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Europe
BBC Business

Reported assaults on Britain's rail services rise by more than a third

Image source, Getty ImagesByKaty Austin, transport correspondent and Lucy Hooker, business reporterPublished24 September 2026Reports of violent incidents and harassment on rail services "rose substantially" last year, figures from the rail regulator show. Reported assaults, including physical and verbal, were up 36% in the year to March 2026 compared with the previous year, according to the Office of Rail and Road (ORR). In total 13,464 assaults against passengers and members of the public were recorded on Britain's mainline railway, the highest number recorded since the series began in 2004. The ORR said the figures were "concerning" and that it was working with the industry to address the problem. According to the figures, harassment increased by 52% compared with the previous year and common assaults rose by 30%. The increase comes against a backdrop of five years of rising reports of incidents and industry campaigns to raise awareness. Assaults on the mainline railway are recorded according to their type. As a result each incident can lead to reports in more than one category, for example if someone is harassed and then physically assaulted. There were also 11,289 reported assaults against members of the workforce on the mainline railway, up 12% compared with the previous year. Of those 2,487 were physical assaults, while more than half (6,390 incidents) involved verbal abuse. The rest were threats. "We're working with industry and our trade union colleagues to address work-related violence and harassment," said Richard Hines, the ORR's chief inspector of railways. "This includes understanding where the risks are, putting effective controls in place, encouraging staff to report incidents and providing appropriate support afterwards," he said. The statistics include mainline rail services in England, Scotland and Wales, but not Northern Ireland. The data release also covers the London Underground, trams, metros and other light rail services.

Reported assaults on Britain's rail services rise by more than a third
North America
CNBC Finance

Budget airline king Bill Franke warms to first-class seats and premium upgrades

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — For decades, William Augustus Franke, Frontier Airlines' chairman and a serial airline investor, made a killing selling cheap plane tickets and charging fees to check bags, to pick seats and for everything else. Now, he says first-class seats and other traveler comforts are in order — at least in the United States. Frontier is planning to roll out first-class seats next year on its Airbus fleet. It's also joined a growing list of airlines adding SpaceX's Starlink Wi-Fi on board as it seeks to return to steady profitability. "We're not trying to have a Singapore Airlines first class," Franke, 89, told CNBC in late June at the model airplane-filled offices of Indigo Partners, the private equity firm he founded. "What we're trying to do is give the consumer an option," he said, calling it at once upscale and competitive. The ultra-low-cost airline model that Franke, who goes by Bill, pioneered has faced a reckoning in recent years. A jump in pilot salaries, maintenance costs and operating expenses, along with a boom in premium travel, have hit long-profitable and fast-growing budget carriers. Maintaining strong growth and keeping costs low were sacrosanct for that sector for years. Another pillar was not giving things away for free. At the 2017 Dubai Air Show, where he made a record Airbus aircraft order for the empire of airlines he invested in, Franke likened some consumers to teenagers and "spoiled brats," saying they expected to get low fares and what are now add-ons without paying for them, CNBC reported at the time. "They had been flying with all the amenities for ever and ever and that's what they think they ought to get," Franke said at the time. But since then, larger, more powerful rivals like United Airlines and Delta Air Lines have copied the model for their cheapest tickets. They've started offering bare-bones fare options and adding fees for everything else. This year, they even brought that pricing strategy to their first classes and plush, long-haul suites to increase revenue, stripping customers who choose that option of a free seat choice, among other restrictions. Franke has owned, operated or invested in budget airlines around the world, from Chile to Hungary to the Philippines to the U.S. He was an early investor in European budget carrier Ryanair. His legacy stretches across the airline industry: Many top airline executives, including the CEOs of United Airlines and American Airlines, worked under him earlier in their careers. Franke also ran Spirit Airlines until 2013, before becoming the chairman at Frontier at the end of that year. He tried to merge the two carriers in 2022 but Spirit shareholders voted for another offer, all cash, from JetBlue Airways. That deal fell apart after a federal court ruled it violated antitrust laws in January 2024. Struggling on its own, Spirit collapsed in May, the biggest U.S. airline failure in decades, leaving Frontier as the largest discounter in the country.

