Daimler warns chip shortage will wipe out first half sales boost July 21, 2021 Mercedes owner Daimler today warned that the global shortage of semiconductor chips would wipe out its impressive first half performance. In a statement announcing today’s second quarter results, the car giant said that sales would now be flat on 2020, rather than up as previously forecast. The German firm added that the supply crisis would [...]
Raab tells EU to ‘think again’ over Gibraltar negotiation plans July 20, 2021 The government has tonight rejected the EU’s plan for negotiations with the UK over the future of Gibraltar, saying that it would undermine the British sovereignty over the territory. Earlier today the bloc published its draft mandate for the upcoming negotiations, which it said “aims to have a positive impact for those living and working [...]
Channel 4 chair hits back at ‘very harmful’ privatisation plans July 20, 2021 Channel 4’s chairman has hit back at the government’s plans to privatise the broadcaster, saying such a step would be “very harmful” to viewers and risk thousands of jobs. Last month it emerged that the government is preparing a consultation into the privatisation of the broadcaster. But in a letter to culture secretary Oliver Dowden, [...]
Shell appeals historic Dutch emissions order July 20, 2021 Shell has today confirmed that it will appeal against a landmark court ruling requiring the oil giant to cut emissions faster than it had planned to. The Anglo-Dutch firm said that it had been unfairly singled out by the ruling, which it said was not an “effective” way of tackling climate change. In May, a [...]
GMB calls off British Gas strike after 44 days July 20, 2021 Union GMB has today brought an end to 44 days of strike action after its members backed a new pay deal from British Gas. Around 7,000 of the company’s engineers carried out the industrial action in protest at the firm’s so-called “fire and rehire” tactics. GMB said that 500 workers lost their jobs as a [...]
Exclusive: Number of private jets available for purchase dries up as demand soars during pandemic July 20, 2021 The number of private jets available for purchase has plummeted sharply in the last year after wealthy individuals snapped up most of the world’s available planes due to the pandemic. Data from private jet broker Colibri Aircraft shows that a mere 4.7 per cent of the world’s pre-owned jet fleet is for sale – this [...]
Government to ease lorry driver qualification requirements to tackle shortage July 20, 2021 Ministers have today proposed easing driver qualification requirements in order to ease the current shortage of lorry drivers, which has left supermarket shelves empty around the country. Retailers are battling an estimated shortfall of around 100,000 hauliers as a result of Brexit and the coronavirus pandemic. In a letter to the logistics sector today, the [...]
High Court rules in favour of government’s traffic light travel system July 20, 2021 The High Court has ruled that the government’s traffic light system for travel was not unlawful, in yet another blow for the aviation sector. A collection of the UK’s biggest airlines and airports, including BA owner IAG, Easyjet, Ryanair, and Manchester Airport Group, had challenged the transparency of the system. As a result of the [...]
New £375m investment scheme for high-growth firms opens for application July 20, 2021 The government has today opened a new £375m pot of funding to invest in fast-growing firms across the sectors such as life sciences and clean tech. To be eligible for the so-called “Future Fund: Breakthrough” scheme, businesses looking to raise at least £30m must have 70 per cent of an investment round already committed by [...]
Northern Rail ticket machines hit by ransomware attack July 19, 2021 Northern Rail’s new self-service ticket machines have been the subject of a ransomware attack, the rail operator confirmed this evening. The machines were taken offline last week and the government-operated franchise has launched an investigation into the attack. It said that no customer or payment data had been accessed by the attack, which was limited [...]
