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NatWest has faced intense political and media scrutiny over a decision by its private bank Coutts to close Farage's accounts. In a post on the X social media platform on Wednesday, Farage called for further heads to roll in the wake of Rose's resignation. On Tuesday, Farage said on his eponymous TV show that Rose was "unfit" to run a bank. She realised that her comments had left Jack with the impression that the decision to close Farage's accounts was solely a commercial one, Rose said in the statement. Rose also said she was not part of the decision-making process to "exit" Farage's accounts and said this was a decision made by Coutts.

Persons: Alison Rose, Nigel Farage's, Paul Thwaite, Coutts, Farage, Rose, Simon Jack, Howard Davies, Davies, Peter Flavel, Jack, NatWest's, Sheldon Mills, Andrew Griffith, Iain Withers, Sinead Cruise, Urvi, Juby Babu, Simon Jessop, Mark Potter, Edwina Gibbs, Louise Heavens Organizations: NatWest, BBC, BBC Business, UK Treasury, Reuters, Government Investments, Authority, Thomson Locations: Bengaluru

☆ Tiny endangered toad halts play at Open Championship
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-22 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —For the second consecutive round, play was disrupted at the Open Championship, but – this time – not by protestors. On Saturday, trespassing tasks were taken up by a tiny toad. The natterjack toad is one of Britain's rarest amphibian species. Tom Shaw/R&A/Getty ImagesIt comes after Friday’s second round was disrupted by Just Stop Oil activists, who have targeted several high-profile sporting events in England in recent months, including The Ashes, Wimbledon, and the World Snooker Championship. Read more: Just Stop Oil protestors disrupt Open ChampionshipAmerican Brian Harman, chasing a first major title, carried a five shot lead into the weekend after carding a brilliant six-under 66 Friday.

Persons: tournament’s, J Moreno, “, James Bledge –, England's Tyrrell Hatton, Tom Shaw, Read, Brian Harman Organizations: CNN, Trusts, Wildlife, Royal Liverpool’s, Stop Oil, Wimbledon Locations: England, Scotland, European

☆ Terra Firma founder Guy Hands steps down from company's helm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

"When I founded Terra Firma over 20 years ago, I vowed that I would retire from the firm 'when I'm 64', as per the eponymous Beatles song. Terra Firma will be led by Guy's son and managing director Richard Hands and its chief operating officer Paul Hatter, the company said in a statement. Guy Hands founded Terra Firma in 2002 through the spin-out of Japanese bank Nomura's Principal Finance Group (PFG), which he used to lead. Terra Firma is now invested in 39 companies with an aggregate enterprise value of 51 billion euros ($56.7 billion), according to the company's website. Other business backed by Terra Firma include Australian cattle company CPC.

Persons: Guy Hands, Guy's, Richard Hands, Paul Hatter, Terra, Hands, Julia, Pablo Mayo Cerqueiro, Iain Withers, Louise Heavens, David Holmes Organizations: Terra Firma Capital Partners, EMI, Terra Firma, Reuters, Sky News, Nomura's, Finance Group, Citigroup, CPC, Thomson

☆ NatWest goof is a boon for sketchy bank clients
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Liam Proud | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

LONDON, July 21 (Reuters Breakingviews) - A row between right-wing talking head Nigel Farage and UK bank NatWest (NWG.L) could have much broader consequences. Last November, a reputational risk committee of NatWest’s exclusive private bank Coutts decided to ditch Farage by summer 2023. After closing the Coutts wealth account, NatWest offered Farage a standard one at the parent group instead, for example. But for now the biggest winners from the Farage-Coutts row seem to be sketchy UK bank customers. Briefing papers presented to Coutts’ wealth reputational risk committee said Farage was “considered by many to be a disingenuous grifter”.

Persons: Nigel Farage, Alison Rose, Farage, Coutts, didn’t, Rose, Andrew Griffith, Coutts ’, “, ” Farage, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, NatWest, Conservative, Treasury, Financial Ombudsman Service, Twitter, UK Independence Party, Thomson

☆ A Russian oligarch who slammed Putin's invasion of Ukraine got taken off UK's sanctions list after he got Richard Branson to back him
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Huileng Tan | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The UK on Wednesday lifted sanctions against Russian oligarch Oleg Tinkov. Virgin Group founder Richard Branson endorsed Tinkov's appeal against the sanctions. The UK on Wednesday lifted sanctions against Russian oligarch Oleg Tinkov, the British foreign office announced Thursday. The Russian businessman has been an outspoken critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Tinkov's appeal against the UK's sanctions was endorsed by Richard Branson, the founder of the Virgin Group empire, The Times media outlet reported on Monday.

