Hollande: This is a difficult time January 14, 2014 BELEAGUERED French President Francois Hollande faced a new barrage of criticism yesterday, after announcing a programme of reforms that he hopes will lift the country’s stagnant economy. In his first speech of the year – and amid intense scrutiny of his personal life – Hollande announced plans for a “responsibility pact,” committed to being “as [...]
US tech giants face trouble if Obama fails to shut down internet snooping January 14, 2014 THIS Friday, Barack Obama will decide what he intends to do about the US National Security Agency’s (NSA) covert surveillance activities on the phone and internet records of the American people. He will do so having received a coruscating report from his own review panel, recommending that he shut it down. A bunch of hard-headed [...]
M&S boss Marc Bolland defends Xmas discounts January 9, 2014 MARKS & SPENCER chief executive Marc Bolland yesterday denied that the retailer had sparked this Christmas’s frenzied discounting as the chain’s clothing sales fell for a 10th consecutive quarter. The high street bellwether said like-for-like general merchandise sales, which include homeware and clothing, dropped by 2.1 per cent in the 13 weeks to 28 December. [...]
Angela Merkel suffers skiing injury January 6, 2014 GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel fractured her pelvis while cross-country skiing during the Christmas period, and will be cutting back on her duties while she recovers, according to an official announcement yesterday. Merkel will be working from home when possible over the next three weeks, and has cancelled a visit to Warsaw tomorrow.
Ashcroft polling gives Farage a reason to smile January 6, 2014 NIGEL Farage’s Ukip party could pose the greatest threat to David Cameron’s hopes of a Conservative victory in the 2015 general election, according to a new poll. Thirty-seven per cent of those who voted Conservative in 2010 said they would not do so again if there was an election tomorrow. Half of these voters, dubbed [...]
Goldsmith tells the PM to come clean on airports December 17, 2013 CONSERVATIVE MP and anti-Heathrow campaigner Zac Goldsmith has accused David Cameron of “cynical PR” over plans to expand Heathrow airport. Goldsmith warned that voters would never forgive him if the Prime Minister’s manifesto commitment to halt any expansion at the airport in west London turned out to be hot air. “All three leaders are going to [...]
Gates pleased with search for new CEO November 19, 2013 MICROSOFT chairman Bill Gates said yesterday he was pleased with the software giant’s progress in finding a new chief executive and that the search committee had spoken to a number of candidates, but did not give a date by which he expected a new leader to replace the retiring Steve Ballmer. Speaking at Microsoft’s annual [...]
Spain’s FCC soars after Bill Gates buys stake October 22, 2013 SHARES in Spanish builder FCC surged 13 per cent to an 18-month high yesterday after the company said late on Monday that Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft, had become its second largest shareholder. The debt-laden construction company said Gates had bought six per cent of the firm for €113.5m.
Richard Branson defends his move from UK to Necker Island October 13, 2013 SIR Richard Branson insisted yesterday that his decision to leave Britain to live on Necker Island is not to save on his tax bill. The billionaire entrepreneur said he had lived on the private island for seven years, and that the move was motivated by a change in lifestyle rather than tax efficiency. Branson transferred [...]
Farage supports Ukip backing of eurosceptic Conservative MPs September 30, 2013 NIGEL Farage yesterday said he would be happy for members of his Ukip party to campaign for eurosceptic Conservative MPs – but categorically ruled out any chance of a formal alliance with the upstart grouping. “There isn’t going to be a deal between us and the Conservative party at the next general election,” he told [...]