Rapid tests for asymptomatic people to be rolled out
Asymptomatic testing for Covid can help “break the chains of transmission”, Matt Hancock says Regular rapid testing for people without coronavirus symptoms will be made available across England this week, the government has said. The community testing regime – expanded to cover all 317 local authorities – uses rapid lateral flow tests, which can return […]
End of ‘lifeline’ tax cut will hit hospitality sector
BBC Pub owner Alex Clarke said reduced VAT and government support had been “vital” to his businesses A temporary reduction in VAT to 5% for certain hospitality businesses introduced during the pandemic, has come to an end. How are firms preparing for the increase in “lifeline” government tax again? The value added tax relief applied […]
Visa scheme planned to ease problems
Reuters Drivers have queued at some petrol stations, despite reassurances over supplies Ministers are working on plans for a temporary visa scheme to make it easier for foreign lorry drivers to come to the UK. Final details of exactly how the initiative will work are expected to be announced this weekend. Any changes to immigration […]
Donald Trump to announce raft of new trade tariffs including on steel
Reuters President Donald Trump has said he will announce a 25% import tax on all steel and aluminium entering the US, a move that will have the biggest impact in Canada. Trump also said that there would be an announcement later in the week about reciprocal tariffs on all countries that tax imports from the […]
Pharmaceutical firm blames inflation as profits fall
John Campbell BBC News NI Economics & Business Editor Pacemaker Norbrook, the Newry-based pharmaceutical firm, says inflationary pressure saw profits fall by 21% to £21.3m last year. Chief executive Liam Nagle said costs of chemicals were up by 10% to 15% with packaging and shipping prices also rising. The business was less exposed to energy […]
Food warehouses ‘almost full’ ahead of Brexit
Jack Taylor Companies looking for somewhere to store extra supplies of fresh food in the run-up to Brexit in March may be too late, the chief executive of the food and drink federation has told MPs. Ian Wright said that warehouses around the UK for frozen and chilled food are “for all practical purposes booked […]
Is it the end of the 9 to 5 working day?
Katie Hope Business reporter, BBC News Anna Whitehouse Traditional workplace hours of 9am to 5pm are now only the norm for a minority of workers, research suggests. Just 6% of people in the UK now work such hours, a YouGov survey found. Almost half of people worked flexibly with arrangements such as job sharing or […]
New guidance for weddings in England
EPA A couple in Madrid getting married in early June The government has published new guidance on weddings in England, allowing ceremonies of up to 30 people but advising against receptions. From 4 July, wedding and civil partnerships can go ahead but with only 30 people including the couple, staff such as a photographer and […]
Jersey anti-bird flu measures to begin on Wednesday
BBC All bird keepers in Jersey must house their flocks from Wednesday 7 September Birdkeepers in Jersey must keep their birds housed from Wednesday to try to halt further outbreaks of avian flu. Enclosures must be covered with a “solid or impermeable roof” to prevent wild bird faeces from entering. Deputy Jonathan Renouf said poultry […]
Just Eat Takeaway to buy Grubhub in £5.75bn deal
Getty Images European food delivery app Just Eat Takeaway has agreed to buy US rival Grubhub in a $7.3bn (£5.75bn) deal. If the takeover is completed it will create the world’s biggest food delivery company outside China. The combined firm will have more than 70 million active customers who place close to 600 million orders […]