6:52 am, October 29, 2021
Crossrail project faces £150m funding gap, warn MPs
Crossrail is facing a ‘serious’ funding gap and there is uncertainty over how loans will be repaid, MPs have warned.
A report by the Commons’ Public Accounts Committee (PAC) stated that the estimated cost of completing London’s new east-west railway exceeds current available funding by £150m. The predicted cost of the project is now £18.9bn.
The committee also expressed doubts over how and when Transport for London and the Greater London Authority will repay taxpayer loans issued for the project amid the collapse in fares revenue because of the pandemic.
France’s ambassador summoned to Foreign Office over fishing row
France’s ambassador to the UK has been summoned to the Foreign Office as the row over post-Brexit fishing rights dramatically escalated.
Catherine Colonna will be questioned today about ‘disappointing and disproportionate’ threats of retaliation by Paris over what it claims is a lack of licences for French boats to fish in UK waters.
All remaining countries to be removed from travel red list
All remaining countries on England’s red list for international travel will be removed, transport secretary Grant Shapps has said.
The cabinet minister announced yesterday that the Latin American countries of Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela will be taken off the list at 4am on November 1.
Wales to tighten Covid restrictions
Wales is to tighten Covid restrictions to tackle a rising number of hospital admissions.
Adults who are fully vaccinated and youngsters aged five to 17 will be asked to self-isolate until they have received a negative PCR test if someone in their household has symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19.
The Welsh government also intends to extend the use of the Covid Pass to theatres, cinemas and concert halls from November 15.
Facebook rebrands as Meta
Facebook has revealed a new company name and brand: Meta.
The move is designed to represent the firm’s broadening business portfolio beyond social networking, particularly as it pushes on with plans to develop the so-called metaverse – an online world where people can meet, play and work virtually, often using VR headsets.
While the wider company name is being rebranded to Meta, the core Facebook service will remain unchanged, with the WhatsApp, Instagram and Facebook platforms keeping their names.
Rolls-Royce Ghost Black Badge makes debut
Rolls-Royce has revealed its latest Black Badge model – the Ghost Black Badge.
Under the bonnet is a 6.75-litre V12 engine giving 592bhp with 900Nm torque. It also receives exclusive 21-inch wheels, each one featuring a barrel comprising 22 layers of carbon fibre on three axes that are then folded back on themselves.
The Black Badge is available to order and specify now, with prices likely to exceed £300,000.
Thursday’s Car Dealer headlines you might have missed
- The top 20 used cars costing more than new – find out what’s on the list
- Inchcape upgrades 2021 pre-tax profit forecast to ‘at least £290m’
- September was the worst month for UK car manufacturing since 1982
- Long-serving employee retires at 90 after 75 years working for Vauxhall
- Nissan dealers to offer aftersales customers interest-free monthly payments with Bumper
- Commercial vehicle sector ‘back on track’ as September sees rise in UK production
- Arnold Clark launches ‘sonic logo’ as it aims to be heard as well as seen
- Five ways that independent dealers are profiting from going digital
European Central Bank keeps pandemic support going
The European Central Bank decided yesterday to keep its pandemic stimulus efforts unchanged as consumer prices spike.
Bank president Christine Lagarde underlined that the burst of inflation was temporary and the economy still needed support from the bank’s 1.85trn euro (£1.56trn) stimulus programme.
Royal Mail’s Govan office goes green with EVs
Electric-powered posties are to turn Glasgow’s Govan Royal Mail delivery office green for Cop26.
It will become Scotland’s first fully electric vehicle hub when the 13 vans and two micro vehicles replace its existing diesel fleet.
First minister Nicola Sturgeon welcomed the move and said: ‘With the eyes of the world turning to Glasgow ahead of Cop26, it is vital that we lead by example when it comes to tackling the climate emergency.’
Market movements
The FTSE 100 finished 3.8 points lower yesterday at 7,249.47. Meanwhile, the German Dax decreased by 9.48 points to 15,696.33, the French Cac climbed by 50.70 points to 6,804.22, and the Dow Jones rose by 239.79 points to end at 35,730.48.
Weather outlook
This morning will be cloudy and wet for many, says BBC Weather, although the rain will stay in the north-east with elsewhere having sunny spells and showers. Northern Ireland will stay dry and bright.
Saturday will start like today although the cloud and rain will clear eastwards, leading to a brighter and drier afternoon with lots of sunshine, but there’ll be an occasional shower, especially in the north-west.
