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☆ M&G would be a tricky hop for kangaroo raider
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Neil Unmack | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON, March 2 (Reuters Breakingviews) - M&G (MNG.L) would be a tricky hop for Macquarie (MQG.AX). The $48 billion Australian financial powerhouse may bid for the $6 billion UK insurer. The appeal is likely to be in the fund management group. Macquarie’s own asset management arm accounted for over 30% of net profit in the first half of its current financial year. Follow @Unmack1 on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSAustralian banking group Macquarie is considering a bid for UK insurance and asset management group M&G, Sky News reported on March 1.

☆ Britain's Thames Water pledges $1.92 billion to cut sewage discharges
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Feb 27 (Reuters) - British utility Thames Water plans to invest 1.6 billion pounds ($1.92 billion) in the next two years to cut discharges into rivers and tackle pollution, after UK water firms faced a backlash over sewage outflows into waterways. England and Wales water regulator Ofwat and Britain's Environment Agency are investigating several water companies that admitted they might be illegally discharging sewage. Last year Ofwat served formal notices to Thames Water and others over concerns about the firm's responses to its queries on their sewage treatment operations. Water companies in the UK who are caught creating illegal pollution could face having to pay compensation for damages, or legal prosecution. Thames Water, which provides services to 15 million customers across London, the Thames Valley and surrounding areas, said it was committed to reduce its yearly discharges by 50% by 2030.

☆ Not so quiet on the BAFTA front as anti-war remake tops the billing
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-19 | by ( Marie-Louise Gumuchian | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/5] Albrecht Schuch, Edward Berger, and Malte Grunert arrive at the world premiere of "All Quiet on the Western Front" at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) in Toronto, Ontario, Canada September 12, 2022. REUTERS/Mark Blinch/File PhotoLONDON, Feb 19 (Reuters) - A German remake of anti-war classic "All Quiet on the Western Front" leads the contenders at the British Academy Film Awards on Sunday, the country's highest accolade for the industry. "Banshees", about two feuding friends on a remote island off the coast of Ireland, and "Everything Everywhere" each have received 10 nominations. Bill Nighy ("Living"), Paul Mescal (Aftersun") and Daryl McCormack ("Good Luck to You, Leo Grande") complete the leading actor nominees list. BAFTA Chief Executive Jane Millichip said while Grozev would not attend the ceremony, the film's nominated producers would.

☆ Seen Big Ben already? Here's a Londoner's guide to visiting other parts of the city
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-15 | by ( Lucy Handley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +11 min

Central London's City of Westminster is its political heart, while the City of London is where the capital's financial decisions happen. But be warned: Several paths across Hyde Park are pedestrian-only, and police often fine people who cycle on them. The City of London is a blend of old and new, with St Paul's Cathedral close to skyscrapers as well as Roman ruins. While north London has Hampstead Heath, south of the river is Richmond Park, which dwarfs its northern counterpart in size. There's also a branch in central London's Covent Garden — the flower-filled restaurant The Petersham — that has an sit-down deli and bar.

☆ Luxury-apartment residents who had 'hundreds of thousands' of people peering through their windows each year win court case
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-03 | by ( Isobel Van Hagen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Residents at NEO Bankside — a luxury-apartment complex with large glass windows beside the art museum — argued that "hundreds of thousands of spectators each year" are able to peer into their homes. The viewing deck at the Tate Modern galleryoffers 36 degree views of London. On Wednesday, however, Leggatt ruled that the Tate's viewing terrace was a "straightforward case of nuisance" for those who brought the case. Luxury flats are seen from the terrace at the Tate Modern gallery in London in 2020. While the terrace is now "temporarily closed to the public," the case will return to the country's high court to reach a solution between the Tate Modern and residents.

