China trip: Blinken postpones diplomatic visit following balloon discovery February 3, 2023 US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has postponed a planned high-stakes weekend diplomatic trip to China as the Biden administration weighs a broader response to the discovery of a high-altitude Chinese balloon flying over sensitive sites in the western United States, a US official said. The abrupt decision comes despite China’s claim that the balloon [...]
Interest rate rise and what it means for you February 3, 2023 The Bank of England has raised interest rates to four per cent, in a widely-expected move that has implications for both borrowers and savers. Adjusting personal finances to this ‘new normal’ of higher interest rates will be a challenge for most households, admitted Paul Wilson, chief Investment officer at Channel Capital. He said although a [...]
Soaring cost of living leaves service sector at its weakest in two years, but recession fears fail to blight UK business optimism February 3, 2023 The UK’s service sector saw business activity at the start of 2023 decline for the fourth consecutive month, with the weakest performance for two years. The S&P Global/CIPS UK services PMI survey showed a reading of 48.7 in January, down from 49.9 in December; any reading below 50 is considered a decline. Although only marginal, [...]
UK faces ongoing recruitment crisis with more childcare and training needed – British Chambers of Commerce February 3, 2023 The Government is being urged to help firms recruit workers after research showed employers are facing huge problems attracting staff. Four out of five of 5,600 businesses surveyed by the British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) said they had problems recruiting workers in recent months. Hospitality firms were most likely to face challenges when recruiting, followed [...]
Ladbrokes and Coral owner Entain gambles on men’s World Cup boosting its earnings February 1, 2023 Entain, the gambling giant behind Ladbrokes and Coral, has raised it earnings guidance after a strong final quarter of 2022. The sports betting and gaming group said net gaming revenues increased by 11 per cent in the quarter to December 31, compared with a year earlier, as it witnessed a “record” number of active customers. [...]
Walkout Wednesday: The London bus and train services affected by this week’s strikes January 31, 2023 Hundreds of thousands of workers will go on strike in separate disputes over pay, jobs and conditions in what will be the biggest day of industrial action in more than a decade. Teachers, university lecturers, train drivers, civil servants, bus drivers and security guards in seven trade unions will stop work on the same day. [...]
Paperchase: Struggling stationery chain expected to appoint administrators today – reports January 31, 2023 Paperchase, the high street stationery retailer, is believed to be on the verge of appointing administrators. The chain store’s parent company is reportedly in the process of bringing in insolvency practitioners from Begbies Traynor, according to Sky News. Paperchase’s shareholders are still holding out for a buyer but rumours are they are looking for a [...]
Self assessment: Over 2 million people still need to file their tax return with the deadline falling at midnight today January 31, 2023 Taxpayers have until the end of Tuesday (31 January) to submit their self-assessment returns. The deadline for submitting online tax returns and paying any tax owed is midnight. The most recent figures from HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) show that fewer than 2.7 million customers still needed to file their self-assessment returns, as of January [...]
Boris Johnson ‘lied’ over Putin missile attack claims, says Kremlin January 30, 2023 The Kremlin has suggested Boris Johnson told “a lie” when the former prime minister said that Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared to threaten him with a missile strike. The former Downing Street incumbent made the claim in a new three-part series for BBC Two looking at how the West grappled with Mr Putin in the [...]
Shell to combine oil gas and LNG divisions and slash boardroom numbers January 30, 2023 Shell has revealed it will combine its oil and gas production and LNG divisions as part of an overhaul by its new chief executive.
