annual – Latest News

The price of happiness in every country revealed: Fascinating map details the annual

admin — Thu, 14 Sep 2023 11:32:31 +0000

Iran has the highest cost of happiness in the world, with its people needing a salary of nearly £200,000-a-year to be satisfied, a survey has revealed.

Researchers claim to have found the optimum sum of money that citizens in 173 countries need each year to be happy – with any amount above that having ‘no effect on an individual’s happiness’.

The findings, which also compare annual salaries in 29 British cities and towns, paint a stark picture of how the cost of living varies across the globe.

While Iran tops the list, with natives requiring some $239,700 (£191,906) to be happy, at the other end of the scale, those living in Sierra Leone only need an income of $8,658 (£6,931) to stay content.

Yemen is ranked second ($172,140/£137,817), followed by Australia, whose citizens need a princely sum of $121,191 (£97,026) to be happy.

The rest of the top ten country list includes Zimbabwe ($118,342/£94,745); Norway ($117,724/£94,251); Switzerland ($115,745/£92,666); New Zealand ($114,597/£91,747); Israel ($112,506/£90,073); Iceland ($111,908/£89,594) and the United States, with its people needing $105,000 (£84,064) to stay happy.

They say money can’t buy you happiness, but a fascinating new study begs to differ

The study, by foreign exchange provider S Money, found that happiness is most affordable in Sierra Leone where happiness levels off with an income of $8,658 (£6,931). Just behind Sierra Leone is Suriname where a yearly income of $10,255 (£8,210) will keep misery at bay most efficiently followed by Madagascar ($11,355/£9,090).

The rest of the ranking includes Guyana ($11,707/£9,372); Sudan ($11,845/£9,483); Nicaragua ($11,941/£9,560); Colombia ($12,159/£9,734); The Gambia ($12,597/£10,085); Bolivia ($12,795/£10,243) and finally Ghana (10th, $12,949/£10,367).

The UK comes 18th on the overall list, with Britons needing an average of £68,404 ($85,440) per year to be upbeat.

Happiness is most affordable in Sierra Leone where happiness levels off with an income of $8,658/£6,931

However, for those living in the UK’s capital, London, happiness levels off at a higher salary bracket – $103,083/£79,524. London tops the price-of-contentment table for UK cities and towns, with Cambridge second ($96,971/£74,808) and Guildford in Surrey third ($96,276/£74,273).

Happiness is cheapest in Leicester, according to the study. There, $79,188/£61,117 per year is the saturation point for feelings of bonhomie.

Over in the U.S, Santa Barbara in California is the city with the highest cost of happiness – $162,721/£130,276, followed by Honolulu ($148,943/£119,251) and New York ($145,028/£116,116). Knoxville, Tennessee, is the American city with the lowest cost of happiness – $88,032/£70,482, with Cincinnati in Ohio ($93,398/£74,779) sitting just above it in the list.

In the UK, happiness is cheapest in Leicester. There, $79,188/£61,117 per year is the saturation point for feelings of bonhomie

In the U.S, Santa Barbara in California is the city with the highest cost of happiness – $162,721/£130,276, followed by Honolulu ($148,943/£119,251) and New York ($145,028/£116,116)

PRICE OF HAPPINESS PER YEAR IN UK CITIES AND TOWNS

London – $103,083/£79,524 (highest annual income)

Cambridge – $96,971/£74,808

Guildford – $96,276/£74,273

Brighton – $93,358/£72,022

Bristol – $91,136/£70,307

Oxford – $90,997/£70,219

Reading – $90,580/£69,897

Manchester – $88,913/£68,611

Liverpool – $88,357/£68,182

Bournemouth – $88,079/£67,968

Glasgow – $87,940/£67,860

Nottingham – $86,829/£66,982

Plymouth – $86,690/£66,875

Leeds – $86,134/£66,446

Belfast – $85,856/£66,232

Derby – $85,301/£65,803

Edinburgh – $85,301/£65,816

Newcastle upon Tyne – $84,745/£65,387

Norwich – $84,606/£65,280

Southampton – $84,189/£64,959

Exeter – $83,078/£64,107

Sheffield – $83,078/£64,107

Cardiff – $82,105/£63,357

Portsmouth – $82,105/£63,369

Coventry – $81,689/£63,047

Aberdeen – $81,411/£62,833

Birmingham – $80,855/£62,404

Dundee – $79,327/£61,224

Leicester – $79,188/£61,117 (lowest annual income)

Source: S Money

How were the amounts calculated? First, researchers consulted a Purdue University study that analysed the relationship between happiness and income to discover the price of happiness in every country and select cities.

This study recorded the satiation point for Life Evaluation (LE) in U.S dollars for each world region.

S Money said: ‘Life Evaluation is a metric from the World Gallup poll that measures how good an individual considers their life to be. The satiation point of LE refers to the income point at which any further increase in income has no effect on an individual’s happiness.’

It continued: ‘The figures in the study grouped countries into world regions and quoted the satiation points relative to an American’s purchasing power. So, to discover the local price of happiness by country, we converted these figures back to local currencies using country-specific Purchasing Power Ratios sourced from the International Monetary Fund. Purchasing power ratios represent the number of units of local currency that are equal to the buying power of one US dollar in the United States.

‘Finally, we converted local currencies back into US dollars using current exchange rates given by Google Finance. This is the price of happiness.

‘In addition, the team calculated the price of happiness for select cities within each country by adjusting the country price of happiness according to the cost of living value for both cities and countries in indexes by Numbeo.’

DOES MONEY MAKE YOU HAPPY?

One Harvard study claimed that it’s not what you earn but how you spend it that leads to happiness.

Researchers said that buying experiences and fewer material goods will make you more content – as will paying close attention to the happiness of others.

For more information visit www.smoney.com.au/blog/the-price-of-happiness-in-every-country.

PRICE OF HAPPINESS PER COUNTRY – THE HIGHEST 10 AND LOWEST 10

COUNTRIES WITH THE HIGHEST PRICE PER YEAR FOR HAPPINESS

1. Iran – $239,700/£191,906

2. Yemen – $172,140/£137,817

3. Australia – $121,191/£97,026

4. Zimbabwe – $118,342/£94,745

5. Norway – $117,724/£94,251

6. Switzerland – $115,745/£92,666

7. New Zealand – $114,597/£91,747

8. Israel – $112,506/£90,073

9. Iceland – $111,908/£89,594

10. United States – $105,000/£84,064

COUNTRIES WITH THE LOWEST PRICE PER YEAR FOR HAPPINESS

1. Sierra Leone – $8,658/£6,931

2. Suriname – $10,255/£8,210

3. Madagascar – $11,355/£9,090

4. Guyana – $11,707/£9,372

5. Sudan – $11,845/£9,483

6. Nicaragua – $11,941/£9,560

7. Colombia – $12,159/£9,734

8. The Gambia – $12,597/£10,085

9. Bolivia – $12,795/£10,243

10. Ghana – $12,949/£10,367

Source: S Money

Rising gas prices push up the rate of annual inflation to 3.7% – the second consecutive

admin — Wed, 13 Sep 2023 14:39:56 +0000

Rising gas prices push up the rate of annual inflation to 3.7% – the second consecutive rise THIS YEAR – but experts insist interest rates will remain steady

Prices rose 0.6 percent month-on-month, driven mainly by a jump in gas prices
Despite the rise, the Fed is expected to hold interest rates steady next week
Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, remained mild

By Tilly Armstrong Consumer Reporter For Dailymail.Com

Updated: 10:38 EDT, 13 September 2023

Inflation in the US has accelerated for a second consecutive month to a 3.7 percent annual rate – up from 3.2 percent in August.

