US manufacturing contracts for the first time since 2012 – has it just scuppered Janet Yellen’s plans for an interest rate hike? December 1, 2015 Unnerving times for Fed-watchers, after figures published today showed US manufacturing contracted in November for the first time since 2012. The Institute for Supply Management's New Orders Index registered a score of 48.9 per cent in November, four percentage points lower than November's 52.9 per cent – and its weakest since June 2009. For those nervously [...]
London Bridge station area reopens after evacuation due to security alert around Hays Galleria and Tooley Street December 1, 2015 A shopping area just a moments walk from London Bridge has reopened after been evacuated by police because of a security alert. The Met police said they were called to Tooley Street just after midday. Those working in the area reported being evacuated from nearby buildings and Hays Galleria being cordoned off. The area is host to [...]
Where can you set up a business quickly? These are the top countries for getting start-ups off the the ground December 1, 2015 Entrepreneurs looking to set up a new business as quickly as possible will have most luck in New Zealand or Macedonia, figures from Approved Index show. By studying 2015 World Bank data to find out how long it takes to legally launch a new company in each country, they found that only in these two [...]
EU referendum: Chancellor George Osborne says EU cap on bankers bonuses has been “entirely counterproductive” December 1, 2015 Speaking to MPs on the influential Treasury Select Committee, chancellor George Osborne has called the EU cap on bankers bonuses counterproductive. In response to a question from Conservative MP Mark Garnier, Osborne said: "The bonus cap to my mind has been entirely counterproductive, it has led to higher base pay within banks, it hasn't reduced overall [...]
Sofia airport evacuated, anti-terror officers deployed, after explosive device found in Bulgaria’s main airport December 1, 2015 Bulgarian police have shut off part of the country's main airport after finding an explosive device in the back of a van parked outside. Terminal 1 of Sofia airport has been evacuated, and flights to and from the airport have been delayed, while the safety of the area is still being determined. Specialist anti-terrorist officers have been [...]
Richard Desmond hopes Trinity Mirror chief Simon Fox “Fox off” over Mirror Express deal December 1, 2015 Northern and Shell owner Richard Desmond has told rival newspaper group boss Simon Fox to "Fox off" over rumours that Trinity Mirror wants to buy his Express newspapers – but admitted that he had tried to arrange meetings to buy the Mirror. In a strongly worded retort to Fox, who said he still has his "sights set" on [...]
SodaStream has set up sugary statues near Westminster – but not everyone’s impressed December 1, 2015 Never ones to miss a marketing opportunity, fizz aficionados at SodaStream have launched a new art project overlooking the houses of parliament – three giant statues of everyday people made entirely of sugar. The stunt coincides with the latest report from the Commons’ Health Committee which said there was now “compelling evidence” a tax on sugary [...]
When is the next Budget? 16 March 2016 date revealed by George Osborne December 1, 2015 The dust has only just settled on the chancellor's Autumn Statement, but there's no time to sit back and relax. The year's not even over and George Osborne has penned in the date of his next Budget in 2016: get 16 March in your diary. Osborne told parliament today the date has been set. There's little [...]
Defence secretary Michael Fallon beefs up argument for air strikes in Syria saying UK is already a target December 1, 2015 Ahead of the one-day House of Commons debate on where the UK should its allies in bombing the so-called Islamic State in Syria, defence secretary Michael Fallon has warned that IS is "a very real threat to us here in Britain". Speaking to MPs on the defence select committee, Fallon said the UK is "already a [...]