Blast off: Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic plots public listing July 9, 2019 Space may be the final frontier, but Virgin Galactic is readying itself to overcome a fresh obstacle before launching into the great unknown: a stock market listing. Sir Richard Branson’s space-tourism venture is planning to go public as part of a deal with a special-purpose acquisition company (SPAC). Read more: Fifty years on from the [...]
EU calls for European to replace Lagarde as IMF boss July 8, 2019 Top EU officials have called for a European candidate to replace Christine Lagarde as head of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), with the Netherlands launching a bid to fill the post. The IMF is seeking a replacement for Lagarde, who was nominated by EU leaders last week as the next president of the European Central [...]
Debenhams urges Sports Direct to drop legal action over restructuring plan July 8, 2019 Debenhams has urged Mike Ashley’s Sports Direct to drop its lawsuit over the department store chain’s controversial insolvency plan after a key landlord withdrew its legal action. Sports Direct has filed a complaint against the company voluntary arrangement (CVA), which will allow Debenhams to close some 50 stores in a bid to stay afloat. Read [...]
Theresa May says leaked US ambassador emails ‘a matter of regret’ July 8, 2019 Britain has been in touch with Donald Trump’s White House to express regret over the leak of confidential emails in which the ambassador to the US called the President’s administration “dysfunctional” and “inept”. The messages from Sir Kim Darroch, the UK’s ambassador to Washington, were leaked to the Mail on Sunday over the weekend. Yesterday, [...]
Inquiry launched into leaked memos branding Trump administration ‘inept’ July 7, 2019 The government has launched an inquiry into leaked memos that described US President Donald Trump’s administration as “inept” and “uniquely dysfunctional”. In a series of confidential memos written over the last three years, British ambassador to Washington Sir Kim Darroch reportedly criticised Trump and warned of internal rifts in the White House. Read more: Trump [...]
Bears are gathering to welcome bullish Boris July 7, 2019 Did the economy shrink in the second quarter of the year? While it is impossible to be sure, we will get another clue this week when the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes its GDP estimate for May – and so far, the signs are not good. Read more: Boris Johnson to crack down on [...]
Fresh trouble for Neil Woodford as Benevolent AI valuation drops July 7, 2019 Beleaguered fund manager Neil Woodford could be facing fresh trouble as one of his biggest bets is reportedly braced to suffer a drop in its valuation. London-based tech firm Benevolent AI is said to be raising money at a level well below its $2bn (£1.6bn) valuation, the Sunday Times reported. Read more: Neil Woodford cuts [...]
UK going through a ‘political nervous breakdown’, says former MI6 chief July 6, 2019 The former head of MI6 has said that the UK is going through a “political nervous breakdown”. Sir John Sawers has taken aim at Tory leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt, claiming that Britain could soon have a Prime Minister who does “not have the standing that we have become used to in our [...]
Boris Johnson to crack down on crime and demand immigrants speak English in latest campaign pledges July 6, 2019 Tory leadership candidate Boris Johnson has suggested that he will introduce tougher sentencing for violent or sexual offenders should he become Prime Minister. He also said that immigrants coming to the UK must learn English as he made a series of campaign pledges ahead of a busy Saturday for rival Jeremy Hunt and himself. Read [...]
Former Metropolitan Police chiefs blame Theresa May for ’emasculating’ forces and leaving Britain in fear July 6, 2019 Five former heads of Scotland Yard have penned a letter to Theresa May blaming her for the “emasculation of British policing”. The former police commissioners said May was responsible for leaving the public in fear, that resources had been “drained to dangerously low levels” and victims had “perilously low expectations”. Read more: Police evacuate Lloyd’s [...]
