All Piccadilly line trains back in service, says TfL, after weeks of delays due to repairs December 20, 2016 All 79 Piccadilly line trains are in service again, bringing weeks of delays to a close. Around half of the Piccadilly line fleet was taken out of action last month so that repairs could be carried out, causing massive disruption to services ever since. But today, Transport for London (TfL) said a good service had resumed [...]
John Lewis hits out at Labour MP over Christmas jingle December 20, 2016 The John Lewis Partnership has hit out at a campaigning Labour MP after she produced a Christmas jingle criticising the retailer for how it treats its staff. Labour MPs, led by Siobhain McDonagh, recently recorded a song – titled "National Living Rage" – to highlight how retailers are cutting staff benefits in response to the national living wage. Read more: [...]
Good chemistry: Germany’s Linde and US firm Praxair agree terms of $65bn merger December 20, 2016 Two chemical giants are nearing a $65bn (£53bn) mega-merger. Germany’s Linde today said it had agreed a “non-binding term sheet” with US firm Praxair. Under the deal, a new holding company bearing Linde’s name would be created. But the firms said the deal would represent a “merger of equals”. It marks the second German-US mega-deal of [...]
From crackers to cranberry sauce: 10 Christmas items that’ll be confiscated if you sneak them into hand luggage December 20, 2016 Don't get too too swept away in the spirit of Christmas. At least not to the extent where you're trying to shuffle onto a flight to visit family with a handbag stashed with mincemeat and brandy butter. That's what's London City Airport is warning anyway as it's compiled a list of the top 10 Christmas [...]
The Nikkei 225 hits 2016 highs and the yen weakens as the Bank of Japan holds interest rates steady December 20, 2016 The Nikkei 225 reached its highest point for over a year and the yen fell against the dollar as the Bank of Japan (BoJ) confirmed that it would hold interest rates as widely expected. The BoJ’s Policy Board maintained its stance of negative interest rates, keeping the rate at minus 0.1 per cent. It also [...]
The Southern rail strike saga has cost the economy £300m already, says university study December 20, 2016 The Southern rail strikes are costing the UK economy hundreds of millions of pounds, according to new research from the University of Chichester. A study, led by Dave Cooper, professor of management and economic development, has put the cost of the strike saga to the country's GDP at as much as £300m. The industrial action, carried [...]
Transport for London is opening the railway arches at Wood Lane December 20, 2016 Transport for London (TfL) is opening up the railway arches at Wood Lane. The 31 railway arches in west London, currently unused, will be transformed into commercial and retail space. There will also be new pedestrian passageways under the arches and new bicycle parking places. Read more: Weak pound draws tourists to London's Westfield centres TfL [...]
Cast of the Trainspotting sequel gather for the film’s world premiere December 20, 2016 | City Talk The cast of the Trainspotting sequel have gathered in Edinburgh for the film's world premiere. When it was released in 1996 Danny Boyle’s adaptation of Irvine Welsh’s source novel Trainspotting was a worldwide success and a cultural phenomenon. Twenty years on director Danny Boyle has reunited the original cast for the sequel T2: Trainspotting. T2: [...]
These will be London’s property hot spots in 2017 December 20, 2016 This year, Zoopla crowned Dalston the UK's top property hotspot after house prices in the neighbourhood rocketed 60 per cent over the last five years. Shoreditch came second, with prices shooting up 58 per cent over the period. Both of these locations are celebrated for their hipster cafes and second-hand furniture shops – but they're fast [...]
Ho-ho-how much? This is the energy cost of cooking Christmas dinner, leaving the lights on and working from home December 20, 2016 We're all aware that the festive season puts a strain on our wallets, but thanks to new research you can be rest assured it puts added pressure on your energy bills too. The average household can spend up to £50 extra on gas and electricity in December as parties get underway, turkeys get basted and [...]