Matt Hancock: Quarantine could return as second wave hits Europe July 30, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock today warned the government could re-introduce quarantine to protect the UK as a second wave of infections begins to roll across Europe. “I am worried about a second wave,” Hancock told Sky News. “You can see a second wave starting to roll across Europe, and we’ve got to do everything we [...]
BAE Systems posts weaker half-year profit as it predicts stronger end to 2020 July 30, 2020 BAE Systems posted weaker profit for its coronavirus-struck first half of the year today, despite an increase in revenue. The figures Profit before tax fell 11 per cent to £689m in the six months to 30 June compared to the same period in 2019. Meanwhile revenue inched up five per cent to £9.18bn year on [...]
Want a cure for Covid right now? Stop smoking, exercise more, and focus on holistic health July 30, 2020 So much of the conversation around how to beat Covid-19 has focused on the Holy Grail of a vaccine. This is obviously of utmost importance. But to beat coronavirus, as well as prepare for the next pandemic, we need a new definition of health — one that can strengthen our natural immunity and save thousands [...]
Business rates aren’t fit for purpose but Rishi Sunak’s digital tax is a sticking plaster, not a solution July 30, 2020 Long before the coronavirus pandemic, our high streets were struggling. Faced with the rise of online sales, many well-known retailers were either closing stores, entering a form of insolvency known as a company voluntary arrangement (CVA), or falling into administration. The oft-quoted analysis of this demise was that the costs of running a physical store [...]
Sadiq Khan tasks advisers to create emerging tech plan for London July 30, 2020 Sadiq Khan has tasked his advisers with identifying which emerging technology trends would most benefit London and its residents, as he seeks upgrade the capital’s infrastructure and policies. The mayor of London has appointed his chief digital officer Theo Blackwell and the Smart London Board to create an Emerging Technology Charter, which will set out [...]
Fuller’s reports £10m hit on trading due to coronavirus pandemic July 30, 2020 Pub chain Fuller, Smith and Turner said this morning it has taken a hit of more than £10m this year due to the impact of coronavirus on trading. The figures Fuller’s said revenue in the year ended 28 March was up three per cent to £333m. Profit before tax was £174.5m, including proceeds from the [...]
London commercial rents set to slump amid ‘drastic’ change to market July 30, 2020 Commercial rents in London are widely expected to fall across the board in the next three months, a new survey from RICS has shown, as the coronavirus pandemic continues to hammer the property market. According to the data, 95 per cent of survey respondents expect retail rents in the capital to decline in the next [...]
Carmakers shed 11,000 jobs as production set for worst year since 1957 July 30, 2020 More than 11,000 people in the automotive industry have lost their job in the last six months due to coronavirus, as the sector heads for its worst year of car production since 1957. According to new figures from industry body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), just 880,000 cars are expected to be [...]
Treasury tells banks to boost coronavirus lending after rule change July 30, 2020 The Treasury has told banks they should be lending more to struggling companies through the main coronavirus loan scheme after changes to EU state aid rules come into effect today. European Union rules had meant some viable British firms with significant debts or that were growing and spending fast were classed as “undertakings in difficulty”. [...]
