Weight loss pays out in Dubai September 1, 2013 A DIETING challenge in Dubai has proved to be worth its weight in gold – quite literally – this weekend. Dieters in the emirate have just completed a five week weight-loss challenge set by the government, which rewards the biggest losers with grams of the precious metal. The “No Wealth Without Health” challenge saw hundreds [...]
Pizza and a Hot Dog for charity traders September 1, 2013 A HOT dog and pizza were order of the day at UKForex’s annual charity trading event this year. The firm’s City staff and pets donned superhero costumes, with Super Dog beating rival pet pooch Hot Dog, along with Spiderman, Wonder Woman and Superman to the best dressed prize. Food wasn’t themed, so there were no [...]
Unfair contract complaints hit five-year high September 1, 2013 CONSUMER complaints about unfair contract terms increased again in 2012-13, reaching a five-year high, up by 46 per cent in the past four years. According to law firm Pinsent Masons, in the most recent financial year there were 289 complaints lodged about alleged unfair contract terms to the Financial Services Authority (FSA), which became the [...]
UK’s top law firms grow profits amid consolidation in the sector September 1, 2013 THE UK’s 100 largest law firms made combined profits of £5.8bn in 2012-13, according to new data, an eight per cent increase on the previous year amid a flurry of M&A activity among the sector. Research out this week from Legal Business magazine also shows that the top segment of the UK’s legal market billed [...]
Digitising Whitehall could save taxpayers up to £24bn a year September 1, 2013 CIVIL servants should eliminate the use of paper when interacting with the public and model their working practices on internet start-ups, according to a report released today. Influential think tank Policy Exchange says the existing Whitehall model is failing to take advantage of technological change. It believes that if the state can match the productivity [...]
Australia gets ready to vote out Labor party September 1, 2013 AUSTRALIA’S Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, struggling to avert a landslide election defeat this Saturday, pledged tax breaks and education programmes yesterday to counter a slowing economy in a last-ditch plea to voters. Labor leader Rudd, launching his campaign in the battleground state of Queensland, sought to capitalise on unease among voters about promised conservative opposition [...]
Pirc attacks Mulberry for failing to put incentive scheme to vote September 1, 2013 PIRC, the influential shareholder group, has accused Mulberry of “serious governance failure” for not putting its pay report to a vote at its annual meeting this Wednesday. Although the luxury retailer is not required as an Aim-listed group to present a remuneration report, “it is considered to be best practice”, Pirc said. Mulberry declined to [...]
Shares for rights could lure talent to smaller firms September 1, 2013 AS NEW rules came into force yesterday allowing employees to waive certain workers’ rights in exchange for shares in their employer, lawyers have said the legislation could drive top talent towards the UK’s smaller companies. Under the new scheme, first proposed by chancellor George Osborne last year, employees can exchange certain rights – including statutory [...]
Euston property owner clinches £80m financing in spite of HS2 September 1, 2013 SYDNEY & London Properties has sealed an £80m refinancing deal for three office blocks fronting Euston Station, the planned terminus for HS2 and Britain’s sixth busiest railway station. Lloyds Bank has agreed to refinance One Euston Square and two office blocks known as the Podium and the Tower at One Eversholt Street for a further [...]
Chinese industry posts strongest growth seen since April last year September 1, 2013 OFFICIAL Chinese government statistics indicated early yesterday morning that the country’s manufacturing sector is expanding at its fastest rate in 16 months. For August’s manufacturing purchasing managers’ index, the government’s statistical agency recorded a score of 51, the best seen since April last year. Any number above 50 indicates that a sector is growing. New [...]