Greggs hikes dividend as healthy food sales help boost profits February 28, 2017 Greggs has reported a jump in sales for last year, and has hiked its dividend after growing profits – but the baker is looking at job cuts as it aims for greater supply chain efficiency. The figures Total sales rose seven per cent to £894.2m from £835.7m, while company-managed like-for-like sales (which excludes franchises) went up [...]
“World War II shell” found in Shoreditch High Street was not an explosive device, police say February 27, 2017 Shoreditch High Street was evacuated earlier this morning after a suspected World War II shell was discovered there – but police later said the item was not suspicious. Police were called at 8:35am to Shoreditch High Street, near the junction with Hackney Road, E1 "to reports of ordnance", a spokesperson said. Officers and specialist officers attended the [...]
Oscars Best Picture screw-up: City stalwart is investigating how the award was handed to the wrong film February 27, 2017 Last night's Oscars ceremony took a surprising and extremely awkward turn when the big prize – the Best Picture award – was mistakenly handed to the wrong film. Stars Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway announced that La La Land had won, as was widely expected. The film's producers were midway through their acceptance speeches when Beatty interrupted [...]
Sterling tumbles against the dollar on speculation over another Scottish independence referendum February 27, 2017 The pound fell during early Asian trading after reports that Scotland could be about to call a second independence referendum. Concerns around a renewed push for Scottish independence have increased in strength since the EU referendum, however yesterday the Times reported that Theresa May is preparing for another vote. The pound tumbled to $1.2392 against [...]
Electoral Commission opens investigation into spending of EU referendum campaigns February 24, 2017 The UK Electoral Commission has launched an investigation into the spending of the Leave and Remain campaigns ahead of last year's EU referendum. Figures released last year showed a 52 to 48 per cent split between Leave and Remain in EU referendum donations. The Electoral Commission today published details of more than £27m of campaign spending, [...]
Car smashes into City branch of Pret a Manger February 24, 2017 City workers in the Fenchurch Street area seeking their morning coffee and croissant fix will have a little further to go today. Police are investigating after a car smashed through the front of the Pret a Manger branch in Cullum Street last night, putting the store out of action. A Pret spokesperson said the company is helping the [...]
This is how City analysts reacted to RBS’ results February 24, 2017 Royal Bank of Scotland reported its ninth consecutive annual loss this morning, pushing shares down two per cent. The lender's losses widened to £6.96bn in 2016, compared with £1.98bn the year before, largely due to litigation and conduct costs. This is how the analysts reacted: Groundhog Day RBS chief exec Ross McEwan "must feel that he is [...]
Storm Doris: A man has been injured in an incident at Victoria station February 23, 2017 A man has been hospitalised after receiving a head injury when he was hit by falling debris caused by high winds at Victoria station. The London Ambulance Service was called at 2.59pm to reports of an incident on Victoria Street, and sent an ambulance crew, a single responder in a car, an incident response officer and [...]
Storm Doris leads to train delays as tree falls on rail tracks – travellers are advised to avoid Euston station February 23, 2017 Storm Doris is wreaking travel chaos across the country today, with rail service disruptions set to continue all day. All west coast services out of Euston have been cancelled, and Transport for London has advised travellers to avoid the station if possible. https://twitter.com/victorialine/status/834759837208760320 London Thameslink services are severely disrupted, and there will be no direct service [...]
Storm Doris hits London: Heathrow warns of flight delays and cancellations due to strong winds February 23, 2017 Storm Doris has arrived and Londoners are waking up to strong winds in the capital this morning. Earlier this week the Met Office issued a severe weather warning for London ahead of Storm Doris' arrival, and forecast winds of up to 50-60mph, along with ice, snow, rain and fog. The storm is also causing disruption [...]