Alstom’s Royal Naval gazing
Alstom, the French engineering company that has just been rescued in a controversial state bailout, is among the top contenders for a £9 billion contract to build two Royal Navy aircraft carriers. Four other companies are in the running for the “physical integrator” role, including Kellogg Brown & Root of the US.
Thistle’s Cumberland hope
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Thistle Hotels, the four-star chain owned by Singapore’s BIL, is tipped to win a contract to manage London’s Cumberland hotel, near Marble Arch, when it reopens in October after a £92 million refit. Bev King, Thistle’s chief operating officer, is a former general manager of the hotel, which is owned by Royal Bank of Scotland.
Battle over Rioja label
Authorities from the Spanish winemaking region of Rioja have gone to court in Argentina to try to stop winemakers there labelling their wines Rioja. The problem they face is that there is a place called La Rioja in Famatania Valley, a winemaking area in Argentina.