news--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: How lockdowns have caused drop in air pollution across the world

Air pollution appears to have decreased in urban areas across the world as cities continue to be locked down to prevent the spread of coronavirus .
In Europe , cities including Brussels , Paris , Madrid , Milan and Frankfurt showed a reduction in average levels of noxious nitrogen dioxide from 5 to 25 March , compared with the same period last year , according to new satellite images .
The images , released by the European Space Agency , show the changing density of nitrogen dioxide , a harmful gas emitted when fossil fuels are burnt at high temperatures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in motor vehicles .
Daily weather events can influence atmospheric pollution , so the satellite pictures took a 20-day average and excluded readings where cloud cover reduced the quality of the data .
However , some scientists have urged caution , with specialists from Lombardy 's Regional Environmental Protection Agency ( ARPA ) saying it is too soon to draw conclusions from air quality data .
In Madrid , average nitrogen dioxide levels decreased by 56 % week-on-week after the Spanish government banned non-essential travel on 14 March .
Pollution over parts of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ country was placed in lockdown .
However , in some regions of Poland nitrogen dioxide levels remained relatively high during the period despite its lockdown , perhaps due to the prevalence of coal-based heating .
Experts at Copernicus have warned that until a complete lockdown is imposed , emissions from some sectors may increase .
For example , people might take private cars more often to avoid using public transport .
China - the world 's biggest polluter - recorded a drop in nitrogen dioxide pollution in cities during February , when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the virus .
The country 's ministry of ecology and environment said the average number of `` good quality air days '' increased by 21.5 % in February when compared to the same period last year .
According to Nasa , nitrogen dioxide levels have dropped by between 10-30 % across eastern and central China .
Drops in pollution levels were particularly prominent in the city of Wuhan , the original epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak .
Meanwhile , CO2 emissions in China were down by at least 30 % between 3 February @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air ( CREA ) .
CREA estimates this is equivalent to 200 million tons of carbon dioxide .
In Hong Kong , key air pollutants dropped by nearly a third from January to February , according to data from Hong Kong University School of Public Health .
South Korea also appears to have seen a drop in nitrogen dioxide levels , despite avoiding putting entire regions under lockdown .
However , it has taken an aggressive approach to tracing and isolating suspected cases .
: : @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Researchers in New York told the BBC that early findings showed carbon monoxide had been reduced by nearly 50 % compared with the previous year .
The scientists , from Columbia University , said they estimated traffic levels in the city were down 35 % .
Countries that went into lockdown later - such as Britain , which did so on 23 March - look set for a pollution reprieve in coming weeks .
Air pollution can cause or exacerbate lung cancer , pulmonary @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 400,000 premature deaths each year in Europe .

Air pollution appears to have decreased in urban areas across the world as cities continue to be locked down to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
In Europe, cities including Brussels, Paris, Madrid, Milan and Frankfurt showed a reduction in average levels of noxious nitrogen dioxide from 5 to 25 March, compared with the same period last year, according to new satellite images.
The images, released by the European Space Agency, show the changing density of nitrogen dioxide, a harmful gas emitted when fossil fuels are burnt at high temperatures, most commonly at power plants and in motor vehicles.
Image: Air pollution data obtained before and after Spain was locked down. Pic: Sentinel-5 satellite images
Daily weather events can influence atmospheric pollution, so the satellite pictures took a 20-day average and excluded readings where cloud cover reduced the quality of the data.
However, some scientists have urged caution, with specialists from Lombardy's Regional Environmental Protection Agency (ARPA) saying it is too soon to draw conclusions from air quality data.
In Madrid, average nitrogen dioxide levels decreased by 56% week-on-week after the Spanish government banned non-essential travel on 14 March.
Image: Air pollution data obtained before and after France was locked down. Pic: Sentinel-5 satellite images
Pollution over parts of Italy also dramatically fell as the entire country was placed in lockdown.
However, in some regions of Poland nitrogen dioxide levels remained relatively high during the period despite its lockdown, perhaps due to the prevalence of coal-based heating.
Experts at Copernicus have warned that until a complete lockdown is imposed, emissions from some sectors may increase.
Advertisement
For example, people might take private cars more often to avoid using public transport.
China - the world's biggest polluter - recorded a drop in nitrogen dioxide pollution in cities during February, when the government imposed draconian lockdown measures to contain the virus.
The country's ministry of ecology and environment said the average number of "good quality air days" increased by 21.5% in February when compared to the same period last year.
According to Nasa, nitrogen dioxide levels have dropped by between 10-30% across eastern and central China.
Image: Satellite images show nitrogen dioxide levels have fallen over China. Pic: NASA
Drops in pollution levels were particularly prominent in the city of Wuhan, the original epicentre of the COVID-19 outbreak.
Meanwhile, CO2 emissions in China were down by at least 30% between 3 February and 1 March, according to the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA).
CREA estimates this is equivalent to 200 million tons of carbon dioxide.
In Hong Kong, key air pollutants dropped by nearly a third from January to February, according to data from Hong Kong University School of Public Health.
South Korea also appears to have seen a drop in nitrogen dioxide levels, despite avoiding putting entire regions under lockdown.
However, it has taken an aggressive approach to tracing and isolating suspected cases.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Researchers in New York told the BBC that early findings showed carbon monoxide had been reduced by nearly 50% compared with the previous year.
The scientists, from Columbia University, said they estimated traffic levels in the city were down 35%.
Countries that went into lockdown later - such as Britain, which did so on 23 March - look set for a pollution reprieve in coming weeks.
Air pollution can cause or exacerbate lung cancer, pulmonary disease and strokes. It causes around 400,000 premature deaths each year in Europe.


news--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: Why Boris Johnson and other world leaders have become more popular during outbreak

Boris Johnson 's popularity - like that of the majority of world leaders - has risen significantly during the coronavirus crisis .
As tracked by Ipsos MORI , the prime minister 's satisfaction ratings had improved to 52 % by mid-March .
This is an increase of five points from 47 % at the start of February , and up 16 points on his ratings back in early December ( 36 % ) , just before the general election .
Polling by Number Cruncher more recently found that Johnson 's satisfaction ratings had risen to 72 % .
But Mr @ @ @ @ @ @ @ At a time of unprecedented global crisis , and with only one or two exceptions , leaders the world over are experiencing rising popularity .
Measured by Gallup , US President Donald Trump 's job ratings have soared to their highest ever point , with 49 % of adults approving of his performance and 45 % disapproving .
French President Emanuel Macron has seen an even larger increase in his satisfaction rating than his counterparts - rising to 51 % , some 13 points up since last month , and his highest since @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has seen her approval rise to a meteoric 79 % , up 11 points since early March - a remarkable figure for a leader who has been in power for well over a decade .
The approval rating of Giuseppe Conte , prime minister of Italy , the country worst-hit so far in terms of deaths , has hit 71 % - an incredible 27 points higher than in February .
More broadly , polling firm Morning Consult reports that approval has risen in their daily tracker survey for a number of world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ WHO ) declared a pandemic .
Indeed , virtually the only leader to have seen their ratings markedly decline is Brazil 's populist far-right president , Jair Bolsonaro , with the public seemingly unimpressed by his coronavirus-denialism .
What is interesting , however , is that this widespread rise in popularity appears to have little to do with actual performance in handling the crisis so far - with both the US and UK response having been criticised at times .
So what explains the fact that world leaders ' popularity seems to be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ seem to be seeing is the `` rally-round-the-flag '' effect originally proposed by American political scientist John Mueller .
The characteristics that Mr Mueller linked with these surges of popular support for incumbents were inspired by Cold War events , but have substantial resonance with the COVID-19 outbreak .
For a rally-round-the-flag to occur , the event had to be international , involve the country and its leader directly , and be `` specific , dramatic , and sharply focused '' .
The global significance of the coronavirus pandemic - and the fact @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and has been ) likened to a war - fits perfectly with this definition .
In all countries , leaders have been a central figure in the government response .
As to what drives this rally-round-the-flag at times of national crisis , one of the traditional explanations was that patriotic feelings led the public to view their incumbent leader as the focus of national unity , leading to greater support as citizens set aside their partisan biases .
Others have argued that rallies in popularity depend on opposition politicians temporarily laying aside their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ media coverage , thereby influencing how the public perceive leaders .
Another view is that when feeling vulnerable and under threat , citizens put their trust in political leaders and authorities to protect them .
Whichever explanation works best , however , a big question remains : how long is any rise in popularity for our current crop of leaders likely to last ?
To address it we can , perhaps , look to one fairly recent precedent .
The last rally-round-the-flag with similar global ramifications as COVID-19 was that following the 9/11 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , President George W Bush 's approval rating jumped nearly 40 points to 90 % , the highest ever recorded for a US president .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker More than a year later President Bush 's approval rating was 68 % , still nearly 20-points higher than his rating at the time of the attacks .
President Bush 's popularity declined steadily throughout his first and second terms , and in the end only Harry S Truman and Richard @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ratings .
It is impossible to say , then , precisely when the COVID-19 rally-round-the-flag effect might start to fade and then finally end .
As people are finally able to move beyond the pandemic , political gravity is bound to kick in : what goes up must come down .
Where that leaves individual leaders will depend in large part not just on how they are eventually seen to have handled the current crisis , but also on how they handle other issues whose importance to voters will gradually grow again .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ published by UK in a Changing Europe

