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Crispin Odey suing Financial Times for £79m in libel damages, documents show

December 30, 2024

Hedge fund manager Crispin Odey is seeking at least £79m in damages from the Financial Times (FT) after suing the publication for libel, documents filed at the High Court show. Odey began legal action against the FT in May over four articles published in 2023, which contained allegations that he had sexually assaulted multiple women. [...]

Over 200,000 shops to close in 2025 as retail ‘permacrisis’ takes hold

December 30, 2024

Over 17,000 retail jobs are set to disappear next year, along with over 200,000 stores, as the sector’s decade-long crisis continues, according to a top retail body. Online shopping, a Covid-19 hangover and high taxes are compounding a problem that began with the financial crisis in 2008, according to the Centre for Retail Research (CRR). [...]

Downing Street rejects Elon Musk’s claim firms are turning away from UK

December 30, 2024

Downing Street insisted Sir Keir Starmer was running an “unashamedly” pro-growth government after Elon Musk lashed out at his policies. Tesla boss Mr Musk said “very few companies” would be willing to put money into the UK under “the current administration”. Mr Musk, a close ally of US President-elect Donald Trump, was responding to calls [...]

Bitcoin (BTC) Movements Are Irrelevant: Here's Why, XRP Shows Surprising Results, Dogecoin (DOGE) Between Two Flames

December 30, 2024

U.Today - Because of the lack of movement in Bitcoin over the last few days, traders who are bullish or bearish have little to work with. The price of the cryptocurrency has mostly...

Geopolitics, property and the London marketplace: Here’s what’s in store for insurance next year

December 29, 2024

Insurance market in 2024 was defined by record floods and soaring premiums. So what are expects predicting for 2025?

Last orders: Pubs call for action as locals close across the country

December 29, 2024

A top pub group has called for “swift and meaningful” reform to business rates today after new figures showed the number of boozers in England and Wales fell below 39,000 for the first time this year. According to official Government statistics, analysed by commercial real estate specialists at Altus Group, 412 pubs were either demolished [...]

Jimmy Carter: King Charles and PM honour former US president after his death aged 100

December 29, 2024

Sir Keir Starmer has led a host of tributes to former US president Jimmy Carter, saying he “redefined the post-presidency with a remarkable commitment to social justice and human rights at home and abroad”. The Prime Minister said Mr Carter, who died aged 100, will be remembered for the Camp David Accords between Israel and [...]

Relief for Reeves as business outlook brightens for new year

December 29, 2024

UK businesses have defied the negative sentiment which has defined the latter part of the year and predicted an upswing in 2025. More UK businesses are expecting a stronger start to 2025 than they did entering 2024, new research from Lloyds Business Barometer has found. Seven in ten UK businesses expect to see their turnover [...]

Super prime London flats in 2025: Spas, bars and grocery picking

December 29, 2024

Super-prime apartments are set to get even more swanky next year, as a host of new London developments come complete with hotel-esque amenities like spas, bars, music rooms and co-working spaces. With London’s priciest district coming in at nearly 96 times the average price of a home in the north of England (Knightsbridge, at £21.4m), [...]

Why ‘Sunshine Saturday’ has travel operators crossing their fingers

December 29, 2024

Black Friday’s travel-focused cousin, Sunshine Saturday, is set to fall on 4 January in 2025. Occuring on the first Saturday of every new year, Sunshine Saturday is the day most people book their holiday getaways for the year ahead. With Heathrow Airport set to cap off its busiest-ever year with two record months and Virgin Atlantic [...]

HS2’s new boss Mark Wild warns the company is in a ‘very serious situation’

December 29, 2024

HS2 is in a “very serious situation” and needs a “fundamental reset”, the new boss of the company building the high-speed railway has warned. Mark Wild, chief executive of HS2 Ltd, said he is committed to ensuring the railway opens “safely and efficiently”. Earlier this month, HS2 Ltd estimated the cost of building the railway [...]

David Beckham’s business empire has golden year after Netflix documentary

December 29, 2024

David Beckham’s business empire more than doubled its profit last year following the release of a Netflix documentary series following the footballer’s family. The England and Manchester United icon’s firm, DRJB Holdings Limited – which includes David Beckham Ventures Limited, Seven Global LLP and Studio 99 Group – reported that pre-tax profit rose to $36.2m [...]

Hiring frenzy at London law firms as ‘apex predator’ disrupts market

December 29, 2024

Partners at London law firms are switching companies at record pace as a surge of investment by American rivals ramps up competition for talent. According to data provided by legal recruiter, Edwards Gibson, there were 546 partner moves recorded over 2024. This figure is up seven from 510 moves in 2023, and up 14 per [...]

London Gatwick Airport: Thousands disrupted as fog hits for fourth day

December 29, 2024

Flight restrictions remain in place at Gatwick Airport for a fourth day because of fog, disrupting travel plans for thousands of passengers. More than 20 flights planned for the West Sussex airport on Monday were cancelled in advance and passengers are being warned of delays throughout the day. Flights at the UK’s second busiest airport [...]

Retail insolvencies set to surge as Budget bites, experts warn

December 29, 2024

A wave of insolvencies could be coming to the retail and hospitality sectors next year as businesses crumble under the tax bill brought on by Labour’s Budget, bosses have warned. Insolvencies and restructuring could rise further over the start of 2025 as firms face increased cost pressures, industry experts have said, with the retail, hospitality [...]