There has long been a lobby against returning the Chagos Islands to Mauritius based on tenuous environmental arguments, and Clive Hambler’s letter (28 January) is an example. While the marine ecosystems of the Chagos are relatively pristine, the terrestrial environments are not, as the islands were used as major coconut plantations for a couple of centuries before being forcibly depopulated in the...
There has long been a lobby against returning the Chagos Islands to Mauritius based on tenuous environmental arguments, and Clive Hambler’s letter (28 January) is an example. While the marine ecosystems of the Chagos are relatively pristine, the terrestrial environments are not, as the islands were used as major coconut plantations for a couple of centuries before being forcibly depopulated in the 1970s. Aside from Diego Garcia, they have been effectively rewilded through neglect, so the vegetation is secondary forest, good but not “virgin”, and does support important seabird colonies. As for the marine environment, the now-displaced islanders fished the waters during those 200 years, also exporting some fish to Mauritius. As I understand it, the Mauritian plan is to retain much of the current marine conservation zone for limited “artisanal” fishing only – the wider seas have been plundered by large-scale international fishing operations for decades, and in the 19th century for the industrial harvesting of sperm whales. From their first settlement in the late 1700s, the islands were administered from Mauritius until detached as the British Indian Ocean Territory on Mauritius becoming independent in 1968. The displaced inhabitants, employees of the monopolist Chagos Agalega Company, were Mauritian and Seychellois citizens. The islands’ return to Mauritius is thus both legally and morally correct. There is no evidence that it will cause the “irreversible destruction” that Hambler claims. Anthony Cheke Co-author, Lost Land of the Dodo: The Ecological History of Mauritius, Réunion & Rodrigues Clive Hambler notes that the Chagos Islands is the best protected tropical ecosystem on Earth and that Mauritius’s plans for fishing after regaining sovereignty threaten this. We need to recognise the reasons why the Chagos Islands are a “last great tropical wilderness” area. The UK exiled thousands of British subjects in the 1960s and 1970s from the Chagos Islands to make way for ...
The National Police Service (NPS) is the fourth or fifth iteration of a “British FBI”, not the third (What is Shabana Mahmood proposing in ‘biggest ever’ policing reforms? 26 January). Before the Serious And Organised Crime Agency and the National Crime Agency, we had a National Crime Squad, and before that a National Criminal Intelligence Service. The new NPS may have too wide a remit to be manag...
The National Police Service (NPS) is the fourth or fifth iteration of a “British FBI”, not the third (What is Shabana Mahmood proposing in ‘biggest ever’ policing reforms? 26 January). Before the Serious And Organised Crime Agency and the National Crime Agency, we had a National Crime Squad, and before that a National Criminal Intelligence Service. The new NPS may have too wide a remit to be manageable. Many Met police commissioners end their time badly because of the extent of their responsibilities – public order, counter-terrorism, mid-range organised crime, street crime, drunks, knives, road traffic, domestic disturbances, dealing with the mentally unwell, and the vetting and personnel problems of police and civilian staff. The head of the NPS will deal with counter-terrorism, take over the existing regional crime units, address fraud in all its forms and will also cover cybercrime, large-scale sexual exploitation and people-trafficking, as the National Crime Agency does now. These are all different skills, and staff will have to be transferred from their existing positions. Much frontline work, including cyber and fraud, is carried out by constables and sergeants; in the police, higher ranks and better salaries go to managers and administrators. , Because of poor career progression, the National Crime Agency and other elite units have a staff retention problem, which needs resolving. Who would want to lead the NPS? Peter Sommer London
The possible cuts to Whitehall’s physical education funding left one misty-eyed for that jargonistic catchphrase of the Blair era: joined-up government (Government row breaks out over plan to cut spending for PE in England’s schools, 27 January). Coincidentally, your story appeared hours after the NHS published data from its Health Survey England. Inevitably, the 2024 data revealed another rise in...
