6:52 am, February 25, 2022
Nato allies to prepare next steps after ‘horrific’ rocket strikes in Kyiv
Fresh strikes have hit Kyiv amid warnings Russian forces are closing in on the capital as Nato allies prepare to determine the West’s next steps against the Kremlin.
The Ukrainian foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said in a tweet just before 4am on Friday that ‘horrific rocket strikes’ hit Kyiv in an attack he compared to the city’s 1941 shelling by Nazi Germany.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the government had information that ‘subversive groups’ were encroaching on the city, as US secretary of state Antony Blinken said Kyiv ‘could well be under siege’. US officials believe the action is an attempt by president Putin to dismantle Ukraine’s government and replace it with his own regime.
Hundreds arrested as shocked Russians protest over Ukraine attack
Shocked Russians turned out in their thousands to condemn their country’s invasion of Ukraine as emotional calls for protests grew on social media.
Some 1,702 people in 53 Russian cities were detained, at least 940 of them in Moscow.
Hundreds of posts came pouring in condemning Moscow’s most aggressive actions since the 1979 Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
Ursula von der Leyen reveals package of further EU sanctions against Russia
Ursula von der Leyen said Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine marks the ‘beginning of a new era’ as the European Commission president outlined a package of further EU sanctions against Russia.
Following a late-night European Council meeting on the situation in Ukraine, von der Leyen said the package includes financial sanctions, targeting 70 per cent of the Russian banking market and key state owned companies, including in defence.
In a series of tweets early on Friday morning, von der Leyen said the sanctions show ‘how united the EU is’.
Chancellor Rishi Sunak receives questionnaire in Met partygate probe
Rishi Sunak has received a questionnaire from the Metropolitan Police in its investigation into the partygate saga.
The PA news agency understands the chancellor has received the form, and it will be returned within seven days as requested by officers.
Sunak previously confirmed that he was at one of the events subject to Metropolitan Police inquiries – a birthday do held by Downing Street staff and Boris Johnson’s wife Carrie for the PM on June 19, 2020.
Motorists warned ‘Russia’s actions will push petrol past £1.50 per litre’
Motoring groups have warned that average petrol prices will soon jump above £1.50 per litre as a knock on effect of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Sources reported a new record high of an average of 149.5p per litre of petrol and almost 153p per litre for diesel, with every indication being that this will continue to rise.
In October 2021, record prices that had stood since 2012 were broken, with new records set daily until mid November. There was a slight reprieve for motorists over Christmas and the new year, but on February 13 new records were set once more, and prices have continued to rise.
New MG4 electric hatchback teased
MG has teased a new electric hatchback that will be revealed in full later this year.
Expected to be called MG4, it will go into competition with the likes of the Volkswagen ID.3, but will likely be pitched as a much less expensive alternative.
In a teaser video that only gives the occasional glimpse of the car’s styling, it’s clear that the new model has a sleek and simple design, with full-width LED rear lights and curious lumps in the roofline, visible through the sheet covering the digitally rendered car.
Thursday Car Dealer headlines you might have missed
- Inchcape’s pre-tax profit for 2021 more than doubles to £296m
- Dealership group Cambria’s profits more than doubled last year but staff numbers were cut as it looked to go private
- Car dealers are putting up the prices of new cars – and it’s winding up manufacturers
- Alfa Romeo and DS Automobiles confirms switch to agency agreements with its dealers in 2023
- Toyota says it’s still committed to hydrogen cars despite growing range of battery EVs
- Hyundai chief creative officer Luc Donckerwolke named 2022 World Car Person of the Year
- Close to half of car buyers remain ‘on the fence’ about eco issues, eBay Motors Group finds
- Nissan announces updates to Leaf for 2022 with model set to hit dealerships next month
Lowest consumer confidence for 13 months amid ‘perfect storm’ of rising costs
Consumer confidence plunged in February amid a ‘perfect storm’ of price rises, increased taxation and interest rate hikes, a long-running survey shows.
GfK’s Consumer Confidence Index fell seven points to minus 26 this month.
The headline score is the lowest since January last year – one of the worst points in the Covid crisis. Worries about the onslaught of pressures on household finances saw every measure of the survey fall on a month ago.
M&S voted UK’s favourite in-store supermarket in annual Which? survey
Marks & Spencer has been voted the UK’s favourite in-store supermarket despite a strong showing from discounters Aldi and Lidl as consumers face up to the cost-of-living crisis.
The high street stalwart’s upscale food offering received a customer score of 78 per cent in the annual Which? survey, receiving five stars for store appearance, customer service and the quality of its own-brand and fresh products.
Aldi came second with 77 per cent and Waitrose was third with 75 per cent. Tesco (70 per cent), Sainsbury’s (68 per cent), Asda (67 per cent) and Morrisons (67 per cent) – were all in the bottom half, and the Co-Op was voted the worst (61 per cent) with respondents it’s ‘expensive’ and ‘always crowded’.
Weather outlook
A drier and more settled day with plenty of sunshine, reports BBC Weather. However, cloud and rain will build in the north-west later on.
The north will continue to see cloud and spells of rain tonight. Clearer further south but it’ll be a breezy night for all.