Boris Johnson's popularity - like that of the majority of world leaders - has risen significantly during the coronavirus crisis.
As tracked by Ipsos MORI, the prime minister's satisfaction ratings had improved to 52% by mid-March.
This is an increase of five points from 47% at the start of February, and up 16 points on his ratings back in early December (36%), just before the general election.
Polling by Number Cruncher more recently found that Johnson's satisfaction ratings had risen to 72%.
But Mr Johnson is by no means alone.
At a time of unprecedented global crisis, and with only one or two exceptions, leaders the world over are experiencing rising popularity.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:25 PM's video message from his virus isolation
Measured by Gallup, US President Donald Trump's job ratings have soared to their highest ever point, with 49% of adults approving of his performance and 45% disapproving.
French President Emanuel Macron has seen an even larger increase in his satisfaction rating than his counterparts - rising to 51%, some 13 points up since last month, and his highest since January 2018.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has seen her approval rise to a meteoric 79%, up 11 points since early March - a remarkable figure for a leader who has been in power for well over a decade.
Advertisement
The approval rating of Giuseppe Conte, prime minister of Italy, the country worst-hit so far in terms of deaths, has hit 71% - an incredible 27 points higher than in February.
More broadly, polling firm Morning Consult reports that approval has risen in their daily tracker survey for a number of world leaders since the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared a pandemic.
Indeed, virtually the only leader to have seen their ratings markedly decline is Brazil's populist far-right president, Jair Bolsonaro, with the public seemingly unimpressed by his coronavirus-denialism.
What is interesting, however, is that this widespread rise in popularity appears to have little to do with actual performance in handling the crisis so far - with both the US and UK response having been criticised at times.
So what explains the fact that world leaders' popularity seems to be rising regardless?
Image: Brazil's leader Jair Bolsonaro has downplayed coronavirus
Most obviously what we seem to be seeing is the "rally-round-the-flag" effect originally proposed by American political scientist John Mueller.
The characteristics that Mr Mueller linked with these surges of popular support for incumbents were inspired by Cold War events, but have substantial resonance with the COVID-19 outbreak.
For a rally-round-the-flag to occur, the event had to be international, involve the country and its leader directly, and be "specific, dramatic, and sharply focused".
The global significance of the coronavirus pandemic - and the fact that the fight against it can (and has been) likened to a war - fits perfectly with this definition.
In all countries, leaders have been a central figure in the government response.
As to what drives this rally-round-the-flag at times of national crisis, one of the traditional explanations was that patriotic feelings led the public to view their incumbent leader as the focus of national unity, leading to greater support as citizens set aside their partisan biases.
Others have argued that rallies in popularity depend on opposition politicians temporarily laying aside their partisan interests and on increased levels of media coverage, thereby influencing how the public perceive leaders.
Another view is that when feeling vulnerable and under threat, citizens put their trust in political leaders and authorities to protect them.
Whichever explanation works best, however, a big question remains: how long is any rise in popularity for our current crop of leaders likely to last?
To address it we can, perhaps, look to one fairly recent precedent.
Image: George W Bush enjoyed a ratings boost after 9/11 - but it didn't last
The last rally-round-the-flag with similar global ramifications as COVID-19 was that following the 9/11 attacks on America.
In the aftermath, President George W Bush's approval rating jumped nearly 40 points to 90%, the highest ever recorded for a US president.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
More than a year later President Bush's approval rating was 68%, still nearly 20-points higher than his rating at the time of the attacks.
Nothing, however, lasts forever.
President Bush's popularity declined steadily throughout his first and second terms, and in the end only Harry S Truman and Richard Nixon left the White House with lower ratings.
It is impossible to say, then, precisely when the COVID-19 rally-round-the-flag effect might start to fade and then finally end.
As people are finally able to move beyond the pandemic, political gravity is bound to kick in: what goes up must come down.
Where that leaves individual leaders will depend in large part not just on how they are eventually seen to have handled the current crisis, but also on how they handle other issues whose importance to voters will gradually grow again.
A version of this article was originally published by UK in a Changing Europe


news--2020-03-30--Coronavirus: EasyJet founder in threat to oust board

The billionaire founder of easyJet is threatening to seek the removal of most of its board members unless it cancels a £4.5bn aircraft order that he warned could threaten its future amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Sky News has seen a letter sent on Sunday by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to John Barton , the low-cost carrier 's chairman , which said he would call an extraordinary shareholder meeting every seven weeks to remove one of its non-executive directors .
Along with other family members , Sir Stelios owns just under 34 % of easyJet 's shares .
The entrepreneur is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's lack of transparency about the order for 107 Airbus planes , which he labelled as `` simply shareholder value-destroying '' .
He informed Mr Barton that unless his concerns are met by midday on Wednesday , he would begin a rolling programme of calling EGMs every seven weeks to try to remove one of easyJet 's non-executive directors - beginning with Andreas Bierwith .
Prominent business figures who sit on the airline 's board include Moya Greene , the former Royal Mail Group chief executive , and Charles Gurassa , the Channel @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Airbus order had saddled easyJet with an existential threat at a time when the world 's aviation industry had effectively been grounded by the COVID-19 outbreak .
: : Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts , Google podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker EasyJet has grounded its entire fleet and warned that it can no longer give investors guidance about its financial performance this year .
`` Even with a resumption of air traffic , any income from passengers is likely to be too low to keep up with outgoings and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ it continues to pay Airbus for more aircraft , '' he wrote .
`` This crisis may result in the insolvency of easyJet PLC and if it transpires that a single penny from the company has been paid to Airbus between the grounding of the fleet and the date of the insolvency or any equity-raising which would prevent insolvency , I will personally sue all the easyJet directors for gross negligence and for defrauding easyJet 's creditors with the favouring of one creditor ( Airbus with dubious rights to these monies ) over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ declaration of war on the easyJet board comes just days after he received a £60m dividend payment from the airline .
In his letter to Mr Barton , he said he had offered to subscribe to new equity in easyJet as part of a wider share issue .
A number of institutional shareholders in easyJet are understood to have been informed of Sir Stelios 's plans over the weekend .
Sir Stelios gave the board until Wednesday to respond to his demands , which include the appointment of an independent law firm to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ opposed public statements by easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren that the company was seeking a government loan on commercial terms to help it weather the coronavirus crisis .
Last week , Rishi Sunak , the chancellor , said any state support for airlines would need to be in taxpayers ' interest and would be available `` only as a last resort '' .
That comment implied that airlines such as easyJet would need to tap their own shareholders for funding before approaching the government .
Sky News revealed this month that Virgin Atlantic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
It is not the first time that the easyJet founder has been in dispute with the company over the size of its fleet , having settled several disputes with uneasy truces .
Sir Stelios launched the airline in 1995 , before floating it in 2000 .
EasyJet could not be reached for comment .

The billionaire founder of easyJet is threatening to seek the removal of most of its board members unless it cancels a £4.5bn aircraft order that he warned could threaten its future amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Sky News has seen a letter sent on Sunday by Sir Stelios Haji-Ioannou to John Barton, the low-cost carrier's chairman, which said he would call an extraordinary shareholder meeting every seven weeks to remove one of its non-executive directors.
Along with other family members, Sir Stelios owns just under 34% of easyJet's shares.
The entrepreneur is enraged at what he argues is easyJet's lack of transparency about the order for 107 Airbus planes, which he labelled as "simply shareholder value-destroying".
He informed Mr Barton that unless his concerns are met by midday on Wednesday, he would begin a rolling programme of calling EGMs every seven weeks to try to remove one of easyJet's non-executive directors - beginning with Andreas Bierwith.
Prominent business figures who sit on the airline's board include Moya Greene, the former Royal Mail Group chief executive, and Charles Gurassa, the Channel Four chairman.
Sir Stelios said the Airbus order had saddled easyJet with an existential threat at a time when the world's aviation industry had effectively been grounded by the COVID-19 outbreak.
:: Listen to Sophy Ridge on Sunday on Apple podcasts, Google podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
EasyJet has grounded its entire fleet and warned that it can no longer give investors guidance about its financial performance this year.
Advertisement
"Even with a resumption of air traffic, any income from passengers is likely to be too low to keep up with outgoings and would most likely render easyJet insolvent if it continues to pay Airbus for more aircraft," he wrote.
"This crisis may result in the insolvency of easyJet PLC and if it transpires that a single penny from the company has been paid to Airbus between the grounding of the fleet and the date of the insolvency or any equity-raising which would prevent insolvency, I will personally sue all the easyJet directors for gross negligence and for defrauding easyJet's creditors with the favouring of one creditor (Airbus with dubious rights to these monies) over all others."
Sir Stelios's declaration of war on the easyJet board comes just days after he received a £60m dividend payment from the airline.
In his letter to Mr Barton, he said he had offered to subscribe to new equity in easyJet as part of a wider share issue.
A number of institutional shareholders in easyJet are understood to have been informed of Sir Stelios's plans over the weekend.
Sir Stelios gave the board until Wednesday to respond to his demands, which include the appointment of an independent law firm to serve notice on Airbus.
He also opposed public statements by easyJet chief executive Johan Lundgren that the company was seeking a government loan on commercial terms to help it weather the coronavirus crisis.
Last week, Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, said any state support for airlines would need to be in taxpayers' interest and would be available "only as a last resort".
That comment implied that airlines such as easyJet would need to tap their own shareholders for funding before approaching the government.
Sky News revealed this month that Virgin Atlantic was seeking financial aid from the taxpayer.
It is not the first time that the easyJet founder has been in dispute with the company over the size of its fleet, having settled several disputes with uneasy truces.
Sir Stelios launched the airline in 1995, before floating it in 2000.
EasyJet could not be reached for comment.


