Latest news with #licence
Asharq Al-Awsat
an hour ago
- Business
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Chinese Chip Firm UniVista Offers Free Product Trial after US Ban on Chip Design Software
UniVista, a Chinese supplier of electronic design automation (EDA) tools for semiconductors, is offering free trials for its key software to Chinese firms, the company said in a WeChat post on Tuesday. The move comes after the United States ordered a broad swathe of companies, including EDA software suppliers, to stop shipping goods to China without a licence and revoked licences already granted to certain suppliers.
BBC News
3 days ago
- Business
- BBC News
Bournemouth shop where illegal worker found could lose licence
A convenience store where officials said they found an illegal worker faces being stripped of its licence to sell Stores in Kinson Road, Bournemouth, was raided by immigration officials on 7 November 2024, when an Indian man who had no right to work in the UK was found behind the Police will apply to revoke the store's premises licence at a Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Council (BCP) meeting on Muralimohan, who is responsible for the shop's premises licence, told BCP that he was "committed to upholding all legal and licensing obligations". The man found working illegally at the business said he had started working there in mid-October found he entered the UK on a student visa in 2022 but failed to enrol on his led to his visa being curtailed, making him an overstayer with no right to work in the business was issued with a fine of £40,000 in January, an immigration official said in BCP papers published ahead of Wednesday's meeting. Mr Muralimohan said the fine was cut to £5,000 "in recognition of my full cooperation with the investigation".He said he has held a premises licence since 2011 and has "operated in full compliance with licensing regulations throughout this period, with no prior remarks or violations".Dorset Police will say on Wednesday that it – along with other authorities – "no longer have confidence in [Mr Muralimohan] to uphold the licensing objectives".According to the council documents, the force will also say it was "particularly concerned" nitrous oxide canisters were found at the shop. Nitrous oxide has been classified as a class C drug "where its intended use is not legitimate and likely to be used to inhale", said police. You can follow BBC Dorset on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
BBC News
27-05-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Bilston strip club applies to council for new license
A strip club and adult cinema which closed temporarily in March has applied for a new Lady in Oxford Street, Bilston, includes a sex shop, cinema and strip clubAndrea Parsons applied to City of Wolverhampton Council for a new sexual entertainment venue licence for the club, and the application asks for permission to open from midday to 06:00 BST every authority said no objections had been made to the plans by any of the responsible authorities. The council's regulatory committee will meet in Wolverhampton on 3 June to make a decision on the club opened in the 1990s and was given a venue license by the council in opening hours were extended to 06:00 BST following a decision by the authority in 2012, despite objections from local councillors on behalf of several were concerned over added noise and traffic by extending the opening hours.A notice was placed on the club's entrance in March, saying it had closed temporarily. Follow BBC Wolverhampton & Black Country on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Seized British fishing boat Lady T is released by French authorities after being 'held hostage' as skipper is issued with 'substantial' fine
A British fishing boat that was 'held hostage' by the French authorities after allegedly operating without a licence has been reportedly released. The Lady T, based in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was held in Boulogne-sur-Mer, at risk of confiscation, after being intercepted by the Pluvier, a French Navy Ship, on Thursday. Now, a court source in Boulgone-sur-Mer has confirmed that the historic 10m long vessel, named after former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, has been released, the Daily Telegraph has reported. The catamaran's skipper, who appeared in court in Boulogne-ser-Mer on Monday afternoon, has allegedly been forced to pay a 'substantial fine' for the boat's release, according to sources. While the exact fine issued remains unknown, previous reports have suggested that the skipper could be paying up to £63,000 for 'non-authorised fishing in French waters' by a non-EU boat. Responding to the boat's release, Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, told the Daily Telegraph: 'Fantastic news that the French have released this vessel. It should have never been impounded in the first place. 'If the French put half as much effort into stopping illegal immigrants as they did into harassing British fishermen then we would not have floods of immigrants crossing the channel. 'I urge the French to direct their efforts towards stopping the small bats as they are obliged to do under international law'. It comes after Olivier Leprêtre, chairman of the regional fishing committee in northern France, suggested on Sunday that the boat could have been seized as a tit-for-tat measure after a French skipper was fined in a landmark case last month. French-registered Pierre D'Ambre was fined £40,000 in Newcastle Magistrates Court after being accused of bottom-trawling in a prohibited area of the Offshore Brighton Marine Conservation Zone. The seizure also followed extensive criticism pointed towards Prime Minister Keir Starmer over a landmark deal with the EU over fishing rights which hugely favour the French. Confirming the previous holding of Lady T, a spokesman for France 's Maritime Prefecture previously said: 'On Thursday, May 22, the French Navy's public service patrol vessel, the Pluvier, conducted a fishing inspection in the French Exclusive Economic Zone, off the Somme Bay. 'During this operation, which was part of the State's maritime enforcement, a British fishing vessel was inspected by sailors from the Navy patrol vessel while fishing without a license in French waters. 