Levison Wood: The real-life Indiana Jones tells us his travel reading list September 6, 2016 British explorer Levison Wood has walked the length of the Nile, the world’s longest river, journeyed along the Himalayas, the world’s highest mountain range; and this year he embarks on an ambitious new project to the Americas. He has two best-selling books, two hit TV series and several acclaimed photography exhibitions under his belt. Along [...]
Brexit is a chance for London to renew itself once again as a great global city September 5, 2016 London is a phoenix-like city. It has reinvented itself time and again, rising from the Great Fire, the Plague and the Blitz. Compared to those, Brexit is a mild cold. The capital now needs to renew itself once again. It produces 22 per cent of the UK’s GDP and 30 per cent of its tax [...]
The London option: Britain’s EU deal must guarantee our city’s business pre-eminence September 5, 2016 In my last piece for City A.M., just 10 days after the referendum, I said that, by working together, we can keep London open for business and leading in the world. Over the past nine weeks, I’ve been meeting as many business leaders as possible, across all sectors, from startups to global corporations. Sadiq Khan and I [...]
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan announces new bus ‘Hopper’ ticket will launch next Monday 12 September September 5, 2016 London commuters will get more bang for their bus tickets from next Monday onwards, when the new 'hopper' bus fare system is launched. From Monday 12 September, passengers will be able to change onto another bus or tram for free within one hour of touching in at the start of their journey. It will be automatically given [...]
Four improvements which need to happen before Oxford Street can be pedestrianised September 5, 2016 Sadiq Khan is under pressure to remove buses from Oxford Street to clear the way for happy shoppers – but before Oxford Street is pedestrianised there are a lot more changes the London Assembly have in mind. The London Assembly's Transport Committee wrote to Sadiq Khan today, suggesting ways to help the pedestrianisation of the street happen. Here are [...]
London mayor Sadiq Khan must axe “empty” Oxford Street buses to push ahead with pedestrianisation September 5, 2016 Plans to ban vehicles from Oxford Street must begin with a dramatic reduction in “empty” bus services through the crowded area, according to the London Assemby's transport committee. London mayor Sadiq Khan has made pedestrianisation of Oxford Street a key part of his mayoralty, and his hoping to complete the project by 2020. However, critics [...]
As more and more airlines launch new routes to Iran, this increasingly open country is fast becoming a popular tourist destination September 2, 2016 T he Islamic Republic of Iran is a destination rarely found near the top of travellers’ bucket lists. It is, after all, ruled over by a strict theocracy, one in which police patrol shopping malls to enforce a mandatory dress code, and social media continues to be blocked across the country. Yet in the cities, [...]
FTSE 100 ends the week tantalisingly close to 7,000, pushed up by pharma – as housebuilders regain losses September 2, 2016 The FTSE 100 ended the day at 6,894.6 points – 2.2 per cent higher, and within spitting distance of that 7,000 mark. The index was pushed up by pharmaceutical and mining stocks, with Hikma Pharmaceuticals leading the pack, jumping 5.2 per cent to 2,185p. That was followed by Unilever, which rose 3.8 per cent to 3,663p – [...]
New generation of artisan brewers emerging in Edinburgh September 2, 2016 Edinburgh's heritage has a long association with breweries. Throughout the history of the city, brewing takes its place as one of the oldest and most important industries. At the turn of the 20th century the city was home to no fewer than 35 breweries. More than a hundred years later, the city’s rich traditions are giving rise [...]
Scooters in the City: A quick way to kill your credibility September 2, 2016 In this sprawling metropolis, it’s not often you notice the same person twice outside of your normal routine. But nearly every morning I see this same chap: well groomed, early 30s, nicely cut suit – you know the type. In fact you might even be him, or umpteen others like him. He wouldn’t stand out among the [...]