Persons: Oleg Tinkov, Tinkov, Richard Branson, Vladimir Putin's, Branson, Tinkov hasn't, Corker Binning, David Corker Organizations: Virgin Group, Service, Bank, New York Times, Times, US, EU, Forbes, Tinkoff Bank Locations: Ukraine, Wall, Silicon, Russia, British, Russian, Cyprus, Tinkov

☆ Microsoft and Activision extend their deal deadline
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-19 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —Microsoft and Activision have mutually agreed to extend their merger deadline by three months in the face of ongoing negotiations with the UK government that could allow the $69 billion acquisition to close, the two companies announced on Wednesday. The announcement highlights the commitment by both companies to complete the deal after back-to-back court defeats for US regulators who had challenged the merger. The new contractual deadline for consummating the deal will be October 18, the companies said. If the deal fails to close by Sept. 15, the breakup fee could increase to $4.5 billion, the filing said. We’re confident in our next steps and that our deal will quickly close.”In a memo to employees, Activision CEO Bobby Kotick thanked staff for their patience.

Persons: ” Brad Smith, We’re, Bobby Kotick, “, ” Kotick, Phil Spencer, ” Spencer Organizations: Washington CNN, Microsoft, Activision, Securities and Exchange Commission, Markets Authority, CMA, Activision Blizzard, ” Locations: U.S, United States

☆ Fact Check-Photos of sleeping officials show UK House of Lords, not US senate
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( Reuters Fact Check | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

Photographs showing sleeping officials from the UK government’s House of Lords is being miscaptioned by users who are claiming it shows politicians in the U.S. senate. Examples can be seen (here) and (here). According to the U.S. Senate, senators receive a salary of $174,000 per year in 2023 (here), making the hourly rate around $83.65 for a 40-hour week (here). The images are from UK House of Lords, not the U.S. senate. This article was produced by the Reuters Fact Check team.

Persons: Read Organizations: government’s House, senate, U.S . Senate, of, Reuters Locations: U.S, America

☆ UK government's contested immigration plan to become law
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Leon Neal/Pool via REUTERSLONDON, July 18 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's highly contested plan to make it easier to send asylum seekers to Rwanda is set to become law after the government defeated attempts by parliament's upper house to make changes to the legislation. It can now go for Royal Assent, where it is formally approved by the king and becomes law. The legislation will help with the government's plan to send tens of thousands of asylum seekers who arrive on its shores a distance of more than 4,000 miles (6,400 km) to Rwanda. The government is appealing a Court of Appeal ruling last month that the plan was unlawful. It has been criticised by some opposition politicians and civil rights groups as inhumane, cruel and ineffective.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Leon Neal, Rishi Sunak's, Bill, Kylie MacLellan, Kate Holton Organizations: British, REUTERS LONDON, Royal, East, European, of Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Downing, London, United Kingdom, Rwanda, parliament's, Britain

☆ Factbox: Corporate debt woes are on the rise
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-18 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

Size of debt: 14 billion pounds ($18.33 billion). The firm said earlier in July shareholders would provide 750 million pounds, but warned it would need an extra 2.5 billion pounds between 2025-2030. Size of debt: 6.4 billion euros ($7.19 billion) in net debt. What's at stake: Casino faces 3 billion euros of debt repayments in the next two years, with rating agencies Moody's and Standard & Poor's warning a default is likely. Deadlines to watch: Casino aims to secure an agreement with creditors by July 27.

Persons: Toby Melville, What's, Jean, Charles Naouri, Casino, Daniel Kretinsky, Kretinsky, Chiara Elisei, Dhara, Christina Fincher Organizations: Thames, REUTERS, Water, Casino, SBB, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, LONDON, Sweden, France, England, Czech, Brookfield, Spain, Barcelona

☆ A wealthy Russian businessman claims the UK detained his $50 million superyacht to look 'tough'
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-17 | by ( Grace Dean | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A Russian businessman claimed the UK detained his superyacht to look "tough," Bloomberg reported. The $50 million vessel was detained by the UK last March, though its owner hasn't been sanctioned. A wealthy Russian businessman who wasn't featured on any sanctions lists following Russia's invasion of Ukraine has claimed the UK detained his luxury superyacht to look "tough," Bloomberg reported. In late March this year, Naumenko sued the UK's transport department, asking the court to let him move vessel and award him undisclosed damages. He added that Phi's owner was "guilty by association of his passport only" and had "never been connected with anyone" who was sanctioned.

