From the Budget 2016 and Brexit to Cheltenham and the world’s first pizza robot: Here’s what got us talking this week March 18, 2016 Humanities students were given a fright in this week's Budget. Getting pizza suddenly got a lot easier. And we learned that when it comes to houses, Britons don't dream big. Bookies have had to pay out £50m already at Cheltenham according to William Hill (Source: Getty) 1) Budget blues Whether you were a sugar lover or a second [...]
EasyGroup representative Tim Ingram resigns from FastJet board over growing tensions March 18, 2016 Tim Ingram, EasyGroup Holding's representative on the board of FastJet, resigned from his board position at the latter firm earlier this afternoon. "The board has regrettably accepted Tim's resignation," Colin Child, non-executive chairman at EasyGroup, said. "I would like to thank Tim for his contribution and professionalism during his time on the board and wish him [...]
Too Naked for the Nazis crowned oddest book title of the year as it wins The Bookseller’s Diagram Prize March 18, 2016 There's plenty of strange sounding books out there, but the oddest title of the year has just been awarded to one that really did put the effort in. Step up Alan Stafford, for his work Too Naked for the Nazis. The book, about a vaudeville group, beat off tough competition including a photography book, Soviet Bus Stops, and a book [...]
Paris terror attack suspect Salah Abdeslam wounded in Belgium raid March 18, 2016 A key suspect in the Paris Attacks has been shot and wounded during a raid in Belgium, according to reports. Salah Abdeslam, a wanted fugitive from November's attacks has been "caught alive" after being wounded in a Brussels shootout, according to Sky News. As he was taken alive it is believed he could be the source of [...]
English pubs will save £39m annually from small business levies announced in Budget 2016 March 18, 2016 Changes to the way the government levies business rates announced in the Budget this week will save England's pubs over £39m per year. The measures, which will come into force in April 2017, will see 81 per cent of pubs benefiting from either the small business multiplier, or Small Business Rate Relief, or both, according to [...]
Sainsbury’s confirms bid for Argos parent Home Retail Group as Steinhoff walks away to buy Darty March 18, 2016 Sainsbury’s has confirmed a final offer for Home Retail Group, which will value the parent of Argos at £1.4bn, after rival suitor Steinhoff backed away this afternoon. The supermarket’s bid is a combined shares and cash offer, of 0.321 new Sainsbury’s shares per HRG share and 55p a share in cash. In addition, shareholders will receive [...]
Seven in 10 northern businesses don’t believe government will invest in the Northern Powerhouse, despite HS3, Crossrail 2 and infrastructure pledges March 18, 2016 During his Budget speech George Osborne upped his pledges towards the Northern Powerhouse project, but northern businesses are not convinced the government will deliver on its plans. Despite the infrastructure commitments such as giving the green light to HS3 between Manchester and Leeds, key A-road upgrades and funding Crossrail 2, seven in 10 respondents said they did not believe [...]
This is the city in England with the highest house prices – and it isn’t London March 18, 2016 House prices in London may seem extortionate – but there’s one place in England that’s worse. New data from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) shows that St Albans has the highest average house prices of anywhere in England and Wales. The Hertfordshire city has a median house price of £390,000 compared to the median [...]
EU migrant crisis: European leaders agree deal with Turkey to help stem the flow of migrants March 18, 2016 European leaders and Turkey have come to an agreement to help stem the flow of migrants into Europe, President of the European Council Donald Tusk has confirmed. Czech Prime Minister Bohuslav Sobotka also announced the deal on Twitter: "Agreement with Turkey approved. All illegal migrants who arrive to Greece from Turkey starting 20 March will be returned!" [...]
EDF aid would be funded by French state asset sales, says Finance Minister Michel Sapin March 18, 2016 The French finance minister has said any additional aid to cash-strapped utility giant EDF must be financed by selling state assets to avoid increasing public debt. The French finance minister, Michel Sapin, said that the government was yet to decide on how it would help EDF. "Should we need to recapitalise any public company, we would do [...]