Exclusive: Carolyn Fairbairn of industry body will urge MPs to put economy before politics
A no-deal Brexit would have profound economic consequences with GDP shrinking by up to 8%, putting thousands of jobs at risk, the Confederation of British Industry is to warn.
The business body is urging MPs to back Theresa May’s deal, describing it as a “solution” businesses can work with as it delivers a transition period and avoids a “hugely damaging cliff edge”.
Continue reading...Some residents of Baldwin Street in Dunedin suggest resurfacing top of street to see off challenge from Harlech in Wales
The Welsh town of Harlech is challenging New Zealand’s claim to the steepest street in the world, forcing the city of Dunedin to contemplate losing one of its most famous and lucrative tourist attractions.
Baldwin Street in Dunedin draws in thousands of tourists a year since being crowned the steepest street in the world by Guinness World Records, with an exhausting 1:3 gradient.
Continue reading...Amendments mean PM would have with little room to move if Brexit deal rejected next week
Theresa May’s room for manoeuvre should her Brexit deal be rejected next week was further constrained on Wednesday night, after the government lost a second dramatic parliamentary showdown in as many days.
An increasingly boxed-in prime minister must now set out her plan B within three working days of a defeat next Tuesday, after the rebel amendment passed.
Continue reading...A prolonged Föhn effect can result in abnormally high temperatures
The Föhn effect is characterised by dry and warm winds on the downwind side of high ground. The main warming mechanism originates from the fact that the cooling rate of moisture-laden air as it is forced to ascend over a mountain is lower than the warming rate of drier air as it descends the downslope side. Once the moisture is condensed out of the air into clouds over the mountain itself, it warms up descending the lee side – often becoming notably higher than its original temperature.
Another factor involved in the air warming is that descending air tends to be mostly clear of clouds, allowing the sun to warm the surface and the air that travels over it.
Continue reading...Hopes of a ceasefire in the trade war between Washington and Beijing are boosting stocks
After three days of gains, Wall Street is expected to rise further when trading begins in under 90 minutes.
US Opening Calls:#DOW 23848 +0.27%#SPX 2579 +0.18%#NASDAQ 6570 +0.27%#IGOpeningCall
Entrepreneur Elon Musk has been doing his bit for US-China relations this week.
“We hope you can get a firm foothold and expand the market.
We hope your company can become an in-depth participant in China’s opening and a promoter of the stability of Chinese-U.S. relations.”
Continue reading...Bercow allows debate on amendment aimed at stopping government ‘running down clock’ to no deal
The Speaker, John Bercow, has allowed MPs to debate an amendment that could force Theresa May to present a new Brexit plan within three days if her current proposal is voted down, a decision likely to enrage the government.
Bercow has selected an amendment led by the Conservative MP Dominic Grieve to the business motion that sets up the latest five-day debate on the prime minister’s plan, which will culminate in a crunch vote next Tuesday.
Continue reading...Witnesses describe how teenager’s moped was hit by black Mercedes before he was stabbed by three men
The murder of a 14-year-old boy who was hit by a car and stabbed in east London was a targeted attack, police have said.
Scotland Yard said the boy was riding a moped in Leyton when the collision happened. Three men got out of the car and stabbed him before driving off. The car is thought to have been a black Mercedes B-Class that sustained extensive frontal damage.
Continue reading...Woman asks for break during cross-examination by counsel for Worcestershire cricketer
A woman who was allegedly raped by a professional cricketer broke down in court after being cross-examined about how she acted during the alleged attack.
The complainant asked for a break in her testimony when she became tearful during questioning on behalf of Worcestershire all-rounder Alex Hepburn.
Continue reading...All the day’s economic and financial news, as Germany’s factories suffer a 4.7% annual drop in output
Trade Optimism Trumped Weak European Economic Sentiment today, says Fiona Cincotta of City Index.
She explains
Global markets bounced higher on Tuesday as optimism grows over a US – Sino trade deal. A strong Asian session spilled into Europe, although markets pared gains as Wall Street opened owing to increasing tech concerns.
US and China extending trade talks for another day has been interpreted as a positive sign by the markets. Whilst no reason was given for the extension, Trump’s tweet that the talks “were going very well” was sufficient to lift sentiment boosting appetite for riskier assets such as stocks, whilst safe haven gold declined.
With US and China working to resolve their issues, the Fed promising to remain flexible and the US economy firing on all cylinders it is easy to see why sentiment is on the up. Obviously, this is not the end of US – China trade tensions by a long shot, ad there will almost certainly be further bumps and twists along the way but for now the markets are happy with the slow steady progress which it perceives has been achieved.
This comes hot on heels of downbeat German factory orders, which dropped by -4.3% in November. These are the latest signs that the eurozone economy is slowing, as trade tensions sap momentum for the powerhouse of Europe.
Britain’s FTSE 100 index of top shares has closed 50 points higher at 6861 points, a gain of 0.75% today.
Optimism that Beijing and Washington are making progress in their trade negotiations lured investors into buying shares, following the recent sell off.
