The new Sharan: big AND clever May 24, 2011 BACK in the early 90s it felt like MPVs were everywhere. Created to solve the challenge of how to move big families about, they were sold as useful and trendy until the public caught on to the fact that the reality was rather different. Though big, these lumbering beasts often proved impractical, with minimal luggage [...]
Fears of chaos as ash cloud hits Scotland May 23, 2011 FEARS OF a repeat of last summer’s mass flight disruption were fuelled yesterday as airlines began cancelling flights in and out of Scotland in the wake of the volcanic ash cloud blowing in from Iceland. BA, KLM, Easyjet, Flybe, Aer Lingus, Loganair and Eastern Airways have all cancelled services for today as the Met Office [...]
Chinese expansion healthy for City of London May 22, 2011 UNLESS witnessed first-hand, it is difficult to grasp the sheer scale of economic growth in China or the level of international investment that has continued unabated despite the recent financial crisis. As a member of the Shanghai International Advisory Council – whose annual meeting I attended last week – I have been left in no [...]
How to become George Clooney’s neighbour May 19, 2011 NABBING a sneaky peak of George Clooney sun bathing is surely priceless. And yet after some investigation, it turns out it might not be as expensive as you’d think. For the sum of €850,000 you could actually own the apartment next door to Clooney on Lake Como – an apartment that benefits from views directly [...]
TURTLES DITCH DAY JOB FOR HEDGE FUND BREAK May 18, 2011 SOME of the City’s brightest talents will hand in their notices this week to pursue potentially even more lucrative careers as hedge fund traders. Oxbridge graduate Will Jukes, 27, who trained at Ernst & Young before working at RBS and most recently as a freelance financial analyst, will be much missed by his well-known Westminster [...]
Sterling’s outlook waiting on rates May 17, 2011 IG INDEX DAVID JONES Tuesday saw the usual flurry in forex markets when the latest UK inflation figures were released, showing annual CPI at a larger than widely expected 4.5 per cent. The pound rallied half a cent against the US dollar in very short order and then over the course of the next few [...]
FirstGroup holds out for long-term train contract May 11, 2011 BRITISH transport operator FirstGroup has said it will not take up the option to extend its First Great Western franchise for three years beyond 2013 so it can bid for a longer-term deal. “We have made the commercial decision not to take up the option to extend the First Great Western franchise for a further [...]
Tube walkouts called off May 10, 2011 A RUN of crippling Tube strikes due to start next Monday have been called off following secret talks between Transport for London boss Mike Brown and union officials. He told RMT Union leader Bob Crow that a driver at the centre of the dispute would be re-instated in order to avoid “significant disruption for London”. [...]
Tube strike called off May 10, 2011 The two-week Tube drivers’ strike due to start next Monday was called off after a deal was struck through secret negotiations. Transport for London chief Mike Brown held talks with the RMT union and told leader Bob Crow that a driver at the centre of the dispute will be re-employed. Brown said the deal had [...]
Boris calls for strike law May 9, 2011 MAYOR Boris Johnson has insisted a change in the law is needed to stop industrial action grinding London’s transport network to a halt. His call comes despite criticism from ministers over his handling of unions planning to hold a run of Tube strikes from next week. Senior cabinet ministers told him to engage with the [...]