Latest news with #LandRovers
Daily Mirror
2 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mirror
'I visited one of Britain's most expensive towns loved by Vernon Kay and Tess Daly'
The town is frequently ranked as one of the most expensive places to live in the UK, with an eye-watering cost for buying a home. Loved by the likes of Vernon Kay and Tess Daly, the Buckinghamshire town of Beaconsfield might be one of the most exclusive places to live in the country. Found just off the M40, offering convenient links to London, Beaconsfield is a town that seems to be on everyone's wish list. But that demand comes with a serious cost - meaning not everyone can afford to live here. The sought-after town frequently ranks among the priciest places to reside in the UK. According to Rightmove, the average house price in the town is a wallet-bashing £1.1m - having peaked in 2022 at a staggering £1.3m. Having never had the opportunity to visit Beaconsfield, I decided it was time for a roadtrip; I motored into the town via Ledborough Lane, a postcode known for being one of the priciest residential areas in town. Then I took a leisurely stroll along some of Beaconsfield's most exclusive streets. I discovered stunning homes hidden behind massive gates, showcasing a mix of modern and beautifully preserved older properties. Many driveways boasted either a Porsche or a Land Rover. The sight of the grand homes left me gobsmacked and it was clear from the numerous building sites that developers are capitalising on this by constructing even more lavish residences. The town centre isn't too shabby either. I parked up at the local Sainsbury's, where I instantly felt like a fish out of water, sandwiching my now dirt-covered little Peugeot between two Land Rovers. I ventured into the New Town and I was struck by the town's pristine condition. There were a few vacant retail spaces, but nowhere near as many as you might encounter in other UK town centres. I then ambled down to the Old Town, soaking up the rich history and the plush-looking bars and restaurants. I discovered that the Old Town is a hub for high-end boutiques and fashionable bars and restaurants, and Beaconsfield New Town is home to the majority of the area's shops. Having explored both town centres, it's no wonder that Tess and Vernon decided to relocate here. It's also been the home to the likes of Barry Gibb of the Bee Gees, Enid Blyton, and Ozzy Osbourne lived in a village nearby until his sad death. With fantastic shops for a spot of retail therapy and intriguing venues - the Crazy Bear in the Old Town being a prime example – it's easy to see why Beaconsfield has become such a hit. It's no wonder living in this middle-class haven comes at such a cost, especially with such stunning homes.
RNZ News
11 hours ago
- Health
- RNZ News
The heart researcher with a love for vintage Land Rovers
Professor Julian Paton is a leading heart researcher and director of the University of Auckland Heart Research Centre, as well as the national Centre of Research Excellence, Putahi Manawa. His research focuses on the connections between the brain and the cardiovascular and respiratory systems. Some of his discoveries have resulted in first-in-human trials for treating neurogenic hypertension, sleep apnoea and heart failure. In his spare time, Professor Paton restores and drives vintage Land Rovers, including the oldest Land Rover in the country - a 1948 Series I - nicknamed "20" after its serial number. Earlier this year he drove it from Dunedin to Auckland raising money for heart valve research to assist children with Rheumatic Heart Disease. Professor Paton tells Kathryn Ryan that 17 day trip has been life changing. To embed this content on your own webpage, cut and paste the following: See terms of use.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
India-UK trade deal: How will the Free Trade Agreement benefit India? Top 10 takeaways for Indians
We take a look at how India and Indians stand to benefit from the free trade agreement with the UK. (AI image) India-UK free trade deal: The landmark India-UK free trade agreement (FTA) was signed on Thursday in the United Kingdom in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and UK PM Keir Starmer. India stands to gain significantly from the trade deal in the form of access to cheaper British products, jobs, and duty-free access to UK markets for major Indian products. British products such as automobiles, healthcare equipment, soft drinks and beauty items will become more accessible to Indian buyers, as the average duty rates decrease from 15% to 3%. We take a look at how India and Indians stand to benefit from the free trade agreement with the UK: 1) Duty-Free Access The free trade agreement guarantees that 99% of exports from India will have duty-free entry into British markets. The agreement provides India significant benefits through the elimination of tariffs on roughly 99% of tariff lines, which is almost 100% of trade value. India will considerably lower its import duties, with changes affecting 90% of tariff lines. About 85% of these products will become entirely free from tariffs over a ten-year period. The UK is granting duty-free access to a diverse selection of products from India. These reductions include marine products (from 20%), textiles and clothing (from 12%), chemicals (from 8%), and base metals (from 10%). For the processed food industry, a significant development has occurred where duties on 99.7 percent of items have been completely removed from their earlier level of up to 70%. This elimination of tariffs presents substantial opportunities for Indian export businesses, the sources indicated. 