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The chancellor will promise to utilise his "fiscal firepower" to protect the jobs and livelihoods of Britons when he delivers his budget on Wednesday. Rishi Sunak will tell the Commons that he will do "whatever it takes" to help business and people through the "moment of crisis" caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. In a lunchtime statement to MPs, the chancellor is expected to lay out a three-point economic plan focused on helping people through the pandemic, fixing the public finances and building the future economy. Possible announcements in Budget 2021 include: An extension to the furlough scheme An increase in corporation tax A freeze in income tax thresholds - a tactic which would not technically be a tax-raising measure but would still mean employees paying more as their salaries rise A six-month extension in the £20-a-week temporary increase in Universal Credit An extension of the stamp duty holiday, which is currently due to end this month … [Read more...] about Chancellor promises to use ‘fiscal firepower’ in budget to protect jobs and livelihoods

The big four accountancy firm KPMG will on Wednesday announce the £400m sale of its UK restructuring arm, marking a further step in the profession’s preparation for tough new audit regulation. Sky News has learnt that the new standalone company, which will comprise approximately 500 people, will be renamed Interpath Advisory. Backed by HIG Europe, the private equity firm, it will immediately become the largest independent restructuring practice in the UK by number of employees. The announcement will come just weeks after KPMG's rival, Deloitte, sold its UK restructuring business to Teneo, a global strategic advisory firm. A source close to the KPMG talks said the deal was hours away from being signed, although a formal announcement could yet be delayed. Advertisement John Connolly, the former Deloitte chairman, is in talks to become Interpath's chairman. The transaction will represent the most valuable disposal to date by one of Britain's big … [Read more...] about KPMG arm to be renamed Interpath in £400m restructuring deal

Firefighters were in tears and turned their backs on a senior commander at a debrief as they sought answers from senior officers about why they had not been deployed to the scene of the Manchester Arena attack, the inquiry has heard. The inquiry was told that a tearful paramedic approached firefighters and asked why they were "just stood around" at a fire station a mile from the attack . Group Manager Alan Topping, duty command support officer on the night of the attack, told the inquiry that firefighters were ashamed and emotional in the aftermath of the attack in which the service did not arrive at the scene until two hours after the explosion. The officer, who had 29 years of experience, is the first who was present on the ground to give evidence to the inquiry and said that by the time firefighters arrived it was too late to help. John Cooper QC, for the victims' families, asked about a "hot" debrief soon after the attack with Assistant Chief Fire Officer Geoff … [Read more...] about Manchester Arena inquiry: Firefighters were ‘in tears’ after failing to attend 2017 bombing which killed 22

A BABY and toddler tragically face being orphaned after both their parents were diagnosed with terminal cancer within months of each other. Brit Adam Graveley, 38, met his Australian wife Caitlin, 39, when he went travelling. He managed to secure a good job and they sponsored him to stay and after tying the knot they had two kids. But now the couple, who live in Perth , have both heartbreakingly been diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer - just three months apart. They are faced with the devastating prospect of leaving kids Thea, two, and four-month-old Fearn without a mum and dad. Caitlin was diagnosed with Stage 4 bowel cancer in November after suffering pain she thought was due to her pregnancy. And then tragically Adam was diagnosed with Stage 4 pancreatic cancer on February 4. Adam's British sister, Emma Reynolds, 41, says her and the rest of the family can't visit them until April. The family want to raise awareness of aggressive cancers that start in the … [Read more...] about Tragedy as baby & toddler face being orphaned after both parents develop terminal cancer within 3 months of each other

Before the pandemic, Berlin-based comedian Erika Ratcliffe toured every week, telling jokes to an eager public. Now, she gets by with the savings from a writing gig and is considering switching careers altogether. "A lot of people are doing online comedy shows on Zoom or via livestream, but I don’t think that works — I need the reaction from the audience." Ratcliffe is one of many creative-industry professionals in Germany who have found their lives turned upside down and their futures increasingly uncertain as the pandemic continues, particularly since the country went into a second lockdown in the fall of 2020. Theaters and museums remain closed until further notice. Some sectors have been especially hard-hit: The Berlin club scene, where just a year ago sweaty revelers were packed in like sardines dancing into the wee hours, is not expected not to return to full operation until the end of 2022, according to the Berlin Club Commission. Ratcliffe decided not to do Zoom or … [Read more...] about Lockdown culture: ‘Miss You’ brings artists to the people