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 [...]
UK puts pen to paper on Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein trade deal July 8, 2021 The UK has officially signed a £21.6bn trade deal with Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein in a London ceremony today. The deal was agreed in principle last month and includes things a cut on tariffs for Norwegian fish exports and British pork and poultry exports. The Department for International Trade also said “the deal’s cutting-edge digital [...]
NHS app self-isolation tracker could change if Covid cases see a summer spiral July 8, 2021 Chancellor Rishi Sunak has hinted that the way the NHS app ‘pings’ people for self-isolation could change as Covid-19 cases are expected to rise over the summer. Businesses have become increasingly frustrated with high staff absences due to employees being told to self-isolate. “I’ve spoken to the Health Secretary about this and he’s aware of [...]
All the amber list countries you can now summer holiday in (if you’re vaccinated) July 8, 2021 Summer holidays are back on for millions of Brits as the government today scrapped the need for those who have been fully vaccinated to quarantine on return from “amber list” countries. The widely-trailed change to the international travel rules, which transport secretary Grant Shapps confirmed in a statement to Parliament today, opens up the chance [...]
