20 of the world’s largest donors December 20, 2012 1 BILL AND MELINDA GATES FOUNDATION US The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was formed in 2000 through the merger of the William H. Gates Foundation and the Gates Learning Foundation, adopting their previous agendas of improving global health and education. With offices in the US, India, China and UK, the foundation has a global [...]
Politicians are powerless to curb our shrinking corporate tax base December 17, 2012 IT IS shocking, isn’t it? Despite UK sales of £7.6bn between 2009 and 2012, Amazon paid almost no corporation tax to the UK Treasury. Starbucks has not paid UK corporation tax in 14 of the past 15 years. Big corporate interests, it seems, are not paying their fair share of tax. An open and shut [...]
Channel your inner James Bond with help from Apsley December 12, 2012 For CHRISTMAS this year, I want to look like James Bond. And I don’t mean Timothy Dalton or Pierce Brosnan – I want to look like Daniel Craig. Can Santa make that happen? The answer is: yes, kind of. You can, at least, dress like him. The most memorable sartorial choice in the latest 007 [...]
UK becomes second-largest EU car market December 6, 2012 BRITAIN is now the second-biggest car market in the EU, according to industry figures released yesterday. UK new car registrations rose 11.3 per cent year-on-year to 149,191 units in November, thanks to increased demand from private purchasers. Total car sales are now on track to top 2m in 2012, according to the Society of Motor [...]
Demand helps support our production December 6, 2012 BRITAIN’S car industry continues to defy those who say this country doesn’t make things any more. And demand at home is helping to drive that resurgence. Industry lobby group the SMMT released data yesterday showing the UK is now the second-largest EU car market by new registrations. Demand has risen year on year in the [...]
Asian growth makes up for woe in Europe at Innovation Group December 5, 2012 INNOVATION GROUP, the business software and processes firm, reported a 10 per cent rise in annual revenues yesterday, as it said growth in Asia had made up for tough conditions in southern Europe and the US. The company, which provides outsourcing services to the insurance, automotive and property industries, has expanded its reach via multiple acquisitions. [...]
Williams joins top 10 casualties December 3, 2012 SNOOKER: Mark Williams became the latest big-name casualty at the UK Championships last night when he lost 6-3 to Mark King. His defeat made him the fourth top 10 player to fail to reach the second round, after defeats for world No1 Judd Trump, Mark Allen and Ding Junhui. Former world champion Neil Robertson swept [...]
What the other papers say this Morning December 3, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES EDF cost rises damp nuclear hopes EDF, the French utility, said the cost of its new nuclear power station in northern France had increased by a third, raising fears that its planned UK plant may also be vulnerable to a similar budget blowout. But EDF Energy, the company’s UK subsidiary, insisted that the [...]
General Motors pushes further East with $1bn factory expansion November 28, 2012 GENERAL MOTORS and its Chinese joint-venture partners yesterday announced plans to build a $1bn (£620m) auto assembly plant in the city of Chongqing in a bid to remain the leader in the world’s largest auto market. GM, SAIC Motor and Wuling Motors said they will begin construction of the plant early next year, pending government [...]
Ford set to delay new minivans November 28, 2012 Ford may delay the next versions of the Galaxy and S-MAX minivans as it plans to shut a factory in Genk, Belgium, where the vehicles are made, German magazine Auto Motor und Sport reported yesterday. Ford said on 24 October that it plans to close the Genk factory employing about 4,300 workers by the end [...]