
Driver dies in single-car crash near Stalbridge
Dorset Police appealed for witnesses and anyone with dashcam footage to get in touch.Sgt Dave Cotterill, of the force's roads policing team, said: "Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of the man who sadly died in this collision."I would like to thank the public for their patience and understanding while the road closures are in place."
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Reuters
5 minutes ago
- Reuters
Aston Martin warns on profit as US tariffs, stagnant Chinese demand bite
July 30 (Reuters) - British luxury carmaker Aston Martin (AML.L), opens new tab issued a profit warning on Wednesday citing a hit from U.S. import tariffsand prolonged suppressed Asian demand linked to China's economic slowdown, sending the company's shares down as much as 7%. It forecast adjusted operating profit to roughly break even this year, compared with its earlier expectation of positive earnings, as it also expects a hit from a stronger pound and investments in software. U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs had been "extremely disruptive" in the second quarter, Aston Martin executives said during a call with journalists. A trade deal Britain agreed with Washington last month establishes a quota-based U.S. tariff system for imported British cars. The first-come-first-served system allows 25,000 UK-made cars per quarter to qualify for a 10% tariff with additional imports facing a 27.5% levy. The company said the quota mechanism had complicated financial planning for 2025 and possibly into 2026. "We continue to actively engage the UK government to urge them to improve the quota mechanism to ensure fair access for the whole UK car industry to the 10% rate on an ongoing basis," CEO Adrian Hallmark said. Aston Martin resumed auto shipments to the U.S. in June after earlier curbs aimed at clearing inventories and has incrementally raised prices in response to the tariffs, it said. U.S. tariffs have pummelled global automakers, forcing companies like GM (GM.N), opens new tab, Volkswagen ( opens new tab, Hyundai ( opens new tab, Porsche (P911_p.DE), opens new tab, and Mercedes-Benz ( opens new tab to book billions of dollars of losses, issue profit warnings, slash forecasts, and raise prices. Aston Martin also warned that demand in the Asia-Pacific region, which accounts for more than a quarter of its revenue, would remain suppressed in the near term. Sales in a "very stagnant" Chinese market, where a slowing economy is leading consumers to tighten their belts, were broadly flat in the first half of the year. "The guidance reduction is understandable in the face of current FX headwinds, investments in business and lower volumes until Q4," Bernstein analysts said in a note. Shares of the brand, which is associated with fictional secret agent James Bond, pared some earlier losses to trade 3.6% lower at 75.9 pence by 0951 GMT.


The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Pro-cyclist ‘car-doored' on London road sues for £1m over ruined Tour de France dreams
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According to Cycling UK, at least 500 cyclists in Britain are known to be injured every year in dooring incidents, although the true number is thought to be much greater. Central London County Court heard Mr McLaughlin was taking a short break from his professional cycling career and working as a courier when he was injured in May 2020. As he was cycling along, "a car door was opened across a bicycle lane in front of him," the court heard, resulting in him coming off his bike, hitting the ground and being badly injured. Liability for the accident has been admitted by motor insurers, but they are disputing whether he did in fact suffer a brain injury, and also the amount in compensation he is claiming. Mr McLaughlin's barrister Winston Hunter KC said he is plagued by problems with poor concentration and memory, as well as anxiety and distress, while a neuropsychologist who examined him considered he had suffered concussion due to his head being 'shaken around' in the crash. The veteran rider had suffered other road falls in his career before the 2020 spill, conceded his barrister, but said there was no evidence that any of these accidents caused him lasting problems at the time. At the time of his crash, Mr McLaughlin was taking a pause from the pro circuit, but was "supremely fit" and had clocked up a number of recent successes, including coming sixth in the time trial at the 2018 Commonwealth Games despite injury. But for the accident, he would have slotted back into the world of top cycling, the barrister said, adding, 'He has lost that cycling career." However, Lionel Stride - for the insurers - challenging the existence of a 'mild traumatic brain injury' said there was no mention of Mr McLaughlin suffering a blow to the head at the time of the 2020 accident. 'He came into contact with a car door at speed and was subsequently thrown off and hit the ground, with an orthopaedic injury to his right shoulder," he told Judge Jane Evans-Gordon. 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'Apart from physical injuries primarily to his shoulder and elbow, the claimant has suffered with psychological problems following the accident," she said. "The psychological problems include PTSD, phobic anxiety and depression. Although he has undergone psychiatric treatment with an eminent psychiatrist, his symptoms have not improved as much as might have been hoped." She added that Mr McLaughlin is convinced he suffered a brain injury in the collision and 'that this has an impact on his long-term employment prospects'. On top of medical evidence, lawyers have also obtained reports from sports scientists about Mr McLaughlin's cycling career prospects but for the accident, the court heard. 'It appears to be common ground that the claimant was an elite cyclist and had the potential to be a high achiever in the event that he returned to the world of elite cycling," noted the judge. 'If his psychological symptoms have a non-organic cause, then they are likely to resolve in due course. If, however, the cause is organic, namely a mild traumatic brain injury, they will not improve and are likely to have a significant impact on his future earning potential." After hearing arguments from both sides, the judge agreed to admit the neurological evidence, which she said concerned a 'very significant issue for him'. 'It could make a difference of approaching £400,000 to his loss of earnings claim,' she said. A full trial of the claim was originally due to take place later this year, but that may now have to be delayed due to the new neurological reports.


The Independent
7 minutes ago
- The Independent
Aston Martin cuts earnings outlook amid US tariff hit
Luxury carmaker Aston Martin Lagonda has cut its full-year outlook after revealing widened first half losses as trade tariff woes took their toll. The group saw shares fall over 3% in morning trading on Wednesday after saying it now expects full-year underlying earnings to 'improve towards breakeven', having previously guided for profit growth. Aston's stock has lost half its value in the past year over concerns about the impact of US President Donald Trump's tariff war. The profit alert comes after Aston Martin revealed the impact of a difficult first half, with operating losses widening to £134.7 million for the six months to June 30 from £106.1 million a year earlier. Revenues tumbled 34% to £220.5 million in the second quarter and were down 25% overall in the first half. The group limited shipments to the US in the second quarter after Mr Trump imposed a 25% tariff on car imports in April. It then resumed shipments in June as the UK reached an agreement with the US for a lower 10% tariff on UK-made cars for the first 100,000 vehicles per manufacturer. Anything above that threshold will be hit with a 27.5% duty. Adrian Hallmark, chief executive of Aston Martin, said: 'The evolving and disruptive US tariff situation was unhelpful to our operations in the second quarter.' He added: 'We continue to actively engage the UK Government to urge them to improve the quota mechanism to ensure fair access for the whole UK car industry to the 10% rate on an ongoing basis.' The tariff disruption saw the firm's wholesale sales by volume fall 8% in the second quarter to 972. The results come amid a significant overhaul at Aston Martin as it seeks to shore up its long-term finances. In February, the group said it plans to sell its minority stake in the Aston Martin Aramco Formula One team and confirmed that Lawrence Stroll's Yew Tree Consortium would invest a further £52.5 million to grow its stake in the business. Aston Martin said the deal to sell a stake in the Formula One racing team was nearing completion and would be worth around £110 million.