According to Martin Lewis, this news is huge!!!
STOP PRESS. Huge car finance mis-selling news - automatic payouts likely. Regulator the Financial Conduct Authority has today (Tue) announced it plans to 'consult' (in reality, this means it's made up its mind) on making firms automatically pay car finance redress, rather than making people complain to get a payout. Millions could be owed. See Martin's video & analysis on who's affected. |
FGS
Is this the most crucial
Business Minister Justin Madders told MPs he "fully accepts" the principle of bereavement leave for pregnancy loss and promised to look at adding the right to the Employment Rights Bill.
Currently employees are eligible for parental bereavement leave if they or their partner have a stillbirth after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
Labour MP Sarah Owen, who chairs the Women and Equalities Committee, has been calling for this right to be extended in cases where miscarriages take place before 24 weeks.
We will never move forward if this is the critical point! |
VIDEO
Karoline Leavitt holds briefing as Trump threatens more tariffs
Fox News
VIDEO..Donald Trump: "I'll take jobs back from China, Mexico" |
VIDEO
Karoline Leavitt holds briefing as Trump threatens more tariffs
Fox News
VIDEO..Donald Trump: "I'll take jobs back from China, Mexico" |
After 13 trading days, buyback complete to date:
Total shares to date...........................128,083,648
Aggregate cost to date.........................£89,294,122.98
Average price paid to date.....................69.7155p
Percentage of £1.7 billion buyback completed...5.25% |
Not just a game anymore
Premiership sides Wasps, London Irish and Worcester Warriors went out of business during the 2022-23 season, while the last set of accounts from the top-flight clubs showed collective losses of £30.5m and net debts of more than £300m.
The RFU revealed record losses of its own in November, with the same set of accounts also showing chief executive Bill Sweeney was paid a total of £1.1m, made up of a salary of £742,000 and a £358,000 bonus.
Sweeney faces a crunch vote on 27 March, with the RFU's membership of grassroots clubs deciding whether to back his proposed reforms or demand he steps down.
Phps the game is up? |
 FCA next steps on motor finance review
Released 07:00:12 11 March 2025
RNS Number : 1622A
Financial Conduct Authority
11 March 2025
STATEMENT ON MOTOR FINANCE REVIEW NEXT STEPS
If motor finance customers have lost out from widespread failings, we are likely to consult on a redress scheme
We are currently reviewing the past use of motor finance discretionary commission arrangements (DCAs). We're seeking to understand if firms failed to comply with requirements relating to DCAs and if consumers lost out as a result. If they have, we want to make sure consumers are appropriately compensated in an orderly, consistent and efficient way.
Since we launched our review, a ruling by the Court of Appeal has raised the possibility of widespread liability among motor finance firms wherever commissions were not properly disclosed to customers. The Supreme Court will hear an appeal against the Court of Appeal's judgment on 1 to 3 April. We have been granted permission to intervene in the case and have filed our submission with the Court.
We want to provide as much certainty as possible to firms, consumers and stakeholders. So, we are confirming that if, taking into account the Supreme Court's decision, we conclude motor finance customers have lost out from widespread failings by firms, then it's likely we will consult on an industry-wide redress scheme. We previously said it is more likely than when we started our review that we will introduce an alternative way of dealing with complaints.
Under a redress scheme, firms would be responsible for determining whether customers have lost out due to the firm's failings. If they have, firms would need to offer appropriate compensation. We would set rules firms must follow and put checks in place to make sure they do.
A redress scheme would be simpler for consumers than bringing a complaint. We would expect fewer consumers to rely on a claims management company, meaning they would keep all of any compensation they receive. It would also be more orderly and efficient for firms than a complaint led approach, contributing to a well-functioning market in the future.
Next steps
We are no longer planning a further announcement in May. Instead, we will confirm within 6 weeks of the Supreme Court's decision if we are proposing a redress scheme and if so, how we will take it forward.
The Court of Appeal case involved complaints about discretionary and non-discretionary commission arrangements (non-DCAs). Our next steps on non-DCA complaints will also be informed by the outcome of the Supreme Court case.
Depending on the Supreme Court's decision, we may also consult separately on changes to our rules.
Throughout our work, we will continue to consider how to make sure affected consumers are appropriately compensated and the motor finance market continues to work well, with effective competition, for the millions of consumers who rely on it every year. |
Trump putting more tariffs on Canada. |
Long Term Bond increases affecting everything. |
Why's this dropping like a stone again.? |
USAID funded Ukrainian group that smeared J. D. Vance
The Grayzone has published an exposé on Kiev outfits targeting Americans with US taxpayer funds
The US Agency for International Development (USAID) has been implicated in funding a Ukrainian organization, Molfar, which labeled Vice President J.D. Vance and other US officials and public figures “foreign propagandists” aligned with Russia, according to an investigation by The Grayzone.
