The Spa at South Lodge review: How a £15m spa transformed this traditional country-house into a cutting-edge hotel August 9, 2019 When you arrive at South Lodge, on the edge of the South Downs, it is exactly what you’d expect from a country house hotel: pretty grounds, a honey-coloured stone exterior and a crunchy gravel drive give you a warm welcome. While you can certainly decamp here for an enjoyable weekend away, with some stellar food [...]
Italian markets in turmoil as government edges closer to collapse August 9, 2019 Traders have sold off Italian bonds and the country’s stock market has plunged as the government teeters on the verge of collapse after League party leader Matteo Salvini called for a snap election. Read more: Italy could face €3bn fine over high levels of public debt Yields on 10-year Italian debt have hit a one-month [...]
MNG Enterprises discloses 9.4 per cent stake in New Media August 9, 2019 MNG Enterprises has disclosed a 9.4 per cent stake in New Media Investment Group and has said it may try to block the company’s proposed takeover of rival newspaper owner Gannett. Local newspaper giant New Media announced on Monday that it was planning to buy Gannett for $1.4bn (£1.2bn) in a deal that would create [...]
Top investment bank fees slide across the board in 2019 amid deals slowdown in Europe and US August 9, 2019 Fees at all but one of the world’s 20 largest investment banks tumbled in the first half of 2019, as fewer mergers in Europe and a global slowdown in initial public offerings (IPO) dented corporate pay cheques. Europe’s investment banks earned a combined $13.3bn (£11bn) worth of fees in the first half of 2019, plunging [...]
Political fallout threatens future of Westminster Holocaust memorial August 8, 2019 The fate of a proposed £100m Holocaust memorial in the heart of Westminster is hanging in the balance following a major political fallout. The memorial, which has been widely backed by MPs and will also include a learning centre, has been proposed for Victoria Tower Gardens on Milbank, a world heritage site. Read more: Sadiq [...]
Boris Johnson reveals immigration overhaul to attract ‘brightest and best’ after Brexit August 8, 2019 Boris Johnson has announced immigration shakeup that would see the cap on the number exceptional talent visas scrapped to attract the “brightest and best” to the UK. The Prime Minister said a new fast-track visa route would allow Britain to attract world-class specialists in science, technology and engineering after it leaves the European Union. Read [...]
World bond market sets quarterly record after boom in first-half activity August 8, 2019 The world’s green bond market hit a record quarterly high in the last three months, as investor appetite in environmental assets picked up pace. Issuers brought $66.6bn (£54.8bn) of green bonds to market globally in the second quarter of 2019, propelling issuance in the first half of the year and shattering records. Read more: Climate [...]
TfL suspends online Oyster system following breach August 8, 2019 Transport for London (TfL) has temporarily suspended access to customers’ Oyster and contactless online accounts after over 1,000 customers had their details accessed maliciously. Approximately 1,200 accounts have been accessed maliciously, forcing TfL to shut online accounts to protect customers’ data. Read more: TfL revises junk food ad ban after rules spark confusion No customer [...]
Britain reaches deal to stay in Interrail scheme following row August 8, 2019 Britain will keep its membership of the European Interrail scheme following a row in which the UK rail body claims it was pushed out. The Rail Delivery Group (RDG), which represents UK train operators, said it had reached an agreement with Eurail, the company that runs the scheme that allows travel across Europe with a [...]
Ex-Greene King chief exec pockets £850,000 after quitting August 8, 2019 Former Greene King chief executive Rooney Anand received a pay out of £850,000 after he quit the pub chain. The FTSE 250 brewery said the payment – equivalent to about a year’s remuneration – was made after Anand agreed to “various post-termination covenants” that were not part of his original contract. Read more: High yielding [...]