☆ IMF slashes UK growth outlook, adding pressure on finance minister Hunt
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-31 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

REUTERS/Henry NichollsLONDON, Jan 31 (Reuters) - Britain is the only Group of Seven nation to have suffered a cut to its 2023 economic growth outlook in International Monetary Fund forecasts published on Tuesday, adding to pressure on finance minister Jeremy Hunt to come up with a growth plan. Britain's flagging economy now looks set to shrink by 0.6% this year, a sharp downgrade from previously expected growth of 0.3% in the IMF's last forecast in October. All other G7 economies are predicted to grow this year, mostly at a stronger pace than the IMF forecast three months ago. Responding to the IMF report, Hunt said nearly all advanced economies were facing headwinds, and that past forecasts from a range of bodies including the IMF had proven too gloomy about Britain's prospects. Hunt is due to announce measures that he hopes will speed up growth in a budget statement on March 15.

Downing Street referred requests for comment to the business ministry, which oversees Companies House, Britain’s public registry of companies. And, in most cases, if foreign companies purchased the property before 1999 or hold UK property in a trust they don’t need to publicly disclose the beneficial owners. The Cyprus-based company, A. Corp Trustee Limited, wasn’t listed on Britain’s new property register as of Tuesday morning. A listing on the UK’s new property register for Hanley Limited identifies the beneficial owner as a Swiss company called Pomerol Capital Sa. Ravellot also wasn’t on the new property register.

☆ The fog in the English Channel is clearing a bit
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-16 | by ( Hugo Dixon | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

But if the two sides can resolve a dispute over Northern Ireland there could be progress on topics such as climate change, foreign policy and financial services. Resolving the dispute over the so-called Northern Ireland Protocol is the key to unlocking cooperation on a range of topics. But a deal on Northern Ireland could be. Johnson agreed to such a forum as part of the political declaration accompanying the Brexit deal but then abandoned it. “Fog in the Channel: Continent cut off” is a mythical UK newspaper headline which supposedly summed up Britain’s disdain for its neighbours.

☆ Factbox: Highlights from Prince Harry's memoir 'Spare'
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

MADRID, Jan 5 (Reuters) - A Spanish-language version of "Spare", the much-awaited memoir of Britain's Prince Harry, went on sale in book stores in Spain on Thursday, days ahead of its official launch date. The book reveals details about Harry's relationship with his father, King Charles, his elder brother, Prince William, and other members of the British royal family that have never previously been published. As is usual for the royal family, spokespeople for Charles and William have declined to comment. William called Meghan "difficult", "rude" and "abrasive", Harry writes. CAMILLAHarry says that he and Prince William had asked their father not to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles, who is now Britain's queen consort.

☆ I've missed my kids' birthdays and Christmas as a lifeboat volunteer. I can't bear thinking about someone going into the water without anyone to help.
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-27 | by ( Marc Shoffman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He has missed work, birthdays, and Christmas Day to save lives at sea. Being an RNLI volunteer can create issues at work and requires a sympathetic bossI was once loading a truck while working for the window-plastics supplier when the pager went off. My RNLI work is all voluntary, but we get an allowance for travel and food. I've missed some of my three daughters' birthdays and couldn't drink at my sister's wedding because I was on call. This is the first Christmas I won't be volunteering, as I am doing the night shift at Gatwick.

☆ Britain's charity stores are going upmarket
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-26 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Britain's charity shops are transforming as they try to appeal to Gen Z customers. The managers told Insider their retro and vintage stores were largely in urban areas with large student populations. Grace Dean/InsiderE-commerce for charity shops is completely different than e-commerce for retailers that sell large batches of new products. Nonessential retail stores had to shut their doors for months during the pandemic, which the Charity Retail Association estimated cost UK charity shops about £28 million, or $32 million, a month. But, as the aisles of charity shops across the UK show, a lot of people do choose to donate them.

☆ Wilko Johnson, 'Game of Thrones' actor and Dr. Feelgood guitarist, dies at 75
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-23 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

LONDON — Wilko Johnson, the guitarist with British blues-rock band Dr. Feelgood who had an unexpected career renaissance after being diagnosed with terminal cancer, has died. Born John Wilkinson in 1947, Johnson was raised on Canvey Island, a marshy, industrial oil town in England’s River Thames estuary. He studied Anglo-Saxon literature at Newcastle University and worked as a schoolteacher before forming Dr. Feelgood with other local friends. Johnson later said that if the band had been able to follow its managers’ instructions to behave, “I’m pretty sure we’d be multimillionaires. He released another album, “Blow Your Mind,” in 2018, and played gigs with his Wilko Johnson Band until last month.

