George Osborne’s pensions revolution: Withdrawing cash early is big risk October 14, 2014 The insurance industry and business groups have issued a stark warning following the government’s most recent pensions announcement, claiming that withdrawing cash from pension pots too early could store up huge financial risks for the UK for years to come. Yesterday chancellor George Osborne hailed the next stage in his pensions revolution with news [...]
Mark Zuckerberg donates $25m to Ebola aid fund October 14, 2014 Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan are donating $25m to help fight Ebola. The Facebook founder revealed today that the couple would be making the multi-million dollar donation to the Centers for Disease Control Foundation. The CDC Foundation is an independent, nonprofit organization that provides money to the Centers for Disease Control [...]
Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg shells out $100m for Hawaii holiday sanctuary October 14, 2014 Mark Zuckerberg has splashed out over $100m on two pieces of land on Hawaii's stunning Kauai North Shore, according to Forbes. The properties are reported to total 700 acres. The first purchase was the Pila'a beach, which consists of 383 acres of dazzling white sand. The private beach was owned by Pfleunger properties, a company belonging [...]
Mark Carney on interest rate rises, Eurozone weakness and the 2015 general election October 13, 2014 Is Bank of England governor Mark Carney on a media blitz? He’s already taken the opportunity to tell bank chiefs to face up to new laws which make them legally responsible for any wrongdoing. And, while attending the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund in Washington, he’s also given interviews to CNBC and CNN making clear that eurozone weakness and [...]
General election TV debate: Ukip’s Nigel Farage invited to face main Westminster party leaders October 13, 2014 Ukip has just received its latest batch of good news with leader Nigel Farage being invited to take part in next year's general election TV debates with the main Westminster party leaders. The broadcasters explained their decision saying it was the result of "changes in the political landscape". The BBC, Sky, ITV and Channel 4 [...]
UK’s Eurostar stake up for sale as George Osborne looks to raise £300m October 13, 2014 The government is looking for a buyer for its 40 per cent stake in the cross-channel Eurostar to raise up to £300m. Chancellor George Osborne has invited bidders for the train operator, which is also owned by the French state-owned rail operator SNCF and the Belgian state-owned SNCB, and hopes to finalise the sale during [...]
Row in the City as Boris vows to cut EU migration October 13, 2014 BORIS Johnson took the fight to UKIP yesterday, pledging to introduce a points-based immigration system or else quit the EU altogether. But his promise sparked a war of words between business groups and MPs as some backed his plan while others want firms to be allowed to hire the workers they need. “In the renegotiation, [...]
Mark Carney says bank chiefs should put up with new jail threat law October 13, 2014 Bank of England governor Mark Carney yesterday brushed off the concerns of bankers who are quitting the industry over plans that could see senior executives sent to jail. “If you are the chairman or the head of the risk committee, you have a responsibility for the activities of that institution,” said Carney, speaking in the [...]
Chuka Umunna: Labour will cut tax for firms who lift wages October 13, 2014 Firms who pay their low-paid staff a higher wage should get tax breaks, Labour’s Chuka Umunna said yesterday, ahead of a debate in the House of Commons over the minimum wage. The shadow business secretary will call for an £8 per hour minimum wage, a new mandate for the Low Pay Commission (LPC) to push [...]
Richard Branson: How passion can change your life October 12, 2014 Buzzwords can get tiresome, and “passion” is one that’s thrown around liberally. We’re told it pays to be passionate in our jobs, and that passionate leadership is the best kind. But however fed up most might feel with the word, Richard Branson has always been passionate about passion – arguing it got him to where [...]