news--2020-05-07--Heathrow gets permission for Supreme Court appeal over block to third runway

Heathrow airport has been given permission to appeal to the Supreme Court against a block on its plan for a third runway .
Judges said Heathrow could appeal against a February ruling which said the government 's airports policy was unlawful as it failed to take into account climate change commitments .
The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of campaigners as part of a wider bid to stop the build by opponents including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Hillingdon Council .
It found the government had n't considered its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement when it backed the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the Supreme Court said it would hear the airport 's appeal .
The decision comes a day after Heathrow 's chief executive said a new runway would not be needed for years due to the coronavirus pandemic .
Speaking to MPs on the Transport Select Committee , John Holland-Kaye said he was no longer thinking about the expansion plan .
However , he said if the UK was able to reboot the economy and demand returned to pre-pandemic levels , a third runway might `` be needed in 10 to 15 years ' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the committee that Heathrow would try out temperature screening technology to monitor people for signs of coronavirus .
Other measures under review include UV sanitation to quickly cleanse the trays at security and procedures to reduce person-to-person contact .
The thermal screening technology is the first to be trialled and will start in the next two weeks in the immigration halls of terminal 2. : : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Heathrow 's boss also said earlier this week that trying to implement @ @ @ @ @ @ @ boarding .
`` Forget social distancing , it wo n't work in aviation or any other form of public transport , and the problem is not the plane , it is the lack of space in the airport , '' he wrote in the Daily Telegraph .

Heathrow airport has been given permission to appeal to the Supreme Court against a block on its plan for a third runway.
Judges said Heathrow could appeal against a February ruling which said the government's airports policy was unlawful as it failed to take into account climate change commitments.
The Court of Appeal ruled in favour of campaigners as part of a wider bid to stop the build by opponents including London Mayor Sadiq Khan and Hillingdon Council.
It found the government hadn't considered its commitments to the Paris Climate Agreement when it backed the scheme in 2018.
But on Thursday the Supreme Court said it would hear the airport's appeal.
The decision comes a day after Heathrow's chief executive said a new runway would not be needed for years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking to MPs on the Transport Select Committee, John Holland-Kaye said he was no longer thinking about the expansion plan.
Image: Heathrow chief executive John Holland-Kaye has said social distancing won't work at airports
However, he said if the UK was able to reboot the economy and demand returned to pre-pandemic levels, a third runway might "be needed in 10 to 15 years' time".
Mr Holland-Kaye also told the committee that Heathrow would try out temperature screening technology to monitor people for signs of coronavirus.
Advertisement
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 0:28 Millions of jobs need Heathrow 'up and running'
Other measures under review include UV sanitation to quickly cleanse the trays at security and procedures to reduce person-to-person contact.
The thermal screening technology is the first to be trialled and will start in the next two weeks in the immigration halls of terminal 2.
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Heathrow's boss also said earlier this week that trying to implement social distancing would mean kilometre-long queues for boarding.
"Forget social distancing, it won't work in aviation or any other form of public transport, and the problem is not the plane, it is the lack of space in the airport," he wrote in the Daily Telegraph.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Ex-Yell chairman lands key role in SME rescue talks

A former chairman of Yell , the directories publisher , has been drafted in to help lead the City ’ s talks with Britain ’ s business community about an emerging blueprint to recapitalise thousands of debt-ridden companies .
Sky News understands that Bob Wigley , who chairs the trade association UK Finance , is acting as the liaison between the financial services sector and corporate Britain about the plans .
Mr Wigley , a former Merrill Lynch banker , has been asked to 'sell ' the ReCapitalisation Group 's ( RCG ) work to business groups including the CBI @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Small Businesses , according to people close to the discussions .
The RCG 's work is in its initial phase but hopes to come up with a template that could make the balance sheets of companies hurt by the coronavirus pandemic more sustainable in the long term .
Last month , Sky News revealed that some of the biggest names in British finance had been asked to join a taskforce convened by TheCityUK .
Sir John Kingman , the chairman of Legal & General , who played a key role at the Treasury @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lord Blackwell , the Lloyds Banking Group chairman , are among them .
Lord Blackwell said this week that work was urgently needed to `` recapitalise some of those businesses to ensure that they are viable going forward and otherwise viable businesses are n't forced into insolvency or liquidation , '' The Times reported .
Chaired by Sir Adrian Montague , the Aviva chairman , the new working group is due to hold talks about its progress on Thursday .
Omar Ali , EY 's financial services managing partner and chair of TheCityUK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the technical aspects of the RCG .
Sir Adrian 's involvement was deemed logical partly because of his former job as chairman of 3i Group , the listed private equity investor that may prove to be a template for the RCG 's recommendations .
3i was created after the Second World War as the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation to back small and medium-sized companies that could not access public equity markets .
The new working group is expected to evaluate whether the mass of companies which utilise the government 's emergency aid @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Interruption Loan Scheme ( CBILS ) , will require wholesale recapitalisation .
Sky News revealed earlier this month that new capital could emerge in the form of equity which ranks above that of existing shareholders , retail bonds or another form of equity .
Andrew Bailey , the Bank of England governor , has asked to be kept informed about the progress of the work .
Insiders pointed out that many of the business-owners which were being forced to borrow to see them through the crisis had never needed debt facilities before .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ launched several bailout initiatives to keep British industry alive during the pandemic , the latest of which - Bounce Back Loans - went live this week .

A former chairman of Yell, the directories publisher, has been drafted in to help lead the City’s talks with Britain’s business community about an emerging blueprint to recapitalise thousands of debt-ridden companies.
Sky News understands that Bob Wigley, who chairs the trade association UK Finance, is acting as the liaison between the financial services sector and corporate Britain about the plans.
Mr Wigley, a former Merrill Lynch banker, has been asked to 'sell' the ReCapitalisation Group's (RCG) work to business groups including the CBI, Institute of Directors and Federation of Small Businesses, according to people close to the discussions.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:45 Why Sorrell is bullish on business prospects
The RCG's work is in its initial phase but hopes to come up with a template that could make the balance sheets of companies hurt by the coronavirus pandemic more sustainable in the long term.
Last month, Sky News revealed that some of the biggest names in British finance had been asked to join a taskforce convened by TheCityUK.
Sir John Kingman, the chairman of Legal & General, who played a key role at the Treasury during the 2008 banking crisis, and Lord Blackwell, the Lloyds Banking Group chairman, are among them.
Lord Blackwell said this week that work was urgently needed to "recapitalise some of those businesses to ensure that they are viable going forward and otherwise viable businesses aren't forced into insolvency or liquidation," The Times reported.
Chaired by Sir Adrian Montague, the Aviva chairman, the new working group is due to hold talks about its progress on Thursday.
Omar Ali, EY's financial services managing partner and chair of TheCityUK's long-term competitiveness group, is leading the technical aspects of the RCG.
Advertisement
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:03 How airlines are responding to COVID challenge
Sir Adrian's involvement was deemed logical partly because of his former job as chairman of 3i Group, the listed private equity investor that may prove to be a template for the RCG's recommendations.
3i was created after the Second World War as the Industrial and Commercial Finance Corporation to back small and medium-sized companies that could not access public equity markets.
The new working group is expected to evaluate whether the mass of companies which utilise the government's emergency aid programmes, such as the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS), will require wholesale recapitalisation.
Sky News revealed earlier this month that new capital could emerge in the form of equity which ranks above that of existing shareholders, retail bonds or another form of equity.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:41 Hancock hints at 'workarounds' for businesses.
Andrew Bailey, the Bank of England governor, has asked to be kept informed about the progress of the work.
Insiders pointed out that many of the business-owners which were being forced to borrow to see them through the crisis had never needed debt facilities before.
Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, has launched several bailout initiatives to keep British industry alive during the pandemic, the latest of which - Bounce Back Loans - went live this week.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Notting Hill Carnival cancelled over COVID-19 fears

London 's famous Notting Hill Carnival over August bank holiday has been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns , organisers have confirmed .
The two-day street party usually sees more than a million people pack the streets to take in the music and watch processions of dancers .
But like nearly all big public events coming up in the coming months , organisers have pulled the plug .
They said the event had `` faced many challenges this year '' .
A statement said : `` After lengthy consultations with our strategic partners and our advisory council , the board has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ carnival will not take place on the streets of Notting Hill as it has done for over 50 years .
`` This will also mean that Panorama , the annual steelband competition , will not take place . ''
Organisers said it had not been an easy decision .
`` The reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and the way in which it has unfolded means that this is the only safe option .
Everyone 's health has to come first , '' said the statement .
Plans are instead under way for a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the carnival spirit to people from the safety of their homes , and make them feel connected and engaged '' .
It is hoped the 2021 event can go ahead as normal .

