Oxford vaccine ‘to be approved before the new year’ December 19, 2020 The Oxford vaccine is expected to be approved before the end of the year, making it the second Covid vaccine to be approved in the UK. It is believed the vaccine will be approved on 28 or 29 December after final data is provided to the health regulator on Monday. The UK has ordered 100 [...]
India will be the big winner of this new world order December 19, 2020 Delhi benefits from the structural fact that though we presently live in an era epitomised by superpower bipolarity, it is a very different type of two-power standoff than was the Cold War. From 1945–1991, America and the Soviet Union so dominated the international scene that they easily lined up much of the rest of the [...]
Cabinet to hold emergency meeting to discuss rising concerns of new mutant Covid strain – reports December 18, 2020 An emergency cabinet meeting is taking place at 1pm today to discuss the coronavirus restrictions in the wake of a mutant coronavirus strain. In the early afternoon Michael Gove spoke with heads of the devolved nations. Following the call Arlene Foster, first minister of Northern Ireland, tweeted the new strain of coronavirus was “very concerning”. [...]
Facebook UK notched up £1.1bn in sales last year December 18, 2020 Facebook UK reported a staggering £1.1bn in sales last year and boasted of further growth as it increased its headcount. Revenues rose 28 per cent in 2019 from £797m to £1.1bn, of which the vast majority came from sales support, marketing services and engineering support services. The social media platform also said its advertiser reseller [...]
President Trump ‘could lift UK travel ban’ from next week December 18, 2020 President Donald Trump is reportedly considering lifting the US travel ban on the UK and Europe from next week. It followed a recommendation from the US Department of Homeland Security, according to the Telegraph, which has also won support from members of the White House coronavirus task force and other public health agencies. The President [...]
Natwest buys Metro Bank’s £3bn mortgage portfolio December 18, 2020 Natwest is set to buy Metro Bank’s £3bn mortgage portfolio in a deal which will see 13,000 customers transferred over to the lender. The deal comes after the high street bank returned to profit after taking a £.21bn hit from the pandemic in the first half of the year. “Growing our mortgage book is an [...]
PM ‘hoping to avoid’ post-Christmas lockdown December 18, 2020 Boris Johnson has not ruled out a post-Christmas lockdown following a surge in infections driven by London and the South East. In a visit to Bolton, the Prime Minister failed to eliminate the prospect of following Wales and Northern Ireland into lockdown after Christmas. “Obviously, we’re hoping very much that we’ll be able to avoid [...]
Nike to score sales increase on digital fitness demand in lockdown December 18, 2020 Sportswear giant, Nike are expected to report a 2.2 per cent increase in second-quarter sales profiting from the change in consumer habits during the pandemic.
Government urged to increase support for retail firms after EU State Aid rule changes December 18, 2020 The government has been urged to increase the financial support available to retail and hospitality businesses after the European Commission confirmed that the UK is able to apply a revised state aid framework. The EU said earlier this week that the UK can implement the revised Covid-19 State Aid Temporary Framework, which increased the limit [...]
Costcutter snapped up by Bestway after strong year of sales December 18, 2020 Wholesaler Bestway has bought Costcutter from Bibby Line for an undisclosed sum in a significant move in independent retail. Under the deal Costcutter will become part of Bestway Wholesale’s retail division and operate as normal. “The acquisition of CSG by Bestway Wholesale enables us to further build on our solid foundations in Independent Retail, allowing [...]
