Intars Busulis is a prominent Latvian artist known for his work as a singer, trombonist, and musician. He gained wider…
Read More: Intars Busulis Biography: Children, Awards, Songs, Wife, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height
Intars Busulis is a prominent Latvian artist known for his work as a singer, trombonist, and musician. He gained wider…
Read More: Intars Busulis Biography: Children, Awards, Songs, Wife, Age, Net Worth, Siblings, Parents, Height
This week, the 2025 PGA Tour season continues in Hawaii at the Sony Open. With fewer top names in the game playing, Team USA Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley looks to take advantage. He is coming off of a very solid T15 finish at last week’s Sentry in Maui. Bradley generally does not play well […]
The post Keegan Bradley reveals PGA Championship regret, creating enemies appeared first on ClutchPoints.
One of the more surprising developments of the Baltimore Ravens’ 2024 NFL season has been the incredible play of outside linebackers Kyle Van Noy and Odafe Oweh, who each recorded double-digit sacks in first-year defensive coordinator Zach Orr’s scheme. Discussing how the presence of Van Noy has helped to transform the Ravens’ defense with reports […]
The post Nnamdi Madubuike celebrates Ravens ‘football guru’ amid career-best season appeared first on ClutchPoints.
David Wright’s legendary career with the New York Mets is celebrated spectacularly. The team announced that his No. 5 jersey will be retired, and he will be inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame during a ceremony at Citi Field on July 19. Despite the monumental nature of these accolades, Wright shared that there is […]
The post David Wright names only Mets honor greater than having jersey retired appeared first on ClutchPoints.
THE gorgeous Renault 5 will be crowned 2025 European Car of the Year tomorrow.
I’m utterly convinced of it.
The Renault 5 will be crowned 2025 European Car of the Year tomorrow – I’m sure of it[/caption] The Renault 5 (centre) faces competition from the Dacia Duster (left) and the Cupra Terramar (right)[/caption]Sixty jurors from 23 countries, including yours truly, will award points to seven finalists in Brussels. Think Eurovision Song Contest for cars.
The contenders are:
I’m not allowed to tell you how I divided my 25 votes just yet.
People bet on these things, apparently. But I can tell you my rankings. So, here goes.
Renault 5. Just a cool car. The coolest car. For not a lot of money. If you asked me which car I’d spend my money on from this list, it’d be the R5.
Although I might wait for the new Clio hybrid coming this summer.
Those retro R5 looks make me happy. The way this car drives makes me happy. The £23k price tag makes me happy.
If any car is going to convince ordinary drivers to switch to electric, it’s the R5. Surely Renault will go back-to-back after Scenic’s triumph last year?
Dacia Duster. Close second in my book. Very close second. Brilliant family SUV priced like a supermini – and more capable than you might think.
Proper mechanical 4WD, high ground clearance and attack angles, chunky tyres, five drive modes, all for £24k.
Or there’s a hybrid auto with front-wheel drive for similar money. The mid-spec Expression trim unlocks 10in touchscreen, reversing camera and wireless Apple CarPlay. Boom.
Cupra Terramar. This is the third time Cupra has been shortlisted in five years so the Spanish are obviously doing something right.
Terramar looks great, drives sweetly and has an excellent menu of petrol engines, hybrids and plug-in hybrids, as well as a spicy VZ version.
As for build quality, Terramar is made by the same hands that put the Audi Q3 and Volkswagen Tiguan together.
Another plus-point.
It feels fresh and expensive inside with cool copper detailing. Prices from £37k.
I actually awarded the Kia EV3 the same points as Terramar. So, joint third if you like.
The junior SUV costs much the same as a mid-range Volkswagen Golf at £36k and nudges 372 miles on a charge. Impressive.
You might need to recharge it once a fortnight. Lots of space, lots of Kia goodness.
Then I ranked the Citroen C3/e-C3 fifth, Alfa Romeo Junior sixth and the Hyundai Inster seventh.
To be fair, all seven motors have to be good to be shortlisted from dozens of cars launched in the last year.
I’m just miffed the wicked Mini Cooper petrol didn’t make the cut.
Rachel Reeves’ tax raid on business is already flattening job opportunities, with the sharpest fall in vacancies since the Covid pandemic.
The Chancellor was warned her Budget had made employees more expensive and businesses would have no choice but to cut staff and stop hiring.
