Kim Dotcom’s “weirdest Xmas ever” as New Zealand court rules Megaupload founder can be extradited to the US December 23, 2015 Not usually one to understate things, Megaupload founder Kim Dotcom was unusually muted when he tweeted overnight that "this is my weirdest Xmas ever" – shortly before a New Zealand court ruled that he can be extradited to the US to face trial on charges of copyright infringement, racketeering and money laundering. Dotcom (born Kim [...]
Third quarter French GDP held at 0.3 per cent December 23, 2015 Looks like it's going to be un Noël médiocre across the channel, after French GDP was held at 0.3 per cent for the third quarter. That figure is up from zero per cent in the second quarter. It's worth pointing out that the figure does not take into account any effects of the Paris attacks, which [...]
EY’s Japanese business suspended and fined 2.1bn yen over Toshiba reporting December 22, 2015 EY's Japanese arm has been handed a 2.1bn yen (£11.7m) over failings related to Toshiba, it was revealed today. In a statement, Japan's Financial Services Agency (FSA) said it was suspending Ernst & Young ShinNihon from accepting new engagements from 1 January until 1 March 2016, and handed it a 2.1bn yen fine. "Partners of the firm [...]
Moody’s downgrades Toshiba ratings as share price falls again December 22, 2015 Looks like Toshiba's attempt to "gain the trust of all stakeholders" has fallen flat. Not only did shares in the stricken Japanese conglomerate fall more than 12 per cent overnight – but Moody's has now downgraded ratings. In a statement today, Moody's said it was downgrading Toshiba's long-term senior unsecured bond ratings to Ba2 from Baa3, and its [...]
Bad news for George Osborne as UK borrowing rises again, missing expectations December 22, 2015 Public sector borrowing rose to £14.2bn in November, missing expectations of £11.8bn and rising higher than this time last year, when the UK borrowed £12.9bn. The figure suggests the Treasury is likely to miss a full-year target of £73.5bn set by the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), analysts suggested. "Barring a dramatic improvement in the [...]
From lack of control to confident ignorance – these are the three different types of stupid December 22, 2015 From blatant buffoonery to more subtle levels of idiocy, most of us would agree that it takes a lot of effort just to avoid stupidity as we negotiate daily life. But now scientists have given us a helping hand – by putting labels on the different types of stupidity. Hungarian experimental psychologist Balazs Aczel and his team collected online news [...]
CBI Distributive Trades Survey: The run-up to Christmas has been less than merry for disappointed retailers December 21, 2015 Sales growth in the run-up to Christmas has been below retailers' expectations, new figures have shown – despite being above average for the time of years. The Confederation of British Industry's (CBI) Distributive Trades Survey showed 43 per cent of retailers said sales volumes in December were up on the same period last year, against [...]
Fiery festive infernos and attacking mistletoe berries: Here are six ways Christmas is trying to kill you December 21, 2015 A dystopian future is about to be upon us, in which trees spontaneously burst into flames, man-made machines run out of control and, trapped in small spaces and driven mad by cabin fever, humans turn against one another. This is not a drill. Christmas is almost here. Are you prepared for the health and health [...]
Quindell, aka Watchstone Group, resumes trading on Aim – and share price jumps more than 150 per cent December 21, 2015 Like the phoenix rising from the ashes, so shares in Watchstone Group, the company formerly known as Quindell, jumped more than 150 per cent as they resumed trading this morning. At one point shares in the troubled insurance claims processor were up more than 180 per cent, at 197p. Last week, shares in the company were [...]
Storm Desmond cost £520m – as insurers shell out £2.6m in emergency payments December 18, 2015 Almost two weeks after the event, the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has finally put a price tag on the havoc wreaked by Storm Desmond: the flooding is likely to cost insurers £520m, it said today. Thousands were evacuated, with thousands more left without power as Storm Desmond passed through Cumbria and the Scottish borders at the beginning [...]
