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Budget 2021:

£520m for 'MBA-style training' for small business owners

Tens of thousands of UK firms to be offered management training to increase innovation & boost growth

Moment up to 300 revellers defy Covid lockdown rules to party in Newcastle country park

Footage shows around 300 Covid rule-breakers attending a drink-fuelled party on a snowy hill in Newcastle.

The video shows the illegal gathering grow in size throughout yesterday afternoon - with crowds visiting Cow Hill on the city's Town Moor to sledge in the snow earlier in the day.

Revellers are seen chanting and playing music whilst gathered in close proximity, with one bystander describing the group's behaviour as 'becoming more stupid' as the evening wore on.

Latest stories

  • Best UK dating sites and apps to help you find love in 2021

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  • After guilty verdict, Sarkozy faces further trials and tribulations

    Nicolas Sarkozy’s prison sentence for corruption and influence-peddling marks a legal landmark for postwar France. But things could get worse for the former French president, who faces further court battles and inquiries. Sarkozy was sentenced on Monday to three years in jail, two of them suspended, making him the first former French president to be handed a custodial sentence.The nature of the conviction underscores the many legal woes that have dogged the former conservative president ever since he left office in 2012.The 66-year-old was found guilty of attempting to bribe a judge by offering him a plum job in return for insider information about a separate case.Sarkozy will remain free while he appeals. If he loses the appeal, he is likely to serve a year at home with an electronic tag rather than go to jail. Nonetheless, the guilty verdict is a blow to the retired politician, who still plays an influential role in French conservative politics. It is not the end of his legal troubles either. Sarkozy, who has accused the judiciary of hounding him, faces another trial later this month and is also under investigation in a third case. Below is a summary of his past and current legal woes.‘Bygmalion affair’Sarkozy will face the Paris court again later this month over claims of illegal funding for his 2012 presidential campaign, which ended in victory for his Socialist rival, François Hollande. The “Bygmalion affair” centres on accusations that his conservative party, then known as the UMP, worked with a public relations company to hide the true cost of his re-election bid.France sets strict limits on campaign spending. Prosecutors allege that the company, Bygmalion, invoiced Sarkozy’s party rather than his campaign in order to get around the restrictions. They say the scheme allowed Sarkozy and his party to spend 42.8 million euros ($50.7 million) on the campaign – almost twice the maximum authorised. The former president has denied wrongdoing.Libyan campaign cashSarkozy’s previous presidential campaign, his successful 2007 run, is also the focus of ongoing investigations – this time involving allegations of illicit Libyan funding..The former president is under formal investigation for corruption, illegal financing and conspiracy in a case involving Libyan spies, arms dealers and allegations that late Libyan strongman Muammar Gaddafi sent Sarkozy's election campaign suitcases stuffed with millions of euros in cash.Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam was the first to air the claims in 2011, claiming Sarkozy – then the French president – should "give back the money he took from Libya to finance his electoral campaign".A year later, the investigative website Mediapart published a document alleging that the Libyan dictator had agreed to support Sarkozy with up to 50 million euros ($60 million at current rates). Sarkozy has always denied the accusations, stating in a 2018 interview: “There’s not even the smallest inkling of proof.”One of his main accusers, Franco-Lebanese businessman Ziad Takieddine, who has described himself as a "middleman in the shadows", withdrew his account last year.Russia consultancyFinancial prosecutors in January said they were opening a preliminary investigation into alleged influence-peddling related to activities undertaken by Sarkozy in Russia seven years after he left office.The Mediapart website said the probe targeted a payment by Russian insurance firm Reso-Garantia of three million euros in 2019, while Sarkozy was working as an adviser.It said investigators were trying to verify whether the former president acted only as a consultant – which would be perfectly legal – "or if he engaged in potentially criminal lobbying activities on behalf of the Russian oligarchs".L'Oreal heiress scandalSarkozy has previously been cleared in another case involving funding for his 2007 presidential run, known as the “Bettencourt affair".The longstanding legal tussle centred on allegations his party accepted illicit payments from L'Oréal heiress Liliane Bettencourt in cash-filled envelopes.Bettencourt's butler testified that Sarkozy was a regular visitor to her home during the 2007 campaign, a claim the politician denied.After a lengthy investigation that he claimed was politically motivated, Sarkozy was cleared in 2013 of taking advantage of Bettencourt while she was too frail to understand what she was doing. Two years later, a court in Bordeaux also cleared his close ally Éric Woerth – a former budget minister and UMP party treasurer – of wrongdoing, citing a lack of evidence despite "strong suspicions" that payments were made.However, it was Sarkozy’s attempts to get information about the Bettencourt inquiry that eventually led to his conviction for corruption and influence-peddling on Monday.'Karachi affair'Sarkozy has also been interviewed as a witness – though not as a suspect – in another long-running investigation involving campaign funding, this time for former prime minister Édouard Balladur’s unsuccessful presidential run in 1995.The “Karachi affair” involves two former Sarkozy aides, who have been charged by judges investigating alleged kickbacks from a Pakistani arms deal concluded when Sarkozy was budget minister.A shell company was allegedly used to channel kickbacks to Balladur's presidential campaign, which Sarkozy helped run.Balladur, 91, went on trial in February, charged with complicity in the alleged misappropriation of public funds. Prosecutors have asked for a one-year suspended prison term and a fine of 50,000 euros.(FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)

