4 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Owner of Pret A Manger plans stock market flotation & may sell stake in business
Alan MacGregor Ewing
THE owner of Pret A Manger plans a stock market flotation — and could consider selling a stake in the business first.
Luxembourg-based firm Jab Holding bought the sandwich chain for £1.5billion in 2018.
GettyThe owner of Pret A Manger plans a stock market flotation — and could consider selling a stake in the business first[/caption]
But the pandemic saw it post a £343million loss in 2020 as its key customers — office workers and commuters — were kept at home.
It then launched cut-priced food and coffee subscription services to lure them back when they returned to the office, which helped sales jump by a fifth in 2023.
Pret opened its first shop in London in 1986 and the chain employs 12,500 staff in more than 700 locations across 21 countries.
JAB, which also owns Krispy Kreme doughnuts and Keurig Dr Pepper, has ambitions in the insurance and asset management industry and wants to reduce its reliance on the consumer sector.
It suggested it could consider selling a stake in Pret ahead of a potential listing.
JAB said: “As we move closer to a potential IPO, we may evaluate bringing on a pre-IPO investor.”
It is the first time the group has publicly confirmed IPO plans for Pret.
Ahead of the potential listing, it appointed former
Restaurant Brands International chief executive José Cil as chair of Pret last month.
Pret’s chief executive since 2019 is Pano Christou, who started as an assistant manager in a central London outlet at 22.
The minicab driver’s son, 45, grew up in Tooting, South London, and now earns more than £400,000 a year.
BANK MIS-APP
THOUSANDS of customers were unable to log in to NatWest’s mobile app yesterday.
More than 3,000 outages were reported through services-monitoring site Downdetector.
The bank blamed the problem on an update it made the day before and said it was “working to fix it as quickly as possible”.
PAD PRICE DIP
THE average UK house price fell by around £1,150 or 0.4 per cent last month, stats from Halifax show.
But property values have increased by more than £7,000 on average over the past year.
Prices climbed 2.5 per cent in the 12 months to May, but that was a fall from April’s annual increase of 3.2 per cent.
4 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Coronation Street fans slam Eileen Grimshaw’s ‘ridiculous’ exit as she waves goodbye to the cobbles after 25 years
CORONATION Street fans were left baffled by Eileen Grimshaw’s emotional farewell tonight after 25 years.
Eileen, played by Sue Cleaver, told her heartbroken boyfriend George she didn’t love him anymore before hopping in a cab with son Jason and announcing: “I’m moving to Thailand.”
ITVEileen was greeted to a big treat by the Street Cars drivers[/caption]
Eileen said goodbye to Steve and Tim outside the RoversShe left behind an emotional George after breaking up with himEileen declared ‘I’m moving to Thailand’
A cheery Eileen was waved off outside the Rovers after a few drinks with her Streetcars co-workers Steve and Tim.
Eileen was greeted to a big treat by the Street Cars drivers, who beeped as she drove away.
George was left in tears, having confronted Eileen with his suspicions that she wasn’t attracted to him anymore.
George was due to fly to Thailand with Eileen – and fans couldn’t believe he’d throw away the money he spent on the ticket.
Others slammed the idea of Eileen as a barmaid in Thailand, and moving halfway across the world on a whim.
“It’s hilarious how they make moving so simple in soaps…
“She couldn’t just up and leave to live permanently in Thailand without the correct visa,” one fan wrote.
“Can’t see Eileen as a Thai barmaid,” another added, while a third joked: “Seems they’re giving Eileen a boring, miserable exit!”
Long-time viewers also felt the storyline was a letdown compared to Eileen’s dramatic past.
“Remember when Eileen got her head stuck in the railings? This has been mostly dull and miserable — which sums up Eileen in recent years,” one fan said.
Even George’s tearful goodbye was mocked, as one said:“George! You’re not a murderer, a liar, thief, womaniser… that’s why Eileen isn’t interested in you, hon!”
She also made the decision to make a fresh start in Thailand after being worn down by being suspected in her sister Julie’s tragic death.
In Friday’s episode, Eileen’s mind is turned to leaving the cobbles after hearing Theo’s impassioned speech to his daughter Millie.
Theo explains to his teenage daughter, that he can’t return to live with her mum, his ex, because “it didn’t feel right,” after realising he was attracted to men and wanted to see where is his relationship with Todd went.
George realised how Theo’s speech moved Eileen and went to confront her after she’d been at the police who had just cleared her of any wrongdoing in Julie’s death.
The Sun exclusively revealed in January that she had quit the show after 25 years on the Salford set to look for new acting opportunities.
