Security staff at Aberdeen Airport have announced 14 days of strike action in a row over pay.

The union said it was left with no option as negotiations with ICTS HBS Security, through the conciliation service Acas, failed to produce a breakthrough.

The strikes, involving baggage screening staff, are set to begin on Monday.

The Unite union is warning of significant delays if the strikes go ahead and is urging the company to return to the negotiating table.

The development comes after summer strikes at Glasgow and Edinburgh airports were averted after new deals were struck.

Unite members unanimously supported industrial action at Aberdeen.

Union officials said there would be significant delays as its members in ICTS make up the majority of the baggage screening team at the airport.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) celebrates Visa’s 2026 study, ranking Thailand among top Asian-Pacific destinations. Emphasizing familiarity and unique experiences, TAT supports quality tourism, digital payments, and flexible travel.

Thailand’s Popularity Among Asia Pacific Travelers

Bangkok, 2 July 2026 – The Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) is celebrating Thailand’s recognition in Visa’s 2026 Global Travel Intentions study. This study highlights Thailand as one of the top five destinations for Asia Pacific travellers, showcasing a strong demand for convenient and enriching experiences. With over 47,000 respondents, including more than 17,000 from the Asia Pacific region, the study reveals a shift towards intentional travel planning, emphasizing familiarity and practical choices.

Shifts in Travel Planning and Payment Trends

The study shows 63% of Asia-Pacific respondents prefer regional travel, ranking Thailand alongside popular destinations like Japan and Australia. Notably, 37% of travelers prioritize local experiences such as food and culture, surpassing the global average. The use of AI in planning is growing, with travelers seeking detailed information on accommodations and travel requirements. Digital payments are pivotal, with 73% of respondents carrying cards or mobile wallets, aligning with Thailand’s “Pay Like a Local” initiative for seamless tourist experiences.

Enhancing Thailand’s Travel Experience

Visa’s findings support TAT’s vision of quality-led tourism, focusing on providing meaningful and culturally rich experiences. The emphasis is on wellness, gastronomy, and local connections, aligning with the “Healing is the New Luxury” concept. TAT is enhancing its approach through targeted communication, digital convenience, and promoting lesser-known destinations. As travelers value flexibility, opportunities abound for inspiring spending on local dining and unique experiences, reinforcing Thailand’s appeal as a trusted, well-rounded travel destination.

Source : Thailand ranks among Asia Pacific travellers’ top five destinations in Visa study

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According to a CNBC-TV18 report, the deal, involving 2.37% of the company’s equity capital and valued at up to Rs 1,740 crore, was executed at a floor price of Rs 1,601 per share. The floor price represented a discount of nearly 5% to Thursday’s closing price of Rs 1,682.10.

The transaction is in line with a proposed block deal reported on Thursday, under which Singapore-based Macritchie Investments Pte was expected to sell up to 1.19 crore shares, or about 2.6% of PB Fintech, for approximately Rs 1,909 crore.

MacRitchie is a Singapore investment holding company linked to the city’s state investment company, Temasek.

LSEG data as of Thursday showed MacRitchie owned 6.48% or 29.9 million shares in PB Fintech.

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This is the second such block deal in PB Fintech in a little over a month. In May, the company’s co-founders, Yashish Dahiya and Alok Bansal, sold stakes to a group of domestic and foreign institutional investors.
According to exchange data, On May 29 a total of 38 lakh shares changed hands at Rs 1,751 apiece, translating into a transaction value of about Rs 665 crore.PB Fintech Chairman and Group CEO Yashish Dahiya sold 26 lakh shares, while Vice Chairman Alok Bansal offloaded 12 lakh shares.

On the buy side, the shares were picked up by a diverse set of institutional investors, including National Pension System Trust, Tata Mutual Fund, Morgan Stanley Asia Singapore, Goldman Sachs Bank Europe, BNP Paribas Financial Markets, and funds managed by Wasatch Advisors.

PB Fintech operates digital platforms Policybazaar and Paisabazaar, which are among the country’s largest online insurance and lending marketplaces.

(Disclaimer: Recommendations, suggestions, views and opinions given by the experts are their own. These do not represent the views of The Economic Times)

The founder of the North East-based business support consultancy 5 Circles answers our questions

Maxine Fox is the face of 5 Circles – a firm launched in 2025 to provide strategic support across people, marketing, finance and operations.

What was your first job and how much did it pay? My first job was in the shop in the village where I grew up in East Yorkshire. I worked there for years — all the way through secondary school and when I was home from university. I loved it. It was my favourite job of all time! It was a small village so everyone knew everyone, which was great from a community point of view. It wasn’t so great when you were up to no good and everybody knew who your mum was. When I started, I got paid £1 an hour and I seem to remember getting really excited when it went up to £1.10 per hour. This was a long time ago!

What is the best advice or support you’ve been given in business? Establish boundaries with your time. Running a business is all-consuming and I learned very quickly that it was eating into my time with my family and affecting the things I enjoy doing outside of work. Whilst I don’t always adhere to the advice, I am getting better at knowing where I should devote my time and when to down tools for the day. When I first started, I was working seven days a week and into the evenings. That’s simply not sustainable — either health-wise or in terms of being happily married! When you’re running a business your time is the most precious commodity and it needs to be used wisely.

What are the main changes you’ve seen in your business/sector and what are the challenges you’re facing? I’ve only been running 5 Circles since December 2025 so it’s difficult to provide a wider view. The main change is that I’ve introduced services that weren’t part of my original business plan. I’ve been able to adapt to meet the demands of the businesses I work with and that’s been a positive thing. The main challenge I face is that my time is finite and I just need more of it.