DIRS.INFO The most relevant business & tech news

☆ Forest sign U.S. keeper Turner from Arsenal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 9 (Reuters) - Nottingham Forest have signed goalkeeper Matt Turner from Arsenal with the United States international signing a four-year deal, the two clubs announced on Wednesday. No financial details were given but British media said Forest will pay seven million pounds ($8.92 million) for Turner plus three million in performance-related add-ons. Turner shot to fame in Major League Soccer where he made 111 appearances for New England Revolution before moving to Arsenal last year. It's felt right from the start and I'm happy it's got done." Arsenal are expected to replace Turner with Brentford keeper David Raya, according to British media.

Persons: Matt Turner, Turner, Aaron Ramsdale, Steve Cooper, It's, Ola Aina, Anthony Elanga, David Raya, Rohith Nair, Ken Ferris Organizations: Nottingham Forest, Arsenal, United States, CONCACAF Gold, CONCACAF Nations League, Major League Soccer, New England, Gunners, Premier League, Brentford, Thomson Locations: Nottingham, Bengaluru

☆ UK retailer John Lewis boosts AI capability with Google deal
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Aug 9 (Reuters) - British retailer John Lewis Partnership has agreed a five-year deal with Alphabet Inc's (GOOGL.O) Google Cloud, enabling it to harness the latest artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technology. The employee-owned partnership, which runs John Lewis department stores and the Waitrose supermarket chain, said on Wednesday the new agreement, which builds on a decade-long relationship with Google Cloud, was worth 100 million pounds ($127 million). Under the expanded agreement, more of the partnership's technology will migrate to Google Cloud. Google Cloud agreed a similar deal with European home improvement retailer Kingfisher(KGF.L) last November. Zak Mian, the John Lewis Partnership's chief transformation and technology officer, said an example was customers using an image scanning feature in their John Lewis App to show its home design stylists a room they're looking to furnish.

Persons: John Lewis, Zak Mian, John Lewis Partnership's, Prerna Bedi, James Davey, Nivedita Bhattacharjee, Sachin Ravikumar Organizations: John, John Lewis Partnership, Google, Waitrose, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru, London

☆ Insurers face long road, high cost to cover obesity drugs after promising Wegovy heart health data
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Annika Kim Constantino | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +8 min

There is likely a long way to go before the U.S. sees increased insurance coverage for obesity drugs. While the trial results demonstrate that obesity drugs may have significant health benefits beyond shedding unwanted pounds, organizations representing U.S. insurers emphasized that the data is still preliminary. "Health insurance providers will continue to analyze new evidence as it becomes available," he added. Ceci Connolly, CEO of the Alliance of Community Health Plans, acknowledged the promise of the data but said "outrageous prices should give everyone pause." The organization represents regional, community-based health plans that cover more than 18 million Americans across the U.S.

Persons: Jim Vondruska, Wegovy, Eli Lilly, David Allen, Ceci Connolly, Jared Holz, It's, Debra Tyler's, Joe Buglewicz, Eduardo Grunvald, George Frey, UCSD's Gunvald, Eli, Ethan Lazarus, Lazarus Organizations: Reuters Novo Nordisk, Novo Nordisk, America's Health, Alliance of Community Health, U.S, Drugs, Pfizer, Medicare, CVS, Aetna, CNBC, Washington Post, Getty, UCSD Health's Center, International Foundation of Employee, University of Texas System, UTS, Novo, Reuters, Obesity Medicine Association, New England, of Medicine Locations: Chicago , Illinois, U.S, Mizuho, Killingworth, Conn, Texas

☆ West Ham agree deal in principle with Man Utd for Maguire - reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Fulham - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - May 28, 2023 Manchester United's Harry Maguire during the lap of appreciation after the match Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Boyers/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 9 (Reuters) - West Ham United have agreed a deal in principle with Premier League rivals Manchester United for England defender Harry Maguire, media reported on Wednesday. Sky Sports television and the BBC said the deal was worth around 30 million pounds ($38 million) and personal terms were not expected to be a problem. Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag last month stripped Maguire of the captaincy after the 30-year-old made only eight Premier League starts last season, spending much of the time on the bench or injured. The world's most expensive defender when United signed him from Leicester City for 80 million pounds in 2019, Maguire's contract is due to end in 2025. The Premier League season kicks off on Friday with promoted Burnley hosting champions Manchester City.

