Coronavirus: Employees can defer annual leave for two years, says business secretary March 28, 2020 Employees unable to take all their annual leave this year due to the coronavirus pandemic will be allowed to carry it over for two years, the business secretary announced today. Alok Sharma, standing in for self-isolating Prime Minister Boris Johnson at the government’s daily briefing, said the government had introduced new measures to facilitate this. [...]
UK credit rating downgraded due to coronavirus impact and Brexit uncertainty March 28, 2020 The UK’s credit rating has been downgraded to AA- from AA due to the budget impact of the coronavirus outbreak and Brexit uncertainty. Credit rating agency Fitch has forecast that the UK’s economic output would drop by almost four per cent for the year. It said it had concerns about the UK’s “fiscal loosening stance” [...]
Carluccio’s left on the brink as coronavirus threatens to cause permanent closures March 28, 2020 Italian restaurant chain Carluccio’s is in danger of collapse as it warned it was facing permanent branch closures. The company is working with administrators as the coronavirus pandemic takes its toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that all restaurants, among other public venues, were to shut indefinitely a week ago in a bid to control [...]
Coronavirus: Why the pandemic is a hotbed for cyber attacks March 28, 2020 On 14 March, computer systems at the University Hospital Brno in Czech Republic gradually began to fail. The hospital — the second largest in the country and home to one of its key coronavirus testing laboratories — had been hit by a cyber attack. Several well-known hacker groups have since issued statements vowing not to [...]
Over 4,000 North Sea oil rig jobs cut to halt spread of Covid-19 March 27, 2020 The North Sea’s workforce has plummeted 40 per cent over the last fortnight as oil companies seek to limit the spread of Covid-19. Over 4,000 jobs have been cut according to Oil and Gas UK, among growing concerns that oil rigs could become hotbeds of coronavirus infection. The number of North Sea workers usually stands [...]
Virgin Atlantic set to ask for government bailout March 27, 2020 Virgin Atlantic is set to ask the UK government for a package of commercial loans and guarantees worth hundreds of millions of pounds. The airline will be among the first to do so, according to the Financial Times, after the government said this week it would only help the struggling aviation industry as a “last [...]
Animal Crossing: New Horizons review: Sedate island escapism never felt so necessary March 27, 2020 Having had the enviable job of writing about video games for most of my adult life, there’s still one question I struggle to articulate a satisfying answer to: what do you actually do in Animal Crossing? Nintendo’s sedate island life simulator doesn’t have a real objective. You have a mortgage to pay down but your [...]
BrewDog opens 102 virtual bars to encourage people in isolation to socialise March 27, 2020 Craft pub chain BrewDog is set to open 102 virtual bars at 6pm tonight to allow friends to get together and enjoy a beer. The independent craft brewery has lined up a series of events including beer tasting and homebrewing masterclasses, as well as live music, pub quizzes and comedy. It is hoping to replicate [...]
Royal Mint to manufacture vital visors for NHS frontline staff March 27, 2020 The Royal Mint is set to manufacture thousands of visors for the NHS to help protect frontline staff. Engineers at the Royal Mint created an approved medical design in just 48 hours. The first batch are already in use at The Royal Glamorgan Hospital in South Wales. The Royal Mint usually produces coins, bullion and [...]
UK coronavirus: Matt Hancock tests positive March 27, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has tested positive for coronavirus, Downing Street has said, just an hour after Prime Minister Boris Johnson also revealed a positive diagnosis. The minister, responsible for coordinating the NHS response to the UK coronavirus outbreak, said he has had only mild symptoms. He will self-isolate until next Thursday, when he will [...]