London's famous Notting Hill Carnival over August bank holiday has been cancelled because of coronavirus concerns, organisers have confirmed.
The two-day street party usually sees more than a million people pack the streets to take in the music and watch processions of dancers.
But like nearly all big public events coming up in the coming months, organisers have pulled the plug.
They said the event had "faced many challenges this year".
Image: The carnival sees processions of dancers and performers wind through the neighbourhood
A statement said: "After lengthy consultations with our strategic partners and our advisory council, the board has taken the decision that this year's carnival will not take place on the streets of Notting Hill as it has done for over 50 years.
"This will also mean that Panorama, the annual steelband competition, will not take place."
Organisers said it had not been an easy decision.
"The reality of the COVID-19 pandemic and the way in which it has unfolded means that this is the only safe option. Everyone's health has to come first," said the statement.
Plans are instead under way for a virtual event in August to "bring the carnival spirit to people from the safety of their homes, and make them feel connected and engaged".
Advertisement
It is hoped the 2021 event can go ahead as normal.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Aviation industry unites to beg PM on furloughing

Britain 's biggest airports , airlines and aviation services groups have issued a joint plea to Boris Johnson to offer their employees a lifeline by extending the government 's wage subsidy scheme `` for a few more months '' .
Sky News has seen a letter from some of the industry 's most prominent executives to the prime minister in which they argue for a `` a tapered withdrawal of the scheme , allowing us to return staff to full employment as our sector begins to recover '' .
The letter is signed by the chief executives of Airlines UK @ @ @ @ @ @ @ well as the bosses of the big ground-handling groups Dnata , Menzies Aviation , Swissport and WFS .
It represents the latest in a series of increasingly frantic efforts from aviation bosses to persuade the government that their sector is on the brink of mass redundancies amid expectations that recovery in demand for flights will be painstakingly slow .
Since the start of last week , British Airways , Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic Airways have collectively announced plans to cut up to 18,000 jobs .
Reports this week have suggested that Rishi Sunak @ @ @ @ @ @ @ days changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme that will ultimately reduce its cost to taxpayers .
Mr Sunak has signalled that the financial burden of the programme - estimated at up to £40bn so far - could not be sustained indefinitely .
In their letter , the aviation bosses said tapering the job retention scheme `` would be simple to administer by decreasing the number of furloughed employees supported by the government using a fixed monthly percentage , based on a starting point of individual business furloughed headcounts on 30 June or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in place '' .
`` Bringing our workforce off furlough incrementally to match the as-yet unseen uptick in demand for our services avoids the triggering of redundancies many of which will be unnecessary and premature , '' it said .
They added that without a tapered end to the scheme , `` our industry will not be able to play our critical role in supporting the recovery of our national economy and in maintaining the UK 's international competitiveness as an aviation hub once this crisis has passed and we will likely be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the redundancies the JRS was designed to avoid '' .
Employers have said they need to know by 15 May what the fate of the scheme is , in order to make announcements about plans for permanent job losses .

Britain's biggest airports, airlines and aviation services groups have issued a joint plea to Boris Johnson to offer their employees a lifeline by extending the government's wage subsidy scheme "for a few more months".
Sky News has seen a letter from some of the industry's most prominent executives to the prime minister in which they argue for a "a tapered withdrawal of the scheme, allowing us to return staff to full employment as our sector begins to recover".
The letter is signed by the chief executives of Airlines UK and the Airport Operators Association, as well as the bosses of the big ground-handling groups Dnata, Menzies Aviation, Swissport and WFS.
It represents the latest in a series of increasingly frantic efforts from aviation bosses to persuade the government that their sector is on the brink of mass redundancies amid expectations that recovery in demand for flights will be painstakingly slow.
Since the start of last week, British Airways, Ryanair and Virgin Atlantic Airways have collectively announced plans to cut up to 18,000 jobs.
Reports this week have suggested that Rishi Sunak, the chancellor, will announce within days changes to the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme that will ultimately reduce its cost to taxpayers.
Mr Sunak has signalled that the financial burden of the programme - estimated at up to £40bn so far - could not be sustained indefinitely.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:38 British Airways warns of redundancies
In their letter, the aviation bosses said tapering the job retention scheme "would be simple to administer by decreasing the number of furloughed employees supported by the government using a fixed monthly percentage, based on a starting point of individual business furloughed headcounts on 30 June or any later date as may be put in place".
"Bringing our workforce off furlough incrementally to match the as-yet unseen uptick in demand for our services avoids the triggering of redundancies many of which will be unnecessary and premature," it said.
Advertisement
They added that without a tapered end to the scheme, "our industry will not be able to play our critical role in supporting the recovery of our national economy and in maintaining the UK's international competitiveness as an aviation hub once this crisis has passed and we will likely be forced to make a significant number of the redundancies the JRS was designed to avoid".
Employers have said they need to know by 15 May what the fate of the scheme is, in order to make announcements about plans for permanent job losses.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Thai elephants sent home from sanctuaries as pandemic hits tourism

Dozens of elephants in Thailand have been released back into the wild as the global coronavirus outbreak continues to hit the pockets of animal sanctuaries .
It comes after a warning that more than 4,000 Thai elephants could starve thanks to the lack of income for sanctuaries as a result of the coronavirus outbreak .
More than 100 elephants are walking 95 miles to their habitual homes , with a charity raising money for those that remain in the care of sanctuaries .
The Save Elephant Foundation is also helping to support the animals as they resettle into their home @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from the city of Chiang Mai , in the north of the country , to their homeland of Mae Chaem - where local villages of Karen ethnic minorities traditionally keep elephants .
Sadudee Serichevee from Chiang Mai 's Mae Wang district owns four elephants , and said that he had followed the approach of the charity by setting up his own Karen Elephant Experience park with the animals he bought from his wife 's village - Mae Chaem 's Ban Huay Bong .
However , his plans were put in to question by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` At first I thought the situation would be back to normal within a month or two .
At the end of April , I lost all hope . ''
The couple agreed to transfer the elephants back to her village after it became clear they could not afford to pay the costs - close to 200,000 baht ( £5,000 ) a month - to rent the land and facilities , pay staff and buy food .
Elephants eat around 300 kilograms of grass and vegetables a day .
: : Listen to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Mr Sadudee and his wife convinced other elephant owners to make the almost 100-mile trek across the region with them , as sending the animals on a truck tends to be expensive for park owners .
Their group , which contained 11 elephants , their owners and their handlers , left on 30 April and were welcomed by the village 's residents upon their arrival on Monday .
Mr Sadudee said : `` These elephants have not had a chance to return home for 20 years .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ when arriving home , they make their happy noises , they run to the creek near the village and have fun along with our children . ''

Dozens of elephants in Thailand have been released back into the wild as the global coronavirus outbreak continues to hit the pockets of animal sanctuaries.
It comes after a warning that more than 4,000 Thai elephants could starve thanks to the lack of income for sanctuaries as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
More than 100 elephants are walking 95 miles to their habitual homes, with a charity raising money for those that remain in the care of sanctuaries.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 2:13 April: COVID-19 threatens Thai elephants
The Save Elephant Foundation is also helping to support the animals as they resettle into their home communities.
Elephant herds have been walking from the city of Chiang Mai, in the north of the country, to their homeland of Mae Chaem - where local villages of Karen ethnic minorities traditionally keep elephants.
Sadudee Serichevee from Chiang Mai's Mae Wang district owns four elephants, and said that he had followed the approach of the charity by setting up his own Karen Elephant Experience park with the animals he bought from his wife's village - Mae Chaem's Ban Huay Bong.
However, his plans were put in to question by the COVID-19 outbreak. He said: "At first I thought the situation would be back to normal within a month or two. At the end of April, I lost all hope."
The couple agreed to transfer the elephants back to her village after it became clear they could not afford to pay the costs - close to 200,000 baht (£5,000) a month - to rent the land and facilities, pay staff and buy food.
Elephants eat around 300 kilograms of grass and vegetables a day.
Advertisement
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Mr Sadudee and his wife convinced other elephant owners to make the almost 100-mile trek across the region with them, as sending the animals on a truck tends to be expensive for park owners.
Their group, which contained 11 elephants, their owners and their handlers, left on 30 April and were welcomed by the village's residents upon their arrival on Monday.
Mr Sadudee said: "These elephants have not had a chance to return home for 20 years.
"They seem to be very happy when arriving home, they make their happy noises, they run to the creek near the village and have fun along with our children."


