Spain joins Greece in plans to welcome tourists from May March 10, 2021 Spain will consider joining Greece in plans to reopen its borders for international travellers who have received a Covid vaccine from May, the country’s tourism minister has said. Maria Reyes Maroto told local Spanish media Antena 3 TV that the country could introduce Covid-19 vaccine passports as early as 19 May in a bid to [...]
Wagamama owner The Restaurant Group taps investors for £175m March 10, 2021 The Restaurant Group, which owns Japanese-inspired chain Wagamama, is preparing to tap investors for £175m. The firm said this morning that capital raise will be used as a buffer in case of a resurgence of the Covid-19 pandemic and also allow it to expand its Wagamama brand and pubs business. Restaurant Group said it expects [...]
Test and Trace has had ‘no clear impact’ on Covid rates despite £37bn budget, MPs warn March 10, 2021 There is no evidence to show that the government’s Test and Trace programme has had any clear impact on reducing Covid infection levels despite its £37bn budget, parliament’s spending watchdog has warned. In a report examining funding into the scheme, the cross-party Public Accounts Committee (PAC) said spending on Test and Trace was “unimaginable” and warned [...]
Money mule criminals increasingly target cash-strapped youth during Covid lockdown, report finds March 10, 2021 Money mule criminals use fake online job adverts to target cash strapped youngsters
HSBC launches £15bn lending fund for British SMEs March 10, 2021 HSBC has today launched a new £15bn fund to help UK SMEs through the economic recovery. The fund, which includes over £10bn of regionally focussed allocations, seeks to move away from the “traditional” London focus and drive growth in regions across the country. “The past 12 months have highlighted the challenges many small businesses face. [...]
EU rejects charges of ‘vaccine nationalism’ despite export rows and slower rollout on continent March 9, 2021 EU Council President chides UK over outright ban on vaccine exports despite slow European rollout
The race is on: Greece the latest EU state to woo UK tourists, who’ll be welcomed back from May March 9, 2021 Greece the latest EU state to woo UK tourists, who'll be welcomed back from May
NHS workers were originally set for 2.1 per cent pay rise, says chief executive March 9, 2021 NHS staff were originally in line to receive a 2.1 per cent pay rise before the pandemic, the health body’s chief executive has said. The government sparked widespread outrage last week after ministers announced health workers were set to receive a 1 per cent pay rise this year. Labour said the annual increase amounted to [...]
Another Covid surge likely within the next year, warns Chris Whitty March 9, 2021 All current modelling suggests another wave of coronavirus is likely within the next year despite the speed of the vaccine rollout, Professor Chris Whitty has warned MPs. England’s chief medical officer said that even under the most optimistic set of assumptions a further 30,000 people will likely die from Covid-19. Speaking at the Commons’ Science and Technology [...]
Covid court backlogs leave victims waiting years for justice, watchdog warns March 9, 2021 Court dates pushed back to 2023 are having “major consequences for victims and witnesses”, a prosecution watchdog has found, as backlogs due the pandemic continue. Delays exacerbated by restrictions have impacted people’s ability to recall events and could lead to less people willing to provide evidence, sparking concern over a “major risk for public confidence”, [...]