British academic Matthew Hedges lands back in London after seven-month detention in UAE November 27, 2018 Matthew Hedges, the British academic freed by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday after being sentenced to 25 years in jail as a spy, landed back in London this morning. The 31-year-old PhD student thanked the Foreign Office and the British embassy for securing his release, and thanked his wife, Daniela Tejada, who has spent [...]
Profit slumps at De La Rue following UK passport loss November 27, 2018 De La Rue today reported a fall in profits in its first results since it lost the contract to print the UK’s passports. The figures The company said its adjusted operating profit fell 36 per cent to £17m in the six months to 29 September when compared to the same period last year. Revenue increased [...]
Thomas Cook shares plummet as it issues £30m profit warning following summer heatwave November 27, 2018 Thomas Cook's share price crashed by 30 per cent this morning as it announced a £30m profit warning, blaming the summer heatwave for hitting the package holiday provider’s main trading period. The warning – the business's second in two months – comes as the firm reported its tour operations arm was down £88m, impacted by discounts in [...]
Theresa May challenges Corbyn to Brexit TV debate on eve of parliament’s vote November 27, 2018 Theresa May has thrown down the gauntlet to her Labour rival over Brexit, challenging Jeremy Corbyn to a televised debate. The Prime Minister claimed the Labour leader hasn’t got a plan for Brexit, despite criticising the deal she is trying to win support for ahead of a crucial parliamentary vote next month. “I am willing [...]
Five reasons why tech stocks are in trouble November 27, 2018 For months, technology stocks have been the holy grail for growth, with valuations reaching dizzying heights. So, considering that what goes up must come down, perhaps it’s not surprising that stocks started tumbling last week. Share prices for each of the five tech giants – Facebook, Amazon, Apple, Netflix, and Google (the so-called Faangs) – [...]
Have faith, the UK can weather the political storm November 27, 2018 Winston Churchill once said that Brits are “the only people who like to be told how bad things are, who like to be told the worst”. In these turbo-charged political times, I would take it one step further and say that Brits not only like to be told the worst, but they often expect the worst. [...]
Former UBS rogue trader Kweku Adoboli accuses Home Office of ‘state violence’ following his deportation to Ghana November 27, 2018 Six years to the month since he was sentenced at Southwark Crown Court, Kweku Adoboli – the man responsible for the biggest unauthorised trading loss in UK history – is travelling along Ghana’s coast towards an idyllic seaside retreat known for its turtles and palm trees. Adoboli’s journey, however, has been far from leisurely. Earlier this [...]
Forget ‘just deserts’ and keep your nose out of other people’s pay November 27, 2018 Two decades ago, it was considered rude and crass in Britain to openly discuss wages and salaries. Now, everyone seems to have an opinion on how much others should earn. There has always the been broad lament about footballers’ wages being “ridiculous”, of course, or that nurses and teachers were “undervalued”. And after the financial [...]
It’s no crystal ball, but polling is essential for democracy November 27, 2018 At the time of writing, the political landscape in the UK seems as uncertain and changeable as the weather. It all hinges on Theresa May’s Brexit plan, which, if not accepted by parliament, increases the likelihood of the UK barrelling towards a new referendum, or even a General Election. And that means election polling. Election [...]
DEBATE: Was it right for MPs to use obscure parliamentary powers to seize Facebook documents? November 27, 2018 Was it right for MPs to use obscure parliamentary powers to seize Facebook documents? Kevin Craig, chief executive and founder of communications agency PLMR, says YES. There is something poetic about British politicians using one of the most archaic parliamentary powers to tackle a very modern policy challenge. Since the Cambridge Analytica story broke, Facebook has [...]