☆ Europe has kicked out over 400 suspected Russian spies this year alone, British intelligence chief says
▼ + stars: | 2022-11-16 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Europe booted over 400 Russian officials suspected of being spies this year, the MI5 chief said. Ken McCallum said this gave a "most significant strategic blow" to Russia's intelligence agencies. "Alongside the wave of expulsions, the other part of that template is staying the course and preventing Russian intelligence restocking," McCallum said. "In the UK's case, since our removal of 23 Russian spies posing as diplomats, we have refused on national security grounds over 100 Russian diplomatic visa applications." Russian spies and operatives have been suspected of carrying out attacks like bombings, poisonings, sabotage, and assassination attempts for years, and Europe has tried to combat Moscow's increasingly hostile activities in other countries.

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoCompanies Mars Inc FollowNov 8 (Reuters) - A California man who claimed Skittles are "unfit for human consumption" because they contained a known toxin has dismissed his federal lawsuit against Mars Inc, the candy maker. Jenile Thames voluntarily dismissed his case on Monday, according to a filing by his lawyers in Oakland, California. read moreThough many foods contain titanium dioxide to add color, various studies have over the years questioned its safety. Mars, based in McLean, Virginia, on Sept. 30 sought to dismiss Thames' lawsuit. It said its use of "small amounts" of titanium dioxide did not harm the plaintiff, and complied with U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations.

He was later ordered to complete 180 hours of community service by the Thames Magistrates Court in June, after pleading guilty to the offense, PA Media reported at the time. “I know it was very tough for people to watch and to see that and obviously I feel very, very sorry. During the sentencing at Thames Magistrates’ Court, Zouma was also banned from owning a cat for five years and ordered to pay court fines of nearly £9,000 ($11,214). Kurt Zouma arrives at the Thames Magistrates' Court, in June. Daniel Leal/AFP/Getty ImagesThe RSPCA seized two cats belonging to Zouma shortly after the incident and they have remained in their care since February.

☆ Charity clothing stores turn to Depop and Instagram as they head upmarket with vintage and designer items
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-30 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +13 min

Britain's charity shops are changing how they look and trying to appeal to Gen Z customers. They're selling more designer and vintage items, creating listings on Depop, and carefully curating their social-media profiles — all targeted mainly at appealing to the growing number of Gen Z shoppers. The managers told Insider their retro and vintage stores were largely in urban areas with large student populations. Non-essential retail stores had to shut their doors for months during the pandemic, which the Charity Retail Association estimates cost UK charity shops about £28 million ($32 million) a month. But, as the aisles of charity shops across the UK show, a lot of people do choose to donate them.

☆ London's $96 million cable car, which became an unlikely viral hit on TikTok, has been given a makeover
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-29 | by ( Stephen Jones | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

London's $96 million cable car system has a new look and name change. The cable car struggled to attract commuters but has proved a hit on TikTok. The transport system's rebrand was unveiled at a recent event as IFS Cloud Cable Car. While the cable car has struggled to attract commuters it has proved to be a popular hit on social media during that time. According to TfL's figures, about 15 million people have used the cable car in the decade since it opened.

☆ A 98-year-old was mistakenly sent a water bill showing she had consumed the equivalent of one million cups of tea in 6 months
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Kate Duffy | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

A woman's water bill said she used enough water for one million cups of tea in six months, per the BBC. The bill from her supplier, Thames Water, was previously $37 but rose to $238, her son told the BBC. A leak caused the high water readings, but Thames Water took months to respond, per the BBC. Estelle Mendoza, who has dementia and is confined to her bed, was sent a bill from British water supplier Thames Water costing £215. Thames Water wrote in the bill that Mendoza had consumed 255 megaliters of water within the space of six months, Lawrence told the BBC.

☆ Amir Malik is on a drive to make golf more inclusive for Muslims
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-04 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —Amir Malik is a man in love with golf. Amir Malik (L) is passionate about golf. Malik believes Muslim women in the UK are being held back from participating in more sports because of a lack of all-female facilities and sessions. Muslim Golf Association‘The golf course doesn’t discriminate’To date, MGA events have attracted over 1,300 participants. Muslim Golf AssociationWhile Malik hopes to soon see Muslim players competing on professional tours, he says he did not form the MGA to produce a Muslim Tiger Woods.

