The British government's final budget before a May election contains perks for older voters and a "Google tax" on companies that shift profits overseas, according to Sunday newspapers.

Chancellor George Osborne's budget due to be announced Wednesday will end restrictions on the sale of annuities, allowing pensioners to swap regular retirement incomes for lump sums, the reports said.

"The chancellor will set out sweeping reforms to allow five million pensioners to trade in their savings for cash," the Sunday Telegraph reported.

The Observer said the current tax penalties of up to 70 percent would be removed, describing it as "a highly populist move designed to woo older voters into the arms of the Tories".

The move is an extension of reforms due to come into effect next month affecting people yet to retire, now extended to those who have existing annuities.

The Sun reported that the budget would include a 25 percent "Google tax on firms accused of diverting profits abroad to avoid tax", a move that follows criticism of the tax arrangements of companies such as Amazon, Facebook and Google.

Published: 15 March 2015

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A statue of Indian independence leader Mahatma Gandhi was unveiled on Saturday at the symbolic heart of the British establishment that once loathed him for his campaign against imperial rule.

Gandhi joins figures including Britain's World War II leader Winston Churchill, who described him as a half-naked "fakir", in London's Parliament Square, opposite Big Ben and the House of Commons.

Indian Finance Minister Arun Jaitley unveiled the bronze statue at a ceremony attended by Prime Minister David Cameron, Bollywood superstar Amitabh Bachchan -- who gave a speech quoting Gandhi's principles -- and Gandhi's grandson, Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi.

Hundreds of people gathered to watch, while a band played Indian classical music and Indian flags flew around the square.

Despite such pomp, Gandhi was historically resented by many in Westminster as the leader of the non-violent campaign for Indian independence from Britain, which was granted in 1947.

In a speech at the event, Cameron hailed Gandhi as "one of the towering figures in the history of world politics" and said that the statue would give him "an eternal home in our country".

The unveiling marks the latest step in Britain's efforts to recast both its past and present in India, once known as the "jewel in the crown" of the British empire.

In 2013, Cameron became the first British premier to visit the site of a notorious massacre in Amritsar in 1919 where troops under British control gunned down hundreds of unarmed protestors.

He described the killings as "shameful" but stopped short of a public apology.

Cameron has also made boosting economic ties between India and Britain -- home to some 1.5 million members of the Indian diaspora -- a priority.

When he came to power in 2010, he said he wanted to double trade with India by this year.

Jaitley, who has described the relationship with Britain as a "partnership of equals", said the unveiling marked the coming together of the world's oldest and largest democracy.

But he noted the irony of Gandhi's statue being located so close to that of Churchill, who was fiercely opposed to Indian independence.

- 'Should be trampled by elephant' -

The statue, which stands nine feet (2.7 metres) high, is by respected sculptor Philip Jackson and is based on a photograph of Gandhi taken when he visited London in 1931.

Published: 15 March 2015

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Archaeologists in London have begun digging up some 3,000 historic skeletons including those of plague victims from a burial ground that will become a new train station, the company in charge said.

A team of 60 researchers will work in shifts six days a week over the next month at the Bedlam burial ground to remove the centuries-old skeletons, which will eventually be re-buried at a cemetery east of London.

Crossrail, which is building a major new east-west train line in London, said the dig near Liverpool Street station was being carried out on its behalf by the Museum of London's archaeology unit.

The company said in a statement that the bones would be tested to "shed light on migration patterns, diet, lifestyle and demography" of Londoners at the time.

"Archaeologists hope that tests on excavated plague victims will help understand the evolution of the plague bacteria strain," Crossrail added.

The Bedlam ground was used between 1569 and 1738 -- a period that spanned Shakespeare's plays, the Great Fire of London and numerous plague outbreaks.The excavation is also expected to further uncover the remains of an ancient Roman road, where Crossrail said that several artefacts such as horseshoes and cremation urns have already been found.

The area was London's first municipal burial ground and was named after the nearby Bethlem Royal Hospital or "Bedlam" -- the world's oldest psychiatric institution, which became a byword for all mental institutions and has since relocated outside London.

The burial ground was used by Londoners who could not afford a church burial or who chose to be buried there for religious or political reasons.

Members of the Levellers, a 17th-century political grouping that advocated popular sovereignty and religious tolerance, are believed to be buried there.

Following excavation, constructors will build a new ticket hall for Crossrail's Liverpool Street station. "This excavation presents a unique opportunity to understand the lives and deaths of 16th and 17th century Londoners," said Jay Carver, Crossrail's lead archaeologist.

"The Bedlam burial ground spans a fascinating phase of London's history, including the transition from the Tudor-period City into cosmopolitan early-modern London."

Nick Elsden, a project manager from Museum of London Archaeology (MOLA), said: "There are up to six metres of archaeology on site in what is one of the oldest areas of the city, so we stand to learn a great deal".

Crossrail is one of Europe's biggest construction projects and the company said that more than 10,000 artefacts have been uncovered so far in multiple excavations at some 40 sites.

Preliminary excavations at Liverpool Street in 2013 and 2014 uncovered more than 400 skeletons. AFP

Published: 13 March 2015

Falmouth University has been announced as the official sponsor for the 10^th annual Fal River Festival; set to be one of biggest cultural celebrations Cornwall has ever seen.

Taking place over ten days from 22^nd May, the Festival will highlight the artistic and natural riches of the Fal River area, which stretches from Truro down to Falmouth and St Mawes, attracting national and international visitors to the shores of the river.

Professor Anne Carlisle, Vice-Chancellor & Chief Executive of Falmouth University, said the University was thrilled to be supporting the event for the second year running: "The Fal River Festival is a fantastic event, which not only highlights the many attractions of the area, but seeks to develop them through innovation and cultural exchange. As the UK's leading Arts University, it is a perfect collaboration and one we look forward to seeing flourish once again this year."

