Climate change protests cost firms ￡12m in losses, UK employees work the most hours, and more top news
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Environmental protests in the capital have reportedly cost West End companies ￡12m in losses, amid calls to remove the protesters before the Easter holiday. More than 340 people have been arrested in connection with the protests so far, which have caused mass disruption in London since Monday, affecting 55 bus routes and 500,000 people. Protest group Extinction Rebellion is demanding the UK government slash greenhouse gas emissions to a net level of zero by 2025. Bank of England Gov. Mark Carney has urged the financial sector to play a central role in solving climate change. ? Here’s what people are saying.
UK employees are working more hours than any other member of the European Union, but often less productively, according to a new study from the TUC. Last year, British workers averaged 42 hours per week, compared to roughly 40 for the typical EU employee. “Overwork, stress and exhaustion have become the new normal,” said Frances O'Grady, TUC general secretary. The UK is the only major advanced economy that is forecast to show a decline in productivity growth this year, research suggests. ? Here’s what people are saying.
Helium-filled balloons have been blamed for causing hundreds of train delays, costing the British taxpayer around ￡1m a year. Network Rail said there were 619 balloon-related incidents – including getting tangled in high-voltage overhead wires, which can be potentially fatal – across England, Scotland and Wales last year. The company, which runs Britain’s railway infrastructure, made the warning as part of an awareness campaign around the issue. ? Here’s what people are saying.
Legislation is needed to end the dominance of the big four accounting firms, according to The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority. While the competition watchdog stopped short of calling for Deloitte, EY, KPMG and PwC to be broken up, it did say the firms should separate their audit businesses from their consultancy arms, and that UK-listed companies should have to use two audit firms to check their accounts, with one of them being outside the ‘Big Four’. This follows a number of high-profile audit failures. ? Here’s what people are saying.
An international architectural competition will be launched to redesign the roofline of Notre Dame Cathedral, after French President Emmanuel Macron vowed to restore it to its full glory within five years after the massive fire there Monday – just in time for the Summer Olympics 2024 to be held in Paris. Two of France’s billionaires, meanwhile, appeared to be bidding each other up in donating millions toward the reconstruction effort, with offers of funding and technical assistance also rolling in from abroad. ? Here’s what people are saying.
Idea of the Day: Things won’t always go your way but your attitude will determine your success, says social media ghostwriter Bruce Kasanoff.
“When you fail, act as though success is following close behind — [and] when you succeed, act as though failure is following close behind.”
What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.
Clinical Psychologist
5 年Costs?!! We have a lot more to lose unless we genuinely wake up to making some real lifestyle and environmental changes.....this is not about GNI, GDP.....whatever....this is about Gross National Survival.
Management BS student at Birkbeck university London. Passion on research and analytics. On my way to Project Manager
5 年Protests would not be needed if governments take further actions seriously about that as a must in their agendas. But this is something of no interest because does not give money to anyone so is not even considered...looks like
Bespoke Robotics R&D Engineer at Self-Employed
5 年12 million that’s almost one banker’s bonus. What will the rich and greedy do?
Consultant for Security Developments international.
5 年Now these clowns have not only closed Marble Arch at the top of Park Lane. But the police have allowed them to shut down Piccadilly Circus . Absolutely ridiculous in business terms. Yet the protest at parliament has been corralled so as to allow traffic to flow. We really are seen as unimportant and lesser mortals than our MPs The ‘I’m alright jack attitude’ is to the fore with these MPs. This is not a little inconvenience as some morons on here put it. This is major disruption and anti business by the feckless and the elite.
Independent commercial investigator
5 年Strip them all naked. Give them a dignity cloth and make them walk home to their cozy houses I phones tvs and all the other worldly clobber they clearly do not need and ask them to give it all to charity. Then they may have achieved something