2) Job Opportunities The Free Trade Agreement will substantially boost job opportunities across India. It opens up fresh export avenues in labour-intensive industries, such as toy production, textiles, leather goods, footwear manufacturing, seafood products and more. Other sectors poised to benefit include gems and jewellery crafting, engineering products, automotive components and engines, alongside organic chemical manufacturing. 3) Cheaper British cars, whiskey The tariffs imposed on whisky and gin imports will see a significant decrease, dropping from 150% to 75% in the first phase. Subsequently, over a ten-year implementation period, these duties will be further lowered to 40%. The duty rates for cars will come down drastically from the existing rate of more than 100% to just 10%. This is subject to quota limitations. British-manufactured vehicles, including Jaguars and Land Rovers, will benefit from this tariff reduction, enabling enhanced entry into India's vehicle market. This reduction in duties would result in more affordable British vehicles for Indian consumers.. 4) Big Agriculture, Farmer Benefits Agricultural exports from India to the UK are projected to rise by more than 20% in the coming three years. The growth will result from zero-duty access granted to numerous Indian agricultural and processed food items. The agreement will eliminate duties on more than 95% of India's agricultural and processed food products upon implementation. The India-UK free trade agreement is set to create substantial advantages for the Indian agricultural sector, with farmers positioned to gain significant benefits. The agreement will provide India's farmers access to premium UK markets for Indian agricultural products. India's farm products will be at an advantage compared to those currently available to European exporters from countries such as Germany and the Netherlands. Traditional Indian spices including turmeric, pepper, and cardamom, alongside processed food items such as mango pulp, pickles, and pulses will receive duty-free entry, enhancing their profit margins and distribution scope. The duty-free items encompass fruits, vegetables, cereals, spice mixes, fruit pulps, ready-to-eat meals, and additional products. This provision will reduce import costs in the UK and strengthen their market position in both mainstream and ethnic retail sectors. The agreement creates new possibilities for emerging products including jackfruit, millets, vegetables, and organic herbs, enabling farmers to expand their crop variety and better handle domestic price variations. 5) Fisheries & Marine Sector Notable advantages will be for the states along the coastline including Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu. Duty-free entry will now be allowed for products like shrimp, tuna, fishmeal, and feeds that presently attract tariffs ranging from 4.2 to 8.5%, which should substantially increase India's marine product shipments. The UK's seafood import market is worth $5.4 billion - hence India has a big opportunity from this FTA. 6) Market for India's high-end branded products India's premium branded exports, particularly in beverages and condiments sectors will also see a boost. The UK at present imports modest quantities from India - 1.7% of coffee, 5.6% of tea, and 2.9% of spices. Notably, Indian instant coffee manufacturers will gain a competitive advantage against German and Spanish suppliers in the lucrative high-end market segment. 7) Pharma & Other Sectors The deal does away with duties on generic medicines and medical technology equipment from India, including ECG and X-ray machines. The zero tariff provisions will enhance competitiveness of Indian generics in UK market The deal benefits extend to information technology and IT-enabled services, banking and finance, professional consultancy and educational sectors as well. 8) Easier access for Indian professionals The agreement also helps streamline mobility for qualified Indian professionals across various categories. These include Contractual Service Suppliers, Business Visitors, Investors and Intra-Corporate Transferees. Additionally, it covers family members of transferees who have work authorization. The agreement also extends to Independent Professionals, specifically encompassing yoga instructors, musicians and chefs. Indian professionals can now work in 35 UK sectors for twenty four months, even without a UK office. 9) Social Security Benefits The UK has granted a notable concession by waiving social security contributions for Indian employees working there for up to three years. This exemption, under the Double Contribution Convention, applies to both workers and their employers. The arrangement delivers substantial financial benefits to Indian service companies operating in the UK market, enhancing their competitive advantage and operational efficiency. According to the government, 75,000 Indian workers will now be exempt from the UK social security payments for three years. 10) Women Empowerment Across Sectors According to an ANI report, the deal also aims to strengthen women's participation across multiple domains, such as traditional handlooms, heritage crafts, technology ventures and sustainable manufacturing, by facilitating their integration into worldwide supply networks, providing financial support and assisting business expansion. The textile landscape in India fundamentally relies on women workers, including weavers, embroiderers, dyers and designers from Kanchipuram, Bhagalpur, Jaipur and Varanasi. The iconic Kolhapuri chappals feature amongst the items that will receive advantages under this agreement. These handcrafted leather footwear items, produced by women and family-operated artisanal groups in Maharashtra and surrounding areas, will now enjoy tariff-free entry into the UK's high-end marketplace. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
