Lockdown extended in north-west regions of England August 14, 2020 The government extended lockdown restrictions on regions of north-west England today, saying there was no evidence that the coronavirus infection rates in the areas had fallen. “The latest evidence does not show a decrease in the number of cases per 100,000 people in the area, and the health secretary, in collaboration with local leaders, has [...]
UK signs deal for 90m more coronavirus vaccine doses August 14, 2020 The UK government has signed a deal for 90m more coronavirus vaccine doses from US biotech company Novavax and Belgian pharma giant Janssen. That means the UK has now agreed deals for a stockpile of 340m vaccine doses, and six different types of coronavirus vaccines. The government did not reveal how much it has agreed [...]
UK says US whisky tariff ‘in nobody’s interest’ in trade deal talks August 13, 2020 The UK has said it will step up demands for the US to drop tariffs on goods such as single malt Scotch whisky after the industry warned a decision by Washington to retain the levy was putting its future at risk. The US government yesterday vowed to maintain 15 per cent tariffs on Airbus aircraft [...]
Second wave fears: Rishi Sunak could delay autumn Budget August 12, 2020 Finance minister Rishi Sunak is weighing options to shelve his autumn Budget if the UK suffers a big second wave of the coronavirus, it is reported. While Sunak expects to deliver his Budget as planned, it is a sign of government anxiety over a possible autumn coronavirus spike that he is ready to delay big [...]
Beirut police fire tear gas as protesters regroup and two ministers quit August 10, 2020 Lebanese police fired tear gas to try to disperse rock-throwing protesters blocking a road near parliament in Beirut on Sunday in a second day of anti-government demonstrations triggered by last week’s devastating explosion. Fire broke out at an entrance to Parliament Square as demonstrators tried to break into a cordoned-off area, TV footage showed. Protesters [...]
Saudi Aramco profit plunges 73.4 per cent as oil market stumbles August 9, 2020 Saudi state oil group Aramco today reported a 73.4 per cent fall in second-quarter net profit, a steeper drop than analysts had forecast. It also said it expected capital expenditure for 2020 to be at the lower end of a $25bn to $30bn range. The world’s biggest oil exporter said the rapid spread of Covid-19 [...]
Beirut death toll hits 100 after warehouse explosion August 5, 2020 A Beirut warehouse explosion that shook Lebanon’s capital yesterday left more than 4,000 people injured and at least 100 dead as rescue workers dig through the rubble looking for survivors. Tuesday’s blast at port warehouses storing highly explosive material was the most powerful in years in Beirut, already reeling from an economic crisis and a [...]
BP halves dividend after record $6.7bn loss in coronavirus quarter August 4, 2020 BP halved its dividend, its first cut in a decade, after booking a record $6.7bn (£5.13bn) loss in a second quarter devastated by the impact of coronavirus. The figures BP fell to a $6.7bn loss on its preferred underlying replacement cost metric for the three months to 30 June. However, analysts had expected a $6.8bn [...]
UK to distribute millions of 90-minute coronavirus tests August 3, 2020 New 90-minute coronavirus tests will be distributed to care homes and laboratories around the UK from next week, the government announced today. The speedy tests will check for Covid-19 and flu in a boost to ramp up testing capacity before winter arrives, amid fears of a second wave of cases in Britain. Two new tests [...]
EDF to slash €500m in costs amid €3bn asset sales July 30, 2020 French energy giant EDF plans to cut operating costs by €500m up to 2022 and to generate €3bn from asset sales to combat slipping profits, it said today. EDF reported a fall in net profit in the first half of 2020 due to the coronavirus outbreak. Before the Open: Get the jump on the markets [...]
