Tuesday, December 17
Trending
Rain, some heavy will affect the north and west of Scotland, although Shetland should see bright spells and showers. Elsewhere, mostly dry with skies brightening
MPs are amongst those calling for the alleged Chinese spy – with close links to Prince Andrew – to be publicly named for security reasons. MPs are threatening to name the man as allegations raise “calls for caution.” Shadow home secretary Chris Philp and Reform UK leader Nigel Farage are amongst those calling for the alleged spy to be named.
It’s plunged the royals – and Andrew – into deeper crisis and amid another year of royal scandal, the firm are hoping Andrew steps out of the public eye this Christmas.
District councils could be abolished and more elected mayors introduced across England under new plans for a major redesign of local government. Ministers are set to publish a paper on Monday outlining plans for mergers in areas where there are currently two tiers of local authority – smaller district and larger county councils – in a bid to streamline services.
The government has approved the sale of the Royal Mail’s parent company to a Czech billionaire. The £3.6bn takeover by Daniel Kretinsky’s EP Group has been given the go-ahead after agreeing “legally binding” undertakings.
The Bank of England is poised to leave interest rates on hold this week after a jump in inflation and uncertainty over the Budget’s economic impact.
Policymakers are expected to keep rates at 4.75 per cent at their next meeting on Thursday after making cuts in August and November.
Although inflation fell below the BoE’s two per cent target in September, the latest official figures showed it jumped back up to 2.3 per cent in October.
The reading marked the sharpest rise in two years and was higher than economists had expected, mainly due to rising energy bills.
https://www.cityam.com/bank-of-england-set-to-hold-interest-rates-after-inflation-surprise/
Monday’s front pages feature a variety of domestic and international stories. Several papers report on Prince Andrew and the alleged Chinese spy who befriended him. The papers report that MPs – and the public – want the alleged spy to be named.
The papers further call on the Duke to stay away from royal events this Christmas and to keep out of the public’s sight, as anger mounts over the latest scandal involving the royal.
Domestic politics also makes up the news stories. Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch continues her criticism of Labour’s farming tax plans, health secretary Wes Streeting backs a campaign calling for a ban on ‘cowboy surgeries’ and the Tories fear elderly people will be ‘left in the cold’ this winter.
In sports news, space is left on the front pages to report on the new Match of the Day hosts. The back pages lead with Manchester United’s 2-1 win over City in yesterday’s Premier League match.
The Sun reports sources say after a difficult year for the royals, the last thing they need is another scandal “dragging on”.
The Times notes Prince Andrew is under pressure, quoting sources from Buckingham Palace who say he should do the right thing and step back from public appearances over Christmas.
The Daily Telegraph says the alleged spy, who has remained anonymous, helped an elite British private school expand to China.
The Daily Mail says alongside royals and prime ministers, the spy also mixed with “captains of industry.” The paper is amongst many that demand the alleged spy “must be named.”
The i newspaper leads with leaked documents which show the EU is “prepared to drive a hard bargain” when it comes to new deals with the UK on trade and security. EU nations are said to be “happy with the status quo” and are “becoming exasperated by the UK making demands without offering concessions”.
The Daily Telegraph continues coverage of the Chancellor’s Budget changes to inheritance tax. The paper says a report from economists, says that cutting tax relief for family businesses and farms will lead to a drop in investment, which will outweigh the extra income the government expects to gain. .
The Daily Mirror says Health Secretary Wes Streeting is backing their campaign to end “cosmetic cowboys.” He tells the paper he will consider calls to crack down on unregulated high-street salons and clinics. .
The Mail reports Sky Sports presenter Kelly Cates will join Gabby Logan and Mark Chapman in hosting Match of The Day.
The Times says the three will rotate the role – taking over from Gary Lineker.
The Telegraph says Cates grew up steeped in the game and has the skill and authority to front football’s flagship show.
“Today in amazingly unfortunate British coincidences, Sky News is reporting that all the paperwork relating to Prince Andrew’s business deals during his time on the public payroll has ‘disappeared'”
Lt. Gen. Igor Kirillov, head of Russia’s Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Defence Forces, was killed by a bomb in Moscow on Tuesday. The device, hidden in a scooter, exploded as
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz lost a parliamentary confidence vote, paving the way for early elections on February 23. The move follows the collapse of his three-party coalition in November, leaving
Israeli air and ground strikes killed more than 50 people in Gaza on Sunday, including children and a journalist, according to medics. The attacks hit multiple locations, including a UN-run
A 7.3 magnitude earthquake struck near Vanuatu’s capital, Port Vila, causing significant damage to buildings and infrastructure. The quake, recorded at 12:47 PM local time (01:47 GMT) at a depth
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew met with President-elect Donald Trump at Mar-a-Lago as the app faces a looming ban unless its Chinese parent company, ByteDance, sells it by January 19.
A 15-year-old student opened fire at Abundant Life Christian School in Wisconsin, killing a teacher and a teenager, and injuring six others. The shooter, identified as Natalie Rupnow (also known
88 companies have delisted or transferred their primary listing from London this year with only 18 taking their place. This marks the biggest net outflow of companies from the main market since 2009, with new listings also on course to hit 15 year low
88 companies have delisted or transferred their primary listing from London this year with only 18 taking their place. This marks the biggest net outflow of companies from the main market since 2009, with new listings also on course to hit 15 year low
Dictators such as Kim Jong Un or Bashar al-Assad could be encouraged to buy English football clubs if “preposterous” proposals from Tory peers are passed, campaigners have warned.
The private sector cut jobs at the fastest rate for nearly 4 years in December as firms respond to new tax rules announced in the Budget.
The latest S&P Global Flash UK Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) found that while the headline figure for business confidence was unchanged from November, thanks to a marginal increase in business activity, other areas of the economy saw a sharp drop-off.
Manufacturing output and PMI both fell to an 11-month low, at 45.7 (from 48.3) and 47.3 (from 48) respectively, while companies reported the sharpest decline in workforce numbers since January 2021.
The fall-off in UK workers were credited to a combination of softer demand, rising employment costs, and squeezed margins for companies, as price pressures rose at the quickest rate in nine months.
https://www.cityam.com/uk-companies-cut-jobs-at-fastest-rate-in-nearly-4-years/
The former head of the London Stock Exchange Group has warned its flagship bourse has become “deeply uncompetitive” amid its biggest exodus since the financial crisis.
Xavier Rolet, who ran LSEG between 2009 and 2017, said lacklustre trading in London created a “real threat” of more UK firms ditching their listings in the capital for better returns overseas.
His comments come after FTSE 100 equipment rental firm Ashtead confirmed plans to move its main listing to the US, following in the footsteps of several other big companies in recent years.
LSEG data shows 88 companies have either delisted or transferred their primary listing away from London’s main market this year, while just 18 firms have joined.
https://www.cityam.com/london-stock-exchange-suffers-biggest-exodus-in-15-years-as-former-boss-sounds-alarm/
Copyright WTX News 2024
