The royal family spent over £1 million on helicopter journeys last year and plans to acquire two new helicopters to replace those in use for the past 15 years. Official accounts show that the royals undertook 170 helicopter trips, costing £1,096,300 in total. The overall travel expenditure rose to £4.2 million from £3.9 million the […] More
Starting September 18, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) will enforce stricter requirements for banks and building societies to evaluate and address the availability of services like branches and ATMs in local communities. These institutions will be obligated to address any significant service gaps identified through assessments, which local areas can request. Under the new rules, […] More
Europe’s largest asset manager, Amundi, predicts a significant surge in the pound throughout the rest of the year, as Britain’s stable economy and government stand in contrast to global uncertainties. Amundi forecasts that sterling will rise to $1.35 by the end of the year, up from $1.293 today and $1.273 at the start of 2024. […] More
A report by the Environment Agency (EA) for 2023 revealed an increase in the most severe pollution incidents, rising to 47 from 44 the previous year. According to the EA, more than 90% of these incidents were attributed to Anglian Water, Southern Water, Thames Water, and Yorkshire Water. The report highlighted a “polarised performance” within […] More
Artificial intelligence that scans GP records to find hidden patterns has significantly improved cancer detection rates. The use of the “C the Signs” AI tool has increased the detection rate from 58.7% to 66.0% in GP practices. This tool analyzes a patient’s medical record, including medical history, test results, prescriptions, treatments, and other personal characteristics […] More
Campaigners argue that the chaos caused by last week’s global IT outage highlights the risks of moving towards a cashless society. Supermarkets, banks, pubs, cafes, train stations, and airports were all affected by the failure of Microsoft systems on Friday, rendering many unable to process electronic payments. The impact was particularly severe for businesses that […] More
Authorities are conducting a manhunt for an inmate who escaped from a Gloucestershire prison, with police advising the public to avoid any contact with him. Gary Rootham, who was serving sentences for robbery and burglary at HMP Leyhill, fled the facility, according to Avon and Somerset Police. He was last spotted by prison staff around […] More
Big Tech stocks are losing their appeal as investors shift focus to smaller companies and previously neglected sectors. Over the past week, the Russell 2000 small-cap index surged by 7%, driven by falling inflation and a brighter earnings outlook. This shift has seen the once-dominant “Magnificent Seven” megacap tech stocks decline. These losses, intensified by […] More
Hargreaves Lansdown has once again extended the deadline for private equity firms to make a takeover offer for the UK’s largest retail investment site, potentially valuing it at £5.4bn. The board of Hargreaves Lansdown requested an extension from the UK Takeover Panel for a second time, citing ongoing discussions with the private equity firms led […] More
Starting January 17, mobile phone, pay TV, and broadband providers will be prohibited from implementing unexpected price hikes during the term of a contract. Under new regulations set by Ofcom, companies must disclose any potential mid-contract price increases clearly and in precise monetary terms at the point of sale. This decision follows a surge in […] More