DUP accused of blocking Stormont budget over demand to plug EU funding hole in Diane Dodds department It is understood economy minister Diane Dodds has requested £45m be re-allocated to her department to make up for lost EU funding Ryan McAleer 23 December, 2020 01:00
Conor Murphy has told the Finance Committee that Arlene Foster is blocking the progress of his draft budget paper. Picture by Hugh Russell.
THE DUP has been accused of blocking progress of Stormont’s budget over a row surrounding the loss of EU funding within Diane Dodds Department for the Economy.
A draft budget paper, which contains each department’s allocation for 2021/22, failed to make it on the agenda for the fourth successive meeting of the Executive on Tuesday.
Amuse-bouches: The latest restaurant news bites
18 December 2020 By Phoebe French
This week in UK restaurant news: a petition to create a minister for hospitality will be debated in January, MasterChef: The Professionals crowns its 2020 champion, and London’s Roganic will relocate in the new year.
Furlough extension welcomed: UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced the extension of the Job Retention Scheme until the end of April 2021. It had previously been due to end on 31 March. Emma McClarkin, chief executive of the British Beer and Pub Association, called it a “hugely positive move”.
Minister for hospitality set for debate: The government is to debate the creation of a minister for hospitality on 11 January after a petition calling for an industry figurehead achieved over 100,000 signatures.
Have a business idea but lack the know-how? New platform Object Astra aims to matchmake start-ups with business partners and advisers
Object Astra links people who have a business idea with those who have the skills they need, in exchange for equity in the business
It uses artificial intelligence to find the best matches for budding entrepreneurs
The platform had been in development for several years, but its launch was accelerated due to the coronavirus pandemic and an increase in unemployment
12/17/2020 5:22:52 AM GMT | By Anil Panchal
GBP/USD stays bid near the previous day’s top, the highest level since May 2018.
Fisheries keep being a tough nut to crack for a soft Brexit, agreement over level playing, governance boosted cable earlier.
Market sentiment stays mildly positive while waiting for US stimulus.
BOE to keep monetary policy unchanged, Cable bulls eye hints of no negative rates.
GBP/USD takes the bids near a multi-month high, currently up 0.40% intraday at 1.3540, while heading into Thursday’s London open. The pair jumped to the fresh top since May 2018 the previous day amid positive updates from the Brexit desk. The mood has been intact afterward as the US dollar wavers around the lowest since April 2018 amid upbeat markets.