Ebola: Cuba pledges doctors as WHO warns that infection rate outpaces ability to manage cases September 12, 2014 The outbreak of Ebola in West Africa is now beyond health authorities' ability to contain it, the World Health Organisation said today. The three worst affected countries – Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone – are the most problematic, the international body said, with the rate of infection rising faster than capacity to cope. [...]
Marc Jacobs, McQ and Vivienne Westwood: Shop Direct lifts the lid on Very Exclusive launch brands September 12, 2014 My Wardrobe founder Sarah Curran has unveiled the details of her latest venture – a luxury arm within Shop Direct – and some of the brands that have signed up for its launch next February. Very Exclusive will focus on luxury women's clothing, footwear, accessories and beauty when it goes live during London Fashion [...]
UK construction output flat in July on back of slowing housebuilding market September 12, 2014 The UK's construction output was flat in July, according to month-on-month figures out this morning from the Office for National Statistics. On an annual basis, output has risen 2.6 per cent – the slowest rate of growth since November, and down from June's three month high of 5.3 per cent, the data showed. Could [...]
Boohoo share price soars after reporting accelerating sales growth September 12, 2014 Boohoo's share price soared six per cent this morning after revealing revenues will be up nearly a third for its first half. The etailer, which went public in March, is expecting revenues to rise 31 per cent to £67m for the six months to August 31, it said in a trading update this morning, [...]
Tesco beware: Aldi to double UK store count September 11, 2014 Tesco beware – Aldi has set its sights on the UK as a market ripe for growth, and it's backing its expansion plans with £70m. The budget supermarket today announced plans to almost double the number of stores in the UK from 531 to 1,000, and expand its UK headquarters in Atherstone, Warwickshire. The [...]
Brits more likely to lie about personal life than politics September 11, 2014 People are more honest about their political views than they are their personal life, a new survey suggests – with older people most likely to lie. Just 55 per cent of adults over the age of 65 said they would answer questions about their personal life honestly – way below the national average of [...]
Scottish independence: Now Tesco Bank says it will move to England September 11, 2014 Tesco Bank has confirmed it will redomicile in England in the event of Scotland gaining independence, following commitments from four other major banks this morning. The supermarket's personal finance arm issued a statement this afternoon saying that it had been “developing contingency plans…. regardless of the outcome of the referendum” throughout the campaign. [...]
#AskBoris: Mayor Boris Johnson talks Scotland, Isis, property and transport in less than 140 characters September 11, 2014 After yesterday's painful Mumsnet web chat between Alex Salmond and Alistair Darling, Boris Johnson showed the rest of the country's politicians how to acquit yourself on social media during his #AskBoris session this lunchtime. Answering questions ranging from his menu of choice at Nandos (response: “chicken”) and even a cheeky one about “operation Chiselled [...]
#AskBoris: Mayor Boris Johnson talks Scotland, Isis, property and transport in less than 140 characters September 11, 2014 With typical charisma, Boris Johnson showed the rest of the country's politicians how to acquit yourself on social media during his XX-minute #AskBoris session this lunchtime. Answering questions ranging from his menu of choice at Nandos (response: “chicken”) and even a cheeky one about “operation Chiselled Whippet” (no prizes for guessing what that [...]
Could independent Scots be charged more in shops? John Lewis’ boss thinks so September 11, 2014 Could an independent Scotland pay more than the rest of the UK for its groceries, clothing and white goods? John Lewis Partnership chairman Sir Charlie Mayfield certainly seems to think so. The retail boss, who this morning revealed half year gross sales had risen a steady six per cent to £5.01bn, told the BBC's [...]