Heineken sells Russia firm at loss of £256m almost 550 days after Ukraine invasion August 25, 2023 Brewing giant Heineken has completed its exit from Russia, around 18 months after the invasion of Ukraine. The Dutch firm, which also makes Amstel and Birra Moretti beers, said it has now secured the sale of the business, which includes seven breweries, to Russian company Arnest Group for 1 euro. It said it expects to [...]
‘Highly likely’ Wagner chief Prigozhin is dead, says MoD August 25, 2023 It is “highly likely” that the leader of the Wagner mercenary group who challenged the Kremlin in a failed mutiny is dead, the UK Government has said. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) cautioned that there is “not yet definitive proof” that Yevgeny Prigozhin was onboard a plane that crashed north of Moscow on Wednesday, but [...]
MPs who lose seat to see ‘winding-down’ payments DOUBLED August 25, 2023 MPs who lose their seat at the next general election will receive double the financial support. Winding-down payments designed to help departing MPs close their office and manage the departure of staff will also now be available to those who step down at the election. MPs received two months’ wages after losing their seats at [...]
Brexit: UK faces science ‘brain drain’ amid delays in joining EU research scheme August 25, 2023 A delay in joining the European Union’s research and innovation scheme has “damaged the UK’s reputation” in the life sciences field, experts have claimed, with scientists “finding it much harder to bring the brightest and best into their labs”. The Government was also warned the UK faces a “brain drain” of talent if not made [...]
Trump returns to X, formerly Twitter, and posts for first time two year…. his mug shot August 25, 2023 Former president Donald Trump has returned to X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, firing off his first message in more than two years shortly after he surrendered at an Atlanta jail. He posted a photo of his mug shot and the words “Election interference. Never surrender!” along with a link to his [...]
Online Safety Bill: UK tech superpower dreams could be crushed by over-regulation August 24, 2023 New rules in the European Union’s Digital Services Act (DSA) are set to come into force tomorrow, while the UK’s Online Safety Bill (OSB) remains mired in parliamentary proceedings, reigniting the regulation debate among tech companies and industry experts. The OSB, which aims to enhance online safety and security for users within the UK, is [...]
Labour raises £47m in donations as scrambled egg offensive pays off August 24, 2023 Labour’s success in raising £47m in donations over the past year shows it is “on course” ahead of a general election next year, sources say. According to figures published today by the Electoral Commission, Sir Keir Starmer’s party has built up a £47m war chest over the last year, trumping the Conservative Party, which saw [...]
Vivek Ramaswamy: The Republican outsider Donald Trump might actually be afraid of August 24, 2023 Ahead of the 2024 US presidential election, news headlines have been dominated by one man: former president and four-time indictee, Donald J Trump. But following the first Republican primary debate last night, a surprising candidate emerged as a potential rival for the nomination. Not Florida governor Ron DeSantis, or former vice president Mike Pence. And [...]
Asylum backlog reaches new record high August 24, 2023 The UK’s asylum backlog has hit a new record high, with 80 per cent of people waiting longer than six months for an initial decision. Home Office figures show a total of 175,457 people were waiting for an initial decision on an asylum application in the UK at the end of June 2023. This is [...]
Louis Theroux warns on campaign for ‘Brexit from the BBC licence fee’ August 24, 2023 Louis Theroux feels there is a “vested interest” by some media outlets for a “Brexit from the licence fee”. On Wednesday, during the annual MacTaggart lecture at the Edinburgh Television Festival, the broadcaster and documentary-maker said he believes the BBC is in a “no-win” situation of trying to “avoid offence” and in danger of avoiding [...]