New Star Wars to be filmed in UK June 10, 2014 Chancellor George Osborne has announced via Twitter that the new Star Wars film will be made in the UK. Star Wars: Episode VII, which will be directed by JJ Abrams is already being filmed in Buckinghamshire, but the new deal secures the filming of a further standalone film, based in the UK. Culture secretary Sajid [...]
Apple faces EU probe over Irish tax June 10, 2014 The European Commission is set to launch a probe into technology giant Apple’s tax affairs in Ireland, Irish broadcaster RTE has reported. The investigation is understood to be focused on Ireland, but could also include tax breaks in Luxembourg and the Netherlands. Apple is under close scrutiny after a US Senate committee report claimed that [...]
Boris buys three water cannon June 10, 2014 London mayor Boris Johnson has bought three water cannon for the Metropolitan police from the German police force, despite reports that the home secretary Theresa May is as yet undecided on whether to lift restrictions on their use on the UK mainland. Currently, water cannon are only permitted for use in Northern Ireland. The new [...]
Manufacturers blast last resort blackout plans June 10, 2014 MANUFACTURERS yesterday criticised the need for “last resort” measures to avoid blackouts this winter, which involve energy-intensive companies being paid to switch off at times of peak demand. To protect the UK against an increasing risk of power shortages, network operator National Grid is asking large energy users to voluntarily cut back their electricity use, [...]
Christos Angelides to leave Next for Abercrombie after 28 years June 10, 2014 NEXT’S product director Christos Angelides is to leave the high-street retailer after 28 years to join Abercrombie & Fitch as brand president of its adult and children’s clothing lines. Angelides will take up the role in October. He is the second big hitter to leave the Next boardroom in under a month, after finance director [...]
Bank of England seeks hackers to test defence ability against cyber attacks June 10, 2014 Banks are being urged to hire hackers to attack their computers and see what they can steal, under Bank of England plans to improve defences against cyber attacks. Previously banks have focused on keeping attackers out. But the regulator fears some hackers will break through – so banks must be able to limit the damage [...]
Hires and small US firms signal firmer recovery June 10, 2014 THE US recovery is looking increasing strong, with two major economic indicators released yesterday reaching the highest level since before the financial crisis. Small US businesses indicated their most bullish sentiment since September 2007 in one of yesterday’s reports. The latest optimism index from the National Federation of Independent Businesses (NFIB) hit 96.6 in May, [...]
Greek prices decline further as IMF voices cautious confidence June 10, 2014 GREEK consumer prices fell further still last month, down two per cent from May 2013. The country’s deflationary trend worsened from the 1.3 drop registered in April. Economists had originally predicting a fall of 1.9 per cent, but the pace of the decline in prices has slowed from November’s steeper 2.9 per cent drop. The [...]
Survey casts doubt on pensions advice June 10, 2014 MOST pension customers say they do not trust their retirement provider to be impartial, a survey by consumer advice organisation Which? has found. The group’s poll claimed that 65 per cent of people do not trust advice given by the industry, in a blow to Prime Minister David Cameron’s plan to have pension providers help [...]
Bank bonus anger eases June 10, 2014 BANKERS’ bonuses are back on the up as the sector recovers, reducing workers’ dissatisfaction with pay, according to a survey out today from recruiter Hays. This year, 44 per cent of bankers saw their bonus rise, compared with 21 per cent last year. And the number reporting a cut fell from 36 to 24 per [...]
