As we enter the third year of the pandemic, we need to grit our teeth and learn to live with it December 28, 2021 It seemed, for a while, as if this year might be better than the last, with the pandemic on the wane, retail and hospitality beginning to reopen and a hint of normality being felt in the public square. The onset of the omicron variant over the past few weeks has been a blow: although it [...]
Twitter users ‘disgusted’ with John Lewis after dismissal of seasonal workers December 28, 2021 John Lewis came under fire yesterday after choosing to dismiss temporary workers ahead of Christmas sales owing to a lower than expected demand. The retailer was called out by a mother on social media, after her son was hired to in a warehouse to prepare online orders. Temporary staff were told on 23 December they [...]
Donald Trump’s loss-making Scottish golf resorts hit by Brexit staff shortages December 27, 2021 The golf resorts of former US President Donald Trump in Scotland have been hit by Brexit job shortages, according to their their latest accounts. Accounts filed for the former US president’s golf course Trump Turnberry in Ayrshire by trading company Golf Recreation Scotland Ltd show the UK leaving the EU caused problems for the site. [...]
Covid-19: Tory MPs turn on scientific experts in build up to lockdown decision December 27, 2021 Tory MPs have been attacking the government's scientific experts to discourage the Prime Minister from introducing new Covid curbs.
Covid, closures and strikes impact thousands of Christmas travellers December 27, 2021 Planned closures as well as strikes and Covid have interfered with UK travellers’ Christmas plans, with disruption set to continue this week. Rail operators – including Greater Anglia and ScotRail – were forced to make adjustments to their timetable after staff fell ill with Covid. “The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has seen a recent spike of Covid-related absences [...]
Coronavirus D-Day as Boris Johnson holds emergency meeting to weigh fresh Covid restrictions or even new lockdown December 27, 2021 England is heading for a decisive afternoon as the Prime Minister will hold a crucial meeting later today to assess whether new or additional Coronavirus restrictions are needed to slow the rapid rise in infections as a result of the Omicron variant. Boris Johnson is due to be presented with the latest Covid data today [...]
South Africa demands compensation from UK for economic damage caused by Covid travel red list in response to Omicron variant December 27, 2021 South Africa is calling for compensation from the UK for the economic damage the country suffered after it was placed on Britain’s Covid travel red list in November. South Africa’s Department of International Relations is demanding compensation after the movement of people was severely restricted, saying Africa’s largest economy took a serious beating because of [...]
Half of all UK bank branches have been shut or are scheduled for closure as fintech kills off 736 locations in 2021 alone December 27, 2021 New figures published this morning show that the number of bank branches across the UK is dropping dramatically. In fact, nearly half of all banks’ branches have been lost since 2015, or are scheduled for closure, according to Which? Vulnerable customers are being left at risk of being “cut adrift”, the consumer organisation said after [...]
Manchester United striker Anthony Martial tells club of wish to leave December 27, 2021 Manchester United striker Anthony Martial has told Ralf Rangnick, the club’s interim manager, that he wishes to leave the club. The Frenchman joined the Old Trafford club from Monaco in 2015 for £36m – then a transfer record for a teenage footballer. Since then, he has played 268 times for United, netting 79 times. Rangnick [...]
Christmas flight cancellations surge amid Omicron concerns December 27, 2021 This weekend around 7,500 flights were cancelled worldwide amid concerns over the spread of the Omicron variant. According to data tracking website FlightAware, just yesterday 3,273 flights were slashed, with half of cancellations affecting US routes. Today, around 1,925 cancellations were recorded – with Chinese and US routes among the worst hit. China Eastern was [...]