Code red Omicron scenario would setback UK economic recovery, warn experts November 29, 2021 The UK economy would suffer a severe setback in its battle to revert to pre-pandemic strength if the Omicron variant proves to be deadly, City economists have warned. If the heavily mutated strain of the virus is capable of evading vaccines and the UK government reimposes blanket lockdown measures, the economy would shrink back to [...]
Central London only slightly busier amid Black Friday sales November 29, 2021 Central London was only ever so slightly busier thanks to Black Friday deals last week as retail chiefs noted fewer shoppers than pre-pandemic levels. Central London saw a 2.3 per cent boost to footfall week on week for the week beginning 21 November. Footfall in the area was down 22.3 per cent on 2019 levels, [...]
Oil prices rebound from massive drop despite discovery of Covid-19 variant November 29, 2021 Oil prices showed some signs of recovery on Monday after massive drops last week of over ten per cent on both major benchmarks.
Covid booster jabs rolled out to over 18s amid omicron variant fears November 29, 2021 Booster jabs will now be offered to all over 18s the government’s Joint Committee on Vaccinations and Immunisations said.
Soho’s revival was a boon for the capital – the al fresco revolution must continue November 29, 2021 Eating outdoors with the sun beating down may feel like a distant memory now the nights have drawn in and the mercury has dropped. But we must not forget the critical role al fresco has played safeguarding countless jobs during throughout the pandemic. And what a joy it has been to walk around the West [...]
Emails between Staley and Epstein are an ‘uncomfortable’ read, warns Barclays chief November 28, 2021 The chairman of British lender Barclays has told shareholders to brace for reading emails between the bank’s former boss Jes Staley and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Nigel Higgins has reportedly told investors that emails between Staley and Epstein make for an “uncomfortable” read. The Mail on Sunday first reported the story. Staley unexpectedly quit [...]
Omicron: PCR tests for arrivals to UK, mask rules tightened, and self-isolation reintroduced after variant found in UK November 27, 2021 Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced a list of new Covid precautionary measures, including restrictions for those arriving in the UK, stricter rules on wearing masks in public places, and a “boost for the booster programme” for vaccination. In a reunion that Brits won’t have been hoping for, Johnson held a Downing Street press conference [...]
Health secretary: Two cases of new Omicron Covid variant detected in UK November 27, 2021 Two cases of the new Omicron coronavirus variant have been detected in the UK, the health secretary Sajid Javid has announced. Targeted testing will now be rolled out in the areas where the cases were detected – Nottingham and Chelmsford, Javid said. “We have been made aware by the UK Health Security Agency of two [...]
No 10 salvages PM’s business bosses forum in effort to claw back corporate support November 27, 2021 Downing Street has made a last-ditch attempt to salvage relations between British business and Boris Johnson by ditching plans to wrap up the PM’s council of business leaders, after his humiliating performance last week eroded bosses’ confidence. Last week, No 10 had told some members of the PM’s business discussion forum, the Build Back Better [...]
Omicron: Pfizer, BioNTech and Moderna race to tweak Covid vaccines against new Coronavirus variant November 27, 2021 Work is underway to look at tweaking vaccines against the new concerning strain of coronavirus that has sparked travel bans. The variant, named Omicron and designated a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organisation (WHO), has reached Belgium after being discovered in South Africa. The WHO warned that preliminary evidence suggests the variant has [...]