Shutdown: Heathrow Airport summer strikes threaten chaos for holidaymakers July 12, 2019 Holidaymakers planning to use Heathrow Airport this summer could be subjected to days of chaos, after Unite trade union warned its members are planning to go on strike. More than 4,000 workers are set to walk out on 26 and 27 July, 5 and 6 August, and 23 and 24 August. They will include security [...]
Volkswagen and Ford strengthen ties by teaming up on electric and self-driving cars July 12, 2019 Two of the world’s biggest car makers, Volkswagen and Ford, have moved their existing commercial partnership up a gear this afternoon to collaborate on electric cars and self-driving cars. Read more: Ford gears up to announce up to 550 job losses for UK office workers amid turnaround efforts The firms are looking to pull ahead [...]
Thomas Cook: How did it end up like this? July 12, 2019 Companies in the travel industry have endured a turbulent year – and none more than Thomas Cook. Read more: Thomas Cook shares plunge to record low as investors face being wiped out The embattled firm this morning said it is closing in on a bailout deal which would see Chinese firm Fosun give it £750m [...]
Google workers listen in on private conversations via smart speakers July 12, 2019 Google has admitted its contractors listen in on conversations people have with its smart speaker system, Assistant. The tech giant yesterday said its contractors can access recordings made by the system. It made the admission after the leak of several Dutch language recordings. Google Assistant starts to record audio when it hears a so-called wake [...]
Daimler in fourth profit warning of the year over airbags and diesel emissions July 12, 2019 Daimler, the German car giant that owns Mercedes, this morning issued its fourth profit warning of the year after it unearthed fresh financial risks surrounding its diesel emissions scandal. The car maker made a similar warning on June 23, but it has reassessed the risk of fines from court battles and government measures. These have [...]
Thomas Cook shares hit record low amid £750m takeover talks with Fosun July 12, 2019 Thomas Cook’s shares sunk to their lowest price ever this morning as it confirmed it is in advanced talks with Fosun over a proposed £750m deal which would give the Chinese firm majority ownership over its tour operator business. Read more: Thomas Cook engages in Fosun talks to save company The deal would also give [...]
HS2 Birmingham: The £435m station nobody wants to build July 11, 2019 HS2 has abandoned its initial hunt for a contractor to build its Birmingham station, after firms were unwilling to take on the risks associated with the £435m job. The railway said it will rethink the procurement process for its Curzon Street station so as to reduce contractor risk and increase competition. Read more: Business leaders [...]
Tom Watson and Sadiq Khan decry Labour ‘antisemitism’ after Panorama probe July 11, 2019 Prominent Labour figures were left aghast last night after a BBC investigation claimed people at the top of the party had minimised complaints of antisemitisim against its members. Deputy leader Tom Watson and London mayor Sadiq Khan were among those who spoke out after the allegations, which implicated general secretary Jennie Formby and communications director [...]
Heathrow cashes in on first month of holiday season as passenger numbers rise July 11, 2019 Heathrow Airport this morning said it has benefited from fuller planes at the start of the holiday season, pushing passenger numbers up in June. Britain’s biggest airport said it welcomed 7.25m passengers last month, up 1.7 per cent compared to June 2018. It marks the 32nd straight month of growth. Read more: Prepare for take [...]
Norwegian Air boss quits as airline reels from 737 Max groundings July 11, 2019 Norwegian Air’s longstanding chief executive Bjorn Kjos has quit the top job, amid warnings the struggling carrier’s full-year results will take a hit from the Boeing 737 Max grounding. Chairman Niels Smedegaard this morning hailed Kjos, 72, as “one of the most influential European entrepreneurs of our time”. He will continue at the firm, which [...]