High charges, poor service: NCP hits the skids as drivers change habits

Nearly a century old and once host to London fashion week, the NCP car park in Brewer Street in London’s Soho is facing an uncertain future. Its former glories – which at one time included separate rooms for chauffeurs and changing rooms for theatregoers – have long given way to complaints about a lack of security and high parking charges, but this week things got worse.National Car Parks, one of the UK’s biggest car park operators, which dates back to 1931, filed for administration at the high court in London after struggling to pay its rents and buckling under a £305m mountain of debt. This means the future of 340 car parks across the UK, in town and city centres, at hospitals and airports, is uncertain along with the fate of 682 people who work for the Japanese-owned business.Car parks are regarded as a high-margin business, generating revenue from pay-as-you-go and season tickets, overstay fees and fines via modern payment systems while requiring little day-to-day maintenance, amid a general shortage of parking

Shrinkflation takes a bite out of Easter eggs as shoppers pay more for less

Shoppers are shelling out for smaller eggs again this Easter as shrinkflation takes another bite out of the favourite seasonal treat.The price of popular branded chocolate eggs has risen by more than 40% in some cases while some have also shrunk in size, according to research by the consumer champion Which?.At Asda, this year the Galaxy milk chocolate extra large Easter egg is £5.97 and weighs in at 210g. That compares with £4

Cryptocurrency firms suffer heavy losses in Illinois primaries after spending big

The cryptocurrency industry spent big and lost often in this week’s Illinois primaries.As the industry prepares to make massive donations in the 2026 midterm elections to replicate its success in 2024, the Illinois losses mark an early setback for firms that are trying to establish themselves as power players in American politics.Crypto companies flooded the state’s Democratic primaries with millions of dollars to promote candidates they believed would have a light touch when it came to regulating digital assets. AI firms, meanwhile, backed opposing candidates and seemed to cancel each other out.Using Super Pacs that are allowed to spend unlimited sums of money, crypto and AI companies ran television advertising and distributed campaign fliers that only occasionally alluded to their industries

Lack of funding is stifling scientific research | Letter

Liz Kendall is right to warn that the UK must not let quantum computing talent slip through its fingers (UK must learn lessons from AI race and retain its quantum computing talent, says minister, 17 March).However, UK Research and Innovation’s current funding decisions risk doing exactly that.The government has announced £1bn for quantum computing, but it is cutting support for fundamental research in particle physics, astronomy and nuclear physics (PPAN). These are not separate issues. It is precisely the kind of blue-sky research funded through PPAN that trains the scientists and develops the ideas that underpin emerging technologies like quantum computing

Australia dig themselves out of a hole in women’s T20 win over West Indies

Australia got the Sophie Molineux era under way in sloppy style as a new-look side overcame six spilled chances before turning the screw late for a 43-run victory over West Indies in the first women’s T20 international in St Vincent. But as the dress rehearsals continue for the T20 World Cup starting in June, the role in the XI of Australia’s new captain remains unclear after the allrounder did not bat or bowl on her return from injury.An unusually messy performance in the field threatened to cost Australia dear as West Indies made a promising start to their 165-run chase. Alana King was the main offender as she dropped three catches early in the innings, including a pair while standing on the deep backward square rope, before striking back with the ball.The leg-spinner sent Hayley Matthews (11) packing with an exquisite delivery that drifted across the West Indies captain before sliding under her bat on the way to crashing into the stumps

Liam Marshall double edges Super League leaders Wigan past York Knights

These were the nights that critics of Super League’s decision to expand to 14 teams feared but as the new season settles into a rhythm, they are fast becoming some of the most enjoyable.Yes, the result was what almost everyone – even the most optimistic York Knights supporter – would have predicted at kick-off. But goodness, what a rollercoaster ride this was as Super League’s newest team pushed arguably its biggest and most recognisable heavyweight every step of the way on a thrilling evening in Wigan.Next weekend, Super League celebrates the 30th anniversary of its inaugural game. That night, Paris Saint-Germain announced their arrival as rugby league’s big hope for expansion with victory over Sheffield