  • $1.87 Billion Glycomics Market - Global Forecasts to 2025: Glycomes, Genetics, Physiological, Pathological - ResearchAndMarkets.com

    The "Glycomics Market - Forecasts from 2020 to 2025" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering.

  • Aurinia Pharmaceuticals to Present at Three Upcoming March Investor Conferences

    Aurinia Pharmaceuticals Inc. (NASDAQ: AUPH / TSX: AUP) (the "Company") today announced that members of the executive management team will participate in multiple upcoming investor conferences including the:

  • The Carbon Management System Market was valued at USD 10.93 billion in 2020 and expected to reach USD 21.70 billion by 2026, and grow at a CAGR of 12.11% over the forecast period (2021 - 2026)

    The growing emphasis on reducing carbon footprints and the increasing need for eco-friendly services are pushing the growth of carbon management systems. The companies around the world have started to improve the efficiencies of their operations.New York, March 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Reportlinker.com announces the release of the report "Carbon Management System Market - Growth, Trends, COVID-19 Impact, and Forecasts (2021 - 2026)" - https://www.reportlinker.com/p06028455/?utm_source=GNW - The need to reduce wastage, efficiently utilize resources, and reduce carbon footprints warrants the deployment of innovative and sustainable solutions. Reducing carbon footprints and controlling energy consumption have become crucial factors in recent years.- Companies are now investing in making sustainable offerings in the market. The management of energy consumption has become crucial in terms of optimizing the cost of production per unit and increase the realization percentage over energy consumption. The growing organizational focus on reducing carbon footprints is driving the growth for carbon management system market.- Governments across the globe are also strengthening the regulations for the carbon emission norms for the businesses, for this companies have started adopting the software and services for continuous monitoring of the carbon management for their organization. Government is also another factor fueling market growth.- On the other hand, different organizations consume from various sources, and managing them is a challenging factor for the companies offering carbon management systems is limiting the adoption and growth of the market to an extent.Key Market TrendsOil and Gas Industry to Witness Significant Growth- Hydrocarbon is one of the crucial factors in economies which fuels the globalization and industrialization. According to Bharat Petroleum, oil and gas contribute over 50% share in global energy consumption. In spite of the worldwide thrust for the use of renewable energies, oil and is estimated to be the dominating energy source for at least two decades ahead as stated in the report by IEA.- As the developing countries are experiencing growth; particularly in transport, heating and cooling energy requirements are expected to witness the consistent increase which is expected to be dominated by the oil and natural gas.- According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, the US greenhouse gas emission from the industry sector accounted for 22.2% in 2017, of the total greenhouse gas emissions. Greenhouse gas emissions from industry primarily arrive from burning fossil fuels for energy, as well as greenhouse gas emissions from chemical reactions necessary to produce goods from raw materials. Also, in the year 2018, the carbon emission grew by 2%, representing the highest growth in the last seven years.- The oil and gas companies are adopting the carbon management systems for monitoring the carbon emission in the form of green and gases and also towards managing energy consumption. The trend of adoption in the industry is expected to continue in the forecast period.Middle East & Africa Region is Expected to Grow Significantly- All the major countries in the MENA region have allocated substantial outlays for the development of solar or wind-based renewable energy projects. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries figure prominently being generating over 4200 metric ton of carbon dioxide. Increasing the share of renewable energy is being seen as a solution towards reducing CO2 emissions and maintaining the fragile environmental balance in this region.