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Black people four times more likely to die with COVID-19 than white people - ONS

Black people are up to four times more likely to die with COVID-19 than their white counterparts , the Office for National Statistics has found .
Meanwhile , a separate study found that being male , older in age , having uncontrolled diabetes and severe asthma are key factors related to COVID-19 death , according to researchers at the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine ( LSHTM ) .
New analysis published on Thursday showed black women are more likely to die by a factor of 4.3 and black men by 4.2 compared to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Other ethnic minorities have a heightened risk , too .
Those with Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds were found to be 3.6 times more likely to die in men and 3.4 in women .
While among people with Indian ethnicity , women were 2.7 times more likely to die and men 2.4 .
For the Chinese ethnic group , the heightened risk for men was 1.9 and 1.2 for women .
Fatalities from coronavirus were also found to be twice as high in the most deprived parts of the UK , where those @ @ @ @ @ @ @ compared with the least deprived .
Underlying health conditions prevalent in those communities play a role in the disproportionate number of deaths , the ONS said .
`` There 's really a strong social gradient to mortality rates generally , and even more for COVID , '' explained the body 's head of health analysis , Nick Stripe .
However , he cautioned that when adjusting for other factors - such as household composition , area deprivation , and any health or disability factors - the odds of death involving COVID-19 were `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ relative to white people .
The demographic levels it measures against also come from the last census in 2011 , which is held every ten years , so may not accurately reflect current levels .
Academics at Oxford University and LSHTM also analysed data from 17.4 million UK adults between 1 February and 25 April - the largest analysis in the world to date .
Of the adults in the sample , 5,707 people died in hospital after contracting COVID-19 .
The study also found people from BAME backgrounds were at higher risk @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of medical conditions and higher deprivation only account for a small part of the excess risk .
More work should be done to establish why BAME people are at such an increased risk of death , the study said .
More than 30,000 people have died with the virus so far in the UK .
Labour 's shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the new figures were `` appalling '' and called for an investigation into `` the causes of this disproportionality '' .
`` Action must be taken to protect black men @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from all backgrounds - from the virus , '' he tweeted .
Rebecca Hilsenrath , chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission , warned the statistics `` reveal the true impact coronavirus is having on ethnic minority people '' .
She said : `` While the ONS has revealed the numbers , the reasons are less clear .
`` Race inequality is persistent across Britain , with people from ethnic minorities facing disadvantage in their living conditions , access to healthcare and economic opportunities , among other areas , which could @ @ @ @ @ @ @ for the health and social care department said : `` Any death from this virus is a tragedy and we are working incredibly hard to protect the nation 's public health .
''We 're aware that this virus has sadly appeared to have a disproportionate effect on people from BAME backgrounds .
It is critical we find out which groups are most at risk so we can take the right steps to protect them and minimise their risk .
''We have commissioned Public Health England to better understand the different factors , such @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that may influence the effects of the virus . ''
A study by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has also found that the suggestion there is a higher prevalence of medical problems among people from ethnic minority backgrounds only accounts for a `` small part of the excess risk '' .
It called for `` further work '' to investigate the true causes .
Almost a quarter of UK businesses - 23 % - have halted trading due to the lockdown , the ONS figures @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have been accommodation and food , where 81 % of companies have stopped trading , and arts and entertainment , where 80 % have ended operations .
More than two-thirds of firms - 67 % - have applied for the government 's furlough scheme , while 58 % reported a fall in turnover .

Black people are up to four times more likely to die with COVID-19 than their white counterparts, the Office for National Statistics has found.
Meanwhile, a separate study found that being male, older in age, having uncontrolled diabetes and severe asthma are key factors related to COVID-19 death, according to researchers at the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM).
New analysis published on Thursday showed black women are more likely to die by a factor of 4.3 and black men by 4.2 compared to Caucasian people, after adjusting for age.
Other ethnic minorities have a heightened risk, too.
Image: So far at least 29,000 people in the UK have died with COVID-19
Those with Bangladeshi and Pakistani backgrounds were found to be 3.6 times more likely to die in men and 3.4 in women.
While among people with Indian ethnicity, women were 2.7 times more likely to die and men 2.4.
For the Chinese ethnic group, the heightened risk for men was 1.9 and 1.2 for women.
Fatalities from coronavirus were also found to be twice as high in the most deprived parts of the UK, where those from ethnic minority backgrounds mainly reside, compared with the least deprived.
Image: The ONS said there was a 'strong ' link between deaths and deprivation
Underlying health conditions prevalent in those communities play a role in the disproportionate number of deaths, the ONS said.
Advertisement
"There's really a strong social gradient to mortality rates generally, and even more for COVID," explained the body's head of health analysis, Nick Stripe.
However, he cautioned that when adjusting for other factors - such as household composition, area deprivation, and any health or disability factors - the odds of death involving COVID-19 were "substantially reduced" for all ethnic groups relative to white people.
The demographic levels it measures against also come from the last census in 2011, which is held every ten years, so may not accurately reflect current levels.
Academics at Oxford University and LSHTM also analysed data from 17.4 million UK adults between 1 February and 25 April - the largest analysis in the world to date.
Of the adults in the sample, 5,707 people died in hospital after contracting COVID-19.
The study also found people from BAME backgrounds were at higher risk of death - but that higher prevalence of medical conditions and higher deprivation only account for a small part of the excess risk.
More work should be done to establish why BAME people are at such an increased risk of death, the study said.
More than 30,000 people have died with the virus so far in the UK.
Labour's shadow justice secretary David Lammy said the new figures were "appalling" and called for an investigation into "the causes of this disproportionality".
"Action must be taken to protect black men and women - as well as people from all backgrounds - from the virus," he tweeted.
Rebecca Hilsenrath, chief executive of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, warned the statistics "reveal the true impact coronavirus is having on ethnic minority people".
She said: "While the ONS has revealed the numbers, the reasons are less clear.
"Race inequality is persistent across Britain, with people from ethnic minorities facing disadvantage in their living conditions, access to healthcare and economic opportunities, among other areas, which could be contributing factors."
A spokesperson for the health and social care department said: "Any death from this virus is a tragedy and we are working incredibly hard to protect the nation's public health.
''We're aware that this virus has sadly appeared to have a disproportionate effect on people from BAME backgrounds. It is critical we find out which groups are most at risk so we can take the right steps to protect them and minimise their risk.
''We have commissioned Public Health England to better understand the different factors, such as ethnicity, obesity and geographical location that may influence the effects of the virus."
A study by the University of Oxford and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine has also found that the suggestion there is a higher prevalence of medical problems among people from ethnic minority backgrounds only accounts for a "small part of the excess risk".
It called for "further work" to investigate the true causes.
Almost a quarter of UK businesses - 23% - have halted trading due to the lockdown, the ONS figures also show.
The hardest hit sectors have been accommodation and food, where 81% of companies have stopped trading, and arts and entertainment, where 80% have ended operations.
More than two-thirds of firms - 67% - have applied for the government's furlough scheme, while 58% reported a fall in turnover.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Government puts brakes on £150m McLaren loan plea

The owner of the McLaren F1 team has been snubbed by the government after requesting a £150m loan to steer it through the coronavirus pandemic .
Sky News has learnt that the Department for Business , Energy and Industrial Strategy ( BEIS ) informed the Surrey-based automotive group earlier this week that it was rejecting the funding plea .
Sources said that McLaren Group had contacted ministers to seek a commercial loan from the taxpayer amid ongoing talks between the government and a string of big companies , including Tata Steel and Virgin Atlantic .
McLaren has seen sales of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the COVID-19 crisis , while its F1 team is awaiting formal confirmation that the Grand Prix season will get underway during the summer following months of race postponements .
On a call with investors last week , Paul Buddin , McLaren 's finance chief , said : `` We are looking at a number of very credible sources , and that includes all [ those we ] might be expected to ask , including government , including third parties . ''
In a statement issued to Sky News , a spokesperson for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British businesses we have been severely affected by the current pandemic .
`` We are , therefore , in continued dialogue with our banks , investors and government to help navigate short-term business interruptions . ''
McLaren employs about 4,000 people , a significant chunk of whom have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme .
However , McLaren has been working on securing additional financing .
Bloomberg News reported earlier this week that the company was seeking up to £300m , but its application for government support has not previously been @ @ @ @ @ @ @ had rejected the initial approach from McLaren on the basis that it had not sufficiently demonstrated that it had exhausted alternative sources of financing .
McLaren is majority-owned by Mumtalakat , Bahrain 's sovereign wealth fund , with smaller shareholders including Mansour Ojjeh , a wealthy Saudi Arabian-born businessman .
Bankers at JP Morgan are advising McLaren on the financing talks .
A government spokesperson said : `` We continue to regularly engage with businesses across all sectors , including those in the automotive industry .
`` Firms can draw upon the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ including loans and guarantees , tax deferrals and the job retention scheme . ''
One source said on Thursday that in addition to the request for government support , McLaren was holding parallel discussions around medium to long-term funding to enable continued investment in new products .
There remained strong customer demand and an appetite for investment into McLaren 's Racing and Applied Technology businesses , they said .
`` Those discussions usually take several months to successfully complete in normal times which is what has led to the loan request , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ major British exporter , supporting thousands of jobs across the UK supply chain .
It is also a major investor in UK technology research and development .
Talks between the company and Whitehall are said to be ongoing despite the initial snub , and it remains possible that some form of taxpayer funding agreement might be reached .
The discussions comes just weeks after McLaren appointed Paul Walsh , the heavyweight businessman , as its chairman .
Mr Walsh , who is due to step down as chairman of the FTSE 100 catering @ @ @ @ @ @ @ replaced Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa in the McLaren chairman 's seat .
His arrival has stoked speculation that McLaren 's principally Bahrain-based shareholders will eventually consider taking the company public - although such a move is unlikely for at least three years .
If any public listing does take place , McLaren 's investors are likely to pursue a valuation of well over £2bn .
McLaren 's on-track operations , which are headed by Zak Brown and include its participation in the Indianapolis 500 race , account for roughly 20 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ It has recently struck sponsorship deals with companies including Darktrace , the cybersecurity software provider , and upgraded British American Tobacco to a `` principal partnership '' - despite the ban on tobacco advertising in the sport .
McLaren 's road-car division , which was previously a semi-independent company called McLaren Automotive , makes some of the world 's most expensive cars , with models including the Senna - named after its legendary former F1 driver , Ayrton Senna .
The unit , which is run by Mike Flewitt , represents the majority @ @ @ @ @ @ @ British company saw its separate divisions reunited following the departure in 2017 of Ron Dennis , the veteran McLaren boss who had steered its F1 team through the most successful period in its history .
He became one of Britain 's best-known businessmen , expanding McLaren 's technology ventures into a wide range of other industries through lucrative commercial partnerships .
Mr Dennis offloaded his stake in a £275m deal following a bitter dispute with fellow shareholders .
He had presented to McLaren 's board a £1.65bn takeover bid from a consortium of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ support for it from boardroom colleagues .

