From taxes to cats, Theresa May’s government has been an affront to Conservative ideology May 29, 2019 Theresa May has finally announced her resignation. How can we capture the flavour of her tenure in office? This can be found in the dry and measured content of the Economic and Fiscal Outlook from the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The OBR stated in its latest publication in March 2019 that: “the tax receipts-to-GDP [...]
Wuhan lab leak ‘extremely unlikely’ source of Covid pandemic, says WHO February 9, 2021 It is “extremely unlikely” that Covid-19 spread to the human population through a laboratory leak, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has said. Investigators on the ground in Wuhan believe the most likely hypothesis for the start of the pandemic was the virus spreading to humans via an “intermediary host species”. Experts studying the likely cause [...]
Kwarteng confirms UK post-Brexit review of EU workers’ rights regulations January 19, 2021 Business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng has confirmed his department launched a review into EU workers’ protections post-Brexit, but insisted there will not be a “bonfire of rights”. Responding to reports that the government was preparing to rip up regulations that prevent Britons working more than 48 hours a week, Kwarteng told Westminster’s business select committee today [...]
Former Royal Marine turned charity director trapped in Afghanistan August 20, 2021 Paul Farthing, known as “Pen”, has been battling to get all of his 25 staff from animal welfare charity Nowzad and their families out of Afghanistan as the Taliban complete their takeover. He is also faced with the prospect of having to put down all of the 140 dogs in his care, and potentially the [...]
Those Who Wish Me Dead: Angelina Jolie’s back in action thriller May 17, 2021 It’s been an interesting decade for one of the world’s most famous stars. Angelina Jolie has arguably enjoyed a profile higher than most actors this century, but celebrity hasn’t always translated into box office. After being one of the big draws of the 2000s, her live action output in the 2010s has garnered mixed results [...]
Russian forces intensify siege: Three hospitals hit as Ukraine war turns uglier two weeks in March 10, 2022 Bombs reportedly fell on three hospitals across Ukraine overnight. An airstrike on a maternity hospital in the port city of Mariupol wounded women waiting to give birth and buried children in the rubble as Russian forces intensified their siege of Ukrainian cities. The World Health Organisation (WHO) said it has confirmed 18 attacks on medical [...]
16 years of returns: History’s lesson for investors February 2, 2022 This graphic shows the best and worst performing assets each year since 2006, and shows the powerful benefits of diversifying your investments. The temptation among investors is to stick with what you know. That is no bad thing. It is a strategy championed by successful investment pioneers such as Warren Buffett, a famous devotee of [...]
Skiing in Uzbekistan, the cold heart of the Silk Road October 16, 2021 I remembered the loudness of a helicopter, its blades beating the air like an incensed dragon. What I hadn’t realised, though, is that when a helicopter lands on deep snow, the force creates a blast of ice and powder which rips through your clothing and stings any inch of exposed skin. It goes on and [...]
Rwanda: Mother nature’s bootcamp, with wild chimpanzees as your trainer January 24, 2022 I’m on my hands and knees, mud-caked and scratched to pieces, while a sticky-legged insect is meandering its way down the back of my neck. Somewhere in front of me, I can hear the gentle snick snick of machetes slicing through corkscrew ferns and above me murky sunlight bleeds through the thick forest canopy. I [...]
Nine messages to the world on crypto February 25, 2021 Zumo CEO Nick Jones gives his take on why we need crypto, and debunks some of the myths that could be holding up progress.