You’ll probably live far longer than you think – and the implications are huge June 2, 2016 What is the most important number you can think of? Your bank balance? Your mortgage? US GDP or the FTSE 100? All of these are important but the one number you should be very focused on is a guess of your own life expectancy. Get that wrong and the chances are you will get a [...]
UK mortgage lending dropped to its lowest level since the height of the eurozone crisis in April June 1, 2016 Mortgage approvals have hit their lowest level since the height of the Eurozone crisis, according to the Bank of England. Mortgage loans totaled just £281m in April, their lowest level since August 2012, after the hike in stamp duty came into effect at the beginning of the month and buy to let landlords fled the [...]
Tech giants Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Microsoft agree to police online hate speech May 31, 2016 Some of the biggest tech companies in the US have signed up to a European Union code of conduct to try and slow a rising tide of hate speech online. Social networks Facebook and Twitter, as well as Google's video hosting platform YouTube and software giant Microsoft, have promised the European Commission they'll try and remove hate speech within 24 hours [...]
London’s public toilets shame the capital and they’re disappearing fast: We need a private sector revolution to end this crisis May 31, 2016 A BBC investigation shows that the number of public toilets has continued to fall, with nearly 1,800 closing nationwide in the last 10 years. There is no legal obligation on councils to provide conveniences, and closing them is often an easy way to save money when cash is short. London’s provision is now abysmal, with [...]
European business leaders sign letter in support of EU May 31, 2016 The leaders of some of Europe's biggest businesses have today issued a letter in support of the European Union, ahead of the upcoming UK referendum. All 51 members of the European Round Table of Industrials signed the letter, which said that an unravelling of the Single Market and the rules governing 28 countries "would reduce, [...]
These three perilous trends spell disaster for Saudi Arabia May 31, 2016 “How the mighty have fallen!”– 2 Samuel 1:27 What a difference a year makes in terms of political risk in the energy markets. Just 12 short months ago, all talk was of a resurgent Russia and corresponding security of supply issues in Eastern Europe, as the Kremlin seemed the world’s greatest destabilising force. Traditionally stable [...]
I’ve seen PGA Championship winner Chris Wood up close and he is a perfect fit for Ryder Cup stardom May 30, 2016 While victory at the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth does not guarantee Chris Wood a debut Ryder Cup place, it virtually secures a spot in the Europe side for Hazeltine in September and what a wonderful addition he will be. I was fortunate to captain Great Britain and Ireland, and therefore Chris, in the 2013 Seve [...]
The English wine industry uncorked another bumper year in 2015 May 30, 2016 The English wine industry gained more fizz last year as 37 new wine producers and vineyards opened over 2015, research from national accountancy firm UHY Hacker Young has found. A total of 170 wine producers have entered the domestic industry over the past five years, UHY Hacker Young said, while the popularity of boutique alcohol and locally-made products [...]
Vote Leave: After Milibrand, Ed should really know better than trying to win young voters May 28, 2016 A Conservative MP has told Ed Miliband he should stay out of the EU referendum campaign and mocked his attempts to win young support by pairing up with comedian-cum-activist Russell Brand before last year's General Election. James Cleverly said the former Labour leader was making a "cynical attempt" to woo young voters ahead of the In/Out [...]