The possible cuts to Whitehall’s physical education funding left one misty-eyed for that jargonistic catchphrase of the Blair era: joined-up government (Government row breaks out over plan to cut spending for PE in England’s schools, 27 January). Coincidentally, your story appeared hours after the NHS published data from its Health Survey England. Inevitably, the 2024 data revealed another rise in the percentage of adults in England who were obese or overweight – reaching 66%, compared with 53% in 1993. About 30% of adults were obese. The survey again illustrated the links between deprivation, obesity and ill-health. As the survey noted, it is estimated that obesity and related illnesses cost the NHS £6.5bn in 2022. However, the economic and social costs are much greater than that. It is a significant factor in the surging health/disability-related benefits bill as people leave the workforce early – distorting local labour markets and shrinking the tax base needed to meet those rising welfare costs. The government really needs to learn that prevention – including inculcating a love of physical activity – is better than cure. Prof Les Mayhew Bayes Business School
Amy Jankiewicz says the government must address the effect of global increases in population and unsustainable consumption patterns as intertwined challenges George Monbiot’s article ( The UK government didn’t want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I’m not surprised, 27 January ) highlights the grave risks identified in the UK government’s report Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem col...
Amy Jankiewicz says the government must address the effect of global increases in population and unsustainable consumption patterns as intertwined challenges George Monbiot’s article ( The UK government didn’t want you to see this report on ecosystem collapse. I’m not surprised, 27 January ) highlights the grave risks identified in the UK government’s report Global biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and national security . However, it overlooks a key factor highlighted in the report – that population growth is a major indirect driver of global biodiversity loss. “As the global population grows, reaching 9.7 billion by 2050, the impact of food production on natural systems will intensify and it will become even more challenging to produce sufficient food sustainably,” it says. Mass-scale expansion of agriculture driven by global population growth risks sacrificing sustainability: forests cleared for farmland, pesticides polluting waterways, and ecosystems pushed beyond recovery accelerating biodiversity loss. It is a concern echoed by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which identified population growth and GDP per capita as the strongest drivers of carbon emissions. Continue reading...
Sky_Blue/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images A.P. Moller-Maersk ( AMKBY ) ( AMKAF ) and Hapag-Lloyd ( HPGLY ) ( HLAGF ) said Wednesday they will resume some transit routes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal this month on one of their shared Gemini Cooperation services, marking a cautious return to the area after months of diversions around the Cape of Good Hope. The shipping companies said the ...
Sky_Blue/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images A.P. Moller-Maersk ( AMKBY ) ( AMKAF ) and Hapag-Lloyd ( HPGLY ) ( HLAGF ) said Wednesday they will resume some transit routes through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal this month on one of their shared Gemini Cooperation services, marking a cautious return to the area after months of diversions around the Cape of Good Hope. The shipping companies said the ME11 service linking India and the Middle East with the Mediterranean will be rerouted from mid-February with ships traveling under naval escort, adding they may later apply similar routing changes to the AE12 and AE15 services, subject to conditions. The Suez Canal is the fastest route linking Europe and Asia and, until the Houthi attacks in the Red Sea, had accounted for ~10% of global seaborne trade, according to Clarksons Research. "The highest possible security precautions will be undertaken, as the safety of the crew, the vessels, and the customers' cargo remains the highest priority of both carriers," Maersk ( AMKBY ) ( AMKAF ) said. More on A.P. Møller-Maersk Maersk: Upside From The Q3'25 Period With A Guidance Increase Maersk: Playing The Long Game A.P. Møller-Maersk Q3 2025 Earnings Call Presentation
Rachel Reeves thinks it is “not right that people who don’t go to university are having to bear all the cost for others to do so” (Economics viewpoint, 1 February). Higher education – nay, all education – is the public good that enables safe infrastructure, healthcare, scientific and technological innovation, and the many benefits of the UK’s creative arts economy. I haven’t been to war or to pris...
Rachel Reeves thinks it is “not right that people who don’t go to university are having to bear all the cost for others to do so” (Economics viewpoint, 1 February). Higher education – nay, all education – is the public good that enables safe infrastructure, healthcare, scientific and technological innovation, and the many benefits of the UK’s creative arts economy. I haven’t been to war or to prison yet, but I am fairly certain that Reeves would hold it only right that as a taxpayer I bear the costs for others to do so. Lucy Hartley Glasgow I tried the “Swiss roll” solution with my double duvet cover (Letters, 1 February), but ended up with something more like a three-tier wedding cake. Could we have a series of line diagrams? Tom Stubbs Surbiton, Surrey Using sunbed towel pegs on each corner works for me. Jill Moorman Runwell, Essex In 1970 we got a “continental quilt” as a wedding present. I wonder when they became a duvet, the French word for a sleeping bag. French people sleep under a couette. It’s all very confusing. Janet Mansfield Aspatria, Cumbria Permafrost is not “eternally frozen” (Quick crossword, 29 January); sadly, a great deal of it is melting rapidly. Dave Butcher Bradwell, Derbyshire Your report on the Cerne Abbas Giant (3 February) referred to “its face”. A view of the whole body confirms that it is definitely a he. Phil Dowell Bridport, Dorset
While Routh is not believed to have had a clear line of sight to Trump at any point during the incident, federal agents told jurors they later recovered a semiautomatic rifle with a scope and an extended magazine in the spot where he had been hiding.
