Pinterest is yet another glorious way to waste time February 15, 2012 Pinterest is the geek-fix de jour. What was a promising picture-based social network last year (TechCrunch rated it as the best startup and Time listed it in its top 50 websites) has entered the mainstream. Even the US military has got an account, presumably so it has somewhere to post its pictures of abused enemy [...]
OUT OF OFFICE February 15, 2012 NIGHT OUT CONCIERGE SERVICE Exclusive members only concierge service Innerplace is hosting a pop-up night at the Purple Bar at the Sanderson every Thursday this month, where in-the-know staff will be on hand with iPads to help plan your night ahead through their network of contacts and encyclopaedic knowledge of London nightlife. Or, alternatively, you [...]
Stylish descent into darkness February 15, 2012 WAITING FOR SUNRISE BY WILLIAM BOYD Bloomsbury, £18.99 **** Boyd is that rare breed of storyteller who manages to write books that are both thematically rich – nuanced and historical – and red-bloodedly gripping. The screen has a serious crush on him: his 2002 novel Any Human Heart led to an adaptation freshly garlanded by [...]
OUT OF OFFICE February 15, 2012 SHECHTER DOUBLE BILL IN PARIS If you happen to be visiting Paris this month, do not miss what we think is the greatest contemporary dance show on in Europe this year. Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter’s exquisite double bill includes The Art of Not Looking back – made for the female dancers of Schecter’s company – [...]
Iran halts oil exports to six European states February 15, 2012 Iran has stopped oil exports to six European states in retaliation for European Union sanctions imposed on the Islamic state’s key export, its English-language Press TV has reported “Iran cuts its oil exports to six European countries,” Press TV reported. Brent crude oil prices were up $1 a barrel to $118.35 shortly after the announcement. [...]
Bank of England raises inflation forecast February 15, 2012 The Bank of England has raised its inflation forecast for two years time to around 1.8 per cent, higher than most economists had expected. The move raises doubts about further quantitative easing. Last week the Bank’s Monetary Policy Committee voted for another £50bn of quantitative easing over the next three months, taking the total to [...]
UK unemployment rises to 2.67m February 15, 2012 UK unemployment jumped by 48,000 to 2.67m in the three months to December, figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed. The figures showed that the number of people claiming Jobseeker’s Allowance last month increased by 6,900 to 1.6m.
Thorntons profits tumble February 15, 2012 CHOCOLATIER Thorntons posted a lower first-half profit as it needed to discount heavily and spent more on promotional lines to attract cash-strapped consumers to its stores, and the company waived its interim dividend. The Derbyshire-based company, which has been closing some shops, said sales in its own stores declined in the first half by 7.9 [...]
Peugeot plots cuts as profits dive February 15, 2012 PSA Peugeot Citroen pledged additional savings and asset sales including its Gefco trucking unit as it struggles to cut debt amid mounting losses at its core auto division. PSA’s automotive operating loss was 92 million euros (£77m) last year, after a 621m profit the previous year excluding one-time items, Europe’s second-biggest automaker said on Wednesday. [...]
France in GDP boost as German growth stalls February 15, 2012 France’s economy grew by a stronger-than-expected 0.2 per cent in the fourth quarter from the previous three months as corporate investment picked up and domestic consumption remain solid, bringing growth for the year to 1.7 percent in line with the government’s forecast. The INSEE national statistics office said that investment by non-financial corporations grew by [...]