Persons: Harry Maguire, Andrew Boyers, Erik ten Hag, Maguire, Gareth Southgate's, it's, Southgate, Alan Baldwin, Angus MacSwan Organizations: Soccer Football, Premier League, Manchester United, Fulham, Ham United, Premier League rivals Manchester United, England, Sky Sports, BBC, United, Leicester City, Burnley, Manchester City, Thomson Locations: Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain, England

☆ Researchers are shocked to find 2 great white sharks have become 'buddies' since the predators are typically solitary creatures
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | Jenny Mcgrath | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Researchers were shocked to find out that two great white sharks have become friends. Great white sharks are usually solitary creatures so finding these shark "buddies" was a surprise. Researchers were shocked to discover that two great white sharks — which are typically solitary creatures — have seemingly become friends, traveling thousands of miles together. Why are these two great white shark sticking together? Heuter continued, "White sharks lead a very solitary existence.

Persons: Simon, Jekyll, OCEARCH, Saint Lawrence, Bob Hueter, We've, Heuter, Yannis Papastamatiou Organizations: Service, OCEARCH, Facebook, Florida International University Locations: Coast ., Wall, Silicon, Georgia, Saint, Florida , Georgia, Carolinas

☆ Amazon Prime Air loses two key operations leaders, as drone delivery struggles continue
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Annie Palmer | In Annierpalmer | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

An Amazon delivery drone is on display at Amazon's BOS27 Robotics Innovation Hub in Westborough, Massachusetts on November 10, 2022. Jim Mullin, Prime Air's chief pilot, left Amazon last month, according to his LinkedIn profile. Just as Prime Air was set to launch early this year and start delivering packages sent to consumers, CEO Andy Jassy, who succeeded Bezos in 2021, embarked on the largest round of layoffs in company history, which included significant job cuts at Prime Air. But problems for Prime Air predated the economic downturn. At the beginning of the year, the company began durability and reliability (D&R) testing, which requires that Prime Air complete several hundred hours of flying without any incidents.

Persons: Jim Mullin, Robert Dreer, Mullin, Jeff Bezos, Obama, Andy Jassy, Bezos, David Carbon's, There's, Nobody, Simone Griffin, Griffin, Zipline Organizations: Amazon, Prime Air, Marine, College Station, CNBC, Federal Aviation Administration, Air, Walmart Locations: Westborough , Massachusetts, Pendleton , Oregon, Oregon , California, Texas, , California, Pendleton

☆ Read Your Way Through Appalachia
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Barbara Kingsolver | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Appalachia is a region and a mind-set. Appalachia has few large cities, our economies are land-based and, unless you live here, we’re probably not what you think. It’s “Appal-achia.” As in, “If you keep that up, I’ll throw this apple atcha.” But in fact, we won’t. We tend toward heart-blessing kindness in the way of small-town folks who rely on each other in good times and bad, and live together regardless. Weighing in at nearly three pounds, “Writing Appalachia: An Anthology,” edited by Katherine Ledford and Theresa Lloyd, is too big to pack but too wonderful to miss.

Persons: we’re, “, King James Bible, ”, Katherine Ledford, Theresa Lloyd, — James Still, Jesse Stuart, Harriette Simpson, Steven Stoll’s, Stoll, otherness Locations: Appalachia, Georgia , Tennessee, North Carolina, Virginia, Kentucky, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, State

☆ Why this landmark cardiac study means a bigger market for Lilly's blockbuster weight loss drug
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Christina Cheddar Berk | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

A landmark study of the cardiovascular benefits of weight loss drug Wegovy is being seen as a pivotal step toward broadening access to these drugs. The drug, also known as tirzepatide, is expected to be approved for weight loss by the Food and Drug Administration by year-end. Notably, Medicare does reimburse obese patients for weight loss surgery, but Mounjaro has been able to help patients realize an average weight loss that approaches the typical success of bariatric procedures. If CMS is able to reimburse patients for weight loss treatment that would significantly increase access, boosting sales. "This is the first time a weight [loss] medicinal intervention has shown to have cardiovascular risk reduction.

