High Speed 2 shortlists firms for phase two packages worth £520m August 23, 2016 A number of firms have been shortlisted for contracts on the second phase of High Speed 2 (HS2) worth a total of £520m. The £350m professional services contract will be fought out between four firms, while three will compete for the £170m programme development partner role. The winners for both packages will be announced before the [...]
Internet spying powers are “a vital utility” for fighting terrorism, an independent review has found August 19, 2016 British spies should be allowed to harvest data en masse from emails, a review of terror legislation has concluded. David Anderson QC said there was no viable alternative to the use of so-called bulk interception powers by MI5, MI6 and GCHQ. The report concluded there was a “proven operational case” for three out of the four powers examined, [...]
The Night Tube is nigh – but Sadiq Khan has raised some potential “teething problems” August 19, 2016 You'd be hard pushed to find anyone who's sour about the Night Tube finally coming into service tonigh We've already identified some key benefits – and most Londoners, retail groups and even the RMT seem to be excited about it. Naturally, the mayor of London is pretty smitten too. But with great power comes great responsibility and Sadiq Khan has [...]
Southern Rail could be hit by yet another strike as union members hold ballot over ticket office closures August 19, 2016 And so it continues. Ticket office and platform staff at Southern Rail's parent company, Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), are voting again on whether to go on strike. This time the ballot is around a dispute over ticket office closures and job losses, the TSSA rail union said today. Read more: Talks between Southern Rail and RMT break down [...]
British Airways set to gain access to Chinese domestic market August 19, 2016 British Airways is gearing up for access to China's domestic market as it launches a new partnership with China Eastern Airlines. Through the partnership with the Shanghai-based carrier, customers in the UK will be able to fly to regional Chinese destinations. Read more: Yep, a weaker pound has hit British Airlines owner IAG Alex Cruz, [...]
William Hill shares shoot up after Rank and 888 deal falters August 19, 2016 William Hill's share price has shot up the day after Rank Group and 888 Holdings gave up on their pursuit of the bookmaker. Shares are currently up by 3.1 per cent to 312.5p per share, after having risen as much as 5.1 per cent as trading opened. And more good news: 888 Holdings' share price [...]
Night Tube will support thousands of workers, says Sadiq Khan ahead of tonight’s launch August 19, 2016 The mayor of London has formally hailed the start of Night Tube, saying it will support thousands of workers and help get Londoners around more quickly, safely and affordably. Sadiq Khan applauded the commencement of the 24 hour weekend services, which launch on the Central and Victoria lines tonight. “The launch of the Night Tube this evening [...]
One of the most ethical bankers of all time turns down multi-million reward August 19, 2016 A whistleblower whose information helped reveal false accounting at Deutsche Bank has turned down a huge financial reward from the Securities and Exchange Commission in protest of failure to punish wrong-doing executives at the bank. Eric Ben-Artzi, a former Deutsche risk officer, told the SEC that he does not want to take his share of a $16.5m [...]
RMT union backs Night Tube – and its members – after having striked on pay August 18, 2016 The RMT has remarkably now decided to support the beginning of services on the Night Tube, claiming its workers deserve the "praise and the credit". The union, which has disputed the implementation of the Night Tube and voted for strike action, has now changed tact and started to back the commencement of services, with the caveat that staff [...]
Uncertainty over Garden Bridge as pleading letter counters funding problems August 18, 2016 Uncertainties over London's Garden Bridge are building after a letter sent by the chairman of its trust to the secretary of state pleaded for a commitment to the project before a funding gap was revealed. The letter, written before it was revealed there was a gap in funds of more than £50m for the project, makes it clear the trust is confident [...]
