Exclusive: BAM signs £95m deal to redevelop St Pancras industrial estate July 8, 2021 Construction firm BAM has been brought on by property firm W.RE to redevelop an old industrial estate near St Pancras’ hospital in Camden, City A.M. can reveal. Under the £95m deal, the firm will build offices, retail and two separate residential buildings on the site, as well as a new mini park. The St Pancras [...]
Pizza Express toasts ‘strong’ reopening as it seals £335m refinancing July 8, 2021 Pizza Express today hailed “strong” trading after reopening its restaurants following lockdown as it sealed a £335m refinancing deal. The pizza chain today confirmed it had concluded its long-term financing plan, consisting of five-year bonds, and was now a “fitter” company after emerging from Covid lockdowns. It comes after a challenging year for the restaurant [...]
Asylum seekers crossing English Channel no longer face prosecution July 8, 2021 The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) today said migrants who cross the English Channel seeking asylum in the UK will no longer be prosecuted. An agreement was struck between police, prosecutors, the National Crime Agency, Border Force and the Home Office over cases involving “illegal entry”. It will also apply to those arriving by lorry. However, [...]
Instacart poaches top Facebook executive as new boss July 8, 2021 US grocery delivery giant Instacart has tapped one of Facebook’s most senior executives as its new boss ahead of a potential stock market float. Instacart today announced that Fidji Simo will take over as chief executive from Apoorva Mehta, who will take on the role of executive chairman and still be involved in day-to-day activities. [...]
UN refugee agency raises ‘deep concern’ over UK asylum system overhaul July 8, 2021 The UN’s refugee agency today voiced “deep concern” around new UK asylum changes, labelling the reforms as an “almost neo-colonial approach”. Gillian Triggs, assistant high commissioner for protection at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) told a Chatham House briefing the changes “shift burden” rather than “share responsibilities” on supporting refugees. Sweeping reforms [...]
Apple founder Steve Wozniak backs right-to-repair movement July 8, 2021 Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak has thrown his weight behind the burgeoning right-to-repair movement despite resistance from the company he helped to build. The right-to-repair movement calls for new laws guaranteeing users access to information and parts to fix their own devices. Current laws in the US and Europe limit right-to-repair rules to vehicles and appliances [...]
Almost two-thirds of Brits back to work as freedom day nears July 8, 2021 Almost two-thirds of Brits are now back at their normal workplace as the gradual return to work continues in the run-up to freedom day. The latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed 65 per cent of people had returned to their normal pre-pandemic place of work by 27 June, up one percentage [...]
FTSE 100 plummets as just two stocks register gains July 8, 2021 London’s FTSE 100 slid in afternoon trading on Thursday, with just two stocks in the entire index notching gains. The capital’s premier index fell sharply this afternoon, down 2.24 per cent, the highest fall for three weeks. The fall was driven by sentiment among investors souring on fears that the current surge in Covid cases [...]
Car giant Stellantis to spend €30bn on electrifying its vehicles July 8, 2021 Car juggernaut Stellantis today announced €30bn (£25.8bn) worth of investment into electrifying its vehicles by 2030 as it joins the race to quit the internal combustion vehicle. Over the next five years, the firm – formed from the merger of Fiat Chrysler and Peugeot owner PSA – will set about rolling out low emission cars [...]
England’s Euro 2020 performance could rally consumer spending July 8, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak said he expects a “bounce” in consumer spending thanks to England reaching the Euro 2020 final. England reached their first men’s football final in 55 years on Wednesday after they fought back to beat Denmark 2-1 after extra time. Speaking to the BBC, Simon French, chief economist at Panmure Gordon, said the [...]
