London set to be hotter than Greece as temperatures soar to 25C

staff reporter(es/wp):

London is set to be hotter than Greece next week as temperatures soar to 25C in the capital.

Sun worshippers are set to enjoy a mini-heatwave as the mercury hits highs of 25C on Thursday, according to the Met Office.

The capital will be hotter than Athens where top temperatures will only reach 23C.

Glorious sunshine is set to make going back to work after the weekend easier as temperatures rise throughout the week.

Monday and Tuesday are set to see highs of 17C with clear skies and just the odd risk of scattered showers, forecaster Craig Snell told the Standard.

He said: “The looks set to shine as we start the working week with a pleasant day on Monday.

“Temperatures will reach 17C in London and the south east making it slightly warmer than Sunday.”

The mercury will soar to 21C on Wednesday before hitting glorious 25C temperatures on Thursday.

“It will be cooler by the Thames but inland and in particular in north west London its likely to get nice and hot.

“Anyone out and about on Thursday will need some sun cream,” Mr Snell added.

Temperatures will drop towards the weekend with highs of around 19C on Friday.

Some 40,000 runners taking part in the London marathon on Sunday are likely to see temperatures around 18C with a small risk of showers.

“It will be slightly cooler and cloudier than it earlier in the week which is good news for runners but it is slightly too early to predict whether we will have any rain,” the forecaster added.

Londoners enjoyed long-awaited spring sunshine on Saturday when temperatures hit 21C in parts of the capital.

Many hailed the “first day of spring” online with one person tweeting: “First day of Spring in #London and you want to start a new life full of sun.”

Another added: “The sun was out today and I didn’t know how to act.”

A third person said: “I always feel so emosh on the first sunny evening walk through London of the year and I'm not ashamed to shout about it.”

Why Google beats up Goldman in the fight for the top graduates

IT  reporter(wp/es):

“The geeks shall inherit the earth” became a popular phrase 10 years ago when Amazon, Facebook and Google were fast becoming the mainstream.

This is now true in London where technology is snapping at banking’s heels to be the capital’s top industry. 

Recent data shows that a high-achieving graduate can earn the same or more at a tech firm as he or she can at an investment bank.

The average starting salary at a bank is £46,000, whereas graduate coders can earn £51,000, according to research from jobs site Glassdoor.

Michael Drew, head of technology at headhunter Odgers Berndtson, says: “Both are level for compensation and are fighting for the top two per cent of talent. Tech has really shaken up the employment market in London and there are no longer just two or three paths to success.”

More than one in 10 new jobs created in London last year were technology roles, according to another recruitment firm Indeed, and banking has been shrinking ever since the financial crisis and, more recently, Brexit. 

At London Business School, the percentage of those gaining an MBA who went into financial services fell to 26 per cent last year from 46 per cent in 2007 and the percentage going into technology firms more than tripled, from six per cent to 20 per cent over the same period.

Banks have responded by putting a heavier emphasis on quality of life than chunky remuneration.

The banking exodus is reflected in the London office market where Goldman, HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland and Deutsche Bank have been shedding office space for more than a decade — at present holding 3.6 million square feet.

In contrast, Facebook, Google, Apple and Amazon are on the rampage, holding 3.1 million square feet, with analysts expecting this to rise to 5 million square feet within the next five years.

Tech firms are even encroaching on the Square Mile, an area traditionally associated with big banks.

In 2016, takeaway delivery app Deliveroo moved into Cannon Bridge House — on what used to be the trading floor of the London International Financial Futures and Options Exchange — and last year 5000 Amazon staff moved into Principal Place in Liverpool Street.

But some in the recruitment market are still sceptical and say that the tech industry has a long way to go before it can call itself a genuine competitor to banking.

Drew adds: “Technology is growing year by year but it is still not like the financial services hub. London needs to push forward before it can become a truly world-class hub, respected on the global stage. London is currently just a launch-pad market for US tech firms to go into the rest of Europe.”

Recruiters also say that salary data can be misleading, pointing to the fact that most people in banking receive huge bonuses which dwarf their salaries.

Despite heavy regulation, recruitment firms say top bankers can expect to earn four times their salary.

Richard Buckingham, partner at Leathwaite, says: “At a bank or a hedge fund, you’re working for your end of year bonus. Everything is bonus oriented. At tech firms, the salary and equity options are good — which when it starts vesting can result in a lot of money.”

