MPs blast government ‘delay’ in virus fake news crackdown March 17, 2020 MPs have lambasted the government over its ‘delayed’ attempt to clamp down on disinformation relating to coronavirus. Earlier this month the government launched a new cyber unit aimed at preventing the spread of fake news about the Covid-19 outbreak on social media. The team, assembled from departments across Whitehall, will also hold discussions with tech [...]
BBC delays licence fee changes for over-75s due to virus fears March 16, 2020 The BBC today said it will push back plans to end the blanket free licence fee scheme for over-75s amid concerns about the impact of the coronavirus outbreak. Pensioners were due to face changes to the licence fee from 1 June, but this will now be delayed until 1 August. Millions of over-75s will have [...]
Property of the Week: A Huguenot home in Spitalfields with a unique Rousseau rendition March 13, 2020 Wander a little beyond the balti houses and beigel shops of Brick Lane, and you’ll soon come across the Spitalfields Conservation Area. These narrow, relatively secluded residential streets offer a glimpse into the old East End, and are home to some of the best examples of early Georgian-era townhouses in central London. The rows of [...]
Property focus on Tunbridge Wells: Find pretty period homes and a rejuvenated restaurant scene in Queen Victoria’s favourite town March 13, 2020 Only three towns in England can call themselves ‘Royal’ – and Royal Tunbridge Wells, a town of 56,000 people which lies 30 miles south-east of London in Kent, is one of them. King Edward VII bestowed the title on it in 1909, partly to commemorate the fact that his mother, Queen Victoria, loved the town [...]
BBC could take pensioners to court over licence fee evasion March 12, 2020 Pensioners could be hauled in front of a judge amid an ongoing row over payment of the BBC licence fee, the broadcaster’s director general has said. Lord Tony Hall today admitted that some people in their 80s and 90s could be taken to court if they fail to pay the £157.50 charge. Speaking during a [...]
Real estate charity cyclists in 1,500km Regent’s Park ride after Mipim relay cancelled over coronavirus worries March 8, 2020 Cyclists from the real estate sector are trying to cover 1,500km around Regent’s Park this week after a planned charity relay to the Mipim conference in Cannes was cancelled over coronavirus fears. The annual Cycle to Mipim ride was cancelled after the real estate bonanza, which was set to take place in the south of [...]
Property of the Week: A Camden gothic mansion with ties to surrealist artist Nancy Fouts and Ally Pally March 6, 2020 Slip behind Mornington Crescent station in Camden, take the second left, and you’ll find yourself on Oakley Square. Walking alongside the manicured gardens, you’ll pass a row of stucco-fronted Georgian townhouses, identical save for the odd red door. When you get to the end of the block though, there’s a bit of a surprise. With [...]
BBC must avoid ‘narrow urban outlook’, warns new culture secretary March 5, 2020 The BBC must avoid a “narrow urban outlook” if it is to survive in the modern media landscape, the new culture secretary has warned. In his first major attack on the broadcaster, Oliver Dowden took aim at the BBC’s perceived bias and its failure to reflect the whole of the UK. “If we’re all honest, [...]
MPs to grill BBC executives amid questions over broadcaster’s future March 3, 2020 Top BBC executives are set to be hauled in front of MPs to face a grilling over their plans for the future as the broadcaster attempts to stave off a string of crises. Outgoing director general Lord Tony Hall and chairman Sir David Clementi will both give evidence to the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [...]
City workers snap up central London homes as Brexit uncertainty fades March 2, 2020 The number of City workers snapping up property in prime central London areas surged last year as the uncertainty surrounding Brexit began to clear, according to the latest research. The percentage of buyers from the financial services sector buying properties worth more than £2m jumped to 34.6 per cent of total sales in 2019, the [...]