Day: November 11, 2017

    With gilt yields near historic lows and bank accounts paying next to nothing, investors have increasingly gravitated toward buy-to-let. In reality, though, buy-to-let has many drawbacks. With gilt yields near historic lows and bank accounts paying next to nothing, income-focused investors have increasingly gravitated toward buy-to-let in recent years. The concept seems simple: Find the right property, fund a deposit with your savings or pension pot, find tenants to cover your mortgage and then some, and reap regular cash flows and big returns when you eventually sell. Some buy-to-let investors even boast of annual yield as high as 20%i! In reality, though, buy-to-let has many drawbacks, and for many investors, the benefits don’t outweigh the costs. Tax Changes Trigger Trou...

    Prince Harry and Meghan Markle All signs indicate towards a royal engagement in the cards – from Meghan Markle's imminent shift of base to London to her introduction to the Queen over tea. Despite all this buzz, a new report suggests otherwise, even claiming that Prince Harry might delay a formal proposal to Markle until April when Kate has delivered her baby. Quashing rumours of a November engagement, The Daily Beast website further dished that Harry and Markle – who have been dating for close to 18 months now – might even want to live together for some time before making a public commitment. "There won't be any announcement until at least after Kate has had her baby in April," a source claiming to have "excellent contacts in the palace," told The Daily Beast. As per the ...

    The chimes of Big Ben will be heard for the first time in almost three months when Parliament’s historic bell is reconnected this morning, ahead of Armistice Day. After the resumption of chimes at 9am, Palace of Westminster clockmakers will work through the day adjusting the bells to ensure they strike at exactly the right time for Armistice Day commemorations at the 11th hour of the 11th month, followed by Remembrance Sunday events the following day. But people in Westminster are advised not to set their watches by the famous bongs, as parliamentary authorities expect slight inaccuracies following its 11-week break. It comes after the Sunday Telegraph revealed that parliamentary authorities ruled out allowing Big Ben's clock to chime at evenings and weekends because it wo...

    The husband of a British woman being held in an Egyptian jail accused of drug smuggling has claimed he has produced evidence that could prove her innocence. Laura Plummer, 33, from Hull, was arrested last month after being found with 300 tramadol tablets in her luggage. The painkiller is legal in the UK on prescription but illegal in Egypt. Held in a 15ft by 15ft cell with 25 other women for nearly a month, Ms Plummer faces a lengthy prison sentence if convicted of smuggling the drugs. However her husband, Omar Caboo, 34, is said to have shown the newspaper evidence that supports her defence the pills were for his bad back, The Sun reported. The entertainment worker told the newspaper: Hopefully now her nightmare will come to an end. These papers will prove she was telling...