Whitbread is bringing an 81-room Premier Inn to Belfast International Airport, set to open in 2026. The £5.5-£6 million project includes a restaurant, parking, and jobs, aiming to capture the attention of six million yearly airport travelers as part of the group's strategic UK and Ireland growth.
Aldi will hike store assistant pay for the second time in 2025, with minimum rates at £13.00 an hour nationwide and £14.33 in London. This tops the Real Living Wage and rivals' pay, further boosting Aldi’s lead in the UK supermarket sector. Staff will keep the perk of paid breaks, adding extra yearly value.
The UK's water sector is at a crossroads as debt and regulatory pressures threaten companies like Thames Water. Special administration looms, sparking debates over private restructuring, government intervention, and investor confidence. Jon Cunliffe leads a review seeking structural reforms to prevent further crises.
A long-loved North Wales cider company has stopped production, leaving its fans and local community saddened. Known for using local ingredients and traditional methods, the company announced its closure after years of serving markets and festivals. Supporters and small shops are paying tribute, while remaining cider stock is still available for now.
NatWest's chairman publicly thanked British taxpayers after the UK government offloaded its last shares in the bank nearly 17 years after a massive 2008 bailout. The state intervention, though costly, is credited with preventing a wider crisis. The bank now promises firmer ethics and customer care.
Netflix has raised subscription rates in Nigeria for the third time in twelve months, blaming inflation and currency woes. The increases—up to 21%—hit all plans, even as wages and data costs squeeze consumers. The move matches Netflix's regional strategy but puts pressure on budget-minded Nigerians.
Parkview Group, under financial pressure, landed a HK$300 million private loan from PAG after banks backed away. The short-term financing comes as the developer faces tough refinancing on a $940 million Beijing complex debt and seeks billions more in funding. Hong Kong property prices have dived 28% since 2021.
Thames Water has abandoned plans to give £1m bonuses to senior bosses after sharp criticism from government officials who said the payouts wouldn’t be justified. The rewards, tied to a £3bn emergency loan, drew public anger for benefiting executives during ongoing financial and environmental struggles. The company is now awaiting further advice from the industry regulator.
DoorDash is making waves with plans to buy Deliveroo for $3.86 billion and SevenRooms for $1.2 billion, expanding into nine new European countries and boosting its tech for restaurants. With these moves, DoorDash aims to serve 50 million users across 40 countries and strengthen its position against rivals like Uber Eats.
China has declared it will respond firmly against Trump's plan to impose an additional 50% tariff on Chinese goods, escalating the trade conflict between the two nations. This move, coupled with previous tariffs, could result in a cumulative 104% duty on imports from China. Beijing labels these actions as U.S. bullying, pledging to defend its interests. The tension has led to volatility in global markets, stirring fears of inflation and recession.
