Why the Turkey earthquake shouldn’t stop you booking a holiday in a disaster zone February 12, 2023 The crisis in Turkey reminds Justine Gosling of her trip to the Dominican Republic after the hurricane hit in 2022. Her message is that visiting countries affected by natural disasters – safely, of course – can help strengthen their economy. Donate to the Disaster Emergency Committee appeal here to help the search for survivors and [...]
‘Unmitigated disaster’: Unions and Sadiq Khan slam transport sec Mark Harper’s rail reform plan February 8, 2023 Unions and Sadiq Khan have slammed the government’s plans to enhance the private sector’s role in railways, calling it “an unmitigated disaster.” It comes after transport secretary Mark Harper announced last night the creation of Great British Railways (GBR), saying the new public body will take “politics out of the railways.” According to Harper yesterday, [...]
Complete decentralization enables blockchains to offer real-world utility February 8, 2023 When you are assessing a crypto project, what do you look for? Despite the current trend being all about the price of the coin on an exchange, the main assessment could be based on the answer to “what does the project actually enable”? One of the most popular answers is “DeFi offerings”, and unfortunately that [...]
Shell wins High Court injunction against Greenpeace protestors occupying oil platform in North Sea February 7, 2023 Shell has won a bid for a new High Court injunction against Greenpeace protesters occupying an oil platform as it is transported to the North Sea. On January 31, four protesters from the environmental campaign group boarded the White Marlin, a heavy-load ship carrying a floating oil and gas platform, as it travelled near the [...]
Analysis: HS2, the eternal political hot potato February 7, 2023 The biggest transport project in Britain is facing threats over its future after even more delays and higher costs for the high speed rail. It was only weeks ago when Jeremy Hunt insisted the high speed rail line, HS2, would end at Euston and not in West London, where the rumour mill had suggested it [...]
Improving London’s carbon footprint with VOLT February 7, 2023 Despite the efforts of both the national government and the Mayor, London’s air pollution challenge remains. Research has identified London as one of the most polluted cities in the world by nitrogen oxide levels, close to Beijing and Delhi. It is clear that to overcome London’s air quality challenge, businesses and individuals across London will [...]
Sadiq Khan warns rebel boroughs against challenging ULEZ expansion February 6, 2023 Sadiq Khan has warned a number of rebel boroughs against challenging the London-wide expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone, or ULEZ, saying their case was “wholly without merit and misconceived.” Four Conservative boroughs sent a pre-action letter to Transport for London (TfL) on 13 January, challenging Khan’s decision to expand the ULEZ to Greater [...]
Week ahead: UK economy to narrowly avoid recession but GDP still expected to shrink February 5, 2023 The UK economy narrowly avoided a recession at the end of last year, new official figures out this week are expected to reveal. City traders think new GDP numbers from the Office for National Statistics on Friday will show the economy contracted 0.3 per cent in December, meaning the UK will have just about skirted [...]
‘Bloody rail strikes!’: Union boss is late to own picket at Euston as he warns walk-outs could go to 2026 February 3, 2023 Strikes by train drivers could continue for three more years, a trade union boss has warned – as he was late to his own picket because.. of rail strikes. Aslef general secretary Mick Whelan spoke as the majority of Britain’s train services were cancelled on Friday due to industrial action. Train driver members of Aslef [...]
Train strikes today: How will lines servicing London be affected by Friday’s walk-outs – and is there any end in sight? February 3, 2023 Britain’s train services are being hit by strike action again on Friday, but the capital will remain largely unaffected – as long as you don’t have to commute in or out of London. Who is striking and why? Train driver members of Aslef and the Rail, Maritime and Transport (RMT) unions are walking out in [...]