Prices rose 0.6 percent month-on-month to August, driven mainly by a jump in gas prices – which accounted for over half of the increase.

Shelter costs also contributed to the rise, which went up for the 40th consecutive month.

The consumer price index report comes a week before the Federal Reserve‘s two-day policy meeting.

But despite the acceleration in inflation, the Central Bank is expected to hold interest rates steady while deciding whether a further rate hike later in the year will be needed to combat inflation.

Inflation in the US has accelerated for a second consecutive month to a 3.7 percent annual rate – up from 3.2 percent in August

Core inflation, which strips out volatile prices including food and energy and is deemed a better gauge of long-term trends, stayed mostly mild.

Monthly core inflation rose by 0.3 percent in August – up marginally from a 0.2 percent increase in July.

For the 12 month ending in August, core inflation slowed to 4.3 percent – down from 4.7 percent last month.

Americans faced surprise pain at the pump last month as gas prices surged – putting upward pressure on overall inflation.

The average price of a gallon of regular gasoline was $3.84 in August compared with $3.60 in July, according to OPIS, an energy-data and analytics provider cited by The Wall Street Journal.

The national average for a gallon of gasoline stood at $3.811 as of September 5, data from the American Automobile Association showed.

The price has not been higher at this time of year since September 2012 when filling up at the pump hit $3.84 per gallon amid concerns about supply disruptions from the Middle East.

Americans faced surprise pain at the pump last month as gas prices surged – putting upward pressure on overall inflation

The seasonal high this year is significant because it strikes at at a time when gas prices generally decline as summer gives way to fall and people drive less.

Oil production cuts by Saudi Arabia and Russia have caused prices to increase – on top of an already tightened global supply.

In July, major producer Russia – which sent markets into a frenzy when it invaded neighboring Ukraine nearly two years ago – vowed to take 500,000 barrels a day off its exports.

At a time where US officials are still trying to make up for the more than 1million barrels a day of fuel-making lost during the pandemic, the loss is a significant one, and looks to be finally being felt.

Another factor contributing to the higher prices is a lack of refining capacity on the US side, after hiccups over the summer limited output from US gasoline producers.

Record heat in fuel-making hubs such as Texas and Louisiana further affected supplies, after several refiners promised they would run their plants at up to 95 percent of their capacity in a bid to pump out more fuels despite the heat.

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.

Never Forget: First moments of silence held at Manhattan’s annual September 11 ceremony –

admin — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 14:29:18 +0000

The first of several moments of silence at New York’s annual September 11 ceremony was rife with emotion Monday – as Americans mark 22 years since the attacks took thousands of lives in New York City, Pennsylvania, and Arlington, Virginia.

Moments before, in a taste of the ceremonies set to take place nationwide, officials in Virginia unfurled US flag on the west side of the Pentagon – the same site where one of the hijacked planes struck.

The attacks happened quickly – claiming nearly 3,000 lives and counting as illnesses to this day continue to affect first responders. The North Tower was hit at 8:46 am, then 17 minutes later the South. A third hijacked plane ripped a hole into the western side of the Pentagon at 9:37 am – leaving another 184 lives lost.

A flag has been unfurled at the site each year since – celebrating the bravery that was on display from first responders as well as countless Good Samaritans who jumped into action that day. There, Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump were among those participated in a moment of silence at Monday morning’s ceremony.

Other commemorations currently being held stretch from the other attack sites, and to Alaska and beyond. Joe Biden is due at a ceremony on a military base in Anchorage, and Kamala Harris – in a rare public appearance – is currently at the procession at Ground Zero.

Others in attendance included Ron DeSantis and Michael Bloomberg – the successor to the mayor at the time of the tragedy, Rudy Giuliani. Despite recent legal woes, the man known as America’s Mayor made the time to attend, as did Mayor Eric Adams.

Scroll down for video:

The first of several moments of silence at New York’s annual September 11 ceremony was rife with emotion Monday – as Americans mark 22 years since the attacks took thousands of lives

Officials were seen unfurling a US flag on the west side of the Pentagon early Monday morning – a hint of some of the ceremonies set to take place observing the 22nd anniversary of the September 11 attacks

Also spotted in the crowd was New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who joined Harris in the crowd for the traditional name reading and the tolling of the bells.

In total, six moments of silence will be observed – commemorating when each of the towers was struck and collapsed, as well as the times corresponding to the attack on the Pentagon and the crash of United Flight 93.

The first was held after the tolling of the bells at 8:46am, which marks the beginning of the attacks – when hijackers crashed American Airlines Flight 11 into floors 93 through 99 of the North Tower. The impact killed all 92 on board.

At 9:03am, a second moment of silence was held – marking when hijackers deliberately crashed United Airlines Flight 175 into floors 77 through 85 of the South Tower – leaving no doubt in any New Yorkers’ mind at the time that the attacks were planned and malicious in nature.

The next was at 9:37am, when another group of terrorists deliberately crashed American Airlines Flight 77 into the Pentagon, just outside the nation’s capital.

A fourth was then held at 9:59am to mark the moment the South Tower, the second structure to be hit, collapsed, with another slated for four minutes later – to mark the moment passengers on United 93 heroically stormed the cockpit in a bid to retake the plane from their attackers.

In response, the hijackers crashed the plane into an empty field near Shanksville, Pennsylvania – likely saving many lives, as many theorized the plane’s target was either the White House or the Capitol.

The final moment of silent mourning, meanwhile, is slated for 10:28 am – the time that The North Tower collapsed, leaving the 16-acre World Trade Center site in ruins and the collective US consciousness in tatters.

However, across the country, the rescue effort commenced immediately – a taste of the resilience present in the heart of countless Americans in the centuries before, and after, the senseless tragedy.

The president’s visit, en route to Washington, D.C., from a politically driven trip to India and Vietnam, is a reminder that the impact of 9/11 was felt in every corner of the nation, however remote it may be.

Kamala Harris and Eric Adams were among those at the ceremony at Ground Zero, one of several set to commence across in honor of the lives lost

Flordia Gov Ron DeSantis and his wife Casey DeSantis also attended the ceremony, the 21st held in the wake of the senseless attacks that forever changed the country

Also present for the procession was former Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who joined Harris in the crowd for the traditional reading of the names and the tolling of the bells

Also present was Bloomberg’s predecessor – and mayor at the time of the tragedy – Rudy Giuliani. Despite recent legal woes involving ex client Donald Trump, he made time to attend

Also spotted was New York Gov. Kathy Hochul, who joined Harris in the crowd for the traditional name reading and the tolling of the bells

Harris, Bloomberg, and Hochul all looked somber at the remembrance ceremony, the most attended in the country

PAST AND PRESENT: The ceremony serves as an opportunity to look simultaneously toward both the past and future, learning from the tragedy while honoring lives lost

Flying from Florida to attend the annual event, DeSantis was joined by his wife Casey

Law enforcement officers rang a bell as names were read during the remembrance ceremony – which will have have six tollings in total timed to coincide with the events of that day

Sara Nelson, a United Flight Attendant based in Boston who lost 9 friends on flight 175, is seen mourning at the memorial at Ground Zero Monday morning. The first moment of silence was held at 8:46am

Other commemorations set to take place Monday morning include ones at the other attack sites, in New York (seen here) and Pennsylvania. Others will be held as far as Alaska, where president Biden is slated to attend a ceremony in Anchorage

On that day, ‘we were one country, one nation, one people, just like it should be. That was the feeling – that everyone came together and did what we could, where we were at, to try to help,’ said Eddie Ferguson, the fire-rescue chief in Virginia’s Goochland County.

