Drug-drivers could be forced to take rehabilitation courses before using cars under new government plan April 5, 2022 Drug-drivers could be forced to take rehabilitation courses before being allowed to get behind the wheel, according to proposed government plans. Transport secretary Grant Shapps today launched a call for evidence to decide whether those who had been caught drug-driving need to follow in drink-drivers’ footsteps and complete rehabilitation. “If we are to make our [...]
Ryanair’s boss says summer fares will go up to 10 per cent of 2019 levels April 5, 2022 Ryanair’s summer fares are expected to go up between 5 and 10 per cent of 2019 levels, its boss Michael O’Leary said this morning. The chief executive said lower capacity and very strong forward bookings have already started driving demand up from June onwards. “What we’re seeing at the moment is prices are slightly lower [...]
10m British pensions at BlackRock ‘helped’ Putin’s invasion of Ukraine via £1bn in oil energy dividends April 5, 2022 Fund manager BlackRock – which oversees 10 million British pensions – has helped Putin build his war chest by investing heavily in Russia’s biggest companies, the Bureau of Investigative Journalism told City A.M. this morning. While those investments have strengthened Putin, they have also generated a fortune for BlackRock’s clients, the group said. Since 2014, [...]
Go-Ahead to reinstate pre-Covid dividends as new strategy focuses on accountability April 5, 2022 Go-Ahead said today it would go back to paying dividends to shareholders from fiscal year 2022, as part of its new accountability-focused strategy. Following a few troubled months, Go-Ahead’s board recommended between 50 and 75 per cent of underlying earnings per share. The group – which has recently been under scrutiny for a series of [...]
London City Airport crowns March as most successful month since Covid start April 5, 2022 London City Airport today crowned March as its most successful month since the pandemic’s start. The airport reported that 189,000 passengers passed through its gates last month – 54 per cent up on February levels. While 31 March was its busiest day with more than 10,000 passengers, the airport said it was gearing up to [...]
Hiring boom: TUI recruits over 1,500 new people in digitalisation push April 5, 2022 TUI announced today it was hiring more than 1,5000 new people as part of its digitalisation push. Under the new recruitment plan, 500 people will be hired to work in the company’s technology and e-commerce divisions, while more than 1,000 will be stationed at holiday destinations. “TUI has continued to invest in the digitalisation of [...]
March car production falls to lowest in 24 years as markets feel supply chain squeeze April 5, 2022 The UK’s automotive production in March fell to the lowest since 1998 as markets continued to feel the supply chain squeeze. According to data from the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), new car registrations fell by 14.3 per cent to 243,479 units while overall the first quarter of 2021 reported a 1.9 per [...]
MPs question why promised security review into sale of UK semiconductor giant to Chinese company is not happening April 5, 2022 The takeover of a hi-tech British company to a Chinese-owned firm has allegedly “not begun”, MPs have said as they question why it is taking the government so long. Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year asked national security adviser Sir Stephen Lovegrove to examine the purchase of Newport Wafer Fab by Nexperia for a reported [...]
UK to level up local transport with £7bn investment April 4, 2022 The UK Government announced today it will invest £7bn to level up the country’s local transport system. Transport secretary Grant Shapps tweeted that the funding will be use “to roll out cheaper, better bus services outside of London”, providing upgrade to tram, cycling and rail networks too. Under the scheme, 31 counties, city regions and [...]
Russia to resume flights with 52 ‘friendly’ countries April 4, 2022 Russia is set to resume flights with 52 “friendly countries,” according to Moscow news agency TASS. The Kremlin said today it would end its ban – imposed as a retaliation against the West – and would resume routes to and from countries such as Argentina and South Africa. The decision comes after the Russian Government announced [...]