MEPs' new powers increase risk of EU protectionism<BR>

Greek PM refuses to rule out forced restructuring if voluntary deal cannot be reached; IMF looks to increase its funds to deal with eurozone crisis

Size of second Greek bailout may need to be increased; Handelsblatt: German government has begun preparing for the return of the Drachma

Do long as the banks do not lend this situation will persist. Bank lending has been the way we’ve made the money that the country needs to keep the economy going. As long as banks don’t lend, and that looks likely to be for some time to come since without an increase in one of

Local Labour MP John Denham has reacted angrily to the 8.2% hike in water bills by Southern Water, the highest increase in the country. He's accused Southern Water and the City Council of wasting money and driving up bills. Warning that many families will struggle to meet the new charges he said that it is particularly galling that Southern Water has to spend £500,000 on replacing a sew...

"And as to neoliberalism laid bare. Yes, the industrial revolution is the only way we humans have found of improving the living standards of the average guy in the street. I, as a liberal (even if neo) would like the living standards of the average guy to increase. Thus I support the industrial revolution. Yes, in all its mess and clamour: for it is making things better. I’m out and I&ac...

The number of people without a job increased at the end of last year, highlighting a deteriorating situation in the eurozone, according to figures released by Eurostat yesterday (31 January). More »

Readers may be interested in an e-petition on the HM Government website which calls on the Government to implement the tax cuts for the poorest which Nick Clegg called for last week.  It says: Please sign this to persuade George Osborne to fast track the Lib Dem policy to increase the income tax threshold to

Russian gas export monopoly Gazprom has restricted supplies to Europe, its largest foreign market, to cover an increase in domestic demand caused by a cold snap.  More »

At least that's what a number of sources are reporting. The rift I reported on earlier between President Ahmadinejad and Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei has not lessened, but gotten even greater. The chief cause of the friction is that Ahmadinejad has been seeking increased power and freedom of action while showing a disturbing tendency not to follow orders to put it mildly, and the Mullahs...