- Energy consumption in the MENA region has proliferated over the last few decades, partly due to the high economic growth and the marked increase of urbanization. According to MOSPI India, the growth in production of natural gas from 2016 to 2017 was the highest in the Middle East (3.6%), followed by the Asia-Pacific (3.2%), Europe & Eurasia (0.5%).- Regional consumption of electricity is estimated to grow at an annual rate of 8% over the forecast period. Therefore, regional governments and public organizations have initiated several proactive steps over the last few years to increase the renewable energy infrastructure and cut down on greenhouse gas emissions.- Currently, the MENA region is shifting its focus towards renewables as a means of diversifying its mix of power generation. The region has an attractive market for renewables due to the abundant availability of solar, wind resources, and nuclear power. Between 2018 and 2022, Arab Petroleum Investment Corporation (APICORP) estimates that MENA power capacity is expected to expand by an average of 6.4% per year, corresponding to additional capacity of 117 gigawatts (GW) to meet increases in demand.- The rising focus of government towards reducing the carbon emission, the companies in the region have started adopting carbon management systems a have excellent growth opportunity for the market in the region.Competitive LandscapeThe market for carbon management systems is inclining towards fragmentation with the increase in the number of players offering software for monitoring and management. This increase in number proliferating due to the rise in the adoption of cloud services. Whereas, the companies providing services in terms of consultation is showing steady growth and is expected to follow the similar trend in the forecast period.- June 2019 - Veolia Environnement S.A., launched a New tool for the energy, water, and waste sectors to help achieve a low carbon future to save both the environment and money. The web-based platform is capable of evaluating the complete carbon and water use of business’s activities. The system is intended to footprint calculation and Greenhouse Gas (GHG) reduction, potentially saving them thousands of pounds per year.- Mar 2019 - Mitsubishi Electric US, Inc., launched the BEAM AX, an energy management system, an intuitive, cloud-based solution for analyzing energy usage and costs in commercial buildings resulting in data-driven actionable insights.Reasons to Purchase this report:- The market estimate (ME) sheet in Excel format- 3 months of analyst supportRead the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p06028455/?utm_source=GNWAbout ReportlinkerReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place.__________________________ CONTACT: Clare: clare@reportlinker.com US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001

  • Little Mix talk 'new dawn' and their strong bonds in first cover interview as a trio

    Jesy Nelson left the X Factor-winning girl group last year.

  • Biden's top financial regulatory picks to face scrutiny in Congress

    U.S. President Joe Biden's nominees to head two key financial watchdogs will be questioned by lawmakers on Tuesday on how they plan to tackle racial and income inequality, climate change, fintech regulation, cryptocurrencies, corporate enforcement and other issues. Gary Gensler, the White House's nominee to lead the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), and Rohit Chopra, nominated to be director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), will appear before the Democratic-led Senate Banking Committee. Progressives see the agencies as key to advancing policy priorities on climate change and social justice and expect the pair, both experienced corporate regulators, to take a tough line on Wall Street.

  • Four plead not guilty in case of toppled slave trader's statue in England

    Four people pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to a charge of criminal damage over their alleged role in the toppling of a statue of Edward Colston, who made a fortune in the slave trade in the 17th century, in the English city of Bristol last year. The statue was pulled down and tossed into Bristol harbour during a demonstration on June 7 that was part of a global wave of Black Lives Matter protests. The toppling of the statue triggered a national debate in Britain about how the nation should remember its role in the transatlantic slave trade.

