German consumer confidence slumps amid second wave of coronavirus November 26, 2020 German consumer confidence halved in November, as the economy felt the weight of a second nationwide lockdown. Chancellor Angela Merkel last night announced that “lockdown-lite” measures will extend until 20 December, after the country yesterday recorded its highest daily death rate, which rose by 410 in 24 hours. GfK, Germany’s largest market research institute, found [...]
MPs amp up pressure to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when lockdown lifts November 25, 2020 The Prime Minister is facing mounting pressure from his own party to avoid placing London in Tier 3 when England’s lockdown lifts, over fears tough restrictions could cripple businesses in the capital. Reports of government plans to place London in the highest level of restrictions under the new tier system, set to be announced tomorrow, [...]
Switzerland offers 3,500 work permits for Brits post-Brexit November 25, 2020 The Swiss government has allocated up to 3,500 work permits to let employers recruit staff from the UK, which will no longer be covered by Swiss free-movement rules with the EU post-Brexit. Under the system 3,500 British citizens coming to Switzerland for the first time will be allowed to work in the country. “This ensures [...]
EU prepared for no-deal Brexit, says Ursula von der Leyen November 25, 2020 The European Commission cannot guarantee there will be a trade agreement with Britain, EU chief executive Ursula von Der Leyen has said, adding that the bloc is now prepared for a no-deal Brexit. “The next days are going to be decisive. The European Union is well prepared for a no-deal scenario,” von der Leyen told [...]
Virgin Money profit plummets as it takes £501m charge from coronavirus November 25, 2020 Virgin Money has reported a 77 per cent plummet in full-year pre-tax profits as the bank booked a £501m hit from the pandemic. The Clydesdale and Yorkshire Bank owner reported underlying annual pre-tax profits of £124m for the 12 months to 30 September 30 — a sharp from £539m last year. Virgin Money booked a [...]
British Gas workers turn up the heat on strike threat for up to 20,000 staff November 25, 2020 British Gas workers have cranked up the heat on potential strike action over the Christmas season unless it “takes the gun off table’, the GMB trade union has said. Thousands of GMB union members will vote on industrial action in a ballot opening on 1 December, which could see engineers refusing to fix British Gas [...]
Breaking: Three households will be able to mix for five days over Christmas November 24, 2020 Up to three households will be able to mix indoors during a five-day Christmas relaxation of lockdown rules, UK leaders have agreed. Under new plans, members of up to three different households will be able to form an exclusive bubble between 23 and 27 December. That will not include hospitality settings, though members of three [...]
England’s 28 day lockdown will actually only last 27 days as restrictions lift next Wednesday November 24, 2020 England’s national lockdown will last one day shorter than expected, with restrictions set to lift at 0.01am next Wednesday. Announcing the nationwide measures last month, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the restrictions would last 28 days starting 4 November, as the government scrambled to curb a spike in infections across the country. However, the restrictions [...]
AO World swings to profit as working from home boosts revenue more than 50 per cent November 24, 2020 Online electricals retailer AO World swung to profit in the six months to September, as a surge in domestic appliance sales during the pandemic helped revenue rocket more than 50 per cent. The company, which sells washing machines, fridges, TVs and laptops, said sales in the six months to 30 September jumped 53.2 per cent [...]
Trumped: President gives green light for peaceful transition of power to Joe Biden November 24, 2020 After weeks of pushback, President Donald Trump’s administration last night cleared the ground for President-elect Joe Biden to enter the White House. The Repuplican has repeatedly claimed widespread voter fraud since the 3 November presidential election, but failed to muster up any evidence. His administration has instead filed legal challenges to vote counts across the [...]