The owner of the McLaren F1 team has been snubbed by the government after requesting a £150m loan to steer it through the coronavirus pandemic.
Sky News has learnt that the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) informed the Surrey-based automotive group earlier this week that it was rejecting the funding plea.
Sources said that McLaren Group had contacted ministers to seek a commercial loan from the taxpayer amid ongoing talks between the government and a string of big companies, including Tata Steel and Virgin Atlantic.
McLaren has seen sales of its supercars evaporate overnight as a result of the COVID-19 crisis, while its F1 team is awaiting formal confirmation that the Grand Prix season will get underway during the summer following months of race postponements.
On a call with investors last week, Paul Buddin, McLaren's finance chief, said: "We are looking at a number of very credible sources, and that includes all [those we] might be expected to ask, including government, including third parties."
In a statement issued to Sky News, a spokesperson for McLaren said: "Like many other British businesses we have been severely affected by the current pandemic.
"We are, therefore, in continued dialogue with our banks, investors and government to help navigate short-term business interruptions."
McLaren employs about 4,000 people, a significant chunk of whom have been furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
However, McLaren has been working on securing additional financing.
Advertisement
Image: The McLaren 765LT is seen at its launch on 3 March
Bloomberg News reported earlier this week that the company was seeking up to £300m, but its application for government support has not previously been reported.
One source said the government had rejected the initial approach from McLaren on the basis that it had not sufficiently demonstrated that it had exhausted alternative sources of financing.
McLaren is majority-owned by Mumtalakat, Bahrain's sovereign wealth fund, with smaller shareholders including Mansour Ojjeh, a wealthy Saudi Arabian-born businessman.
Bankers at JP Morgan are advising McLaren on the financing talks.
A government spokesperson said: "We continue to regularly engage with businesses across all sectors, including those in the automotive industry.
"Firms can draw upon the government's comprehensive package of financial support, including loans and guarantees, tax deferrals and the job retention scheme."
One source said on Thursday that in addition to the request for government support, McLaren was holding parallel discussions around medium to long-term funding to enable continued investment in new products.
There remained strong customer demand and an appetite for investment into McLaren's Racing and Applied Technology businesses, they said.
"Those discussions usually take several months to successfully complete in normal times which is what has led to the loan request," the source added.
McLaren is a major British exporter, supporting thousands of jobs across the UK supply chain.
It is also a major investor in UK technology research and development.
Talks between the company and Whitehall are said to be ongoing despite the initial snub, and it remains possible that some form of taxpayer funding agreement might be reached.
The discussions comes just weeks after McLaren appointed Paul Walsh, the heavyweight businessman, as its chairman.
Mr Walsh, who is due to step down as chairman of the FTSE 100 catering group Compass later this year, has replaced Shaikh Mohammed Bin Essa Al Khalifa in the McLaren chairman's seat.
His arrival has stoked speculation that McLaren's principally Bahrain-based shareholders will eventually consider taking the company public - although such a move is unlikely for at least three years.
If any public listing does take place, McLaren's investors are likely to pursue a valuation of well over £2bn.
McLaren's on-track operations, which are headed by Zak Brown and include its participation in the Indianapolis 500 race, account for roughly 20% of the group's annual revenues.
It has recently struck sponsorship deals with companies including Darktrace, the cybersecurity software provider, and upgraded British American Tobacco to a "principal partnership" - despite the ban on tobacco advertising in the sport.
McLaren's road-car division, which was previously a semi-independent company called McLaren Automotive, makes some of the world's most expensive cars, with models including the Senna - named after its legendary former F1 driver, Ayrton Senna.
The unit, which is run by Mike Flewitt, represents the majority of the group's sales.
The British company saw its separate divisions reunited following the departure in 2017 of Ron Dennis, the veteran McLaren boss who had steered its F1 team through the most successful period in its history.
He became one of Britain's best-known businessmen, expanding McLaren's technology ventures into a wide range of other industries through lucrative commercial partnerships.
Mr Dennis offloaded his stake in a £275m deal following a bitter dispute with fellow shareholders.
He had presented to McLaren's board a £1.65bn takeover bid from a consortium of Chinese investors, but did not attract support for it from boardroom colleagues.


news--2020-05-08--Divided States podcast: Live or Let Die?

America is not out of the woods with coronavirus - far from it .
But states are beginning to re-open @ @ @ @ @ back on the road too .
This week our team in Washington DC talk about @ @ @ @ @ an Arizona mask factory - where he did n't wear a mask - and the @ @ @ @ @ the visit ( spoiler : it 's a Guns N ' Roses classic ) .
@ @ @ @ @ reopen and restart their state 's economies , we 've been to Pennsylvania to talk @ @ @ @ @ they feel the President has handled the crisis .
: : Listen to Divided States @ @ @ @ @ Podcasts , Spotify , and Spreaker Lastly we ca n't forget the presidential election : @ @ @ @ @ Joe Biden to pick his Vice Presidential candidate - we talk you through the runners @ @ @ @ @ subscribe to Divided States wherever you get your podcasts .

America is not out of the woods with coronavirus - far from it. But states are beginning to re-open, and Donald Trump is back on the road too.
This week our team in Washington DC talk about the President's trip to an Arizona mask factory - where he didn't wear a mask - and the astonishing choice of music during the visit (spoiler: it's a Guns N' Roses classic).
And as governors try and reopen and restart their state's economies, we've been to Pennsylvania to talk to Trump voters about how they feel the President has handled the crisis.
:: Listen to Divided States on Apple podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, and Spreaker
Lastly we can't forget the presidential election: we're getting ready for Joe Biden to pick his Vice Presidential candidate - we talk you through the runners and riders.
Download and subscribe to Divided States wherever you get your podcasts.


news--2020-05-07--Coronavirus: Barclays sorry over emergency business loan 'issues'

Barclays has apologised to small businesses experiencing `` issues '' with applications for government-backed emergency loans .
The bank said it had approved more than 50,000 loans worth over £1.5bn since the `` Bounce Back '' scheme to support firms affected by the coronavirus crisis - 100 % guaranteed by the government - was launched on Monday .
But it acknowledged concerns that the process was not working for some , after the Commons Treasury select committee wrote to the bank over continued reports of difficulties submitting applications .
Barclays said : `` We 're sorry that some customers are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ may be receiving an error message .
`` We require additional information from these customers in order to complete their application and will shortly be updating our systems to give much clearer information on what we require from them in order to progress their application . ''
The apology came as the bank countered criticism on several fronts , including from protesters and investors challenging it on climate change , as it held its London AGM behind closed doors .
On that day , the bank said its portal had seen strong demand @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ensure safe delivery of the system , but denied there had been a technical failure .
Customers continued to complain of difficulties on Thursday .
One tweeted : `` Struggling to log into my account to apply for the # bouncebackloan by # barclays .
I have now been locked out .
Is there any help with applying for the loan and the business call taking more than 2 hours wait ! ''
Barclays said most applications were straightforward and processed automatically but that in certain cases there would be a need for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ staff .
The wider banking sector has also been accused of dragging its feet on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme ( CBILS ) payouts - announced by the chancellor in March .
The sums available are greater than under the Bounce Back scheme and lenders take 20 % of the risk .
Industry body UK Finance reported on Thursday that over £5.5bn had gone out to small and medium-sized firms under CBILS - a rise of £1.4bn on the previous week .
Bank aid was one of several issues to emerge ahead of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ commitment to helping the fight against climate change .
Just hours earlier , the front of Barclays HQ in London 's Canary Wharf was targeted by the Extinction Rebellion group , who sprayed what they called `` fake oil '' over windows .
They said it was in protest at the bank 's financial support of energy and utility firms .
Chairman Nigel Higgins said in a statement ahead of the meeting : `` The size and scale of our business means that we can really help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon @ @ @ @ @ @ @ board win overwhelming backing from investors for its commitments to tackle climate change while an alternative climate resolution put forward by campaign group Share Action was defeated - though still attracting a substantial 24 % of votes .
Meanwhile , Mr Higgins expressed regret over the cancellation of the bank 's dividend at the behest of the Bank of England .
He told investors the move had caused an `` immediate and unwelcome '' impact on shareholders , adding that the bank could have afforded the payout .