'As the offence was proved, the fishing vessel was diverted during the night of May 23rd to the port of Boulogne-sur-Mer, following the instructions of the Delegate for the Sea and Coastline, acting on behalf of the Regional Prefect, who oversees the fisheries police, for the purpose of initiating prosecution under the authority of the Public Prosecutor.' The Francesca TO 80 (pictured), registered in Truro, Cornwall, was also intercepted and detained in French waters last Saturday - less than 48 hours before the UK government was accused of 'surrendering' to the EU over fishing rights. The spokesman added: 'This operation demonstrates the vigilance of State services in protecting fisheries resources and their determination to enforce regulations. 'It sends a clear signal to those who might be tempted to fish illegally in French waters.' Following the boat's seizure, Mr Philp accused the French of 'shameful double standards', telling the Daily Telegraph that the country should 'start stopping boats with illegal immigrants' rather than focusing upon a UK fishing vessel within French waters. The Francesca TO 80, registered in Truro, Cornwall, was also intercepted and detained in French waters last Saturday - less than 48 hours before the UK government was accused of ' surrendering' to the EU over fishing rights. Spotted 30 nautical miles off the island of Batz, off Roscoff, Brittany, the boat was then escorted to the port of Brest after inspectors suspected the crew of unlicensed fishing in French waters. This also constituted an offence under the Rural and Maritime Fishing Code, it was alleged. Under a new deal sealed by Sir Keir Starmer, European trawlers will be granted access to British waters for a further 12 years. A previous agreement, reached under Prime Minister Boris Johnson, saw the UK regain 25 per cent of EU fishing quotas, but this was set to run out next year. Now the EU will maintain unfettered access to the UK's coastal waters until 2038. While Sir Keir described it as a 'landmark' deal between the EU and an 'independent' UK, members of the Conservative Party and Reform UK were critical of the agreement. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said the 12-year deal on access for European boats 'will be the end of the fishing industry'. Sir Keir Starmer met with the European Commission President, Ursula von der Leyen, alongside European Council President Antonio Costa, on May 19 at a summit hosted in Lancaster House, London, in order to negotiate the controversial deal. The Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) was contacted for comment.
Irish Times
26-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
Comcast drops long running High Court action over Esat licence
Comcast International Holdings, the multinational communications corporation, has dropped High Court proceedings it brought more than two decades ago over the awarding of the State's second mobile phone licence. Comcast brought the proceedings in 2001 against the Minister for Public Enterprise, the State, businessman Denis O'Brien, and TD Michael Lowry, following the award of the licence to Mr O'Brien's Esat Digifone in 1996. Comcast brought its case together with Ganley International Ltd, GCI Ltd and businessman Declan Ganley, after their Cellstar consortium was an unsuccessful bidder for the phone licence. Comcast claimed the decision to award Esat Digifone the licence was not merited, and the selection of that company was as a result of the corruption of the process. Mr O'Brien, the State and Mr Lowry ‐ who was Minister for Communications at the time of the licence award − denied the claims. READ MORE While Comcast has ended its action against the defendants, the proceedings remain live – Ganley International Ltd, GCI Ltd and Mr Ganley continue to pursue their case. Separate proceedings brought by Persona Digital Telephony Ltd and Sigma Wireless Network – two firms whose consortium was also unsuccessful in its bid for the licence – over the awarding to Esat Digifone also remain live. The Moriarty tribunal, which investigated the relationship between prominent business people and politics, concluded in 2011 that Mr Lowry 'secured the winning' of the mobile phone licence for Esat Digifone. The tribunal's report also found that Mr Lowry was given money by Mr O'Brien, with the payments 'demonstrably referable' to his winning of the licence. Mr Lowry and Mr O'Brien have repeatedly disputed the findings. Declan McGrath SC, appearing for Comcast and instructed by RDJ solicitors, told Ms Justice Emily Egan on Monday that a resolution had been reached between his client and the State, Mr O'Brien and Mr Lowry. He told the court an order could be made discontinuing Comcast's proceedings against the defendants. Mr McGrath also said an order could be made removing his client's name from the title of the proceedings. Counsel said in respect of any order for costs made against his client to date, it would be deemed that Comcast has discharged 50 per cent of those costs. He said the same should apply in the event of any future order on costs up to today's date (Monday). He said the orders could be made on consent between Comcast and the defendant parties. He said the other plaintiffs were not objecting to the orders. In a statement, Mr Lowry – now an Independent TD, and key member of the Government-supporting Regional Independent Group (RIG) – said he welcomed Comcast's withdrawal from the proceedings. 'This termination of the challenge by media giants Comcast represents a vindication for the proper, professional and dedicated work carried out by the department officials at the time [of the contract tender], who have suffered repeated slurs on their reputation despite fulfilling their duties with independence and professionalism,' he said. 'In this case taken against me personally by Comcast I have successfully delivered a full defence and proof of no impropriety.' Mr Lowry reiterated his consistent rejection of the Moriarty tribunal's findings. 'The assessment and award process was fair, impartial, lawful, and the withdrawal by Comcast international is evidence of this fact. It is a justification of my repeatedly stated position that there was no wrongdoing in relation to the award of the mobile telephone license in 1996.'
