Apple HomePod smart speaker review: A hell of a speaker controlled by a mildly disappointing assistant February 16, 2018 Apple rarely gets to the party first. IBM built a smartphone 15 years before the iPhone. Tablet computers have been around since the 1980s. Just about every manufacturer had a stab at a smart watch before the Apple got around to it in 2014. But the iPhone will be remembered as the smartphone, the iPad [...]
UK shares rise as investors shrug off retail restlessness February 16, 2018 European shares today made further progress, completing a five-day gain that part-eroded last week’s big sell-off. UK equities advanced just under one per cent, sealing a near-three per cent gain on the week. Germany’s Dax gained 0.9 per cent today while France’s Cac was up 1.3 per cent. Sterling slipped earlier below $1.41 amid January’s [...]
Theresa May meets Angela Merkel in Berlin: German Chancellor says she’s not frustrated, just curious over UK’s position on Brexit February 16, 2018 Angela Merkel has said she is “not frustrated at all, just curious” about the UK’s position over Brexit, following a “very candid” discussion with Theresa May. The German Chancellor and British Prime Minister have just held a joint press conference following their bilateral meeting in Berlin today, which Merkel characterised as “a very constructive talk [...]
What is a sudden stratospheric warming? Snow could hit the UK later this month February 16, 2018 Temperatures could plummet and the UK could be enveloped by “significant snow” after a weather phenomenon known as a sudden stratospheric warming took place above the North Pole. The phenomenon took place earlier this week, with temperatures suddenly rising as much as 50 degrees celsius in the air above the North Pole Today the Met [...]
Citigroup gives boss Michael Corbat a 48 per cent pay rise to $23m February 16, 2018 Citigroup boss Michael Corbat received a 48 per cent raise last year, with his annual compensation rising to $23m (£16.4m). During 2017, Citigroup’s stock increased by 25 per cent and profits rose four per cent. The company fell short of earlier financial targets, but directors considered recent progress towards new targets when setting Corbat’s pay, [...]
Germany is offering free transport in five major cities – Bonn, Essen, Herrenberg, Reutlingen and Mannheim – in a bid to cut pollution February 16, 2018 Germany’s government is considering making public transport free in five major cities, to help cut pollution and reduce the number of cars on busy roads. Bonn, Essen, Herrenberg, Reutlingen and Mannheim will begin trialling the scheme by the end of the year, according to German newspaper Die Welt which said it had seen a letter [...]
UK millennials spend 29 hours a year taking selfies February 16, 2018 Millennials come in for a lot of flack, with older generations slating their supposed avocado toast-fuelled spending sprees as the reason they’re struggling to get a foot on the property ladder. While lot of that criticism is unfounded, as this research by the IFS demonstrates, sometimes stats are published that tip the balance against the [...]
How to negotiate a discount when you’re buying a new home February 16, 2018 Why is it important to find out why vendors are selling their property? At my buying agency Black Brick, we tried to get our heads around this question by analysing transactions closed over the last 12 months. Now we believe we have a better understanding of who’s selling, why they’re selling, and the magnitude of [...]
Brexit: Split between Michael Gove and Boris Johnson prompts fears of soft Brexit among pro-Leave MPs February 16, 2018 Fears are growing among pro-Leavers that a split between Michael Gove and Boris Johnson could result in the Cabinet balance tipping in favour of a soft Brexit. Gove and Johnson, who campaigned together for Vote Leave, are at odds over regulatory alignment, with the environment secretary understood to increasingly favour a closer relationship after Brexit. [...]
Property of the Week: The Beatles’ Mayfair mansion on Charles Street is on sale with a mews house thrown in February 16, 2018 Forget Penny Lane and suburban skies, Mayfair was the hang out of choice for the Fab Four during the height of their fame. Charles Street, in particular, as this house was owned by the Beatles’ music company, Apple Corps, in the late 60s. Charles Street, Mayfair, £9m (Click or tap on the images to see [...]