By Libby Brodie Spring is a time of new beginnings and new life. Lambs gambol, chicks cheep and certain wine houses are offering up their latest babies for consumption, too. Recently there have been some exciting new releases: lovers of high-end sparkl…
Ukrainian Strikes on Russian oil refineries: What’s the impact?
Last year was marked by widespread optimism for the Ukrainian war effort, while this year is the exact opposite, as dark pessimism looms over the information landscape. As some believe, both views were – and are – exaggerated. Judging by the current tr…
Major changes coming to BBC iPlayer — everything we learnt from Beeb plans ahead of licence fee review
BBC has offered a glimpse at planned changes coming to BBC iPlayer between now and the end of the current BBC Charter in 2027. Despite its annual savings target rising to £700 million a year by 2028, the BBC has pledged to increase investment in its di…
Opinion: Secret Thinker calls for rethink on Easter holidays
Regular readers will be aware of my views on faith and religion. Faith is fine, if that’s your thing, but religions have caused more wars and misery in the world than anything else. Personally I don’t go in for the mumbo jumbo, but I’m happy for others…
Man City vs Aston Villa: The results of their last 10 meetings
By Jude Summerfield Aston Villa’s next task in a season where they’ve upset the usual top-four hopefuls comes on Wednesday night when they visit Premier League title challengers Manchester City. The Villans established their Champions League credential…
How much money will St James’s Place customers actually get?
By Elliot Gulliver-Needham St James’s Place customers are waiting to see: Will they be able to get money back for the services they were overcharged for? The firm announced last month it had set aside £426m to cover the cost of refunding customer compl…
Sutton Bridge villagers concerned that ‘gateway to Lincolnshire’ is a mess and will put off visitors
Concerned residents say the entrance to a village is a “let down” and ruining what should be a picturesque gateway into Lincolnshire. Dog mess, rubbish in bus shelters and untidy kerbs are giving the wrong impression for visitors to Sutton Bridge – at …
Nationwide branch ads starring Dominic West banned by watchdog as misleading
By Lars Mucklejohn Adverts for Nationwide starring actor Dominic West have been banned by the advertising regulator for misleading consumers that the lender would not close branches like its rivals. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) launched an…
Labour’s Yimby housing policies are vote winners – but how it sells them is crucial
By Jessica Frank-Keyes Labour’s plans to solve the housing crisis are promising, but it needs to be tactical about how it pitches them in order to win over as many voters as possible, Jessica Frank-Keyes writes Pick up any newspaper or flick through a …
What this pension fund’s investments say about the London Stock Exchange
By Charlie Conchie A London pension fund has defended the way it invests its cash after City figures sounded the alarm over the dearth of retirement money flowing onto the London Stock Exchange. The London Pensions Fund Authority (LPFA), a £7.7bn local…