The Southern rail strike saga has cost the economy £300m already, says university study December 20, 2016 The Southern rail strikes are costing the UK economy hundreds of millions of pounds, according to new research from the University of Chichester. A study, led by Dave Cooper, professor of management and economic development, has put the cost of the strike saga to the country's GDP at as much as £300m. The industrial action, carried [...]
The RMT wants a Christmas truce over Southern rail saga – but says it’s in the government’s hands December 20, 2016 The Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) union wants a Christmas truce over Southern rail – only it says it's up to the government to make it happen. Commuters are battling through today's second day of delays as a 48-hour strike goes on by guards over proposed changes to their roles. There have been months of [...]
Star Wars spin-off Rogue One feels the force of $290m global opening weekend December 18, 2016 The latest installment in the Star Wars saga raked in over $290m (around £232m) in its first weekend of global showings, as Disney’s $4bn investment in the series continues to pay dividends. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story made $71m on its first day in the US – the 12th best opening day of all [...]
Argos drivers are striking on the days before Christmas December 13, 2016 Christmas deliveries are set to be disrupted by Argos drivers, who today announced they will go on strike in the 72 hours up to Christmas over pay disputes, the Unite union said. The drivers, who voted 83 per cent in favour of striking, work for Wincanton based at Argos' flagship national distribution centre. The union said services could be "seriously [...]
High Court rules Aslef strikes can go ahead on Southern rail after legal bid by Govia Thameslink Railway fails December 8, 2016 A High Court judge has ruled that train drivers' strikes on Southern Rail can go ahead from next week, after a legal challenge failed. Southern rail owner Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR) had sought an injunction to stop industrial action by train drivers' union Aslef, but the judge ruled the rail operator didn't have grounds to challenge [...]
No-go zone: With Matteo Renzi set to resign following his defeat in the Italian referendum, should investors stay away from the Eurozone? December 6, 2016 Italy’s referendum will not weaken the European project as much as critics hope, and Trump could help equities, says Will Railton "The vote looks to me to be more about the euro than constitutional change”, tweeted Nigel Farage shortly after the Italian polls closed on Sunday night. Eurosceptics are heralding the resounding result (a 59.1 [...]
Sports Direct is in the hot seat again this week December 4, 2016 Sports Direct will be in the spotlight again this week as it reports its interims on Thursday. Analysts are predicting chief executive Mike Ashley will announce a profit fall of 25 per cent to £170m. The City will also be looking for signs that Sports Direct is improving its corporate governance, something the retailer promised to focus [...]
Trump warns of heavy tax “consequences” for US firms that head elsewhere December 2, 2016 He'd only just reneged on his pledge to pursue charges against Hillary Clinton over her email saga, but the President-elect isn't softening his stance elsewhere. Donald Trump has warned companies of "consequences" should they look to leave the US, which doesn't sound ominous at all. Speaking in Indiana to take credit for saving 1,000 jobs [...]
Team Sky star-signing urges public to look at the facts in Wiggins saga November 30, 2016 An Olympic gold medalist team-mate and new Team Sky signing has hit back at criticism of Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins. Owain Doull said the outrage surrounding Wiggins’s controversial use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) on the run-up to his 2012 Tour de France victory had been “blown out of all proportion”. Wiggins’s [...]
England seamer Chris Woakes urges cricket chiefs to clear up rules on ball-tampering following Faf du Plessis row November 24, 2016 England seamer Chris Woakes has called on cricket chiefs to eliminate ambiguity in the rules following the ball-tampering conviction of South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis. Du Plessis was fined after being found guilty of using the residue of a sweet he was eating to alter the condition of the ball during the second Test [...]