Business confidence ended 2024 at low point on jobs and prices fears December 23, 2024 Business confidence fell to its lowest level in 2024 during December, as fears around layoffs and price increases hurt opportunity for business growth. Business confidence ticked down by two points to 39 per cent this month, though remained above the long-term average of 29 per cent, according to the latest Lloyds Business Barometer. “While there [...]
Harry Potter’s wizarding world is an authoritarian dystopia December 23, 2024 Secret police, slavery and mass indoctrination of children – Harry Potter’s wizarding world is a greatest hits of repressive regimes, says Sam Fowles Here’s a fun Christmas party game: name your favourite fictional authoritarian state. Is it George Orwell’s “Airstrip 1”? Margaret Atwood’s New England? Or perhaps (whisper it) JK Rowling’s “wizarding world”? It’s better [...]
What’s in store for bitcoin in 2025 as Donald Trump returns to the White House? December 22, 2024 2024 was definitely the year of the bitcoin: The first bitcoin spot ETFs were approved in the US, the cryptocurrency reached an all-time high, and the fourth bitcoin halving occurred in April. The price of bitcoin now sits at over $84,000, up 142 per cent since the start of the year and 60 per cent [...]
75mph gusts forecast as Christmas getaway disruption continues December 22, 2024 Winds of up to 75mph have been forecast for parts of the UK as the Christmas getaway period continues to see disruption caused by bad weather. Heathrow Airport has confirmed around 100 flights have been cancelled on Sunday and passengers are advised to check with their airline before travelling. It comes as the Met Office [...]
Will Trump mean more American expats coming to the UK? December 22, 2024 As leaders sit on the edge of their seats, bracing for the impact of Trump’s tariffs, they may find an offset – albeit a slight one – in the form of American expats joining their economies, says Bill Sedat Frater Reflecting on the US elections, it’s hard to ignore the role tax policy played in [...]
Bank of England governor to visit China with Chancellor December 21, 2024 Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey will accompany Chancellor Rachel Reeves to China next month, Sky News said on Saturday, a visit intended to revive high-level economic and financial talks that have been frozen since 2019. Sky News said Bailey was expected to hold talks with Pan Gongsheng, the governor of the People’s Bank of [...]
What to expect from sports law in 2025: Man City, Saudi and the ‘unlikely MVP’ December 21, 2024 What will the big talking points be in sports law in 2025? We asked the experts at one of the industry’s top firms. This year will be remembered as one in which key sporting decisions were made in the courtroom rather than the boardroom. With the Football Governance Bill, ongoing financial regulatory disputes, and the [...]
McDonald can strike up a Divano partnership with Brahms December 20, 2024 IT IS last chance saloon for bettors to earn some extra cash at Sha Tin on Sunday, before all the Christmas festivities get underway next week. As per normal, the 10-race programme comprises some fiendishly difficult handicaps, and the feature race, the Poinsettia Handicap (9.50am) over six furlongs, is no different as it consists of [...]
A look back at the highs and lows of politics in 2024 December 20, 2024 With elections in the UK and US in 2024, a new government, and a fresh opposition leader, watchers of Westminster and elsewhere have had a busy year in politics. At City AM we’ve followed every twist and turn as Labour secured an election victory in July, Donald Trump pulled off a White House comeback and [...]
Defence minister greenlights military sealift deal to secure 150 UK jobs December 20, 2024 London-based Foreland Shipping will run a seven-year contract with the Ministry of Defence, under a new deal announced on Friday.