Scottish independence: BT, TalkTalk, EE, Telefonica, Vodafone and Three warn of increased costs if Scots vote Yes September 14, 2014 Six of Britain's leading telecoms companies are the latest to warn of potential price rises if Scotland votes Yes to independence. The chiefs of BT, TalkTalk, EE, Telefonica UK, Vodafone UK and Three UK have issued a joint letter warning that the uncertainty around regulation and spectrum allocation, which mobile networks use to operate, could [...]
No campaign stretches lead to 8 points ahead of Scottish independence referendum – poll September 13, 2014 A new poll by Survation has given the No camp a seven point lead, showing 49 per cent to 42 per cent disparity. Excluding don't knows, the gap stretches to eight percentage points in favour of No: 54 per cent plays 46 per cent. Any single poll can be incredibly misleading when taken in isolation, [...]
Apple reports record demand for iPhone 6 as share price levels September 13, 2014 After what must have seemed an interminable wait for the Apple fangirls and boys, the pre-order drama was over in hours. Apple says that pre-orders of the largest of its two new handsets, the iPhone 6 plus, broke records; selling out quickly and crashing websites. With iPhones roaring off the shelves, it would perhaps seem [...]
Ebola outbreak: Black market trade in blood serum worries World Health Organisation September 13, 2014 As the Ebola outbreak continues and reports emerge of hospitals turning suffering people away, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has revealed the black market trade in treatments produced from survivors' blood. As this fantastic map from the BBC shows, almost every region in Sierra Leone and Liberia has reported deaths, and the disease is continuing [...]
Boris Johnson will be the Conservative candidate in Uxbridge September 13, 2014 Cameron's star player will be on the field in 2015, after he was selected to contest the safe Tory seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. Johnson professed himself "thrilled" and said he expected the Tories to win in the general election in 2015. The Mayor of London, currently serving his second term in the post, [...]
Who have the US and EU put on their Russian sanctions hit lists (and why)? September 12, 2014 Further sanctions against Russia came in today, and it's safe to say that if you are in President Putin's inner circle you've probably been affected. A number of companies – including Gazprom – have also been targeted by the punitive measures for the first time. Here is our round up of who the [...]
Scottish independence: MPs blasted by Star Wars-loving Yes supporter September 12, 2014 Westminster MPs were faced with a less-than-warm welcome today, when they were greeted by an independence suppoter blaring out the sounds of the Imperial March and shouting “welcome imperial masters”. A delegation of 104 MPs and MEPs, led by leader Ed Miliband and including Lord Prescott, Yvette Cooper, Jack Straw, Peter Hain, Ivan Lewis [...]
Former DUP leader Ian Paisley dies aged 88 September 12, 2014 The former leader of the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) Ian Paisley, died this morning aged 88. In a statement, Baroness Paisley said: Although ours is the grand hope of reunion, naturally as a family, we are heartbroken. We loved him and he adored us, and our earthly lives are forever changed. A controversial figure Paisley [...]
What is Formula E? Your guide to Leonardo DiCaprio and Richard Branson’s favourite new motorsport September 12, 2014 Racing goes on the grid for the first time this weekend, as the debut season of Formula E gets underway in Beijing this weekend. Formula E is the electricity powered alternative to the more gass-guzzling versions of motorsports, backed by the Federation Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA) and an array of famous faces including Leonardo DiCaprio and [...]
UK employment rises by second fastest rate in the EU (after Hungary) September 12, 2014 The United Kingdom enjoyed the EU's second largest rise in employment in the 12 months to July, with the annualised rate up 2.7 per cent (seasonally adjusted). Only Hungary – at 3.1 per cent year on year – saw a faster rise. Eurostat released figures for employment rates across the European Union today, showing second [...]