Links of London hoping for rescue offer as it rushes to find a buyer August 22, 2019 The future of Links of London is reportedly hanging in the balance this week as the British jewellery chain rushes to find a buyer. The embattled group’s owner is on the hunt for a rescue offer by next week, according to Sky News, with sources telling the broadcaster that it was “almost inevitable” any sale [...]
Over 100,000 Royal Mail workers to vote on strike action August 22, 2019 More than 100,000 Royal Mail workers are set to be balloted on taking industrial action over issues including job security and employment conditions. The Communication Workers Union (CWU), which announced the ballot, had accused Royal Mail of not honouring the “spirit and intent” of an agreement earlier this week. In a tweet announcing the ballot, [...]
Qantas to run tests of 19-hour flights from London and New York to Sydney August 22, 2019 Qantas is to run tests of its planned 19-hour flights from London and New York to Sydney to see whether passengers and crew can cope with the journey. The Australian airline will carry 40 passengers, mainly Qantas employees, on three research flights in October, November and December ahead of its plan to launch the services [...]
Overcrowding is the worst thing about London transport, survey finds August 22, 2019 Overcrowding is the main gripe Londoners have with the transport system, a new survey has found. More than half of Londoners think crammed trains and Tubes are the worst thing about public transport in the capital, according to a YouGov survey commissioned by the London Assembly’s transport committee. Read more: Ride the UK heatwave: Here [...]
Astrazeneca buys drug fast-track voucher for $95m August 22, 2019 Astrazeneca splashed out $95m today to get one of its drugs fast-tracked through the approval process in the US. The drugs giant said it had bought a so-called priority review voucher (PRV) from a subsidiary of Orphan Biovitrum, a Swedish pharmaceutical company. Read more: Astrazeneca faces setback in lung cancer trials The voucher gives Astra [...]
Worker from UK’s Hong Kong embassy reportedly detained in China over ‘prostitution’ August 22, 2019 The employee of the British consulate in Hong Kong who is being held in mainline China is being detained over involement in prostitution, China’s state-backed newspaper reported. China’s foreign ministry had confirmed yesterday that Simon Cheng had been detained in the border city of Shenzen, but had not provided any further details. Cheng had failed [...]
Sales plunge at fastest rate since financial crisis as UK retailers forecast trouble ahead August 22, 2019 Retail sales and orders have plummeted at their fastest since the financial crisis, according to a new survey that suggests optimism in the industry has plunged to a 10-year low. Read more: Laura Ashley drops into the red A report from the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) has found that retail sales volumes and orders [...]
Shell boosts power business with £344m Aussie takeover August 22, 2019 Shell took another step to boost its electricity supply business as it bought Australia’s second-largest power company in a AU$617m (£344m) deal. The board of ERM recommended today that its shareholders vote for the deal, which represents a 43 per cent premium to its last closing price. Read more: Shell Energy to pay £390,000 after [...]
Eurozone output beats expectations in August but economy remains weak August 22, 2019 The euro has climbed against the dollar after survey data showed private sector output in the Eurozone beat expectations in August. Read more: German manufacturing stays firmly in contraction mode in August The preliminary private sector purchasing managers’ index (PMI), a closely-watched gauge of the economy, scored 51.8 in August, up from 51.5 in July [...]
Watchdog urges consumers to make PPI claims as deadline looms August 22, 2019 The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is urging consumers not to leave making PPI claims to the last minute ahead of next week’s deadline. Figures released by the FCA show a total of £340.4m was paid to consumers who had complained about being mis-sold PPI in June, taking the total paid out since 2011 to £36bn. [...]