Amazon meddled with a union election, US labour watchdog says August 3, 2021 E-commerce giant Amazon has meddled with a union election by not ensuring ballot privacy and handing out paraphernalia that discouraged organising, according to the US labour watchdog. The National Labour Relations Board (NLRB) had been investigating a number of alleged illegal actions during Amazon’s union drive. In its latest report, the NLRB issued recommendations that [...]
China’s Wuhan to test all 12m residents after just three Delta cases found August 3, 2021 China’s Wuhan is set to test all 12m residents after just three Delta variant cases were spotted in the city, but fears of it spreading grow. The country’s levels of the Delta variant are still relatively low in comparison to the UK, with total cases standing at just 414 for the entire country. The Delta [...]
Over 100 Amazon Prime Air staff let go as drone deliveries fail to get off the ground August 3, 2021 More than 100 Amazon Prime Air employees have lost their jobs as the project has cut back parts of its UK operations, according to reports. Amazon Prime Air, which launched in 2016, is e-commerce giant Amazon’s delivery division for drones. However, a number of employees on the UK team told Wired that the drone project [...]
Jack Ma’s Ant Group emerges as a steady ship amid China’s tech crackdown August 3, 2021 Fintech giant Ant Group, the brainchild of Chinese billionaire Jack Ma, has emerged a steady ship in its first-quarter amid a rocky political climate in China. Revenue rose to $31.8bn in the three months ending 30 June, a little below analyst forecasts. Following intense scrutiny from local regulators, the Chinese fintech giant has shifted into [...]
Virtual negotiations: COP26 should be an ‘immersive’ hybrid event August 3, 2021 The UN’s flagship climate conference, COP26, should be an ‘immersive’ hybrid event where some negotiations happen virtually, a former climate chief has said. Christiana Figueres, who spearheaded the 2015 Paris Agreement, said it was unlikely 25,000 people would attend the event in Glasgow as originally planned. Organisers must find the “sweet spot” that allows for [...]
Historic IPO: India’s first woman-led unicorn could stoke a $4bn valuation August 3, 2021 Upcoming unicorn and beauty e-commerce startup Nykaa could be looking at a $4bn valuation once it makes the final touches to its initial public offering. The Mumbai-headquartered startup hitting a billion-dollar valuation would make it India’s first-ever woman-led unicorn. The country’s woman-led unicorn has emerged from former investment banker Falguni Nayar, who has bagged the [...]
Domino’s profits rocket as ‘Freedom Day’ ushers in more consumer cash August 3, 2021 Domino’s has seen its sales and profits rocket in the past six months, as the end of restrictions in the UK ushered in greater consumer spending power. The pizza group’s profits after tax pulled in £41.3m in the six months to 27 June, surging 117.4 per cent from its just £19m profit in 2020. Sales [...]
Fancy a Covid jab? Here are all the free walk-in vaccine sites open in London this week August 2, 2021 While every adult can now book their coronavirus vaccine online, there are still sites that accept walk-ins for those eligible. Some sites and times are only for those aged 40 or over, so be sure to check your eligibility. Find your closest site! The full list across London and their eligibility: Based in the South [...]
Meggitt shares keep flying high after Parker’s £6bn bid to buy August 2, 2021 British engineering firm Meggitt saw its shares rocket nearly 60 per cent on the London Stock Exchange this morning after US tech firm Parker tabled some £6.3bn for the firm. Shares were up an eyewatering 59.5 per cent just after opening but steadied to 54.6 per cent in its afternoon trading at 725.4p per share. [...]
Treasury appoints Unilever veteran to chair UK Government Investments August 2, 2021 The Treasury has appointed a Unilever veteran as its new chair of UK Government Investments, who will join the board in September. Vindi Banga is set to join UK Government Investments (UKGI), an arm of the Treasury, alongside his current role of chair at charity Marie Curie. The incoming chair is also a senior non-executive [...]