Bitesized Blighty: August 16, 2019
- More than half of UK farms could go out of business if Britain leaves the EU without a deal. That’s according to a new report commissioned by supporters of a second vote, which claims EU countries would immediately slap tariffs on imports should no agreement be reached. Anti-Brexit campaigners yesterday took to the streets of Whitehall with a herd of sheep to highlight the impact that crashing out of Europe would have.
- The FTSE 100 hit a six-month low on Thursday as stock markets in Europe extended their losing streak amid mounting economic concerns. A weighed-down FTSE 100 dropped 1.1% to its lowest level since February after China warned ramped-up tariffs by the US “seriously violated” trade relations. Aston Martin, which does not trade on the FTSE 100, fell more than 80% at one stage to touch a record low of 371p — more than 80% below the company’s £19 listing price in October.
- Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg has started her voyage across the Atlantic Ocean from Plymouth to New York on Wednesday. The teenager, heading to the UN Climate Summit, has forsaken planes and is instead embarking on a two-week, low-carbon alternative: A sailing yacht. She joins a growing movement against flying, called "flygskam" or “flight shame” in Sweden. The 16-year-old made a speech ahead of departing from Plymouth on the Malizia II, a solar-powered racing yacht with underwater turbines. Greta said she was dedicated "to do everything I can" to tackle climate change which was a "very big problem". According to one study, avoiding just one flight is equivalent to going car-free for a year.
