Exclusive: London firms revolt over business rates payments during lockdown June 29, 2020 Tens of thousands of London companies are believed to be mutinying against the taxman by refusing to pay business rates for the three months of the coronavirus lockdown. In light of the pandemic, the government has handed firms in the retail and tourism sectors a year-long holiday on the tax, which is applied to companies’ [...]
Reach 4 Entertainment triples profits ahead of ‘significant’ coronavirus impact June 29, 2020 Theatre marketing firm Reach 4 Entertainment (R4E) tripled its profits in 2019, as the group posted strong annual results ahead of the coronavirus crisis, which it expects will have a “significant impact” on the live entertainment industry. The results R4E posted full-year revenues of £135.4m for 2019, up from £76.7m last year. Adjusted earnings before [...]
Boris Johnson doubles down on spending plans after coronavirus ‘disaster’ June 29, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he will ramp up unprecedented government spending, as it seeks to mitigate the impact of coronavirus, which has been a “disaster” for the country. Johnson told Times Radio he wants to double down on his plans to increase public investment, and that a return to austerity would be a [...]
Johnson is ‘asleep at the wheel’, says Labour’s Starmer June 29, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been too slow at making decisions during the coronavirus crisis, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said today. “I think the Prime Minister has been asleep at the wheel, he has been slow, the comms, the communications has been terrible,” Starmer told ITV. “It began to break down frankly when Dominic [...]
Global coronavirus death toll tops 500,000 June 29, 2020 The death toll from coronavirus surpassed half a million people on Sunday, according to a Reuters tally, a grim milestone for the global pandemic that seems to be resurgent in some countries even as other regions are still grappling with the first wave. The respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus has been particularly dangerous [...]
UK coronavirus deaths jump by 186 to hit 43,414 June 26, 2020 UK coronavirus deaths increased by 186 overnight days before England is set to ease its lockdown, official data showed today. That took the official UK death toll to 43,414, according to Department of Health data. However, including suspected cases, UK coronavirus deaths are believed to have exceeded 50,000. Today’s figure is the third day running [...]
Beaches will be closed if social distancing not observed, government warns June 26, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has warned that the government does have the power to close beaches if social distancing guidelines are ignored. Speaking on Talk Radio, Hancock said that though he was “reluctant” to shut public spaces after the lockdown, ministers would do so if there was a spike in coronavirus infections. His comments came [...]
Quarantine rules set to be relaxed for some countries from July June 26, 2020 Environment secretary George Eustice has confirmed the UK is considering relaxing its blanket quarantine measures to allow travel from countries with a lower risk of contracting coronavirus. Ministers are currently finalising the plans, with an announcement on the matter expected on Monday. Speaking to the BBC, Eustice said: “I know that (transport secretary) Grant Shapps [...]
US second wave: America sets one-day record for coronavirus cases, Texas pauses reopening June 26, 2020 The US set a new record for a one-day increase in cases yesterday as fears of a second wave caused states to step back from reopening. The governor of Texas temporarily halted the state’s reopening yesterday as coronavirus infections and hospitalisations surged in the latest sign yet of a US second wave. Texas, which has [...]
Bournemouth: ‘Major incident’ declared as Brits flock to the beach during heatwave June 25, 2020 Police have declared a “major incident” in Bournemouth as thousands of sunseekers defied lockdown rules and headed to the beach on the hottest day of the year today. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council activated a multi-agency response to tackle the crowds, adding that it was “stretched to the absolute hilt” on the second day of [...]