Persons: enrollees, Eli Lilly, Lilly, Akash Tewari, NVO, Tewari, Wells, Mounjaro, Mohit Bansal, Robert Califf, Goldman Sachs, Chris Shibutani, Shibutani, Goldman, Refinitiv, Morgan Stanley, comorbidities, Bansal Organizations: Nordisk's Ozempic, Centers for Disease Control, Food and Drug Administration, Jefferies, Medicare, Services, GLP, STAT, Goldman, Lilly, Novo Nordisk, BMI, Novo Locations: U.S, GLP, Tuesday's

☆ Electric Cadillac Escalade has 750 horsepower and can crab walk
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Peter Valdes-Dapena | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —The new all-electric Cadillac Escalade IQ shares virtually nothing with the boxy gas-powered Escalade, but it’s possibly the most important flag-bearer yet for the automaker’s transition to electric vehicles. So the new Escalade IQ has flashy light displays and electric motors able to produce a total of 750 horsepower. CadillacWhen it goes on sale next year, the Escalade IQ will be one of Cadillac’s most expensive models. Prices for the gas-powered Cadillac Escalade start at about $81,000, with the average one sold last year going for about $109,000 according to Edmunds.com. GM claims that the Cadillac Escalade IQ is the most aerodynamic large SUV the company has ever produced.

Persons: John Roth GM’s, Cadillac, ”, it’s, Mandi Damman Organizations: CNN, General Motors, GM, EV, Silverado EV, GMC, Hummer, Chevrolet Silverado, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Cadillac, GM’s Locations: Detroit, Hamtramck , Michigan

☆ Fast, cheap and deadly
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +18 min

Fast, cheap and deadly How fentanyl replaced heroin and hooked AmericaLeer en EspañolReuters obtained and analyzed ten year’s worth of data on drugs seized by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents at ports of entry along the southern border. It shows: Fentanyl seizures by weight more than tripled in the last quarter of 2022 compared to a year earlier. Pills were mentioned in nearly half of fentanyl border seizure incidents in 2022, up from just 6% five years earlier. A fifth of fentanyl seizures take place on pedestrians, the Reuters analysis shows. Over the same period, heroin seizures fell more than 80% from over 2,000 kg, according to the Reuters analysis.

Persons: Bryce Pardo, Troy Miller, Joe Biden, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, ”, Chris Urben, Urben, Joaquin ‘ El Chapo ’ Guzman, “, CBP’s Miller, Jonathan Caulkins, James Mandryck, Oxycontin, Lopez Obrador, narcotrafficking, Lopez, Rosa Rodriguez, Cecilia Farfan, Mendez, Freed, Pardo, Romain Le Cour, Cour, Carlos Perez, Perez Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Customs, Border Protection, U.S . Centers for Disease Control, United Nations Office, Drugs, DEA, CBP, U.S, Nardello, Carnegie Mellon University, U.S . Postal Service, Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mexico's, North, Forensic Laboratory, University of California, Global, Transnational, U.S . Congress ’ Commission, New Generation, Center for Research Locations: Mexican, U.S, Mexico, Sinaloa, El Paso, Arizona’s Nogales, United States, offscreen, sierra, China, Beijing, Washington, University of California San Diego ., ”, New, New Generation Jalisco, Mexico City

☆ A busted Russian warship may not have seen an exploding Ukrainian drone boat coming, hinting at problems that have plagued Russia throughout its war
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-09 | by ( Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

A Russian warship was struck by a Ukrainian drone boat that it doesn't appear to have seen coming. Just a few days before this attack, Russian vessels were fighting off drone boats in another incident. "It just seems very strange they didn't respond at all to the incoming drone boats," Clark added. The Russian ship may have assumed it was safe in Novorossiysk, given that the port is roughly 350 miles from the Ukrainian port city of Odessa, but it shouldn't have. The reach of Ukraine's drone boats was hardly a secret.

