Letters to the Editor February 12, 2013 EU food testing [Re: Horse row no laughing matter – but NHS scandal even worse, yesterday] On the subject of Britain’s food chain, this article completely misses the point – along with most of the media. Food testing is an EU competence as part of the Single Market. All the faults, therefore, lie with the [...]
StanChart to hit record profits despite US woe January 9, 2013 STANDARD Chartered has overcome its regulatory troubles comprehensively and is on track to record a tenth consecutive year of record profits, analysts predicted yesterday. The bank was hit by surprise accusations of breaking US sanctions on Iran last August, paying US authorities more than $600m (£374.5m) to settle the claims. But analysts expect a better [...]
Back-to-work scheme ruled illegal by court February 12, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT’S back-to-work programme was thrown into disarray yesterday after a judge ruled that many schemes that make the unemployed work for free are unlawful. Graduate Cait Reilly, 24, claimed victory after the Court of Appeal ruled that a programme she took part in – which required her to undertake work experience at Poundland or risk [...]
EU suspends sanctions on Burma April 23, 2012 ● Most EU sanctions against Burma were suspended yesterday, thanks to a shift towards democracy in the country. The arms embargo will remain in place, but European companies will be allowed to invest in Burma, which has significant natural resources and borders economic giants China and India. The EU had frozen the assets of nearly [...]
Dettori to learn drug test fate December 4, 2012 HORSE RACING: Jockey Frankie Dettori will today learn what sanctions he is to face for failing a drug test in September. France Galop is expected to hand Dettori a backdated six-month ban, meaning he can ride in the Derby and the Oaks in May and June.
StanChart set for another $330m US fine December 6, 2012 SHARES jumped in British bank Standard Chartered yesterday, as it revealed its final fine for breaking US sanctions against Iran will be smaller than previously feared. It expects to pay $330m (£205.6m) to regulatory authorities including the Federal Reserve, the Department of Justice, the Treasury department and the local district attorney. That takes Standard Chartered’s [...]
City watchdog slaps HSBC after $1.9bn US fine December 11, 2012 THE FINANCIAL Services Authority (FSA) yesterday announced a clampdown on HSBC, following the news that the British bank will pay $1.9bn (£1.2bn) to US authorities over money laundering. The City watchdog said it had told the bank to introduce a number of measures “to ensure that all parts of the HSBC Group are in compliance [...]
RBS Libor fines set to be drawn out painfully November 25, 2012 RBS now expects to take multiple blows from regulators in the coming months as their Libor fines are likely to be split over several days, rather than concentrated in one announcement, as with Barclays. Chief executive Stephen Hester wants the settlement to be agreed before February, to clear the cloud above the majority state-owned bank [...]
Betfair is cashing out of Greece over crackdown November 26, 2012 BETFAIR has pulled out of Greece in its second European exit in a month, citing the threat of sanctions from the country’s gambling authorities. The exchange betting operator has been trading without a licence in the country, claiming that Greek gambling laws violate EU ones. Earlier this month the Greek Gambling Commission announced a clampdown [...]
Should sanctions be lifted before Burma reforms? April 15, 2012 YES Derek Tonkin SANCTIONS are a potentially valuable tool but, unless they can be carefully targeted, their effects can be counterproductive. Burma is a case in point. The effectiveness of sanctions has been minimal because no country in the region agreed to support the West. Burma’s immediate neighbours, notably China and Thailand, have captured the [...]