Rachel Reeves’ tax raid on business is already flattening job opportunities, with the sharpest fall in vacancies since the Covid pandemic[/caption]And fresh figures today show bosses have wasted no time in pulling permanent recruitment adverts, with December seeing the steepest drop in job vacancies in well over four years.
A closely watched report by KPMG and REC, compiled by S&P Global, shows the job market is already shrinking, with companies explicitly blaming the rise in employer national insurance contributions.
Some have been making redundancies in December, according to its survey of 400 recruiters.
The figures come a day after stats showed the services industry was shedding jobs at the fastest pace in 15 years, excluding lockdowns.
It risks making a mockery of Ms Reeves’ claims that her Budget protects the pounds in workers’ pockets — as they only have money if they can get a job.
The REC/KPMG figures are all the more important as the UK’s official stats body has said that it will take another two years to fix its dodgy jobs data.
Economists warn that the Bank of England is having to fly blind because of unreliable labour market information from the Office for National Statistics and it could be keeping rates high for too long when the economy is already in pain.
Neil Carberry, REC chief executive, said that the signs reflected a “weak mood in some businesses.”
Jon Holt, KPMG boss, said it was the biggest fall in vacancies since August 2020, coupled with hiring intention declining at a pace not seen for 16 months.
It comes a day after Next, Britain’s biggest clothing retailer, announced it would not be replacing staff who left or hiring as many people as it might have as it faced an extra £73million wage bill from the Budget.
Model miniature firm Hornby says it is turning the business around after a boost from new customers in the run-up to Christmas.
The 125-year-old firm counts music legend Rod Stewart, pictured above with his railway set, as a fan.
It said sales rose almost a quarter in December. Overall sales were up 7 per cent in the last three months of 2024. Hornby said almost half of Black Friday sales came from new customers.
Chief Olly Raeburn said: “We are pleased to be able to report growth in revenues, margins and gross profits through the critical quarter.”
Frasers Group boss Mike Ashley owns an almost 9 per cent stake in Hornby.
After struggling with losses last year, Hornby shares rose by almost 10 per cent yesterday, valuing the company at £47.5million.
The boss of Topps Tiles is retiring after 18 years — and just a month after an activist investor renewed calls for a management shake-up.
Rob Parker, 52, who joined the flooring retailer in 2007, had been chief executive since 2019. He will leave once a replacement has been found towards the end of this year.
A spokesman said that his exit was unrelated to calls by Austrian investors MS Galleon, who had accused Topps Tiles of “strategic missteps.”
Topps Tiles suffered slumping like-for-like sales last year but yesterday highlighted an overhaul was already under way with like-for-like sales up 3.5 per cent in the last three months of 2024.
It said online trading helped drive all sales by 12.5 per cent in the festive five-week period.
Chairman Paul Forman said that Mr Parker was leaving the “group well-positioned” and highlighted that he had steered the firm through the pandemic.
Shell is warning profits in its gas business will take a big hit in the fourth quarter.
The energy giant said a slew of hedging contracts it took out in 2022 to protect itself against a supply shortage after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine had now expired.
Shell had been accused of profiteering during the energy crisis, when prices of gas and oil soared.
Its shares dropped by 1.3 per cent yesterday to £2,583.
Paddy Power owner Flutter has warned of a hit to profits as favourites landed the odds in US sports.
The gambling group said it had suffered “very unfavourable” results in the American football season.
In 2024, there were 184 winning favourites out of 256 NFL games, the highest rate in nearly two decades.
The Detroit Lions’ win over the San Francisco 49ers alone cost Flutter £59million.
Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce, who is Taylor Swift’s boyfriend, also drove a flurry of bets.
As a result the group, which shifted its listing from London to New York last year to reflect its growing US business, says it expects its revenues to fall by £313million and earnings to be £209million lower.
Meanwhile, football fans have had less luck — with results going in favour of the bookie last year.
Investors pulled £9.56billion from UK funds last year, data shows.
It marked the ninth year in a row of heavy withdrawals, leaving London behind its global peers.
The loss was lower than 2023’s £12.1billion — but £45billion has leached away since 2015.
Car maker Rolls-Royce is investing £300million expanding its Goodwood factory as super wealthy drivers splash out for its luxury motors.
The BMW-owned company said that some super-rich drivers are willing to spend more than £500,000 on its cars. Bespoke embellishments include LED lights to mimic the night sky and gold bonnet sculptures.