Persons: hasn't, wasn't, hadn't, Sergei Georgievich Naumenko, Vitaly Vasilievich Kochetkov, Naumenko, Grace Dean, Nigel Giffin, Vladimir Putin, Putin's, Jason Pobjoy, Grant Shapps, Phi, Putin, Pobjoy, Shapps, Royal Huisman Organizations: Bloomberg, Morning, Phi, Crime Agency, UK, Financial Times, Motiv Telecom, UK's Department, Transport, Department Locations: Russian, London, Ukraine, Russia, Canary Wharf

☆ UK consumer group calls for government action on grocery prices
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( James Davey | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

says supermarket prices have risen 25.8% in two yearsSome prices have jumped by as much as 175%, consumer group saysRetailers say they have absorbed cost increasesLONDON, July 17 (Reuters) - British consumer group Which? has urged the government to take action to support households when the competition watchdog publishes its review of grocery pricing, saying some food prices have jumped by as much as 175% since 2021. found that supermarket prices rose by 25.8% between June 2021 and June 2023. Food prices have been driven up by increased costs for animal feed, fertiliser and fuel as well as energy and labour. While the UK government has raised concerns about soaring food prices it has said it was not considering imposing price caps.

Persons: Phil Noble, Jeremy Hunt, Helen Dickinson, James Davey, David Goodman Organizations: REUTERS, Tesco, Asda, Waitrose, Markets Authority, CMA, British Retail Consortium, Thomson Locations: Altrincham, Britain, British, Morrisons, Aldi, Europe, Hungary

☆ UK councils call for ban on disposable vapes by 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-15 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 15 (Reuters) - Councils in England and Wales have called on the UK government to ban the sale of single use vapes by 2024 on both environmental and health grounds. The LGA said 1.3 million disposable vapes were thrown away every week. The LGA said councils were also concerned about the impact vaping was having upon children and young people. "Disposable vapes are fundamentally flawed in their design and inherently unsustainable products, meaning an outright ban will prove more effective than attempts to recycle more vapes," David Fothergill, Chairman of the LGA's Community Wellbeing Board, said. The UK Vaping Industry Association defended disposable vapes.

Persons: vaping, David Fothergill, John Dunne, James Davey, David Evans Organizations: Local Government Association, European Union, LGA, Vaping Industry, BBC, Thomson Locations: England, Wales, France

☆ Boris Johnson warns US against ‘Ukraine fatigue’ as NATO summit concludes
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Editor’s Note: Laura Coates’ interview with Boris Johnson will air tonight on CNN at 10 p.m. In an interview with CNN Tonight’s Laura Coates as a key NATO summit concluded Wednesday, Johnson called on the US to continue its support of Ukraine, including the steady flow of weapons. He said that there could be “no possible excuse” to delay Ukraine’s NATO membership. “There can be no possible excuse or reason to keep faffing around and delaying,” Johnson said, adding that it was “very important” to establish that Ukraine was on the path to NATO membership. Johnson did not mention, however, the circumstances surrounding Trump’s hold up of military aid to Ukraine in 2019 that was at the heart of the first impeachment inquiry.

Persons: Laura Coates ’, Boris Johnson, CNN Tonight’s Laura Coates, Johnson, ” Johnson, “, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Biden, Zelensky, ”, they’ve, it’s, Donald Trump, Trump, “ Trump Organizations: CNN, London CNN — Former British, Russia, NATO, Ukraine Wednesday, Munitions, White, Ukraine, Democratic Locations: United States, Moscow, Ukraine, NATO, Europe, Vilnius, Lithuania, Kyiv, Britain, France, Germany

☆ UK government offers concessions over contested immigration plan
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Andrew Macaskill | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters) - British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's government offered concessions on Monday to members of parliament's upper house after they inflicted a series of defeats on highly contested legislation to make it easier to send asylum seekers to Rwanda. There has already been a protracted legal fight over the plan, which has been criticised by some opposition politicians as inhumane and cruel. The House of Lords, Britain's unelected upper chamber in parliament, approved 20 amendments last week to water down the government's legislation. One government amendment will limit the detention of unaccompanied children to eight days rather than the previously proposed 28 days. The government is appealing a Court of Appeal ruling last month that the plan was unlawful.

