CA daily briefing: Thursday 17 December

Your essential briefing of the morning's top news stories.
Good morning, Hilde Oesterkloeft here to give you today's latest news and updates.
The latest from ICAS
The ICAS office will close on 23 December at 5pm and will reopen on Monday 4 January at 9am.
Today's top stories from around the web
- Covid curbs scandalous, says Revolution Bars chief (BBC News)
- Sunak: Covid schemes could stave off damage from Brexit turbulence (City AM)
- British mid-caps rise on Brexit deal hopes (Reuters)
- COVID-19: Test and Trace firm Serco to repay furlough cash and award staff bonus (Sky News)
- UK firms struggling to import as end of Brexit transition period looms (The Guardian)
- IAASB to develop audit standard for less complex entities (Accountancy Daily)
- UK and US in talks over mini trade deal (BBC News)
- US airlines near new $17bn payroll aid package (City AM)
- Surging investor interest puts Bitcoin at new all-time peak (Reuters)
- Lloyd's market to quit fossil fuel insurance by 2030 (The Guardian)
That's all for today. Check back tomorrow for your Friday briefing.