Latest news with #Bowes
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why high street banks may not be the best place for your regular savings
Several banks have announced rate reductions on their savings accounts since 8 May when the Bank of England cut the base rate to 4.25%. HSBC, for example, will cut the rate on its flexible saver account from 1.35% to 1.30% AER on 21 July, while Barclays will cut the rate on its everyday saver from 1.16% to 1.11% AER on 4 not only high-street providers that have cut rates. At the beginning of the year, before the Bank of England made its first rate cut in February, the top unrestricted easy access account available was with Gatehouse Bank and was paying 4.75%. Today, after two base rate cuts amounting to 0.5%, this account is now paying 4.15% - so has fallen at the same rate. "The difference, of course, is that the Gatehouse account is still fairly competitive - paying just a little less than base rate - and importantly more than CPI inflation," says Bowes. So, although high street banks are cutting rates by a smaller amount, they are still very uncompetitive. For those who are willing to shop around, there are still good rates to be found, with the top easy access accounts changing very little since January. "At the beginning of the year, the average of the top five easy access accounts was 4.79% - at the time of writing it's 4.66% with the top rate from Chip paying 4.77% AER," Bowes adds. "So, for those with cash in their high street bank's easy access account, don't wait for the rates to be cut - you are likely to already be getting a raw deal, so switch today to get your cash working harder." Here's how the high street banks compare to the best easy access rates for a balance of £10,000... And for a £50,000 balance... Taking a wider look at the savings market, we saw the average rate for one-year and two-year bonds fall slightly. But those willing to lock their cash away for three or five years could benefit more as the average rates on these accounts increased. "This now means that the rates for all terms are very similar, which could mean that locking in for the longer term is more appealing to those people who were put off by the fact that the rates were much lower in the past," Bowes says. "Of course, there is a possibility that with inflation expected to increase again, certainly in the short term, further rate cuts may not happen immediately, but the trajectory is still downwards. "Therefore, if you're locking some of your cash up for the long-term you might be pleased you have done so in one or two years' time when your bond comes up from maturity, if the rates available then are lower." Here's a look at the best rates available... We saw similar movement in fixed-rate ISAs, which have been very resistant to the recent base rate cut. The top one-year rate is slightly higher than it was a week ago, as is the five-year rate. "Remember, although the ISA rates look like they're lower than that of the equivalent fixed-term bonds, after tax is deducted from the bond often a cash ISA will provide a better return to those people who are paying tax on their savings now," Bowes points out. "Of course, it's also important to shop around to earn as much interest as you can." Here's a look at the best rates available...
Russia Today
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
RT journalist speaks out after deportation from Romania (VIDEO)
The Romanian authorities accused RT journalist Chay Bowes of representing a security threat before deporting him from Bucharest on Thursday. The Irish reporter was taken by police from a flight from Dublin that had arrived in the Romanian capital, where he had traveled to cover the upcoming re-run of the presidential election. Bowes was put on a plane to Istanbul later that day. Shortly after touching down in Bucharest, a group of police officers walked onto the tarmac and boarded the plane, Bowes said. 'They asked the cabin crew where I was. I identified myself, and three police came on to the plane and told me that I had to come with them, [and] that I was being detained,' he said after arriving in Istanbul. As other passengers watched 'with amazement,' police escorted Bowes for an interrogation. 'I was asked questions in the vehicle by the officers – where I was going and who I was going to meet. I told them I was a journalist. They wanted to know who I was going to speak to, which I declined to tell them. I said I'm here to cover the election.' Bowes said he was then taken to 'a smaller interrogation room with two chairs and a table.' I was presented with a document, which was presumably stamped by a judge. They wouldn't let me have a copy of it. They wouldn't let me take a photograph of it. It said that I was a threat to the security of the state, and on that basis they were deporting me from Romania. Bowes denounced the deportation as a 'fundamental breach' of his rights as a journalist and an EU citizen. 'I entered the country completely legally – to do my job. This is really quite shocking,' he said. The presidential election in Romania will take place over two rounds on May 4 and 18. The dates were set in January after Romania's Constitutional Court annulled the results of the initial vote held in November 2024. The original first round had been won by independent candidate Calin Georgescu, a vocal NATO critic and opponent of supplying weapons to Ukraine, who received 23% of the vote. Romania's top court, however, cited 'irregularities' in his campaign and referenced intelligence reports alleging Russian interference, which Moscow denied. It later emerged that a TikTok influencer campaign had been funded not by the Kremlin, but by the pro-EU Romanian National Liberal Party, which has governed the country for much of the past three decades. Its most prominent member, Nicolae Ciuca, was a losing candidate in the November election.
