Political News
Johnson merges DfID into Foreign Office
Boris Johnson has announced plans to scrap the Department for International Development and merge it into the Foreign Office, sparking criticism from senior Conservatives.
Rashford scores victory over Johnson on school meals
Boris Johnson's government has caved in to pressure led by Manchester United star Marcus Rashford by agreeing to fund meals for England's poorest children over the summer.
Johnson says that chances of reaching trade deal with EU are 'very good'
Prime Minister Boris Johnson sounded a confident note on the ability of Brussels and Westminster to clinch a trade deal.
EU responds to Chinese state aid for two Egypt-based exporters with tarriffs
The European Union has announced its first ever levy in response to Chinese state aid for firms exporting to the bloc from outside the Asian giant.
Over 1.0m left out of Covid-19 income support warn MPs
MPs warned the Treasury that over 1. 0m people were being left out of the Covid-10 income support schemes and urged the government to help cover everyone in need of the plan.
Thursday broker round-up
Lancashire Holdings: Barclays upgrades to overweight with a target price of 900p.
UK inequality gap to widen unless government acts - IFS
The inequality gap in the UK is set to widen unless the government decides to act and tackles these differences among the general public said the Institute of Fiscal Studies.
UK jobs, trade at risk under no-deal Brexit, says OECD
Britain faced risks to trade and jobs if it did not reach a post-Brexit deal with the European Union by the end of 2020, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development said.
HSBC slammed by Pompeo over support for HK security law
British bank HSBC has been rebuked by US secretary of state Mike Pompeo for supporting Hong Kong's controversial security law, calling it a “show of fealty”.
US-EU trade talks stall
Brussels's attempt to soothe strained transatlantic trade ties have stalled and a successful conclusion to the talks may have to wait until after the upcoming US presidential contest, the European Union's chief trade negotiator said.
UK records 64,000 excess deaths during pandemic - ONS
The UK has recorded about 64,000 more deaths than usual since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, an expert from the Office for National Statistics said on Tuesday.
£36bn of govt-backed loans to turn toxic, report warns
Up to £36bn of government backed business loans issued during the Covid-19 crisis could be unsustainable by early 2021, a City working group has warned.
Business leaders demand details on Irish Sea border checks
Business leaders in Northern Ireland are calling for more clarity on the details regarding the future customs checks on the Irish Sea Border and for a six month delay.
'No real progress' in UK-EU trade talks, German official says
The UK and the EU have made "no real progress" towards a trade deal and Britain must be more flexible to achieve a breakthrough, Germany's ambassador to Brussels said.
BoE asks banks to give estimates on Covid-19 loan losses
UK lenders have been asked to forecast expected loan losses from the coronavirus crisis, the Bank of England said on Thursday.
China's aviation authority to allow more foreign flights after US ban
China’s aviation authority said Thursday it would allow all foreign airlines to choose a city from a pre-approved list to operate one flight a week after the US banned all Chinese carriers from entering the country.
BoE's Bailey warns bank chiefs on Brexit - report
The Governor of the Bank of England has told bank bosses to step up preparations for the UK failing to agree a trade deal with the EU, according to a report.
Nissan says Sunderland plant threatened by no-deal Brexit
Nissan has said the UK's biggest car factory would be unsustainable if the UK leaves the EU without a trade deal, reviving fears for the future of the Sunderland plant.
Statistics chief criticises Covid-19 test figures
The UK's chief statistician has criticised the government for presenting misleading and unclear figures about its progress on testing for Covid-19.
Mortgage approvals slump to record low - Bank of England
Mortgage approvals tumbled to a near 30-year low in April as the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown measures brought the UK property market to a halt, official data showed on Tuesday.