From the glitterbomb to Bloomberg down: Here’s what got us talking this week

 

 

Friday morning was either a disaster or a small gift from a benevolent and powerful entity. Bloomberg Professional went down for around two and a half hours, prompting some disruption to markets, much lollage and a modicum of concern. The FCA is now monitoring the impact it has had on City firms, but a quick show of hands suggests the most immediate result was an increase in pub sales.

 

 

The leaders of the five challenger parties (but not Nick Clegg) got their gloves on for round two of the TV debates. The consensus is that Ed Miliband came out on top, although Nicola Sturgeon was also seen as impressive. On social media, Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood appeared to have won. Nigel Farage's comments about the audience generally turned people off. But who had the best soundbite? 

 

And what does it all mean? Well at least one bookie believes come three weeks' time, we'll be looking at Prime Minister Miliband. 

 

 

Ahead of the debate, things were already looking a bit tough for Nigel Farage after polls suggested Ukip was failing in its bid to secure the 12 seats it has targeted. Farage is not expected to win in South Thanet – despite vociferous campaigning – and Mark Reckless is tipped to lose Rochester & Strood, leaving the party with just Clacton.  

 

This came during a week in which its manifesto was blasted as “breaking with evidence, common sense and moral decency” and claims its stance on immigration would create a “shrinking and ageing” population. Even the Lib Dems got in there with the launch of their anti “Blukip” campaign.

 

But it wasn't all bad.  Media mogul Richard Desmond dug deep to help the people's army – to the tune of £1.3m. 

 

 

Mario Draghi had some serious things to discuss this week, not least the situation regarding Greece and the wider outlook for the Eurozone. But we got a bit distracted when a protester attacked him with…er… glitter. The radical feminist, who posed as a journalist, called for an “end [to] ECB dictatorship” before being dragged out giving the V-for-victory sign.  

 

 

The employment rate reached a record high, which is good news for the economy and the Tories. But what really got us talking was who had the best (and worst) jobs you can have in 2015. If you're in a maths-based profession you're doing alright. Journalists, not so much. 

 

We're nearly one week away from the 35th London Marathon, one of the biggest races of its kind in the world. We take a look at how it compares to the other “Big Six” around the world here. Meanwhile this article gives you all the details for the day itself, including the best pubs from which to watch your friends and family compete.  

 

And we take a look at one of the areas the main parties have barely touched upon in their manifestos or their speeches. Science and engineering play an important role in our economy – and our international standing – yet we've heard very little about it either way. We analyse what each of the parties believes here.  

 

We visit Shanghai, the city that never stops, and all the things you can get up to in China's biggest metropolis. 

 

Politico has a great piece about the hidden battle between Boeing, Lockheed and Northrup Grumman to build the US Air Force's new stealth bomber.  

 

Meanwhile Bloomberg Business considers what the Mayfair mansion glut is doing to the capital – and the property developers who are resorting to tracking down billionaires that can afford them.  

 

And lastly, corporate messaging app Slack has been valued at $2.8bn. This New York Times article asks whether it's really worth it.