London mayor Sadiq Khan’s green war on diesel cars finally hits home October 30, 2018 Sad news in my household: Moonie is not long for this world. The time is fast approaching when I must put her out of her misery, despite the fact that she seems pretty robust regardless of her ageing years. Like Boxer in “Animal Farm,” I will soon load her up into her metaphorical horse box, send [...]
Tube delays: Commuters hit by severe delays on Central Line October 30, 2018 Severe delays have hit the Central Line this morning, causing havoc for commuters as they make their way into work. Transport for London (TfL) blamed a faulty train at Mile End, telling passengers to use alternative routes where possible. https://twitter.com/centralline/status/1057207207199207425 Tickets are being accepted on London buses and Greater Anglia services and on TfL Rail [...]
WH Smith to expand into US airports after £155m deal for accessories outlet In Motion October 30, 2018 WH Smith's share price rose over five per cent this morning on news it will expand its brand into US airports after buying American travel accessories outlet In Motion. The $198m (£155m) deal sees the British retailer take over 114 stores across some of the busiest airports in the US. It doubles the size of WH [...]
Volkswagen profits hurt by ‘painful’ new anti-pollution rules and China downturn October 30, 2018 Volkswagen profits dropped by 18.6 per cent in the third quarter as the German car manufacturer struggled with new emissions testing rules and slower vehicle sales. The figures The German carmaker's underlying profit for the third quarter was €3.5bn (£3.1bn), down from €4.3bn in the same period in 2017. Vehicle sales also dropped 3.6 per [...]
Man attacked ‘with hammer’ at Stratford station, causing broken shoulder and lacerations October 30, 2018 Two commuters were attacked by a man at Stratford station during rush hour this morning, with an eyewitness claiming he used a hammer in the assault. One man was left with a broken shoulder and a laceration to the head after this morning’s attack, while the other suffered bruising. Eyewitnesses claimed one of the men [...]
US restricts Chinese chip maker from buying American parts October 30, 2018 The US is to curb American firms from exporting goods to a state-supported Chinese chip maker over national security concerns, in a move that is likely to exacerbate the brewing trade war tensions between Beijing and Washington, D.C. In a statement this morning the US Commerce Department said Chinese company Fujian Jinhua would not be [...]
Trading platform IG’s first female chief executive poised to take over group October 30, 2018 Trading and investment company IG Group has appointed its first female chief executive in the firm’s 44-year history. June Felix, a veteran of Verifone, Citibank and IBM, joins IG's executive team after a little over three years on its board. The group has been looking for a new chief executive since September when long-time boss [...]
Ocado to develop 20 new US warehouses in first three years of deal with Kroger October 30, 2018 The terms of Ocado’s landmark deal with US supermarket chain Kroger were unveiled this morning, with the British online grocer set to operate 20 warehouses across the pond in its first three years of the agreement. Ocado's shares were up more than five per cent in early morning trading. Kroger is set to order 20 warehouses, [...]
Hey PRs, no one in August is counting down to Christmas and quit the obnoxious intros October 30, 2018 Billy from a TV production company writes: “Hello Elena, I know you simply can’t wait to kick off the festive season and are counting days until Christmas.” Top marks for presumptuousness, Billy. You “know” that I “can’t wait”? I can, actually, because I don’t celebrate Christmas. You also suggest that I am “counting days”. Are [...]
DEBATE: As we head towards a cashless society, is there any point to a commemorative Brexit coin? October 30, 2018 As we head towards a cashless society, is there any point to a commemorative Brexit coin? Callum Price, events manager at the Centre for Policy Studies, says YES. There is no doubt that we are heading towards an increasingly cashless society, but we are far away from the point at which we will no longer [...]