“The door is still firmly open but as I reached my 60th year, I decided it was time to embrace change, look for new adventures and live fearlessly,” she explained.
One of Sue’s major next steps is to become a a regular panellist onLoose Womenafter first appearing on the daytime panel show in 2023.
Sue took a break from Corrie last year to star in Sister Act The Musical as Mother Superior and appeared in reality showI’m A Celebrityin 2022.
Last year, Sue released her memoir A Work In Progress and revealed she was embracing being in her 60s.
RexSue will be making more appearances on Loose Women after leaving Corrie[/caption]
A court on Friday sentenced Arne Bye, 55, to 21 years in prisonGrim video footage was recovered in the police probeCameras had been set up in his examination room
Former GP Bye was found guilty of committing 70 counts of rape and sexual assault during gynecological examinations of his patients between 2004 and 2022.
He was also condemned for 80 instances of abuse of his position as a doctor.
Close to all of the offences occurred during medical examinations that Bye carried out on his patients whilst working as a physician at his medical practice in the small town of Frosta in central Norway.
The court in the city of Trondelag banned Bye from exercising his medical profession indefinitely and demanded he financially compensate his victims.
A harrowing total of 94 women testified during the trial, describing how wicked Bye committed multiple acts of non-consensual touching and digital penetration without medical justification.
The acts all constitute rape under Norwegian law.
Addressing the court on Friday, Judge Espen Haug reportedly said: “The suspect’s actions make this case an extremely serious one. The actions are unacceptable.
“The defendant’s actions happened in a place and setting where people are supposed to feel safe.
“His actions have undermined public trust in the health service as well as doctors in general.”
The 55-year-old defendant stood up and appeared calm as the maximum sentence was handed to him.
The sentence matched the one requested by the prosecution.
Bye’s defense had argued for lesser sentence, recognising only 20 of the rapes.
Bye also filmed the assaults.
Cops seized over 6,000 hours of footage during their investigation, including of his gynaecological examinations.
Bye was shown to have inserted a “deodorant-like”, “bottle-like” and a cylindrical object into the women – with no medical reason for doing so.
One woman, speaking to the court last November, said: “I thought I was going to die”.
Another unnamed woman said she had gone in to her GP’s office for a sore throat – before being given one of the invasive examinations.
She told how she ended up in her underwear on a bench, saying: “I thought that he is my doctor, so I did as he said.”
The indictment against Bye says the alleged assaults “happened quickly and unexpectedly” during the examinations.
Concerns were raised about him as long ago as 2006 – by another doctor in the gynaecology ward at a local hospital.
One of Bye’s patients, who was there for further treatment, said her doctor had massaged her genitals during the exam.
Bye was able to keep his job until the following year when charges were filed.
HOW YOU CAN GET HELP:
Women’s Aid has this advice for victims and their families:
Always keep your phone nearby.
Get in touch with charities for help, including the Women’s Aid live chat helpline and services such as SupportLine.
If you are in danger, call 999.
Familiarise yourself with the Silent Solution, reporting abuse without speaking down the phone, instead dialing “55”.
Always keep some money on you, including change for a pay phone or bus fare.
If you suspect your partner is about to attack you, try to go to a lower-risk area of the house – for example, where there is a way out and access to a telephone.
Avoid the kitchen and garage, where there are likely to be knives or other weapons. Avoid rooms where you might become trapped, such as the bathroom, or where you might be shut into a cupboard or other small space.
If you are a victim of domestic abuse, SupportLine is open Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 6pm to 8pm on 01708 765200. The charity’s email support service is open weekdays and weekends during the crisis – messageinfo@supportline.org.uk.
Women’s Aid provides a live chat service – available weekdays from 8am-6pm and weekends 10am-6pm.
You can also call the freephone 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline on 0808 2000 247.