More than 100 miles from the Pentagon and more than three times as far from New York, the site – like dozens of others across the US – share a sense of connection is enshrined in a local memorial incorporating steel from the World Trade Center´s destroyed twin towers.

The predominantly rural county of 25,000 people holds not just one but two anniversary commemorations: a morning service focused on first responders and an evening ceremony honoring all the victims.

Other communities across the country pay tribute with moments of silence, tolling bells, candlelight vigils and other activities.

In Shanksville, volunteers at the Flight 93 National Memorial were seen placing a wreath at the entrance of the memorial plaza early Monday, to honor the passengers who heroically stormed the cockpit forcing hijackers to crash in a field only a few miles from Washington, DC.

In Arlington, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin participated in a wreath laying ceremony to honor the 184 people killed at the Pentagon – the last of the tree crash sites.

In Columbus, Indiana, 911 dispatchers broadcast a remembrance message to police, fire and EMS radios throughout the 50,000-person city, which also holds a public memorial ceremony.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin participates in a wreath laying ceremony to honor the 184 people killed at the Pentagon – one of three sites targeted during the senseless attacks

The west side of the DoD building was targeted during the attacks. A flag has been unfurled at the site each year since – celebrating the bravery that was on display from first responders as well as countless Good Samaritans who jumped into action that day

Gordon Felt, president of Families for Flight 93, left, speaks with Chaplain Gary Monroe of the USS Somerset as part of a memorial ceremony in Shanksville, Pennsyvania, where United 93 crashed after passengers stormed the cockpit in a bid to retake the plane from their attackers

Volunteers at the Flight 93 National Memorial are seen placing a wreath at the entrance of the memorial plaza early Monday

The World Trade Center was an idea for decades that finally became a design of two 110-story towers in the 1960s. Built for the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, the 16-acre ‘superblock’ with its own zip code would have seven buildings

First responders work at ground zero after the September 11 attacks in New York. Twenty-two years later, Americans are looking back on the legacy of 9/11, gathering all over the country

A fourth moment of silence will then be held at 9:59am to mark the moment the South Tower collapsed, with another slated for four minutes later – to mark the moment passengers on United 93 stormed the cockpit in a bid to retake the plane from their attackers

Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts raise and lower the flag at a commemoration in Fenton, Missouri, where a ‘Heroes Memorial’ includes a piece of World Trade Center steel and a plaque honoring 9/11 victim Jessica Leigh Sachs. Some of her relatives live in the St. Louis suburb of 4,000 residents.

‘We´re just a little bitty community,’ said Mayor Joe Maurath, but ‘it´s important for us to continue to remember these events. Not just 9/11, but all of the events that make us free.’

New Jersey’s Monmouth County, which was home to some 9/11 victims, made Sept. 11 a holiday this year for county employees so they could attend commemorations.

As another way of marking the anniversary, many Americans do volunteer work on what Congress has designated both Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance.

At ground zero, Harris – after facing criticism for a lack of public appearances for the past three years – joined famous faces in Giuliani, DeSantis, Hochul, and Bloomberg in the ceremony on the National September 11 Memorial and Museum plaza.

The event will not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims’ relatives for an hourslong reading of the names of the dead.

James Giaccone signed up to read again this year in memory of his brother, Joseph Giaccone, 43. The family attends the ceremony every year to hear Joseph’s name.

‘If their name is spoken out loud, they don’t disappear,’ James Giaccone said in a recent interview.

The event in Manhattan did not feature remarks from political figures, instead giving the podium to victims’ relatives for an hourslong reading of the names of the dead

Meanwhile, President Joe Biden is spending the day flying back from Vietnam with a two-hour stop-over in Alaska where he will meet with service members and first responders. This is the first time a President will spend 9/11 away from Washington, D.C. or the three crash sites

Trump and First Lady Melania Trump, meanwhile, participated in a moment of silence at a ceremony at the Pentagon

The commemoration is crucial to him.

‘I hope I never see the day when they minimize this,’ he said. ‘It’s a day that changed history.’

Biden, meanwhile, will be the first president to commemorate September 11 in Alaska, or anywhere in the western U.S.

Havin attended last year’s memorial in Arlington, he’s already facing criticism for the unprecedented decision not to mark the anniversary of 9/11 at one of the three crash sites.

Instead he will spend just two hours at Joint Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska with service members and first responders on his way home from a 24-hour trip to Vietnam dominated by a shambolic and rambling press conference.

He and his predecessors have gone to one or another of the attack sites in most years, though Republican George W. Bush and Democrat Barack Obama each marked the anniversary on the White House lawn at times. Obama followed one of those observances by recognizing the military with a visit to Fort Meade in Maryland.

First lady Jill Biden is due to lay a wreath at the 9/11 memorial at the Pentagon.

In Pennsylvania, where one of the hijacked jets crashed after passengers tried to storm the cockpit, a remembrance and wreath-laying is scheduled at the Flight 93 National Memorial in Stoystown operated by the National Park Service. Harris´ husband, Doug Emhoff, is expected to attend the ceremony.

The memorial site will offer a new educational video, virtual tour and other materials for teachers to use in classrooms. Educators with a total of more than 10,000 students have registered for access to the free ‘National Day of Learning’ program, which will be available through the fall, organizers say.

‘We need to get the word out to the next generation,’ said memorial spokesperson Katherine Hostetler, a National Park Service ranger.

Confederation of British Industry scraps annual conference

admin — Mon, 07 Aug 2023 06:44:03 +0000

Confederation of British Industry scraps annual conference

By City & Finance Reporter

Updated: 16:50 EDT, 6 August 2023

The Confederation of British Industry has scrapped its annual conference as it continues to reel over allegations of workplace misconduct.

The event is usually attended by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, as well as city bigwigs, who discuss key policy issues facing business.

But the CBI – which hosts the annual conference in the autumn – omitted the event from its upcoming fixtures, according to The Sunday Times.

It is understood the group is planning an alternative event towards the end of 2023.

The CBI has been on a mission to revamp its reputation after a series of allegations against the group emerged earlier this year.

Cancelled: The conference is usually attended by the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, as well as city bigwigs

These included allegations of rape at the CBI’s summer party in 2019 and inappropriate comments made to female members of staff.

The group posted a list of more than 40 new events last week as it attempts to carve out a new image.

Some links in this article may be affiliate links. If you click on them we may earn a small commission. That helps us fund This Is Money, and keep it free to use. We do not write articles to promote products. We do not allow any commercial relationship to affect our editorial independence.

POPULAR MONEY SECTIONS

Braemar shares to be suspended as investigation delays annual results

admin — Mon, 26 Jun 2023 14:13:14 +0000

Braemar shares to be suspended as investigation forces shipbroker to delay publication of annual results

Ongoing probe into transaction of around $3m (£2.4million) dating back to 2013
Board ‘not comfortable’ with how it ‘has been historically represented’
Shares in Braemar will be suspended from next Monday, 3 July

By Camilla Canocchi for Thisismoney.co.uk

Updated: 08:57 EDT, 26 June 2023

Braemar shares will be suspended next week after the shipbroker revealed an ongoing investigation will force it to delay the publication of its annual results.