Molfar, established in 2019, describes itself as an open-source intelligence community platform which “collects lists of Ukrainian enemies to bring war criminals to justice.” The group’s website identifies USAID and the US Civil Research and Development Fund (CRDF) as partners, indicating financial and operational support from US government agencies.
The group’s online blacklist not only targeted Vice President Vance for his statements opposing continued US financial support for Kiev and Ukraine’s NATO membership, but also other American figures, including US Counterterrorism Director Joe Kent and Republican Congressman Thomas Massie. Molfar’s website advocates for their “removal from public positions, the introduction of sanctions, and investigations into personal involvement in crimes.”
In addition to political figures, Molfar has targeted American journalists, including Max Blumenthal, editor-in-chief of The Grayzone. The organization accused Blumenthal of disseminating Russian narratives and threatened to expose his personal information, including home addresses and family details.
Other notable figures targeted by Molfar include billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk, journalists Glenn Greenwald and Tucker Carlson, and award-winning American economist and public policy analyst Jeffrey Sachs.
A report published by Ukraine’s National Coordination Cybersecurity Center (NCSCC), bearing USAID’s logo, highlighted that Molfar had assisted in training thousands of Ukrainian government employees in cyber warfare techniques and psychological operations. The report stated that over 2,000 public workers had participated in practical assignments covering topics such as open-source and contact searches, the use of Telegram bots, using psy-ops as a method of information warfare, human intelligence and social engineering.
According to The Grayzone, Molfar’s activities are part of a broader network of Ukrainian organizations involved in Kiev’s information war efforts at the expense of US taxpayer money.
Another self-styled “fact-checking” outfit, VoxUkraine, has received substantial funding from the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) and USAID. Its VoxCheck project has allegedly been involved in censoring Americans’ social media posts for being deemed pro-Russian.
Similarly, the Center for Countering Disinformation (CCD), an official body under Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council, has collaborated with both Molfar and VoxUkraine to combat “disinformation,” often labeling US public figures as promoters of Russian propaganda, including current US Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.
Immediately upon assuming office, President Donald Trump suspended most US foreign assistance pending a three-month review to determine whether programs should continue, based on their alignment with the new administration’;s “America First” goals.
USAID, Washington’s primary mechanism for funding political projects abroad, has seen tens of billions of dollars’ worth of approved grants frozen as a result. The NED’s government funding was also frozen. Officially a US State Department-funded nonprofit for distributing grants to pro-democracy causes abroad, the NED has long faced allegations of acting as a CIA proxy for toppling foreign governments. |
Ukraine crisis11 Mar, 08:22
Ukraine says lost supply lines in Kursk Region due to pressure from Russian army — media
"The Russians are pressing from all directions now," the Ukrainian military officer said"
WASHINGTON, March 11. /TASS/. The Russian Armed Forces have blocked the supply routes of the Ukrainian army in the Kursk Region, putting Kiev's troops in a difficult position, a serviceman of the 82nd separate airborne assault brigade of the Ukrainian armed forces said.
"The situation is difficult because they control the logistics routes," he told The Washington Post. "The Russians are pressing from all directions now - it's tough," another Ukrainian military officer told the publication.
The Kursk Region came under a massive attack from Ukraine on August 6, 2024. A state of federal emergency is in effect in the region. Civilians are being evacuated from the border areas. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Kiev has lost more than 64,000 troops since fighting began in the Kursk area. The operation to destroy Ukrainian troops continues. |
When will we be offered an industrial policy that works?March 10, 2025 The government came to power saying it would put in an industrial policy. So far it has been running an anti industry policy for the UK.It is banning all new oil and gas drilling and development, running down this tax generating high pay industry faster.It is toughening the complete phase out and closure of all factories making petrol and diesel cars.It has failed to sure up some of the promised investments in electric vehicle manufacture, and not attracted new onesIt has promised lots of green jobs, whilst the wind turbines and solar panels are still importedIt decided to allow the closure of the UK's last blast furnaces to make new steelIt allowed the closure of Grangemouth oil refineryIt launched a big tax attack on businesses with its National Insurance and iht increasesIf it wants an industrial policy it needs toReverse its tax risesSet a competitive Corporation tax rate like Ireland, which brings in more tax per headGet energy prices down a lot by encouraging more gas power generation as baseloadLifting the bans on oil, gas, ICE carsUsing its planned increase in defence spend to commission more orders from Uk based competitive production...John Redwood.... |
Analysts are bullish on Lloyds share price: should you?
