Business

Image copyright Getty Images Chancellor Rishi Sunak will later unveil a plan aimed at minimising further unemployment as stricter Covid-19 restrictions come into force. The new measures are expected to replace the furlough scheme, which is set to expire next month. In July, around five million workers were still receiving …

Image copyright PA Media The Treasury has scrapped plans for an Autumn Budget this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. “As we heard this week, now is not the right time to outline long-term plans – people want to see us focused on the here and now,” the Treasury said. …

Image copyright Getty Images Uncle Ben’s Rice will change its name to Ben’s Original and remove the image of a bow-tied black man from its packaging. The change follows through on a pledge its owner Mars Food made in June to review the brand amid global protests over police brutality …

Image copyright Getty Images New rules over office romances are being rolled out at the investment giant BlackRock. They will now extend to relationships outside the office in a bid to clamp down on conflicts of interest. BlackRock staff were already expected to tell managers if they were dating one …

Image copyright Getty Images McDonald’s, Pret a Manger and similar restaurants without an alcohol licence will not need to serve customers at tables, the government has confirmed. On Tuesday new rules governing hospitality were announced. They mean pubs and other places with licensed premises must provide table service. Earlier, confusion …

Image copyright Getty Images Supermarket Asda is set to enforce rules on face coverings more strictly across its shops amid the pandemic. Customers who do not have a covering when they enter a store will be offered a pack of disposable masks that they can pay for at the end …

Image copyright PA Media Chancellor Rishi Sunak is understood to be looking at options to replace the furlough scheme when it expires at the end of October. The possibilities include a salary top-up scheme similar to those already operated by governments in France and Germany. This would involve allowing firms …

Image copyright Getty Images Upper Crust owner SSP Group says it believes that “demand for travel will return”, despite the coronavirus pandemic dragging down sales. The firm said weekly sales are currently 76% below the levels seen for April to September last year. SSP said about a third of its …

Image copyright Reuters Exporters to the EU face 7,000-truck-long queues in Kent and two-day delays to trade after the Brexit transition period ends, the government has warned. Imports will also be also disrupted in January, according to a letter from cabinet minister Michael Gove to the freight industry, seen by …

By James ClaytonNorth America technology reporter image copyrightGetty Images Tesla founder Elon Musk has announced technology that he says will make Tesla batteries cheaper and more powerful. At a live presentation that Mr Musk labelled ‘Battery Day’ he also teased the possibility of a $25,000 (£19,600), fully-autonomous Tesla “in about …