Russia Today
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Russia Today
‘Russophobia' behind Romania's expulsion of RT reporter – Tara Reade (VIDEO)
The recent detention and deportation of RT correspondent Chay Bowes from Romania highlights growing 'Russophobia' in the West, particularly in Western media, according to Tara Reade, an RT contributor and a former US Senate aide. The incident 'says volumes' about Romania's upcoming presidential election, Reade claimed, and questioned why the country would prevent international observers from attending. Bowes, an Irish journalist and EU citizen, was detained on Thursday after arriving in Bucharest to cover the election re-run, but was later deported to Istanbul. According to Bowes, Romanian authorities labeled him 'a security threat' – a notion Reade said she finds alarming. 'I'm shocked that they have detained him… what does Romania have to hide? It makes you wonder, what is going on,' Reade said, speaking to RT on air following the news of Bowes' detention. She tied the move to what she described as 'Russophobia' and efforts by Western governments to suppress Russian-affiliated voices. 'Russophobia has now spread so much to Western media, and has fueled this fear of any kind of journalist that might even work for [Russia]… It's seeped through to every fabric of international conversations… it's ridiculous, the Russophobia,' she said, calling the trend 'really concerning, because we are living in a multipolar world and there's no room for Russophobia anymore.' Romania's presidential election re-run was ordered after last year's results were annulled over alleged violations. NATO critic Calin Georgescu won the first round, but the Constitutional Court invalidated the result, citing campaign irregularities and accusations of Russian interference – claims Moscow has denied. It later emerged that the controversial campaign in question had been funded not by Moscow, but by Romania's pro-EU National Liberal Party, which was reportedly targeting a rival but inadvertently boosted Georgescu instead. The re-run is set for May 4 and May 18.
Irish Times
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Irish Times
Chay Bowes, an Irishman working for Russian state media, ‘deported' from Romania
Chay Bowes, an Irishman working for Russian state media, says he has been detained and deported from Romania having been labelled a 'threat to the security of the state'. Mr Bowes, who was one of the founders of The Ditch news website before parting ways with the publication, is a correspondent for RT, a Kremlin-backed television news channel, previously known as Russia Today. In a video posted online on Thursday night, Mr Bowes said he had travelled to Romania to cover the country's presidential election . The election, which is scheduled to be held on May 4th and 18th, is a repeat of the 2024 ballot after Romania's constitutional court voided the initial results following accusations of Russian meddling, which Moscow denied. READ MORE On landing at Bucharest on a flight from Dublin , Mr Bowes said several police officers boarded the plane seeking him out before he was subsequently detained and questioned. Mr Bowes claimed he was presented with a document by Romanian authorities which said he was 'a threat to the security of the state'. 'And on that basis, they were deporting me from Romania,' he said. 'I entered the country completely legally to do my job and this is really quite shocking.' The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is aware of reports of the case. Last year French officials warned the Department of Foreign Affairs about efforts by Russia to extend its disinformation activities into Ireland in the run-up to the 2024 European elections . A network of Russian websites and social media accounts was uncovered by French security officials who alleged Moscow was using it to sow discord in EU countries by exploiting grievances around divisive issues such as immigration . The Irish website featured stories about Mr Bowes and his praise for Russia, along with other material on Ukraine and immigration. Romanians are due to vote in a presidential election re-run that could propel to power ultranationalist George Simion (38), an outcome likely to cause unease in the European Union and Nato. The hard-right Eurosceptic leads opinion polls before the first round of voting on Sunday, five months after the original vote was cancelled because of alleged Russian interference. Moscow has denied the allegations. – additional reporting Reuters
The Journal
02-05-2025
- Politics
- The Journal
Irish journalist and RT correspondent Chay Bowes reportedly arrested in Romania
IRISH JOURNALIST and RT correspondent Chay Bowes has reportedly been arrested in Romania. RT, formerly Russia Today, is reporting that Bowes had travelled to Romania ahead of its presidential election on Sunday. The upcoming election is a rerun after November elections were cancelled amid allegations of Russian interference in favour of far-right candidate Calin Georgescu , who is barred from the new vote. RT has reported that Bowes was 'detained' in Bucharest after landing there to cover the election. Speaking on RT, Afshin Rattansi said he understands that Bowes is 'being released on his way to Istanbul'. Advertisement However, RT's editor-in-chief Margarita Simonyan later posted on X to say that Bowes had been 'deported from Romania, and placed on a flight out of the EU to Istanbul'. BREAKING: Our correspondent Chay Bowes has now been deported from Romania, and placed on a flight out of the EU to Istanbul. Chay is Irish, and while an EU country can refuse entry to another EU citizen under extreme conditions, he has to be a threat to "public policy, security… — Margarita Simonyan (@M_Simonyan) May 1, 2025 Simonyan posted: 'Chay is Irish, and while an EU country can refuse entry to another EU citizen under extreme conditions, he has to be a threat to 'public policy, security or health'. 'Chay committed no crime other than his professional plans to cover the Romanian election for us. 'Once again, Romania proves itself the authoritarians' testing ground for a future Europe.' The Department of Foreign Affairs has been approached for comment. Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone... A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation. Learn More Support The Journal
