Whirlpool ordered to recall dryers over fire fears, pay rise for UK workers, and more top news

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The government is to order an “unprecedented” recall of up to 500,000 Whirlpool tumble dryers over fire safety risks, four years after concerns were first raised. The firm has been accused of dragging its feet over fixing a design flaw in Whirlpool-produced machines that allowed fluff from clothing to reach heating elements, said to have affected more than 5 million tumble dryers manufactured and sold in the UK. Consumer groups claim the issue has been linked to hundreds of fires. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Britain’s wages picked up more than previously expected between February and April, according to figures from the Office for National Statistics. Pay rose by 3.4% compared with a year earlier, or 1.4% after accounting for inflation. The biggest pickup in earnings came in construction and financial services. Meanwhile, women’s employment rate hit a record high of 72% as changes to the state pension age took effect. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Ryanair and British Airways are facing possible strike action as pilots push for better pay and working conditions. Pilots will begin talks with Ryanair after an indicative ballot showed strong support for industrial action over a pay dispute. British Airways owner IAG faces the same after unions rejected the latest pay offer. Meanwhile, leading railway workers’ union the RMT is threatening “co-ordinated industrial action” in a row over pensions. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Carbon emissions rose at the fastest rate in almost a decade last year as energy giant BP points to a “growing mismatch” between demand for action and the pace of progress. BP’s 68th annual global energy report found that carbon emissions rose by 2% in 2018, equivalent to increasing the number of passenger cars on the planet by a third — as demand for energy outpaces the rollout of renewable resources. China, India and the US accounted for two-thirds of the world’s energy growth. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Uber has a new rival in London. Estonian ride-hail start-up Bolt — formerly Taxify — launched with 20,000 registered drivers on Tuesday after securing an operating licence from Transport of London. It’s the second time the company has tried to take on Uber in the British capital after it was denied a licence in 2017. Bolt, which reached a valuation of $1 billion last year, takes a 15% commission from drivers on rides, compared with Uber’s 25%. ? Here’s what people are saying.

Idea of the Day: In order to have a more productive week, redefine the way you approach a Monday, advises J.T. O’Donnell, CEO at WorkITDaily.

“I realised early on in my career that I needed to reframe how I looked at Mondays if I wanted to be more productive and successful. Writing off the first day of the week was not going to get me where I wanted to go.”

What's your take on today’s stories? Share your thoughts in the comments.

— Natalie MacDonald