Airbnb reports better than expected revenue drop amid biting pandemic restrictions February 25, 2021 Airbnb suffered a better than expected 22 per cent revenue drop in Q4 2020, having at one stage predicted 2020 revenue could be less than half of what it was in 2019. Airbnb’s total revenue of $3.4bn for 2020 decreased by only 30 per cent compared with $4.8bn in 2019. In Q4 2020, revenue of [...]
Vanguard and BlackRock uncovered as largest investors in coal industry February 25, 2021 The US mutual fund company Vanguard has been named the world’s largest institutional investor in the coal industry, with holdings of almost $86 bn, according to research carried out by Rainforest Action Network, Urgewald and 28 other NGO partners. The investor is closely followed by BlackRock, which has invested over $84bn in the coal industry [...]
Exclusive: Legal consultant model to become dominant among mid-market law firms February 25, 2021 The legal consultant business model will become the dominant model among high street and mid-market law firms, with around a third of UK lawyers predicted to be working under such a model in five years’ time. The Covid-19 pandemic has acted as a “catalyst” for industry disruption, exposing the “poor management and outdated operating models [...]
Euro 2020 will happen this year and fans could follow their teams overseas, says European football’s Covid-19 chief February 24, 2021 Uefa’s Covid-19 tsar says there is no question of Euro 2020 being cancelled and that fans could yet be allowed to travel internationally to the games. The tournament was postponed last year due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and rescheduled for 11 June to 11 July this year. “There is no way the Euros will [...]
Skoda Octavia vRS review: Czech mate for the Golf GTI February 24, 2021 The Skoda Octavia vRS is a more practical alternative to a Volkswagen Golf GTI. We find out what the new, fourth-generation car has to offer.
Keir Starmer pushes Boris Johnson to rule out corporation tax rise February 24, 2021 Sir Keir Starmer has called for Boris Johnson to rule out a rise in corporation tax in next week’s Budget amid rumours Rishi Sunak could increase the rate to 25 per cent. Starmer said that “now is not the time for tax rises on families and businesses” at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) today. The Times [...]
London house prices: What £500k gets you in tube zones 1 to 6 February 23, 2021 For London workers, it can be an unsettling dilemma whether to spend more on a house near the office or upsize further out but spend more time and money on tubes. House prices differ considerably, even between adjacent tube stations. The average house price in Knightsbridge will set you back around £1.6m but hop on [...]
Crypto selloff sends Bitcoin tumbling below $50,000 February 23, 2021 Bitcoin tumbled this morning as investors ditched cryptocurrencies amid nervousness over sky-high valuations. Bitcoin suffered its biggest daily drop in a month to fall as low as $45,000 before recovering to just over $48,500. Ethereum is also down more than 18 per cent to $1,512. It follows Monday’s crash which saw Bitcoin plunge from $58,000 [...]
England cricket chiefs to launch The Hundred with women’s match between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals February 23, 2021 The Hundred, English cricket’s new short-form competition, will begin with a women’s match between the Oval Invincibles and the Manchester Originals. The fixture at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 21 July will be followed by the first men’s match, featuring the same franchises at the same venue, the following day. Tickets for The Hundred are [...]
Roadmap: Hospitality industry faces financial ruin as sector remains shut until April February 22, 2021 The hospitality industry has reacted with fury as the Prime Minister plans to allow pubs and restaurants to serve outdoors only and not until 12 April. Currently, only 40 per cent of businesses in hospitality have outdoor spaces, meaning most will still face restrictions after April. In response to today’s announcement, UK Hospitality Chief Kate [...]