Rebels in Syria give Al-Assad Deadline

The free Syrian army have given Al-Assad government a 48 hours deadline to comply to the UN ceasefire plan.

Colonel Qassim Saadeddine of the (FSA) Free Syrian Army said if president Bashar al-Assad government forces do not withdraw to barracks them they will no longer feel bound by the peace plan

Andy Coulson Has Been Charged With Perjury

Mr Coulson has been charged with Perjury after questioning in Glasgow.

He was arrested on Wednesday evening after being detailed at his London home and then taken to Scotland and questioned for six hours before being released.

Mr Coulson gave evidence at the former trial of Tommy Sheridan in 2010 where Coulson denied being involved in any illegal activities including phone hacking.

Andy Coulson also was former adviser to the prime minister David Cameron.

Insurance News Today

- Derry Andrews gets appointed by AXA ppp international sales manager

- Chartered broker status given to cullum capital ventures

- There could be up to 170 job losses at Kwik-fit

- Giles insurance brokers announce losses of £37.4 million slightly higher than their previous years losses

- Professional Insurance Agents Ltd in acquisition mood. CEO Graham Hearsey said the time is right for us to look very carefully at our nearest competitors and make them a generous offer to leave the field of play, we are particularly interested in online trading companies who offer products such as professional indemnity, directors and officers insurance and public liability in the SME arena.

Kofi Annan Meeting President Bashar al-Assad

Mr Annan is to meet the president of Syria Bashar al- Assad to express his deep concern about the recent massacre in the Houla region, he called the killings "an appalling moment with profound consequences" and that government needed to take "bold steps" to show the international community that it was serious about peace.

Cornish Pasties & VAT

The government is said to have done a U turn after considerable protest from bakers and caravanning owners who were going to be effected by the proposed take by the chancellor George Osbourne.

The new ruling is based on foods such as pasties and sausage rolls that is cooking down rather than in a hot unit will not be liable for VAT, and a 5% rate on static caravans will be delayed now until April next year.

Houla Tragedy

Kofi Annan is to visit Syria today after the shocking deaths of 108 people many of them children.

The UN has condemned Syria for using its heavy weaponry with total disregard for civilians.

Insurance News

- New facility for solicitors professional indemnity insurance offered to Professional Insurance Agents Ltd.

- Aviva share price hits the lowest point in 3 years with its share price falling from 295p to 264p at close on Friday.

- JLT beat their rivals Aon, Marsh and Willis by getting organic growth 7.3%

-Is it time to spilt up the ABI, into two separate areas, life insurance and general insurance although people do not always see the insurance industry as different clearly life and general insurances are like chalk and cheese.

- Professional Insurance Agents Ltd the online multiquote and buy brokers CEO Graham Hearsey is offering its system to all appointed representatives that join their new net work. The company will be launching a new brand name for appointed representatives and will allow each member to negotiate their own deal subject to turnover and GWP brought in to the new network.

Share Prices Have Sharp Fall

The worlds stock exchanges faced massive drops mainly over the Euro crisis and ahead of the EU meeting no one country seemed to escape the down ward fall in share prices with Italy, Spain, London, USA, Germany all feeling the concerns by investors over Greece's future in the Euro and very little hope a Greek recovery.

With the Greek Prime Minister Lucas Papademos slating that his government may be making preparations to leave the Euro.

Chancellor Angela Merkel said a proposed scheme of a pan-European bond favoured by Francois Hollande would not be possible until other nations improved their finances.

The UK cannot escape the Euro crisis and with significant trading in Eurozone small and large businesses could be effected.

CEO Graham Hearsey of Professional Insurance Agents Ltd said we have been trading in Ireland Netherlands and Italy over the last few years and this latest movement in the markets will have an impact on our business.

Former Police Officers & Scotland Yard Detective Arrested

3 former officers and a Scotland yard detective have been arrested being held with possible charges of corruption and bribery.

The investigation revolves around a Nigerian Fraudster James Ibori who stole millions from his homeland.

Egyptians to Have First Free Presidential Elections

After the spring uprising the Egyptians people are going to the polling stations. Some fifty million people in Egypt are able to vote and queues are already started at many polling stations.

The candidates and leaders most likely to gain votes are AMR Moussa head of Arab league, Mohammed Mursi Muslim brotherhood, Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh, an independent Islamic candidate Ahmed Shafiq, who was briefly prime minister during 2011 riots.

The Business Secretary Vince Cable says Beecroft Report is Wrong

David Cameron commissioned a report to call for shorter periods of consultation over redundancies and to make it easier for companies and employers to dismiss staff  who are not doing their jobs correctly.

The business secretary Vince Cable said that the 'Beecroft' report was the "wrong approach" and the government should not be able to 'scare the wits' out of people.

There are several proposals with the report to help business cut through the red tape they currently have to face.

Facebook Shares at $38.92

The facebook share at $38 a share after a delay on Friday slid 12% immediately at the opening bell on wall street.

