You won’t believe why some think China’s smog is a good thing December 9, 2013 It's not news that Chinese megacities are suffering from some pretty terrible smog, such as Beijing, pictured above as early as 2008. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) raised it as one of their concerns for the 2008 games. Since then, it's been getting much worse, and many are worried about the health impacts. But it [...]
Ex Barclays chief Bob Diamond returns December 9, 2013 Former Barclays chief executive plans his City comeback BOB DIAMOND is launching a new investment vehicle in London to fund a venture into African banking, his first big move since leaving Barclays in last year’s Libor scandal. City commentators welcomed the investment banker’s return, 18 months after he bore the brunt of the blame for [...]
Mayor’s office sold in £1.7bn Kuwaiti deal December 9, 2013 KUWAITI firm St Martins Group has paid around £1.7bn to buy the More London complex next to Tower Bridge, which includes Boris Johnson’s headquarters City Hall. The sale, one of the largest ever UK commercial property deals, is due to be formally completed next month. The 10-year old development on the south bank of the [...]
Christmas cheer kicks off with card spending boost December 9, 2013 A SEASONAL boost in consumer spending began last month, with new figures from millions of credit and debit cards showing a three per cent increase from October. Online sales were particularly popular in November, according to Barclaycard, swelling to just over a fifth of all spending. Black Friday’s frenzied shopping has now arrived from the [...]
Boris’s airport could get axe in Davies report December 9, 2013 THE MAYOR’s plans for a hub airport in the Thames Estuary could get the axe in a report out later this month, Boris Johnson’s own aviation adviser has warned. Daniel Moylan told industry experts that the plan for an airport based on the Isle of Grain in north Kent or on an artificial island is [...]
World leaders gather to mourn Nelson Mandela December 9, 2013 WORLD leaders including David Cameron, Barack Obama and Angela Merkel will join stars such as Bono, Oprah Winfrey and the Spice Girls for a four-hour memorial service for Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg tomorrow. Although the programme has so far not been revealed, President Obama is likely to deliver a speech and various pop stars are [...]
What the other papers say this morning – 09 December 2013 December 9, 2013 FINANCIAL TIMES HSBC eyes listing of £20bn UK bank HSBC has sounded out investors about a flotation of its UK arm, in a move that would realise value from its high street banking business and address regulatory pressures. The bank has in recent weeks asked investors whether they would support the sale of a sizeable [...]
MPs protest as their pay rises by 11 per cent December 9, 2013 CABINET MINISTERS and MPs have rejected plans to increase the amount they are paid by 11 per cent. The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (Ipsa) is set to bring forward proposals to increase salaries from £66,396 to £74,000, in a move that it says will shed light on what members of parliament are paid. A spokesman [...]
CBI hires new office in the City after 30 years in the West End December 9, 2013 THE CONFEDERATION of British Industry (CBI) today revealed it is moving to the City in the New Year, a major symbolic move reflecting the important of financial services in the capital. The leading business lobby group has been based in Centre Point in the West End for more than 30 years, making its move east [...]
Urenco stake sell-off plan stalls again December 9, 2013 THE GOVERNMENT’S plan to sell off its stake in nuclear business Urenco has stalled for a second time, after an MP in the Dutch parliament said she could see no reason for the sale. The UK government owns a third stake in the uranium enrichment business, with another third owned by the Dutch and the [...]