blurAZ / shutterstock Toby Willison, a senior executive at the UK’s Environment Agency, is departing for the private utility firm Southern Water. Willison has been with the agency since 2002 and is currently its director of operations. The Guardian and Daily Mail report concerns that this is yet another exampleContinue Reading
India’s pharmaceutical industry is renowned for selling medicines to the world at reasonable prices, especially developing countries. This has helped Africa in its fight against HIV/Aids, for instance. Such endeavours have earned India a reputation as the “pharmacy of the world”. Now, the advantages that have enabled India to playContinue Reading
Ant climax. wcarrot_007 Ant Group is likely to pull off the largest initial public offering (IPO) in history when it goes public on the Hong Kong and Shanghai exchanges on November 5. The Chinese digital finance giant is hoping to raise US$34.4 billion, eclipsing flotations by Saudi Aramco (US$29.4 billion)Continue Reading
Former Kids Company chief executive Camila Batmanghelidjh Dominic Lipinski/PA Former Kids Company chief executive Camila Batmanghelidjh is at the start of a nine-week trial in the high court that could see her disqualified as a company director, along with nine former directors from the charity that include BBC veteran AlanContinue Reading
The suspected hijacking of the oil tanker Nave Andromeda off the coast of the Isle of Wight has captivated the UK press. While the heroic efforts of members of the Special Boat Service in resolving the situation have been highlighted, little public attention has been paid to the seafarers workingContinue Reading
In recent days, Boris Johnson’s government has tightened lockdown restrictions in Greater Manchester despite the opposition of the city region’s elected mayor, Andy Burnham. One key point of contention was the financial support that Westminster would provide to the area. Manchester had originally sought £90 million in business and workerContinue Reading
In many western countries, COVID-19 infection rates are rising again. For some like the UK, France and Spain, it appears that the second wave of the pandemic is already here. The science also tells us that we may see a further upsurge in 2021. We do not know how effectiveContinue Reading
COVID-19 has proven itself a devastating opponent for professional sport around the world. Major events have been cancelled or postponed, and the financial security of many athletes and teams remains bleak. In football, for example, there are fears that even the top flight clubs in Europe could lose €4 billionContinue Reading
shutterstock COVID-19 continues to wreak havoc on retailers. Since tough new restrictions were introduced in parts of the UK during October, footfall on high streets, shopping centres and out-of-town retail parks has fallen: it is now down 32% year on year, with regional cities bearing the brunt. Many retailers areContinue Reading
Tall buildings, smaller credit rating. Jeremy Reddington The decision by credit ratings agency Moody’s to cut the UK’s sovereign credit rating has been a gift to the government’s critics. The agency downgraded the UK from Aa3 to Aa2 on the rationale that its heavy reliance on face-face services would meanContinue Reading