EU prepares ban on US travellers over high coronavirus case count June 24, 2020 The EU is said to be ready to issue a travel ban on US citizens and travellers from other countries, due to their high coronavirus infection rates. Documents seen by the New York Times showed American, Russian and Brazilian visitors to the EU would be unwelcome as their governments’ fail to control the virus’ spread. [...]
Twitter apologises to business users for data breach June 23, 2020 Twitter has begun contacting businesses to inform them of a data breach on its platform, it emerged today, which could have leaked private information to other users. Business users’ billing information was being stored in their browser’s cache if they accessed the data via its analytics or advertising platforms, making it available for other users [...]
Competition watchdog moves closer to green light on Amazon and Deliveroo deal June 23, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to make the first step in giving the tie-up between Amazon and Deliveroo the green light. The announcement, which could be made this afternoon, would reissue a provisional approval of Amazon’s £442m deal to buy a 16 per cent stake in Deliveroo, Sky News reported. The watchdog [...]
Apple makes concessions to developers after outcry June 23, 2020 Apple is to begin allowing developers that break its App Store rules to appeal company decisions, marking a change in its policy as outside scrutiny of its marketplace ramps up. Similarly, updates to apps that include minor bug fixes will not be delayed while an appeal is in progress. The move was prompted by a [...]
Google faces calls from staff to end tech sales to police June 23, 2020 Google employees have been circulating an internal petition to push the tech giant to stop selling its services to police forces, following similar moves from other companies. More than 1,600 employees are said to have signed the petition so far, seen by Reuters, which voiced disappointment with Google for not joining the “millions who want [...]
Coronavirus business loans hit £41bn, as approval rates stagnate June 23, 2020 British businesses have now borrowed £41bn in loans backed by guarantees from the government to cope with the impact of coronavirus, but approval rates are failing to improve. Approval rates for the coronavirus business interruption loan scheme (CBILS) remain stuck at 51 per cent, hitting a total of £10.53bn lent so far. As of 21 [...]
Profit slides at Poundland owner Pepco amid pandemic June 23, 2020 Pepco Group suffered a more than 16 per cent slide in profit in the first half of its 2020 financial year, damaged by a lack of sales during the coronavirus pandemic. The owner of Poundland reported an income of €89m (£80m) in the six months to March, having posted €116m in profit up until February. [...]
UK house prices to fall five per cent this year June 23, 2020 UK house prices will continue to fall and won’t recover those losses until the end of 2022, analysts have forecast. Buyers are likely to be nervous about big purchases and house prices as personal finances come under scrutiny amid the coronavirus pandemic, forcing house prices to drop five per cent this year, the 9–22 June [...]
Shopping centre owner Intu appoints administrators in back-up rescue plan June 23, 2020 Intu has told investors today it has lined up administrators in case ongoing talks regarding the shopping centre owner’s future fail. It has appointed Big Four accountancy firm KPMG as administrator as part of a “contingency plan” as it continues to engage lenders about new funding. The owner of the Trafford and Lakeside shopping centres [...]
PM to reopen cinemas, museums and galleries in England June 23, 2020 Museums, cinemas, galleries and other cultural venues are set to be allowed to reopen as long as social distancing measures are kept in place, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce this afternoon. The easing would come into effect on 4 July, in tandem with the reopening of other parts of the hospitality industry [...]