4 days agoNews TalkComments Off on 19 Workout Pieces New York Rich Moms Actually Wear — Starting at $10
New York rich moms have a style like no other. When they’re not meeting the girls for coffee or taking a midday stroll, they’re hitting the Midtown gym for a sweat sesh — all while rocking a chic workout outfit that doubles as athleisure. Since most city rich moms wear their gym outfits all day, comfort […]
4 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Вчені за допомогою штучного інтелекту спростували аномальне походження темних смуг на поверхні Марсу
Нове дослідження, проведене за допомогою штучного інтелекту, спростувало одну з популярних гіпотез про темні смуги, які тягнуться по схилах Марса. Досі вважалося, що ці смуги, які вперше помітили ще під час місії «Вікінг» у 1976 році, утворюються внаслідок сезонного танення льоду чи просочування підземних вод. Однак новий аналіз вказує на інше походження — вітер і пил. Дослідники навчили алгоритм штучного інтелекту […]
4 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Лєра Товстолес зізналася, чи спілкується з Андрієм Лузаном після їхнього розриву
24 Відома українська акторка та ведуча Лєра Товстолес зробила рідкісний коментар про роман із блогером Андрієм Лузаном, який минулого року приєднався до Сил безпілотних систем ЗСУ. В інтерв’ю для ютуб-каналу Кириленко зірка проєктів «Жіночий квартал» та «Кохання на виживання» зазначила, що вдячна за ці стосунки, які допомогли їй краще впізнати себе та провести значну внутрішню […]
4 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Mum slammed as ‘embarrassing’ over ‘desperate’ plea for council to upgrade 2-bed house – as trolls say ‘get a futon’
A MOTHER has been slammed as “really embarrassing” by trolls after sharing a “desperate” plea online.
TikTokA mum-of-three has been urged to “get a grip” after sharing a “desperate” plea online[/caption]
TikTokClare, expressed her hopes to be upgraded from a two-bedroom council property to a four-bedroom home, but was met with trolls calling her a “sponger”[/caption]
The blonde, who is mother to Mason, Poppy and Leo, shared that two of her kids, both Poppy and Leo, have additional needs.
As a result, she is eager to find a bigger council property, which has four bedrooms.
Currently, the content creator, who has 24,000 followers online, doesn’t have her own bedroom, which is yet another reason why she wants an upgrade.
Posting on social media, alongside her short clip Clare wrote: “Wish this housing crisis would sort itself out. I am absolutely desperate for a new house. A bigger home for my family. New beginnings and fresh starts.”
As she filmed herself sitting outside her front door, the mum then said: “I live in a two-bedroom council house but I’ve got three kids and two of them have got additional needs, so sharing bedrooms is out of the question.
“It means I don’t have a bedroom, I kind of just sleep whenever.”
But after “more than a year”, Clare confirmed that she has now been told by the council that she qualifies for a four-bedroom house.
Despite this, much to her dismay, she recognised that there are currently “no houses” available.
Clare, who confessed she would “never private rent ever”, candidly admitted: “Doom and gloom. Stuck in this house.”
She shared her desire for a “fresh house, a new start” and “fresh beginnings” for her and her kids, as she explained: “Now I’m just hitting another wall because there’s no houses – when it rains it f*****g pours.”
Clare then admitted to being “sick” of her situation, as she fumed: “I know there’s a housing crisis but s**t, I’m sick of it. I don’t wanna live here anymore.”
Ridiculous how so many people expect everything from others
TikTok user
But moments after uploading the clip online, Clare was met with a barrage of nasty abuse from trolls, who not only accused her of being a “sponger”, but urged her to simply “get a grip” and “get a futon”.
One person said: “Tough s**t, get a f*****g futon and sleep in the living room.”
Another added: “What a sponger.”
How can I get a council house?
To apply for a council home, you need to fill out and hand in an application to your local authority.
To find your local authority, simply use the Government’s council locator tool on its website.
Once you have access to your local council’s website, it should offer you guidelines on how to complete your application.
After applying, you’ll most likely have to join a waiting list.
Bear in mind, even if you are put on a waiting list, this doesn’t guarantee you a council house offer.
Your council should also offer you advice on how to stay in your current home and solve any issues you might have, such as problems with a private landlord or mortgage.
You are eligible to apply for council housing if you are a British citizen living in the UK providing have not lived abroad recently.
Each council has its own local rules about who qualifies to go on the housing register in its area, but it is based on “points” or a “banding” system.
For example, you’re likely to be offered housing first if you:
are homeless
live in cramped conditions
have a medical condition made worse by your current home
are seeking to escape domestic violence
Once you are high enough on a council’s waiting list, it will contact you when a property is available.
Some councils let people apply at the age of 18, while others let you apply even sooner at 16-year-olds.
4 days agoNews TalkComments Off on Read Madeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner’s sick letter in full – including chilling ‘no body’ gloat
A LETTER written by prime Madeleine McCann suspect Christian Brueckner has been exposed, with the sex fiend goading cops by saying: “Is there a body? No, no no.”
Christian Brueckner letter in which he brags about police never being able to pin the case on himDan CharityMadeleine McCann prime suspect Christian Brueckner arrives in court in Braunschweig, Germany last year[/caption]
AlamyMadeleine McCann who has been missing since 2007[/caption]
He wrote: “It is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered.