But while the two industries slug it out for London’s top talent and office space, both face the same potential nightmare — Brexit. Banking and tech are alike in relying heavily on foreign talent and easy access to Europe’s markets, something that could be taken away by this time next year.

However, if the two industries can survive unscathed then the fierce competition between them means London could end up with two world-class industries in the near future.

London Elizabeth line fares to match TfL Tube prices... but Heathrow passengers set to pay £7 premium

Pic:Elizabeth Line
Staff reporter(wp/es):

Fares on Crossrail's Elizabeth Line will match Tube prices across most of London, but Heathrow passengers will be charged a premium, it was announced today.

Travelling between the airport and zone 1 in central London at peak times will cost £12.10 - £7 more than the same journey on the Piccadilly line.

Passengers travelling between zone 2 and the airport will pay a Heathrow premium of £4.50 compared with the Tube.

Crossrail journeys everywhere else within zones 1-6 will cost the same as pay-as-you-go fares on the Tube.

The Heathrow to Paddington peak Crossrail fare of £10.20 is less than half the cost of the £27 standard fare on the 15-minute Heathrow Express shuttle, though the Crossrail journey will take about 10 minutes longer.

Peak fares apply between 630am-930am and 4pm-7pm. Crossrail services between Paddington and Heathrow will replace the Heathrow Connect trains, and be 10p or 20p cheaper, depending on the time of day.

Mayor Sadiq Khan said: “I’m delighted to announce that the cost of travelling on the Elizabeth Line in zones 1-6 will be the same price as a similar journey on the Tube – fulfilling a key manifesto pledge to deliver truly world-class transport infrastructure which is also accessible and affordable for all Londoners.”

Crossrail, to be renamed the Elizabeth line when in opens under central London in December, will add 10 per cent capacity to the transport network and offer a quicker alternative to the overcrowded Central line.

Transport for London hopes it will boost revenues by more than £200 million a year but admits some Tube passengers will switch to the new line, which will eventually link Reading with Sheffield and Abbey Wood via two new tunnels under central London. There have been 44 million fewer journeys on the Tube in 2017/18, reducing TfL income £89 million below expectations.

The opening of the £14.8 billion line will mean Oyster and contactless fares will be accepted on rail services to and from Heathrow for the first time.

As with the Tube, children under 11 will travel for free. Londoners aged 60 and older will also travel free.

Daily fare capping means that someone arriving at Heathrow and using Crossrail to reach central London will pay only 40p more for the rest of their Tube and bus travel that day, as the daily Oyster or contactless charge will be limited to £12.50.

Heathrow Connect will switch to Crossrail on May 20, bringing the slightly cheaper fares and Oyster and contactless ticketing at the same time. 

Transport for London commissioner Mike Brown said: “When Elizabeth line services through central London open in December, they will transform travel across London. The railway will provide many new direct journey options between Canary Wharf, central London and Heathrow Airport, and will cut journey times dramatically and ensure London remains a world-leading city.”

Jasmine Whitbread, chief executive of business group London First, said: “London’s businesses have worked hard to support, and help pay for, the Elizabeth line and we’re counting the days until it opens its doors.”

Victoria Beckham 'pulls out' of spicegirl reunion

 
Pic:Spicegirl file photo
Entertainment reporter(wp/es):
Mel C has claimed that fellow Spice Girl Mel B was "joking" about the band performing at the Royal wedding.
The pop star has claimed that she is yet to receive an invite to Meghan Markle's wedding to Prince Harry in May, amid speculation that the band would perform at the reception.
"I’ve met Prince Charles lots of times. I’m going to ask him where my invite is because I haven’t got mine yet, obviously Mel B said she has hers," she told the Sun.

“I think Mel was just kind of having a bit of a joke."

Mel B recently ignited rumours that they'd be performing at the nuptials in May while appearing on a US chat show, suggesting the band had been invited.
But the reunion could be over before it has began as Victoria Beckham has reportedly pulled out.

It was revealed last month that the 1990s pop group were getting back together for new projects, with a world tour of their greatest hits on the cards. 
But now the plans are reportedly in jeopardy as fashion designer Beckham is struggling to make it work.
Mel C said: “Victoria has been quite vocal, it’s really not something she wants to do at this time.

