Customs union debacle could be May’s back me or sack me moment May 4, 2018 Having enjoyed a few, brief weeks of popularity on the back of her Iron Lady moments following the Salisbury attack, Theresa May is back in familiar territory – quick sand. This time however it is not the electorate who are saying enough is enough – although this morning’s local election results will give us a [...]
Another Sainsbury’s shareholder says Asda deal “makes a lot of sense” May 3, 2018 Another Sainsbury’s shareholder has said that the proposed merger with Asda “makes a lot of sense”. Jason Doctor at Pzena Investment Management, which owns around three per cent of the supermarket’s issued shares, told City A.M. it could benefit the Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Argos brands. “The deal itself really makes a lot of sense, it’s [...]
Goldman Sachs to open bitcoin trading desk as it wades into crypto world May 3, 2018 Investment banking giant Goldman Sachs is set to launch a bitcoin trading desk – a first for a major Wall Street bank. “In response to client interest in various digital products, we are exploring how best to serve them in the space,” a Goldman Sachs spokesperson said. Goldman will not initially buy or sell actual [...]
Oleg Deripaska among Russian oligarchs slapped with new US sanctions May 3, 2018 The US has imposed sweeping sanctions against Russian oligarchs, as the Trump administration continues its assault against friends of President Vladimir Putin. Billionaires Oleg Deripaska, Viktor Vekselberg, Suleiman Kerimov and Kirill Shamalov, who the US said is married to one of Putin’s daughters, are on the hit list revealed by the US Treasury this afternoon. [...]
Giro d’Italia chief wants cycling rule change to avoid repeat of Chris Froome saga May 3, 2018 Cycling must change its rules to avoid a repeat of the Chris Froome saga or risk further damage to the sport, says the boss of the Giro d’Italia. Froome is among the riders set to begin the Giro on Friday despite his anti-doping case remaining unresolved – more than seven months after a sample the [...]
New government bill could save tenants £240m, but London estate agents worry it could spark ‘housing crash’ May 3, 2018 A new government bill to ban letting fees across England has ignited fierce debate in the property sector, with tenants and real estate agents drawing battle lines on either side. The government says its Tenant Fees Bill, introduced to parliament yesterday, is designed to “save tenants millions of pounds and make the market fairer and [...]
Minicab drivers protest outside TfL headquarters over ‘institutional racism’ May 3, 2018 Minicab drivers have launched a surprise flash demo at Transport for London’s (TfL) headquarters today to protest against “institutional racism”. The United Private Hire Drivers (UPHD) branch of the Independent Workers Union of Great Britain (IWGB) has accused TfL of pushing policies that have added “crushing new costs” to drivers such as regulations including additional [...]
How Gin took over the world: It’s selling in record numbers with little sign of slowing down, but could the bubble be about to burst May 3, 2018 From Dalston dives to The Rivoli at the Ritz, people are drinking juniper-flavoured ethanol in record numbers. Last year more than 50m bottles of gin were sold in the UK for the first time, with £1.2bn in sales, up from £600m in 2011. That’s more than a billion gin and tonics. And while the best-selling [...]
Don’t cut corners: Now is the time to be loud and proud about being a square, with a new wave of boxy, gender-fluid watches May 3, 2018 Given its position as one of the grande dames (or hommes depending on how you gender your brands) of the luxury watch world, you don’t necessarily equate Cartier with being on trend. Desirable, yes. Classic, of course. But a trend leader, not so much. However, its revamp of its Santos collection unveiled at SIHH was [...]
Where is my mind? How an ancient psychedelic ritual in the Oaxaca region of Mexico turned into the trip from hell May 3, 2018 It’s a beautiful day in San Jose Del Pacifico, a small village high in the mountains south of Oaxaca City, southern Mexico, where I’m sitting in front of the world’s most frightening cup of tea. Opposite me is Paolo, a 19-year-old “mushroom guide” in whom I have placed an inordinate amount of trust. Are you [...]