Greece-Eurozone standoff presents “greatest risk to economy” George Osborne warns as Yanis Varoufakis visits London February 2, 2015 The standoff between Greece and the Eurozone presents the greatest risk to the global economy, chancellor George Osborne has said. Osborne, who met Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis in London today, said both sides needed to consider how they worked in future, or risk derailing growth, both globally and specifically within the UK. Varoufakis [...]
The world in 2030: Bill Gates’s prediction for global change over the next 15 years February 2, 2015 It's impossible to predict exactly how innovations will have changed the world by 2030, but there are few people better equipped to hazard a guess than Bill Gates. The philanthropist and co-founder of Microsoft told The Verge he believes four key changes will take place globally over the next 15 years, in terms of how we [...]
Mike Ashley could face parliamentary investigation over USC February 2, 2015 Mike Ashley could face a grilling by Scottish MPs over the administration of USC, with politicians pressing to launch a full parliamentary investigation into his activities. The Scottish Affairs Committee is launching an inquiry into the fast fashion chain, with MPs last week branding the redundancies of more than 200 “despicable” and “appalling”. [...]
Greeks fly in for debt showdown: Finance minister Yanis Varoufakis to meet George Osborne on European tour February 1, 2015 The anti-austerity Greek finance minister is to meet with chancellor George Osborne today as part of a Europe-wide charm offensive to win over creditors and fellow politicians. Investment bank Lazard has been hired by the Greek government to advise on its debt burden during negotiations. Greek officials will also be in the City this week, [...]
Putin’s latest aggression is just smoke and mirrors: We must now call his bluff February 1, 2015 When we last left Vladimir Putin at the end of 2014, he was a cornered animal at bay, turning with teeth bared as the forces of the market relentlessly drew closer to him. But ever the creative tactician, the Russian President is seeking to – not for the first time – dramatically change the facts [...]
Obama plans to tax US companies’ $2tn profits held overseas at 19 per cent closing loophole February 1, 2015 US companies could face a larger than expected tax bill after Barack Obama revealed plans to tax the foreign profits they hold overseas at a rate of 19 per cent. In the US President’s budget, due to be announced this week, a new one-off 14 per cent rate of tax on the estimated $2tn of [...]
Bill Gates talks artificial intelligence concern, immortality, overpopulation and more in “ask me anything” January 29, 2015 If there's one thing Bill Gates enjoys more than computer software, philanthropy and tennis, it's talking to people on the internet. Whether it's TED Talks, book recommendations or online newsletters, the Microsoft founder loves to communicate with the web's masses. The billionaire took to Reddit for his third "Ask me Anything" yesterday, and what followed [...]
Educating Yanis Varoufakis: Greek finance minister and his English mentor MP Stuart Holland January 28, 2015 Former British MP Stuart Holland, who calls newly elected Greek finance minister Yanis Varoufakis a close friend of over a decade having worked with him on a number of academic economics papers, last night said he felt more confident than ever in Greece’s economy. “He is brilliant, and he’s very well informed because we’ve been [...]
Mark Carney calls on Germany to foot Eurozone’s risk January 28, 2015 Eurozone countries should share more risks and allow taxpayers’ money to circulate more freely as it does between countries in the UK, Mark Carney said in an unusually outspoken address last night. The Bank of England governor hinted that Greece’s troubles would be less severe if it could access more German money, comparing the situation [...]
Drastic Dave reveals 43 Tesco store closures January 28, 2015 TESCO chief executive Dave Lewis yesterday lived up to his nickname “drastic Dave” as the company named the 43 stores it would be closing in a bid to revive its flagging fortunes. The retailer said it would shut 30 convenience stores – including 18 Express outlets and 12 inner-city Metro shops – along with seven [...]