Future Fund bailout scheme for startups extended to firms moved abroad June 30, 2020 Britain is to expand a coronavirus bail-out scheme for startups to include those that had previously been blocked after moving overseas to tap foreign investors. In a roll-out to be announced by chancellor Rishi Sunak today, the government will have stakes in dozens of UK startups through its Future Fund scheme. The programme, initially announced [...]
Wirecard’s UK subsidiary scrambles to avoid collapse June 29, 2020 Thousands of UK consumers have been unable to access their cash, as financial apps relying on Wirecard technology were frozen after the German payments firm filed for insolvency last week. Wirecard’s UK subsidiary, Wirecard Card Solutions (WCS), said it was “working hard” to restore operations after the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) on Friday ordered the [...]
Reddit bans long-running Trump fan forum ahead of US election June 29, 2020 Reddit has banned a long-running subreddit channel that supports US President Donald Trump, as US media firms crack down on online hate speech and disinformation in the run up to the presidential election. Reddit has banned its r/The_Donald political hub, along with more than 2,000 other subreddit groups, after the group continued to promote violence, [...]
Exclusive: UK unhappy with treatment from EU in Airbus-Boeing dispute June 29, 2020 Trade secretary Liz Truss has complained to the EU Commission that the UK is being unfairly represented by Brussels in a long-running trade dispute between Boeing and Airbus. EU sources told City A.M. that Truss set up meetings with high-level figures from the Commission to complain that the other three European countries involved in the [...]
Greece extends ban on flights from UK June 29, 2020 The Greek government has extended a ban on direct flights from Britain until 15 July, amid fears the rate of infection in the UK could spring up as lockdown measures are lifted. Brits had strong hopes that summer holidays to Greece would be given the green light this week, as so-called air bridges with European [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for government clarity on local lockdown powers June 29, 2020 Sadiq Khan has urged the government to provide more clarity on what powers local authorities have to deal with regional coronavirus outbreaks. The mayor of London wrote to health secretary Matt Hancock today to ask if councils had the power to implement local lockdowns and for additional resources in the case of localised flare ups. [...]
Shard developer accused of ‘vandalising’ Bermondsey property to earn planning permission June 29, 2020 A row over a Bermondsey development has escalated with local campaigners alleging that Shard developer Sellar has “vandalised” a heritage building to earn planning permission. The Old Bermondsey Forum (OBF) and the Bermondsey Village Action Group (BVAG) are accusing Sellar of tearing out a hydraulic hoist from a historic warehouse in Vinegar Yard, near London [...]
India bans 59 Chinese apps including Tiktok as standoff escalates June 29, 2020 The Indian government has banned 59 Chinese apps including social media platform Tiktok amid privacy concerns, as tensions between the two countries continue to escalate. India today announced it has blacklisted the usage of certain apps, including Sherait, UC Browser, Clash of Kings, Baidu, We Chat and Xiaomi, claiming they “pose a threat to the [...]
“Vaccine will come, but not without huge challenges” – leading world epidemiologist June 29, 2020 | City Talk Professor Peter Piot, a legend in the field of virology and the fights against HIV and Ebola, is optimistic about a Covid vaccine. But he sees recurrent outbreaks as unavoidable. Professor Peter Piot was not surprised by the outbreak of a global pandemic earlier this year. “We always assumed there would be a big one”, [...]
Burger chain Byron heads for administration with 1,200 jobs on the line June 29, 2020 Burger chain Byron is scrambling to find a buyer who can stave off impending financial collapse, save 1,200 jobs, and reopen its 52 restaurants in the UK by mid-next month. The company has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators, in an attempt to protect it from creditors during talks with potential buyers. Sources [...]