Composer Nitin Sawhney opens up about the dystopia inspired by his father’s death, Brexit and Schrodinger’s Cat November 2, 2018 Nitin Sawhney is difficult to pin down. He’s best known as a contemporary classical composer, but he’s also an impressive musician in his own right, playing the piano, classical and flamenco guitar, tabla and sitar. He’s written countless scores for films, TV and video games, as well as stand-alone studio albums; he received the Ivor [...]
Global stock markets rise from the dead as Halloween surge raises spirits October 31, 2018 Global stock markets have risen from the dead as a Halloween surge treated investors at the end of a terrifying month of losses. The FTSE 100 climbed 1.6 per cent to a three-week high on Wednesday to raise spirits after an October which has spooked investors. The pan-European STOXX 600 index rose 1.7 per cent [...]
Killing Eve: A cautionary tale on privacy October 29, 2018 Villanelle: “What’s your pin?” Eve Polastri: “1…2…3…4” How many of us could relate to this scene in the popular BBC series Killing Eve? Whether it’s 1,2,3,4, a date of birth, or an easily guessable passphrase – our cavalier attitude to passwords is well-documented. The fact that an MI6 officer (albeit a fictitious one) had such [...]
The City helps fuel economic growth right across the country, so be wary of those who want to clip its wings October 28, 2018 One of the most pernicious elements of Labour's current economic platform is the idea that the City is entirely distinct from (and damaging to) the so-called real economy. Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell's stump speeches routinely contain attacks on predatory bankers, fat-cats and financial speculators. The labour leader also seems to have a personal vendetta against [...]
DEBATE: With less than six months to go until Brexit, does this Budget actually matter? October 26, 2018 With less than six months to go until Brexit, does this Budget actually matter? Rhiannon Kinghall Were is head of tax policy at Macfarlanes. Getting this year’s Budget right matters, both politically and economically. It is taking place in a highly charged political environment – even if it appears literate on paper, this is not [...]
Craft beer brand Brewdog is trying to mature after a tough year of marketing disasters October 22, 2018 It’s been a tough year for Brewdog, much of it the brand’s own fault. Tone-deaf advertising campaigns and PR mishaps have frustrated its fans and “equity punk” investors (I speak from personal experience – I’ve been a shareholder since 2015). The Scottish craft beer brewer, founded in 2007, is as well known for its marketing stunts as [...]
Is adrenaline the ultimate stress relief? October 15, 2018 Does a shot of adrenaline instead of your morning coffee set you up for a day of enhanced energy, focus, and productivity? You might think that’s an impossible question to answer – but it’s one that staff at the International Quarter London (IQL) in Stratford, in collaboration with the University of Essex School of Sport, [...]
It’s Google versus Facebook in the fight for video dominance October 15, 2018 There’s a battle brewing online. In search of more views, users, and lucrative ad money, Facebook wants to take on Google and steal YouTube’s crown as the dominant video platform. The social media giant is fighting on two fronts. It launched its first assault last year with Facebook Watch, a platform effectively identical to [...]
The story behind the steady rise of ethical homeware and why it’s the next frontier in sustainable shopping September 25, 2018 Did you know that the global fashion industry is on track to consume over a quarter of the world’s annual carbon allowance by 2050? Stella McCartney does and she’s been travelling the world with sailing wonderwoman Dame Ellen MacArthur shouting about it for the last couple of years now. Perhaps that’s why so many [...]
How to turn the Chequers rat into a lovable Brexit hamster September 24, 2018 It has been said that a rat just is a hamster with a PR problem. Both share many of the same fundamental characteristics – but one people want to look after, and the other they want to kill. Since its uneasy formation, Theresa May has hoped that her Chequers plan could become the Brexit [...]