Persons: Rishi Sunak's, Sunak, Andrew MacAskill Organizations: British, European, of Human, Conservative Party, Thomson Locations: Rwanda, Britain, East, France

☆ UK scraps public disclosure of short selling
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-11 | by ( Nell Mackenzie | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

LONDON, July 11 (Reuters) - The UK government said on Tuesday it would no longer require short sellers to publicly disclose their trades on UK companies. Under the rule change funds will no longer have to tell the public their individual net short positions on a stock. Currently, funds must tell the FCA when they have borrowed 0.1% of a company's outstanding stock in order to short it. Critics say short sellers hurt companies and exacerbate market volatility, but short sellers and advocates say they act as an important check on public firms. She said the move would "unleash the benefits of short selling, including enhancing market liquidity, promoting price discovery, and exposing corporate fraud."

Persons: Jillien Flores, Nell Mackenzie, Dhara Ranasinghe, Mark Potter Organizations: Financial, Authority, Union, Financial Services, Markets, FCA, Critics, Association, Thomson

☆ Thames rescue looks far from watertight
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, July 10 (Reuters Breakingviews) - Thames Water is stepping back from the brink, a little bit. Shareholders, led by Canada’s Ontario Municipal Employees Retirement System, have now agreed to pony up 750 million pounds. They’ve also acknowledged even more will be allowed over the next regulatory review period between 2025 and 2030. Bonds issued by Thames’ holding company, Kemble, rose as much as 10 percentage points following the news. That depressed price suggests there’s a long way to go before Thames is on dry land.

Persons: They’ve, Bonds, Kemble, Neil Unmack, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Canada’s, Thames, Twitter, Thomson Locations: Canada’s Ontario, Thames, China

☆ Morning Bid: Bruised bonds relying on disinflation
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

While that data took the edge off the red-hot private-sector jobs readout the previous day, it left a bruised bond market still wary of further Federal Reserve interest rate rises and praying disinflation may stay its hand after one more hike later this month. Although Treasury bond volatility (.MOVE) backed off six-week highs on Friday, its weekly rise was the biggest since the wild swings around the banking stress in March. Stock futures were in the red again ahead of Monday's open despite gains in Chinese and European bourses. British markets - where the UK government bond market selloff last week had been worse than in Treasuries - remained edgy. They do not reflect the views of Reuters News, which, under the Trust Principles, is committed to integrity, independence, and freedom from bias.

Persons: Mike Dolan, disinflation, Janet Yellen, Joe Biden, Jeremy Hunt, Andrew Bailey, Michael Barr, Mary Daly, Loretta Mester, Raphael Bostic, Ed Osmond Organizations: Wednesday's, Treasury, NATO, HSBC, Sunday . Bank of England, Federal, San Francisco Fed, Cleveland Fed, Atlanta Fed, Bank of England, . Treasury, Graphics Reuters, Reuters, Thomson Locations: U.S, China, Vilnius, British, Treasuries, South Korea, Ukraine

☆ Thames Water: Why Britain's water industry is struggling with sewage spills, huge leaks and crushing debts
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Hanna Ziady | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The UK water sector is “clearly in a state of multiple crises,” said Dieter Helm, a professor of economic policy at the University of Oxford. Thames Water in troubleThe industry’s long-running problems have been thrust into the spotlight by a looming cash crunch at Thames Water, which serves 15 million people in London and the southeast of England. An aerial view of a Thames Water sewage treatment works in west London. A screen displays real-time notifications of sewage leaks into waterways in the region controlled by Thames Water in January 2023. Will Thames Water be nationalized?

