UK overtakes Japan and Hong Kong in internet race October 7, 2013 The UK has leapt ahead of Hong Kong, Japan and Luxembourg in the United Nations internet connectivity table. The International Telecommunication Union marked up the UK's position, from 11th place in 2011, to eighth place in 2012, overtaking Hong Kong and Japan. South Korea came top in the table for third year running while Niger [...]
In brief: Government reshuffle so far October 7, 2013 New appointments:- Sajid Javid: Treasury financial secretary Robert Goodwill: parliamentary under secretary (Department of Transport) Esther McVey: minister of state (employment) Nicky Morgan: Treasury economic secretary Mike Penning: minister of state (Department for Work and Pensions) Don Foster: chief whip Greg Hands: deputy chief whip Alistair Carmichael: Scottish secretary Matt Hancock: minister of state (skills [...]
Tesco revamps Tesco Finest in bid to boost sales October 7, 2013 Tesco has announced its plans to improve its Tesco Finest food line. Just days after announcing a pretax profit slump of 23.5 per cent in the first half of 2013, the supermarket giant has said the new food lines will include 400 new products with three-quarters of the current 'Finest' products being new or improved. [...]
BBC to launch next generation of iPlayer October 7, 2013 BBC director general, Tony Hall, is to set to announce the next stage of the BBC's iPlayer service in a speech on Tuesday. The speech, entitled Where Next?, will set out the BBC's new strategy to adapt to technological developments and the changing ways consumers access news and entertainment. The vision is for an iPlayer [...]
Reshuffle sees Lib Dem Scottish Secretary given the boot October 7, 2013 Less than a year before Scotland's vote on independence, today's reshuffle has seen Michael Moore replaced with Alistair Carmichael as the minister responsible for Scottish affairs. The Tories, Lib Dems and Labour are all are looking to maintain the status quo when it comes to next September's referendum on independence. But, with the Scottish National [...]
Newcastle Uni brands students RUNTs October 7, 2013 Rebrands are tricky at the best of times, risking alienating customers or spending a fortune on a new logo nobody notices. But Newcastle University is sure to get noticed if some of its brand ideas make it to the public. It has applied to trademark the Research University of Newcastle upon Tyne [...]
Greece forecasts positive outlook and budget surplus of €340m for 2013 October 7, 2013 Greek deputy finance minister Christos Staikouras has said this morning, with the unveiling of the draft Greek budget, that the country's economy is in a phase of stabilisation and next year will emerge out of a six-year long recession. A primary budget surplus of at least €340m for 2013 is anticipated, he said, with economic growth [...]
UK growth revised upwards and set to accelerate says Capital Economics October 7, 2013 Capital economics have revised up their growth forecast for the UK in their latest UK quarterly review. Although the economic recovery still faces many challenges including the need for continued fiscal restraint, growth is expected to be higher than previous estimates. The firm has revised its forecast for 2013 as a whole up from 1.2 [...]
Financial services optimism at 17-year high October 7, 2013 Confidence amongst British banks and financial institutions is at a 17-year high, according to the latest CBI/PwC financial services survey. The survey covers the three months up until early September found 59 per cent of financial firms said they were optimistic with only 6 per cent saying they were not optimistic. The positive outlook is [...]
Growth for Eurozone GDP remains unchanged in second quarter October 7, 2013 Eurzone GDP growth remains unchanged, at 0.3 per cent for the second quarter of 2013.