While Routh is not believed to have had a clear line of sight to Trump at any point during the incident, federal agents told jurors they later recovered a semiautomatic rifle with a scope and an extended magazine in the spot where he had been hiding.
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 8 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Michael F. Mahoney Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Jonathan Monson Chief Medical Officer — Kenneth Stein Vice President, Investor Relations — Lauren Tengler TAKEAWAYS Total Sales -- Operational revenue reached $5.286 billion for the quarter and $20.7...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, February 4, 2026, 8 a.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer — Michael F. Mahoney Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer — Jonathan Monson Chief Medical Officer — Kenneth Stein Vice President, Investor Relations — Lauren Tengler TAKEAWAYS Total Sales -- Operational revenue reached $5.286 billion for the quarter and $20.74 billion for the year, reflecting 14% and 19% operational growth, respectively. -- Operational revenue reached $5.286 billion for the quarter and $20.74 billion for the year, reflecting 14% and 19% operational growth, respectively. Organic Revenue Growth -- Quarterly organic growth was 13%, at the top end of guidance, and full-year organic growth was 15.8%, exceeding the 15.5% target. -- Quarterly organic growth was 13%, at the top end of guidance, and full-year organic growth was 15.8%, exceeding the 15.5% target. Adjusted EPS -- Q4 adjusted earnings per share increased 15% to $0.80, above the high end of the $0.77-$0.79 range, while full-year adjusted EPS rose 22% to $3.06, exceeding the $3.02-$3.04 guidance. -- Q4 adjusted earnings per share increased 15% to $0.80, above the high end of the $0.77-$0.79 range, while full-year adjusted EPS rose 22% to $3.06, exceeding the $3.02-$3.04 guidance. Adjusted Operating Margin -- Margin expanded by 100 basis points to 28% for the year, progressing toward longer-term goals. -- Margin expanded by 100 basis points to 28% for the year, progressing toward longer-term goals. Free Cash Flow -- Generated $1.13 billion in Q4 and $3.659 billion for the year, marking 38% annual growth and 80% free cash flow conversion. -- Generated $1.13 billion in Q4 and $3.659 billion for the year, marking 38% annual growth and 80% free cash flow conversion. 2026 Guidance -- Company projects 10%-11% organic revenue growth, 50-75 basis points in adjusted operating margin expansion, and 12%-14% adjusted EPS growth to $3.43-$3.49. -- Company projects 10%-11%...
Forget EVs — stationary batteries are getting all the buzz, and investment, in the U.S. these days. Startup Lunar Energy is the latest example. The six-year-old company, which builds battery packs for homeowners in California, Georgia, and Washington, said Wednesday it has completed two large funding rounds. The startup shared it raised a previously unannounced $130 million Series C and a $102 mil...
Forget EVs — stationary batteries are getting all the buzz, and investment, in the U.S. these days. Startup Lunar Energy is the latest example. The six-year-old company, which builds battery packs for homeowners in California, Georgia, and Washington, said Wednesday it has completed two large funding rounds. The startup shared it raised a previously unannounced $130 million Series C and a $102 million Series D. The Series C was led by Activate Capital, while the Series D was led by B Capital and Prelude Ventures. The startup plans to use the funds to scale manufacturing to 20,000 units by the end of this year before rampaging to 100,000 by the end of 2028. In total, Lunar has raised more than $500 million from investors. Stationary storage has become a bright spot for battery manufacturers that have been subject to policy whiplash after the Trump administration and GOP-controlled Congress gutted large parts of the Inflation Reduction Act, which had incentivized companies to build batteries in the U.S. to supply the automotive industry. As the grid strains under the weight of an increasingly electrified economy — along with the boom in data center demand — grid-connected batteries have become one of the most versatile ways to boost its resiliency. Lunar can call on its fleet of batteries, which come in 15 kilowatt-hour and 30 kilowatt-hour modules, to deliver juice to the grid when needed. It’s virtual power plant (VPP) software can also control EV chargers and appliances, allowing it to both supply electrons while tamping down demand. Such VPPs are expected to be able to replace costly and polluting peaking power plants in a matter of years. Techcrunch event TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026: Tickets Live On June 23 in Boston, more than 1,100 founders come together at TechCrunch Founder Summit 2026 for a full day focused on growth, execution, and real-world scaling. Learn from founders and investors who have shaped the industry. Connect with peers navigating similar gr...
