German business confidence jumps after trade war fears ease August 27, 2018 Germany's business confidence improved markedly in August, according to a closely watched survey, in a strong positive signal from the Eurozone's economic powerhouse following a diminished threat from the trade dispute from the US. The Ifo (Insitute of Economic Research) business confidence index rose to a reading of 103.8, up from 101.7 the previous month [...]
Tesla shares drop after Elon Musk changes tack over plans to go private August 27, 2018 Tesla shares have dropped nearly three per cent as investors get to grips with Musk's U-turn over plans to take the company private. Tesla's shares were valued at $314.77 (£244) each, while in Germany they saw a more dramatic five per cent drop. Earlier this month Tesla's chief executive Elon Musk spooked investors when he [...]
Rules shake-up to allow non-MPs to stand as next Liberal Democrats leader August 26, 2018 The Liberal Democrat's next party leader might not have to be a member of parliament. Current leader Sir Vince Cable is expected to announce reforms to allow candidates outside of the party's existing 12 MPs to run for office, as he seeks to push deeper involvement for supporters in its internal election process. On 7 [...]
Clock’s ticking: Payday lender Wonga is ‘on the brink of collapse’ following a spike in customer claims August 26, 2018 Embattled payday lender Wonga is facing insolvency, just three weeks on from receiving an emergency £10m cash injection. The London firm is expected to appoint Grant Thornton to act as its administrator if its board decides Wonga cannot avoid falling into insolvency, Sky News first reported. Today's administration fears follow several enquiries from claims management companies [...]
Government to crack down on ‘reckless’ company directors August 26, 2018 Directors who dissolve firms to avoid paying out pension pots or salaries to workers could get hit with hefty fines under a new government initiative. The Insolvency Service (IS) will be tackling directors who dodge paying their company's debts by dissolving the firm and then setting up a near identical business, in a process also known [...]
Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing suspends its carpooling service after a passenger was killed August 26, 2018 Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing has suspended its Uber Pool-esque service Hitch nationwide, after a woman was raped and killed by a driver in Wenzhou. The company said in a statement that the suspension was the result of "disappointing mistakes", while it takes time to reevaluate Hitch's business model. A 20-year old woman only identified by [...]
US senator and war veteran John McCain dies aged 81 August 26, 2018 US Senator John McCain, a former war prisoner and veteran and one-time presidential candidate, has died aged 81 after a battle with brain cancer. The Arizona senator had been fighting an aggressive brain cancer since July 2017, alongside other health problems for which he had surgery earlier this year. His family announced on Friday that he [...]
Notting Hill Carnival: The full list of stations and roads closed this Bank Holiday weekend August 26, 2018 It's that time of year again: London's big summertime bank holiday weekend, and the travelling chaos that often comes with it. Here's a handy list we've compiled of everything you'll need to get around London until Tuesday. Running from Saturday 25 August until late on Monday 27 August, travel during the Bank Holiday in the [...]
US pushing for EU trade negotiations to move faster August 25, 2018 The US is pushing the EU to move faster on trade negotiations following the meeting between US President Donald Trump and EU Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker last month. Emily Haber, Germany’s ambassador to the United States, told reporters a working group formed after the Trump-Juncker meeting had convened for the first time this week, and [...]
Bank holiday: Rainy weather forecast for London August 25, 2018 Partygoers at one of Europe’s biggest street party Notting Hill Carnival could be in for a drenching tomorrow with heavy and persistent rain forecast. The Met Office expects a bright start to tomorrow which will then turn windy with outbreaks of rain spreading east. Read more: London mayor Sadiq Khan should park the cap on [...]