Government should consider Post Office mutualisation, ex-minister says October 20, 2024 The government should consider plans to turn the Post Office into a John Lewis-style mutual, a former business minister has said, amid reports Whitehall is looking at the viability. Conservative shadow business secretary Kevin Hollinrake has said he would support a proposal to transform the Post Office’s business structure into a mutual in which customers [...]
Ministers to oversee HS2 amid warnings of ‘dire delivery failure’ October 20, 2024 Ministers will oversee work on HS2, the government has announced, as the transport secretary warned costs had spiralled out of control. Louise Haigh has announced urgent action to bring the cost and delivery of the high speed route from London to Birmingham back under control. It comes as the Sunday Times revealed leaked documents marked [...]
Transport officials plot PFI-style deal to fund HS2 Euston station October 20, 2024 Government officials are reportedly planning to raise at least £3bn from private sector investors to help fund the new HS2 station at Euston and renovate the neighbouring mainline terminus.
UK banks to post first results since interest rate cut October 20, 2024 Major UK banks are to reveal whether borrowers are benefiting from lower interest rates as they report third-quarter results over the next two weeks.
When it comes to luxury watches, the 1990s are back, baby! October 20, 2024 It’s an observation likely to provoke a torrent of below-the-line abuse in watch nerd circles. But here we go: luxury watches as we know and love them owe their existence to a surprisingly modern confluence of circumstances. While the mechanics inside still tick to the tune of 200-year-old technology something happened in the decade that’s [...]
The latest watch news from Swatch, Saint Laurent and more October 20, 2024 The latest goings-on in the world of haute horlogerie, from a back-to-the-future 1970s LED digital to Swatch’s new Mission on Earth range and an actually-futuristic LED analogue DIODE TO JOY In the early 1970s, Girard-Perregaux took it upon itself to develop (at huge cost) its own battery-powered movement, the Calibre 350. Appropriately, the 350 launched [...]
Rugby is staring into the abyss when it comes to Gen Z October 19, 2024 Look at rugby in Britain today and objectively try to answer the following questions. Is it appealing to you? Is it sexy enough to invest in? Would I take my kids or young relatives to watch it? These are the questions rugby chiefs will always be grappling with, and good luck to them. But rugby [...]
New Porsche 911 GT3 revealed – including option of rear seats October 18, 2024 Say Guten Tag to the new 911 GT3. The most hardcore, track-focused version of Porsche’s iconic sports car has received a mid-life makeover, with revised aero, a shorter final-drive ratio and more lightweight parts. Plus the option of rear seats for the first time. The updated, fourth-generation GT3 – known as the 992.2 to Porsche [...]
Ka Ying Rising the one to beat in Sha Tin showdown October 18, 2024 BILLED in the city as the ‘Showdown at Sha Tin’, the Group Two Premier Bowl (9.10am) over six furlongs, is the main event on a highly competitive and entertaining 10-race programme in Hong Kong on Sunday morning. Present local champion sprinter California Spangle locks horns with new kid on the block, Ka Ying Rising, a [...]
Inflation, interest rates and tax: What happened in the economy this week? October 18, 2024 The health of the UK economy is attracting more and more attention as the Budget draws nearer, and there was plenty for commentators to digest this week. Here’s a brief recap: What to make of this week’s news? First, the danger of inflationary persistence seems to be diminishing, with noticeable progress on both wage growth [...]