Business back Gove’s exam plans September 18, 2012 BUSINESS leaders last night welcomed the decision to replace GCSEs with a new English Baccalaureate Certificate as the national test for 16- year-olds, a move that the government says will end “the race to the bottom” in exam standards. Education secretary Michael Gove announced yesterday that children will begin studying for the “EBacc’”qualifications in September [...]
Iconic Hamleys stores sold to French group September 18, 2012 BRITISH toy shop Hamleys was yesterday sold to French toymaker Groupe Ludendo for £60m. The family-owned French giant has taken the 252-year-old business out of the hands of failed Icelandic lender Landsbanki, which last year rejected a £60m offer from the Bahraini investment bank Global Banking Corporation. “We are delighted to be acquiring Hamleys today,” [...]
Gove’s reforms will help better equip young people for life September 18, 2012 BRITAIN’S poor educational standards are a national scandal and a key reason why the UK’s productivity continues to lag. The problem is not with graduates of our top universities, though even they could do better. The real crisis is that thousands of school leavers and even, in some cases, graduates from other universities, end up [...]
Rajoy’s inaction pushes Spanish yields up to 6pc September 18, 2012 SPANISH bond yields began to rise again yesterday, from the low they hit following European Central Bank (ECB) president Mario Draghi’s speech 12 days ago committing the Bank to sovereign bond-buying. In the wake of his speech the euro rose four per cent on the dollar and 10-year yields on Italian and Spanish bond yields [...]
What the other papers say this morning September 18, 2012 FINANCIAL TIMES Greening orders probe into DfiD Justine Greening, the new international development secretary, has commissioned an investigation into her department’s use of consultants, despite assurances from Downing Street that the coalition has already done its best to “bear down” on wasteful aid spending. D&D London receives sales boost London’s fine diners have helped boost [...]
iPhone sales hit 2m on record day for Apple September 18, 2012 APPLE said yesterday that the iPhone 5 had become its fastest selling phone ever, with 2m handsets bought in the first 24 hours it went on sale. Despite a lukewarm reception after last Wednesday’s highlyanticipated unveiling, sales of the iPhone 5 on Friday were double those of the previous 4S model on its first day [...]
Last-minute rush drives oil down September 18, 2012 ■ Four minutes of hectic high volume activity that sheered $4 off the price of oil late yesterday left traders, analysts and US regulators looking for the cause of one of the fastest and most furious energy market routs in recent years. In the absence of any major news that could have explained the drop, [...]
DWP denies pension plan block September 18, 2012 ■ A Department for Work and Pensions spokesperson told City A.M. that pension reform was proceeding as planned in the Queen’s speech earlier this year, after reports that Prime Minister David Cameron was stepping in to hold up reform. Cameron is said to have personally intervened in pension reform plans, worrying that a flat-rate payment [...]
Lonmin slashes metal estimate amid job cuts September 18, 2012 PLATINUM producer Lonmin has slashed its estimate for the amount of metal it is able to sell this year by almost nine per cent to between 685,000 and 700,000 ounces, down from 750,000 as previously forecast. Ongoing strikes at its Marikana mine have left the firm unable to produce platinum. Lonmin warned in August it [...]
Ikea names its next chief and plans new store opening spree September 18, 2012 IKEA, the world’s largest furniture retailer, has promoted its current Sweden boss, company veteran Peter Agnefjall, 41, to the post of chief executive from September 2013. Mikael Ohlsson, leader since 2009, had informed the board he wished to step down after 34 years with Ikea. The reshuffle came as the firm pledged to speed up [...]
