Tailors measure up for awards March 16, 2015 FASHIONISTAS from all over the UK flooded Merchant Taylors’ Hall last night for the Golden Shears Awards, often called the “Oscars of the Tailoring World”. The gala-slash-awards ceremony, which is hosted by the livery originally established in the 14th century, recognises the industry’s rising stars, the up-and-coming tailor apprentices and students and the thousand-dollar labels [...]
At Last! Vladimir Putin re-emerges after 11 days March 16, 2015 Kremlin watchers were punching the air with joy yesterday after big Vlad P reappeared after his mysterious 11-day disappearance. Putin, last seen on 5 March, giggled off speculation surrounding his whereabouts, dismissing an abundance of rumours about his disappearance as “gossip”. Yes, we know, but where has he been?
China is hot on the heels of US and Russia in arms export league March 16, 2015 China has become the world’s third largest exporter of arms after the US and Russia, according to a new report, accounting for five per cent of the overall total. China overtook Germany, France and the UK in exporting weapons between 2010 and 2014, said the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (Sipri). Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar, [...]
Expensive housing delays Brits’ aspirations to own family home March 16, 2015 Most Britons’ plans to own a family home have been thrown off track by the rapid price rises of the past decade, a study from Lloyds Bank shows today. More than 80 per cent of Brits believe homeowners have to wait longer for their long-term family home than they expected 10 years ago. And the study [...]
Banco Madrid in bankruptcy step after US claims March 16, 2015 SMALL Spanish bank Banco Madrid yesterday filed for bankruptcy after the United States accused its Andorran parent of laundering money for organised crime groups. Customers of Banco Madrid, which caters for affluent people, rushed to empty their accounts after parent group, Andorran lender Banca Privada d’Andorra (BPA), was described by the US Department of the [...]
The Manchester Building Society sues accountants Grant Thornton March 16, 2015 The Manchester Building Society yesterday accused Grant Thornton of negligence in its auditing, filing a claim for £49m in damages from the accountants. The mutual lender said Grant Thornton gave it incorrect advice on hedge accounting. The legal action is “for breach of contract, negligence and breach of statutory duty relating to audit services and [...]
Pension Insurance Corporation sees benefits of bond issue as profits rise March 16, 2015 Pension Insurance Corporation (PIC) has posted pre-tax profit of £170m for the year to 31 December 2014, up from £114m in 2013. The specialist insurer also reported new pension business premiums of £2.6bn across 19 transactions, with clients, including French oil group Total and management consultancy firm Aon Hewitt. PIC raised £300m through a bond issuance [...]
Philippine government puts out tender for $1.1bn prison building March 16, 2015 Philippine contractor Megawide Construction said it was interested in taking part in a $1.1bn (£740m) government tender to build and maintain a prison north of the capital, Manila. The tender, launched earlier this month, is part of the government’s efforts to fix a dilapidated prison system that is the fourth most overcrowded in the world, according [...]
Gatwick Airport slams new findings on Heathrow as “manufacturing an outcome to support third runway ambitions” March 16, 2015 Gatwick Airport has hit out at the findings of the National Connectivity Taskforce (NCT), which singled out Heathrow as being in need of government attention. The two London airports have been at loggerheads for months as they both attempt to gain approval to construct a new runway. A decision on which one of the capital’s [...]
Top car makers probe allegations by Chinese consumer programme March 16, 2015 CAR MAKERS, including Volkswagen, Nissan Motor and Mercedes Benz, said they were probing allegations aired late on Sunday by Chinese state TV that the firms oversold repairs and spare parts to drivers. The annual consumer rights day investigative special, similar to BBC One’s Watchdog programme, also criticised Jaguar Land Rover for gearbox problems in some [...]
