Divorce enquiries jump 136 per cent as lockdown restrictions ease August 13, 2021 The number of people seeking divorce related advice has soared by 136 per cent in June, compared to January, as lockdown restrictions ease, according to a law firm. Law practice Stewarts said the figures follow the busiest 18 months it has seen in the history of its divorce and family practice as the number [...]
Britain 2030: How far will UK foreign policy tilt toward the Asia Pacific? August 13, 2021 Boris Johnson’s victory in dragging the UK out of the EU was supposed to herald a new dawn for the country’s foreign policy, with his “Global Britain” agenda at the fore. It is perhaps unsurprising we are not much clearer about what this phrase means 20 months on, despite the release of a much heralded [...]
Spectator sales hit record high as magazine subscription push pays off August 13, 2021 Sales of the Spectator have soared to an all-time high as the magazine’s focus on subscriptions continues to pay dividends. The right-leaning title, which covers politics, culture and current affairs, said sales averaged 105,850 copies in the first half of this year — up 27 per cent on the same period in 2020. The figure [...]
Airbnb publishes record results with revenue up 300 per cent year on year August 13, 2021 Airbnb has reported record intake for Q2 of 2021 with revenue beating pre-pandemic levels as vaccination programmes boost travel. The company achieved $13.4bn in gross booking value – up 320 per cent compared to the same period a year ago and up 37 per cent compared to 2019. Revenue for Q2 hit $1.3bn a rise [...]
Heineken ‘doing everything’ to avoid beer shortages ahead of strikes August 13, 2021 A drinks giant has said it will take mitigation measures to avoid a beer drought when delivery drivers take industrial action later this month. Beer draymen employed by GXO Logistics Drinks will strike over pay disagreements with some 1,000 individuals across 26 sites to participate. GXO Logistics Drinks is responsible for about 40 per cent [...]
Credit Suisse bolsters risk oversight to prevent future Greensill scandals August 13, 2021 Credit Suisse is bolstering its internal controls to prevent future scandals in a bid to repair the damage inflicted on its reputation by the Greensill and Archegos affairs. Switzerland’s second largest bank is adding two new risk experts to its non-executive board. New chairman Antonio Horta-Osorio has made strengthening risk oversight his main priority after [...]
Nicola Sturgeon calls for review of controversial North Sea oil field August 13, 2021 Nicola Sturgeon has today written to Boris Johnson calling for a review of a controversial plan to drill a new oil field off the west coast of Shetland. She said that drilling licenses for fields such as Cambo should “be reassessed in light of the severity of the climate emergency we now face”. Although the [...]
Avon Protection shares plunge a quarter as firm slashes guidance August 13, 2021 Personal protection maker Avon today saw its shares plummet 25 per cent after it cut its revenue guidance for the next two years. The FTSE 250 firm said that a combination of supply chain disruption and delayed orders was at fault. After an hour of trading, shares in the firm were down 25.4 per cent [...]
UK competition watchdog investigating ‘immediate’ government action on PCR test prices August 13, 2021 The UK competition regulator has said it is exploring what immediate action the government can take to quash the hugely variable prices charged by private providers of Covid PCR tests for travel, after the health secretary, MPs and the travel industry called for an intervention. In a statement published yesterday, the Competition and Markets Authority [...]
Deputy leader of council resigns as Marble Arch Mound costs hit £6m August 13, 2021 The Deputy leader of Westminster Council has resigned after costs for the Marble Arch Mound reached £6m – almost double the amount forecast. The Mound, which opened on July 26th, was heavily criticised by visitors who were charged to climb the 25-meter, muddy heap before construction was finished. Ticket holders have received refunds and the [...]
