RMT rail union to stage 48-hour strike on embattled South Western Railway tomorrow October 4, 2018 A 48-hour strike by the RMT rail union hit the embattled South Western Railway (SWR) line tomorrow amid the long-running dispute over the role of guards. SWR operates services out of Waterloo and Clapham Junction to places in the south such as Southampton, Reading, Bournemouth and Portsmouth. The operator said it plans to run nearly two thirds [...]
Damien Hirst refits his new £40m Soho headquarters, set to open early next year October 4, 2018 Artist Damien Hirst has a “blank canvas” to rework his new £40m building in the heart of London’s Soho. Hirst’s new flagship studio and art complex is expected to go through a major overhaul to match his needs and vision before opening in the early part of next year. The second floor of the new [...]
ONS: Housing affordability woes deepen as millennial homeowner figures drop October 4, 2018 The number of young people who own a home has tumbled by 10 per cent in the last decade, underlining fears that the UK’s property market is becoming increasingly unaffordable to a new generation of buyers. Compressed wages and rising house prices have contributed to the drop in the proportion of people between the ages of [...]
Danske Bank faces US probe over €200bn money laundering scandal October 4, 2018 The crisis at Danske Bank deepened today as it confirmed that US authorities are investigating a €200bn money laundering scandal involving suspicious Russian money. Danske Bank has received "requests for information" from the US Department of Justice (DoJ) about the suspected money laundering which took place in its Estonian branch between 2007 and 2015. The [...]
By disrupting its own industry, Ocado has proven the power of automation October 4, 2018 Further evidence of automation’s benefits has emerged this week following the news that online retailer Ocado’s revenue jumped by 11.5 per cent in the last quarter – largely thanks to the automation of its warehouses. The effects are unquestionably positive, with the average number of orders processed by the firm reaching 283,000 per week. Its [...]
Uber Eats riders and restaurant workers to strike over gig economy pay October 4, 2018 Uber Eats workers are to stage a strike later today with a small number of workers from JD Wetherspoon and TGI Fridays over gig economy pay and conditions. Some McDonalds and Deliveroo workers were also set to take part in the rally in Leicester Square at 11am this morning, while Uber Eats drivers are preparing their own separate strike outside its [...]
We’re on the cusp of a blockchain revolution October 4, 2018 Earlier this year, Bank of England governor Mark Carney scrutinised blockchain technology, describing it as an inadequate currency platform set for a “brutal reckoning”. His views come as no surprise for someone deeply ingrained into the traditions of the financial system and the institutions that have set the industry’s tone for centuries. Read more: Up [...]
Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp are becoming increasingly important to businesses October 4, 2018 When was the last time that you voluntarily made a phone call? Some of you may pretend that you prefer the human touch of chatting over the phone, but let’s be honest – phone calls are inconvenient. A ringing phone interrupts your day and train of thought, while waiting for your call to be answered [...]
Diageo, WPP and Standard Chartered top league table of leading UK brands for gender equality October 4, 2018 Drinks maker Diageo, WPP and Standard Chartered have been named as the top performing UK companies for gender equality. However, the study admitted that despite progress being made, there was still a "long way to go" before equality was achieved in companies worldwide. General Motors in the US was the top performing brand worldwide. Worldwide, [...]
RBS: No-deal Brexit could send UK economy reeling October 4, 2018 Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) boss Ross McEwan has warned that a no-deal Brexit could push the UK into another recession. Economic growth could fall flat or even turn negative if the UK leaves the EU without a deal, he told the BBC. Read more: 'End Brexit psychodrama' – Chamber of Commerce chief pleads with [...]