Business

The Post Office is to appoint one of its army of postmasters to its board for the first time as part of its bid to move on from the multi-million pound scandal which left some of its managers wrongly sent to prison. Sky News has learnt that the government-owned company will announce on Monday that

Debenhams’s owners have begun drawing up plans for the liquidation of the 242-year-old department store chain in a move that could trigger the single-biggest jobs cull of the coronavirus pandemic. Sky News has learnt that Debenhams has appointed Hilco Capital, which specialises in helping to wind down distressed retail businesses, to work with it in

Theatres, casinos and bowling alleys are opening today as part of the latest easing of lockdown restrictions in England. The relaxed measures will also mean tattoo studios, beauty salons, spas and hairdressers can offer additional services, including face treatments such as eyebrow threading. More rules will be eased to allow: Skating rinks, indoor play and

Extending quarantine to a further six nations, including France, is “another devastating blow” to the travel industry already reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been warned. The decision to impose restrictions on one of the biggest destinations for holidaymakers at the height of summer, having already been done to Spain, will lead to job

France, Malta and the Netherlands are among the new countries added to the UK’s quarantine list. Travellers returning from those countries must self-isolate for 14 days on arrival in the UK. The measure will come into force at 4am on Saturday morning. Mr Shapps said the decision to add France to the list came after

Food sales in UK pubs and restaurants rose by a third in the week following the launch of the government’s Eat Out to Help Out subsidy scheme, research shows. The survey by the data consultancy firm CGA found trade in managed outlets was up by between 95% and 106% on the first three days of

The United States has held off on a threat to expand a 16-year old trade fight with the European Union over trade subsidies. US trade representative Robert Lighthizer confirmed the Trump administration would maintain 15% tariffs on Airbus aircraft and 25% tariffs on other European goods imposed last year following a World Trade Organisation (WTO)

Official figures have confirmed the extent of the UK’s recession – the consequence of lockdown restrictions to curb the spread of coronavirus. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has released reams of early data, which is subject to revision, covering the record hit to the economy. Here are seven statistics which give insight on the

The Trafford Centre, Britain’s fourth-biggest shopping mall, is being put up for sale less than two months after its parent company, Intu Properties, collapsed into administration. Sky News has learnt that the Manchester shopping destination, which draws 30 million visitors every year, is to be auctioned following pressure for a rapid sale from its biggest

Britain is to be officially declared in recession for the first time since the financial crash with figures set to show the COVID-19 crisis triggered a record economic slump. The dramatic 21% downturn between April and June – the worst in western Europe – is expected to be confirmed by the Office for National Statistics

Victims of bank transfer scams face a “total lottery” over whether they will get their money back under a voluntary industry code, according to a consumer campaign group. Which? said people who fell foul of authorised push payment (APP) fraud are being treated unfairly or inconsistently by banks and building societies when trying to get

McDonald’s is suing its former chief executive – fired last year for an inappropriate relationship with an employee – over claims he had affairs with other staff and destroyed evidence. According to court documents filed by the fast-food giant, Stephen Easterbrook, who grew up in Watford, Hertfordshire, “lied about his wrongdoing” in having had sexual

Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been arrested under the city’s new national security law on suspicion of collusion with foreign forces, one of his aides has said. “Jimmy Lai is being arrested for collusion with foreign powers at this time,” Mark Simon, a senior executive at Mr Lai’s media company Next Digital, tweeted

The American investment firm Apollo Global Management is weighing a £3bn takeover bid for the AA, Britain’s biggest roadside recovery service. Sky News has learnt that Apollo, co-founded by Leon Black, one of Wall Street’s financiers, has joined a trio of rival bidders in approaching the debt-laden company. Sources said this weekend that Apollo had

By Sally Lockwood, news correspondent There is a crisis behind the coronavirus crisis in the US. As it prepares to lose thousands more lives to COVID-19 in the coming weeks, millions of Americans are facing destitution. The emergency benefits that have been supporting around 30 million Americans since March ended on 31 July. Many received

More than 10,000 British Airways workers are being made redundant, it has been confirmed. It is understood that 6,000 of the redundancies are voluntary and trade union Unite says a further 4,000 are compulsory. A spokesperson for British Airways said: “Our half-year results, published last week, clearly show the enormous financial impact of COVID-19 on