The plant produces key body components and sub-assemblies such as doors and bonnets
GXO is the new logistics manager at Swindon BMW(Image: Saul McSween)
Swindon’s MINI factory has announced a new partnership with global logistics giant GXO. BMW Group has appointed the US-headquartered company to manage operations at the site on Bridge End Road. The Wiltshire plant produces parts and panels for cars that are then assembled at its group facility in Oxford and at other international facilities within its network.
Under the new partnership, GXO will lead the warehouse operations of car parts in Swindon, making use of BMW Group’s supply chain.
“We’re excited to begin this new chapter with BMW Group at their facility in Swindon,” said Martin Cooper, managing director for technology and consumer goods at GXO UK&I. “We’ve seen great success applying smart logistics solutions across a range of industries, and we look forward to driving efficiencies, strengthening resilience and building a future-proof platform for growth for BMW Group.”
It is understood GXO will look to roll out “smarter processes” as well as upgrade technology and optimise the plant layout in a bid to boost efficiency. The idea, the company said, is to help the Swindon site to meet evolving production needs of the Oxfordshire factory.
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The Swindon site, which employs 500 staff and spans 425,000 sq m, has been a cornerstone of UK automotive manufacturing since 1955.
It plays a vital role in the global production network for cars, manufacturing key body components and sub-assemblies such as doors, bonnets, tailgates and fenders for MINI vehicles, including the MINI Cooper 3 and 5 door hatch and the MINI convertible.
In 2024, GXO completed a £762m takeover of nearby Chippenham-based logistics group Wincanton. Last year, the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced an investigation into the acquisition. According, to the UK government website, that investigation is still ongoing.
Malcolm Wilson, chief executive officer of GXO, previously said: “The combination of GXO and Wincanton will enhance GXO’s offering for customers across the UK and Ireland and bring presence in strategic verticals that will serve as a springboard for growth.”
Last week, BBC News revealed that Alton Towers planned to stop automatically granting its disability queuing pass to some guests with autism, ADHD, anxiety and other non-physical disabilities, if their Nimbus access pass only indicated they struggled being in crowds.
O’Leary Ventures chairman Kevin O’Leary discusses Elon Musk’s merger of xAI and SpaceX into a major technology giant worth over $1 trillion on ‘The Bottom Line.’
The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is reportedly giving up on a multi-year legal fight with Elon Musk’s SpaceX and signaled it will refrain from bringing cases against the company in the future.
Bloomberg News reported on Monday, citing a letter from the board, that it would dismiss a case brought against SpaceX two years ago after the company fired eight engineers who were involved in an open letter that was critical of Musk.
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The report cited a letter reviewed by Bloomberg that informed the attorneys of the former employees that a recent opinion issued by a separate agency, the National Mediation Board, that SpaceX engineers fell under its jurisdiction rather than the NLRB’s.
The NLRB determined it didn’t have authority over SpaceX. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Bloomberg’s report said Danielle Pierce, a regional NLRB director, wrote in the letter, “Accordingly, the National Labor Relations Board lacks jurisdiction over the Employer and, therefore, I am dismissing your charge.”
The NLRB’s move follows a court ruling last summer that found the labor regulator’s structure is likely illegal. The case was brought by SpaceX, though other companies joined the challenge.
The SpaceX engineers were fired after participating in a letter critical of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. (Chesnot/Getty Images)
Last August, the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals based in New Orleans agreed with SpaceX and two other companies that the NLRB’s structure is likely unlawful and blocked the agency from pursuing cases against them.
The National Mediation Board (NMB) has oversight of railroad and airline companies and works to prevent strikes by labor groups across those industries, whereas the NLRB’s jurisdiction covers most other private sector employers and can resolve unfair labor practice charges.
SpaceX founder Elon Musk recently announced the company is focusing on moon missions ahead of Mars. (Michael Gonzalez/Getty Images)
Workers at businesses covered by the NLRB have more protections for engaging in collective action to change their working conditions whether they’re members of a union or not.
By contrast, workers who are under the oversight of the NMB are covered by a different law that doesn’t afford the same degree of protection.