Barclays has apologised to small businesses experiencing "issues" with applications for government-backed emergency loans.
The bank said it had approved more than 50,000 loans worth over £1.5bn since the "Bounce Back" scheme to support firms affected by the coronavirus crisis - 100% guaranteed by the government - was launched on Monday.
But it acknowledged concerns that the process was not working for some, after the Commons Treasury select committee wrote to the bank over continued reports of difficulties submitting applications.
Barclays said: "We're sorry that some customers are experiencing issues applying on our website and may be receiving an error message.
"We require additional information from these customers in order to complete their application and will shortly be updating our systems to give much clearer information on what we require from them in order to progress their application."
The apology came as the bank countered criticism on several fronts, including from protesters and investors challenging it on climate change, as it held its London AGM behind closed doors.
Image: Jes Staley is chief executive of Barclays
The government-backed Bounce Back scheme launched on Monday.
On that day, the bank said its portal had seen strong demand and that access was being limited to ensure safe delivery of the system, but denied there had been a technical failure.
Customers continued to complain of difficulties on Thursday.
Advertisement
One tweeted: "Struggling to log into my account to apply for the #bouncebackloan by #barclays. I have now been locked out. Is there any help with applying for the loan and the business call taking more than 2 hours wait!"
Barclays said most applications were straightforward and processed automatically but that in certain cases there would be a need for a manual check by a member of staff.
The wider banking sector has also been accused of dragging its feet on Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS) payouts - announced by the chancellor in March.
The sums available are greater than under the Bounce Back scheme and lenders take 20% of the risk.
Industry body UK Finance reported on Thursday that over £5.5bn had gone out to small and medium-sized firms under CBILS - a rise of £1.4bn on the previous week.
Bank aid was one of several issues to emerge ahead of the Barclays AGM, which included a commitment to helping the fight against climate change.
Image: Activists targeted the Barclays HQ and sprayed 'fake oil' ahead of the AGM. Pic: Extinction Rebellion
Just hours earlier, the front of Barclays HQ in London's Canary Wharf was targeted by the Extinction Rebellion group, who sprayed what they called "fake oil" over windows.
They said it was in protest at the bank's financial support of energy and utility firms.
Chairman Nigel Higgins said in a statement ahead of the meeting: "The size and scale of our business means that we can really help accelerate the transition to a low-carbon economy."
The AGM saw the board win overwhelming backing from investors for its commitments to tackle climate change while an alternative climate resolution put forward by campaign group Share Action was defeated - though still attracting a substantial 24% of votes.
Meanwhile, Mr Higgins expressed regret over the cancellation of the bank's dividend at the behest of the Bank of England.
He told investors the move had caused an "immediate and unwelcome" impact on shareholders, adding that the bank could have afforded the payout.


news--2020-05-07--North Korea building facility 'big enough to store ballistic missiles'

North Korea is building a facility big enough to store its ballistic missiles , according to analysis of new satellite photos by a US think tank .
The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies ( CSIS ) said construction of the unit , near Pyongyang International Airport , `` is nearing completion '' and `` is almost certainly related to North Korea 's expanding ballistic missiles programme '' .
`` A high-bay building within the facility is large enough to accommodate an elevated Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile and , therefore , the entirety of North Korea 's known ballistic @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .
`` The facility has been constructed next to an underground facility whose likely size is also large enough to easily accommodate all known North Korean ballistic missiles and their associated launchers and support vehicles . ''
It said the facility has been under construction since 2016 and includes a number of notable features including an `` unusually large covered rail terminal '' and buildings that are connected by a wide road network that could help move large trucks and ballistic missile launchers .
`` Taken as a whole , these characteristics @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to support ballistic missile operations , '' the report which was published on Tuesday said , calling it the Sil-li Ballistic Missile Support Facility .
If construction continues at its current pace , and barring unforeseen delays , it could be complete and ready for operations sometime during late 2020 or early 2021 , it added .
Reporting from inside North Korea is notoriously difficult because of tight controls on information within the secretive state .
When asked about the report at a regular briefing in Seoul on Wednesday , a spokesman for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ would be inappropriate to comment .
Nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the US has largely stalled since the breakdown of the second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Vietnam in February 2019 .
After the failed Hanoi summit , North Korea has carried out several short-range missile and other weapons tests .
Mr Trump has downplayed them , saying they did not pose a direct threat to the US mainland .
The two countries have been in a face-off for months over the next steps in their negotiations , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ return for a reprieve on its sanctions - dashing hopes of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula .
In January , Kim accused the US of dragging its feet in nuclear negotiations and said his country will continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a `` new strategic weapon '' in the near future .
During a rare meeting of his ruling party , he also said that his country would not put its security at risk in exchange for economic benefits , and that it would never denuclearise unless the US ends what he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pyongyang has also been increasingly frustrated by the nearby joint military drills held by the US and South Korea - which have recently been suspended due to the global coronavirus outbreak .

North Korea is building a facility big enough to store its ballistic missiles, according to analysis of new satellite photos by a US think tank.
The Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said construction of the unit, near Pyongyang International Airport, "is nearing completion" and "is almost certainly related to North Korea's expanding ballistic missiles programme".
"A high-bay building within the facility is large enough to accommodate an elevated Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile and, therefore, the entirety of North Korea's known ballistic missile variants," the CSIS report said.
Image: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un attends a military drill in February
"The facility has been constructed next to an underground facility whose likely size is also large enough to easily accommodate all known North Korean ballistic missiles and their associated launchers and support vehicles."
It said the facility has been under construction since 2016 and includes a number of notable features including an "unusually large covered rail terminal" and buildings that are connected by a wide road network that could help move large trucks and ballistic missile launchers.
"Taken as a whole, these characteristics suggest that this facility is likely designed to support ballistic missile operations," the report which was published on Tuesday said, calling it the Sil-li Ballistic Missile Support Facility.
If construction continues at its current pace, and barring unforeseen delays, it could be complete and ready for operations sometime during late 2020 or early 2021, it added.
Reporting from inside North Korea is notoriously difficult because of tight controls on information within the secretive state.
When asked about the report at a regular briefing in Seoul on Wednesday, a spokesman for South Korea's Unification Ministry said it would be inappropriate to comment.
Advertisement
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 1:08 Kim Jong Un appears in public
Nuclear diplomacy between North Korea and the US has largely stalled since the breakdown of the second summit between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in Vietnam in February 2019.
After the failed Hanoi summit, North Korea has carried out several short-range missile and other weapons tests.
Mr Trump has downplayed them, saying they did not pose a direct threat to the US mainland.
The two countries have been in a face-off for months over the next steps in their negotiations, with North Korea refusing to disarm in return for a reprieve on its sanctions - dashing hopes of denuclearisation on the Korean peninsula.
In January, Kim accused the US of dragging its feet in nuclear negotiations and said his country will continue developing nuclear programmes and introduce a "new strategic weapon" in the near future.
During a rare meeting of his ruling party, he also said that his country would not put its security at risk in exchange for economic benefits, and that it would never denuclearise unless the US ends what he called its "hostile policy".
Pyongyang has also been increasingly frustrated by the nearby joint military drills held by the US and South Korea - which have recently been suspended due to the global coronavirus outbreak.


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: MPs' anger as Tottenham ask for taxpayers' cash before cutting stars' wages

Premier League football clubs have been told to cut their players ' salaries before seeking taxpayers ' cash to pay non-playing staff during the coronavirus crisis .
Tottenham Hotspur prompted anger on Tuesday when they announced they would be applying for a government scheme in order to use public funds to pay 80 % of the wages of off-pitch employees .
The government 's job retention scheme pays employees unable to work due to the COVID-19 outbreak 80 % of their monthly salary up to a maximum of £2,500 .
The Premier League season is currently suspended as the government @ @ @ @ @ @ @ help prevent the spread of coronavirus .
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said he would `` reduce the remuneration of all 550 non-playing directors and employees for April and May by 20 % utilising , where appropriate , the government 's furlough scheme '' .
The action was announced on the same day it was revealed Mr Levy earned a £3m bonus last year , as part of his £7m earnings , for delivering the club 's new stadium .
The Tottenham squad includes players such as England captain Harry Kane , who is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ week , and France captain Hugo Lloris , who is estimated to earn more than £100,000 per week .
Bahamas-based businessman Joe Lewis , thought to be worth more than £4bn , holds a controlling stake in Tottenham .
Fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle and Norwich have also chosen to use the government 's job retention scheme for their non-playing staff .
On Tuesday , Mr Levy expressed his hope that talks between the Premier League and players ' and managers ' unions would result in `` players and coaches doing their bit @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But senior politicians have told clubs they should have first sought a deal with their on-pitch stars before cutting the salaries of their non-playing staff and seeking government help .
Conservative MP Julian Knight , chair of the House of Commons Digital , Culture , Media and Sport Committee , said : `` Furloughing staff is essential for smaller clubs but the big boys of the Premier League should be looking to come to a fair arrangement with their stars before they go cap in hand to the taxpayer . ''
He also @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` moral vacuum '' .
Fellow Conservative MP Steve Brine , another member of the committee and a Tottenham fan , called on clubs and players to `` show moral responsibility '' through the COVID-19 outbreak .
`` Wealthy football clubs MUST NOT be allowed to take public funds to furlough staff while still paying players big bucks , '' he said .
: : Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts , Google Podcasts , Spotify , Spreaker Labour 's David Lammy , the MP for Tottenham , said : `` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at top clubs to be asked to shoulder the burden of football clubs ' financial losses over the coming months , rather than those on modest salaries in cleaning , catering or security having to be supported by the taxpayer .
`` I hope the reported meetings today between the Professional Footballers ' Association , the Premier League and the English Football League reflect this . ''
London mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC that highly-paid footballers `` should be the first '' to sacrifice their salary `` rather than the person selling @ @ @ @ @ @ @ catering or the person who probably does n't get anywhere near the salary some of the Premier League footballers get '' .
In Spain , the players of league champions Barcelona are taking a 70 % pay cut during the coronavirus pandemic and will make additional contributions to ensure non-sporting staff receive full wages .