FTSE 100: The percentage of traders net-long is now its lowest since Sep 19 when FTSE 100 traded near 7343.4. https://t.co/8uGQ7iiKO5 pic.twitter.com/mR1klOf9uC
Continue reading...A teenager from London, Amika George campaigns against period poverty. One in 10 girls in the UK miss school because they cannot afford pads and tampons, and George describes the ‘horrific’ alternatives some are forced to use just to get an education
Continue reading...On a dank, dreary winter afternoon, I have come to a farmyard in Essex, just outside the M25, to meet – among others – Karine, Anna, Tommy Lee and Eskimo Joe. Tommy Lee and Eskimo Joe are from Romania, and are dogs. Rescue animals, hoping (if dogs can hope) to be adopted. Tommy Lee is missing a front leg – most probably from a traffic accident in Brasov, Transylvania – but is cheerful, inquisitive and friendly. Eskimo Joe is older, a little overweight, obstinate, camera-shy, resigned. I worry that potential adopters might not fall in love with Eskimo Joe.
Karine and Anna Hauser are Swiss-Finnish sisters (human) and run the charity Love Underdogs. Animal lovers, they were originally visiting a sanctuary in Romania for abused bears from all over the world. But they couldn’t ignore the dogs, and started to work with a shelter in Brasov, 100 miles north of Bucharest, and to bring to the UK for rehoming some of the most unwanted, abused and neglected ones. Love Underdogs is just one of dozens of charities in Britain importing rescue dogs from abroad – from Greece, Cyprus, Bosnia, and particularly from Romania, which has one of the biggest street-dog problems in Europe.
Continue reading...Shinzō Abe will first visit the Netherlands, where many Japanese firms are relocating ahead of Brexit
Japan’s prime minister, Shinzō Abe, who is to meet Theresa May in London on Thursday, will underscore the damage Brexit is likely to have on Japanese investment in Britain by first visiting the Netherlands, the country to which many UK-based Japanese firms are redeploying ahead of the UK’s departure from the EU.
The choice of the Netherlands as the other stop on Abe’s mini-European tour is not a coincidence since he will also be given a chance to be briefed on how a no-deal Brexit could clog the flow of trade into Rotterdam, the main gateway for Japanese and British firms into the EU single market.
Continue reading...Letter to Met police comes after Speaker expresses concern about protesters targeting MPs outside parliament
Dozens of MPs have written to the UK’s most senior police officer to raise concerns about safety outside parliament after the Conservative MP Anna Soubry faced chants from protesters on Monday calling her a “Nazi”.
At least 55 parliamentarians signed the letter to the Metropolitan police commissioner, Cressida Dick, after the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, urged officers to do more to protect MPs and Soubry criticised the lack of police response to the abuse.
Continue reading...Research finds local communities can do most to halt unnecessary deaths
In an affluent, educated country like the UK it is surprising that there is still a large spike in the number of people who die in cold weather because they cannot afford to heat their homes or do not understand the danger they are in.
Last winter there were 50,100 excess deaths in England and Wales, many of which were entirely preventable. Most of those who die unnecessarily are older adults who have not kept themselves warm enough.
Continue reading...Brussels says PM likely to be offered ‘exchange of letters’ confirming EU’s intention to quickly conclude trade talks
Theresa May hopes to secure last-minute assurances from the European Union before next Tuesday’s meaningful vote over Brexit, although there are significant differences between the sides and scepticism that rebel Tories can be won over.
Brussels sources said at lunchtime on Monday that the prime minister was likely to be offered an “exchange of letters” confirming the EU’s intention to quickly conclude trade talks with the UK.
Continue reading...Road haulage body dismisses trial involving 79 lorry drivers as ‘window dressing’
The Department for Transport is carrying out a live trial of an emergency traffic congestion system to be used in Dover in the event of a no-deal Brexit, with 79 lorry drivers participating.
The trucks started their journey north of the port, at the disused Manston airport near Ramsgate, at 7am on Monday and were due to make their way to Dover.
Continue reading...Police called to address in Isle of Dogs where woman believed to be in her 30s was found dead
A 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a woman at a home in east London.
Police were called to an address in the Isle of Dogs at about 6.20pm on Saturday after concerns over the safety of a resident.
Continue reading...Palace statement announces head of state’s abdication ending weeks of speculation
Malaysia’s king has abdicated, royal officials have said, ending weeks of speculation about his future.
The announcement on Sunday follows a leave of absence by the head of state and rumours he had married a former Russian beauty queen.
Continue reading...From shark swims to snow leopard treks, a tailored trip of up to a year is now a must-have
The super-rich are going on sabbatical. It turns out having bucket-loads of money can be stressful, leading some of the world’s richest people to take a break for a month or so, or even a year, to escape the pressure of managing their businesses or personal fortunes.
Tom Barber, the founder of the London-based travel agency Original Travel, said so many super-rich customers had asked his firm to arrange bespoke trips ranging in duration from one to 12 months that his firm was launching a special division dedicated to sabbaticals for the 1%.
Continue reading...PM says parliament may get more say on EU ties but warns critics risk harming democracy
Theresa May has insisted she will go ahead with a crucial vote on her Brexit deal amid growing speculation that it could be delayed.
The prime minister said she was seeking further clarification from the EU to address the concerns of MPs, as well as specific measures relating to the backstop on Northern Ireland before the vote in the week beginning 14 January.
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