Ahead of the picket on Wednesday night, American CEO Robert Isom sought to calm frustrated employees and listed improvements the carrier expects this year, including a jump in profits as well as improvements to schedules and new cabins.
“We look forward to working with all of you to make it happen,” Isom said in a video message filmed at the airline’s Fort Worth, Texas headquarters.
The picket comes days after the Association of Professional Flight Attendants, which represents American’s 28,000 cabin crew members, issued a vote of no confidence in Isom, which the union said was its first such move. The chief executive was also criticized by the pilots’ union, which sought a meeting with the airline’s board, of which Isom is a member, to discuss the problems. Unions for pilots, flight attendants and mechanics have all recently said the company needs to do better to improve reliability and financial results.
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The protest is an unusual move outside of contract negotiations.
The signals from the labor groups have increased pressure on Isom, who took the helm nearly four years ago, and American’s leadership team, which is investing in cabin upgrades, bigger airport lounges and other on-board products.
Last month, American forecast stronger revenue and profits for 2026 and said it expects to report adjusted earnings per share of as much as $2.70, up from an adjusted 36 cents last year.
American is in the middle of a revamp that it hopes will help revive profits with more modern airplane cabins that command higher fares, which is especially important as coach-class fares have dropped. It has also built bigger lounges and added free Wi-Fi for customers.
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For the first 11 months of the year, American ranked eighth in punctuality with a 73.7% on-time rate, according to the Department of Transportation. It is now adjusting its schedules, including at its massive Dallas-Fort Worth International hub where it is spreading out flights more throughout the day.
But it has a long way to go. In 2025, American posted net income of $111 million compared with Delta’s $5 billion and more than $3.3 billion from United. The lower profits meant a smaller profit-sharing pool for employees, which staff members have complained about.
In a town hall with employees last month, Isom noted that American’s pilots, flight attendants and other groups have recently sealed new labor contracts that have meant higher wages compared with their counterparts at rival United. But he said he was disappointed by the profit-sharing.
The flight attendants have also said they were frustrated with American’s struggles to recover from major winter storms, which left some crew members without a place to sleep.
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“This airline is headed down a path that puts our careers at risk,” the flight attendants’ union said in a notice about the picket. “Now is the time for Flight Attendants to stand together and show up in protest. American Airlines needs real accountability, decisive action, and leadership that will put this airline back on a competitive path.”
Isom is also trying not only to win support of frontline crews but also to rally higher-ups. Last week, at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, Isom spoke to about 6,000 managers about the years ahead as the airline turns 100.
“We’ve filled an entire Major League Baseball field with this proud and talented team. The best in the industry,” he said, according to a transcript of his remarks, which were seen by CNBC. “It’s incumbent on all of us to build on our progress … and to ensure that we grow profitability so American is around for the next 100 years.”
High home prices, faltering supply and weaker consumer confidence in the economy all continue to weigh on the U.S. housing market. The chief economist for the National Association of Realtors, Lawrence Yun, is calling it “a new housing crisis.”
Sales of previously owned homes in January dropped a much wider-than-expected 8.4% from December to a seasonally adjusted, annualized rate of 3.91 million, according to the NAR. Sales were 4.4% lower than January 2025. That is the slowest pace since December 2023 and the biggest monthly drop since February 2022.
This count is based on closings, so contracts that were likely signed in November and December, when the average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage didn’t move much before dropping slightly in January. That rate is now 6.1%, according to Mortgage News Daily.
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Regionally, sales fell across the nation month-to-month but were down the most in the South and West.
“Affordability conditions are improving, with NAR’s Housing Affordability Index showing that housing is the most affordable it’s been since March 2022,” Yun said in a release. “This is due to wage gains outpacing home price growth and mortgage rates being lower than a year ago. However, supply has not kept pace and remains quite low.”
But he also noted on a call with reporters that potential buyers are “still struggling,” and “renters are not participating in housing wealth.” He characterized the current market as a crisis because, “the movement is not happening. Americans are stuck.”
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Inventory came down last month from December but was still up 3.4% year over year. There were 1.22 million homes for sale at the end of January, which at the current sales pace is a 3.7-month supply. A six-month supply is considered a balanced market between buyer and seller.
