Venezuela, “world’s worst performing economy”, appoints second finance minister in a month February 17, 2016 Nothing says stability like burning through two finance ministers in a month. And so it is of course hugely surprising that Venezuela – the country whose economy is in its worst state since 1940 and which recently topped a global misery index for the third year in a row – has done exactly that. President Nicolás Maduro – the [...]
Population explosion: London is 18 times more overcrowded than the rest of the UK – but it’s still got nothing on Dhaka, Hyderabad and Mumbai February 17, 2016 If you thought your morning commute was getting more crowded, you weren't wrong: new figures show that London is now 18 times more overcrowded than the rest of the UK. There are a total of 4,726 people cramming into every square kilometre of the capital. That's compared to an average of 257 people per square kilometre [...]
London house prices: These are the best commuter towns to relocate from the City to, based on house price, travel costs and commuter time February 17, 2016 Thinking about quitting the City in favour of suburban paradise – but not sure which way to head? With London's house prices on a seemingly inexorable rise, commuter towns are gaining in attractiveness for many, but those who are looking to make the move still need to find a way to make the balance of [...]
This is the vainest country in the world February 17, 2016 Brits might get accused of being vain, but it turns out we're not even top of the list of countries when it comes to time spent on personal grooming. That honour goes to Italy, where people spend an average of 5.6 hours each week bathing, shaving, dressing doing their hair and perfecting their make-up. That's [...]
UK Oil & Gas says Gatwick Gusher on Horse Hill to become commercially viable earlier than expected February 17, 2016 The oil at Gatwick Gusher is continuing to flow strongly, prompting the company behind it to say it should become commercially viable "earlier than expected". Yesterday UK Oil & Gas said it had discovered "significant" amounts of "moveable oil" of good quality, and would begin further testing to establish if it could become a "sustainable [...]
Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley agrees to meet MPs for first time as he attempts to “set the record straight” over working conditions at Shirebrook February 17, 2016 Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley has agreed to meet MPs for the first time, in an attempt to head off ongoing criticism of his company's working practices. Ashley has invited politicians to the retailer's Shirebrook HQ in Derbyshire to "set the record straight", the Mirror reports. Shirebrook has been the focus of much ire in recent months, [...]
Starbucks, Costa, KFC and Caffe Nero top list of worst offenders as research finds up to 25 teaspoons of sugar in hot drinks from coffee outlets February 17, 2016 Start your day with a coffee from one of the major chains? You could be drinking up to 25 teaspoons of sugar in one drink, according to new research. Campaign group Action on Sugar has studied hot drinks made by big name outlets including Starbucks, Costa and Caffe Nero and found that single drinks can [...]
Millennials told they should be saving £800 a month if they want a £30,000 a year income when they retire; millennials react with Kanye jokes and cat gifs February 16, 2016 Millennials are having a hard enough time saving up for a deposit on a house: now they're being told they should be putting £800 aside each month for their retirement. That's the amount that Rebecca Taylor, director at the Chartered Institute for Securities and Investments, has said 25-year olds should be averaging every month for the [...]
London weather: Met Office issues alert for snow as Londoners prepare for coldest day in winter so far February 16, 2016 Feeling wintery? Brace yourselves – Arctic winds blowing across the country mean that London is about to get colder yet. The Met Office is warning that temperatures will fall to their lowest levels of winter so far this week, reaching as low as minus one degree on Thursday. The weather service this morning issued a yellow alert for [...]
Sir Peter Bazalgette to be ITV chairman as Archie Norman steps down February 16, 2016 Sir Peter Bazalgette is to become non-executive chairman of ITV, taking over from Archie Norman after six years in the role. Bazalgette, who as the head of Endemol was famously the man who brought Big Brother to the UK, will pick up the reins at ITV's AGM on 12 May. He has been a non-executive director [...]
