UK house prices: Housebuilding won’t meet demand, so will 2015 lead to a worsening supply shortage? December 29, 2014 Despite the slowing housing market, a surplus of demand and dearth of properties could lead the housing market into crisis in 2015. A survey by the National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) has revealed many of its members believe that government plans to build new homes will not do enough to sate demand. [...]
AirAsia flight QZ8501 is the third Allianz-insured flight to go down this year December 29, 2014 It's emerged Allianz is the lead reinsurer on AirAsia flight QZ8501, which has just disappeared above the Java Sea to become the third major air disaster the company has paid out on in the past year. Shares in Allianz fell a modest 1.36 per cent in mid-morning trading, as the company confirmed it was the "lead [...]
Looking for a new job in 2015? Here are nine ways you can prepare now December 29, 2014 We may still be in the 12 days of Christmas, but if you're planning on searching for a new job in 2015, now is the perfect time to get ready for the inevitable scramble for new roles that will begin in earnest in January. Whether you're looking to change careers entirely or just want a [...]
UK weather bomb: Despite cold snap, 2014 could be the warmest year on record December 29, 2014 As the white shroud falls across the UK it may be difficult to believe it but, by some measures, 2014 was actually the warmest year on record in the UK. According to Met Office data, which stretches back to the 1600s, the temperature is around 1.5 degrees Celsius above the norm for this time [...]
Jennifer Lawrence was the top-grossing actor of 2014 December 29, 2014 Jennifer Lawrence has topped a list of the highest grossing actors of 2014. Forbes, famous for creating a range of measures for financial worth, compiled a list of the top 10 actors based on how much their films grossed in 2014. Lawrence’s films, Mockingjay and X-Men: Days of Future Past, gleaned a cool $1.4bn, [...]
Is China blocking Gmail? Chinese Google users reportedly cut off December 29, 2014 The Great Firewall could be blocking Gmail. China is famed for its internet censorship; it limits or prevents access to a range of websites and services, including Facebook and Twitter. Now it seems the new superpower is blocking Google's email service too. On Friday, thousands of Gmail addresses were cut off, according to [...]
The Interview makes £9.6m from online sales December 29, 2014 The Interview pulled in $15m (£9.6m) from online rentals and downloads in just four days, making it the studio's most successful online film to-date. The movie, which swept to notoriety following the hack into Sony Pictures, attracted two million rentals and purchases over the festive period as fans clamoured to see what all the fuss [...]
London train delays: Rail services improve at King’s Cross and Paddington, but operators warn of continuing disruptions December 29, 2014 Major delays on rail networks yesterday resulted in thousands of journeys into and out of London being disrupted. Operators have now warned passengers that the disruptions are likely to continue today, with delays expected at some London stations. Paddington and King’s Cross were two of the main stations affected on Saturday, with overrunning engineering works [...]
Inventor James Dyson now owns more land than the Queen after buying Cranwell and Roxholme estate December 29, 2014 James Dyson, the man who removed the bag from the humble vacuum cleaner, is hoovering up land in Britain. Dyson, a self-made billionaire, has bought a 3,000 acre estate in Lincolnshire, which brings his estimated land holdings to 25,000 acres (or 14,204 football pitches), more than the Queen’s private estate, Sandringham, which is 20,000 [...]
New Year’s Eve 2014 in London – how to spend it December 29, 2014 It’s that time of year again – when everyone’s asking you what you’re doing on New Year’s Eve.Some are lucky enough to already have the evening planned, but many Londoners are still trying to work out how to mark the occasion. If you’re unsure of what to do, here are some ideas to help ensure [...]