US senators urge MPs to rethink Huawei 5G decision March 4, 2020 A group of senior US senators has written to MPs urging them to rethink the UK’s decision to allow Huawei to help build its 5G networks. Twenty senators, including both Democrats and Republicans, expressed “significant” concern with the decision, citing “significant security, privacy and economic threats”. In January the government gave Huawei the green light [...]
Chinese passenger car sales fall 80 per cent in February March 4, 2020 Sales of passenger cars in China fell 80 per cent in February due to the coronavirus impact, according to the China Passenger Car Association (CPCA). The industry body did not give an exact sales figure, but earlier this month had reported that for the first 16 days of February only 4,909 units were sold, down [...]
Sirius shareholders approve controversial Anglo American £405m takeover March 3, 2020 Investors have approved a controversial rescue bid by rival Anglo American for troubled mining firm Sirius Minerals. The meeting in London today approved the deal with 80.3 per cent of votes in favour and 19.7 per cent against. It will provide a saving grace for Sirius’ north Yorkshire mine, which was set to be closed [...]
Decision won’t be made on future of Ellesmere Port car plant until state of EU trading relationship becomes clear March 3, 2020 A final decision on the future of Ellesmere Port’s car plant will likely not be made until the end of the year. The car industry has been one of many saying it could be adversely affected if a trade deal is not struck. PSA, which is currently merging with Italy’s Fiat Chrysler, makes its Vauxhall [...]
The private sector can be the engine of the low-carbon revolution March 3, 2020 When Al Gore made An Inconvenient Truth in 2006, he pointed to the fact that the Chinese characters for “crisis” signify both “danger” and “opportunity”. In the years since, the conversations around tackling climate change have often been framed by what industries and governments stand to lose in the immediate future by acting. Advocates have [...]
No fly zone: As coronavirus fears grow, airlines must brace for the worst March 3, 2020 One of last month’s more outlandish news stories was the report that the coronavirus outbreak had caused an upsurge in private jet inquiries. More wealthy travellers than ever, it seems, are willing to pay thousands of pounds an hour for a plane unto themselves, in an attempt to dodge the risk of getting infected. The [...]
What is the coronavirus and how dangerous is it? March 2, 2020 Since it emerged in China at the turn of the New Year, a deadly new strain of coronavirus has spread across the world and claimed hundreds of lives. The number of coronavirus cases globally is nearing 90,000, with fears of a possible pandemic. Read more: 14 Diamond Princess passengers evacuated to US test positive for [...]
City workers snap up central London homes as Brexit uncertainty fades March 2, 2020 The number of City workers snapping up property in prime central London areas surged last year as the uncertainty surrounding Brexit began to clear, according to the latest research. The percentage of buyers from the financial services sector buying properties worth more than £2m jumped to 34.6 per cent of total sales in 2019, the [...]
Airline stocks push FTSE 100 back into the red as coronavirus fears mount March 2, 2020 Airline stocks continued to plunge this morning as more flights were suspended on the back of growing fears over the spread of the coronavirus outbreak. British Airways owner IAG was the FTSE 100’s biggest faller, shedding another nine per cent this morning to land at 426.20. The fall means that since 23 February IAG has [...]
Coronavirus: Asian stocks turn green on Bank of Japan stimulus pledge March 2, 2020 Asian stocks stemmed their losses overnight as shares rose in response to the Bank of Japan’s move to inject stimulus to save its economy from the worst impact of the coronavirus outbreak. The Nikkei and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng both climbed after Bank of Japan governor Haruhiko Kuroda pledged to help protect markets from exposure [...]