Persons: ”, Dieter Helm, “, ” Helm, Ofwat, Abu Dhabi, David Black, Ben Stansall, Iain Coucher, they’ve, ” Black, Margaret Thatcher’s, David Hall, Leon Neal, ” Hall, Sarah Bentley “, Maureen McLean, Helm Organizations: London CNN —, University of Oxford, CNN, Thames, Getty, Yorkshire Water, Margaret Thatcher’s Conservative, Public Services International Research Unit, University of Greenwich, Thames Water, Ontario, BBC Locations: England, Wales, London, China, Abu, AFP, Yorkshire, Windsor, UK

☆ Wimbledon 2023: 500 days after the invasion of Ukraine, Russian and Belarusian players are playing at Wimbledon. Here’s how it’s going
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Amy Woodyatt | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

During the opening week, fans at Wimbledon have generally been quite warm to the Russian and Belarusian players but they’ve been especially enthusiastic to the Ukrainians. Unfortunately, they could not fight the professional Tours and others on their own,” added Zukin, who also said the ATP and WTA could do more to support Ukrainian players. CNN reached out to the WTA, ATP and The Russian Tennis Federation for comment. Tension simmers behind the scenesAway from the crowds and the cameras, Russian and Ukrainian tennis players revealed there are also strained relationships in Wimbledon’s locker rooms. Sabalenka condemned the booing and said she understands why Ukrainian players won’t shake her hand.

Persons: London CNN —, ”, they’ve, Sabalenka, I’m, Shi Tang, Russian Veronika Kudermetova’s, Elina Svitolina, ” Ukraine's Elina Svitolina, Tim Clayton, Corbis, Dmytro Kuleba, “, ” Kubela, Ian Hewitt, Yevhen Zukin, Kudermetova, Ben Rothenberg, Rothenberg, It’s, ” “, Marta Kostyuk, Javier Garcia, Kostyuk, Aryna Sabalenka, won’t, Anastasia Potapova, Iga, Slovakia’s Anna, Karolína, Svitolina, Daniil Medvedev Organizations: London CNN, Wimbledon, Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, CNN, Russian, Belarusian Victoria Azarenka, Azarenka, Ukraine’s, Russia, All England, Tennis Federation of, Tennis Association, ATP, WTA, Russian Tennis Federation, Tennis, CNN Sport, Belarus, Aryna, Spartak Moscow, Melbourne Locations: Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Belarusian, Russian, Svitolina’s, Odesa, Tennis Federation of Ukraine, Ukrainian, Kyiv, ” Russian

☆ Dollar eases after strong labor market reports
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Herbert Lash | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

NEW YORK, July 6 (Reuters) - The dollar eased after a brief rebound on Thursday as data showing the U.S. labor market remains strong increased chances the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates later this month. "Take it together with how equity markets have responded, that gives a clear picture of the dollar today. The dollar index , measuring the U.S. currency against six others including the euro and Japan's yen, fell 0.18% to 103.13. "The FX market is taking more of a 'one-dimensional approach' to trading the British disease," said Stephen Gallo, global FX strategist at BMO Capital Markets. The Chinese yuan last traded down slightly at 7.2575 per dollar in the offshore market , a day after falling about 0.4%.

Persons: payrolls, Brian Daingerfield, Lorie Logan, Brad Bechtel, Stephen Gallo, Gallo, Bitcoin, Herbert Lash, Samuel Indyk, Rae Wee, David Holmes, Mark Potter, Richard Chang Organizations: YORK, Reserve, Labor Department, Institute for Supply Management, NatWest Markets, Fed, Dallas, FX, Jefferies, of England, BMO Capital Markets, Thomson Locations: U.S, Stamford , Connecticut, London, Singapore

☆ The dead IPO market is dragging down VCs' ability to raise new funds with returns tied up in startups overdue an exit, analysts say
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Tasmin Lockwood | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The lack of liquidity is making it even more difficult for VCs to raise new funds, analysts said. PitchBook's Nalin Patel said LP money could become trapped in companies that were "overdue an exit." Venture capital-backed exits have continued to collapse in 2023, piling pressure on general partners already facing a torrid time trying to raise funds from institutional investors. This represented a 40% decline on the $161.4 billion worth of exits posted during the same period last year. In a performing exit market growth stage companies like fintech giant Stripe, buy now, pay later firm Klarna, and software firm Databricks may all have already gone public.

