Kath Harmeston claims she was unfairly sacked from the Co-op in 2014 after reporting what she believed was criminal conduct and is seeking more than £5 million in damages. The Co-op says Ms Harmeston was sacked because her behaviour was not in keeping with her role. The group announced a return to profit last April after a turbulent period. Ms Harmeston, who now holds a senior position at the Ministry of Defence, claims she was unfairly sacked for blowing the whistle on what she believed to be the unlawful, corrupt or irregular use of public money, and the commission of criminal offences. The details of her allegations will become known over the course of the tribunal in Manchester and is expected to last two weeks. Senior Co-op bosses, including group chief executive Richard Pennycook and chief operating officer Pippa Wicks, are expected to give evidence. (BBC)
Ex-Asda boss admits stealing charity funds to give to boyfriend’s ballet firm
A former Asda executive is facing jail after admitting to stealing £180,000 from the retailer’s charity fund for his partner’s ballet company. Paul Kelly, who was the retailer’s vice-president of corporate affairs, pleaded guilty to seven charges of fraud at Leeds crown court. He is accused of lying about where the charity funds were going and claiming that the ballet company run by his 36-year-old partner, dancer David Murley, fell within the remit of the Asda Foundation. The money was supposed to go to flood victims. Three charges relate to Kelly acting “dishonestly and intending to make a gain for himself or another” by making a false representation to the Asda Foundation that money was going to flood victims when instead they were going to the Murley Dance Company. It was not suggested that the dance company was aware that the funds it received were dishonest. The four remaining charges are connected to Kelly making false representations that the dance company was a charitable organisation whose objectives met those of the Asda Foundation. (Guardian)
HSBC apologises for leaving customers unable to access online accounts
HSBC has apologised after it left millions of customers unable to log into their online accounts for a second day, amid growing calls for a full explanation. Millions of the bank’s personal and business customers first found themselves locked out of their online accounts. The problems have continued into a second day, leaving a trail of unhappy customers. The bank was quick to say it had not been the subject of a TalkTalk-style cyber-attack, but admitted the problem was taking longer to fix than it should have. The bank has pledged to repay any late payment charges incurred as a result of the IT meltdown. The chairman of the House of Commons Treasury select committee, Andrew Tyrie, called on the bank’s chief executive and the Financial Conduct Authority for an explanation of such banking failures, as they “just keep coming”. Customers have been quick to vent their anger at a second day without access to online banking. “Not exactly the best time of year for your online services to be down @HSBC_UK when the majority of us have had pending transactions,” said one Twitter user. (Guardian)
Employees
Yahoo looking to slash 10 percent or more of its workforce
Yahoo is working on a plan to cut its workforce by at least 10 percent and it could start the process as early as this month, Business Insider reported, citing sources. “We are not confirming this rumor or commenting further”, Sarah Meron, a spokeswoman for Yahoo said. The layoffs, which would result in more than 1,000 people leaving the tech giant, is set to affect Yahoo’s media business, European operations, and platforms-technology group, Business Insider said. This move follows activist investor Starboard Value LP’s letter to Yahoo ramping up pressure on them, taking aim at Chief Executive Officer Marissa Mayer and her leadership team and raising the prospect that a proxy battle is approaching. Starboard implied that Mayer and her officers needed to go, without naming her specifically. The activist investor also threatened to shake up the board if Yahoo’s stock continued to suffer. Yahoo spokeswoman Rebecca Neufeld said the company will provide more details on its turnaround plan prior to its fourth quarter earnings call later this month. (Reuters)
Environment
Study: Era of climate science denial is not over
Conservative think tanks in the US engaging in climate change have increased their attacks on science in recent years, a study finds. The study, published in the journal Global Environmental Change, where authors Dr Travis Coan, of the University of Exeter, and Dr Constantine Boussalis, of Trinity College Dublin, analysed numerous articles, reports, and other sources from mainly US groups between 1998 and 2013. The conservative think tanks under the microscope are the main cog in the machinery of climate science denial across the globe, pushing a constant stream of material into the public domain. Contrary to some commentators, the study found attacks on science had increased in later years. At the same time, the think tanks were focusing less on policy issues. “We find little support for the claim that ‘the era of science denial is over’ – instead, discussion of climate science has generally increased over the sample period,” the study concludes. (Guardian)
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