UK food producers push PM to grant 12-month visas to solve supply problems August 27, 2021 Companies from across the UK’s food chain are calling on the UK Government to grant thousands of extra one-off visas to solve Brexit-induced supply chain problems that now threaten to ruin Christmas. Companies and lobby groups representing food production companies from paddock to payment counter want a 12-month visa to be created for HGV drivers [...]
Afghanistan: Shots fired at airport were to disperse crowd, not at Italian plane August 26, 2021 Shots earlier reported to have been fired at an Italian military plane evacuating Afghans from Kabul are now thought to have been used to disperse a crowd on the ground. Military sources had told Italian news agency ANSA that a C-130 transport carrying Afghan ex-Nato workers out of Kabul was fired on as it left [...]
Watches of Switzerland poaches Rank Group’s finance boss August 26, 2021 Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casino owner Rank Group this morning confirmed its chief financial officer is heading to Watches of Switzerland. Bill Floydd tendered his resignation in order to take up the same role at the FTSE-listed luxury retailer. Rank CEO John O’Reilly said Floydd “helped secure the group’s liquidity and future through the pandemic [...]
Afghanistan: More than 11,000 people evacuated from Kabul by UK armed forces August 25, 2021 UK armed forces have evacuated more than 11,000 UK and Afghan nationals from Kabul since the Taliban took control of the nation, the Ministry of Defence confirmed tonight. So far 11,474 people have been flown out of Kabul since the mission began on 13 August. The tally includes embassy staff, British nationals,Afghan nationals under the [...]
Extinction Rebellion: Number of XR protesters arrested in London nears 200 August 25, 2021 The number of people arrested at Extinction Rebellion (XR) events in London protests since Sunday has almost reached 200 as the environmental group targeted the Oxford Circus area. The Metropolitan Police said as of 6pm tonight, another six had been arrested for a “variety of offences”. Now the total number of arrests made over the [...]
Local councils in Britain staring into £3.1bn funding blackhole August 25, 2021 Local councils in Britain will look to scrap projects and essential services as they grapple with a combined £3.1bn funding blackhole. Councils across England, Wales and Scotland face record financial shortfall in 2022/23 which will likely will lead to huge service and staff cuts at local authorities unless the government urgently finds the money to protect communities, the Unison union [...]
Mecca Bingo owner Rank Group’s shares rise after win in VAT battle with HMRC August 25, 2021 Shares in Mecca Bingo and Grosvenor Casino owner Rank Group jumped today on the news it’s likely to secure an £80m tax rebate from HMRC. The long-running tax spat looks likely to conclude with the gambling firm nabbing a rebate of up to £80m from a VAT claim after HMRC chaose not to appeal against an [...]
Turn off Zoom: London City airport exec bullish on the return of business travel August 23, 2021 Business travel is expected to quickly rebound in 2022, as executives ditch Zoom calls and return to Europe, the US and beyond to press the flesh, a London City airport executive said today. So far, business travel has lagged behind leisure travel in recovery, as technological alternatives has proven cheaper and more resilient to the [...]
Flying high: Former RBS and RSA boss Stephen Hester to be next Easyjet chairman August 23, 2021 City heavyweight Stephen Hester, who led RBS and insurer RSA, has been named the next chairman of budget airline Easyjet. Easyjet this morning named Hester as its director and chair designate. Hester will join the Board as a non-executive director on 1 September and then he will succeed John Barton as the airline’s chair on [...]
Astrazeneca’s non-vaccine therapy cuts chance of getting symptomatic Covid by 77 per cent, trial finds August 20, 2021 FTSE-listed Astrazeneca this morning said its Covid-19 antibody therapy met the main goal of preventing coronavirus symptoms in a late-stage study. It means the Anglo-Swedish pharma is on track to potentially offer an alternative to vaccines for people with weakened immune systems. Astrazeneca said it will now submit data to try and get emergency authorisation [...]
