Are the government’s internet monitoring proposals justified on grounds of security? April 2, 2012 YES Anthony Glees We have secret agencies to help protect us from serious organised crime, sexual exploitation and Islamist and neo-Nazi terrorism. Today, these people use the internet and mobile phones to plan and organise. These proposals will allow us to monitor them. If our security services are to deal with them effectively and keep [...]
Oil plummets on talks about US and UK releasing reserves March 15, 2012 THE PRICE of oil crashed by as much as $3 a barrel yesterday on the news that US President Barack Obama and UK Prime Minister David Cameron have discussed a joint release of the countries’ fuel stockpiles to ease supply worries. Downing Street confirmed that the leaders have talked about tapping the States’ 727m barrel [...]
Imperial Tobacco takings fall as Spain woes persist February 1, 2012 IMPERIAL TOBACCO said yesterday its cigarette volumes fell seven per cent in the final quarter of 2011 after sales were hit by a tough Spanish market, Syrian sanctions and destocking in Ukraine and the US. The world’s fourth-biggest cigarette maker, whose brands include Davidoff and Gauloises, said sales were down by one per cent in [...]
Oil price hits $128 high March 1, 2012 OIL hit a four-year high yesterday after an Iranian state-run news channel reported an explosion on a pipeline in Saudi Arabia. Brent crude prices hit $128 a barrel in late post-settlement trade, a level not reached since July 2008. A Saudi official later denied the Press TV broadcast, saying no oil facilities had been sabotaged. Iran, [...]
China premier defends Iran deal January 19, 2012 Chinese premier Wen Jiabao has defended his country’s extensive oil trade with Iran against pressure from the west to impose sanctions over its nuclear energy programme. Wen was speaking at the end of a six-day visit to the Middle East, with tensions running high over possible US sanctions on countries that do energy trade with [...]
England star Hartley lands eight-week ban for biting March 27, 2012 SIX NATIONS rugby chiefs were last night coming under increasing pressure to explain their reasoning after England hooker Dylan Hartley escaped with an eight-week ban for biting Ireland’s Stephen Ferris. The suspension, which leaves Hartley free for the summer tour to South Africa, is four weeks shorter than the minimum stipulated by the International Rugby [...]
UK inflation rises April 17, 2012 British inflation ticked up in March, driven by higher food and clothing prices and reinforcing expectations the Bank of England will not inject more stimulus into the economy next month. The Bank of England and the government have been hoping that falling price pressures will ease the squeeze on Britons’ budgets and boost consumer spending. [...]
Gulfsands halts Syria exploration as political pressures force it to retreat February 2, 2012 OIL company Gulfsands Petroleum yesterday said it would try to build a business outside of crisis-ridden Syria as it decided to stop exploring for oil in Syria, six weeks after ceasing production there. The company also said that chief financial officer Andrew Rose would resign from the company in April. Gulfsands said it was “actively [...]
Centrica set to report a profit amid calls for cuts February 20, 2012 BRITISH GAS parent company Centrica is expected to report an increase in its full-year profits this Thursday, as the UK energy sector comes under fresh scrutiny over pricing. The utility provider is forecast to announce a 38 per cent increase in its UK upstream services to just over £1bn, contributing to a growth in operating [...]
Ernst & Young fined $2m in US February 8, 2012 The US watchdog board for corporate auditors yesterday said it has imposed a $2m penalty, its largest fine ever, on accounting and consulting firm Ernst & Young LLP in a settlement involving past audits of Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. The Public Company Accounting Oversight Board said it also sanctioned four current and former Ernst & Young [...]