  • Global 5G Smartphone Market 2020-2027: Market Size is Expected to Grow at a CAGR of 122.7%

    Dublin, March 02, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The "5G Smartphone Market Share, Size, Trends, Industry Analysis Report, By Operating System; By Sales Channel; By SIM Type; By End User; By Regions; Segment Forecast, 2020-2027" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. The global 5G Smartphone Market size is expected to grow at a CAGR of 122.7% from 2020 to 2027The demand for 5G smartphones in 2019 was 12.42 million units, however the market saw a precipitous decline in the average selling price during Q1 of 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the major reasons and the price fall continued during Q2-2020. Another major reason of the decline was the low-priced Chinese 5G devices. However, the overall market is expected to bounce back during Q3 and Q4 of 2020 and is estimated to accelerate and grow during the forecast period. This also affected the average selling price of the 5G devices.5G Smartphone are devices that support the fifth generation of mobile networking. 5G technology is being increasingly commercialized in different parts of the globe, with China leading the race. Theoretically, 5G is said to be 100 times faster than its predecessor, with estimated speeds up to 10 Gbps. Smartphones require 5G compatible sensors and receivers to support the additional speeds.The increasing demand for high speed internet for both small and large sized businesses and individuals for buffer-free streaming and the prominence of over the top (OTT) services such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu, Disney+, etc. are the prominent factors responsible for this prolific growth.On-demand content is being increasingly preferred by the younger generation, and the advent of 5G Smartphone will provide them with a tool for viewing high quality content on the go. High speed internet is required for providing a hassle-free streaming experience. Furthermore, with the growth of both residential and industrial IoT, smartphones will play the role of a personalized authentication device for enhanced security purposes.Collaboration between the smartphone manufacturers, chipset providers and telecommunication providers will help in the acceleration of commercial 5G services. Furthermore, government bodies around the globe are mulling over regulations pertaining to the user of 5G spectrum to speed up the adoption of 5G.In China, for instance, the government has drastically reduced licensing costs to speed up the rolling out of 5G services. The U.S. Federal Communications Commission (FCC), on the other hand, has amended the rules that govern equipment modification. New hardware can be installed on the existing poles to bring down the capital costs and speedup the deployment of 5G. Since 5G will be build mainly on the existing 4G infrastructure, the stakeholders will need to provide fool-proof strategies to ensure that the networks are capable of handling the additional data speed and connected devices.Apple Inc., Ericsson, China Mobile, Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., Motorola, Inc., Lenovo Group Limited, BBK Electronics Corporation, Nokia, LG Electronics Inc., TCL Communication Limited, Xiaomi Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd and Vivo Mobile Communication Co., Ltd. some of the key players operating in the market.The 5G smartphone manufacturers are focusing on indirect sales channels to increase their unit sales. Xiomi, for instance, is bringing down its operational expenses by partnering with platforms such as Walmart and Amazon for 5G smartphone sales. Also, prominent players such as Samsung and BBK electronics are aggressively pursuing the mid-range smartphone segment to target the middle and upper echelons of the society.Furthermore, the number of multi-SIM smartphone models are expected to increase in the coming years, as the manufacturers are promoting dual-network capability in smartphones. Samsung, for instance, supports dual-SIM technology in A51 5G smartphone, which was launched in April, 2020. These allow the consumers to use a local and a roaming SIM in the same device during international travel. Key Topics Covered: 1. Introduction2. Executive Summary3. Research Methodology4. 5G Smartphone Market Insights4.1. 5G Smartphone - Industry snapshot4.2. 5G Smartphone Market Dynamics4.2.1. Drivers and Opportunities4.2.1.1. Increase in on-demand content4.2.1.2. Growth in 5G infrastructure4.2.2. Restraints and Challenges4.2.2.1. High upfront cost4.3. Porter's Five Forces Analysis4.4. PESTLE Analysis4.5. 5G Smartphone Market Industry trends5. 5G Smartphone Market Assessment by Operating System5.1. Key Findings5.2. Introduction5.4. Android5.5. Windows6. Global 5G Smartphone Market, by Sales Channel6.1. Key Findings6.2. Introduction6.3. Online6.4. Offline7. Global 5G Smartphone Market, by SIM Type7.1. Key Findings7.2. Introduction7.3. Single SIM7.4. Dual SIM8. 5G Smartphone Market Assessment by End Use8.1. Key Findings8.2. Introduction8.3. B2B8.4. B2C9. 5G Smartphone Market Assessment by Geography9.1. Key findings9.2. Introduction9.2.1. 5G Smartphone Market Assessment, By Geography, 2019-2027 (Million Units, USD Billion)10. Competitive Landscape10.1. Expansion and Acquisition Analysis10.1.1. Expansion10.1.2. Acquisition10.2. Partnerships/Collaborations/Agreements/Exhibitions11. Company Profiles11.1. Company Overview11.2. Financial Performance11.3. Product Benchmarking11.4. Recent Developments Apple Inc.EricssonChina MobileHuawei Technologies Co. Ltd.Motorola Inc.Lenovo Group LimitedBBK Electronics CorporationNokiaLG Electronics Inc.TCL Communication LimitedXiaomi CorporationSamsung Electronics Co. Ltd For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/r/c3v1oo CONTACT: CONTACT: ResearchAndMarkets.com Laura Wood, Senior Press Manager press@researchandmarkets.com For E.S.T Office Hours Call 1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call 1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900

