US jobs growth exceeds expectations and eases market fears January 5, 2019 US jobs growth increased at a higher rate than expected in December according to the latest data, as employers hired the most workers for 10 months and wages also rose. The increase of 312,000 jobs to the economy last month exceeded economists' expectations of 177,000, according to Reuters. The average hourly wage also rose by 3.2 per cent, its highest [...]
Ryanair named ‘worst short-haul airline’ for sixth year in a row January 5, 2019 Ryanair has been named the UK’s worst short-haul airline for the sixth year in the row. A passenger survey, carried out by Which, put the Irish budget airline at the bottom of 19 carriers flying from the UK. Ryanair achieved a customer score of 40 per cent compared to a 63 per cent score for [...]
Government considers expanding drone exclusion zone around airports after Gatwick chaos January 5, 2019 The government will consider expanding the drone exclusion zone around UK airports from 1km to 5km in the wake of the disruption at Gatwick Airport just before Christmas. The use of unmanned aerial vehicles is set to be further restricted following a consultation on drones, to which the government will issue a response before the end of [...]
US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell says he would refuse to step down if asked to by Trump January 4, 2019 US Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell has said he will not resign even if he is asked to by president Donald Trump. Powell responded “no” when asked whether he would resign if asked by the president at the American Economic Association’s annual meeting, CNBC reported. Powell was appointed by Trump, however the president has become [...]
Cars, lorries and taxis to be banned from Tottenham Court Road as part of £35m revamp January 4, 2019 Cars, lorries and taxis will be banned from Tottenham Court Road as part of a £35m project to improve the West End. The road will be open to buses and bikes only between 8am and 7pm, Monday to Saturday, in a bid to reduce congestion and air pollution and speed up bus routes. The changes, [...]
‘No way’ DUP will back May’s Brexit deal, says senior party member January 4, 2019 A senior DUP member has said there is “no way” his party will back Theresa May’s Brexit deal due to concerns over the backstop agreement. Sammy Wilson, who is Brexit spokesperson for the DUP, said he was “more alarmed” than ever about the impact the deal would have on Northern Ireland. “It’s not just because of [...]
Government finds 150 lorries to test Dover crossing congestion in case of no-deal Brexit January 4, 2019 Operation Brock, the system designed to minimise disruption at the border in the event of a no-deal Brexit, will be tested for the first time next week. A total of 150 HGV lorries will trial the route from Manston Airport to Dover as part of the Department for Transport’s contingency planning for the UK’s departure from [...]
Eurostar celebrates new Netherlands train service with Amsterdam-style canal bridge at St Pancras station January 4, 2019 Eurostar has built a mock Amsterdam canal bridge at St Pancras station today to mark the introduction of its third daily high-speed rail service to the Netherlands. The train service from London to Rotterdam and Amsterdam will start on 11 June 2019 after Eurostar first opened its route to the Netherlands last April. “Our new [...]
Gatwick and Heathrow spend millions on anti-drone equipment after Christmas travel chaos January 4, 2019 Gatwick and Heathrow are spending millions of pounds on anti-drone technology after drones disrupted thousands of passengers in the run-up to Christmas. The airports, which are the two busiest in the UK, have invested in military-grade equipment designed to jam drone signals. Read more: Drones, AI and 5G: Our tech predictions for 2019 A spokesperson [...]
Brexit in 2019: The only certainty is uncertainty January 4, 2019 Predicting what will happen in the world of politics is a notoriously difficult task at the best of times, but in the current all-bets-are-off climate, surely only a fool would give it a go. City A.M.’s Owen Bennett is that fool, and here are his tips for what to look out for. Brexit May's Brexit [...]