Tech CEOs and VCs Balk At Whiff of a UK Wealth Tax
Patch your servers: Microsoft has issued a security patch for customers to apply to hardware running its SharePoint software 'to mitigate active attacks targeting on-premises servers.' It's working on more updates, and cybersecurity researchers call the vulnerability a 'dream for ransomware operators.'
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Jobs market cools further over economic concerns and rising costs
Hiring activity fell further in July as the UK jobs market was weighed down by concerns over the economic outlook and increased labour costs, according to new figures. Growth in starting salaries also slowed to its lowest level for more than four years as firms tightened their recruitment budgets. The monthly KPMG and REC report on jobs showed a 'further steep decline' in permanent staff appointment in July. The influential report showed a reading of 40.0 for permanent placements in the UK, improving slightly from 39.1 in June. However, any figure below 50 represents decline in the job market, with levels over 50 showing growth. The data therefore indicated another month of contraction. Jon Holt, group chief executive and UK senior partner at KPMG, said: 'The labour market cooled in July as chief execs held back from increasing their recruitment budgets. 'Economic uncertainty, the complexities of AI adoption and global headwinds are all weighing on business planning.' Recruiters frequently said in the survey that weak confidence about the economy and 'increases in payroll costs' were factors causing the drop in hiring. It pointed towards a 'steady' jobs market in certain sectors, such as engineering, but flagged a continued drop in hiring in retail and hospitality. Meanwhile, starting salary inflation slowed for a second month in a row to its lowest level since March 2021. The data comes after the Bank of England pointed towards slowing wage growth over the coming year while the unemployment rate could tick higher. Kate Shoesmith, REC deputy chief executive, said: 'There is a path to jobs market recovery – but it will take co-ordinated action from Government, the Bank of England and businesses to maximise on any potential upswing. 'With starting salaries and temporary pay rising only modestly, it was right to cut interest rates last week. 'More action like this, to stabilise the business cost-base, is what will support growth and boost the jobs market this year.'
Yahoo
17 minutes ago
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EasyJet completes roll out of modern navigation software
EasyJet has completed the installation of new navigation software on 54 aircraft to ease collaboration with air traffic control (ATC) staff. The UK's biggest airline said the system shares real time aircraft trajectory information with ATC providers, helping create more efficient route calculations. The future air navigation system-C (Fans-C) software also involves instructions from ATC controllers to pilots – such as 'climb to 36,000 feet' – to be relayed by text rather than radio, reducing the chances of misunderstandings or hold-ups. EasyJet said it has retrofitted the programme on all 54 of its A320 and A321 neo family planes. The carrier's new jets rolling off the Airbus assembly line are equipped with the technology as standard. EasyJet said the software has saved it 334 tonnes of fuel since it began using it in 2019. It said last month French ATC disruption was responsible for the majority of its delays this summer. David Morgan, chief operating officer at easyJet, said: 'Technologies like Fans-C are not only essential for the modernisation of airspace, they will be critical in helping deliver meaningful reductions in fuel, carbon emissions and noise pollution. 'To maximise the potential of these technologies, it's critical that airspace reform is finally delivered, and this means more direct routes to help reduce congestion and delays. 'The UK Government has taken positive steps to redesign UK airspace – we now need those plans delivered swiftly here and across Europe so we can properly harness these technologies and capitalise on the environmental benefits they will deliver.' The Department for Transport and the Civil Aviation Authority are establishing a group of aviation experts to work with UK airports on modernising airspace. It is hoped this UK Airspace Design Service will launch by the end of the year. A radar-related issue was blamed for a UK ATC failure by provider Nats on July 30 which forced the cancellation of more than 150 flights, disrupting thousands of passengers.
Yahoo
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Japanese car firms at bottom of UK electric sales ranking
Japanese car manufacturers recorded the sharpest declines for electric vehicle (EV) sales in the first half of the year, according to new analysis. The Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit (ECIU) think tank, which conducted the research, said the stakes 'could not be higher' for car companies which do not prioritise the transition to electric motoring. Honda had the largest decrease for UK EV sales in the first six months of 2025 compared to the same period last year, at 92%. Mazda recorded the second biggest drop at 76%. Nissan saw a 69% fall, but the ECIU noted the company is retooling its factory in Sunderland to build three new EV models, which will likely drive significant uptake. At the other end of the scale, Ford saw the biggest year-on-year increase, with UK EV sales more than four times higher, partly because of the launch of the Ford Puma Gen-E. The top five also included Renault and Volkswagen, which both saw UK sales of their EVs more than treble. Colin Walker, head of transport at the ECIU, told the PA news agency: 'Traditional brands are fighting back, dramatically increasing the number of EVs they sell in what is now the world's fourth largest EV market. 'Legacy manufacturers are proving more than capable of making the transition to building the electric cars of the future with European manufacturers dominating.' A report by consultancy CBI Economics found a failure by the automotive sector to make the transition to manufacturing EVs could see its contribution to the UK economy fall by as much as £34.1 billion, with the loss of more than 400,000 jobs. Mr Walker said: 'The stakes for car companies the world over, and the car industry here in the UK, could not be higher.' Ben Nelmes, chief executive of green consultancy New Automotive, which provided the statistics for the ECIU's analysis, said: 'The race to go electric is on and our new data separates the sprinters from the stragglers. 'It is fantastic to see legacy brands like Ford, Renault and the UK's own Mini delivering for drivers with a colossal surge in EV sales. 'The message to the laggards is simple: get on and build the brilliant EVs of the future, or prepare to be left behind.' The Government has pledged to ban the sale of new fully petrol or diesel cars and vans from 2030. Sales of hybrid cars will still be permitted until 2035. Under the Government's zero emission vehicle (Zev) mandate, at least 28% of new cars sold by each manufacturer in the UK this year must be zero emission, which generally means pure electric. Across all manufacturers, the figure during the first half of the year was 21.6%. Recent changes to the mandate mean it will be easier for manufacturers who do not meet the targets to avoid fines. A spokesperson for Mazda said the brand's drop in EV sales was caused by the discontinuation of the Mazda MX-30 BEV (battery electric vehicle), but the fully electric Mazda6e will be introduced in 2026. He added: 'We will continue to meet the needs of our customers while developing a robust plan for the introduction of multiple EV models beyond 2026 that will give our customers an easy transition into electrified driving.' Honda and Nissan were approached for a comment. – Here are the top five car brands based on their increase in UK EV sales in the first half of the year:1. Ford: 324%2. BYD: 261%3. Renault: 251%4. Porsche: 203%5. Volkswagen: 201% – Here are the bottom five:1. Honda: -92%2. Mazda: -76%3. Nissan: -69%4. Toyota: -41%5. MG: -35%