The London-based company has been carrying out an investigation into a transaction of around $3million (£2.4million) dating back to 2013 and involving payments made through to 2017.

It said the board ‘is not presently comfortable’ with how ‘the transaction has been historically represented and the remaining liability recorded in the company’s balance sheet’.

Results delay: Braemar said it won’t be able to publish its results on time due to a probe

The company has appointed the London-based specialist firm FRP Advisory to assist with the investigation, and has established a specific investigation committee chaired by its non-executive chair to oversee this.

Braemar said it is unlikely that it will be able to publish its annual results by the end of June due to the ongoing investigation, breaching the Financial Conduct Authority’s disclosure guidance and transparency rules.

‘As the company does not expect to be able to comply with this requirement, the group will request that trading in the company’s ordinary shares be suspended with effect from 7.30am on 3 July 2023,’ it told shareholders.

Braemar shares dropped 17 per cent to 231p in afternoon trading on Monday. The stock has lost around 11 per cent of its value over the last year.

However, Braemar also said it does not expect the probe’s findings to affect its results for the year that ended on 28 February.

The group is still eying record revenue ‘of not less’ than £150million and an underlying operating profit of not less than £20million, nearly double the £10.1million it made in 2022.

In recent years Braemar has been selling off its non-core divisions to focus on helping ship-owners and their customers to transport goods around the world.

Cargo includes oil and gas, heavy metals, wheat, grain and logs, all essential commodities in demand across the globe.

POPULAR MONEY SECTIONS

England’s best places to eat, sleep and visit in 2023 named in prestigious annual awards

admin — Fri, 09 Jun 2023 00:52:15 +0000

England’s best places to stay, its standout restaurants and its most unbeatable tourist attractions have been named in the 2023 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence.

The finalists were selected from hundreds of tourism businesses across England including hotels, self-catering accommodation, B&Bs, glamping operators, pubs and museums. Judges narrowed it down to 16 overall winners, which were announced during an awards ceremony at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter on June 8, hosted by hotel inspector Alex Polizzi.

The awards, which have been running for more than 30 years, are said to ‘celebrate and champion innovation, quality and best practice across the industry recognising businesses and individuals who raise the bar of England’s tourism offer’.

Scroll down to see the retreats, restaurants and more that have scooped prizes…

Large Hotel of the Year Award – Titanic Hotel Liverpool, Merseyside

The winners of the 2023 VisitEngland Awards for Excellence have been revealed. This year, the Large Hotel of the Year Award goes to Titanic Hotel Liverpool

This ‘elegant’ four-star hotel is set within one of Liverpool’s ‘most iconic’ areas – Stanley Dock.

VisitEngland says: ‘Offering 153 spacious rooms, the Titanic keeps true to the architecture of the original Victorian warehouse [it occupies], with exposed brickwork, steel columns and original windows.’

A highlight is the spa offering, the tourist board notes, saying: ‘Underground, guests can find the serene Maya Blue Wellness sanctuary, which contains a hydrotherapy pool, steam room, sauna, foot bath, experience showers and a relaxation area.’ Visit titanichotelliverpool.com.

Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award – Warner Bros. Studio Tour London, The Making of Harry Potter, Hertfordshire

Above is the Potions Classroom set at the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, which has earned the Large Visitor Attraction of the Year Award

VisitEngland says that this fantastical attraction ‘preserves the legacy of Harry Potter for the public, allowing fans to discover the magic behind the making of the movies’.

It reveals: ‘Guests can discover the iconic Hogwarts Great Hall, explore the Forbidden Forest, board the original Hogwarts Express at Platform 9 and three quarters and set foot in Gringotts Wizarding Bank, all before wandering down Diagon Alley.’

According to the tourist board, miniature film sets, ‘wand magic classes’ and special exhibitions ‘make it a must-see experience for Potterheads of all ages’. Visit wbstudiotour.co.uk.

Pub of the Year – The Blind Bull, Little Hucklowm, Derbyshire

The Blind Bull in Derbyshire serves a range of traditional real ales and dishes cooked over an open fire. It’s been named Pub of the Year

‘Situated in the heart of the Peak District, The Blind Bull inhabits the site of Britain’s fifth-oldest public house,’ VisitEngland reveals.

It says that the 12th-century inn ‘has been restored to its former glory with a dining space and tap room, along with five bedrooms and a standalone cottage for overnight stays’.

The tourist board notes: ‘The Blind Bull serves a range of traditional real ales, classic wines and modern cocktails, as well as dishes using locally sourced ingredients cooked over an open fire.’ Visit theblindbull.co.uk.

Camping, Glamping and Holiday Park of the Year – The Quiet Site, Cumbria

The Quiet Site is a family-run, carbon-neutral holiday park overlooking Ullswater in the Lake District, VisitEngland reveals.

It says: ‘The site has been operating for 60 years, and offers a range of accommodation options, from tent and caravan pitches to camping and glamping pods, all with sustainability at the heart.’

The tourist board says that the newest addition to the site is a series of ‘gingerbread houses’ that come complete with their own underground heat source. It adds that the site’s Glamping Burrows, also known as ‘Hobbit Holes’, ‘make for a memorable, film-inspired stay’. Visit thequietsite.co.uk.

Taste of England Award – Pensons Restaurant at the Netherwood Estate, Worcestershire

The flavour-led menus change weekly at Worcestershire’s Pensons Restaurant, the recipient of the Taste of England Award

This Michelin-starred restaurant is ‘completely committed to finding sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to serve delicious food’.

VistEngland notes that ‘the flavour-led menus change weekly and sometimes even daily, depending on the fresh ingredients available’.

Leave room in your diary – this autumn, well-known Herefordshire forager Liz Knight will be leading a half-day Autumn Woodland Forage session to ‘discover the delights of wild food, ending with a three-course vegetarian lunch at Pensons restaurant’, the tourist board reveals. Visit pensons.co.uk.

Self-Catering Accommodation of the Year Award – Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages, Northumberland

This holiday rental site in the Northumberland National Park is said to ‘offer an off-grid break with home comforts’.

VisitEngland says: ‘The holiday cottages’ remote location offers plenty of opportunities to enjoy the great outdoors, including taking in the area’s famous dark skies. The business is committed to sustainable practices with initiatives including generating enough renewable energy to power the whole estate, protecting wildlife habitats and supporting local businesses.’

As well as the bespoke holiday cottages, guests can stay in a converted barn or in a historic Georgian townhouse. Visit kidlandlee.co.uk.

B&B and Guest House of the Year – Piglets Boutique B&B, Essex

Guests can take a hike through the rural countryside during their stay at the Piglets Boutique B&B in Essex, which is the B&B and Guest House of the Year

Piglets Boutique B&B is an ‘upmarket adults-only Essex hideaway offering a bar and gin library, al fresco dining in summer and a cold-water swimming pool and sauna’.

VisitEngland says that the bed and breakfast’s five guest rooms ‘each offer a super-king bed, large smart flat-screen TV and complimentary refreshments including tea, coffee and homemade cookies’.

It adds: ‘Guests can take a hike through the rural countryside or drive down the lanes to visit nearby castles and historic houses.’ Visit piglets.co.uk.

