Britain Financial News

Central bank digital currency (CBDC) evolved into a hot topic in Jamaica when the country’s central bank successfully completed the first pilot test in early January.

The London Stock Exchange Group is seeking to blur the line between public and private companies, part of a plan to attract fast-growing technology firms to list in the UK in the wake of Brexit.

Two teenagers have been arrested in the UK as part of the investigation into a hostage-taking incident in a Texas synagogue, authorities have confirmed.

Tech giant Google has spent €875 million to buy a central London building where it is currently a tenant, showing its confidence in the future of the office as a place to work, the company said on Friday.

A World Health Organisation official warned last week of a “closing window of opportunity” for European countries to prevent their health care systems from being overwhelmed as the Omicron variant produces near-vertical growth in COVID-19 infections.

More than half a million French people will find their vaccination health pass no longer works from Saturday, after the government introduced new rules making a third booster jab obligatory for adults for the pass to be valid.

US officials warned on Friday that Russia could try to frame Ukraine as an aggressor as a pretext to invade the country.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has invited Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to meet with him amid tensions with Russia along the border, one of his close advisers said Friday.

Gina Miller, the prominent City investor and anti-Brexit campaigner, has officially launched her new political party, claiming Britain is being governed by people "who care more about their bank balances, wallpaper and drinks parties" than their voters.

It will also look to address challenges for the sector including creating a regulatory framework that supports innovation and growth while addressing issues such as consumer protection and economic crime.Lisa Cameron MP, chair of the new group, says: "We must ensure that we have an appropriate regulatory framework in the UK which supports innovation and guarantees that the UK remains an attractive destination for innovative firms to set up and grow.

On Monday, UK Parliament launched a cross-party group of MPs and Lords to cover the crypto and digital assets sector. The group is to act as a forum for parliamentarians, policymakers and the UK crypto sector to discuss policy and regulation in the industry. The news followed last week’s announcement that the New York State Department of Financial Services appointed former Promontory executive Peter Marton as deputy superintendent of virtual currency. Marton commented that “Crypto supervision should be a marathon and not a sprint, and I look forward to continue this effort in earnest.” Fed Chairman Jerome Powell also stoked excitement on Tuesday, stating that a highly anticipated report on cryptocurrencies and CBDCs will be released “within weeks” (though originally scheduled for a September 2021 release). Powell made the statement during a Senate Committee hearing, where Senator Pat Toomey also questioned whether the Fed has authority to act as a retail bank for Americans, asking: “It seems to me that there is absolutely nothing in the history, the experience, the expertise, the capabilities of the Fed that lends the Fed to being a retail bank. Is that a fair observation?” Powell responded: “I would say, yes.” Having previously stated that a CBDC would render privately issued stablecoins to become obsolete, he also told Toomey during the hearing that it is possible the two could co-exist.

Several Ukrainian government websites were down on Friday morning following a "massive" cyberattack, officials have confirmed.

The future of the controversial Nord Stream 2 pipeline is likely linked to any possible invasion of Ukraine by Russia, according to the EU's foreign policy chief.

Barclays hired Citigroup's head of investment banking for Germany as the UK lender bulks up its European presence.

Tennis star Novak Djokovic faces deportation again after the Australian government revoked his visa for a second time.

Europe is once again seeing a surge of COVID-19 cases — here is our summary of the measures being taken across the continent.

A top Russian diplomat on Thursday refused to rule out a military deployment to Cuba and Venezuela if the US and allies don't stop military activities on Russia's doorstep.

There is renewed pressure on Britain's beleaguered Prime Minister Boris Johnson amid more claims that his Downing Street staff held parties while the country was in lockdown during the coronavirus pandemic.

The Czech Republic's new conservative-led government won a vote of confidence in the lower house of parliament on Thursday in a mandatory ballot that every administration must win to govern.

Ezechi Britton, the City fintech guru of London-based venture capital firm Impax X Capital Partners, had no idea an MBE was in the offing for him.

France's education minister said the government would provide five million FFP2 masks and hire 3,300 contract workers following a nationwide education strike.