International News

There are fewer pubs in England and Wales than ever before, according to analysis that sheds light on the ruinous impact of the coronavirus pandemic and soaring business costs. The total number of pubs dropped below 40,000 during the first half of 2022, a fall of more than 7,000 compared with a decade ago. Pubs that have disappeared from communities have been demolished or converted into other buildings such as homes and offices, the research from the real estate advisers Altus Group says....

認真回來”：Covid 後的金絲雀碼頭，復出幾乎如火如荼 在封鎖期間金絲雀碼頭彷如空無一人，但現在我們可見這個倫敦金融中心，人們回來工作和娛樂。金絲雀碼頭集團 (CWG) 首席執行官 Shobi Khan 表示由於通勤模式的轉變，金絲雀碼頭在周一和周五仍然安靜得多，但情況正在改善。 “每週，人們都會認真地回來——取決於公司，有些公司達到 70%，有些公司達到 50%，但它還在不斷增長。” 資料來源 ：https://www.theguardian.com/business/2022/jul/01/back-in-earnest-canary-wharfs-post-covid-comeback-almost-in-full-swing (1 July, 2022) 上述資料僅供參考。世紀21奇豐國際沒有就該等資料的準確性或完整性，或在任何特定情況下使用的合適性作出任何明示或隱含的保證，亦無須對與該等資料或本網站有關的任何原故而引致的任何損失或損害負上責任。如有需要，請向相關部門或機構查詢。...

Several members of parliament have called for an end to higher fees imposed on students from Hong Kong. In a letter published in The Times, the group of MPs said the British National (Overseas) visa "has been a great success." However, they added "the higher education rules create an unnecessary impediment to opportunity since BNO visa holders are not eligible for home fees status until they have lived in the United Kingdom for five years." As such, the letter went on, BNO visa holders fa...

A new map shows which parts of the country would be affected by a proposed expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). ULEZ is a designated area in London where a fee is charged for driving the most polluting vehicles - typically older cars. If your car, motorcycle, van or other specialist vehicle doesn’t meet ULEZ emissions standards, you’ll have to pay a £12.50 daily charge to drive inside the zone. You don’t need to pay if you are parked within the zone a...

Manchester has risen 26 places in this year’s Global Liveability Index, making it the top most liveable city in the UK and 28th across the globe. Every year, The Economist releases its rankings of the most liveable cities in the world, and this year’s list included 172 cities in total – up from 140 last year. It assesses 30 different factors in detail to define which cities are the top performers and which ones fall short. This year, the north-west city of Manchester has ...

Thousands of PwC staff are to get a 9% pay rise in response to rising living costs and a competitive recruitment market, the accountancy giant has said. The company said half of its more than 20,000 employees in the UK would get an increase of at least 9%, while 70% would get a rise of 7% or more. With vacancies at a record high, many firms are offering pay rises to attract and retain staff. But ministers have warned big salary rises could further fuel price rises. Inflation - the ra...

Every economic indicator in Britain has started flashing red, but the housing market has marched relentlessly on. Nationwide building society will release its latest house price index for June this week, along with regional data for the second quarter, while the Bank of England’s latest mortgage lending figures should also shed more light on the state of the UK property market. Prices are up 5% this year, although uncertainty about the wider economy has meant Nationwide has not issued a...

The declining value of the pound has made investment in the UK’s property market increasingly attractive among Middle Eastern buyers. According to new research, the region is taking mounting interest in prime London property in particular. Having briefly rallied in late 2021, the value of the British pound has been steadily decreasing in 2022, and hit its lowest level against the dollar in two years, as of late June. In contrast, the Saudi Riyal has been gaining value, on the back of th...