Lloyds Bank's stock price has surged this year.
Analysts are optimistic about its performance.
Morgan Stanley analysts expect the stock to surge to 90p.
Lloyds share price continued its strong surge this year as European bank stocks soared and after publishing strong financial results. LLOY soared to a multi-year high of $74.46 also after analysts upgraded the stock, pointing to its strong positioning.
Lloyds Bank stock has jumped by over 252% from its lowest level in 2020, giving it a market cap of over $57.8 billion. So, is it a good stock to buy?
Lloyds stock surge mirrors other European banks
The ongoing LLOY share price performance mirrors the performance of other European bank companies that have surged this year.
Societe Generale share price has jumped by over 50% this year, making it the best-performing major banks globally.
In the UK, NatWest share price has soared by almost 90% this year, while Barclays has surged by 70% in the last 12 months.
Other European banking groups like UBS, Santander, Credit Agricole, Unicredit, and HSBC have all surged. These companies have continued to outperform their American peers like JPMorgan and Goldman Sachs.
The ongoing surge is because many of these banks have benefited from higher interest rates in the past few months. Higher rates helped to boost their earnings, which in turn, pushed them to increase their distributions to shareholders.
Lloyds Bank, which has a dividend yield of 4.13%, has boosted its payouts in the past few quarters, helped by its strong balance sheet. The company is achieving this by continually reducing its CET-1 ratio. It has a CET-1 ratio of 13.5%, and the management now hopes that the figure will drop to 13% by 2026.
These actions have led to multiple upgrades of the Lloyds share price. Just last week, analysts at Morgan Stanley and Peel Hunt upgraded the stock, citing its strong performance and the fact that it may play catch up to other banks.
Morgan Stanley expects that the Lloyds share price will surge to 90p, while Peel Hunt boosted their outlook to 70p.
LLOY business is thriving
The most recent results showed that LLoyds Bank’s business was doing well. For example, over 20 million customers are now using its mobile applications to handle transactions, up from 15 million in 2021.
Another key data point is that Lloyds Bank now has over 3 million mass affluent customers, higher than 2 million in 2021.
Net income has jumped from £15 billion to £17 billion, while the company has addressed the pension deficit that stood at over £7 billion a few years ago.
The most recent results showed that Lloyds Bank’s business did better than expected. Its net interest income came in at £12.8 billion, while its total net income fell by 5% to £17.1 billion.
The company will likely continue doing well this year as demand continue rising in the coming months.
The weekly chart shows that the LLOY share price peaked at 74.55p this month. It has remained above the crucial resistance level at 63.35p, the highest swing in October 2024.
The stock has remained above all moving averages, a sign that bulls are in control for now. Also, the Relative Strength Index (RSI) and the Stochastic RSI have pointed downwards.
Therefore, the stock will likely drop and retest the key support at 63.35p, the highest swing in October 24 last year. This performance is known as a break and retest pattern, pointing to more upside in the coming weeks. This means that the stock will ultimately jump above 80p later this year. |
VIDEO
Trump Just Crashed The Stock Market |
Russian Drones Struck Ukrainian Hotel Full Of NATO Instructors, Airfield, Logistics Hubs Etc
Support SouthFront
The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are pounding Ukrainian rear infrastructure with daily massive missile and drone strikes, while the Ukrainian military does not stop targeting Russian energy facilities with variable success.
On the night of March 10th, the Armed Forces of Ukraine attempted another attack in Russian rear regions. According to the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, nine Ukrainian drones were destroyed by Russian air defense during the night. They included:
three UAVs in the Samara region;
two UAVs in the Voronezh region;
two UAVs in the Oryol region;
one UAV in the Belgorod region;
one UAV in the Kursk region.
Ukrainian attack was not massive, but some of the drones managed to break through Russian air defense deep in the Russian rear area. According to the governor of the Samara region, three Ukrainian UAVs targeted industrial facilities in the town of Novokyibishevsk located on the southern outskirts of Samara, about 900 kilometers away from the border. The local authorities did not reveal what exact facilities could be the target of the attack. The local sources supposed that the main target of the strikes could be one of the largest enterprises of the production of gas processing, petrochemicals and organic synthesis products, owned by Rosneft, located in the town. The attack was repelled. Three Ukrainian drones were destroyed inflicting no damage. There was also no damage reported in other Russian regions.