Budget airline king Bill Franke warms to first-class seats and premium upgrades
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Government cuts sugar dealers’ stock limit to 1,000 quintals from October 15

The government has cut the stock holding limit for sugar dealers to 1,000 quintals from October 15 to November 30 to ensure adequate supplies during the festive season. | Photo Credit: KAMAL NARANG The government on Thursday further tightened the stock holding limit for sugar dealers to 1,000 quintals, effective from October 15 to November 30, in a bid to ensure adequate supplies of the sweetener at reasonable prices during the festival season. Dealers will be allowed to hold stock for only 15 days. The amended norms will not apply to Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas, and Assam, the food ministry said in a statement. With the new sugar season beginning October 1, the Centre said it was strengthening measures to ensure availability of sugar to consumers at reasonable prices during the festive period. “By restricting the quantity and storage period of sugar, the government aims to facilitate the orderly movement of sugar through the supply chain and ensure its continuous availability to consumers at reasonable prices,” the ministry said in a statement. Keeping in view region-specific market requirements, the limit has been fixed at 2,000 quintals for Kolkata and its extended metropolitan areas and for Assam. Kolkata buys sugar from Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Karnataka, and supplies it to eastern India, including the northeast. The limit for Assam takes into account geographical constraints, transportation facilities and consumer interest in the northeast, the ministry said. “The objective of the amended rules is to ensure that there is no unnecessary accumulation of sugar in the distribution chain and that there is a smooth flow of supply from sugar mills through dealers to the end consumer,” it said. The move is aimed at curbing hoarding, discouraging speculation and preventing accumulation of stocks by dealers. In August, citing a tight supply year, the government had imposed a nationwide stock holding limit on dealers of 4,000 quintals, applicable from August 1 to November 30, along with a maximum holding period of 30 days from the date of receipt. The limit was later tightened to 2,000 quintals from September 15. According to the ministry, average retail sugar prices have fallen 15 per cent from their August peak and are expected to decline further as lower prices in the supply chain are realised. Ex-mill prices have dropped by around 28 per cent and have remained stable for the past three weeks. The government reiterated that mills, dealers, wholesalers and other market participants must ensure uninterrupted movement of sugar and prevent hoarding and speculation. Wholesalers and retailers have also been urged to “immediately pass on” the benefits of the sharp fall in ex-mill prices to consumers.

Government cuts sugar dealers’ stock limit to 1,000 quintals from October 15
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

SpintronicsAI, CSIR-CEERI sign MoU to advance indigenous GaN semiconductor technology

SpintronicsAI Semiconductors and CSIR-CEERI have formed a strategic partnership to assess an indigenous GaN technology development and fabrication facility in India. | Photo Credit: iStockphoto Under the MoU, the two organisations have formed a strategic Technology and Design Transfer partnership focused on GaN technology. SpintronicsAI Semiconductors is the first company in India to enter into such a partnership with CSIR-CEERI. Hyderabad-based Spintronics AI Semiconductors and CSIR-CEERI will assess the feasibility of establishing an indigenous GaN technology development and fabrication facility in India. It will explore technology and infrastructure requirements, fabrication capabilities and potential pathways to strengthen domestic GaN semiconductor capabilities. Alongside the assessment, the collaboration will focus on transferring advanced GaN technology and design know-how from research and development into an industry-led semiconductor manufacturing ecosystem. GaN is a critical next-generation semiconductor technology with applications across defence and aerospace, space systems, satellite communications, RF communications, advanced telecommunications, power electronics, electric mobility and other high-frequency uses. “India’s GaN semiconductor market is projected to grow from approximately USD 224 million in 2026 to nearly USD 1.88 billion by 2033. This initiative can help India capture more of that value domestically by developing and manufacturing GaN products for power, RF, telecom, defence, space and automotive applications, while also creating opportunities for global markets,’’ Raghu Varma, Founder & CEO, SpintronicsAI Semiconductors said in a release. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

