國際消息

Set among the rolling hills and heather-clad glens of rural Scotland, an ancient historic castle sitting on more than 1,500 acres hit the market Friday asking for offers over £11.3 million (US$15.4 million). Complete with crow-stepped gables and castellated turrets, the red sandstone castle is the crown jewel of the Creston estate and dates to the 13th century, according to listing agent Savills. Careston Castle is Category A-listed, the most prestigious of Scotland’s three hi...

UK rental growth hit a 13 year high in the last quarter of the year as demand doubled in major cities thanks to the continued reopening of the economy, new data has shown. According to Zoopla’s quarterly Rental Market Report, average rent in Britain increased 4.6% overall to £968 ($1,299) compared to the year before, and rose by 6%, excluding London. It climbed 3% over the last quarter to its highest level since 2008. The study showed that demand continued to outstrip supply, w...

A village with "knotted lanes, stone the color of burnt honey and blowsy gardens" has been named the prettiest in the UK. The Slaughters - formed of Upper and Lower Slaughter in the Cotswolds - topped The Times' list of the 30 prettiest villages in the UK, which was published on Friday. The area was lauded as a fitting alternative to the "oh-my pretty and oh-lord popular" Castle Coombe, a village nearby. The round-up features 30 of the best villages to visit in the UK, along with so...

LONDON, Nov 13 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday the climate deal struck at the COP26 conference in Glasgow was a big step forward and he hoped it would mark the beginning of the end of climate change. "There is still a huge amount more to do in the coming years," Johnson said in a statement. "But today's agreement is a big step forward and, critically, we have the first-ever international agreement to phase down coal and a roadmap to limit global warming t...

LONDON, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Britain will start to roll out Merck's (MRK.N) molnupiravir COVID-19 antiviral pill through a drug trial later this month, Susan Hopkins, Chief Medical Adviser at the UK Health Security Agency said on Sunday. Last week Britain became the first country in the world to approve the potentially game-changing COVID-19 antiviral pill, jointly developed by U.S.-based Merck & Co Inc and Ridgeback Biotherapeutics. The government said in October it had secured 480,000 ...

The famous American fast food empire is about to open in this country and says diners can pick from options including its famous chicken sandwich and other fan favorites American chicken chain Popeyes has revealed its UK menu - and it includes customer favorites like the firm's chicken sandwich. Popeyes will open its first UK store in London on November 20, and has today revealed which dishes will be on the menu. The restaurant will serve options such as 12-hour marinaded chicken, chic...

Four more gas and electricity providers have become the latest casualties of increasing gas prices. Industry watchdog Ofgem said Omni Energy Limited, MA Energy Limited, Zebra Power Limited, and Ampoweruk have all stopped trading, leaving around 23,700 customers – both domestic and non-domestic – in need of a new supplier, which will be appointed by the regulator. They join more than a dozen suppliers that have gone bust in the country in recent weeks because of high wholesale e...

世紀 21 奇豐（國際）物業顧問行合伙人及執行董事Manci今日受邀出席香港電台第三台《Backchat》，分享對海外物業代理發牌及規管的看法。 今年1至8月間，消委會共接獲106宗有關銷售香港以外地方物業的投訴，比去年全年的 56 宗增加近九成。消委會建議，所有從事境外一手住宅物業的地產代理必須持有牌照。Manci表示同意消委會的建議，即在港銷售海外物業的營業員應和本地地產代理一樣受到監管，然而卻關注到現存的《地產代理條例》未必能涵蓋所有情況，因為海外物業銷售涉及許多不同國家的物業，而各國又各有不同法例。舉例消委會建議的7日冷靜期，澳洲當地的條例則只有3日冷靜期，在英國則完全沒有冷靜期規定。故很難在香港設立一套條例如監管所有海外物業銷售。她亦同意香港部分海外物業的廣告是有過分誤導，故如當局有一套廣告方面的守則讓地產代理遵重是好事。 至於在港銷售海外物業的營業員是否應該領牌，Manci原則上也是同意，但卻質疑在培訓和發牌上會有問題，始終不同國家有不同條例，沒有可能銷售不同國家的物業要領不同牌照。她只能設想會有一種「一般性的海外物業銷售牌照」，持牌照者要遵...