HS2 costs could hit £106bn, leaked review warns January 20, 2020 Building HS2 could cost up to £106bn, according to a leaked government-commissioned review that reportedly outlines a 20 per cent rise in costs to the UK infrastructure project. The review into the controversial high-speed rail link project warns of “considerable risk” that costs could balloon further from HS2’s original budget of £32.7bn. The government has [...]
Downing Street to hold light display to mark Brexit Day as Unions Jacks fly January 17, 2020 Downing Street has announced that it will hold a light display on 31 January to mark Britain leaving the European Union. As Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses the nation that evening, the black bricks of his official residence will light up with the display, featuring a clock counting down to 11pm. Buildings around Whitehall will [...]
Hastings shares tumble as insurer issues profit warning January 17, 2020 Hastings shares plummeted this morning after it warned that it expects a 42 per cent drop in annual profit because of high claims costs in the final quarter. The motor insurer said it plans to lower its annual dividend, citing a challenging market. Shares fell 6.3 per cent this morning to 173.5p. Hastings said claims [...]
Renault sales fall 3.4 per cent amid doubts over Nissan alliance January 17, 2020 French car maker Renault suffered a 3.4 per cent fall in global sales last year, despite growing in its home European market. Sales grew by 1.3 per cent to 1.94m cars in Europe, but fell 17.2 per cent in China. Sales fell by 19.3 per cent in Africa, Middle East, India and the Pacific region. [...]
Flybe’s government rescue deal is much smaller than you think January 17, 2020 Regional airline Flybe has hit back at claims by its competitors that it has received favourable treatment from the state, after it struck a rescue deal with the government earlier this week. The struggling carrier sought to correct reports that the government had deferred a tax bill of more than £100m to keep it aloft. [...]
Government faces accusations of lying over Flybe rescue package January 17, 2020 The recriminations surrounding the government’s rescue package for Flybe grew yet again this morning, as Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary accused the state of a cover-up of the true terms of the deal. O’Leary has already written to chancellor Sajid Javid threatening legal action over what he calls illegal state aid to one of his competitors. [...]
Google it: Alphabet hits $1 trillion landmark amid ad growth optimism January 17, 2020 Alphabet, the parent company of Google, has hit a landmark stock market valuation of $1 trillion (£760bn) for the first time. The company’s shares rose by 0.76 per cent yesterday, enough to make it the fourth US-listed company to hit the milestone. Shares ended the day valued at $1,450.16. Alphabet hit the valuation 22 years [...]
British Airways flights ‘more carbon intensive’ than competitors’ January 17, 2020 Flying with British Airways can increase CO2 emissions by as much as 45 per cent per passenger compared to rival airlines, according to an investigation. The snapshot analysis found that one passenger flying from Heathrow to Miami with British Airways would be responsible for 1.13 tonnes of carbon. The same journey with Virgin Atlantic is [...]
Carillion two years on: ‘Misery’ as major hospitals in Liverpool and Birmingham still unfinished January 17, 2020 The government has faced yet another round of criticism for its handling of the collapse of outsourcer Carillion, more than two years after the company failed – this time over two hospitals it was building when it went bust. The government spending watchdog said in a report that the hospitals, in Liverpool and the west [...]
Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary threatens to sue government over ‘billionaire-owned’ Flybe rescue January 16, 2020 Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary has threatened to sue the government over its bailout of “billionaire-owned” regional airline Flybe. O’Leary wrote to chancellor Sajid Javid today demanding that the government extend an air passenger duty “holiday” handed to the struggling carrier to all other airlines. If it does not do this, he said, it would be [...]