Miami Herald
05-07-2025
- Automotive
- Miami Herald
4 Vehicles That Went Boxy and are Much Better For It
The boxy trend for SUVs is on a roll with manufacturers recognizing that buyers want the rugged look even if they have no intention of doing anything more challenging than summer car camping with the kids. In a sea of rounded-off SUVs and crossovers, the boxy look is very much on the rise. Buyers also want the practicality of squared-off versions that provide more space, in addition to a stronger presence on the road. Not all SUVs have taken this path, but we applaud the ones that have. Let's take a closer look at four standout models that went boxy and benefited from the design change. Let's put it this way. There was nothing wrong with the last Santa Fe. Its only major demerit was the fact that it didn't especially stand out in a crowd with its ubiquitous shape. The soft design was attractive but not distinctive. The 5th-generation looks about as different as a vehicle redesign can, and it has been transformed from a conventional SUV into a head-turner. Land Rovers don't even get this much attention, frankly. Everything about the new Santa Fe looks vastly different from its predecessor, most notably the unapologetically boxy shape. The Santa Fe's styling cues are in line with the boxy shape: there are H-shaped LED signature lighting in front and back, a rectangular grille on a vertical front fascia, and an upright greenhouse with plenty of blocky windows. The new Santa Fe also gets crisp body lines, large squared-off wheel arches, and a huge liftgate that provides a terrace-like rear cargo section for a lounge-like atmosphere. The Santa Fe no longer blends in with the crowd. Instead, it makes just about every other competitor fade into the shadows. Ever since its second-generation debut in 2019, the midsize Honda Passport has looked a bit minivan-like, but for 2026, the Passport has gone properly boxy and stands out in the process. Even boxier than its Pilot sibling, the redesigned Passport ditches its rounded corners for a tougher, more angular shape that clearly signals its off-road ambitions. The Passport gets a flatter hood, a more vertical front end, and a wider stance that fits well with the more capable TrailSport trim. TrailSport models add off-road suspension tuning, all-terrain tires, steel skid plates, and a subtle lift for extra ground clearance. The 2026 Passport's newfound looks are consistent with its more capable TrailSport trim. The boxier design allows for increased cargo capacity, now offering over 100 cubic feet of space with the rear seats folded, way up from the 77.7 cubic feet in the second-generation Passport. It has shed its minivan appearance completely, and boxy might just be here to stay. Toyota was certainly baking something during the Toyota Land Cruiser's hiatus between 2021 and 2024. The formerly V8-powered off-road luxo-barge was replaced by a less-expensive but still tremendously off-road capable version with a fresh, boxy design last year, marking a return to form reminiscent of the F60 Land Cruiser from the '80s and '90s. and built to conquer harsh terrain. The new Land Cruiser uses Toyota's TNGA-F body-on-frame platform and features a retro-modern design with upright pillars, square fenders, and round LED headlights that evoke the legendary FJ40. The grille is simple and functional, with prominent "TOYOTA" lettering that leaves no doubt about its heritage. Nothing about the new Land Cruiser carries over from the last one, and that's a good thing. It had morphed into an overpriced and nondistinctive SUV, and the poor sales figures were clear evidence that Toyota needed to make a change if it wanted to bring the Land Cruiser back. On the new model, the boxy body, squarish-fender trim, eggcrate grille, and upright greenhouse all make for a rough-and-ready look. The design finally exhibits the rugged underpinnings and components, and the Land Cruiser has returned to its former glory. It seems the Santa Fe's market success gave cause for Hyundai to apply the same thinking to its flagship SUV. The second-generation Palisade is more refined in its appearance than the Santa Fe, and it applies the square look a bit differently. The fenders receive boxy creasing that's more understated, and the stacked DRLs and larger grille are more upscale in their appearance. The look is more cohesive than the first-generation Palisade. Hyundai never quite figured out what kind of front fascia and grille looked right, and the refresh made improvements but added more complexity at the same time. The new Palisade also adds a modicum of cargo space to its already spacious interior, and there's more rear legroom thanks to a longer wheelbase. Its new, more premium look should also draw customers away from pricier brands. These four SUVs prove that going boxy isn't just a style statement; it's a functional choice that pays dividends in interior space, visibility, off-road capability, and presence. The return of square proportions helps the Santa Fe, Passport, Land Cruiser, and Palisade stand out on the road (and off, as the case may be) while offering practical benefits that curvier designs can't provide. We like the new trend toward SUVs looking like SUVs rather than attempting to be curvaceous, and hope the industry will continue in this direction. Copyright 2025 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Belfast Telegraph
21-06-2025
- Belfast Telegraph
Hundreds descend on Belfast as PSNI take no chances over rival protests surrounding immigration
The police were taking no chances with the area ringed by metal fencing keeping the respective protests apart and additionally separated by a line of four Land Rovers.