Ethical, Responsible and Sustainable Tourism Award – Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire

‘To educate and inspire through adventure’ is the mantra for Pure Outdoor, the outdoor activity centre in the heart of the Peak District National Park’s Hope Valley, VisitEngland reveals.

It says: ‘Benefitting from the unrivalled natural facilities of the surrounding hills and mountains, hillwalking, climbing, caving, and mountain biking are all on the agenda and guided by experienced instructors.’

The tourist board notes that the team is devoted to being eco-conscious and is donating the equivalent of five per cent of annual revenues to social and environmental causes. Visit pureoutdoor.co.uk.

Experience of the Year – Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, Northumberland

Go birdwatching off the coast of the Farne Islands on the Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise, which is the Experience of the Year

This cruise takes travellers off the coast of the Farne Islands, which are ‘home to many different sea birds including puffin eider, razorbill, along with common grey seals for their mating season in the autumn and winter’.

It’s not the only noteworthy cruise offered by Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, VisitEngland reveals – it also offers sunset cruises and visits to the nearby Holy Island. Visit farneislandstours.co.uk.

New Tourism Business of the Year – Thorington Theatre, Suffolk

Detailing this prize-winning attraction, VisitEngland says: ‘From bomb crater to theatre, Thorington Theatre is a new open-air venue which has been built in a WWII bomb crater in Suffolk woodland.’

It continues: ‘The 350-seat entirely wooden amphitheatre was constructed with sustainably coppiced chestnut trees from the immediate woodland. It has been constructed with the smallest possible carbon footprint, and Thorington Theatre’s ethos is to be as sustainable as possible in every aspect of the running of the theatre from the local suppliers to the composting loos.’

The theatre is said to welcome a variety of theatre troupes, actors, comedians, and musicians throughout the summer months. Visit thoringtontheatre.co.uk.

VISIT ENGLAND AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2023 WINNERS

LARGE HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Gold – Titanic Hotel Liverpool, Merseyside

Silver – Bowood Hotel, Spa and Golf Resort, Wiltshire

Bronze – Rockliffe Hall Hotel, Golf & Spa Resort, County Durham

B&B AND GUEST HOUSE OF THE YEAR

Gold – Piglets Boutique B&B, Essex

Silver – Cedar Manor, Cumbria

Bronze – Sunnyside Guest House, Merseyside

CAMPING, GLAMPING AND HOLIDAY PARK OF THE YEAR

Gold – The Quiet Site, Cumbria

Silver – Brook Meadow, Leicestershire

Bronze – Hendra Holiday Park, Cornwall

BUSINESS EVENTS VENUE OF THE YEAR

Gold – National Memorial Arboretum, Staffordshire

Silver – Imago Venues, Leicestershire

Bronze – The ICC Birmingham, West Midlands

ETHICAL, RESPONSIBLE AND SUSTAINABLE TOURISM AWARD

Gold – Pure Outdoor, Derbyshire

Silver – National Forest EBike Holidays, Leicestershire

Bronze – The Cottages at Blackadon Farm, Devon

EXPERIENCE OF THE YEAR

Gold – Grey Seal and Seabird Cruise, Serenity Farne Island Boat Tours, Northumberland

Silver – Make Your Own Gin Experience, Shed 1 Gin Distillery, Cumbria

Bronze – Peak District Walking Experience, myGuidedWalks, Derbyshire

SMALL HOTEL OF THE YEAR

Gold – Askham Hall, Cumbria

Silver – THE PIG-at Combe, Devon

Bronze – Wildhive Callow Hall, Derbyshire

LARGE VISITOR ATTRACTION OF THE YEAR

Gold – Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter, Hertfordshire

Silver – Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire

Bronze – International Bomber Command Centre, Lincolnshire

TASTE OF ENGLAND AWARD

Gold – Pensons Restaurant at the Netherwood Estate, Worcestershire

Silver – The Unruly Pig, Suffolk

Bronze – The Glasshouse Restaurant, Hampshire

NEW TOURISM BUSINESS OF THE YEAR

Gold – Thorington Theatre, Suffolk

Silver – Bassenthwaite Lake Station, Cumbria

Bronze – Great British Car Journey, Derbyshire

PUB OF THE YEAR

Gold – The Blind Bull, Derbyshire

Silver – The Shoe, Hampshire

Bronze – The Duncombe Arms, Staffordshire

RESILIENCE AND INNOVATION AWARD

Gold – St Luke’s Bombed Out Church C.I.C., Merseyside

Silver – Langley Castle Hotel, Northumberland

Bronze – Healing Manor Hotel, Lincolnshire

SELF-CATERING ACCOMMODATION OF THE YEAR

Gold – Kidlandlee Holiday Cottages, Northumberland

Silver – The Dovecote Barns, North Yorkshire

Bronze – Eaton Manor Country Estate, Shropshire

UNSUNG HERO AWARD

Gold – Michael Wilson, Official Guide to the Kent Estuary, Guide Over Sands Trust, Cumbria

Silver – Marie Colgrave, Welcome Building Supervisor, Whitchurch Silk Mill, Hampshire

Bronze – Carol Adams, Head of Horticulture & Biodiversity, Trentham, Staffordshire

THE TXGB TRAILBLAZER AWARD

Gold – Red Funnel, Isle of Wight

Silver – New Adventures, Tyne & Wear & Northumberland

Bronze – Cotswolds Tourism, Cotswolds

ACCESSIBLE AND INCLUSIVE TOURISM AWARD

Gold – Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm, Bristol

Silver – Brickhouse Farm Holiday Cottages & Lakeside Hub, Lancashire

Bronze – WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre, Gloucestershire

TOURISM SUPERSTAR

Geoff Colvin, Chief Stationmaster, Kent & East Sussex Railway

OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TOURISM AWARD

England’s Coast

Source: VisitEngland

WH Smith upgrades annual outlook as airport trade continues its recovery

admin — Wed, 31 May 2023 18:31:14 +0000

WH Smith boosts profit forecast as airport trade continues its recovery following relaxation of travel curbs

WH Smith revealed total turnover grew by 23% for the 13 weeks ending 27 May
Despite industrial action, the firm’s rail outlets achieved a 10% rise in revenues
The FTSE 250 company has focused on expanding its travel arm in recent years

By Harry Wise For This Is Money

Updated: 11:47 EDT, 31 May 2023

WH Smith has boosted its full-year forecasts as loosening Covid-related restrictions continued to lift airport store sales during the spring period.

The retailer’s total turnover increased by 23 per cent year-on-year for the 13 weeks ending 27 May, with modest growth in high street trade complemented by a solid performance from its travel business.

Sales in the UK travel arm expanded by almost a quarter, which the firm credited to a rebound in passenger numbers, the launch of new categories, as well as bumper trade at electronics-led InMotion shops.

Good results: WH Smith revealed that turnover increased by 23 per cent in the third quarter

Its railway-based outlets also achieved a 10 per cent rise in revenues despite footfall on some days being impacted by Aslef and RMT workers striking over pay and conditions.

At the same time, turnover grew by more than a quarter in its North American travel business but climbed by 79 per cent throughout the rest of the world thanks to a rebound across Australia and Asia.

WH Smith’s growth was also heavily driven by opening new establishments at transit destinations, including Newark Liberty International and Kansas airports in the US.

Since the start of last September, the FTSE 250 bookseller’s travel segment has won more than 70 store tenders, meaning it now has over 130 outlets yet to open.

