China widens child policy to three children to combat declining population May 31, 2021 China is set to widen its child policy to three children, after easing its longstanding one-child only policy in 2015, to combat its declining population. The change, approved by president Xi Jinping in a politburo meeting, will signal the end of its two children only policy, state media outlet Xinhua said. It follows China’s 10-year [...]
UK may be edging into a third wave, according to scientist advisor May 31, 2021 The UK may be in the early stages of a third wave of Covid-19 infections, according to a scientist advising the government. Professor Ravi Gupta has said that although new cases were “relatively low”, the Indian variant had caused “exponential growth” in infections. The University of Cambridge professor added that lifting Covid restrictions in England [...]
Report: Festivals risk losing another summer unless government support kicks in May 29, 2021 Music festivals are looking at another ‘lost summer’, a report has said today, due to the lack of government plans to back insurance for events at risk of cancellation due to Covid-19. The report, by the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) committee, calls on ministers to offer a safety net for live [...]
Hungary PM seeks UK allyship post-Brexit ahead of Downing Street meeting May 28, 2021 Hungary has been missing the UK post-Brexit, as the country’s Prime Minister said this morning it ‘suffers’ from Britain’s absence and wants to build new bilateral ties. “We agreed on many things, which created a sort of balance in the EU,” prime minister Viktor Orban said ahead of his meeting with Boris Johnson later today.. [...]
Around 500 farmers with UK visas are trapped in Belarus after the flight ban May 28, 2021 Around 500 farmers from Belarus, who were recruited under a government visa scheme, have been left trapped in Belarus after the UK banned flights from the country this week. Trying to help the UK with its summer harvest, farmworkers have been trying to find indirect flights from neighbouring countries to get to the UK, after [...]
Franco Manco owner Fulham Shore sees post-restrictions revenues soar 103 per cent May 28, 2021 The company behind Franco Manca saw its group revenues soar 103 per cent in its first full week of dining with minimal restrictions, it said in a statement today. While loyalty scheme user numbers have doubled since the beginning of the first lockdown, to over 220,000 – the Fulham Shore group, which also owns The [...]
Small ‘dirty cash’ fortune of £5.1m found in Fulham flat – stashed under beds May 28, 2021 A small fortune of £5.1m in “dirty cash” was found in a Fulham flat – stashed under beds, in cupboards and strewn on the floor, police have said today. Three money launderers are facing prison following the Met police’s largest single cash seizure last summer. Police said it was left across the flat because the gang [...]
Getting the housing industry to net zero will cost at least £5bn, industry leaders say May 28, 2021 In the push for a low-carbon future in the housing sector, renovating the UK’s draughty homes would cost the government £5bn over the next four years and create 100,000 jobs, industry leaders have estimated. The revamps would also cut people’s energy bills and lift tax revenue, leaders have written to ministers today, the Guardian reported [...]
Crowdfunding: Fintech app Curve rakes in £10m in just 54 hours May 28, 2021 Fintech app Curve has raked in nearly £10m in just 54 hours, in the largest equity raise on crowdfunding platform Crowdcube’s record. A collection of 11,795 investors pushed the equity raise into near double digits, breaking multiple records during Crowdcube’s campaign. Closing at 3pm yesterday, investors raised £9.9m. The fintech app, which connects all bank accounts [...]
Bank holiday: Pubs predict 21m fewer pints sold and £80m in lost sales May 28, 2021 Bank holiday: Pubs predict 21m fewer pints sold and £80m in lost revenue