UK government should end rail outsourcing ‘racket’, says union

Railway leaders should “think afresh” about outsourcing contracts and try to run services better, the rail minister has said, as union research indicated six major private suppliers made £150m in profits last year.Rail unions are campaigning to end the widespread outsourcing of jobs such as cleaning, security and catering, arguing that staff employed by third-party companies have worse conditions and that profits could be reinvested in the railway.Analysis by the RMT union estimated that six of the biggest UK outsourcing facilities management companies in rail – Mitie, OCS, Bidvest Noonan, Churchill, Carlisle and ABM – have profit margins on contracts averaging 11%, aggregating profits of £152m in the past year across the national railway and the London Underground.The RMT said many contracts have clauses passing on extra costs, such as increases to the minimum wage or employers’ national insurance contributions, back to the government – in effect, it says, meaning “the outsourcing firms’ profits are protected at the expense of the taxpayer”.One of the companies, Carlisle Support Services, is ultimately owned by the former peer, Tory donor and tax exile Michael Ashcroft

UK law firms get ready for crackdown on money laundering

UK law firms are bracing themselves for a money-laundering crackdown as ministers race to improve the City’s reputation ahead of a fresh financial crime review.The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has been designated as the new anti-money laundering watchdog for the legal sector, in a move that experts warn could result in “sharper” penalties and ultimately reshape the industry.The decision to consolidate regulation, which at present is spread across nine separate supervisors, is part of the government’s wider efforts to combat the UK’s reputation as a hub for “dirty money”. The National Crime Agency estimates that £100bn is being laundered through or within the UK every single year, with the help of enabling entities such as law firms.The City’s poor reputation for money laundering came into focus in 2018, following an assessment by the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), the Paris-based global crime watchdog

Tesla publishes analyst forecasts suggesting sales set to fall

Tesla has taken the unusual step of publishing sales forecasts that suggest 2025 deliveries will be lower than expected and future years’ sales will be well below targets set by its chief executive, Elon Musk.The US electric vehicle maker published figures from analysts suggesting it will announce 423,000 deliveries during the fourth quarter of 2025, in a new “consensus” section on its investor website. That would represent a 16% decline from the final quarter of 2024.The estimates suggested that Tesla would deliver 1.64m cars in 2025 as a whole, down from 1

Tell us: have you trained your AI job replacement?

Analysis by the International Monetary Fund says Artificial intelligence will affect about 40% of jobs around the world.We’d like to find out more about the impact of AI on jobs now. With this in mind, we want to hear from people who have been training AI to replace their current roles. What has the experience been like? How do you feel about your future at your company? Do you have concerns?Tell us all about it in the form below or by messaging us. Please include as much detail as possible

Damien Martyn showing ‘positive signs’ after being placed in induced coma with meningitis

Former Australia Test cricketer Damien Martyn is showing “positive signs” while in an induced coma after being diagnosed with meningitis, according to friend and former teammate Adam Gilchrist.Martyn was admitted to Gold Coast hospital after falling ill on Boxing Day, where he remains in a serious but stable condition. Meningitis is inflammation of the membranes that cover the brain and spinal cord.Speaking on Fox Sports’ Big Bash League broadcast on Thursday, Gilchrist said Martyn’s family were grateful for the outpouring of support that followed the news on Wednesday.“Thank you everyone for the heartfelt love and wishes and care for Damien as he goes through a challenging time,” Gilchrist said on their behalf

Usman Khawaja announces retirement from international cricket after SCG Ashes Test

Usman Khawaja has announced his retirement from international cricket, saying the fifth Ashes Test in Sydney will be his last and calling out racism he experienced throughout his career.The batter’s future in Test cricket has been one of the hottest topics of this summer’s Ashes series – he turned 39 last month.With Australia 3-1 up in the series headed into the final Test, Khawaja confirmed he would be calling time after the final SCG Test.“God through cricket has given me far more than I could have imagined,” he said. “He’s given me memories I’ll carry forever, friendship that goes well beyond the game, and lessons that shaped me, who I am, off the field