Premier League football clubs have been told to cut their players' salaries before seeking taxpayers' cash to pay non-playing staff during the coronavirus crisis.
Tottenham Hotspur prompted anger on Tuesday when they announced they would be applying for a government scheme in order to use public funds to pay 80% of the wages of off-pitch employees.
The government's job retention scheme pays employees unable to work due to the COVID-19 outbreak 80% of their monthly salary up to a maximum of £2,500.
The Premier League season is currently suspended as the government urges people to stay at home to help prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Image: Harry Kane is estimated to earn up to £200,000 per week
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said he would "reduce the remuneration of all 550 non-playing directors and employees for April and May by 20% utilising, where appropriate, the government's furlough scheme".
The action was announced on the same day it was revealed Mr Levy earned a £3m bonus last year, as part of his £7m earnings, for delivering the club's new stadium.
The Tottenham squad includes players such as England captain Harry Kane, who is estimated to earn up to £200,000 per week, and France captain Hugo Lloris, who is estimated to earn more than £100,000 per week.
Bahamas-based businessman Joe Lewis, thought to be worth more than £4bn, holds a controlling stake in Tottenham.
Fellow Premier League clubs Newcastle and Norwich have also chosen to use the government's job retention scheme for their non-playing staff.
Advertisement
Image: Billionaire Joe Lewis owns a controlling stake in Tottenham
On Tuesday, Mr Levy expressed his hope that talks between the Premier League and players' and managers' unions would result in "players and coaches doing their bit for the football eco system".
But senior politicians have told clubs they should have first sought a deal with their on-pitch stars before cutting the salaries of their non-playing staff and seeking government help.
Conservative MP Julian Knight, chair of the House of Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said: "Furloughing staff is essential for smaller clubs but the big boys of the Premier League should be looking to come to a fair arrangement with their stars before they go cap in hand to the taxpayer."
He also accused English football of operating in a "moral vacuum".
Fellow Conservative MP Steve Brine, another member of the committee and a Tottenham fan, called on clubs and players to "show moral responsibility" through the COVID-19 outbreak.
"Wealthy football clubs MUST NOT be allowed to take public funds to furlough staff while still paying players big bucks," he said.
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
:: Listen to the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker
Labour's David Lammy, the MP for Tottenham, said: "The public rightly expect highly paid footballers at top clubs to be asked to shoulder the burden of football clubs' financial losses over the coming months, rather than those on modest salaries in cleaning, catering or security having to be supported by the taxpayer.
"I hope the reported meetings today between the Professional Footballers' Association, the Premier League and the English Football League reflect this."
London mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC that highly-paid footballers "should be the first" to sacrifice their salary "rather than the person selling the programme or the person who does catering or the person who probably doesn't get anywhere near the salary some of the Premier League footballers get".
In Spain, the players of league champions Barcelona are taking a 70% pay cut during the coronavirus pandemic and will make additional contributions to ensure non-sporting staff receive full wages.


news--2020-04-01--Coronavirus: 3,000 reservists called up to join Ministry of Defence's response

Britain is calling up 3,000 reservists for a six-month mobilisation to help in the fight against coronavirus and is putting their civilian employers on notice .
Only part-time soldiers , sailors , airmen and Royal Marines with specialist skills , such as in engineering , logistics and accountancy , will be activated .
Those in the NHS and other frontline services already involved in the government 's response to the COVID-19 pandemic will not be asked to switch into a military uniform .
The reservists will be part of what is being called the COVID Support Force on top of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to 23,000 the potential pool of military personnel available for the government 's coronavirus response .
James Heappey , the armed forces minister , said : `` Our reservists are a truly remarkable group of people , each with their own skills and experience from their civilian careers beyond the armed forces .
`` At times like there , to be able to draw on that pool of talent and expertise is invaluable .
`` I know that our reservists will answer the nation 's call with a real enthusiasm and will play @ @ @ @ @ @ @ COVID-19 . ''
The most senior member of the reserve forces has written to employers with reservists on their payroll , alerting them to the mobilisation and asking them to identify individuals they are willing to release for military service .
`` We are confident , at this time of national emergency , that employers will do everything they can to support us in combating this dreadful virus , '' wrote Major General Simon Brooks-Ward , Assistant Chief of Defence Staff ( Reserves and Cadets ) .
`` The sooner we can do @ @ @ @ @ @ @ can focus on recovering our businesses to something verging on normality .
`` The reservists - your employees - who are mobilised for the COVID-19 Support Force will be working for the benefit of everyone in the country , including their local communities and civilian employers . ''
The support force is designed to assist the government and local authorities as they tackle the impact of coronavirus , from expanding hospital capacity to driving oxygen tankers .
The reservists are initially being mobilised for six months but the Ministry of Defence ( MoD @ @ @ @ @ @ @ review .
The reservists will be used in a range of areas , such as providing additional medical and logistical support - vital in the construction of makeshift hospitals around the country .
They will also act as liaison officers with the civilian authorities and be used for their specialist skills such as engineering and accounting .
The MoD last month put its entire reserves force on notice for possible service after unveiling its plans for the COVID-19 support force , which will be a mixture of regular military personnel and reserves .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ process of releasing reservists from their civilian commitments - most will have full-time jobs - and switching them into military mode .
The move will likely be made easier than normal because so much of the UK work force is at home because of restrictions in place to stem the spread of coronavirus .
However , employers must still work with the Ministry of Defence to release their staff .
If sufficient numbers can not be reached voluntarily then the government may have to resort to compulsory mobilisation .
All employers who lose @ @ @ @ @ @ @ inconvenience .

Britain is calling up 3,000 reservists for a six-month mobilisation to help in the fight against coronavirus and is putting their civilian employers on notice.
Only part-time soldiers, sailors, airmen and Royal Marines with specialist skills, such as in engineering, logistics and accountancy, will be activated.
Those in the NHS and other frontline services already involved in the government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic will not be asked to switch into a military uniform.
Image: 3,000 reservists are being called up by the MoD
The reservists will be part of what is being called the COVID Support Force on top of 20,000 regular service personnel. It lifts to 23,000 the potential pool of military personnel available for the government's coronavirus response.
James Heappey, the armed forces minister, said: "Our reservists are a truly remarkable group of people, each with their own skills and experience from their civilian careers beyond the armed forces.
"At times like there, to be able to draw on that pool of talent and expertise is invaluable.
Image: The government is telling people to stay home to save lives
"I know that our reservists will answer the nation's call with a real enthusiasm and will play a key part in our response to COVID-19."
The most senior member of the reserve forces has written to employers with reservists on their payroll, alerting them to the mobilisation and asking them to identify individuals they are willing to release for military service.
Image: Members of the military have already been drafted in to deliver supplies
"We are confident, at this time of national emergency, that employers will do everything they can to support us in combating this dreadful virus," wrote Major General Simon Brooks-Ward, Assistant Chief of Defence Staff (Reserves and Cadets).
Advertisement
"The sooner we can do this, the sooner you and I can focus on recovering our businesses to something verging on normality.
"The reservists - your employees - who are mobilised for the COVID-19 Support Force will be working for the benefit of everyone in the country, including their local communities and civilian employers."
Podcast Podcast , which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enable Podcast cookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the This content is provided by, which may be using cookies and other technologies. To show you this content, we need your permission to use cookies. You can use the buttons below to amend your preferences to enablecookies or to allow those cookies just once. You can change your settings at any time via the Privacy Options Unfortunately we have been unable to verify if you have consented to Podcast cookies. To view this content you can use the button below to allow Podcast cookies for this session only. Enable Cookies Allow Cookies Once
The support force is designed to assist the government and local authorities as they tackle the impact of coronavirus, from expanding hospital capacity to driving oxygen tankers.
The reservists are initially being mobilised for six months but the Ministry of Defence (MoD) said this would be kept under review.
The reservists will be used in a range of areas, such as providing additional medical and logistical support - vital in the construction of makeshift hospitals around the country.
They will also act as liaison officers with the civilian authorities and be used for their specialist skills such as engineering and accounting.
The MoD last month put its entire reserves force on notice for possible service after unveiling its plans for the COVID-19 support force, which will be a mixture of regular military personnel and reserves.
This is the next step in the process of releasing reservists from their civilian commitments - most will have full-time jobs - and switching them into military mode.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player 3:03 Explainer: How to self-isolate
The move will likely be made easier than normal because so much of the UK work force is at home because of restrictions in place to stem the spread of coronavirus.
However, employers must still work with the Ministry of Defence to release their staff.
If sufficient numbers cannot be reached voluntarily then the government may have to resort to compulsory mobilisation.
All employers who lose staff will be financially compensated for the inconvenience.