BBC white paper: Government stops short of “castrating” corporation – but raises independence concerns and opportunities for commercial rivals May 12, 2016 The government stopped short of “castrating” the BBC today, in the words of one media analyst. But John Whittingdale's white paper setting out the corporation's future has raised concerns over independence. It has also created opportunities for the BBC's commercial rivals. Independence concerns Under the white paper, the BBC Trust is to be abolished and replaced with a unitary [...]
Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff stands down ahead of impeachment trial May 12, 2016 Brazil's Senate has brought down President Dilma Rousseff, after they voted strongly in favour of putting the embattled politician on an impeachment trial. Following a marathon overnight debate, senators voted 55-22 to try Rousseff for breaking budget laws. The rules mean Rousseff has been suspended from office ahead of her trial. Read more: Rousseff's impeachment is Brazil's [...]
City folks these days just want to start a family May 12, 2016 Even with their sky-high rents, crowded transport networks and lack of greenery, research out today has found that many people think major cities are the perfect place to start a family. The study by the international pensions unit of Allianz discovered that the birthrate in 41 major European and US cities is seven per cent higher than [...]
Remaining in the EU is just the tonic for the UK’s gin industry, says MP Damian Hinds May 12, 2016 Gin exports would be hit hard if the UK voted to leave the European Union next month, a Treasury politician warned today. "The UK’s gin industry is undergoing a remarkable renaissance with the rest of the world developing a taste for our world-leading gin," exchequer secretary to the Treasury Damian Hinds said as he met with industry and Beefeater [...]
Europe postpones publication of 2017 draft budget as Brexit vote nears May 12, 2016 The European Union has pushed back the publication of its draft budget for 2017 – potentially until after the UK holds its referendum on whether to remain a member of the EU. The Budget was originally scheduled to be published on 25 May, but Politico reported this afternoon that it was now not likely to surface until [...]
Prime Minister David Cameron will name foreign firms that own property in the UK May 12, 2016 Strides taken by Prime Minister David Cameron to tackle international corruption have been met with applause from business and campaigning organisations alike, but with warnings that measures need to be thought out and more needs to be done. The Prime Minister plans to set up a register of foreign companies that own UK property, which the [...]
Lloyds shareholders won’t do what they’re told May 12, 2016 Shareholders at Lloyds Banking Group have clearly not caught shareholder spring fever, passing all resolutions at its AGM today, despite an influential shareholder advisory group urging them vote against the remuneration report. Shareholders approved the remuneration report by 97.7 per cent, which puts chief executive Antonio Horta-Osorio in receipt of £8.8m for 2015, down from £11.5m the year [...]
The UK government must remember to tackle corruption at home as Cameron’s anti-corruption summit gets underway in the wake of the Panama Papers May 12, 2016 The Prime Minister's invitation to representatives of other governments to attend an Anti-Corruption Summit in London looked like a good idea when he announced it a year ago. Before, that is, he chose to insult two of the guests. The gaffe has already drawn quick rebuttals from the two countries, with the Nigerian President claiming [...]
Sadiq Khan’s rent caps could benefit London landlords May 12, 2016 London’s newly elected mayor, Sadiq Khan, has already committed to making the London housing crisis a priority. He has announced a raft of policies aimed at helping the capital’s two million private renters, and one is attracting particular scrutiny and controversy – the introduction of a London rent cap. Few people doubt rents in London [...]
Debenhams is placing its Irish business into examinership after sustaining years of losses May 12, 2016 Debenhams is putting its Irish business into examinership, in the hope of gaining some breathing space in which to restructure after successive years of losses. The department store said it had applied to the High Court in Dublin to appoint an interim examiner "with the objective of restructuring its operations to create a competitive and sustainable business in [...]