New rules could give fraudsters a back door to clone mobile phone numbers July 7, 2019 New rules meant to make it easier to swap mobile contracts could give criminals access to important personal information, experts have warned. The new text-to-switch service, launched last week, allows billpayers to easily get a code to move provider. It aims to encourage switching and save customers on their bills. However, the system is so [...]
Ocado to create 260 new jobs in Old Street tech hub July 5, 2019 Online supermarket Ocado will bring 300 jobs to London as it bolsters the digital talent behind its technology platform for supermarkets. The Ocado smart platform will be sold to companies across the world to help them move online, the firm said. Read more: Ocado pumps £17m into vertical farming joint venture The London office, in [...]
BMW chief executive set to step down July 5, 2019 Car giant BMW is set to start the search for a new chief executive after its boss said he will step down in April next year. Harald Krueger, 53, will leave at the end of his current five-year contract, the company said in a statement today. Read more: BMW flashes warning lights as mounting tech [...]
CMA puts brakes on Amazon’s Deliveroo investment July 5, 2019 The UK’s competitions watchdog will examine Amazon’s investment in Deliveroo, it said this morning, putting the brakes on the multi-million pound deal. The internet retail giant took a stake in Deliveroo in May, leading a $575m (£450m) funding round. It did not reveal the exact size of the stake. Read more: Amazon leads £450m Deliveroo [...]
Congo starts evicting up to 2,000 illegal miners from Glencore site where dozens died July 4, 2019 The Congolese army has started evicting miners from a Glencore site after a landslide which killed dozens. Illegal miners were being dispersed from the area around the copper and cobalt mine run by a Glencore subsidiary today. Read more: Glencore head of oil Alex Beard retires amid US investigations The company London-listed miner confirmed that [...]
Ofwat hits out at water suppliers’ business plans July 4, 2019 London’s water supplier was among four slated by Ofwat this morning as the regulator said it was “disappointed” by the firms’ request for more money to cover costs. Thames Water, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water, and SES Water were told that their business plans do not live up to the regulator’s expectations. Read more: Regulator Ofwat [...]
4,500 jobs at risk as William Hill prepares to close 700 stores July 4, 2019 Betting firm William Hill today said it will consult on shutting around 700 stores across the country, putting 4,500 jobs at risk. The firm blamed the government’s decision to introduce a maximum £2 bet cap on fixed-odds betting terminals in April. Read more: Regulator bans William Hill’s cheeky Tinder advert The previous limit was £100. [...]
Energean strikes black gold in $750m EDF deal July 4, 2019 Energean Oil and Gas took a step towards the big league today with a $750m (£596m) acquisition of EDF’s oil exploration wing. The company will take over Edison E&P in a deal which it claims makes it one of the biggest independent energy explorers in London. Read more: Shares in Energean soar as Israeli energy [...]
Syria-bound oil tanker seized by British troops July 4, 2019 Royal Marines this morning boarded a tanker thought to be carrying Iranian oil to Syria through the Strait of Gibraltar. The boarding, which is believed to be the first under EU sanctions on Syria, happened in the early morning. Read more: Rouhani says Iran will ramp up uranium enrichment from Sunday “We have detained the [...]
Poor records land Green Star Energy with £350,000 fine July 4, 2019 Energy supplier Green Star Energy was today slapped with a £350,000 charge after locked more than 1,800 customers out of their accounts. The fine includes £60 compensation for each household affected. Read more: Ofgem slaps suppliers Economy Energy and E with £850,000 fine for competition breaches A records failure meant it did not send welcome [...]