A notorious hacking group has claimed responsibility for last year’s data breaches at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and published the data that they claim to have stolen from the two schools. On Wednesday, the group known as ShinyHunters published what it claims are more than one million records from each university on the group’s dedicated leak site, which the gang...
A notorious hacking group has claimed responsibility for last year’s data breaches at Harvard University and the University of Pennsylvania (UPenn) and published the data that they claim to have stolen from the two schools. On Wednesday, the group known as ShinyHunters published what it claims are more than one million records from each university on the group’s dedicated leak site, which the gang uses to extort its victims. In November, UPenn confirmed a data breach of “a select group of information systems related to Penn’s development and alumni activities.” At the time, the hackers also sent alumni emails announcing the hack from official university addresses. The university blamed the breach on social engineering, an attack that often relies on hackers impersonating someone and tricking them into doing something they would not normally do. In its official breach disclosure web page, which has since been taken offline, UPenn did not say exactly what type of data the hackers stole, simply saying the cybercriminals accessed “systems related to Penn’s development and alumni activities.” Contact Us Do you have more information about these breaches, or similar attacks? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase and Wire @lorenzofb, or Do you have more information about these breaches, or similar attacks? From a non-work device, you can contact Lorenzo Franceschi-Bicchierai securely on Signal at +1 917 257 1382, or via Telegram, Keybase and Wire @lorenzofb, or email TechCrunch verified a portion of the data set by confirming with alumni and public records, such as matching the data against student ID numbers. Later in November, Harvard University also confirmed a breach on its alumni systems, blaming it on a voice phishing attack, meaning an attack where hackers tricked the targets into clicking on a link or opening an attachment with a voice call. Harvard said that the stolen d...
US equity indexes traded mixed after midday Wednesday as a sell-off in big tech coincided with gains Upgrade to read this MT Newswires article and get so much more. A Silver or Gold subscription plan is required to access premium news articles.
US equity indexes traded mixed after midday Wednesday as a sell-off in big tech coincided with gains Upgrade to read this MT Newswires article and get so much more. A Silver or Gold subscription plan is required to access premium news articles.
Adobe has canceled plans to discontinue its 2D animation software Animate. On Monday, Adobe announced that it would stop allowing people to sell subscriptions to Animate on March 1, saying the software had “served its purpose." People who already had a software license would be able to keep using Animate with technical support until March 1, 2027; businesses had until March 1, 2029. Per an email s...
Adobe has canceled plans to discontinue its 2D animation software Animate. On Monday, Adobe announced that it would stop allowing people to sell subscriptions to Animate on March 1, saying the software had “served its purpose." People who already had a software license would be able to keep using Animate with technical support until March 1, 2027; businesses had until March 1, 2029. Per an email sent to customers, Adobe also said users would lose access to Animate files and project data on March 1, 2027. Animate costs $23 per month. After receiving backlash from animators and other users, Adobe reversed its decision on Tuesday night . In an announcement posted online, the San Jose, California-headquartered company said: Read full article Comments
A vote Friday to allow advertisements on college sports uniforms opened a new revenue stream for athletic departments, as schools look to generate tens of millions of dollars to cover the rising costs of paying student athletes. Kevin White Former Vice President and Director of Athletics at Duke University and Bloomberg's Janet Yellen joins to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
A vote Friday to allow advertisements on college sports uniforms opened a new revenue stream for athletic departments, as schools look to generate tens of millions of dollars to cover the rising costs of paying student athletes. Kevin White Former Vice President and Director of Athletics at Duke University and Bloomberg's Janet Yellen joins to discuss. (Source: Bloomberg)
Auger, the logistics software startup founded by former Amazon.com Inc. retail chief Dave Clark , has signed up Meta Platforms Inc. as a customer. The social media company’s Reality Labs group, maker of virtual reality headsets, will roll out Auger’s supply-chain management software in the first half of the year, Clark said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Sportswear licensing and manufa...
