The kids are alright: Ecigarettes “aren’t a gateway to smoking” for young people August 17, 2015 Vaping isn't a "gateway" to smoking for the yoof, a new study has found – suggesting fears over the effects of ecigarettes are misplaced. Read more: A smoking ban in pub beer gardens? Stop persecuting smokers The study, by anti-smoking charity Ash, found there was "no evidence" young people were being enticed towards real-life fags by [...]
It’s official: The smarter you are, the fitter you are in your forties and fifties August 17, 2015 Everyone's aware of the phenomenon of middle-age spread – but it turns out the clever ones do something about it. A study by the University of Copenhagen's Centre for Healthy Ageing has found that the higher a person's IQ, the fitter they are likely to be when they hit middle age. The study, of Danish [...]
Bovis Homes share price dips despite boost from UK house prices August 17, 2015 Shares in Bovis dipped 1.43 per cent to 1,183p this morning, despite its half-year results showing a sizeable boost from the strength of the UK's housing market. The figures Revenues at the housebuilder rose nine per cent to £350.7m in the six months to the end of June, the company said this morning, while profit before tax [...]
Sportech share price jumps 10 per cent on takeover proposal August 14, 2015 Shares in Sportech, the company behind the football pools, jumped more than 10 per cent to 69p in afternoon trading after it confirmed it had received a "proposal" from Canada-based software supplier Contagious Gaming. The company said any offer it received would be at a "premium" to the 62.3p its shares closed at yesterday. The [...]
Diesel price falls to its lowest in five years August 14, 2015 Good news if you're planning a getaway this weekend: the price of diesel has fallen to its lowest in five years, after oil prices continued their inexorable slide yesterday. Figures by Experian Catalist showed prices fell to 112.48p per litre today, its lowest since January 2010. Meanwhile, the price of petrol has dipped to 115.24p [...]
HSBC, Barclays and RBS among nine banks signing up to $2bn US foreign exchange settlement August 14, 2015 Nine banks including HSBC, Barclays and Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) have agreed a $2bn (£1.3bn) settlement with US investors over currency rigging-accusations. Goldman Sachs, BNP Paribas, Bank of America, JP Morgan, Citibank and UBS also signed up to the deal, according to lawyers negotiating on behalf of the investors. A statement by law firm [...]
People’s ex-partners are spending £1.2bn on shopping sprees using joint credit cards August 14, 2015 Dealing with a broken heart is bad enough – but it turns out vengeful ex-partners are leaving their former beloveds with an altogether more tangible pain, after new research found exes have racked up £1.2bn on joint credit cards. According to the study, by comparison site uSwitch, 2m people in the UK have been left [...]
Migrant Advisory Committee warns government on changes to salary thresholds for skilled migrants August 13, 2015 The government should think twice before raising the minimum salary requirements for skilled migrant workers, an expert committee said today. The Migration Advisory Committee (MAC), which advises the government on migration issues, published its "early advice" today on reforming so-called "Tier 2" visas for skilled workers. Sir David Metcalf, who chairs the committee, [...]
Parmigiano-Reggiano maker cheesed off by Pornhub ad August 13, 2015 Italian dairy products consortium Parmigiano-Reggiano is a little cheesed off, it seems, after porn site Pornhub used its good name in vain in an advert for its new subscription service – which the cheesemaker says is "vulgar". Now the association has hired lawyers, and says it is exploring the idea of suing Pornhub. Expenses be [...]
Delays at Kings Cross Station after 40 year-old man is detained by police following evacuation August 13, 2015 British Transport Police (BTP) have detained a 40 year-old man on suspicion of intent to supply a Class B drug at King's Cross Station, after hundreds of passengers were evacuated just before the beginning of the evening rush hour. On Twitter, users reported the station being "full of armed police". Others said platforms 1-8 were [...]
