After year of pain, Virgin Atlantic exec looking forward to clearer skies March 15, 2021 It was the moment it felt like everyone had been waiting for. On 22 February, Boris Johnson told a cold and tired nation that international travel could be back on the cards from 17 May, prompting a mad rush of pale Brits booking their summer getaways despite pleas that it was too early to do [...]
Silver looks a golden bet in Champion Hurdle March 15, 2021 ONLY the 10 runners have been declared for the Unibet Champion Hurdle (3.05pm), but a genuine case can be made for all of them. Not So Sleepy is the rank outsider of the field at 66/1 but could run well if given an uncontested soft lead. The obvious starting point is with the two mares [...]
Met chief Cressida Dick fighting for job as criticism grows March 15, 2021 Met Police commissioner Cressida Dick said she will not quit after a Sarah Everard vigil ended in arrests and accusations of police manhandling. Dick defended officers, saying they were in an “invidious” position when crowds grew at Clapham Common on Saturday evening. “They moved to try to explain to people, to engage with people, to [...]
Before the Bell: Europe set for positive start as China data points to choppy recovery March 15, 2021 While US markets by and large have managed to retain their resilience, with new record highs for the Dow, S&P500 and Russell 2000 last week, the gains have been notably in sectors left behind by the huge tech rally that has help support most of the move higher in US equities over the last few [...]
Sadiq Khan calls for watchdog inquiry into police action at Sarah Everard vigil March 14, 2021 Sadiq Khan has said he is “not satisfied” by Met commissioner Cressida Dick’s explanation of heavy-handed police actions at Sarah Everard’s Clapham vigil last night, calling for a full investigation by two police watchdogs. The mayor of London, who has oversight of the Metropolitan Police, said he had “received assurances” from the police that the [...]
Virgin Atlantic set to raise £160m amid ongoing travel restrictions March 13, 2021 Virgin Atlantic is in discussions to raise £160m from shareholders and creditors as the airline seeks to shore up its finances ahead of the planned reopening of travel in the coming months. Billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson is set to provide the bulk of the funding through Virgin Group, which is expected to inject around [...]
Best of travel: Explore the highlands by plane with The Carnegie Club March 12, 2021 The private plane I’m boarding at South London’s Biggin Hill would be ideal for anyone who owns a desert island or alpine ski lodge. It’s a multi-talented Pilatus PC-12 NG. My destination is closer to home but even more exclusive: The Carnegie Club at Scotland’s Skibo Castle. My pilot, Edwin Brenninkmeyer, who is also Pilatus’s [...]
Atom Bank valuation set to halve after latest fundraising round March 11, 2021 The valuation of digital lender Atom Bank could halve as it closes its latest fundraising round. Atom announced its £40m fundraising last month claiming it would put it “on the path to profitability in the near term”. But the challenger bank is now close to concluding a round at 60p-a-share, just under half the price [...]
SAS: Red Notice is Outlander star Sam Heughan’s Bond audition March 11, 2021 With Daniel Craig’s final Bond movie on the horizon, it’s that time again where every British leading man fields questions about whether they would like to take over. This week it’s the turn of Outlander star Sam Heughan, who raised the issue in an interview with Esquire Magazine. He’s the right age, has a strong [...]
MPs urge government to ensure travel restart plans are made public March 11, 2021 MPs have today urged the government to make public the Global Travel Taskforce’s recommendations when the body reports to the Prime Minister on plans for reopening travel on 12 April. In a new report, the parliamentary transport committee said that the failure to do so would rob the aviation industry of much-needed clarity. When the [...]