China’s Wuhan tests 12m in six days after emergence of the Delta variant August 9, 2021 China’s Wuhan has completed citywide testing of some 12m residents for Covid-19 after just six days, to stamp out the emergence of the Delta strain. The testing programme, which began on Tuesday and finished yesterday, provides “basically full coverage” of all residents excluding children under the age of six and students on their summer break, [...]
London law firms launch first global crypto fraud network August 9, 2021 A network for crypto-related fraud has been launched by a group of law firms, including Grant Thornton, in a bid to make the UK a global centre for crypto dispute resolution, amid a rise in scams. The ‘Crypto Fraud and Asset Recovery’ (CFAAR) network has been created with the aim of becoming a “known body [...]
London needs to work with cities around the country for economic recovery August 9, 2021 As Lord Mayor, I would normally have visited more than 20 countries over the course of the year, to promote partnership with the UK’s world-leading enterprises – mainly financial and professional services – and showcase our unique cultural offer. Since the start of the pandemic I have replaced these with over 2,500 video calls. It [...]
Norwegian Cruise Line stays on course as judge protects vaccine requirement August 9, 2021 Cruise operator Norwegian has won a court battle allowing it to use ‘vaccine passports’ as a condition for boarding after the state of Florida attempted to ban them from doing so. The global cruise company, which operates Norwegian Cruise Line, Oceania Cruises and Regent Seven Sea Cruises brands, sued the state of Florida in July. [...]
China blasts US over ‘safe haven’ scheme for Hong Kong residents August 9, 2021 China has condemned the Biden administration for offering temporary “safe haven” status to Hong Kong residents in the US. China’s foreign ministry and the Hong Kong and Macau affairs office both issued statements on Sunday, which was the second time Beijing has criticised the move in two days. US President Joe Biden signed a memorandum [...]
California feels the heat as wildfires sweep the Golden State August 9, 2021 More than 5,000 firefighters are battling wildfires across California, including the state’s largest ever standalone blaze. The Dixie Fire started on 13 July and has since consumed more than 463,000 acres (187,369 hectares), an area larger than Greater London. Just 21 per cent of the blaze is contained, according to officials. By Saturday evening, the [...]
Marlboro maker Philip Morris offers £1bn for British inhaler company August 9, 2021 Philip Morris has upped its bid for respiratory drugmaker Vectura to over £1bn as the takeover deal, which is being “closely monitored” by the government, has raised public interest questions. Philip Morris International (PMI) raised its offer to £1.65 per share, valuing Vectura at £1.02bn, after private equity firm Carlyle made an offer of £958m [...]
How to win over companies and influence a better future August 9, 2021 Companies’ annual general meetings (AGMs) could be testy affairs back in the 1980s and 1990s, the UK’s era of mass share ownership. One former CEO of that period recently confessed to me: “Our security would ask if the venues had a sloping stage that made it impossible to run up. They were intense meetings.” Such [...]
Taliban fighters take three more cities in northern Afghanistan August 9, 2021 Taliban fighters have captured five provincial capitals in Afghanistan since Friday in a lightning offensive that seems to have overwhelmed pro-government forces. The Islamist group has been seizing much of the countryside since May, coinciding with the start of the final stages of withdrawal of foreign forces, and has now taken its fight to key [...]
Depop to move London HQ as pandemic sales boost Gen-Z app August 9, 2021 Online fashion marketplace Depop has signed the lease on a new headquarters in Farringdon, East London. The second hand clothing app saw over 100 per cent growth in gross merchandise sales (GMS) and revenues during 2020. Now, the brand will move from its current Shoreditch base to a site of some 30,000 sq ft of [...]
