Islamic State’s $2bn budget is much smaller than thsoe of the countries it is trying to take over January 6, 2015 Two billion dollars (£1.31bn) sounds like a lot of money, but in the context of state budgets it's small. It's 500 times smaller than the US national budget, and 50 times smaller than Iraq's. Yet this amount has sent shivers down the media's collective spine since yesterday, when the first annual budget for terrorist [...]
Cameroon U-turn set to deprive Hammers of Song for a month January 5, 2015 WEST HAM are bracing themselves for a major blow ahead of tonight’s FA Cup third round clash at Everton as influential midfielder Alex Song looks set for a prolonged absence with Cameroon at the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). Song was initially left out of the Cameroon squad having been omitted from the international picture [...]
2015 resolutions: Ten pledges to put Britain back on a sustainable footing January 4, 2015 It's that time of the year when, having over-indulged over the holiday period, we promise to do better over the next 12 months. Our political leaders have over-indulged for a good deal longer than just a few days, and we can see the cost in the state of the public finances and falling standards [...]
What will happen to the world in 2015? Here are eight great changes that will take place this year January 2, 2015 The last 12 months have left behind a big pile of problems for the world to deal with in 2015. The militant group Islamic State has taken over large swathes of the Middle East and now poses a greater threat to the West than any power since the Soviet Union, while the deadly Ebola virus [...]
Finsbury Park becomes one of London’s largest transport hubs as engineering works at King’s Cross continue to overrun December 27, 2014 Avoid Finsbury Park #railway & #underground it's crazy here, stuck in a corridor over 1hr, disorganised chaos #London pic.twitter.com/wLyL1qnSnv — Jim Ewing (@jimewing) December 27, 2014 Finsbury Park station was shut by Network Rail due to "dangerous overcrowding" this afternoon as London was hit by a second day of rail chaos as engineering works around [...]
Earls Court exhibition centre demolished: Is London losing too much of its heritage? December 22, 2014 It has played host to chocolate & confectionary fairs, royal tournaments, Victoria’s Secret fashion shows and hundreds of performers, including Pink Floyd, Queen, Madonna and Oasis. But this month marks the end of an era for the Earls Court Exhibition Centre, after contractors began dismantling the 1930s Art Deco building to make way for one [...]
Reach for the Isle of Skye for a bracing winter weekend away December 21, 2014 The island off the west coast of Scotland has a rugged charm during the colder months – and the food is first class. My heart is yearning to thee, O Skye! Dearest of Islands! There first the sunshine gladdened my eye, On the sea sparkling”. So wrote Scottish poet Alexander Nicolson about the largest [...]
Theatre review: City of Angels at the Donmar Warehouse December 19, 2014 Donmar Warehouse | ★★★★☆ Screenwriters get a famously rough ride in Hollywood. After giving birth to their characters and nurturing them into fully-grown, relatable beings, they hand them over to directors who chop, cut and abuse them like neglectful foster parents. In 1989, Larry Gelbart took the roiling resentment that had built up over years [...]
West End braced for £150m pre-Xmas spree December 18, 2014 SHOPPERS are set to splurge £150m across London’s West End stores this weekend, as they make a last minute dash for Christmas presents. The New West End Company predicts £300m will be spent on Oxford Street, Regent Street and Bond Street over the coming five-day period.
Swiss watch-maker hits London’s West End December 18, 2014 LONDON’S West End is attracting new international luxury brands just days before Christmas. Yesterday Swiss watch-maker IWC Schaffhausen opened a two-storey shop on New Bond Street – the company’s first UK boutique.