Ferguson sees profit rise as US home improvement demand soars March 16, 2021 Plumbing group Ferguson raised its dividend and announced a share buyback on Tuesday after posting a higher half-year profit. The firm was buoyed by cost control measures and a strong home improvement demand in its biggest market, the US. The London-listed company, which has a secondary US listing, said underlying trading profit rose to $837m [...]
Protests are disruptive by design and extra police powers could threaten all our human rights March 16, 2021 The police crackdown on the Clapham Common vigil in memory of Sarah Everard this weekend was a stark reminder that we all need human rights to ensure that the police both protect our lives when we are threatened and respect our rights to protest when things go wrong. In recent years, human rights have been [...]
Sam Torrance: Justin Thomas underlines Masters credentials with sublime showing at Sawgrass March 16, 2021 One moment in the final round on Sunday summed up the whole weekend for Justin Thomas at the Players Championship. Leading by one as he stood over the final tee, Thomas launched a perfect shot that sailed dangerously close to the water before skipping to safety after a kind bounce. There is no way he [...]
FCA starts criminal proceedings against NatWest for money laundering March 16, 2021 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has today announced that it has lodged criminal proceedings against NatWest for money laundering offences. The regulator said the bank had failed to show risk sensitive due diligence and monitoring of its relationships with customers for the purposes of preventing money laundering. The case arose from the handling of funds [...]
WHO experts to review Astrazeneca vaccine today over blood clot fears March 16, 2021 Experts at the World Health Organization (WHO) will meet today to evaluate the safety of the Astrazeneca/Oxford University Covid-19 vaccine after 11 countries suspended the use of the jab. Several EU countries have halted administering the vaccine after reports from Denmark and Norway of possible serious side effects, including bleeding and blood clots. However, experts [...]
Joe Biden must not meddle in Northern Ireland March 16, 2021 Amid ongoing post-Brexit discussions, the Northern Ireland office has dispatched a representative to the US to “build relations” with the Biden administration. Tensions flared last week as Unionist paramilitaries withdrew their support for the Good Friday agreement. Meanwhile, key Republican actors set about launching a campaign in the US to build support for their cause, [...]
Sadiq Khan to unveil £544m plan to fund London’s Covid recovery March 16, 2021 Sadiq Khan will today announce a £544m investment in London’s jobs and high streets to help the capital recover from the coronavirus pandemic. The Mayor of London will also call on the government to match his spending plans for the city as he unveils the proposals at the inaugural London Recovery Summit. Alongside the spending [...]
UK advertising exports hit record £11bn ahead of Covid slump March 16, 2021 UK advertising exports grew to a record £11bn in 2019, new figures have shown, highlighting the strong growth of the sector before a pandemic-induced slump. International trade in UK advertising and marketing research services rose seven per cent year on year, putting it just behind computer services in terms of exports. The figures, compiled by [...]
UK foreign policy to pivot to Indo-Pacific after landmark integrated review March 15, 2021 The UK will undergo a major strategic policy change by pivoting toward Indo-Pacific countries like India as a result of the government’s long-awaited integrated defence and foreign policy review. The review will also see the government create a Situation Centre that will mimic the White House’s Situation Room and a new counter-terrorism operations centre. The [...]
Londoners protest against police after Sarah Everard vigil disruption in Clapham March 15, 2021 Londoners protest against police after Sarah Everard vigil disruption in Clapham
