South Africa offers the world a way out of Covid as Omicron is in full retreat: New infections down and death rate dropping January 3, 2022 As Covid infection rates are dropping rapidly and tens of thousands of South Africans recovering from Omicron without having to go to hospital, it seems the country is heading for a healthy start of the year. In fact, Covid experts are all saying the same: the Omicron wave has passed and other countries can expect [...]
SME crisis: Late payment of invoices and spiralling costs threaten survival of more than 400,000 small businesses January 3, 2022 Paying invoices too late is threating the survival of hundreds of thousands of small firms, a businesses group warned this morning. The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) fears that late payments, high inflation and mounting administration for firms that trade internationally could see numbers shrink if something is not done about these issues. Of the [...]
4,000 people held on cruise ship outside Lisbon after Covid outbreak despite none of the passengers testing positive January 3, 2022 More than 4,000 people are being held aboard a cruise ship in the Portuguese capital Lisbon after a Covid-19 outbreak infected crew members, according to multiple media reports in the Spain and Portugal. Portuguese media reported that 52 members of the crew of more than 1,000 workers tested positive. However, none of the nearly 3,000 [...]
From today: Many trains services slashed following staff shortages as strikes and Covid cripple rail networks January 1, 2022 Several train operators – including ScotRail and South Western Railway – said they have no choice but to slash services as a result of Covid-induced staff shortages. From today until 17 January, when the new timetable will be introduced, Southwestern Railway trains will be subject to short notice cancellations. “The onset of the Omicron variant [...]
Brexit passporting: Little appetite among EU finance firms to stay in London as FCA applications disappoint January 1, 2022 It appears that many European financial services firms are not interested in continuing to be authorised in the City, as only half of EU firms that were given a temporary license to operate in the UK – immediately after Brexit – have applied for full authorisation, a Freedom of Information request has revealed. The City [...]
Drivers unaware of Highway Code changes, data reveals December 31, 2021 The majority of UK drivers are still unaware of the changes made to the Highway Code which – if approved by Parliament – will come into effect on 29 January. According to a poll carried out by the AA before Christmas, two thirds of its 13,000 members didn’t know changes were under way. British charity [...]
Local authorities sue European truck makers over price-fixing scheme December 31, 2021 More than 100 UK local authorities are taking European truck manufacturers such as Volvo and Daimler to court over a price-fixing scheme. Basildon’s and North Tyneside’s councils as well as 22 fire and rescue services are seeking £450m worth of damages five years after the European Commission ruled that Volvo, Daimler, Iveco, DAF and MAN [...]
Southern trains cancels ALL services to and from London Victoria until January 10 as rail disruption worsens December 30, 2021 Southern announced this afternoon that none of its trains will run to or from London Victoria until January 10 due to “coronavirus isolation and sickness”. Disruption to rail services is worsening due to pandemic-related staff shortages and industrial action. London Victoria is one of the UK’s busiest stations, and is normally connected by Southern to [...]
Exclusive: Nearly 9m Brits face having to cancel or postpone US and European holidays December 30, 2021 Nearly nine million holidaymakers face potentially having to cancel or rearrange trips to the US or mainland Europe that they booked before the introduction of new travel restrictions, according to new research shared exclusively with City PM this morning. Nearly one in five adults, around 8.9m Brits, has booked trips to mainland Europe or the [...]
Brexit red tape: More disruption to food supplies looming as EU is ‘not prepared’ for new UK import rules that take effect on 1 January December 30, 2021 The food industry is warning of more disruption to food supplies when new UK import rules take effect this Saturday. From 1 January, importers must make a full customs declaration on goods entering the UK from the EU or other countries. Traders will no longer be able to delay completing full import customs declarations for [...]
