Crime & Safety
Oxford University Press company job cuts a ‘massacre’
Two-thirds of staff at Karger Publishers in the Swiss city of Basel have been dismissed just four months after the Oxford-based publisher took it over.
Swiss newspaper Basler Zeitung reported the individual notice periods range from one to six months.
It comes after OUP held a similar consultation for staff here in Oxford in November to made up to 113 job cuts, although the business declined to say how many it sacked.
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Basler Zeitung reports: “The company management justifies the job cuts with a necessary strategic realignment.
“The company wants to abandon certain business areas due to a lack of profitability.
“According to information provided by this editorial team, employees in particular have been dismissed from the areas of customer service, sales, IT and marketing.
“The finance department was largely spared from the redundancies.”
A source told the publication: “I had an online meeting with my supervisor. Each employee was given just 15 minutes to have their dismissal explained. It was a massacre.
“He told me he would now go through a script step by step. I think they were advised very intensively by lawyers in advance.”
More than 9,000 book titles and over 100 peer-reviewed journals have been published by Karger Publishing, making it one of Switzerland’s largest publishers of medical publications.
Oxford University Press said: “There were some organizational changes recently proposed at Karger Publishers which have been subject to consultation over the past few weeks.
“The consultation has now closed and a number of colleagues will leave the organization over the coming weeks and months. I’m unable to share the specific number of colleagues affected.”
Oxford City Council spoke out today (Monday, March 30) to refute speculation that it had ‘banned’ a parade at Bonn Square in the city on Sunday, April 19.
St George’s Day – the national day of England – is on April 23 and the council has said the square was already booked prior to the request from the Oxfordshire Patriots.
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A spokesperson said: “Oxfordshire Patriots contacted Thames Valley Police on March 20 about holding an event in Bonn Square between noon and 3.30pm on Sunday, April 19.
“On March 25, Thames Valley Police contacted Oxford City Council about the event.
“We informed the police that Bonn Square had already been booked for Sunday, April 19.”
Sending out a statement in response to several social media posts, the council said that on March 27 it was claimed it had cancelled an event on Saturday, April 18, because it “could cause trouble and spread hate”.
Indeed a user, who the council replied to on X, said this was the reason given and that they had concerns about the fairness of the decision.
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Claiming to speak for Oxfordshire Patriots, the user said they would be gathering as a peaceful protest on April 18.
The spokesperson for the council said: “To be clear we have not cancelled this event. We informed the police that Bonn Square was already booked.
“Anyone wishing to book Bonn Square should do so several months in advance of their planned event.”
Cogges Manor Farm is a heritage centre, part of which dates back to the 13th century, and last Saturday, March 28 it began its Easter programme.
The fun runs until Sunday, April 12, promising attractions and activities for all ages.
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Farmyard favourites such as chicks in the hatchery and newborn lambs will be present for visitors to meet, while little ones can have fun in a supersized sandpit and on a bunch of brand-new mini-tractors.
The farm also introduces Freya, a life-sized milkable cow model.
Alice in Wonderland fans will be treated to themed surprises as the downstairs of the Manor House turns into scenes from the beloved story, featuring a Mad Hatter tea party and the Queen of Hearts’ parlour.
The only event that is yet to begin is the ‘egg hunt in the straw’ which kicks off this Wednesday, April 1.
A spokesperson for the venue said: “Alice in Wonderland looks great in the downstairs of the Manor House and the new supersize sandpit and new fleet of mini ride on tractors are proving to be very popular.
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“We’ve also got new trails to follow in the house and across the farm and our hatchery is up and running.”
Already a famous site, Cogges is well-known for being a filming location for hit ITV drama Downton Abbey. In the show, ‘Yew Tree Farm’ is where Lady Edith’s illegitimate daughter is raised.
The farm is open from 9.30am to 5pm.
Jeremy Clarkson, Richard Hammond and James May presented the Amazon Prime Video show since 2016 after leaving the BBC’s motoring programme Top Gear.
They helmed Top Gear from 2002 and produced a regular feature special every Christmas.
In the final instalment, they travel to Zimbabwe to explore challenging landscapes in cars the three men have always wanted – a Lancia Montecarlo, a Ford Capri 3-litre, and a Triumph Stag.
But did you think that was the end? Well, there may be a Top Gear special out there you haven’t seen yet.
The secret Top Gear special
In 2008, Top Ground Gear Force was aired as part of Sport Relief.
Clarkson, May and Hammond took over sportsman Steve Redgrave’s garden to dispense advice on creating a zero-maintenance lawn, installing an impressive water feature and getting rid of unwanted plants.
One user said under the video ‘Top Gear Ground Force – Full Episode’: “I’m absolutely insistent that this is up there as one of the all time great bits of British TV. Start to finish wheezing with laughter even years later.”
Another commented: “I love how Jeremy starts to introduce himself and Redgrave just waves him off with utter annoyance saying “I know who you are…””
Recommended reading:
Jeremy Clarkson takes aim at popular fan account on Twitter
Jeremy Clarkson has slammed a Clarkson’s Farm fan account for sharing an AI video depicting him fighting and ‘beating up’ Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
The video was shared by the fan account ClarksonsFarm1.
This account has nothing to do with Jeremy Clarkson or the Amazon Prime series.
Clarkson then responded and slammed the account that shared it, calling them a ‘menace’.
He posted: “That site is a menace. And they’ve blocked me.”
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