Month: September 2021

The closure of some petrol stations has reignited a row over lorry driver shortages in the UK. A “handful” of BP stations, and a small number of Esso-owned Tesco Alliance stations, were closed on Thursday due to a lack of delivery drivers. It is estimated that the UK is short of about 100,000 HGV drivers

Getty Images The government has said it has to “prepare for the worst” as the UK’s energy firms continue to come under pressure from soaring gas prices. Small business minister Paul Scully told the BBC his department was working closely with regulator Ofgem to protect customers if more firms went bust. Nearly 1.5 million customers

It is time for humanity to grow up on climate change, Boris Johnson has said in a speech to the United Nations in New York. The world is approaching a “critical turning point” and countries must finally take responsibility for the destruction we are inflicting on the planet and ourselves, he said. His speech comes

Getty Images The boss of the UK’s energy regulator says “well above” hundreds of thousands of customers will have to be moved to new suppliers as more firms go bust. Ofgem’s Jonathan Brearley spoke just hours before Green Energy, which has 250,000 customers, collapsed. Mr Brearley told MPs that the rapid gas price rise was

Joe Biden has downplayed the chances of brokering a post-Brexit free trade deal with the UK, as he held talks with Boris Johnson at the White House. Downing Street said its priority was still getting a deal with the US alone. But the BBC understands that UK ministers are now considering joining an existing North

Getty Images The government has struck a deal with a US company to restart production of carbon dioxide (CO2) at plants in the UK after warnings of food shortages. CF Industries stopped work at two of its fertiliser factories, which supplies most of the CO2 used in food production, due to soaring gas prices. CO2

PA Defence Secretary Ben Wallace has launched an investigation into a data breach involving the email addresses of dozens of Afghan interpreters who worked for British forces. More than 250 people seeking relocation to the UK – many of whom are in hiding – were mistakenly copied into an email from the Ministry of Defence.

Reuters The US is easing its coronavirus travel restrictions, re-opening to passengers from the UK, EU and other nations. From November, foreign travellers will be allowed to fly into the US if they are fully vaccinated, and undergo testing and contact tracing. The US has had tough restrictions on travel in place since early last

Getty Images The government is considering offering emergency state-backed loans to energy companies as firms battle to stay afloat amid surging gas prices. Smaller suppliers face ruin as price hikes have made their price promises to customers undeliverable. The process for dealing with failing firms is under pressure as adopting customers has become unattractive for

Former England striker and Tottenham’s record goalscorer Jimmy Greaves has died at the age of 81. Greaves began his career with Chelsea before spells at AC Milan, Spurs and West Ham. He scored 44 goals in 57 games for England and was a member of the 1966 World Cup-winning squad. He holds the record for

The UK’s new security agreement with the US and Australia will make it safer and could create hundreds of new jobs, the new foreign secretary has said. The pact, known as Aukus, will see Australia being given the technology to build nuclear-powered submarines. Liz Truss said it showed the UK’s readiness to be “hard-headed” in

Getty Images At least four of the smaller UK energy companies are expected to go bust next week amid soaring wholesale gas prices. Industry sources have told the BBC that four firms have asked larger players to bid to take over the supply to one million customers. The price rise has left some companies unable

Reuters A surge in holiday bookings is expected after the government announced on Friday that international travel rules were being simplified in England. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the travel traffic light system was being replaced with a single red list. And fully vaccinated people will no longer need a pre-departure test before returning from

Getty Images The international travel traffic light system is being simplified in England with a single red list, as part of an overhaul of the rules from 4 October. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps also said eight countries would be taken off the red list from Wednesday. It means people returning from places such as Turkey

Reuters Changes to the rules on international travel are expected to be announced by the UK government later. Ministers are considering scrapping the requirement for double-jabbed people returning to the UK to take PCR tests. The traffic light system could also be simplified, with the amber list removed entirely. Any changes would apply to England