The Ukrainian military decreased the intensity of drone strikes on the Russian territory in recent weeks. Attacks with NATO missiles were also suspended, probably as a result of Washington’s decision to stop military supplies and sharing its reconnaissance data with the Ukrainian military. In their turn, Russian forces continue increasing the intensity of its constant strikes, inflicting heavy damage throughout Ukraine.
According to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Russian forces launched 176 UAVs last night. Ukrainian air defense allegedly destroyed 130 Russian drones, 42 decoys disappeared inflicting no damage. The Ukrainian military officially confirmed damage in the Kharkiv, Poltava and Kiev regions.
However, numerous Russian strikes with drones of various types, missiles, including Iskander, Kh-69, upgraded heavy bombs were recorded in the Donbass as well as in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporozhie, Kherson, Kiev, Chernihiv, Kremenchug, Poltava, Cherkassy, Dnepropetrovsk, Odessa and Mykolaiv regions yesterday day and night.
On the night of March 10th, Russian forces attacked the critical infrastructure of the Armed Forces of Ukraine with Geran-2 UAVs. The targets included repair bases, logistics hubs, fuel storage facilities and infrastructure of military airfield.
The capital region of Ukraine came under a massive attack. Russian strikes were recorded in Vasilkov, Bucha, Boyarka, Brovary, Vyshgorod as well as in the city of Kiev. At least three Russian kamikaze UAVs struck the territory of the military airfield in Vasilkov. As a result of the strikes, the control system of flight routes of Ukrainian and foreign UAVs was damaged, together with the communication system that coordinated the work of UAV units was, and two mobile charging and testing stations for UAVs were disabled.
According to local reports, Russian drones also destroyed depots with weapons from NATO in Brovary.
At least two Russian kamikaze drones struck the 81th support center of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the town of Konstantinovka in the Mykolaiv region. The attacked facilities provided for the accumulation and provision of fuel to Ukrainian units on the southern frontlines. As a result of the drone strikes, a large fire broke out in the area, inflicting heavy damage to the local refueling and distribution systems, pumping stations, and fuel depot.
On the evening of March 9th, a series of explosions thundered on the outskirts of Mykolaiv. According to local reports, Russian drones struck another hotel full of Ukrainian servicemen and foreign military instructors in the village of Balovnoe located near the local airport. The hotel came under five strikes. According to unconfirmed reports, about 30 servicemen were killed, including foreigners. The victims could be Ukrainian pilots trained by military instructors from the West.
Thea eastern border regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Cherkassy are heavily pounded by Russian strikes non stop, because there are large Ukrainian forces accumulated. New wave of Russian strikes were recorded in Sumy, Ahtyrka, Chuguev, Zmiev, Balakleya, Kharkiv, Nezhin.
Russian Drones Struck Ukrainian Hotel Full Of NATO Instructors, Airfield, Logistics Hubs Etc
Damage in Balakleya
At least two Russian Geran-2 kamikaze UAVs destroyed the repair base and parking of military vehicles hidden on the territory of the Agronom agricultural enterprise in Verhnezoryanske in the Kharkiv region.
More Russian drones struck the territory of the poultry farm used as a temporary deployment point for logistics units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The facility housed rear units that provided transportation of food, engineering equipment and ammunition.
Support SouthFront |
Indeed Ping - cest la vie - je me suis trompe - the mongs will never pay just the fools
Y do so may get a pension when they contributed nothing?
Ask liberal steve webb who made those who paid less better off.
Dont bother - rats of nimmh are always nearby - and they will inherit the earth for we are just parasites. |
The mongs voted for the inept but the rest of us inherited the debt |
Ping
Get real
The mongs voted for the inept and they will inherit the debt.
Truth in politics is like a RC sermon in a mosque - without meaning!
Sadly liars have persisted re brexit since treason and she was not sent to the tower - dont expect anything by tonys by th elot of them.
Vote FFS for what - another bercow waste of taxpayers money -
Met a welsh - small w - who said the Senedd labour always looked after ppl
Deluded but probably never worked - gets a pension for nothing and a bungalow thrown in.
Equality FGS! |
After 12 trading days, buyback complete to date:
Total shares to date...........................94,293,563
Aggregate cost to date.........................£66,425,939.57
Average price paid to date.....................70.4459p
Percentage of £1.7 billion buyback completed...3.91% |
Register for real-time alerts, custom portfolio, and market movers
Hot Features
Premium