In April, WH Smith predicted its travel division would provide approximately 70 per cent of revenues and about 85 per cent of earnings from trading operations by the end of the current financial year.

WH Smith said on Wednesday that its annual expectations have ‘modestly improved,’ adding that it was ‘in a good position as we approach the peak summer trading period’.

WH Smith shares were 2.4 per cent up at £15.65 on late Wednesday afternoon, although they remain significantly below their pre-Covid peak of about £26.60.

Trading for most of the first two years of the pandemic was severely depressed by cross-border travel restrictions and a surge in people working from home.

But while the company’s high street arm performed comparatively better at times, it has struggled for many years with weak sales and profits, underinvestment and stiff competition from retail giants like Amazon.

Instead, WH Smith has focused on expanding the travel business, buying a raft of former Dixons Travel outlets in summer 2021 and adding more InMotion stores.

Neil Shah, director of content and strategy at Edison Group, said: ‘WH Smith’s gradual transformation over the past two decades, transitioning from the high street to airport terminals, has played a crucial role in its resilience and expansion.

‘With strong trading momentum, a growing pipeline of new stores, and recovering passenger numbers, the company is well-positioned to seize the opportunities presented by the peak summer trading period and beyond.’

POPULAR MONEY SECTIONS

Watches of Switzerland reports record annual performance – but shares slide

admin — Thu, 18 May 2023 00:42:13 +0000

Watches of Switzerland reports record annual performance – but shares tumble amid worsening trading backdrop

The luxury retailer declared revenue of £1.54bn for the 12 months ending April
Turnover was about double the amount that the group achieved four years ago
Watches of Switzerland shares were the FTSE 350’s biggest faller on Wednesday

By Harry Wise For This Is Money

Published: 09:42 EDT, 17 May 2023 | Updated: 20:28 EDT, 17 May 2023

Result: Watches of Switzerland declared record revenues and profits last year

Watches of Switzerland Group has hailed another record annual result but seen its shares slide after warning of difficult trading conditions.

The luxury retailer declared revenue of £1.54billion for the 12 months ending April, jumping by a quarter on the previous year and about double the amount it achieved four years ago.

Growth was driven by sales soaring by more than half in the United States, where the firm has expanded heavily in recent years by acquiring and opening stores.

By comparison, its sales across the UK and Europe increased by only 10 per cent to £890million despite launching multiple new shops, including five in Battersea Power Station alone.

Trading was also boosted by watches being sold in greater numbers and at higher average prices, which the business said reflected the ‘continued dynamism of the category.’

Consequently, it expects to report annual underlying pre-tax earnings of between £163million and £167million, compared to £130million in the prior year.

Yet this performance failed to prevent Watches of Switzerland Group shares from becoming the FTSE 350 Index’s worst performer on Wednesday morning. They recovered modestly to end the day 5.8 per cent down at 697.5p.

The company warned that the ‘more challenging trading environment’ experienced in the second half of the last financial year had carried on into the new year.

It anticipates a ‘modest sales decline’ in the first quarter due to a robust comparative trading period the prior year before normalising in the following three months.

Following two years of unprecedented expansion, the firm forecasts total revenue rising by just 8 to 11 per cent on a constant currency basis this year.

Chief executive Brian Duffy remarked: ‘Although, as expected, the second half of FY23 saw a more challenging trading environment, demand remains strong and continues to exceed supply, with client registration lists continuing to grow.’

He added: ‘We remain confident in our goals to maintain our leadership position in the UK, become the clear leader in the US, and capitalise on our growth potential in Europe.’

Watches of Switzerland announced plans to open another two stores in 2024, one in Manchester under a joint venture with Audemars Piguet and the other selling Tudor watches on Old Bond Street, one of London’s most upmarket shopping destinations.

This comes alongside plans to launch multi-brand showrooms in New Jersey this month, the Netherlands, and New York City next January.

Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, said: ‘There is nothing in the latest update to suggest major problems within Watches of Switzerland.’

But, he added: ‘The trouble is that investors have seen other pandemic retail winners fall flat on their face over the past few years, and they might worry that Watches of Switzerland’s latest update could be the first in a series of setbacks.

‘The pressure is on for the business to deliver and not be put on the scrapheap along with the online fashion retailers who suffered an almighty post-pandemic hangover.’

POPULAR MONEY SECTIONS

Putin arrives in Red Square as Russia’s annual Victory Parade gets underway

admin — Tue, 09 May 2023 11:00:13 +0000

Vladimir Putin has addressed his country’s Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square, claiming that Russia wants peace while accusing the ‘western elite’ of waging a ‘real war’ against his forces in Ukraine.

Cheers rang out across Red Square, with a gun salute and the Russian national anthem, though with a much slimmed down show of military hardware – and no aviation. Only one tank took part – a Second World War-era T-34 – as his forces continue to take heavy losses across the border hundreds of miles to the west.

His speech, watched by scores of uniformed soldiers, military officials and leaders of former Soviet nations, came just hours after another barrage of cruise missiles hit several sites across Ukraine.

‘Today civilisation is once again at a decisive turning point. A real war has been unleashed against our Motherland,’ he said in a reference to his ongoing invasion that the Kremlin portrays as being a proxy conflict with the West.

With snipers watching the crowd closely, he welcomed soldiers fighting in Ukraine who were present at the parade, and framed his on-going illegal invasion as being akin to the Soviet fight against Nazi Germany in the Second World War, which came to an end 78 years ago – a false narrative that has nevertheless resonated at home.

‘To Russia! To our brave armed forces! To Victory!’ Putin concluded the speech.

Pictured: Vladimir Putin is seen addressing his country’s Victory Day parade on Moscow’s Red Square today. In his speech, he claimed that Russia wants peace while accusing the ‘western elite’ of waging a real war against his forces in Ukraine

The parade saw a much slimmed down show of military hardware – and no aviation – when compared to previous years. Only one tank took part – a Second World War-era T-34 (pictured)

2015: Today’s Victory Parade was a stark contrast to previous editions of the event, which saw far more pieces of military hardware on display. In this photograph from the 2015 Victory Day parade, Russian T-14 Armata tanks, which have a remote-controlled gun turret and reinforced capsule for the crew, are shown off in central Moscow

2016: In this photograph from the 2016 Victory Day parade, Russian servicemen stand atop T-90A main battle tanks as the country demonstrated its military power in a huge display. Russian forces have since been depleted fighting in Ukraine

Pictured: Snipers are seen watching over the Victory Day parade in Moscow today as Putin delivered his annual speech. Moscow has been on high-alert after ambiguous official reports last week that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down

Pictured: Russian president Vladimir Putin waves as he leads the Victory Day parade through Moscow’s Red Square, May 9

In a major coup for the Kremlin, at least six post-Soviet leaders including the prime minister of Armenia and the president of Kazakhstan travelled to attend the military parade that fetes the Soviet victory in 1945.

Pictures from Moscow showed Putin arriving and shaking hands with military officials, before delivering his speech. Hundreds of uniformed soldiers then began their parade, marching through Moscow’s famous square.

Dozens of military vehicles – including armoured personnel carriers, trucks and intercontinental ballistic missile launchers – also rolled through the city. Observers noted, however, that few Russian tanks were on display. The only model that appeared in the parade was the T-34, which was used in the Second World War.

