Coronavirus victory? New Zealand gives up its Covid elimination strategy October 4, 2021 New Zealand was one of only a handful of countries to successfully eliminate its coronavirus cases last year. Now its government says that strategy is no longer possible. Watch the full report.
Bulb keeping options open amid rising prices and takeover speculation October 4, 2021 Green energy firm Bulb are keeping their options open as speculation increases that it could soon become a takeover target. Ovo Energy are the latest believed to be sniffing around Bulb, which serves some 1.5m customers. Octopus Energy were also rumoured to be weighing up a bid. The Sunday Telegraph first reported Ovo’s interest. Bulb [...]
Monzo moves ahead of rival fintechs and narrows gender pay gap October 4, 2021 Monzo has significantly improved its gender pay gap, it revealed in a new report today that showed women at the British challenger bank earn 4 per cent less than men per hour on average – narrowed from 2019, when the gap stood at 20 per cent. It brings the fintech into pole position compared to [...]
Ryanair and Wizz Air passenger numbers highlight aviation’s journey back to normality October 4, 2021 After a turbulent 2020, Ryanair and Wizz Air appear set for smoother skies with passenger numbers on the up. Both firms reported increase in passenger traffic in September 2021 compared to last year. According to passenger traffic data published on the London Stock Exchange, Ryanair’s passenger numbers increased to 10.6m compared to 5.2m recorded in [...]
Petrofac fined £77m for string of Middle Eastern bribery charges October 4, 2021 Petrofac has been fined £77m for seven separate charges of failing to prevent bribery in the Middle East, to which the London-listed oil services provider plead guilty last month. The penalty, for failing to prevent former Petrofac employees from offering or making payments to agents in relation to projects awarded between 2012 and 2015, is [...]
McDonald’s pledges to achieve net zero emissions for all UK restaurants by 2030 October 4, 2021 McDonald’s has set out its strategy to help its operations in the UK and Ireland achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. The fast food chain has pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions across its global operations by 2050. The chain will aim to achieve net zero emissions for all its restaurants and offices [...]
Investors inject £3bn into central London offices in third quarter October 4, 2021 Investor interest in central London office buildings has returned with a vengeance, with spend surpassing pre-pandemic levels. Around £1.5bn was spent on City office buildings in the three months to September 30, according to preliminary data from real estate advisors JLL, compiled for the Evening Standard. It comes as office workers have made their return [...]
Evergrande to sell property unit to another Chinese developer October 4, 2021 Heavily indebted Chinese property giant Evergrande is selling off a chunk of its business to raise crucial funds as further bond interest payments this month loom. According to Chinese state media, Evergrande will raise $5.1bn by selling off a majority stake in its property service unit to Hopson, another Chinese real estate developer. Before the [...]
Global Britain: UK-based HGV driver ads snubbed by EU-applicants October 4, 2021 While the government’s temporary visas for overseas HGV drivers may loosen the choking impacts of the shortage on UK supply chains, there are few truckers coming in from the EU, according to new research. The HGV driver shortage, which triggered both a fuel crisis and pushed a third of mid-size firms to shrink their offering, [...]
Issa brothers’ EG Group acquires UK’s second-largest bakery business October 4, 2021 Petrol station forecourt giant EG Group has acquired the country’s second-largest bakery business, Cooplands The Issa brothers’ firm has acquired CS Food Group Holdings Limited, which operates a number of bakeries that produce and distribute fresh food to some 180 stores and cafes. The bakery business mostly operates across the north-east and Yorkshire regions and [...]