SpintronicsAI, CSIR-CEERI sign MoU to advance indigenous GaN semiconductor technology
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Reliance Jio strengthen telecom leadership in Keralam

Reliance Jio has strengthened its market position in Keralam by adding 2.38 lakh active wireless subscribers (VLR) in August. According to the latest telecom subscription data released by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), Jio’s active subscriber base in Keralam increased from 1.06 crore VLR units (105.54 lakh) in July to 1.08 crore Visitor Location Register (VLR) units (107.92 lakh) in August, adding 2.38 lakh active subscribers during the month. The company’s active subscriber market share also improved from 24.62 per cent in July to 24.86 per cent in August. Jio also registered growth in its overall subscriber base (CMS) in Keralam, increasing from 112.47 lakh subscribers in July to 112.88 lakh in August. The growth in VLR subscribers is considered a key indicator of customer engagement, as it reflects the number of subscribers actively using the network. The surge in active users highlights a strong consumer shift toward Jio’s True 5G connectivity, competitive unlimited data offerings, and widespread coverage across both urban and rural pockets of Keralam, a press release said. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Reliance Jio strengthen telecom leadership in Keralam
Asia
The Hindu BusinessLine

Dhanuka Agritech launches biosolution adjuvant Wetcit Neo

Dhanuka Agritech Ltd has announced the launch of Wetcit Neo, a plant-based biosolution adjuvant designed to enhance the application efficiency of crop protection and crop nutrition products. A company statement said efficient application of agricultural inputs is essential for helping farmers achieve better outcomes from their crop protection and nutrition practices. Wetcit Neo addresses a key challenge by improving spray spreading, coverage and absorption, particularly on crops where waxy leaf surfaces can limit the effectiveness of conventional sprays. By improving contact between spray solutions and plant surfaces, the adjuvant is designed to support the effective delivery of crop protection products, including applications targeting insects and fungal diseases. Its broad compatibility with many existing agrochemical formulations also offers flexibility in agricultural spray applications, subject to product-label recommendations, the statement said. Comments have to be in English, and in full sentences. They cannot be abusive or personal. Please abide by our community guidelines for posting your comments. We have migrated to a new commenting platform. If you are already a registered user of TheHindu Businessline and logged in, you may continue to engage with our articles. If you do not have an account please register and login to post comments. Users can access their older comments by logging into their accounts on Vuukle.

Dhanuka Agritech launches biosolution adjuvant Wetcit Neo
Europe
BBC Business

US rejects pleas from OpenAI, Anthropic for global AI standards

Image source, ReutersImage caption, Sam Altman of OpenAI has become a key figure in the AI technology development. The heads of OpenAI, Anthropic, and Hugging Face have told the UN that the current pace of artificial intelligence (AI) development, and the risks it poses to society, demands international coordination. Altman called for common risk evaluation standards, as did Dario Amodei of Anthropic, a main rival of OpenAI, and Clement Delangue of Hugging Face. Earlier this month, Amodei wrote an essay welcomed by Altman and others calling an AI development slowdown in response to fears about the technology's threat to humanity. However, at the same UN conference, a key technology advisor to US President Donald Trump, rejected the idea any new form of AI regulation. Michael Kratsios, a former Scale AI executive, admitted that the speed of AI development is increasing and that there are risks presented by the technology, but told the UN this was not reason enough "to pause development or constrain it with new global governance structures". "International dialogue in this forum and others cannot be allowed to drift toward global governance," Kratsios added. Trump told the UN on Tuesday he wanted to rebrand it "super intelligence" and has strongly opposed any idea of an AI slowdown because of the US's competitive advantage in the sector. "We're leading China on AI... and, frankly, I want to keep it that way because whoever wins AI, wins," he said earlier this month. Sam Altman of OpenAI and other AI chief executives expressed a different view in their talks to the UN on Wednesday. "If AI is to be democratic, the most important decisions cannot be made by labs in San Francisco alone," said Altman. He told the UN that he wanted countries to start working together toward "the collective good in the face of powerful new technology".

