The world’s great power rivals must not underestimate American blundering October 26, 2020 I love the peerless movie Casablanca beyond all others for its wit, intelligence, charm. I love it for its beating heart of romanticism, all lying just under the strata of the most delightful cynicism imaginable. But most of all I love it for its politics. A perfect geopolitical allegory of the early 1940s, it finds [...]
London will find ways to adapt and thrive — as it always has October 26, 2020 Now that London has moved into even tighter local lockdown restrictions, it would be easy to be pessimistic about the future. Some have argued recently that the capital’s days as a world leading business centre are numbered due to the pandemic, our exit from the European Union, and a rising tide of protectionism across the [...]
First Woodford court battle could come this year October 26, 2020 The first of what could be many legal claims relating to the collapse of the Woodford Equity Income fund is expected to be launched by the end of the year, reports emerged today. London laywers Harcus Parker are co-ordinating a class action lawsuit and are believed to be ‘further down the track’ than rivals in [...]
Could your savings save the planet? October 26, 2020 When Covid-19 upended our lives in March, Rishi Sunak became the hero of the hour by emptying the Treasury’s coffers to support the jobless and keep our economy afloat. It was the kind of quick-thinking fiscal response our country needed at a time of crisis — similar to the Treasury’s bank bailouts in 2008. But [...]
Ashley set to enter bidding war for Jaeger October 25, 2020 Controversial High Street titan Mike Ashley is readying a bid for struggling retailer Jaeger, reports emerged today. Ashley’s Frasers Group, one known as Sports Direct, is understood to be interested in adding Austin Reed, Jacques Vert and Jaeger to his expanding portfolio. The news was first reported by the Sunday Times. Read more: Ashley plots [...]
Shell mulls former BHP chief as new chairman October 25, 2020 Former BHP Billiton boss Sir Andrew Mackenzie is in pole position to become the next chairman of Shell, reports emerged today. Mackenzie joined the Shell board this month as a non-executive director but is expected to move into the chair soon to be vacated by Charles Holliday. The Sunday Telegraph first reported the news. The [...]
Astrazeneca and Johnson & Johnson to restart US Covid-19 vaccine trials October 24, 2020 Regulators have given Astrazeneca the green light to resume its US trial of a Covid-19 vaccine, while Johnson & Johnson is preparing to restart next week. Astrazeneca paused its trial on 6 September after reports of a neurological illness, believed to be transverse myelitis, in a participant in the pharmaceutical giant’s UK trial. J&J halted [...]
Anti-lockdown protest: Thousands march in central London October 24, 2020 Thousands of protesters are marching in central London this afternoon over coronavirus lockdown restrictions. The anti-lockdown protest will be the fourth to take place in the capital since the start of the pandemic. London has recently moved into Tier 2 restrictions, which bans people from socialising indoors with people they do not live with. Photos [...]
Ant Group listing to be ‘world’s biggest’, Alibaba founder says October 24, 2020 The dual listing for Chinese fintech giant Ant Group will be the world’s biggest, Jack Ma, the billionaire founder of Alibaba, said. “It’s the first time that the pricing of such a big listing – the largest in human history – has been determined outside New York City” he told the Bund Summit in the [...]
Banks hike mortgage interest rates amid boom in applicants October 24, 2020 Banks are reportedly hiking mortgage interest rates in order to deter prospective buyers as they struggle to meet a spike in demand for home loans amid a buoyant housing market. Lenders are turning away mortgage business as the ability to process applications has been slowed by home-working during the coronavirus pandemic. The housing market has [...]