LONDON — Britain's Queen Elizabeth II died of old age, according to her death certificate released Thursday. The certificate says that Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor died at 3.10 p.m. (10.10 a.m. The queen's death certificate released by the National Records office of Scotland. The queen's death wasn't announced until 6.30 p.m. (1.30 p.m. Queen Elizabeth was succeeded upon her death by her eldest son Charles, 73, the former Prince of Wales who now reigns as King Charles III.

☆ Morning Bid: Mini budget, major turmoil
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Henry NichollsA look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Anshuman DagaWhat was meant to be a mini-budget is still thundering across financial markets. read moreAsian stocks markets and currencies extended their downward journey, burdened by the gloomy growth outlook, while dollar bulls pushed the currency to yet another two-decade high. "Indeed a recession in Europe in particular is already well anticipated, with 92% of our European Fund Manager survey respondents expecting one in the coming 12 months," BofA said. Elsewhere, the energy crisis in Europe intensified as European authorities investigated what Germany, Denmark and Sweden said were attacks which had caused major leaks into the Baltic Sea from two Russian gas pipelines. The energy crisis between Europe and Moscow has already battered major Western economies, sent gas prices surging and sparked a hunt for alternative supplies.

☆ How much do Big Tech companies pay their employees?
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-28 | by ( Jordan Parker Erb | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

Well, we took the guesswork out of it for you by analyzing some data to determine just how much different companies pay their employees. Positions we looked at included data scientists, data engineers, senior analysts, and more — see how their salaries stack up. Positions we looked at included data scientists, data engineers, senior analysts, and more — see how their salaries stack up. Finally, take a look at Insider's Big Tech salary database to see how much Apple, Microsoft, Intel, Facebook, and other companies pay their workers. By combing through data, Insider got a sense of how companies like Google, Hulu, and Disney pay their employees.

☆ Apple's new London office is set to open in 2023 inside a decommissioned coal-fired power station — take a look
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Isobel Asher Hamilton | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Apple plans to move 1,400 London staff into a new office in Battersea Power Station in 2023. Cook tweeted Monday that Apple would open the new office, in Battersea Power Station, in 2023. An Apple spokesperson told Insider the Battersea Power Station office would cover 500,000 square feet and occupy six floors. A rendering of Apple's new Battersea Power Station office, shared by CEO Tim Cook. PA Images via Getty ImagesBuilt between 1929 and 1955, at its peak, the coal-fired power plant supplied 20% of London's electricity.

☆ Federer's grand finale ends in defeat
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Martyn Herman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

After a brief moment of almost silence around the packed arena, the crowd erupted to salute an emotional Federer. During the changeovers the video screens showed some iconic moments of Federer's 24-year professional career with tributes from Nadal and his mother Lynette. American duo Sock and Tiafoe, pantomime villains for the night, tested Federer's reactions with some lusty blows aimed at the Swiss maestro who would have demanded nothing less. The pair with a combined age of 77 and 42 Grand Slam titles between them edged the opening set by breaking Tiafoe's serve. Despite the party atmosphere in the stadium, there was no danger of Federer's farewell match turning into an exhibition.

British Prime Minister Liz Truss and Chancellor of the Exchequer Kwasi Kwarteng visit Berkeley Modular, in Northfleet, Kent, Britain, September 23, 2022. The pound crashed below $1.09 for the first time since 1985 and British government bonds suffered the biggest daily fall in decades. "I've rarely seen an economic policy that is as uniformly panned by economic experts and financial markets," said Harvard professor Jason Furman, former chair of the U.S. Council of Economic Advisers during Barack Obama's presidency. Britain's Institute for Fiscal Studies compared Kwarteng's statement to a budget in 1972 that similarly sought to double Britain's rate of economic growth, but is widely remembered as a disaster for its inflationary effect. Furman said Truss might also have no choice but to undo some of her plans if Britain's debt problems start to spiral because of higher interest rates.

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