Robert Greifeld said he was humbly embarrassed by the glitch by a technical problems on the nasdaq stock exchange.

There was talk that the facebook advisors set the price too high.

Insurance News

- Brokers worried about regulation BIBA said that this has become brokers main concerns most of companies surveyed wanted reform on the FSCS.

- Sky and Groupama agree a new deal offering car insurance which could bring in £1.5 million in the first year of trading.

- Professional Insurance Agents Ltd has been in talks with several large brokers who need software support for their Quote and Buy SME business mainly in financial lines such as Professional Indemnity Insurance and Directors and Officers covers.

- Aviva announces a small drop in profits from over the same period last year.

Moody's Cut Spanish Banks Rating

16 Spanish Banks including Santander UK have had their credit ratings cut.

The rating agency Moody's quoted the reasoning for their down grading of Spanish banks is because of "adverse operating conditions" recession problems with real-estate and high unemployment, together with a slow down in building projects.

Financial services are bound to be effected and business in Spain and trading UK companies could all find it more difficult to trade.

Leading brokers Professional Insurance Agents Ltd said that "it had targeted Spain as one of its growth areas to offer its financial services to, but may now have to put things on hold for the foreseeable future."

The Winding Down of Northern Rock May Cost Tax Payer Dearly

It has been revealed, that the winding down of the collapsed bank Northern Rock may well cost the tax payer £2billion which has been suggested by the public watchdog.

The national audit office also stated that the payer lost around £480million on the sale of Northern Rock last year. 

Bosses Should Work Harder

William Hague the foreign secretary said that bosses should stop "complaining about the economy and work harder" and also said the UK needed to re-orientate itself when it came to exports with the idea of working with economies such as India, Thailand, and Indonesia. Government should help businesses more, the British chamber of commerce said "Businesses are already busting a gut" labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said Hague comments would "infuriate" people.

Russian Jet Goes Down in Indonesia

The search for the Russian Sukhoi superjet plane in Indonesia has revealed that a search helicopter spotted what was thought to be wreckage.

The Russian plane was said to have had around 45 people on board, the plane crashed at the edge of Salak Mountain.

Syria Has Another Day of Explosives

There were 2 explosions in the Syrian Capital Damascus yesterday where it is said that dozens of people have been killed wounded.

Insurance News

1. Aviva CEO will be leaving Andrew Moss after agreeing not to take a rise in his wages, which would have given him a salary over £1million.

2. Professional Insurance Agents Ltd expand their Online Quote & Buy Software division, CEO Graham Hearsey said PIA have to be ready for Europe with all the Eurozone problems, clients are looking for a better deal on their insurance costs and our system will deliveries cheap business insurance throughout Europe.

3. HSBC set to make provision against the bad selling of PPI plans when setting up loans. The bank is likely to keep a fund in reserve of about 3.2 billion  to pay against possible claims.

Labour Wins Victories in England and Wales

Labour after winning around 200 seats in local elections in England and Wales claim that Ed Miliband is now of course for no 10.

Based on what has happened locally they claim to project 39% in the national vote which will seriously effect any future coalition government.

Todays Insurance News

- Towergate report losses after tax up to 75.5 million with annual interest bill, 2011 remains positive blaming the economy.

- Fears that Zurich's latest job cuts are not going to mean it plans to leave the personal lines area, even with up to 400 job cuts between now and then end of 2014.

- Ken Clarke the justice secretary is gunning for claims on whiplash and a meetings due at a second ministerial summit which insurance bosses will attend. This will be top of the agenda.

- Professional Insurance Agents Ltd CEO Graham Hearsey said they are now interested in rapid expansion and looking for a growth plan over 2 years which he claims could produce 20 million GWP. If plans for Europe, UK, and international trading goes ahead.

Insurance News

- Aviva brings in changes at the top

- AXA has direct PI insurance from their quote and buy system.

- Simply business owned partly by Brit who were taken over by QBE may be up for sale.

- Professional Insurance Agents Ltd seal a new deal with Canadian brokers to offer PI and household insurance from there online quote and buy system.

-QBE get regional brokers who were dealing with Brit to sign new agreements to trade.

Roy Hodgson Appointed

Roy Hodgson the new England manager is trying to get terry and Ferdinand to play together in Euro 2012. Not every one is happy about Roy Hodgson appointment when most people are players ant to give Harry Redknapp for the new England manager. So it will be left for us all to see.

Dr James Flanagan Research Could Predict Womens Breast Cancer Risk

Dr James Flanagan of Imperial College London, could predict breast cancer years before any diagnosed problems by a genetic test.

The test looks at how genes are altered by hormones, alcohol and environment, the concept is called Epigentic.

Research has indicated that as many as one in five women is thought to have a genetic "switch" that could double breast cancer risk.

Europe Plans May Day Protests

Europe rises up against austerity measures, plan protest in France, Greece, Portugal and Russia could take place on the 1st May.

Even North America and some areas in Asia are planning to join the marches.