US rejects pleas from OpenAI, Anthropic for global AI standards
Europe
BBC Business

Rolls-Royce signs 'multi-million' engine deal

Rolls-Royce has moved forward with a deal to power a new fleet of Airbus long-haul jets for Philippine Airlines. The FTSE-100 firm will provide 18 engines for nine new Airbus A350-1000 aircraft in a deal worth "hundreds of millions of pounds". The agreement, once finalised, also includes a maintenance package, meaning Rolls-Royce will continue servicing and monitoring the engines throughout their operational life, officials said. The government welcomed the deal, saying it would bring "good quality jobs" to the company's Derby base. The order was first announced as a memorandum of understanding at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. At the time, Rob Watson, president of civil airspace at Rolls-Royce, said the company was "proud to continue strengthening our long-standing relationship with Philippine Airlines". While the deal is described as being worth "hundreds of millions", the precise value has not been confirmed. Airbus designs and manufactures wings for all its commercial aircraft at its Broughton site in North Wales. Minister for trade Anas Sarwar said: "This news shows British engineering is flying high with world-class innovation that puts our companies at the front of the pack. "Building these engines and wings brings good quality jobs to Derby and Broughton, and means UK expertise is at the heart of thousands of flights by one of the fastest-growing airlines around the world." The engine involved, the Trent XWB-97, can operate using a 50% sustainable aviation fuel blend, with plans for it to run on 100% sustainable aviation fuel in the future. This order follows Philippine Airlines's previous order for nine Trent XWB-97-powered Airbus A350-1000 in 2023.

Rolls-Royce signs 'multi-million' engine deal
Asia-Pacific
The Straits Times

Keppel, StarHub discuss M1 deal; Grab execs buy shares after stock falls: Markets this week

In this column, ST’s business correspondents unpack the latest developments in Singapore and global markets during the week – and explain what they mean for investors. Singapore stocks rose slightly despite a cautious mood around the September Trump-Xi meeting, where disputes over tariffs and artificial intelligence remained unresolved. SINGAPORE – Singapore stocks ended the week slightly higher despite a cautious mood around Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Sept 23-25 US state visit hosted by President Donald Trump, where disputes over tariffs and artificial intelligence remained unresolved. The Straits Times Index rose from its Sept 18 close to finish at 5,711.12 on Sept 25. It had climbed to 5,723.76 on Sept 22, but gave up some of those gains as a sell-off in US government bonds pushed yields higher. Saxo UK investor strategist Neil Wilson noted “aggressive unloading” of US bonds on Sept 24, as the 10-year Treasury yield touched 5.23 per cent, a 19-year high, and the 30-year yield rose above 5.5 per cent, its highest level since 2004. Yields had eased by Sept 25, but remained elevated: US Treasury data put the 10-year yield at 5.17 per cent and the 30-year yield at 5.49 per cent. Bond yields rise when their prices fall. With inflation still above the Federal Reserve’s 2 per cent target, investors were also weighing the prospect of another quarter-point interest rate increase by the US central bank in October. In Singapore, the three local banks outperformed the broader market over the week. Compared with their Sept 18 closes, DBS gained 1.43 per cent to end at $78, OCBC rose 1.88 per cent to $32.01 and UOB added 1.87 per cent to $42.57. Listed companies will be held to higher standards of transparency and shareholder communication from Jan 1, 2027. Among the new obligations rolled out by the Singapore Exchange Regulation on Sept 23, every listed firm must have a dedicated investor relations policy published on its company website to facilitate regular, effective and fair communication with shareholders. At a minimum, it must set out the channels through which the issuer communicates with investors, including the mechanisms by which investors may contact the issuer. Companies are also encouraged to publish their annual reports, minutes of annual general meetings, investor presentation decks and a calendar of upcoming events on their websites.

Keppel, StarHub discuss M1 deal; Grab execs buy shares after stock falls: Markets this week