Rolls-Royce swings back to profit despite slow international travel recovery August 5, 2021 Engine maker Rolls-Royce reported an operating profit of £307m in the first half of 2021, marking a significant improvement from the £1.6bn in losses a year ago. The group said international travel would bounce back once restrictions are lifted, but warned recovery is “likely to occur beyond the initial expected timeframe of 2022.” Shares had [...]
European Commission urges US travel ban to be lifted for Europeans August 4, 2021 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, has demanded Washington lift entry restrictions for European citizens in an interview with German outlet RND published today. “We insist that there are comparable rules for travellers in both directions. The epidemiological situation in the US and the EU today is very similar,” said the EU Commission President. “We [...]
EU pushes ahead with plan to levy border fee on Brits: Will the UK reciprocate? August 4, 2021 The European Commission has confirmed its plans to charge €7 (£6.20) to travellers visiting Europe from non-EU states, including British citizens. The fee will apply with the introduction of a European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) before the end of 2022. It will be a one-off fee valid for multiple entries over three years, [...]
Rolls-Royce finally gets Norwegian unit sale across the line with £54m Langley deal August 4, 2021 FTSE blue-chip Rolls-Royce has agreed to sell Bergen Engines, its Norwegian maritime engine manufacturing arm, to UK engineering group Langley Holdings with a new price tag of €63m (£53.6m). Rolls-Royce will retain €110m (£93.6m) from the sale – €70m from the transaction in addition to €40m Bergen currently holds in cash. This is in line [...]
Hitachi to buy Thales’ rail signalling division in £1.4bn deal August 4, 2021 Thales and Hitachi are entering exclusive negotiations on the sale of Thales’ railway signalling business valued at €1.66bn (£1.4bn). Thales is carving out its Ground Transportation Systems Global Business Unit (GTS), which the company says employs 9,000 people across the world. GTS’s rail technology also offers train control systems and face collection services. It benefits [...]
Moscow Metro introduces face recognition payment system August 3, 2021 The Tube has Oyster cards and the New York subway its Metrocards, but Moscow’s Metro is going one better – rolling out ticketing based on facial recognition technology. The Face Pay technology use biometric data and bank card details to recognise, and charge, travellers on the Metro. The tech is currently being trialled on the [...]
Greggs bakes in recovery as chain plots high street expansion August 3, 2021 Greggs appears well set for expansion after a sustained recovery in sales as coronavirus restrictions have eased. The British bakery and fast-food chain made £55.5m in pre-tax profit in the first half of 2021, compared to a pre-tax loss of £64.5m in the same period last year. Total sales amounted to £546.2m. The increase in [...]
EU eyes pandemic exit with 70 per cent of population administered first dose August 3, 2021 Despite protests against coronavirus restrictions rocking the streets of Paris and Berlin last weekend, the EU’s quiet move towards an exit from the pandemic continues apace. The European Union surpassed its target of injecting at least one jab into the arms of 70 per cent of its population by the end of July. And according [...]
Quarantine lifted for double-jabbed US and EU travellers as ministers discuss amber watchlist August 2, 2021 Fully-vaccinated travellers from the EU and the USA are now able to enter the UK without quarantining. The government announced the new scheme – which came into effect at 4 am this morning – last week, saying it could help reunite friends and family who live abroad. People coming from France are still required to [...]
Foxtons’ best results in five years prompt real estate giant to reinstate dividend July 29, 2021 Estate agent Foxtons has delivered its best results in five years, boosted by a pandemic-induced resurgence in London’s property market after years of weak results. The sales and lettings agency announced it made £66.9m in revenue in the first half of 2021, a 66 per cent increase compared to the same period in 2020 and [...]