Gatwick Airport criticises Airport Commission’s backing for Heathrow expansion as unfair and “flawed” July 14, 2015 Gatwick has hit back at the Airports Commission, calling its report recommending a Heathrow expansion “flawed” and unfair. The airport criticised the report for falling short of requirements of balance and fairness. After three years’ deliberation led by Sir Howard Davies, the Airports Commission released its long-awaited report two weeks ago, backing a third runway [...]
Former HSBC boss Lord Green says HSBC should’ve done more due diligence ahead of Swiss private bank purchase July 14, 2015 Former HSBC boss Lord Green today admitted that it should've done more due diligence ahead of its purchase of its Swiss private banking arm. Green, who was the bank's chief executive between 2003 and 2006 and as its chairman between 2006 and 2010, told members of the Lords' economic affairs committee neither he nor the [...]
Apple Pay comes to the UK – but will it change your life? July 14, 2015 Apple Pay has made its debut in the UK with a strangely secretive launch from a company known for its high profile events. It’s a clever piece of technology that enables people to use the iPhone 6 and new Apple Watch in the same way as a contactless debit card, simply tapping it on an [...]
TfL Tube strike: RMT joins sister union Aslef in yet more action over Night Tube on 5th August July 14, 2015 A second London Underground strike over the Night Tube is looking ever more likely, after the major transport union RMT confirmed today it was taking part. Drivers union Aslef yesterday said it was planning a new 24-hour strike for 5th August, later backed by Unite the union. Workers have voted for action over ongoing [...]
Heads up, George Osborne: The tooth fairy gave £20m to children last year July 14, 2015 In George Osborne's quest for tax receipts, this might be one to investigate: it turns out the Tooth Fairy has given kids £20m in the past year. And it's all tax free… Yep – a study by The Magic Door Store, which (of course) sells miniature doors for fairies, showed the Tooth Fairy has become [...]
Sergei Pugachev shows: You just do not mess with the Kremlin July 14, 2015 Sergei Pugachev was once a trusted and close friend of Russian President Vladimir Putin. But not anymore. His case, as much as any of the string of mysterious deaths of people who have upset the Kremlin, go to show how Putin has carved out power in Russia for some time to come, despite economic hardship [...]
Pluto flyby pictures: Nasa’s New Horizons probe sends back “best image of Pluto yet” as it whizzes past dwarf planet July 14, 2015 A multi-billion-kilometre flight, taking nine years to complete, has culminated in a major win for space science: the Pluto flyby. The US probe shot past Pluto at 12.49pm UK time on a trajectory that brought the spacecraft within 12,500km of the body’s surface. The probe was travelling at 45,000 km/h (28,000 mph). Nasa [...]
Dollar dives as US retail sales unexpectedly shrink in June July 14, 2015 The dollar fell after the commerce department said US retail sales unexpectedly fell by 0.3 percent in June, missing economists' expectations for a 0.2 per cent rise. Additionally the retail sales figure for May was revised down by 0.2 per cent to show one per cent growth, down from the 1.2 per cent initially reported. This [...]
Why is Flash not working on my browser? Mozilla bans plugin on Firefox because of “vulnerabilities” July 14, 2015 It turns out Apple founder Steve Jobs, who banished Flash from all his devices, isn't the only campaigner against the software, after Mozilla blocked all versions of Flash on its Firefox web browsers last night. Mark Schmidt, the head of Firefox's tweeted overnight that the company had blocked the software, which is used to power [...]
Iran’s nuclear deal: Everyone from Bashar al-Assad and Vladimir Putin to Barack Obama and David Cameron has welcomed the agreement July 14, 2015 It's not often world leaders from the UK and US agree with those from Russia and Syria, but today is one of those rare moments. David Cameron, Barack Obama, Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad have all welcomed the historic nuclear deal inked between the world's leading powers and Iran today. This morning the [...]