“Was I or my vehicle clearly seen near the crime scene on the night of the crime?
“Is there DNA evidence of me at the crime scene? Are there DNA traces of the injured party in my vehicle?
“Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos?”
He wrote: “You know, of course, that in Germany you don’t have to prove your innocence as a suspect, but that the public prosecutor’s office has to prove that you are clearly guilty.
“Even the slightest doubt leads to an acquittal, if there is a court hearing at all.”
Brueckner even claims the case against him is built on “purchased witnesses” and reveals his awareness of his global notoriety.
He wrote: “Now, my path is paved with misjudgements, so to speak, but from now on the whole world is watching.
“Not even the Braunschweig regional court will now dare to make an obvious misjudgement.
“Even if an attempt is currently being made to create a shocking overall picture of me through purchased witnesses, it is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered with ‘yes’.
“And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no.”
He adds: “You don’t have to be a realist like me to predict that the accusations made against me will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped.”
He wrote: “Do you know that I was a drug dealer at that time in 2007? Investigators know this.
“I bought marijuana in Spain and sold it on beaches in the Algarve.
“I was never caught by the police because I followed a few principles.
“If possible, only drive during the day so that my battered hippie bus doesn’t attract so much attention, only drive the necessary and most importantly, never provoke the police.”
He added: “Together with my dog and a lover at the time I enjoyed the ‘temporary hippie life’.”
The vile letter emerged as officers desperate to find a forensic link to him flew back to Germany after a new three-day search in PortugalGerman prosecutors are convinced of the predator’s guiltDan CharityPolice searching various sites in and around the resort of Praia da Luz[/caption]
ReutersA criminal police investigator inspects an abandoned home in the fresh Madeleine search[/caption]
He also whinges he has been framed so he can be scapegoated over the Madeleine case.
He wrote: “Right from the start they plotted a miscarriage of justice to make me vanish into thin air. And now half the world knows why.”
And he adds: “I am not exaggerating when I say that 80 per cent of what I have heard from the reports is not true.
“A large proportion of these lies are clearly being spread by the investigating authorities. My words are directed at those who are taking this seriously and are not laughing about it.
“Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true.”
Scores of cops painstakinglycombed scrublandnear Praia da Luz with JCBs, radar and fingertip searches, believing the tot or her pyjamas could have been buried there.
German prosecutors are convinced of Brueckner’s guilt.
The disturbing evidence demonstrated Brueckner’s obsession with young kids.
We revealed he wrote horrifying fantasies about abducting and abusing a blonde toddler — and how this would leave him “in paradise”.
He also boasted in online forums about his desire to “capture something small and use it for days”.
Brueckner remains in prison in Germany where he is serving a seven year term for rape.
The 48-year-old convicted paedophile faces having his hopes of being released from jail in September scuppered after reportedly being accused of new offences against prison guards behind bars.
A recent image of the barnThe barn in 2007 appearing to have a tent set up
The latest search to find DNA or forensic links on the case appeared to have ended without success on Thursday.
Police were seen taking fibres by hand while a hole was dug at the site of an apparent tent from around the time of Madeleine’s disappearance.
However, it was unclear whether the search had found anything with enough potential value to the case to be sent back to Germany for testing.
Brueckner had already moved out of his cottage in Praia da Luz when three-year-old Madeleine, from Rothley, Leics, arrived with parents Gerry and Kate and her two-year-old twin siblings.
He was living in his car, or wild camping in areas including this week’s search site.
Brueckner's letters
“It is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered.
“Was I or my vehicle clearly seen near the crime scene on the night of the crime?
“Is there DNA evidence of me at the crime scene? Are there DNA traces of the injured party in my vehicle?
“Are there other traces/DNA carriers of the injured party in my possession? Photos?
“And, not to forget, is there a body/corpse? All no, no no.
“You don’t have to be a realist like me to predict that the accusations made against me will not hold up and that the investigation will be dropped.
“You know, of course, that in Germany you don’t have to prove your innocence as a suspect, but that the public prosecutor’s office has to prove that you are clearly guilty.
“Even the slightest doubt leads to an acquittal, if there is a court hearing at all.”
“Now, my path is paved with misjudgements, so to speak, but from now on the whole world is watching.
“Not even the Braunschweig regional court will now dare to make an obvious misjudgement.
“Even if an attempt is currently being made to create a shocking overall picture of me through purchased witnesses, it is the important questions, the decisive questions that can never be answered with ‘yes’.
“Do you know that I was a drug dealer at that time in 2007? Investigators know this.
“I bought marijuana in Spain and sold it on beaches in the Algarve.