As such, the parade looked more modest than usual: There were no military aircraft flying over Red Square, and fewer pieces of military equipment were displayed. For the first time in years, the parade ended in under an hour.

The pared-down celebrations come after ambiguous official reports last week that two Ukrainian drones flew into the heart of Moscow under the cover of darkness and reached the Kremlin before being shot down. The Kremlin billed it as an attempt at Putin’s life; Ukraine denied involvement.

Only some 8,000 troops marched in Red Square this year – the lowest number since 2008. Even the parade in 2020, the year of the COVID-19 pandemic, featured some 13,000 soldiers, and last year, 11,000 troops took part.

Russia also enacted a major security clampdown for the commemorations. Authorities curbed the use of drones and ride-sharing services in Moscow and even jet skis on the canals of St. Petersburg.

State television showed Putin stood next to World War II veterans as he delivered his 10-minute speech, in which he repeated familiar messages he has delivered many times in the nearly 15 months of Russia’s war in Ukraine.

‘We have repulsed international terrorism, we will protect the inhabitants of Donbas, we will ensure our security,’ he said, despite Ukraine shaping up for another counteroffensive having pushed Russia back east last year.

To troops fighting in Ukraine, some of whom were at the Parade, he said: ‘There is nothing more important now than your combat effort. The security of the country rests on you today, the future of our statehood and our people depend on you.’

Putin insisted that the West’s ‘untamed ambitions, arrogance and impunity’ are to blame for the conflict. He claimed ‘Western globalist elites’ were sowing Russophobia and aggressive nationalism, while the Ukrainian people had become ‘hostages to a state coup’ and to the ambitions of the West.

Despite ordering his troops across the border in February last year and repeatedly attacking civilian centres in Ukraine, Putin claimed he wants peace.

‘We want to see our future peaceful and stable. We believe that any ideology of supremacy is not acceptable to us. However, the western elite and globalists are insisting on their exceptional character,’ he said.

‘They [Western countries] are destroying traditional family values that make a person a person, and they are dictating their will to others. Their rule to others. In essence, this is a system of robbing others, and a system of violence,’ he added.

In a re-writing of history – incorrectly framing the Soviet Union as the nation fully responsible for the defeat of Nazi Germany – he said of the West: ‘They have forgotten who destroyed that evil, who defended their motherlands, who liberated the people of Europe. We see that in a number of countries.’

Despite this, Putin said the memory of World War Two was sacred and paid tribute to those who fought against Nazis, including the armies of the United States and Britain, and also to China’s fight against the Japanese.

Since coming to power in 2000, Putin has promoted a patriotic cult around the 1945 Soviet victory over the Nazis, used to stoke patriotism and boost his standing as the heir of Soviet power.

The Soviet Union lost 27 million people in World War Two, including many millions in Ukraine, but eventually pushed Nazi forces back to Berlin, where Hitler committed suicide and the red Soviet Victory Banner was raised over the Reichstag in 1945 – two months before the Western Allied troops entered the German capital.

Along with the 1812 defeat of French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte, the crushing of Nazi Germany is Russia’s most revered military triumph, though both catastrophic invasions from the west left Russia deeply sensitive about its Western borders. It claims its invasion of Ukraine is in part to protect these.

Kremlin officials specifically cite the expansion of NATO, which recently welcoming Finland into the alliance. European nations point to Russia’s aggression as the reason why countries want to join.

Putin did not address the challenges facing Russia as its forces prepare for the expected major counter-offensive by Ukraine, or outline any path to victory, as he continues to take heavy losses.

Putin claims his so-called ‘special military operation’ is an effort to bring about the ‘denazification’ of a belligerent imperial power backed by the west, a narrative that has been refuted by Kyiv and its allies – who say the invasion is an imperialistic land grab by Russia with the goal of eradicating a sovereign nation.

Pictured: Russian soldiers march during Tuesday’s Victory Day parade through Moscow’s Red Square

Pictured: Hundreds of Russian servicemen march through Moscow’s Red Square on May 9 after Putin’s Victory Day address

Pictured: Russian servicemen march in downtown during the country’s Victory Day parade marking the anniversary of the end of the Second World War, 78 years ago

Ceremonial soldiers parade during 78th anniversary of the Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow, Russia on May 9

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

Pictured: Vladimir Putin speaks in front of St. Basil’s Cathedral in central Moscow on Tuesday

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu drives an Aurus cabriolet during a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

People watch Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems and other armoured vehicles driving along a street before a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia May 9

Dozens of Russian service members take part in a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

Pictured: Dozens of Russian servicemen gather in Moscow’s Red Square for today’s parade

Pictured: Ceremonial soldiers parade during 78th anniversary of the Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow, Russia on May 9

Pictured: Putin is seen on a big screen in Red Square as he delivers his speech during the May 9 Victory Day parade

Putin and guests watch the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9, 2023. – Russia celebrates the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany

Pictured: Members of the Russian Airborne Forces (VDV) are seen marching through Red Square in Moscow, May 9

Pictured: Hundreds of armed Russian servicemen are seen marching through Moscow’s Red Square on May 9

Pictured: Armed soldiers are seen taking part in Tuesday’s Victory Day parade after Putin delivered his speech

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, May 9

Pictured: Hundreds of soldiers are seen taking part in the parade on Tuesday, May 9

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9, 2023

Russian service members march in columns before a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia May 9

Russian soldiers march toward Red Square to attend a Victory Day military parade in Moscow, Russia, Tuesday, May 9

Pictured: Russian S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems drive in front of the Kremlin in Moscow, May 9, after the parade

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to President Vladimir Putin during the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9

Russian President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, arrives for the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow on May 9

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko (centre) attends a Victory Day military parade on Red Square in Moscow, May 9

Turkmenistan’s President Serdar Berdymukhamedov attends the Victory Day military parade at Red Square in central Moscow

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attends a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev attends a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Red Square in central Moscow, Russia May 9

Pictured: Moscow’s Patriarch Kirill (centre), Chairman of the Constitutional Court of Russia Valery Zorkin (right) and Deputy head of the Security Council Dmitry Medvedev (left, wearing sunglasses)

Putin and other Kremlin officials had hoped to have captured Kyiv and overthrown its government ahead of last year’s Victory Day parade. But Ukraine’s defences repelled the Russian assault on the capital in the first month, forcing Russian into an embarrassing retreat in a massive blow to Putin.

One year on, and after 14 months of fighting in Ukraine, Russia still has little to show for its military campaign.

Putin’s troops have failed to take control of the eastern town of Bakhmut, his military leadership is riven by conflict and Kyiv is again preparing to go on the offensive.

What’s more, in the run-up to the sabre-rattling festivities, Russia has witnessed numerous incidents, including explosions derailing trains, fires, a drone attack on the Kremlin and a bombing attack that wounded a fiercely pro-Kremlin writer, Zakhar Prilepin.

For the first time since the Second World War, a sense of vulnerability has been felt in Moscow.

Meanwhile, more than two dozen cities and towns – near the Ukraine border, but also in more distant Russian regions – have cancelled plans to stage their own military parades over security concerns.

Russian media have counted 24 Russian cities that cancelled May 9 military parades – the staple of celebrations across Russia – for the first time in years.

The Immortal Regiment processions, in which crowds take to the streets holding portraits of relatives who died or served in World War II – another pillar of the holiday – have also been canceled in multiple cities.

