In a blog posted by State Department Spokesperson John Kirby, ten foreign policy ‘wins’ are celebrated including re-establishing diplomatic relations with Cuba and halting the ebola outbreak.But it's his comments about Syria that's getting all the attention.Kirby uses the hashtag #2015in5Words to sum up, and seemingly sweeten, pivotal moments.Under the heading “Bringing Peace, Security to Syria”, Kirby writes: “The United States and many members of the international community have stepped Read more [...]

Rumours of a Harry Styles album have been fuelled after four new songs were registered to a performing rights organisation in the US.The tracks appear on the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) website with Harry listed as the only performer.Snow Patrol guitarist John McDaid and dance producer Gary Go are listed as co-writers.One Direction started their year-long hiatus on 13 December.Ahead of their Radio 1 Live Lounge performance last month, the group told Greg James Read more [...]

Comments (0) AN IMPORTANT 18th century grand hall has been deemed 'at risk' by a preservation group because of water damage and neglect. Hales Hall was built in 1712 in honour of Matthew Hale, a barrister and judge during the reign of Charles II. But now national heritage body Historic England claims the Grade II-listed building in Oakamoor Road is at the mercy of vandals. And shocked historians are calling for action to be taken to help save the building, which Read more [...]

Zameer Choudrey, chief executive of Bestway, is made a CBE in the New Year HonoursThe boss of a cash-and-carry firm which donated nearly half a million pounds to the Conservative Party is to be made a CBE in the New Year Honours.Zameer Choudrey is chief executive of Bestway, the country's second largest cash-and-carry group and has an estimated personal fortune of £975million.The 57-year-old was given the honour for 'services to the UK wholesale industry and charity in the UK and abroad'. But Read more [...]

Mobile phone giant Vodafone, 1.25p easier at 217.5p, has been involved in a couple of the biggest deals in corporate history, including its £116billion purchase of Germany’s Mannesmann in 1999 and the £88billion sale of its stake in Verizon to Verizon Wireless in 2014.According to the powers that be, it is set, early in 2016, to feature in a mouth-watering deal to create a global telecoms powerhouse.Apparently corporate financiers have been working long hours over the festive period on a possible Read more [...]

REGIONAL Reit, the recently listed regional commercial property company, has bought a £37.5m portfolio, including properties in Yorkshire. The company has exchanged contracts to purchase five
regional assets from a retained client of La Salle Investment
Management in an off market deal. In a statement, Regional REIT said: “This is expected to provide a net income of £3.38m per annum which equates to a yield of 8.25 per cent, and is to be funded from the company’s Read more [...]

Daresbury Hall could be part-demolished to make way for a scheme to install 31 homes and an ‘art house’. A request for a renewal of planning permissions for the site is due to be decided at Runcorn Town Hall on Monday, January 11. The plans include the part-demolition, restoration and conversion of the former stately home and the construction of nine extra houses. The manager’s home will also be renovated and expanded in the form of a garage. Nine flats are among the proposed properties. The Read more [...]

Let's TangoScreenshot of Samsung Galaxy S6 Mini listing in Let's TangoSamsung is gearing up to release its next flagship smartphone. But it seems like the South Korean tech giant isn't ready to let go of its past yet as reports about a mini version of the Galaxy S6 has been making rounds across the web.According to Vine Report, the company may actually be expanding the current Galaxy S6 line with a Galaxy S6 Mini. The rumor started after the said device was seen on a listing on a U.A.E.-based online Read more [...]

I've heard of extended childhood, but this is ridiculous. Every time you hear talking points about the Muslim migrants being widows, orphans and children, remember how low the bar is set. If you're under 40, you too can be a child. This revelation comes in Ingrid Carlqvist's regular roundup of insanity in Sweden at Gatestone all of which is worth reading and much of which will make you feel like Alice stepping into a lefty wonderland where ISIS is up and sanity is down. November Read more [...]

PUBLISHED: December 29, 2015 2:00 pm An MP is in talks to have the listed status of a ‘crumbling’ hall scrapped because it is being used to justify a green belt development, she claims. Great Barr Hall Builders who want to create a luxury housing estate in the grounds of Great Barr Hall insist they would need the cash from the development to pay for the former mansion’s restoration.They say the 18th century building is so dilapidated after Read more [...]