“I was never caught by the police because I followed a few principles.
“If possible, only drive during the day so that my battered hippie bus doesn’t attract so much attention, only drive the necessary and most importantly, never provoke the police.
“Together with my dog and a lover at the time I enjoyed the ‘temporary hippie life’.
“Right from the start they plotted a miscarriage of justice to make me vanish into thin air. And now half the world knows why.
“I am not exaggerating when I say that 80 per cent of what I have heard from the reports is not true.
“A large proportion of these lies are clearly being spread by the investigating authorities. My words are directed at those who are taking this seriously and are not laughing about it.
“Those who want to understand how brutal the German justice system is in its attempts to hammer through its own law, even if nothing is true.”
The seeming failure of longshot searches for any traces of Madeleine this week is the latest in a string of blows for the case.
German authorities who maintain Madeleine is dead are racing to find a way to keep highly dangerous Brueckner behind bars after he was cleared of rape claims last year.
He told this week he plans to “hide” when he is released, as soon as September 17, taking hopes for the Madeleine case with him.
The drifter was jailed in 2019, convicted of the 2005 rape of an American pensioner just streets from the Ocean Club, where the McCanns stayed in Praia da Luz.
The Sun investigation aired on Channel 4 revealed the existence of computer hard drives which were vital in to persuading investigators of Madeleine’s death.
Our findings placed Breuckner at key Madeleine search location the Arades Dam, in Portugal.
And a document puts him at the location — where he allegedly said “she did not scream” as he discussed her with an associate.
In the online message where he brags to another sicko that he really wanted to “capture something small” he adds it would not matter “if the evidence is destroyed afterwards”.
German investigators last night remained hopeful British police might rejoin the investigation as an active inquiry.
PAOne of the derelict and abandoned properties close to Praia da Luz, Portugal[/caption]
Dan CharityPolice searching various sites in and around the resort[/caption]
PASearch teams use a backhoe close to Praia da Luz[/caption]
PARob Cross has won his first darts match since his financial woes were made public[/caption]
The Insolvency Service found that the Premier League Darts star withdrew more than £300,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited between March 2020 and November 2023 that should have gone to creditors, including to HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC).
The world No.9 also took out more than £400,000 from Rob Cross Darts Limited – which was set up eight years ago to receive his earnings and prize money – in the form of a director’s loan account by the time the company went into liquidation.
In an attempt to repay part of his debts, Cross has entered into an Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA), a legally binding agreement where he has committed to making regular payments to an insolvency practitioner.
Monthly contributions to the IVA will vary depending on the income he receives through his performances at darts tournaments during this year and future years.
There is £30,000 available for the winner of this weekend’s Nordic Darts Masters in Copenhagen and he began the event by beating Swedish thrower Andreas Harrysson 6-4 in round one.
“I have had two-and-a-half weeks off. I had been a little bit lazy. I’ll be better 100% in my next match.
“I didn’t know where my game was at – I could have gone out there and hit 120 or a 48.
“Andreas is very dangerous and has played great. I am happy to get over the line and keep pushing. Tomorrow it has to come together.
“To win this would be fantastic. I have had time off and some difficulties. But it would mean a lot to win it this week.
“Tonight could have been tougher with a few boos and whistles, it could have swung the game in his favour.
“We all feel it when the darts are flowing and the crowd gets on your back. I’m very appreciative of that. Darts is tough.
“It has been nice to be here. The weather was better than I expected. I thought it was going to rain. It’s a great place to go out and fill your lungs out with some air.”
Cross famously won the PDC World Darts Championship in 2018 – he trounced the retiring Phil Taylor 7-2 in the final – on his debut appearance in the competition.
His management team have declined to comment on the story.
Нове дослідження, проведене за допомогою штучного інтелекту, спростувало одну з популярних гіпотез про темні смуги, які тягнуться по схилах Марса. Досі вважалося, що ці смуги, які вперше помітили ще під час місії «Вікінг» у 1976 році, утворюються внаслідок сезонного танення льоду чи просочування підземних вод. Однак новий аналіз вказує на інше походження — вітер і пил. Дослідники навчили алгоритм штучного інтелекту […]
24 Відома українська акторка та ведуча Лєра Товстолес зробила рідкісний коментар про роман із блогером Андрієм Лузаном, який минулого року приєднався до Сил безпілотних систем ЗСУ. В інтерв’ю для ютуб-каналу Кириленко зірка проєктів «Жіночий квартал» та «Кохання на виживання» зазначила, що вдячна за ці стосунки, які допомогли їй краще впізнати себе та провести значну внутрішню […]
