Bond markets calm despite government benefits u-turn June 27, 2025 The cost of government borrowing has stayed flat on Friday morning despite the Starmer administration’s costly benefits U-turn blowing a £3bn hole in the UK’s precarious public finances. Gilts – the name for UK government bonds – opened in a muted fashion across the curve. 10-year yields nudged down two basis points (bps) in early [...]
Totally Wicked: Vapes giant sold to Chinese investor June 26, 2025 Family-owned vapes retailer Totally Wicked has been sold to a Chinese investor, it has been revealed. The Lancashire-headquartered company, which was founded in 2008 by Jason Cropper, has been acquired by Wittyace UK Holding. The business is controlled by Chinese national Ying Wang and is registered in Cambridge. It is ultimately owned by Wittyace Hk Holding [...]
Pop star Estelle tells us what she’d eat for her last meal June 26, 2025 Grammy award-winning British singer, rapper, and actor Estelle tells us what she would eat for her last meal, from West African puff puff to Granadian saltfish and a glass of whisky My mother and my grandma were both chefs. Mum went to school for it, and learned how to cook all these amazing things. She would come [...]
How thriving, free-market Hong Kong came under the boot of communist China June 26, 2025 What began on this day in 1843 ended in a strange form of decolonisation. The UK handed over a territory to China, not by popular demand, but to abide by international treaties, knowing that to the other side such agreements were worthless, says Eliot Wilson If you have any real memory of the handover of [...]
Is Trump going to save TikTok… again? June 19, 2025 TikTok’s future in the US is once again in limbo – but this time, fewer in both Wall Street and Washington are taking the threat seriously. In a move that surprised few but frustrated many, President Donald Trump is reportedly preparing to delay a divest-or-ban deadline for the third time in the last six months, [...]
Musk’s X tops UK news as Grok says it’s ‘likely’ most viewed – while Meta and TikTok falter June 17, 2025 Elon Musk’s X, formerly known as Twitter, has become the UK’s most downloaded news app, marking a surprise comeback for a platform many had dismissed as fading. Despite years of falling ad revenue, user churn, and accusations of toxicity related to its controversial founder and chief executive, the app is likely the most viewed news [...]
Just how much trouble is Elon Musk causing Tesla? June 17, 2025 Tesla’s enigmatic chief executive, Elon Musk, gets a lot of flak, but if there’s one area you would think he’d be untouchable, it’s innovation. Beyond falling out with the US President and colonising Mars, Elon Musk’s next favourite pastime looks set to be robotaxis, with Tesla preparing to launch its first fleet in Austin, Texas, [...]
The UK’s critical minerals wake-up call: why midstream processing is the missing link June 13, 2025 With rising geopolitical tensions and soaring demand for rare earth elements, the UK must invest in midstream critical mineral processing to reduce reliance on China and secure its defence, energy, and technology sectors, says Nitesh Shah I have over 30 years’ experience across commodities, mining and advanced materials –watching as the UK and the West [...]
London SXSW in review: Where was the vibe? June 10, 2025 A lot to love, but a lot to improve. Was the first year of London SXSW a success? Paul Armstrong gives his verdict.
Double blow to London as Cobalt Holdings abandons IPO June 5, 2025 Cobalt Holdings has abandoned its plans for a $230m float on the London Stock Exchange, issuing a double blow to UK markets after losing Wise to the US today. The company confirmed in a brief London Stock Exchange notice that it “will not proceed with its proposed initial public offering”, dashing hopes for what would [...]