Glencore invests in Britishvolt’s electric battery gigafactory plans August 17, 2021 Mining giant Glencore is investing in the battery start-up Britishvolt and its construction of a gigafactory to support the UK’s car industry transition to electrical vehicles. As part of the partnership, Glencore will also supply cobalt, one of the key raw materials used in electric batteries, the Financial Times reported. As the biggest producer of [...]
Pingdemic: relaxation of self-isolation rules for double jabbed August 16, 2021 From today, fully vaccinated adults who are pinged by the NHS’s test and trace system will no longer need to self-isolate. In England and Northern Ireland, new rules come into effect for those under 18 or who have been double jabbed and are pinged by the app for being identified as close contact. If contacted [...]
Post Office and DPD sign click-and-collect delivery deal August 16, 2021 The Post Office is teaming up with French van delivery company DPD for click-and-collect services in the national mail service’s first partnership in its 360-year history. From next week, customers will be able to choose to get their parcels delivered by DPD couriers directly to a Post Office branch. As employees return to offices, the [...]
Charlie Nunn starts as Lloyds Bank chief executive August 16, 2021 Former HSBC banker Charlie Nunn takes on the role of chief executive of Lloyds Bank today, one of the UK’s biggest finance jobs. Nunn’s appointment was announced in November and his starting date was revealed in February. He replaces Antonio Horta-Osorio, who held the position for a decade and announced he would step down once [...]
Gem Diamonds revenue drops slightly as forecast remains on track August 11, 2021 Gem Diamonds reported a 10 per cent fall in revenue for the first half of 2021 due to lower diamond prices and volumes. The firm made $104m (£75m) in revenue from its sale of rough diamonds, down from $115.1m (£83m). The diamond miner, who owns Letšeng mine in Lesotho, recovered 58,831 carats, a slight increase [...]
Derwent London snaps up Bloomsbury buildings as return to office builds August 10, 2021 Property giant Derwent London has announced the acquisition of five buildings around Bloomsbury and Marylebone as demand for new office space starts to rebound. Derwent London exchanged contracts for two properties totalling 182,100 sq ft located in the so-called knowledge quarter around University College London for £214.6m. The freehold office building at 250 Euston Road [...]
Lockdowns will cost Australia’s economy £530m per week, say UBS economists August 10, 2021 Australia’s “zero Covid” approach will cost AU$1bn (£530m) per week to the country’s economy, as its three most populous states are currently in lockdown due to a surge in the delta variant. Economists at the UBS bank have said the cumulative economic cost of the current lockdown in New South Wales will be of AU$25bn [...]
France’s health pass extension comes into effect after fourth weekend of protests August 9, 2021 From today, showing a health pass becomes a requirement to get into cafés, restaurants, hospitals and long-distance travel in France. The extension of the pass proving one’s coronavirus status was approved on Thursday by the French Constitutional Council and will be in place until at least November. In what was the fourth consecutive weekend of [...]
Taliban fighters take three more cities in northern Afghanistan August 9, 2021 Taliban fighters have captured five provincial capitals in Afghanistan since Friday in a lightning offensive that seems to have overwhelmed pro-government forces. The Islamist group has been seizing much of the countryside since May, coinciding with the start of the final stages of withdrawal of foreign forces, and has now taken its fight to key [...]
Firefighter wins claim against Fire Brigades Union after suspension for pro-Brexit speech August 5, 2021 A firefighter who sued the Fire Brigades Union (FBU) for unfair dismissal over a pro-Brexit speech has announced he has won his claim. Former FBU executive council member Paul Embery was suspended from his post for giving a speech at a Leave Means Leave rally in March 2019 in London. Embery, now a columnist at [...]