Wars create a lot of misinformation. In Britain it would be immoral and illegal to create rumours of a bank run in order to try to trigger one. But if lots of Westerners on social media claim there is a... Read more
When the German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was elected last year, he took over from one of the most popular politicians in modern history. After 16 years in office, Angela Merkel’s approval ratings were higher than those of any other global... Read more
Even if Russia’s military action has a familiar Cold War look to it, with the mass deployment of tanks and ground forces, the interconnection of global economies in the 21st century means the impact of sanctions is proving to be... Read more
Just before ministerial questions, a Labour whip appeared with half-a-dozen yellow and blue ribbons and ordered the shadow frontbench to put them on. The Government looked furious. Why didn’t they think of ribbons? Thankfully, they do have Liz Truss, who... Read more
As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine intensifies, the West watches from the sidelines, rooting for a Hollywood ending. That may happen yet. The Ukrainian underdog has put up spirited resistance against a retrograde Russian military machine and President Zelensky – immortalised... Read more
The decision to broadcast Emergency (Channel 4) across four consecutive nights leaves an uneasy feeling. Like similar shows of this type, such as 24 Hours in A&E, it follows cases of real-life trauma. We meet patients in great distress, whose... Read more
He also wanted their music to break away from the mid-paced mainstream indie played by the likes of Radiohead, Travis and Starsailor. “We wanted ours to be smaller and spikier,” Skelly explains. Broudie had a vision and “added colour”. Nick... Read more
However, the council agreed an equal pay deal worth about £500 million in 2019 for thousands of predominantly female workers, with the average payout expected to be about £35,000. A pay grading scheme has still not been introduced and unions... Read more
On Monday, an ally of Ms Truss hit back after the Kremlin’s claim circulated, suggesting it was being made because Russia was not having the military success it hoped for in Ukraine. A Foreign Office source said: “It’s a blatant... Read more
Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, also wrote to all UK ports asking them to ban any Russian flagged, registered, owned, controlled, chartered or operated vessels in advance of laws enforcing it. Keir Starmer, the Labour leader, urged ministers to scrap... Read more
A Foreign Office source admitted that there could be legal consequences for Britons who travel to Ukraine to fight against the Russians. “It is legally murky”, the source said, adding those who go out to Ukraine to fight “do so... Read more
Dwell times at UK ports have more than doubled since last spring as global supply chains creak. Shippers spent an average of more than seven days discharging at British ports last month, well above the European average of roughly five... Read more
Shoppers in Britain will enjoy cheaper wine after a new post-Brexit trade deal with New Zealand was signed on Monday. Tariffs on favoured New Zealand products such as Sauvignon Blanc will be slashed by five per cent, knocking an average... Read more
We must now fund and empower an independent agency to gather and investigate all evidence to enable swift legal action to be taken before the International Court of Justice. We do it already, spending $2.8 million to Unitad, the United... Read more
But insurgent Russian troops on the ground couldn’t hold the airbase and the planes and helicopters were sitting ducks. One security expert said it was “embarrassing” that Russia’s vaunted electronic warfare capability had been unable to jam the radio frequency... Read more
The Russian economy has fallen into turmoil as the West applies economic sanctions, the value of the rouble collapses and global companies sell off their stakes in Russian firms. Markets have tumbled as the Russian invasion of Ukraine has spooked... Read more
The energy price cap will rise by £693 to £1,971 from April, regulator Ofgem has confirmed, piling more pressure onto already struggling households. Boris Johnson was called upon to address the cost of living crisis in the UK at the... Read more
Consider a smart meter Smart meters track how much energy you use in your home daily, giving much more accurate readings than traditional analogue meters, which work off a monthly estimate. Readings are sent automatically to suppliers, meaning customers are... Read more
Adrienne Pettitt, 32, owns a flat in a building in Salford that has major cladding problems. Works were due to start in June 2021, but this was pushed back to January 2022. Then the contractor pulled out because it was... Read more
Major acquisitions can make or break a business. On the one hand, they can prompt an improving financial performance if expansion into new markets or a stronger position in existing segments is the long-term result. However, on the other hand,... Read more
However, this changed at the end of 2014 for spouses and civil partners who were allowed “additional permitted subscriptions” and in effect to inherit their late spouse’s Isa with tax benefits intact. However, again this is not the case with... Read more
Professional investors are taking unnecessary risks with savers’ money by piling into cheap American stocks, experts have warned. The top 10 most bought stocks by global fund managers in the past month featured technology stocks that have fallen dramatically since... Read more
His latest report showed that will be easily managed this tax year, as the excess of income over expenditure will be £10.2bn and the accumulated surplus £52.7bn. Over the next five years that surplus will grow each year to reach... Read more
She also wants to use £30,000 to build a wool craft business. “I am a sheep farmer’s daughter. My idea is to develop wool from sheep and make throws and cushions. I want it to be a legacy I leave... Read more
With these tenancies, landlords typically pay bills and council tax on behalf of tenants and then pass on a single monthly charge to renters. If council tax rises, landlords must absorb the cost or pass it on to tenants in... Read more