Don’t ruin Christmas by bringing Brexit to the dinner table December 21, 2018 The build up to Christmas has almost reached its agonising conclusion. Since November, when the first few flinching bars of Slade seeped from the radio, we’ve crawled through endless reels of TV adverts and Christmas lights. It’s nearly over, though; the bonus has been frittered on tat for loathed relatives, the out-of-office message is on, [...]
Gatwick Airport reopens after drones cause Christmas travel chaos December 21, 2018 Gatwick Airport has reopened this morning, after an investigation into reports of drones flying near the airfield caused it to shut down for more than 36 hours. Hundreds of thousands of passengers attempting to travel for Christmas were affected by the disruption, the airport's largest since a volcanic ash cloud in 2010. As of 7am [...]
Here are all the predictions I got wrong in 2018 December 21, 2018 I should have given up making predictions in June 2017. Three months earlier, I had spoken at a conference on Brexit and suggested that the best way forward for Theresa May would be to call a snap election and strengthen her negotiating hand. I don’t know how the Prime Minister got word of my advice, [...]
The best Christmas gift for rail users would be more competition and scrapping HS2 December 21, 2018 This week is set to be one of the busiest of the year for domestic travel. So, as London’s train stations are swamped with those endeavouring to get away for the their holidays, it’s worth dwelling on what would be the best Christmas present for travellers: a properly functioning rail system. Amid the whirlwind of [...]
Grounded: Gatwick airport remains shut down as Army brought in to deal with drone crisis December 20, 2018 The Army has been deployed to assist with the ongoing crisis at Gatwick airport, which has seen flights grounded since Wednesday because of drones flying near the runway. Drones which have grounded all flights at Gatwick Airport are “highly targeted” and have been “designed to close the airport and bring maximum disruption in the run up [...]
What we all need for Christmas is a little perspective December 20, 2018 Perspective can be hard to find and even harder to appreciate. Having moulded my life into the rhythm of a daily print operation, looking further ahead than tomorrow has become a challenge. Life, as they say, comes at you fast. And if it's your job to catch as much of it as possible, filter it, prioritise [...]
Faroe Petroleum fights off Norwegian suitor DNO December 20, 2018 The advances of Norwegian oil and gas firm DNO have again been rebuffed by the board of Faroe Petroleum as the deadline for its hostile bid looms. However the suitor, which has been rejected by several major shareholders, has managed to convince some investors as it slowly builds its holding in Faroe Petroleum, disclosures show. [...]
Altria gets Juul for Yule as Marlboro maker bets big on vaping December 20, 2018 The maker of Marlboro cigarettes is bringing in yuletide with a $12.8bn (£10.1bn) deal for vape startup Juul. But the early Christmas present is more than a stocking filler Altria as it tries to tap into a rapidly growing market for e-cigarettes. The company’s 35 per cent stake is a major vote of confidence in [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Agrapart can slog his way to JLT Hurdle success at Ascot December 20, 2018 IF YOU have finished your Christmas shopping and don’t have plans tomorrow, then head to Ascot for a terrific card featuring the Grade One JLT Hurdle (2.25pm). A race that has served up plenty of small-field uncompetitive affairs in the past has been blessed with 11 runners and has the potential to be a cracker. [...]
Horse Racing Betting Tips: Baie and Blue boost Ireland’s bid for Welsh National repeat December 20, 2018 THERE is always a feast of racing on both sides of the Irish Sea over Christmas and while not many horses from Britain will be travelling over to the Emerald Isle, the Irish could plunder one of our biggest prizes for the second year running. Thursday’s Coral Welsh Grand National (2.50pm) at Chepstow is always [...]