Ukraine won’t repay $3bn payment due to Russia this weekend December 18, 2015 Ukrainian president Arseniy Yatsenyuk has announced a "moratorium" on the payment of a $3bn (£2bn) bond due to Russia this weekend, effectively defaulting on the payment. In a televised appearance, Yatsenyuk said the two sides had failed to reach an agreement over restructuring its debt. On Twitter, he added: "From now on payments of debts [...]
Robots to take over the world in 2016, and five other crushingly predictable tech forecasts December 18, 2015 Every year the tech glitterati creates “tech predictions”. Once these were far-fetched, futuristic and fantastic. They promised jet cars, space food and handheld communicators. Nowadays, when our smartphones have almost as much computing power as Tim Peake’s new home, they can be a little… repetitive. So. Will those tech predictions everyone’s making come to pass? [...]
London’s rental crisis worsens, with 12 tenants for every new property listing December 18, 2015 London's rental crisis is getting worse, after a report suggested demand for rental properties has jumped 43 per cent in the past year. In fact, there are now 11.8 tenants to every rental property listing in the capital, compared with 7.5 in April, the figures by London lettings and property management agent Martin & Co [...]
The UK’s love affair with salmon and breakup with soup: Three charts showing how our festive shopping habits have changed December 18, 2015 If you're planning on sitting down to a breakfast of smoked salmon and scrambled eggs on Christmas morning, you won't be alone – after UK manufacturers reported a 25 per cent increase in salmon sales between 2013 and 2014. That's according to a release by the Office for National Statistics, anyway, which has published details [...]
As survey expects 31 million car journeys to be made over Christmas, Transport for London unveils festive roadworks on Embankment, Blackfriars Road and Old Street December 18, 2015 Transport for London (TfL) has announced the details of its festive road work programme, which will hit parts of the Embankment, Blackfriars Road and Old Street – on the same day a survey suggested 31 million car journeys will be taken over the Christmas period. TfL said it was taking advantage of a time when roads in [...]
UK’s last deep coal mine to close as Kellingley Colliery ceases production December 18, 2015 The merry oompah of a brass band will be but an echo at the UK's only remaining deep coal mine, as it shuts its doors today. Kellingley Colliery, in North Yorkshire, will cease production just before 1pm today, after 50 years. It's the end of a two-year process to close down the UK's deep mine, [...]
Npower on Ofgem’s naughty list as it is handed a £26m fine over billing and complaints failings December 18, 2015 Looks like Npower will find nothing but coal in its stocking this Christmas. The power supplier has been hit by a £26m fine from energy regulator Ofgem, after it was accused of failing to handle complaints from customers effectively. The issue affected more than half a million customers between September 2013 and December 2014, the [...]
From Ed Miliband to Martin Winterkorn: These are 2015’s biggest people moves December 18, 2015 From politicos to business nerds, it's been a busy year for people-watchers of all ilks, as the mighty fell. Whether you were more interested in the surprise departure of Barclays chief executive Antony Jenkins, or the many u-turns of Ukip leader Nigel Farage, here are the biggest people moves this year. 1. Mack the Knife's reign [...]
Aggreko ditches bid for Rio Olympics 2016 contracts December 18, 2015 It looks like Aggreko's dreams of Olympic gold are over. The power generation outsourcer has ditched plans to bid for contracts at next year's Rio Olympics, saying the amount of preparation required isn't worth it. In a statement this morning it said it had been advised it had "not been awarded the first tranche of contracts". [...]
UK workers aren’t impressed at the level of chief executives’ salaries – with 60 per cent saying it “demotivates” them December 18, 2015 Your staff are talking about your pay packet behind your back – and the things they're saying aren't very nice. That's according to new research by the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development, which found more than 70 per cent of employees think the amount UK chief executives are earning is either "too high" or (gasp) "far [...]