Persons: Russia's, —, Sutton, it's, Cole, Bryan Clark, Clark, OZAN KOSE Organizations: Service, Ukraine, Russian, —, CNN, US Navy, Navy, Hudson Institute, Getty Locations: Russian, Ukrainian, Russia, Wall, Silicon, Novorossiysk, Moskva, Istanbul, AFP, Sevastopol, Odessa, Ukraine

☆ Beyond Meat, the poster child of plant-based meat, saw sales tank as cash-strapped shoppers turn away from expensive alternative proteins
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Beyond Meat's sales tanked by nearly a third in Q2, which the company attributed to weak demand. Consumers are financially squeezed and they're skeptical of the health benefits of plant-based meat, execs said. Brown said that the "number one issue" with the plant-based meat category was that it ultimately wasn't bringing in enough new consumers. International markets saw a much smaller drop in revenues year-over-year. While environmental concerns are a major motivator for people buying plant-based meat in Europe, "here in the US, it's more driven by health," Brown said.

Persons: execs, Ethan Brown, Brown, Lubi Kutua, Kutua Organizations: Service Locations: Europe, Wall, Silicon

☆ Chelsea striker Nkunku sidelined after knee surgery
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 8 (Reuters) - Chelsea's new signing Christopher Nkunku is set to be sidelined for an "extended period" after the French forward underwent surgery for a knee injury, the Premier League club said on Tuesday. The French forward went down clutching his leg after a challenge in the ninth minute of the 1-1 draw with Borussia Dortmund in a pre-season friendly in Chicago. Nkunku, who was signed for close to 60 million pounds ($76.32 million), came off midway through the first half in discomfort. "Nkunku has sustained a knee injury which will rule the forward out for an extended period," the club said in a statement. ($1 = 0.7862 pounds)Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru; Editing by Christian RadnedgeOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Christopher Nkunku, Nkunku, Mauricio Pochettino, Rohith Nair, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Premier League, Borussia Dortmund, London, RB Leipzig, Thomson Locations: French, Chicago, Bengaluru

☆ Tampa Mayor Jane Castor makes $1.1M cocaine catch while fishing in Florida Keys with family
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Rebekah Riess | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

CNN —Tampa Mayor Jane Castor made a big catch while fishing the Florida Keys with family late last month, spotting and hauling in a package containing 70 pounds of cocaine with an estimated street value of approximately $1.1 million, according to the mayor’s office. The package was discovered south of Marathon on July 23, according to US Border Patrol. US Border PatrolThe packaging contained 25 bricks of cocaine, according to Border Patrol. Before her current role as mayor, Castor “spent 31 years with the Tampa Police Department, serving in nearly every capacity and in nearly every neighborhood of the city. In October of 2009, Castor became Tampa’s first female Chief of Police, serving for six years in that role,” according to her bio on the city of Tampa website.

Persons: Jane Castor, Castor, Adam Hoffner, Castor “, Tampa’s Organizations: CNN, Tampa, US Border, Office, Border Patrol, Miami Sector, Sheriff’s Office, Patrol, Tampa Police Department, Police Locations: Florida, Marathon, Monroe, Tampa

☆ Abrdn’s turnaround is a work in progress
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File PhotoLONDON, Aug 8 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Abrdn’s (ABDN.L) machine is firing on two of its three cylinders. The latter two units are growing, but the stock-picking arm – once Abrdn’s core business – needs more attention. The 1.5 billion pound deal, which closed last year, boosted Abrdn’s exposure to the business of managing savings. Since some of that windfall will disappear when rates fall, Bird needs to speed up his turnaround of Abrdn’s core funds business. The 3.9 billion pound company’s turnaround has a long way to go.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Stephen Bird, Hargreaves, Bird, Neil Unmack, Peter Thal Larsen, Oliver Taslic Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Interactive, Twitter, Siemens, Thomson

☆ British water companies face $1 bln lawsuits over pollution - law firm
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Environmental and water consultant Carolyn Roberts, who plans to bring the claims, says water companies would have faced penalties if they had properly reported pollution incidents. The firm said it will also be filing cases against five other companies – Thames Water, United Utilities, Anglian Water, Yorkshire Water and Northumbrian Water – in the coming months. Water companies have pushed back against the proposed claims, describing them as "highly speculative". A Thames Water spokesperson said the company was aware of the potential claim, which they said was without merit. Water companies have avoided being penalised by regulator Ofwat for "serial and serious under-reporting" of pollution incidents, she said in a statement.

