Labour calls for investigation of claims PM intervened to help get friend a peerage March 6, 2022 Labour is calling for a parliamentary investigation into claims that Boris Johnson intervened to get his Russian billionaire friend Evgeny Lebedev a peerage, after security services initially recommended against it. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer today told the BBC that a Westminster committee should probe the “very concerning” case and that “there’s at least the [...]
Sunak under pressure to drop NI rise in wake of Ukraine invasion March 6, 2022 Rishi Sunak is under increased pressure to drop his 1.25 percentage points increase of National Insurance next month in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. It is expected the war will lead to higher inflation than expected due to Europe’s large reliance on Russian gas and Ukrainian agricultural products, like wheat. Annual growth in [...]
Anti-corruption campaigner Bill Browder warns buying Russian stocks is akin to buying ‘German equities during Holocaust’ March 6, 2022 An anti-corruption campaigner has warned people considering buying de-valued Russian stocks that it is akin to buying “German equities during the Holocaust”. Bill Browder in a tweet told people today to avoid Russian equities and bonds and to “have some decency”. London-listed stocks that have exposure to Moscow have collapsed in value since Russian troops [...]
Johnson promises Ukraine more defensive weapons in call with Zelensky March 6, 2022 Boris Johnson has promised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky more “defensive equipment” to fight off the Russian invasion in a call today. A Number 10 spokesperson said the pair “discussed the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Ukraine, precipitated by Russia’s indiscriminate attacks and ceasefire breaches” and “the increasing threat Russia’s barbaric attacks pose to Ukrainian civilians and [...]
Russia unlikely to meet debt obligations as Western sanctions bite, Moody’s warns March 6, 2022 One of the world’s top credit rating agencies has raised concerns over Russia’s ability to service its debt as Western sanctions hobble Moscow’s economy. Moody’s said its move to downgrade Russian debt to the second-lowest rung on its ratings ladder was “driven by severe concerns around Russia’s willingness and ability to pay its debt obligations”. [...]
Payment giants join Russia exodus March 6, 2022 The world’s top payment providers have pulled out of Russia in response to Moscow’s assault on Ukraine. American Express, Mastercard and Visa debit and credit cards issued by Russian banks will be booted out of their networks, the trio announced over the weekend. Cards issued outside of Russia will no longer work at ATMs in [...]
TUI chief: Holiday bookings fly back to pre-pandemic levels March 6, 2022 Travel giant TUI said it expects holiday bookings to rise towards pre-pandemic levels as the industry gets back on its knees.
Zara and Burberry shut shops in Russia while John Lewis looks to ‘mitigate exposure’ to country March 6, 2022 Fashion powerhouses have halted trading in Russia following its invasion of Ukraine, citing “operational challenges”. Luxury goods maker Burberry has temporarily shuttered its three stores in Russia, The Times reported. According to the newspaper, the designer brand’s spokesperson said Burberry would continue to monitor developments and declined to address the invasion directly. It comes after [...]
Ukraine invasion: Zelensky warns Russia gearing up for ‘historic’ attack on Odessa March 6, 2022 Russia is preparing to unleash an “historic” attack on the major Ukrainian city of Odessa in the coming days, according to Volodymyr Zelensky. Zelenksy said during a Facebook broadcast today that Putin will soon drop “bombs against Odessa”, a key port city in Ukraine’s south, and that this “will be an historic war crime”. Around [...]
Russia takes BBC World News off air March 6, 2022 BBC World News has been taken off air in Russia as Putin’s government retaliates to Western boycotting. As the global news channel for the broadcaster, Russians will no longer be able to access the channel or the BBC content. It comes after media watchdog Ofcom said that it had opened a further 12 investigations into [...]