  • Burned by the Stock Market? Consider These 2 ETFs Instead

    The stock market has been on a wild ride over the past 12 to 14 months, and while it's up overall now, the volatility we've endured along the way has been a lot to bear for many investors. While it is important to keep in mind the short-term nature of volatility, many investors find they can sleep easier when their portfolios include diversified baskets of stocks in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Here are two stock ETFs that seek to provide consistent returns with limited volatility.

  • American manufacturing is roaring back: Morning Brief

    Top news and what to watch in the markets on Tuesday, March 2, 2021.

  • Why Inovio's Positive Q4 Update Didn't Impress Investors

    Inovio Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: INO) shares are up nearly 25% year to date. That's great -- except the stock was up more than 90% in early February. Investors hoping for good news got some with Inovio's fourth-quarter update after the market closed on Monday.

  • Rishi Sunak Budget to include £300m cash boost for summer sport including cricket, tennis and horse racing

    Summer sport is set to be boosted by £300million from the Government, Chancellor Rishi Sunak will announce in his Budget on Wednesday. Tennis and horse racing are also set to be among the leading recipients from the latest round of funding, which is effectively an extension of the original £300m Sport Winter Survival Package unveiled back in November. The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) had warned of severe cuts because of a drastic drop in income but Wednesday’s cash boost is expected to ease that burden.

  • Switch (SWCH) Q4 2020 Earnings Call Transcript

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  • NIO Inc. (NIO) Q4 2020 Earnings Call Transcript

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  • Covid-19: Mother and daughter die after 11 family members catch coronavirus at Christmas

    A mother and her daughter died a month apart after 11 members of their family contracted Covid-19 after meeting on Christmas Day. Kashmir Bains, 64, and Paramjeet, 43, of Wolverhampton, fell seriously ill after testing positive for the virus. The family had not planned to celebrate the festive season but changed their minds because Paramjeet had suffered with poor mental health and isolation during lockdown.

  • Warren Buffett and Cathie Wood Just Bought This Juicy Dividend Stock. Should You?

    Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) (NYSE: BRK.B) added AbbVie (NYSE: ABBV) to its portfolio in the third quarter of last year. What makes AbbVie so appealing to two very different investors like Buffett and Wood? It's pretty easy to figure out why Wood chose AbbVie for the ARK Genomic Revolution ETF.

  • What Really Mattered With Novavax's Q4 Update

    Novavax (NASDAQ: NVAX) just provided a great example of this. Novavax reported Q4 revenue of $279.7 million. On the other hand, Novavax's bottom line in the fourth quarter was the worst it's ever been.

  • EMMES Realty Services of California LLC Unveils Multimillion-Dollar Centerview Plaza Renovation

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  • $8.13 Billion Natural Food Flavours Markets - Global Forecasts to 2025 - ResearchAndMarkets.com

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