European Central Bank leaves rates negative despite inflation hitting record high March 10, 2022 The European Central Bank left interest rates unchanged in negative territory today despite inflation on the Continent running at a record high. President Christine Lagarde and co kept borrowing costs at minus 0.5 per cent, where they have been for several years, sticking with its more dovish stance toward monetary policy. The ECB has been [...]
Number 10 ‘open to sale’ of Chelsea – but Abramovich would see none of the cash March 10, 2022 The government is “open to the sale” of Chelsea Football Club, but no cash would go to newly sanctioned Russian oligarch Roman Abramovich. Boris Johnson’s spokesperson today said the Treasury would have to ultimately green light a potential sale of the club, but that “under no circumstances would any sale allow Roman Abramovich to profit [...]
Moscow orders airlines to hold leased planes hostage amid growing sanctions March 10, 2022 The Kremlin today threatened to impound the aircraft leased to Russian airlines, casting doubts over the fate of 780 planes worth a total of $10bn. According to a draft law proposed by the Russian transport ministry, carriers should be required to pay leases in rubles for the whole of 2022, de facto allowing them not [...]
Gas prices hit record levels this month reveals Office for National Statistics March 10, 2022 Gas prices soared 66 per cent in the week up to 6 March 2022 to record levels at 15.5p per kilowatt hour (kWH), according to the ONS.
UK defence minister: Russia guilty of war crimes and chemicals weapons use may mean ‘international response’ March 10, 2022 Defence minister James Heappey branded Russia’s attack on a maternity hospital in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol a “war crime”, while warning Moscow that use of chemical weapons may lead to an “international response.” The Tory cabinet minister for the Armed forces made the claims after Vladimir Putin’s army caused destruction in the besieged city [...]
Ukraine war backfires as Russia’s economy is expected to take dramatic 10 per cent hit this year March 10, 2022 Analysts this morning revised their economic forecast for Russia in light of international sanctions imposed following the invasion of Ukraine. Experts at the Economic Intelligence Unit (EIU) said they expect economic activity to be severely disrupted with both domestic demand and the external sector taking a hit. “While the full impact of international sanctions and [...]
Roman Abramovich facing sanctions as UK adds Chelsea owner to Putin oligarchs hit list March 10, 2022 Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has been added to the UK’s sanctions list, Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries said. She said Vladimir Putin’s attacks on Ukraine involved “new levels of evil by the hour” and the Government had announced further sanctions “against individuals linked to the Russian Government”. “This list includes Roman Abramovich, the owner of Chelsea [...]
Russia confirms use of vacuum bombs and is expected to deploy private mercenaries in Ukraine March 10, 2022 The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said this morning Russia has confirmed the use of thermobaric rockets – often called vacuum bombs – in Ukraine and is also “likely” deploying private mercenaries. The MoD said its Russian counterpart had confirmed the use of thermobaric rockets creating “incendiary and blast effects” in the invasion. A video posted [...]
Saudi Arabia’s PIF and Amanda Staveley should have waited to buy Chelsea instead March 10, 2022 I can’t help thinking that Amanda Staveley and her consortium have bought the wrong football club. Had they waited just five months they could have had Chelsea FC rather than Newcastle United. A mooted £3bn price tag may be 10 times the price paid for the Magpies, but still well within the means of Saudi [...]
Russian forces intensify siege: Three hospitals hit as Ukraine war turns uglier two weeks in March 10, 2022 Bombs reportedly fell on three hospitals across Ukraine overnight. An airstrike on a maternity hospital in the port city of Mariupol wounded women waiting to give birth and buried children in the rubble as Russian forces intensified their siege of Ukrainian cities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it has confirmed 18 attacks on medical [...]