Progressive News and Commentary from the UK, EU and US by Europe-Based US Journalist Denis Campbell and Colleagues.

Posts Tagged ‘London’

Are Ike, AIG, Merrill and Lehman Good News?

By Denis Campbell • Sep 15th, 2008 • Category: Business

 

Am I smoking something? 
There is a perfect storm in financial world markets… 6% off by noon London time – equivalent of the Dow losing 700-800 points. This could be a Black Monday in New York with the bankruptcy of Lehman and worldwide, bank stocks have fallen 20% or more. And perhaps, finally, transparency and sensible [...]



All Aboard – Amtrak Is Full Up

By Denis Campbell • Aug 23rd, 2008 • Category: Business Issues

Now that Joe Biden may live this January in Naval Observatory Circle as Vice President that would free a seat daily on Amtrak’s Northeast corridor. But will it be enough? Amtrak ridership was up 14% in July and because of the high cost of petrol more than 28 million people (up from 25.6 million) will [...]



The Brown Mutiny, Chapter One

By Denis Campbell • Aug 4th, 2008 • Category: Features

It begins with one whose ambition gets ahead of him or herself. Like the proverbial drip, drip, drip of the tiniest hole in the dyke, Labour front bench cabinet ministers sat silently for the first few moments of Gordon Brown’s holiday and then one-by-one began to stick toes or more in to test the waters [...]



Terminal 5 – The Service Nightmare Continues

By Denis Campbell • Jul 12th, 2008 • Category: Features

Coming to London this summer? Flying a British Airways long haul flight to Heathrow? You too could be a loser in the T-5 baggage lottery. Yesterday we learned Terminal Five still loses 900 bags each day. And that’s an improvement. Complain or demand satisfaction too vociferously and you could find yourself arrested and facing an [...]



Happy Friday! Please Blend vs. Stir or Shake

By Denis Campbell • Jul 4th, 2008 • Category: Features, Politics

On my 10th US Independence Day abroad, I’ll walk across our meadow to where the UK’s Severn River meets the Irish Sea and toss in the contents of a tea bag to celebrate. US holidays abroad are a bit strange. It’s Friday here. No hours-long parades, political speeches, fireworks, over-stuffing myself at cookouts or other [...]



Lorry Drivers Go-Slow During PMQ’s

By Denis Campbell • Jul 3rd, 2008 • Category: Politics

Diesel fuel averages £1.32 per litre in the UK or $10.11 per gallon. Since truck stop pumps dispense fuel at a rate of 120 litres a minute, 1,000 litres on average per tank means $2,600+ per. A huge percentage of the increase is in the form of taxes and thus truckers want Whitehall to do [...]



When Football and Politics Collide

By Denis Campbell • May 1st, 2008 • Category: Business

What a night.
Chelsea stunned Liverpool in extra time with two goals to win their place in the Champions League Cup finale and the night before Manchester United’s amazing 25-metre screamer by Paul Scholes into the top right hand corner of the net early in the first half was enough after 90 nail biting minutes to [...]



Labour’s Day of Reckoning

By Denis Campbell • May 1st, 2008 • Category: Politics

UK Prime Minster and Labour Party leader Gordon Brown is in an unenviable position today. Tony Blair rode off into the sunset just in time. While never close, the knives are now sticking out of Mr. Brown’s back as Mr. Blair (through high placed discreet sources), Labour front and back-benchers, the London and UK-wide Press, [...]