Regional officials blamed unspecified ‘security concerns.’ Some speculated, however, that the reason behind cancelling Immortal Regiment marches was the fact that Russians might bring portraits of relatives who died in Ukraine to those processions, illustrating the scale of Russia’s losses in the drawn-out conflict.

Moscow sought to project a show of force during its flagship parade on Red Square, with top-notch military equipment rumbling through it and leaders of ex-Soviet nations standing beside President Vladimir Putin.

Ahead of the parade, Political analyst Arkady Dubnov said that ‘for the first time in many years’ Putin will be surrounded at a Victory Day parade by a number of post-Soviet leaders.

‘Despite the serious weakening of its global positions after February 24, 2022, Russia remains to a certain extent the metropolis of a former empire whose actions have to be taken into account,’ Dubnov said.

The leaders of Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Armenia and Putin’s closest ally – Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko – are all in attendance.

Tuesday also saw Russia unleash a barrage of cruise missiles on Ukraine overnight into Tuesday, hours before the start of the parade.

The Kremlin’s forces launched 25 missiles overnight in a wave of attacks across Ukraine, the Ukrainian air force said, adding that air defence had successfully destroyed 23 of them.

In a Telegram post, the air force said eight Kalibr cruise missiles were launched from carriers in the Black Sea toward the east and 17 from strategic aircraft.

‘As at the front, the plans of the aggressor failed,’ Serhiy Popko, head of the Kyiv’s city military administration, said in comments posted on the Telegram messaging app.

Tuesday’s attacks – the fifth in May – came a day after Russia launched its biggest drone swarm yet in a renewed air campaign unleashed 10 days ago after a lull since early March.

‘(They) try to kill as many civilians as possible – on this day,’ Popko said.

He said that according to preliminary information there were no casualties in the attack that was carried out with cruise missiles from the Caspian Sea region.

Falling debris fell on a house in the Holosiivskyi district in the southwest of Kyiv, Kyiv’s Mayor Vitalii Klitschko said on his Telegram messaging channel, adding there were no casualties or much damage.

In the often-targeted Shevchenkivskyi district of central Kyiv debris was found on a road.

‘Kyiv stood up again and will stand up in the future!’ Popko said.

Pictured: Military officials and other spectators are seen in Moscow’s Red Square, watching the Victory Day parade

Pictured: People record videos on their phones as military vehicles drive down a road outside Moscow’s Kremlin, May 9

Pictured: Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile systems drive past the Kremlin wall on Tuesday

Pictured: Russian all-terrain armoured vehicles drive past the Kremlin wall after today’s Victory Day parade

Pictured: Russian soldiers take part in their country’s Victory Day parade in Moscow’s Red Square on Tuesday, May 9

Pictured: Ceremonial soldiers parade during 78th anniversary of the Victory Day in Red Square in Moscow

People take part in the celebrations of Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Vladivostok, Russia May

Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers drive in downtown of Moscow, May 9

Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile launchers drive after a Victory Day military parade on Red Square in Moscow

Russian servicemen arrive to participate in the Victory Day military parade, to be held at Red Square, in central Moscow on May 9

A Russian National guard (Rosgvardia) serviceman stands guard at an embankment of the Moskva river opposite the Kremlin prior to the Victory Day military parade, to be held at Red Square, in central Moscow on May 9

Ahead of the parade, Yevgeny Prigozhin, chief of the mercenary group Wagner, issued a series of blistering, profanity-laced videos, blaming Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu and Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov for withholding ammunition amid talk of infighting and rivalries.

His statement appeared to row back from comments hours earlier that initial data showed they had begun to get it.

But Yevgeny Prigozhin, whose forces have spent months trying to capture the eastern Ukraine city of Bakhmut, added that he did not want to ‘spoil’ Russia’s big Victory Day parade set for 0700 GMT, and would reveal more details afterwards.

‘The people who were supposed to fulfil the (shipment) orders have so far, over the past day, not fulfilled them,’ Prigozhin said in a video post on the messaging app Telegram.

The Institute for the Study of War has pointed to ‘chain of command problems’ for the Russian army in Ukraine that cast doubt on Moscow’s ability to ‘coordinate a coherent theatre-wide defensive campaign’.

Russia and other ex-soviet states celebrate Victory Day on May 9, while most other European countries mark the date on May 8, due to the time difference when Nazi Germany signed to surrender in 1945.

Western nations that celebrate Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) do so to mark the end of all combat actions in the Second World War, which was officially specified as 23:01 Central European Time, which was already May 9 in Eastern Europe.

By contrast, Ukraine commemorated the end of World War II together with Europe on Monday, with President Volodymyr Zelensky vowing that Russian forces would be defeated just as Nazi Germany was beaten in 1945.

The Ukrainian leader said the Kremlin was responsible for ‘aggression and annexation, occupation and deportation’, as well as ‘mass murder and torture’.

Pictured: Russian war veterans are seen leaving Moscow’s Red Square on Tuesday after the end of the Victory Day parade

A Russian Yars intercontinental ballistic missile system drives past the US embassy after a military parade on Victory Day, which marks the 78th anniversary of the victory over Nazi Germany in World War Two, in Moscow, Russia May 9

Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu salutes to soldiers as he is driven along Red Square during the Victory Day military parade in central Moscow on May 9

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his speech during the Victory Day military parade marking the 78th anniversary of the end of World War II in Red square in Moscow, Russia, Monday, May 9

Russian military vehicles drive in downtown of Moscow, Russia, May 9

Zelensky said he had submitted a bill to parliament to formally commemorate World War II in Ukraine on May 8. For years the anniversary was marked on May 9, as it was in Russia and other ex-Soviet countries.

Ukraine will also mark a separate Europe Day on May 9, which promotes peace and unity on the continent, he said.

European Union chief Ursula von der Leyen arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday to mark the celebration of peace and unity, in a symbolic retort to Moscow’s Victory Day parade.

The president of the European Commission travelled on an overnight train from Poland to see President Volodymyr Zelensky and work on Ukraine’s quest for eventual EU membership, a reporter on the train said.

annual – Latest News

The price of happiness in every country revealed: Fascinating map details the annual

PRICE OF HAPPINESS PER YEAR IN UK CITIES AND TOWNS

PRICE OF HAPPINESS PER COUNTRY – THE HIGHEST 10 AND LOWEST 10

Rising gas prices push up the rate of annual inflation to 3.7% – the second consecutive

Rising gas prices push up the rate of annual inflation to 3.7% – the second consecutive rise THIS YEAR – but experts insist interest rates will remain steady

Share or comment on this article:

Never Forget: First moments of silence held at Manhattan’s annual September 11 ceremony –

Confederation of British Industry scraps annual conference

Confederation of British Industry scraps annual conference

Share or comment on this article:

Braemar shares to be suspended as investigation delays annual results

Braemar shares to be suspended as investigation forces shipbroker to delay publication of annual results

Share or comment on this article:

England’s best places to eat, sleep and visit in 2023 named in prestigious annual awards

VISIT ENGLAND AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE 2023 WINNERS

WH Smith upgrades annual outlook as airport trade continues its recovery

WH Smith boosts profit forecast as airport trade continues its recovery following relaxation of travel curbs

Share or comment on this article:

Watches of Switzerland reports record annual performance – but shares slide

Watches of Switzerland reports record annual performance – but shares tumble amid worsening trading backdrop

Share or comment on this article:

Putin arrives in Red Square as Russia’s annual Victory Parade gets underway