Auger, the logistics software startup founded by former Amazon.com Inc. retail chief Dave Clark , has signed up Meta Platforms Inc. as a customer. The social media company’s Reality Labs group, maker of virtual reality headsets, will roll out Auger’s supply-chain management software in the first half of the year, Clark said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. Sportswear licensing and manufacturing firm Fanatics Inc. has also deployed a proof of concept based on Auger’s tools, he said. Backed by $100 million from Oak HC/FT, Auger is Clark’s second stop after Amazon, which he left in 2022 . He went on to run logistics software maker Flexport Inc. but stepped down in 2023 . Auger’s product, described as an autonomous operating system, is designed to communicate with corporate enterprise, warehouse and transportation managing tools and provide authoritative snapshots of a company’s operations. The system is also designed to use artificial intelligence to evaluate that data and take action on a user’s behalf. “What I saw nobody building was the contextual infrastructure to make supply chains work as a unit,” he said. The company, based in Bellevue, Washington, near Seattle, has about 100 employees. “Supply chain is a contact sport,” Clark said. “The world wakes up every day trying to wreak havoc on supply chain planners across the world.”
The post Tax Deferring — How Billionaires Are Paying Less In Income Tax Than You by Benzinga Contributors appeared first on Benzinga . Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this. Like virtually everyone else, billionaires don’t like giving more than the bare minimum to the taxman. The difference is that they can quickly bring that minimum down to zero with experts’ help. Though some of the...
The post Tax Deferring — How Billionaires Are Paying Less In Income Tax Than You by Benzinga Contributors appeared first on Benzinga . Visit Benzinga to get more great content like this. Like virtually everyone else, billionaires don’t like giving more than the bare minimum to the taxman. The difference is that they can quickly bring that minimum down to zero with experts’ help. Though some of their tactics are exclusive to the ultra-wealthy, there are some the average Joe has tried to replicate. All billionaires hire professionals to save them from “the other inevitable thing in life,” but some are better than others. In 2007 and 2011, Jeff Bezos did not pay a penny in federal income taxes. In 2018, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the second-richest person in the world, also paid no federal income taxes. George Soros once paid no federal income tax for three years. Find a Vetted Financial Advisor Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes . Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals! This is why during the beginning of 2024 the IRS, with billions of dollars in new funding from Congress, launched a crackdown on the super wealthy along with their partners in February, CNBC reported. According to IRS statistics, audits of taxpayers earning over $1 million annually have decreased by more than 80% over the past decade, despite the number of taxpayers in this income bracket increasing by 50%. How do their financial planners do it? For starters, they use a lot of tax deferring. Billionaires usually keep most of their wealth locked up in company shares. When these shares go up in value, so does their net worth, but that’s not taxable. Uncle Sam gets his share only when the shares are sold at a profit. The workaround is to simply not sell the shar...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Brent Yeagy Chief Financial Officer — Pat Keslin Chief Operating Officer — Mike Pettit Senior Vice President, Investor Relations — John Cummings TAKEAWAYS Consolidated Revenue -- $321 million, reflecting continued demand softness in core transportation end markets. -- $321...
Image source: The Motley Fool. Wednesday, Feb. 4, 2026 at 12 p.m. ET CALL PARTICIPANTS President and Chief Executive Officer — Brent Yeagy Chief Financial Officer — Pat Keslin Chief Operating Officer — Mike Pettit Senior Vice President, Investor Relations — John Cummings TAKEAWAYS Consolidated Revenue -- $321 million, reflecting continued demand softness in core transportation end markets. -- $321 million, reflecting continued demand softness in core transportation end markets. Adjusted EBITDA -- Negative $26.2 million, representing negative 8.1% of sales for the quarter. -- Negative $26.2 million, representing negative 8.1% of sales for the quarter. Adjusted Earnings Per Share -- Negative $0.93 per diluted share, with adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders at negative $37.8 million. -- Negative $0.93 per diluted share, with adjusted net income attributable to common stockholders at negative $37.8 million. Adjusted Gross Margin -- Negative 1.1% of sales, attributed partly to lower truck body production volumes and related inefficiencies. -- Negative 1.1% of sales, attributed partly to lower truck body production volumes and related inefficiencies. Adjusted Operating Margin -- Negative 13% for the quarter. -- Negative 13% for the quarter. Transportation Solutions Segment Revenue -- $263 million, with non-GAAP operating income of negative $31.7 million or negative 12.1% of sales. -- $263 million, with non-GAAP operating income of negative $31.7 million or negative 12.1% of sales. Parts and Services Segment Revenue -- $64.5 million, with operating income of $5.1 million or 7.9% of sales. -- $64.5 million, with operating income of $5.1 million or 7.9% of sales. Parts and Services Growth -- Revenue up 33% year over year and approximately 6% sequentially from Q3 2025. -- Revenue up 33% year over year and approximately 6% sequentially from Q3 2025. New Trailer Shipments -- 5,901 units shipped during the quarter. -- 5,901 units shipped during the quarter. T...