The boost for the West Sussex factory is welcome at a time when mass market car rivals including Vauxhall owner Stellantis and Ford have shut sites and cut jobs in recent years.
Rolls-Royce has grown from 300 employees to more than 2,500 at Goodwood in the 22 years since BMW’s takeover.
OUR much-loved astrologer Meg sadly died last year but her column will be kept alive by her friend and protégée Maggie Innes.
Read on to see what’s written in the stars for you today.
ARIES
March 21 to April 20
Uranus could make mischief in your money sector – and spin outrageous ideas.
As long as you keep your head, and put in the right research, you can find a way forward.
Doing what everyone expects you to do, in love and life, is no longer the only option, and this inspires a sense of personal freedom that is priceless.
Get all the latest Aries horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions.
TAURUS
April 21 to May 21
Giving a friend or family member another chance can be the strong approach.
It’s important that you think this through properly, so do ask for more time if you need it.
Together, Neptune and the moon increase your sixth sense for who and what you really need – and how you can find ways to get this.
GEMINI
Swopping dreams for reality, in cash terms, is what Mars asks of you.
If you know you’ve been clinging too long to an empty promise, let this go and find something richer.
But you do need to be specific and pinpoint exact prices and costs.
Passion heads up, up and away and an airline job can be your clue.
CANCER
June 22 to July 22
Your star skill is the ability to inspire others so if you have something to say, do get it out there as soon as you can.
Your internal voice, also, is crucial, as until you tell yourself you deserve happiness, it may feel hard to hold on to.
Eyes that first meet yours in a reflection, can belong to your fate mate.
Get all the latest Cancer horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
LEO
July 23 to August 23
The pace of success is something to consider as Mars and Uranus try to hurry you up.
But if you are not ready, you can control this.
Cutting corners is not right at this time.
Mercury’s communication skills are growing stronger in your career chart, and you write about yourself with flair and finesse.
Get all the latest Leo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
VIRGO
August 24 to September 22
Your marriage zone is Venus-led and partnerships at benefit from this.
You can see forgiving, and forgetting, getting easier – but you have a line around your own heart you refuse to cross.
So bonds that have seemed unable to bend, can become more flexible.
Single? The One leads a nature-based team.
Get all the latest Virgo horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Don’t be too independent to accept an offer of work help[/caption]LIBRA
September 23 to October 23
The boldness of Mars and the thoughtfulness of the moon mingle and this is why you are ready to tell important people the truth.
Facts you may have been hiding, are ready to be revealed – including making the first move to connect with “M”.
Don’t be too independent to accept an offer of work help.
Get all the latest Libra horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
The traditional dates used by Mystic Meg for each sign are below.
SCORPIO
October 24 to November 22
An unexpected role as the diplomat of the zodiac can fall to you – so you find yourself in the middle of family, friendship, love and workplace conflicts.
Your ability to maintain all-round contact, is something to consider taking towards a career shift.
Your love life is lively, and promises can appear out of the blue.
Get all the latest Scorpio horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
SAGITTARIUS
November 23 to December 21
Mercury and money are a positive mix, and it’s one you have for a couple of weeks now.
So instead of putting off those cash choices, you can get them moving.
But do beware of seeing only money when you look at someone close.
Your passion profile is security plus sensuality – just wow!
Get all the latest Sagittarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
CAPRICORN
December 22 to January 20
Creative ideas abound but Uranus could dazzle with success and celebrity, rather than keeping your eyes on the practical prize.
Fight this by keeping your Mercury head, plus your Saturn ability to ask for anything.
As for love, connections go much further than skin deep, and a two-part question can prove it.
Get all the latest Capricorn horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
Your passion profile is security plus sensuality – just wow![/caption]AQUARIUS
January 21 to February 18
The sun wakes up your deepest wishes, while Jupiter’s golden influence focuses on impulsive words and actions.
Together, this can make for a day of unexpected meetings, and questions – but you should never feel out of control.
Love can benefit, because instead of watching, you just start asking.
Get all the latest Aquarius horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions
PISCES
February 19 to March 20
Neptune’s web of sensitive feelings enfolds your heart, while the moon intensifies intuition so you know what to say.
This is a powerful passion protector, helping you clarify where a partnership needs to go next.
If you start the day single, someone who shares your birth week, and at least one initial, can be your soulmate.
Get all the latest Pisces horoscope news including your weekly and monthly predictions