I.S. leader al-Baghdadi killed in US raid in Syria as Trump claims a political win October 27, 2019 Donald Trump has announced that the leader of the so-called Islamic State (Isis) terrorist group has killed himself during a raid by US forces in Syria, marking a significant political victory for the US President. In a televised address to the nation from the White House, Trump said Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi detonated an explosive vest [...]
Virgin Galactic brings space tourism to public markets as New York float beckons October 27, 2019 Investors will get their first chance to buy into a space tourism firm tomorrow, when shares in Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic start trading in New York. The company tied the knot on a merger with a US investment vehicle late on Friday, meaning it will go public when markets open tomorrow, in what its [...]
Number 10 could explore Lib Dem-inspired plan if Monday election motion fails October 27, 2019 A December general election became more likely this morning, after the government hinted it could use a similar plan to one mooted by the Lib Dems to enshrine an election in law, should its efforts to call a poll via conventional means fail tomorrow. The government will table a motion calling for a 12 December [...]
Water giants on collision course with Ofwat ahead of crunch ruling October 27, 2019 Some of the water industry’s most prominent investors are said to have complained to the Treasury that regulator Ofwat is becoming politicised. Investors that control suppliers including Anglian, Yorkshire, Affinity, South East and South Staffs reportedly met with officials this month, in a bid to pre-empt Ofwat’s final publication of its financial demands for the [...]
‘Don’t piss people off’: Sir Richard Branson’s advice for Extinction Rebellion is short and sweet October 24, 2019 When Extinction Rebellion hit the headlines this time last year, its leaders can hardly have imagined the movement would gain support from one of the best-known names in global aviation. Indeed, jet fuel is responsible for about 2.5 per cent of global CO2 emissions, and could even guzzle as much as half of the UK’s [...]
Sir Richard Branson set to launch Virgin Galactic float on Monday October 24, 2019 Sir Richard Branson has announced that he is planning to float his space venture Virgin Galactic on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. Branson said he hoped to be there to ring the bell himself as his space flight company becomes the first to go public next week. Read more: Boeing invests $20m in [...]
British flight ban to Sharm el-Sheikh lifted, as airlines eye resort for summer 2020 October 22, 2019 British holidaymakers could soon have the chance to return to the popular Egyptian resort Sharm el-Sheikh, after the government lifted a ban imposed in 2015. Flights to the resort town were suspended after 224 people were killed by the bombing of a Russian airliner, which was linked to the so-called Islamic State group (Isis). Read [...]
MPs slam ‘inconceivable’ judgement of Thomas Cook auditor EY October 22, 2019 Thomas Cook’s auditor, EY, has faced a barrage of criticism from MPs, who called it “inconceivable” that accountants judged it a sustainable business in the year leading to its collapse. Bosses at EY and PwC, two of the so-called big four accountancy firms, were hauled in front of the business select committee this morning as [...]
On the Beach swoops in for Thomas Cook market share after collapse October 22, 2019 Package holiday firm On the Beach has jumped at the opportunity created by the collapse of Thomas Cook, it said today, nudging shares up in early trading. The London-listed firm said the failure of the 178-year-old travel giant has “created an unprecedented opportunity to take additional market share at an increased rate”. Read more: Thomas [...]
Reckitt Benckiser issues second profit warning of the year amid slump in flu medicine sales October 22, 2019 Household goods producer Reckitt Benckiser has slashed its sales forecast for the second time this year, blaming a drought in retail orders of seasonal products as it adapts to life under a new chief executive. Shares fell five per cent in early trading as the firm, which makes Durex condoms and Lysol disinfectant, said it [...]