Persons: PitchBook's Nalin Patel, Wise, Klarna, Kyle Stanford, Nalin Patel, Stanford Organizations: Venture, PitchBook's EMEA, Global, Companies Locations: Deliveroo, PitchBook's

☆ A lack of sleep blocks brain-boosting benefits from exercise, study says
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-06 | by ( Sandee Lamotte | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

“It shows how important it is to consider sleep and physical activity together when thinking about cognitive health,” she said in a statement. “We were surprised that regular physical activity may not always be sufficient to counter the long-term effects of lack of sleep on cognitive health,” Bloomberg said. In people age 70 and older, the benefits of exercise on the brain was maintained, despite short sleep. But in reality, only people with a short sleep gene have that ability. If you suffer from insomnia, sleep apnea or other sleep disorders, seeing a sleep specialist is key, experts say.

Persons: ”, Dr, Mikaela, ” Bloomberg, it’s, you’re Organizations: CNN, Mikaela Bloomberg, Epidemiology, Health Care, University College London, Ageing, US National Institute, Aging

☆ UK government meets with police, sports event organisers over protest disruption
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The meeting came as Just Stop Oil activists twice interrupted play at Wimbledon. The environmental group have also disrupted the second Ashes cricket test at Lord's as well as the Premiership Rugby final and the World Snooker Championship. This year's Grand National horse race was also disrupted after animal rights activists attached themselves to fences. The Lawn Tennis Association, the soccer Premier League, British Horseracing Authority and Silverstone Circuits were among the 15 national sports bodies and event organisers who attended, the government said. The British Grand Prix is due to take place at Silverstone on Sunday.

Persons: Katie Boulter, Daria Saville, Hannah Mckay LONDON, Lucy Frazer, Suella Braverman, Kylie MacLellan, Mark Heinrich Our Organizations: Lawn Tennis, Croquet Club, Oil, Wimbledon, Premiership Rugby, Lawn Tennis Association, soccer Premier League, British Horseracing Authority, Silverstone Circuits, Silverstone, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Lord's, British

☆ UK’s leaky water model faces a growing storm
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Neil Unmack | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +8 min

The fallout raises two big questions: whether the regulatory regime works, and whether Britain’s water companies should still be privately owned. Average UK water bills are 448 pounds in the current year, versus 409 pounds in Scotland. One option would be to squeeze water companies – cutting allowed prices, and imposing bigger penalties on those that allow leaks. For the sector as a whole, Ofwat assumes equity comprises 45% of water companies’ 94 billion pound RCV, or 42 billion pounds. Reuters Graphics Reuters GraphicsFollow @Unmack1 on TwitterCONTEXT NEWSThames Water investors have become more “concerned” about the company’s turnaround, the chief executive of UK water regulator Ofwat David Black told a UK parliament committee on July 4.

Persons: Macquarie’s, Severn, Ofwat, Jefferies, David Black, Iain Coucher, “, Black, George Hay, Oliver Taslic Organizations: Reuters, Conservative, Thames, Ofwat, Reuters Graphics Regulators, Yorkshire Water, United Utilities, Scottish, Dwr Cymru, Barclays, Reuters Graphics Reuters, Thames Water, Water, Sky News, Thomson Locations: Severn Trent, RCV, Water, Wales, Scotland, Germany, United States, Italy, Ireland, Britain

☆ Just Stop Oil protesters disrupt match at Wimbledon
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-05 | by ( Ben Church | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Just Stop Oil activists disrupted two matches at Wimbledon on Wednesday after running onto Court 18 and sprinkling orange confetti and jigsaw puzzle pieces on the playing surface. In the first incident, security was able to quickly usher one activist away while another, wearing a Just Stop Oil T-shirt, sat crossed legged on the court before finally being taken off. “Following an incident on Court 18, two individuals have been arrested on suspicion of aggravated trespass and criminal damage and these individuals have now been removed from the Grounds,” Wimbledon tweeted after the incident. Ground staff removed pieces of confetti from Court 18 before play got back underway. In a statement after the first protest, Just Stop Oil said the two activists at Wimbledon were “demanding that the UK government halts all new licences and consents for oil, gas and coal.”In a statement published by Just Stop Oil, one of the protesters said: “Forget strawberries and cream, scientists are warning of impending food shortages, mass displacement and war.

Persons: Grigor Dimitrov, Sho Shimabukuro, ” Wimbledon, Katie Boulter, Daria Saville, Alastair Grant, ” Organizations: CNN, Wimbledon, London Metropolitan police

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