“It’s very early stages, we’re not talking about new music or going out on the road together at this time.
“It was just getting together to reignite all the things that we have had together and to work with Simon [Fuller]”

Julian Assange arrest warrant upheld by court

Pic:Julian Assange
Crime reporter(wp/es):

A warrant for the arrest of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been upheld by a judge.

In a ruling today at Westminster Magistrates' Court the judge stated it is in the public interest to pursue him for failing to surrender.

It comes after Mr Assange's legal team argued that continuing to pursue him for violating bail conditions was not proportionate.

Handing down her judgement, Senior District Judge Emma Arbuthnot said: "I find arrest is a proportionate response even though Mr Assange has restricted his own freedom for a number of years.

"Defendants on bail up and down the country, and requested persons facing extradition, come to court to face the consequences of their own choices. He should have the courage to do the same.

“It is certainly not against the public interest to proceed."

She considered evidence on Mr Assange’s health and other evidence presented at a previous hearing last week.

Judge Arbuthnot said Mr Assange “wants justice only if it goes in his favour”.

She told the court: "The impression I have, and this may well be dispelled if and when Mr Assange finally appears in court, is that he is a man who wants to impose his terms on the course of justice, whether the course of justice is in this jurisdiction or in Sweden.

"He appears to consider himself above the normal rules of law and wants justice only if it goes in his favour.

"As long as the court process is going his way, he is willing to be bailed conditionally but as soon as the Supreme Court rules against him, he no longer wants to participate on the court's terms but on his terms."

Holed up inside London's Ecuadorian Embassy now for six years, Mr Assange refuses to leave because he believes he will be extradited to the United States for questioning over WikiLeaks.

Judge Arbuthnot went on: "I accept that Mr Assange had expressed fears of being returned to the United States from a very early stage in the Swedish extradition proceedings but, absent any evidence from Mr Assange on oath, I do not find that Mr Assange's fears were reasonable.

"I do not accept that Sweden would have rendered Mr Assange to the United States.

"If that happened there would have been a diplomatic crisis between the United Kingdom, Sweden and the United States which would have affected international relationships and extradition proceedings between the states."

Upon arguing the public interest in dropping the warrant last week, Mr Assange’s lawyer Mark Summers QC said Mr Assange had reasonable grounds or justification for failing to surrender.

He said the UN has ruled that his situation is “arbitrary, unreasonable, unnecessary, and disproportionate”

Anti-terror police investigate after packet containing 'white powder' found in Parliament

Pic:Police remain at the scene
Crime reporter(wp/es):

Counter terror officers swooped on the Houses of Parliament after an envelope containing white powder was discovered in an office.

Armed police were seen outside the Palace of Westminster at around midday amid reports that a "suspicious package" was being investigated.

The Met later confirmed that they were dealing with reports of an envelope containing white powder. 

Specialists are assessing the package and police remain at the scene. 

A House of Commons spokesman confirmed an investigation was ongoing but said the building was not in lockdown.

A message was put out on the annunciators which are displayed on TV screens around Parliament, reading: "Incident in the House of Commons being dealt with by the Metropolitan Police, do not be alarmed."

A Met statement said: "At about 11.36am today, Tuesday 13 February, police were informed of a suspicious package that had been delivered to an office within the Palace of Westminster. Police are at the scene and dealing.

"The letter contained a white powder, which is currently being assessed by specialists. The office remains closed at this time, but  the rest of the Palace of Westminster is open.

"Detectives from the Met’s Counter Terrorism Command have been informed and are investigating."

Blaze rips through new multi-million pound development in trendy east London

Staff reporter(wp):
A huge fire has ripped through a new multi-million pound development in a trendy part of east London.

Dramatic images posted on social media showed thick smoke billowing over Victoria Park, in Bow.

Eighty fire fighters rushed to Bow Wharf – a new development where apartments cost as much as £1 million – just after 11am on Sunday.

At least 75 per cent of the roof of one of the developments blocks of luxury flats has been destroyed by flames along with parts of the third floor, London Fire Brigade said.

Fire crews evacuated a nearby play area while Grove Road was sealed off, witnesses said.

Jack Hawke wrote on Twitter: “#MileEnd park has been evacuated as firefighters put out the flames in the roof of a building at Bow Wharf.”

Rachel Carmac added: “Terrible fire at new Bow Wharf development in E3. Fire crews attending. Good job no-one is living there yet.” 

The cause of the fire is being investigated.