Budget 2016: Government committed to disability benefit cuts as chancellor George Osborne faces potential backbench Conservative rebellion March 18, 2016 Number 10 has said it "remains committed" to cutting disability benefits this parliament, despite the prospect of a backbench rebellion over the issue. The backbench Tories claim they have the numbers to overcome the government's plans over personal independent payment changes, according to reports. Education secretary Nicky Morgan had suggested that the government would climbdown on the proposal [...]
Toshiba share price up 4.2 per cent on close as company confirms it is cooperating with US authorities March 18, 2016 The Japanese electronics conglomerate Toshiba saw its shares rise by 4.2 per cent as trading closed in Tokyo today. Toshiba also today confirmed that its US arm is under investigation into losses at its nuclear power operations, after allegations surfaced that there had been major fraud in the accounting operations at the corporation's US-based nuclear business [...]
Back on the (turn)table – Sainsbury’s to start selling vinyl records from March 21 March 18, 2016 In a blast from the past Sainsbury's will soon start selling vinyl records again for the first time since the 1980s. Responding for booming demand for vinyl, which grew by over 60 per cent in 2015 and 70 per cent in the first quarter of 2016, from 21 March a mix of 18 contemporary and classic [...]
Brent and WTI crude: Oil prices hit 2016 high above $42 March 18, 2016 Oil rose above $42 per barrel today, helped by growing optimism that producers could agree a production freeze deal and a weak dollar. Brent crude, the global benchmark, rose 1.64 per cent to $42.22 per barrel, having touched a 2016 high of $42.31 earlier in the day. West Texas Intermediate crude, the US benchmark, added 1.8 [...]
Domino’s Pizza unveils the “world’s first” pizza delivery robot March 18, 2016 Domino's Pizza is has taken a military droid and turned it into a the world's first pizza delivery robot called DRU. DRU, Domino's Robotic Unit, is a prototype which the company says is "unlike anything seen before". The four-wheeled robot can travel at speeds of up to 20km per hour across footpaths, trails and bike paths. And when [...]
EU referendum: Brexit would be as bad for families as the financial crisis, London School of Economics warns March 18, 2016 Family incomes could be hit by up to £6,400 – a decline in UK GDP equivalent to the 2008 financial crisis – if the UK votes for a Brexit, according to research released today. The effect of reduced trade and productivity would result in UK incomes falling by between 6.3 per cent and 9.5 per cent, or [...]
UBS: European Court of Human Rights accepts petition to challenge French court ruling on helping clients avoid tax March 18, 2016 UBS has won the support of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) to push through a challenge to a French ruling over whether it helped clients avoid tax. The Swiss bank said in its accounts filed today that the Strasbourgh-based ECHR had accepted a petition to challenge parts of the decision. UBS was placed under formal examination in [...]
Luck’s been a lady: Bookies pay out £50m so far as “worst Cheltenham ever” for betting industry goes into Gold Cup Day March 18, 2016 The odds weren't on the punters to win this year, but savvy betting has put the bookies down by £50m at the start of Gold Cup Day. The betting industry is holding its breath for respite on the final day of the week-long event after having to pay out over £50m so far over this week's [...]
MP Simon Danczuk has to pay back over £11,000 after “error” in expenses claims March 18, 2016 MP Simon Danczuk is going to have to pay back over £11,000 after wrongly claiming money. The MP had claimed money for the cost of his children living in London, sparking local Liberal Democrats to ask the police to check if he had wrongly claimed the money. Now the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has ordered Danczuk [...]
Earth Hour 2016: London landmarks Big Ben, Houses of Parliament, Gherkin, Piccadilly Circus, Harrods and the Ritz will all black out lights this weekend March 18, 2016 Some of London's most iconic buildings will switch off their lights for an hour this weekend, as part of a global environmental initiative. Big Ben, the Houses of Parliament, the Gherkin, Piccadilly Circus, Harrods and the Ritz are all expected to take part in the capital's blackout, which starts at 8:30pm on Saturday (19 March). They will be [...]