Persons: Trent, Darren Staples, Carolyn Roberts, Roberts, Leigh Day, Severn, Sam Tobin, Bernadette Baum Organizations: REUTERS, Severn Trent, United Utilities, Yorkshire Water, Environment Agency, Water, Thomson Locations: Cropston, England, British, United, Water, Yorkshire, United States

☆ Woman Is Bitten by Shark in First New York City Attack in Recent Years
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Lola Fadulu | More About Lola Fadulu | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

A spokesman for the New York City Police Department said on Tuesday morning that the woman’s condition was “serious but stable.” The woman is believed to have lost about 20 pounds of flesh because of the bite, according to the police report. Park officials described Monday’s shark attack as the first on Rockaway Beach “in recent memory.”There have been 20 unprovoked shark attacks in New York state since 1837, according to the Florida Museum’s International Shark Attack File, a database of all known shark attacks. But Monday’s shark bite marked the first confirmed attack in New York City since the 1950s, according to the Global Shark Attack File, an unofficial database of such encounters. The last documented shark attack in the city recorded in that database was in 1958, when a man was bitten by a harpooned shark after provoking it. “It’s not very common that we would see this,” said Gavin Naylor, the program director of the International Shark Attack File.

Persons: “, ”, Gavin Naylor Organizations: New York City Police Department, Florida Locations: Rockaway, New York, New York City

☆ A Rivian owner detailed the things he 'hates' about his electric truck one year into owning it — but it's still his favorite vehicle
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Grace Kay | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Tech YouTuber Zack Nelson said he put his Rivian R1T truck to the test over the past year. Nelson found some issues with the EV, including doors that don't drain and soil in his undercarriage. "The R1T is an electric truck and I would assume that an electric truck would just be able to do truck things," Nelson said in a YouTube video pointing out some of the things he "hates" about the vehicle. Zack Nelson said a plant was growing in the undercarriage of his Rivian. "It's a truck with the performance of a sports car, but all the abilities of a truck.

Persons: Zack Nelson, Nelson, it's, he's, Zack, Nelson —, — Organizations: Tech, YouTube, Tesla Roadster

☆ Exclusive: Snapchat under scrutiny from UK watchdog over underage users
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Martin Coulter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Under UK data protection law, social media companies need parental consent before processing data of children under 13. Social media firms generally require users to be 13 or over, but have had mixed success in keeping children off their platforms. Snapchat declined to give details of any measures it might have taken to reduce the number of underage users. It also found Snapchat was the most popular app for underage social media users. However, other apps take more proactive measures to prevent underage children accessing their platforms.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Snapchat, Martin Coulter, Matt Scuffham, Alexander Smith Organizations: REUTERS, Reuters, Inc, Social, ICO, Ofcom, National Society for, Thomson Locations: U.S, Britain

☆ This might be Tesla's strangest merch yet: a Cybertruck-inspired cat bed only available in China
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-08 | by ( Kylie Kirschner | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Tesla's newest merch is a "multifunctional cat nest" inspired by the Cybertruck's angular design. Other Musk company merch has included flamethrowers, perfume, and surf boards. The company famously sold red satin short shorts branded across the back with "S3XY" in a taunt to Tesla short-sellers. The Cybertruck cat nest is one of the more affordable lifestyle items being sold right now on the Tesla site, listed for 89 Chinese Yuan, or about $13 USD. Pricewise, it even competes with the greater cardboard cat bed market — one of the more popular cardboard cat beds for sale on Amazon will run you about $20, while a cardboard hot dog truck for cats will cost you $38.

Persons: merch, Tesla, Elon, he's, Musk, Musk's Organizations: Tesla, Amazon

☆ Italy striker Scamacca joins Atalanta from West Ham
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Aug 7 (Reuters) - Italy striker Gianluca Scamacca has joined Serie A side Atalanta from West Ham United, the two clubs said on Monday. The 24-year-old signed for an undisclosed fee but British media said it was a total of 32 million euros ($35.18 million). The transfer comes after Manchester United signed Atalanta's Denmark striker Rasmus Hojlund on Saturday. West Ham last month sold England midfielder Declan Rice to Arsenal for a reported 105 million pounds. ($1 = 0.9096 euros)Reporting by Angelica Medina in Mexico City; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gianluca Scamacca, Atalanta, Gianluca, Scamacca, Rasmus Hojlund, Declan Rice, Angelica Medina, Ken Ferris Organizations: Serie A, Atalanta, West Ham United, Hammers, Premier League, Europa Conference, Manchester United, Atalanta's Denmark, . West, Arsenal, Thomson Locations: Italy, West, ., . West Ham, Mexico City