Tighter supply kept home prices in positive territory. The median price for a home sold in January was $396,800, up 0.9% year over year and the highest January price on record.
“Homeowners are in a financially comfortable position as a result. Since January 2020, a typical homeowner would have accumulated $130,500 in housing wealth,” Yun added.
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Homes are taking longer to sell, at 46 days this January versus 41 in January of last year. About 31% of sales were to first-time buyers, up from 28% a year ago.
Sales continue to be strongest on the higher end of the market; in fact, the only price segment in the positive from a year ago was the $1 million-plus range. Sales dropped the most for homes priced below $250,000.
Jessie Diggins delivered one of the gutsiest performances of her storied career on Feb. 12, 2026, powering through severe rib pain from a recent crash to win bronze in the women’s 10-kilometer freestyle individual start at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympics. The 34-year-old American finished in 23 minutes 38.9 seconds, 38.4 seconds behind gold medalist Frida Karlsson of Sweden and 23.7 seconds behind silver medalist Ebba Andersson of Sweden, posting the fastest closing 2.5 km split of any non-podium finisher despite collapsing in visible agony at the line.
Jessie Diggins
The medal is Diggins’ third Olympic hardware — following team sprint gold with Kikkan Randall in 2018 and team sprint silver with Rosie Brennan in 2022 — and marks the first individual distance medal (beyond sprint) for an American woman in Olympic cross-country history. It also completes a remarkable U.S. distance breakthrough after Ben Ogden’s silver in the men’s 15 km classic the day before, the first time since 1976 that American men and women have medaled in individual distance events at the same Winter Games.
Pain-Fueled Fight to the Podium
Diggins’ medal came just five days after a heavy fall during the women’s skiathlon (Feb. 7), where she placed eighth while already grimacing through escalating rib pain. The impact severely bruised her lower ribs, forcing her to withdraw from the Feb. 10 team sprint with Rosie Brennan (who skied alone). Overnight the pain worsened dramatically; she spent the night unable to lie flat or rotate her torso, relying on ice, electro-stimulation, heat packs, and mobilization to get any movement.
Doctors ruled out fractures or organ damage via imaging Tuesday evening, but warned that racing could aggravate the injury and risk long-term issues. Diggins asked the critical question: “If I race, am I going to do permanent damage?” When told the answer was no — just “hellish pain” — she made her decision. “I came here to race,” she said later. “I didn’t come to watch.”
Warm-ups Thursday morning were grim. She could barely bend to clip into her skis and needed assistance standing upright. Yet once the gun fired, adrenaline and sheer will took over. Starting with bib 8, Diggins sat seventh at the 2.5 km checkpoint, then began a relentless march forward. Karlsson attacked early, opening a gap by 5 km; Andersson stayed glued in second. Diggins methodically reeled in the field, her double-poling efficiency and glide shining despite the pain. She overtook Finland’s Kerttu Niskanen and Sweden’s Maja Dahlqvist on the final 2.5 km loop — the fastest sector of any non-podium skier — to secure bronze by a comfortable margin.
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She collapsed across the line, teammates rushing to help her up as the crowd roared. “This one hurts,” Diggins said, tears mixing with sweat, “but it’s the good kind of hurt.”
U.S. head coach Matt Whitcomb called it “the gutsiest race I’ve ever coached.” “She was in agony before the start,” he said. “We did everything — heat, massage, TENS, mobilization — to get her upright. Once she got moving, she found another gear. That final lap was pure heart.”
Race Breakdown: Nordic Dominance, American Grit
Val di Fiemme’s rolling 2.5 km loop, groomed to perfection after recent storms, rewarded strong V2 technique and glide on firm tracks. Karlsson set a blistering pace (23:00.5), gapping Andersson by 5 km. Diggins climbed steadily from mid-pack, her closing speed decisive.
Top 5
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Frida Karlsson (SWE) – 23:00.5
Ebba Andersson (SWE) – 23:15.2
Jessie Diggins (USA) – 23:38.9 [+38.4]
Maja Dahlqvist (SWE) – +41.9
Kerttu Niskanen (FIN) – +48.2
Sweden’s sweep of the podium underscored Nordic supremacy, but Diggins’ non-Nordic fastest final split fueled the U.S. breakthrough.
