BUSINESS NEWS
Internet call service SKYPE added almost 200 million users last year , which helped its net revenue rise 20%to £527million
GOOGLE has paid £37.7 million for comparison website BeatThatQuote.
Gold, Silver and platinum were the top performing investments for the second year running. Precious metals soared 42% last year as investors sought a safe heaven from inflation according to Lloyds TSB
The High st recovery took a turn for the worse last month as growth in like for like sales fell to a 10 month low of 0.4%. the February figures reversed the 2.3% rise seen in January after the snow chaos said the British Retail Consortium
STAGECOACH has shown a profit despite its bus and rail networks being hit by freezing winter weather. The Bus division increased revenues by 1.9% in the first 40 weeks of the financial year and its rail operations saw a 6.9% rise.
The World Cup helped Paddy Power score a record profit last year, the figures were also helped by the first full year of contribution from Paddy Power’s Australian group Sportsbet
LOCAL SPORT
08 Mar 11 | Premier Division
AFC Hornchurch VS Aveley
08 Mar 11 | Division One North
AFC Sudbury VS Redbridge
East Thurrock United VS Tilbury
Heybridge Swifts VS Brentwood Town
Romford VS Harlow Town
Waltham Abbey VS Ware
08 Mar 11 | The Championship Manager Cup – [ Semi Final ]
Wingate & Finchley VS Maldon & Tiptree
LEAGUE 1
SOUTHEND UNITED VS Gillingham
LEAGUE 2
Dagenham & Redbridge VS Colchester
LOCAL NEWS
BASILDON and Thurrock hospitals have revealed around 40 to 50 people may face redundancy, at the start of the new financial year, in April. The trust is currently facing a possible £20 million pound reduction in its contract with NHS South West Essex for the year 2011/12. A spokesman at the Trust said: “I believe only up to around 40-50 actual people may face redundancy.” A consultation on the redundancies and the trust’s financial position starts on Monday, March 7, and runs until Wednesday, April 6. The outcomes from the consultation will be considered by the hospital board next month.
Evening Echo, By Emma Palmer
Basildon Hospital’s newly-refurbished renal unit is to be officially opened next week after undergoing a £485,000 package of improvements. Renal patients and their relatives from across the borough will be joined by Basildon mayor Mo Larkin, as well as MPs and other VIPs to launch the unit. The unit has now undergone a refurbishment which means it can open six days a week from 6.30am until 10.30pm. The improvements mean staff can now treat up to 70 patients a day. A new £17million A&E department is set to be completed by next year.
NEW ALBUM RELEASES
Build a Rocket Boys! – ELBOW
Collapse into Now – REM
Last Night on Earth – Noah and the Whale
Goodbye Lullaby – Avril Lavigne
Queens of the Stone Age: special Edition – Qof the SA
Price Tag – Jessie J
B – sides: 1996 – 2006 – Placebo
Moseley Shoals – Ocean Colour Scene
Smoke Ring for my Halo – Kurt Vile
Lasers – Lupe Fiasco – The hip hopers follow up album to The cool
Glee: The Music, Season Two – Volume 5 – The cast covers Katy Perry’s “Firework,” Justin Bieber’s “Baby,” and a mashup of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller” with The Yeah Yeah Yeah’s “Heads Will Roll,” along with hits from Prince to My Chemical Romance, plus two
Beth Ditto EP – Beth Ditto – her first Solo outing
OFFICIAL TOP 10 ALBUMS
Position Status Previous Weeks Artist Album
1 non-mover 1 6 Adele 21
2 new none 1 Jessie J Who You Are
3 new none 1 Beady Eye Different Gear, Still Speeding
4 down 2 2 103 Adele 19
5 down 2 3 16 Rihanna Loud
6 non-mover 6 8 Bruno Mars Doo Wops & Hooligans
7 new none 1 Clare Maguire Light After Dark
8 down 3 5 74 Mumford & Sons Sigh No More
9 new none 1 Alexis Jordan Alexis Jordan
10 down 1 9 17 Cee Lo Green The Lady Killer
