This Rock is not for turning: Why Gibraltar backs remaining in the EU May 18, 2016 There have been moments in recent weeks when polls on the outcome of the June 23 EU referendum have been so close that I have wondered if, just maybe, the 23,000 voters I represent as chief minister of Gibraltar might be the ones that swing the vote to Remain. Statistically, we represent a fifth of [...]
Don’t give in to the Twitter mob: Social media is too often just an echo chamber May 18, 2016 Greater Manchester Police staged a simulated terror attack in the Trafford Centre last week. As with many real life atrocities, the carnage began with the mock-bomber crying “Allahu Akbar!” Following a storm of protest on Twitter, the police felt forced to apologise. Almost at the same time, a frenzied chorus rose up demanding the resignation [...]
Identity and security: The price we must pay to keep our information safe – and the companies helping us do it May 17, 2016 In ancient Roman mythology, Janus, the god of boundaries, is usually depicted as having two faces. Skip a few thousand years to today’s modern world, and many of us still wear more than one mask: there’s the one we present at work, one we wear in front of family, and others we wear in front [...]
Back by popular demand: Cadbury has brought back this stalwart flavour for the summer May 16, 2016 In yet another win for social media campaigning, Cadbury has announced it will be resurrecting one of its popular 20th century flavours after fans launched an internet appeal to bring it back. The world's second largest chocolate maker will bring back its Tiffin flavoured 95g Dairy Milk bar for a limited, roughly three million bar [...]
Oh thanks Sajid: Business secretary says women shouldn’t be forced to wear heels at work May 16, 2016 It's been criticised by activists. It's been the subject of a massive social media campaign. But now, like Naomi Campbell in a pair of Christian Louboutin's finest, the business secretary has stomped in to declare: women shouldn't have to wear high heels at work. Thanks for that. It's only been six days since the story broke… In a [...]
ITN chief executive looks beyond bulletin news as he seeks to make company a TV production giant May 16, 2016 Multi-million pound pay packages for top TV celebrities grabbed the headlines last week, when the government revealed its white paper on the future of the BBC. Yet while the sexier elements of the Tory-BBC row occupied most attention, ITN boss John Hardie insists that the most important issue behind any reforms is the provision of high-quality news bulletins. [...]
Platinum producer Lonmin shines as cost-cutting strategy shrinks losses May 16, 2016 The share price of platinum producer Lonmin jumped more than 15 per cent in morning trading after the company announced its losses had shrunk due to its cost-cutting measures, despite the global slump in metals prices. The figures Lonmin announced a total of 2.5m tonnes were mined in the quarter to 31 March, while its core, long-life Generation 2 shafts [...]
Prime position: Will Amazon come out on top in TV? May 16, 2016 Not content with battling premium video services like Netflix, Amazon now has YouTube in its sights. The launch of new user-generated content platform Amazon Video Direct (AVD) will allow video makers to upload their content to the site, where it can be watched by tens of millions of Prime subscribers. But becoming a one-stop shop for [...]
How Brexit would affect the UK’s energy sector May 13, 2016 While debates over the impact of Brexit on high-profile issues such as trade, immigration or security are rarely out of the media, the impact on one of the country’s most important sectors — energy — receives less attention. Surprisingly, despite the UK being part of the EU single market, there is currently no level playing [...]
Employment minister Priti Patel has launched a stinging attack on Osborne and Lagarde following Brexit recession warnings May 13, 2016 One of George Osborne's cabinet colleagues has accused the chancellor of "cashing in favours" from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) over its warning that Brexit could trigger a recession. Priti Patel, the employment minister, who used to work in the Treasury with Osborne, said: "The EU-funded IMF should not interfere in our democratic debate … It appears [...]