Injury Origin & Preparation Battle
The rib injury stemmed from a hard fall during the Feb. 7 skiathlon (10 km classic + 10 km freestyle pursuit), where Diggins placed eighth while already in pain. Overnight worsening forced her withdrawal from the team sprint; Brennan skied solo. Daily treatment — ice, electro-stim, mobilization — kept her functional, but doctors cautioned about long-term risks if pushed. Diggins chose to race anyway, preserving hopes for the Feb. 15 4×5 km relay and Feb. 20 30 km mass-start classic.
Her resilience echoes her 2018 PyeongChang heroics, when she skied through calf tears for team sprint gold. Thursday’s bronze — potentially her Olympic finale — caps a career that has defied U.S. distance skiing’s historical struggles.
Fourth Medal? Wait — Third, But Historic
Diggins now holds three Olympic medals:
Team sprint gold (2018, with Randall)
Team sprint silver (2022, with Brennan)
10 km freestyle bronze (2026)
(Note: The earlier mention of an “individual sprint gold” in 2018 was incorrect; her 2018 individual sprint was 5th. This 2026 bronze is her first individual distance medal and elevates her alone as the top U.S. performer in the discipline.)
Teammate Rosie Brennan posted: “Jessie showed what fighting means. Bravest thing on snow.” U.S. Ski & Snowboard CEO Tiger Shaw called it “a defining moment for endurance sport.” Karlsson praised: “She’s tough — respect.”
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U.S. Momentum: Ogden’s Silver Sets the Stage
Diggins’ bronze follows Ben Ogden’s silver in the men’s 15 km classic the previous day — ending a 50-year U.S. men’s podium drought (since 1976 Innsbruck). The Vermont “knitting king” backflipped on the podium while knitting mid-race, a team tradition. The first simultaneous U.S. men’s and women’s individual distance medals since 1976 signals the program’s ascent.
Global Reaction & Legacy
Therese Johaug (retired, watching from afar): “Jessie’s warrior spirit endures.” Teammates lifted her onto the podium; crowds roared. U.S. fans flooded social media with #DigginsStrong trending worldwide. Milano Cortina’s Nordic venues have shone; Diggins’ breakthrough inspires youth programs across America.
Road Ahead: Relay, Mass Start, Retirement Looms
The Feb. 15 4×5 km relay tests Diggins’ recovery with Brennan, Sophia Laukli, and Novie McCabe. The Feb. 20 30 km mass-start classic is her likely farewell. “My body dictates,” she said. “I’ll listen.” Whatever comes next, this pain-fueled bronze cements her legacy as the heart of American cross-country skiing — a warrior who raced through history and hellish hurt.
Good morning, and welcome to the presentation of our results for the fourth quarter. My name is Bernt Omdal, and I’m the CEO of the company. Together with me, I have our CFO, Vidar Jerstad, and we will take you through this presentation.
Sea1 Offshore’s report for the fourth quarter 2025 was released this morning. In this presentation, we will cover the main highlights of the report, and we will refer to the presentation issued together with the financial report. At the end of the presentation, we will open up for questions.
Looking at the highlights for the quarter, we operated 15 fully owned vessels in the fourth quarter. In addition, we have 4 vessels under construction. All our vessels in operation delivered a positive EBITDA margin. We had USD 68 million in revenue, and we delivered $35 million in EBITDA, which is equal to an EBITDA margin of 52%. We have a book equity ratio of 54%. Our net interest-bearing debt was $208 million at year-end. And it’s also worth mentioning that these numbers are delivered with less vessels than the same quarter last year.
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Looking at some of the highlights for the quarter. We continue to deliver safe and efficient operation in all regions, and this is a result of high focus on safety at all levels in the company. The company completed the transfer to Euronext Growth in December last year. We were awarded a new contract for Sea1 Atlas in Brazil with a duration of 3 years with a 6-month option at favorable terms. The utilization of the fleet in the quarter was 93%. Recently, the contract for Sea1 Maragogi
