Restaurant sector gloom takes a slice out of Pizza Express profit August 28, 2019 Pizza Express has fallen victim to the gloom which has enveloped the casual dining sector, with first half profits shrinking. The company blamed a drop in earnings of nearly one-tenth on “industry-wide cost pressures” in its key home market. Pizza Express, founded in 1965, runs 480 restaurants across Britain and 148 abroad in Asia and [...]
Near-miss: Passenger jet ‘narrowly avoided’ hitting drone at Gatwick airport in April August 28, 2019 An Airbus passenger jet carrying as many as 186 passengers was forced to take evasive action to avoid a drone as it approached Gatwick airport, it has emerged. The airliner was flying at 518 metres towards the West Sussex airport on 28 April when the pilot saw a dark-coloured drone and made a banking turn [...]
Watch Elon Musk’s Space X Starhopper rocket hit new heights on Texas hover test August 28, 2019 Elon Musk’s Space X took another small step – or giant hop – on the entrepreneur’s mission to colonise Mars yesterday, as a prototype of its next generation Starhopper rocket reached its highest altitude yet on a hover test. The next generation rocket slowly climbed to 150m above Space X’s test site in Texas before [...]
Petrofac warns revenues will shrink after SFO probe hinders new work August 28, 2019 Oilfield services giant Petrofac shares fell 1.97 per cent this morning as it warned revenues would dry up next year after an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office caused it to lose out on contracts. In a glum first half financial report, the FTSE 250 company said the decline reflects a “low order intake in [...]
Britain ‘still attractive for aerospace investment’ despite Brexit uncertainty August 27, 2019 Britain is the fourth-most attractive attractive country to invest in for the aerospace and defence industries, according to research. Despite warnings from major industry players that Brexit uncertainty will hamper investment in the sector, the UK has been named the best European country to invest in, ahead of Germany, by PwC. Countries were ranked on [...]
Bunzl profits ‘resilient’ despite slowing global economy and struggling UK sales August 27, 2019 Outsourcer Bunzl’s half year results were helped by the weakness of the pound as it boosted revenue and profit despite UK sales lagging behind the rest of its business. The FTSE 100 distribution giant reported a modest rise in pre-tax profit and nudged its dividend up two per cent. Shares fell in early trading but [...]
Boeing 737 Max: First customer lawsuit comes in against plane maker as Russian firm sues August 27, 2019 Boeing is facing its first lawsuit from an aviation industry customer of its Boeing 737 Max, after a Russian firm that ordered 35 planes is said to have sued it for breach of contract. Avia Capital Services, an aircraft leasing company that is a subsidiary of Russian firm Rostec, made an order for 35 Max [...]
UK weather warning: ‘Torrential’ thunderstorms to shatter London heatwave August 27, 2019 Londoners could be in for a shock after the scorching bank holiday heatwave, with the Met Office warning thunderstorms will hit the capital this afternoon. Forecasters have issued a yellow weather warning amid predictions of heavy showers and thunderstorms for the capital and further afield. Read more: What to do about staff skipping work for [...]
Volkswagen turnaround boss Ferdinand Piech dies aged 82 August 27, 2019 Former Volkswagen boss Ferdinand Piech, who has been credited with turning the firm into the global powerhouse in the 1990s, has died aged 82. The grandson of Beetle pioneer Ferdinand Porsche, Piech became Volkswagen chief executive in 1993, transforming it from a medium-sized car maker to an international power. Read more: Former VW boss Martin [...]
Huawei: Britain to make 5G decision on Chinese telecoms giant in autumn August 27, 2019 Britain will decide whether to let Huawei’s equipment be used in its 5G networks this autumn, according to Nicky Morgan. The culture secretary said this morning that whatever decision it takes on the Chinese telecoms giant, the government will ensure it is for the long term. Read more: Huawei will not pass information to Beijing, [...]