New: All EU countries ban UK travellers for 48 hours amid mutant strain scare December 21, 2020 The EU has followed many of its countries in enforcing a BAN on all British travellers to the Continent and Ireland until midnight tomorrow. A unilateral French decision has caused chaos at the port of Dover today but other countries soon joined. Spain made the call to close its borders to the UK, with the [...]
Banned: The full list of countries that have banned UK travellers December 21, 2020 The new mutant strain of Covid-19 which is said to be spreading widely in the UK has seen a number of countries crack down on British arrivals. The French decision to block the border has caused chaos at UK ports, but many other countries have made similar decisions. The full list: France India Italy Belgium [...]
US charges former Libyan intelligence officer in relation to Lockerbie bombing December 21, 2020 US Attorney General William Barr has announced former Libyan intelligence officer Abu Agila Masud will be charged in relation to the Lockerbie bombing. The announcement came on the 32nd anniversary of the attack, when a Boeing 747 from London to New York exploded in mid-air. Former Libyan leader Mohammad Gaddafi accepted his country’s responsibility for [...]
Global markets slump amid fears of mutant virus and UK border chaos December 21, 2020 The FTSE 100 and US and European stocks tumbled on Monday while the pound slumped after countries banned travel from the UK over fears of a new coronavirus strain. Adding to the gloom on markets was the impasse in post-Brexit trade talks between the UK and the EU. Rising coronavirus cases in Britain, on the [...]
PM to host press conference later as freight stacks up at border December 21, 2020 The Prime Minister will hold a Downing Street press conference later amidst ongoing chaos at the UK-France border. Despite assurances from French authorities that goods would start moving again after a ban on Brits entering the continent, lorries have begun to stack up at Dover and other ports. The Elysee announced a total ban on [...]
Liftoff: Boeing’s embattled 737-Max to receive EU flying approval December 21, 2020 The European aviation safety watchdog is expected to give Boeing’s controversial 737-Max aircraft the OK to fly in the New Year. European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) boss Patrick Ky told the BBC he was “certain” the aircraft was safe to fly. He said his inspectors had “left no stone unturned” in assessing the changes to [...]
Arcadia empire begins to splinter as Aussies pick off Evans December 21, 2020 City Chic Collective, an Australian retail company, has picked up the Evans brand from stricken high street giant Arcadia. The antipodean firm has brought Evans’ brand and wholesale business, though UK stores are not part of the deal. The deal is thought to be worth around £23m. Read more: Where did it all go wrong [...]
FCA fines fall by half in 2020 as Covid takes hit on enforcement December 21, 2020 The Financial Conduct Authority handed out £183.6m worth of fines this year, more than half the total bill in 2019. The number of fines has fallen too, from 21 to just ten. Lawyers believe the slowdown is due to the pandemic disrupting enforcement activities, not least the FCA’s ability to conduct witness and suspect interviews. [...]
Brexit talks continue but miss European Parliament deadline December 21, 2020 Talks on the UK’s exit from the EU will continue today despite missing the European Parliament’s Sunday night deadline for an agreement. The Parliament, which will need to ratify any agreement, had said last week that it would only hold an emergency meeting if a deal had been struck by midnight Sunday. Read more: Sterling [...]
Peckhamplex, Rio Dalston and Prince Charles cinemas amongst DCMS grant recipients December 20, 2020 Some of London’s best-loved cinemas have received vital funds from the Government’s Cultural Recovery Fund, it emerged today. Some £16m has been injected into more than 200 independent cinemas across the country. Peckhamplex, a multi-screen cinema famed for showing the latest blockbusters at knockdown £4.99 prices, received £564,423 from the Government scheme. Read more: What [...]