Lucid Group designs and manufactures premium electric vehicles, leveraging in-house technology and a direct-to-consumer model. What happened According to its SEC filing dated Feb. 2, 2026, Wolverine Asset Management LLC reduced its exposure to Lucid Group (LCID 3.52%) by 3,522,200 shares in the fourth quarter of 2025. The estimated transaction value is approximately $56.28 million based on the ave...
Lucid Group designs and manufactures premium electric vehicles, leveraging in-house technology and a direct-to-consumer model. What happened According to its SEC filing dated Feb. 2, 2026, Wolverine Asset Management LLC reduced its exposure to Lucid Group (LCID 3.52%) by 3,522,200 shares in the fourth quarter of 2025. The estimated transaction value is approximately $56.28 million based on the average Q4 stock price. The quarter-end value of the Lucid position decreased by $305.60 million, a figure that reflects both share sales and the stock’s price movement during the period. What else to know The sale activity leaves Lucid at 1.4% of reported 13F AUM As of Jan. 30, 2026, Lucid shares were priced at $11.07, down 59.3% over the prior year and lagging the S&P 500 by 73.6 percentage points Company/Etf overview Metric Value Price (as of market close 2/2/26) $10.29 Market Capitalization $3.15 billion Revenue (TTM) $1.07 billion Net Income (TTM) ($2.28 billion) Company snapshot Lucid designs, engineers, and manufactures electric vehicles, EV powertrains, and battery systems as its core products and primary revenue drivers. The company operates a vertically integrated business model, generating revenue through direct sales of electric vehicles and related technologies via retail studios and online channels. It targets premium automotive consumers, particularly those seeking high-performance electric vehicles in the United States and select international markets. Lucid Group is a technology-driven automotive manufacturer focused on the development and production of advanced electric vehicles. The company leverages proprietary EV technology and vertical integration to compete in the premium segment of the electric vehicle market. With a strategy centered on innovation and direct-to-consumer sales, Lucid aims to differentiate itself through cutting-edge engineering and a luxury customer experience. Foolish take for investors Lucid has been struggling to increase sales volum...
Sometimes the obvious question is the killer question. The one on the minds of practically every person in the country. No need for anything tricksy. No try-hard rhetorical flourishes. Just keep it simple. Play it straight. And in an unusually unshouty prime minister’s questions – always a sign that MPs realise there is something important at stake – Kemi Badenoch did just that. Told it as it was....
Sometimes the obvious question is the killer question. The one on the minds of practically every person in the country. No need for anything tricksy. No try-hard rhetorical flourishes. Just keep it simple. Play it straight. And in an unusually unshouty prime minister’s questions – always a sign that MPs realise there is something important at stake – Kemi Badenoch did just that. Told it as it was. Channelled the nation’s anger. She focused on just one fact: that Keir Starmer, the intelligence services and just about everyone else knew that Peter Mandelson was still mates with Jeffrey Epstein long after the financier had been convicted of child prostitution. The looks on the faces of the entire Labour frontbench said it all. They may have all long ago deleted their social media posts from last year calling Mandy an inspired Washington appointment, but their consciences weren’t so easily cleared. They all had the air of quiet desperation. People whose memories had come back to haunt them like a curse. They stared into the middle distance, trying not to catch anyone’s eye. Anything to get through the next half hour. Starmer had nothing. Just a jumble of excuses. Mandelson had lied about the depth and extent of his relationship with Epstein. Well, maybe he had but that’s hardly the point. You knew he had been hanging out with him long after his conviction and you weren’t bothered. The vetting process had been totally rigorous. Pull the other one. What had it consisted of? The cabinet secretary asking Petey if he had ever really liked Epstein and Mandy saying no, he had always hated him? Was that it? Keir tried throwing a bit of red meat. He had removed Mandelson as privy councillor. Far too late. The whole country had priced that in on Monday. This one was on Keir and Keir alone. It was his judgment on the line. And his judgment that was found wanting. Starmer might think it unfair. Last year almost no one – least of all the Tories – had raised any questions about Mande...