The 2015 programme will be more diverse and ambitious than ever before under the auspices of Creative Director Anna Druce, who counts the visit of the Olympic Torch to Cornwall and Falmouth Tall Ships Regatta in her event portfolio.

Anna is busy curating a packed line-up of music, visual arts, food, theatre, exhibitions, storytelling, sports and children's activities, which will see the towns and villages, creeks and footpaths of the river come alive with the sights and sounds of a unique festival.

Integrated into the festival will be the eagerly-anticipated Viking Exhibition at the National Maritime Museum, with various fun and educational events taking place along this theme.

Immersive theatre and circus performances on an exhilarating scale will take place at Trelissick National Trust Garden, Events Square in Falmouth and the King Harry Ferry, provided by Swamp Circus amongst others.

There will also be an opportunity for final-year Creative Event Management students from Falmouth University to showcase their work, including organizing a Cornish Bake-Off at Events Square in Falmouth to raise funds for Macmillan Cancer Support, where the cake decoration will have a Fal River theme.

Published: 05 March 2015

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London shares edged higher on Monday but investors appeared to be largely unmoved by a weekend rate cut by People's Bank of China, traders said.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index climbed 0.28 percent, or 19.66 points, in opening trades to 6,966.32 points.

The People's Bank of China (PBoC) on Saturday cut interest rates by 25 basis points, citing "historically low inflation" among the factors behind its decision.

Published: 02 March 2015

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· Sainsbury’s Pimlico, Brixton and Nine Elms Temp Store donate Easter eggs to Trinity Hospice on Tuesday 24^th February 2015

· Trinity Hospice will be using the eggs to help raise vital funds for the charity

Sainsbury's Pimlico, Brixton and Nine Elms Temp stores have worked together to donate 611 Easter eggs to the Trinity Hospice.

The charity has set a target to collect more than 5000 eggs, to help raise vital funds for the Hospice.  Since the campaign began in 1999, it has raised an incredible £76,000 for Trinity.

Trinity Hospice Fundraser, Benjamin Morrison said: ‘’ Thank you to Sainsbury’s Nine Elms, Pimlico and Brixton for their very generous donations of easter eggs towards our Easter Chick Campaign. Gifts in kind are a great help to us and these eggs will raise vital funds for Trinity’’.

Published: 25 February 2015

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HSBC chief executive Stuart Gulliver, who vowed to reform the scandal-hit bank, kept millions of dollars in a Swiss account, the Guardian newspaper reported on Sunday.

It is the latest in a stream of so-called "Swissleaks" allegations that have hit the reputation of the British banking giant and caused a political storm ahead of a general election in May.

The report claims the chief executive was a client of the Swiss private banking arm accused of helping wealthy clients evade tax.

Gulliver held about $7.6 million (6.7 million euros) in 2007 in a Swiss account in the name of Worcester Equities Inc, a Panama-registered company, according to the report.

Published: 23 February 2015

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It's Saturday night at a busy pub in north London, and the crowd is packed around the bar cheering and shouting at a large screen. It's not showing sport, but a video game.

There is no telltale sign on the grey front of the building, just its name "Meltdown" and the muffled bass of Bob Marley's "Get up, stand up" which makes the windows vibrate gently.

But inside this "e-sports" bar is a temple of competitive gaming.

Around a table crowded with pints of beer, young people are following a tournament of "League of Legends", one of the most popular online games.

"Go, go for it, come on!" shouts a young woman wearing black stockings, shorts and a striped top, her fingers typing quickly on her phone as she comments on the match on Twitter.

Here customers come to have a drink and watch a video game contest as others would a game of football or rugby.

The menu lists a selection of cocktails referencing the virtual world.

With its fruity blend of rum, lime, mango, raspberry and passion fruit, the "Shoryuken" takes its name from "Street Fighter", one of the most famous games in history.

Meltdown is the only one of its kind in Britain and is an offshoot of a chain of bars launched in France by gaming enthusiasts.

The first opened in Paris in 2012.

"I realised that there were many players who wanted to leave their homes, have a drink and party," said Sophia Metz, one of the founders.

"Six months later, we opened in Berlin, then in London. Today there are nine bars," she said, adding that the United States could be next.

"E-sports is still a niche market, but it's a market that's growing," said Metz, who views Meltdown as a video game "Starbucks".

Her guests also come to play games themselves.

Published: 23 February 2015

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The 2015 Running Awards in association with everydayhero has forged a unique partnership with Runner’s World, the UK’s biggest sports title, to create the definitive gala night recognising the very best in the running industry. The Awards take place at indigo at The O2 in London on Friday 24 April.

The nation’s runners are being encouraged to choose who they think should be crowned the industry’s best in two separate awards, the 2015 Running Awards in association with everydayhero and the Runner's World Personal Best Awards.

Vote for the 2015 Running Awards in association with everydayhero at http://therunningawards.com and choose a favourite from categories including shoes, races and retailers through to most exciting blogs and favourite charity.

In addition, voting for the Runner's World Personal Best Awards - www.runnersworld.co.uk - opens on 23 February. Vote for the running industry’s top performers across products, services and races.

Both awards and all associated voting are completely independent of each other.

Published: 18 February 2015

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London shares were higher in early trade on Friday in line with other European markets, boosted by firming commodity prices amid cautious optimism over a fresh Ukraine ceasefire and Greek debt talks in Brussels.

The benchmark FTSE 100 index was 49.80 points, or 0.72 percent, higher at 6,877.69 by 8:58 am.

Greece's new Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras edged closer to securing a revamp of the country's huge bailout after making his case Thursday to sceptical EU leaders including German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Published: 15 February 2015

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