☆ Elon Musk says he weighs 300 pounds, and if the Zuckerberg cage match becomes a long fight, Zuck will 'win on endurance'
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

It's unclear how much Musk weighs, or if this fight is even going to happen. Elon Musk wants people to know he weighs 300 pounds and totally stands a chance against Mark Zuckerberg in a cage match. In the post, Krassenstein presented a "fight card" of the much-hyped Zuck vs. Musk fight. "I weigh at least 300 lbs," Musk replied, appearing to object to Krassenstein's characterization of his weight class. On Sunday, he announced that the Zuck vs. Musk cage match will be live-streamed on X, with all proceeds going to a charity for veterans.

Persons: Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, Ed Krassenstein, who's, Trump's, Krassenstein, Zuckerberg, Musk, hasn't Organizations: Twitter, Meta

☆ UK moves some asylum seekers to barge on southern coast
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

[1/5] Some officials are aboard the Bibby Stockholm barge at Portland, near Poole, Britain, August 7, 2023. REUTERS/Toby MelvillePORTLAND, England, Aug 7 (Reuters) - Britain began moving some migrants on to a large residential barge on its southern coast on Monday, as part of plans to use cheaper alternatives to hotels as temporary accommodation while asylum claims are processed. The government says it wants to limit the "pull" factors attracting asylum seekers to Britain, where more than 50,000 are currently living in hotels after they made the final part of their journey in small dinghies across the Channel. The government has said the Bibby Stockholm barge will only house single men and provide "basic and functional" accommodation, along with healthcare provision, catering facilities and onboard security. "The welfare of asylum seekers in our care is of the upmost importance," a spokesperson for the interior ministry said.

Persons: Toby Melville, Sarah Dines, Bibby, Sachin Ravikumar, Suban Abdulla, Kate Holton Organizations: REUTERS, Sky, Thomson Locations: Bibby Stockholm, Portland, Poole, Britain, Toby Melville PORTLAND, England, Iraq, Iran, Syria, Afghanistan, Albania

Vattenfall, a Swedish energy company, has for years been doing preliminary work for what would be one of the world’s largest offshore wind complexes, in the North Sea off eastern England. Last month, Vattenfall said it would halt the first of three phases of the wind farm complex, the Norfolk Offshore Wind Zone, which is projected to provide power for about four million homes in Britain. The estimated price tag for the three phases has risen to 13 billion pounds, or about $16.6 billion, from £10 billion. “With the new market conditions, it simply doesn’t make sense to continue the project,” Helene Bistrom, head of business area wind at Vattenfall, said during a video presentation. The decision led Vattenfall, which is owned by the Swedish government, to write-down more than $500 million.

Persons: Vattenfall, ” Helene Bistrom Locations: Swedish, North, England, Norfolk, Britain, Vattenfall

☆ UK house prices fall for 4th month but market shows resilience - Halifax
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( William Schomberg | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

But the decline in house prices has so far been small compared with the surge in valuations during the COVID pandemic. Kim Kinnaird, director of Halifax Mortgages, said house prices were likely to continue falling into next year, echoing previous comments by the lender. A Reuters poll of analysts published in early June pointed to a 3% fall in house prices in 2023 before flat-lining in 2024. This should leave house prices 10.5% below their peak on the Nationwide measure." Nationwide, another mortgage lender, said last week its index of house prices fell by the most since 2009 in the 12 months to July.

Persons: Susannah Ireland, Kim Kinnaird, Kinnaird, Imogen Pattison, William Schomberg, Kate Holton, Bernadette Baum Organizations: City of, REUTERS, Halifax, Bank of England, Capital Economics, Nationwide, Thomson Locations: City, City of London, South London, Britain, Halifax

Search resuls for: "Pounds"

25 mentions found