Brits struggle to pay household bills as coronavirus crisis deepens June 29, 2020 Arrears on UK household bills continued to swell last month amid abrupt falls in employment, earnings and incomes, as the coronavirus crisis batters the British economy. A report released today by the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) showed that mortgage payments slumped 14 per cent last month, as people made use of temporary payment holidays [...]
CMA chair Tyrie was ‘forced to step down’ after row with directors June 28, 2020 The chairman of the UK’s competition watchdog was forced to step down three years early after a stand-off with the firm’s chief executive, according to reports. Lord Tyrie, who last week announced he would stand down as chairman of the Competition and Markets authority (CMA) in September three years earlier than planned, had fallen out [...]
Germany to shake up accounting industry following Wirecard collapse June 28, 2020 Germany is set to overhaul its accounting industry as part of measures to soften the fallout from the collapse of payments fintech Wirecard last week. Wirecard, which premiered on Germany’s main Dax index with a €24bn (£21.8bn) valuation just two years ago, filed for insolvency last week after auditors found a €1.9bn black hole in [...]
Trump warns against foreign interference in UK projects as US steps up national security efforts June 28, 2020 President Donald Trump has issued a stiff warning to the UK not to allow foreign interference in British projects, as the US looks to bolster its national security efforts amid increasing tensions with China. Trump yesterday warned that the US could block foreign buyers from purchasing Anglo-American satellite business Oneweb amid mounting national security concerns [...]
Virgin Atlantic seeks up to £900m in rescue bid after coronavirus turbulence June 28, 2020 Embattled airline Virgin Atlantic is looking to raise up to £900m in a last-ditch rescue bid days after it said it was unlikely to secure a government bailout. The carrier, founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, has beefed up its original £750m cash call amid forecasts for an extended recovery period for the aviation [...]
Driving lessons get the green light to restart on 4 July June 25, 2020 Learner drivers are set to return to the road as driving lessons in England will resume on 4 July, the transport secretary has announced. The Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) is drawing up plans to get learner drivers and motorcyclists back in their vehicles on 4 July. Theory tests will restart in England on [...]
Chris Whitty: Covid-19 cases ‘will rise again’ if people ignore social distancing June 25, 2020 Chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has issued a stern warning that coronavirus cases “will rise again” if people ignore social distancing guidelines. In an uncharacteristic move, Whitty took to Twitter to caution that “Covid-19 has gone down due to the efforts of everyone but it is still in general circulation.” “If we do not [...]
Shareholders back German government bailout to rescue Lufthansa June 25, 2020 Lufthansa shareholders have overwhelmingly backed a €9bn (£8.1bn) bailout by the German government in a last-ditch rescue bid for Europe’s largest airline group, as the coronavirus crisis continues to batter the travel sector. More than 98 per cent of shareholders voted in favour of the rescue package in a virtual extraordinary general meeting today, chairman [...]
‘Al fresco Britain’: Government waives planning laws for on-street drinking and dining June 25, 2020 The government has set out details that will pave the way for an “al fresco Britain” this summer, allowing fairs, outdoor markets and on-street drinking and dining to take place without planning permission in England. The government has unveiled a new Business and Planning Bill, which will lift the red tape from pubs, restaurants and [...]
Bournemouth: ‘Major incident’ declared as Brits flock to the beach during heatwave June 25, 2020 Police have declared a “major incident” in Bournemouth as thousands of sunseekers defied lockdown rules and headed to the beach on the hottest day of the year today. Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole Council activated a multi-agency response to tackle the crowds, adding that it was “stretched to the absolute hilt” on the second day of [...]
