Former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn trial over pimping charges begins today February 2, 2015 The trial against former IMF chief Dominique Strauss-Kahn for charges relating to pimping begins in France today. Strauss-Kahn, who was once considered a contender for French president, is accused of aggravated pimping and involvement in a prostitution ring that was run from a luxury hotel in Lille. The economist, known as DSK, has [...]
Travel chaos as Waterloo & City line suspended as Thameslink travel woes continue February 2, 2015 The sentence commuters dread to hear on a Monday morning has been tweeted by Waterloo & City today. “No service on the line while we fix a faulty train.” Transport for London has issued scant detail as to what the problem is. However, an announcer on the line itself said service had [...]
From Greek elections and Apple’s record-making profits to Thameslink floods and Afren’s misery: Here’s what got us talking this week January 30, 2015 News was dominated by results from the US this week, but it was Apple that really made waves with its history-making profits of $18bn in one quarter. Here are five things that put that into perspective. (Hint: It's huge). Meanwhile as the results of the Greek election began to sink in, investors started reacting. [...]
Forex fraudster Alex Hope gets seven year sentence January 30, 2015 The Forex fraudster Alex Hope has been handed a seven year sentence for cheating investors out of more than £5m. Hope, who became famous for his extravagant lifestyle and celebrity acquaintances – was sentenced today at Southwark Crown Court, where the judge highlighted the sophistication of the measures he used to convince more than [...]
Winston Churchill funeral commemoration in pictures January 30, 2015 The man widely regarded as the UK's greatest Prime Minister was commemorated today by a series of events including a flotilla mirroring the route his funeral procession took 50 years ago. The Havengore – the boat that took the coffin of Winston Churchill down the Thames on January 30, 1965 – this lunchtime retraced its [...]
Winston Churchill funeral anniversary: Where’s the best place along the Thames to watch the Havengore? January 30, 2015 The boat that carried the coffin of Sir Winston Churchill down the River Thames during the statesman's funeral is recreating the journey as part of commemorations remembering the 50th anniversary of his death. The Havengore is travelling from Tower Pier to Festival Pier today as it did on January 30 back in 1965, culminating in [...]
London snow: TfL has stockpiled 110,000 tonnes of salt, got a fleet of road gritters and put an action plan in place to keep the capital moving January 29, 2015 Transport for London and London Councils have stockpiled 110,000 tonnes of salt ahead of the snowy weather as the capital braces itself for the arrival of cold weather. Forecasts predicted that snow and sleet would hit the capital by this afternoon – and it looks like the skies have punctually obliged. A fleet of [...]
Analysis: Why has Tesco chosen to shut these 43 stores? January 29, 2015 Tesco has now announced the 43 stores that it plans to close. 18 Express stores, 12 metro stores, seven superstores and six Home Plus stores. The closures will start taking effect from March. What does it tell us about their location strategy when one looks at the stores set to close? It is a [...]
Alibaba share price down in pre-market trading as Chinese etailer disappoints January 29, 2015 Alibaba's share price was down more than eight per cent in pre-market trading today as the Chinese etailing giant released below-expectations quarterly figures. The figures: Revenues in the three months to December 31 rose 40 per cent to $4.2bn (£2.8bn), while income was up just six per cent to $1.5bn. Analysts were expecting revenues [...]
One cm of snow forecast for London; transport system will almost certainly collapse January 29, 2015 Commuters should probably prepare themselves for hours of disruption and delays to services, because a modicum of snow is forecast to land in London today. The white stuff that seems to take our infrastructure services by surprise every year is expected to reach the capital at around 3pm today, settling in some areas in [...]