reinforcing its position in developed markets, while focusing on investments in regions and applications with high growth potential. Romain Bausch, president and CEO, commented: The [...]
Asian markets riding high on US data February 21, 2014 Asian markets are bouncing back in the wake of better than expected US manufacturing data. US factory activity accelerated at its fastest pace for nearly four years in February, according to Markit’s preliminary US manufacturing purchasing managers’ index. The US Labour Department also showed there were fewer applications for unemployment benefit last week. The results [...]
Blame this policy not welfare reform for the rise in food banks February 20, 2014 A host of clergymen have signed a letter demanding that David Cameron take action to tackle the cost of food. Published in the Daily Mirror, the 27 Anglican bishops and 16 other clergy argued that the government's welfare reforms were to some extent responsible for the rapid rise of food banks in recent years. We [...]
EU Commission takes UK to court over air pollution February 20, 2014 The European Commission is set to take the UK to court over failures to adequately deal with air pollution. The EU specifically cited nitrogen dioxide (NO2) from diesel engines as being excessive in a number of UK cities. This marks the first time that the European Commission has launched legal proceedings against a member state [...]
Nick Clegg challenges Farage to EU debate February 20, 2014 The deputy prime minister has thrown down the gauntlet to the leader of UKIP Nigel Farage for a "public, open debate" on the UK's membership of the European Union. Speaking on his weekly LBC radio programme Nick Clegg said "If Nigel Farage is either listening or looking at this programme I hope he would take [...]
Nigerian central bank governor suspended four months before term ends February 20, 2014 The President of Nigeria Goodluck Jonathan has suspended the governor of the country's central bank Lamido Sanusi. Sanusi, who was due to end his term in June, alleged in the Financial Times last week that the massive shortfall in Nigeria's crude oil earnings were due to gross mismanagement of the country's oil wealth. Earlier this [...]
Rexam dividends soar in wake of rising profits February 20, 2014 Global consumer packaging company Rexam has reported a rise in profit before tax of four per cent to £372m for the full year 2013. Rexam announced that the sale of the majority of Healthcare, agreed for $805m (£482m), would see £450m of the proceeds returned to shareholders. The company's total dividend was up 14 per [...]
Centrica profits dive as political pressure mounts February 20, 2014 Energy giant Centrica has reported a fall in profits before tax to £1.6bn for the year to 31 December 2013. The fall is heavy blow to the energy company which recorded profit before tax in 2012 of over £2.4bn. Centrica also announced a six per cent dip in profit for its British Gas residential arm [...]
