UK services sector activity surges as PMI jumps in March April 7, 2015 Activity in the UK's services sector surged in March, new data suggests: Markit's purchasing managers' index (PMI) rose to 58.9 in March, its highest in seven months. Not only was the figure a sharp rise on the previous month's reading of 56.7, it was also way above the 57 analysts were expecting. Any figure above 50 [...]
Charged in 60 seconds: Superfast battery could charge smartphones and laptops in just one minute April 7, 2015 An end to dead smartphone batteries? An experimental battery which can be recharged from zero to 100 per cent in an “unprecedented” 60 seconds has the potential to revolutionise technological devices. Made of aluminium rather than lithium or alkaline like those currently used in smartphones and laptops, the battery is also safer and cheaper to [...]
General Election 2015: What does Tony Blair really think of Ed Miliband? April 7, 2015 Labour's most electorally successful leader has re-entered the fray of British politics, warning voters that another Tory government will jeopardise the UK's relationship with the EU. In a speech at the Excel Centre in his former constituency of Sedgefield today, Tony Blair will also praise Labour leader Ed Miliband for showing "real leadership" for ruling [...]
UK property prices: Have renters given up on owning their own home? Just 40 per cent of renters are saving for a house April 7, 2015 The UK's renters have given up on graduating to property ownership, it seems – after new research suggested just 43 per cent of renters aged between 20 and 45 are saving to buy a home. The figure has fallen by six percentage points since last year, Halifax's Generation Rent report showed. More than half [...]
World Health Day 2015: These are the world’s healthiest cities to live in April 7, 2015 It's World Health Day – an annual event created by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to remind us of the importance of healthy living across the world. With pollution levels rising and the number of people suffering from obesity steadily increasing, the need for us to assess our lifestyle choices is growing. But in the [...]
Holborn fire: Disruption continues as homes, businesses and roads remain shut April 7, 2015 The area around last week's blaze in Holborn is still disrupted by the aftermath, with some homes and businesses still shut, while traffic restrictions are in place until at least Wednesday (April 8). The fire, which came from the service tunnels along Kingsway, Holborn, was finally extinguished by Sunday morning, five days after it first [...]
General Election 2015: Nicola Sturgeon vows the SNP will block a raise of the state pension age in the UK April 7, 2015 The SNP will block planned raises of the UK pension age, if it wins enough seats in the General Election to do so, Nicola Sturgeon said yesterday. The Scottish first minister, argued Scots will be disadvantaged by the rises, as they have the lowest life expectancy in the UK. A baby girl can expect to [...]
Vivendi confirms bid for YouTube rival Dailymotion April 7, 2015 Vivendi has confirmed a bid for Orange-owned YouTube rival Dailymotion. The French media group, which owns Universal Music and Canal+, confirmed reports it was in talks to buy a majority stake in the video site, in a deal thought to be worth €250m (£182.6m) for a 75 to 80 per cent share. Earlier, Hong Kong telecoms [...]
Advfn seeks to fend off “sinister” activist investor April 7, 2015 Financial market information specialist Advfn is looking to fend off an activist investor, which it claims has used a “sinister and opaque operation” to attempt a hostile take-over. Last month Advfn revealed it had received communication regarding a requisition for a general meeting in which the investor would seek to remove all directors and appoint [...]
Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras flies to Russia as talks with Brussels drag on April 7, 2015 The Prime Minister of Greece will fly into Moscow today for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin amid ongoing concern that the Mediterranean country will run out of money this month. Alexis Tsipras' meeting had originally been scheduled for May, but has been brought forward, raising suspicions that Greece plans to gain funding from [...]