Millions will need third Covid vaccine dose in the autumn February 8, 2021 Millions of people will likely need a third vaccine dose in the autumn, amid growing concerns that the Astrazeneca jab may not be effective against the new South African Covid variant. It is understood that NHS chiefs are planning for the extra doses to be given alongside annual winter flu jabs, after a new study [...]
HIG joins private equity pack circling KPMG’s restructuring arm February 8, 2021 HIG Europe has joined a pack of private equity bidders vying to buy the UK restructuring arm of KPMG. HIG is one of four parties shortlisted to acquire the business, which was put up for sale last year, Sky News first reported. It is understood Intermediate Capital Group is another private equity business interested in [...]
UK will not issue vaccine passports, says Nadhim Zahawi February 7, 2021 The UK will not be issuing vaccine passports to allow people who have had Covid jabs to travel, according to vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi. The Times reported on Friday that the government would implement Covid vaccine passports in time for summer, however Zahawi categorically denied the report today. Speak to Sky News, he said: “One, [...]
British banks set to hand out hundreds of millions in staff bonuses February 6, 2021 Britain’s largest banks are finalising plans to hand out hundreds of millions of pounds in staff bonuses next week, at the same time loan losses are expected to catapult during the pandemic. Taxpayer-backed lender Natwest Group has informed the Treasury that it is poised to distribute more than £200m in staff bonuses for 2020. The [...]
Sport on TV: How to watch India v England, the Six Nations, Liverpool v Man City and Super Bowl LV in the UK February 6, 2021 What better way to beat the lockdown blues than by gorging on a feast of sport on TV? Answer: none. And this weekend’s fare is the most abundant yet this year, with an England Test series on terrestrial TV, the first round of the Six Nations, a Premier League title showdown between Liverpool and Manchester [...]
The show must go on: How UK film and TV ploughed through the pandemic February 6, 2021 From Tiger King to The Serpent, hit TV shows have become cultural currency in an era defined by lockdowns. With millions of Brits forced to stay at home, film and TV has been one of the few avenues for entertainment over the last year, providing a much-needed dose of escapism during the pandemic. But for [...]
UK directors to face fines in major overhaul of audit rules February 5, 2021 UK directors will reportedly face fines for accounting failures at their companies as part of a major overhaul of the audit sector. Long-awaited reforms, set to be published as early as next week, will place a tough new burden on bosses in an effort to improve audit standards. Directors, rather than boards, will be held [...]
Glaxo shares slip after it reports sales dip and Covid vaccine variant deal February 3, 2021 Glaxo shares tumble after it reports drop in sales and vaccine partnership
Best of travel: Eating and drinking with the St Petersburg locals February 3, 2021 To tide us over until we’re able to travel again, we’re republishing classic travel stories from our archives. This week we revisit Ashwin Bhandari’s trip to St Petersburg, the cultural heart of Russia. Read more: Jaguar XF P300 review: revitalised luxury at a surprisingly low price ••• There are not many places that have left me [...]
Why Test cricket is back on Channel 4 and what it means for the future of sport on terrestrial TV February 2, 2021 For the first time since the heady 2005 Ashes series, Test cricket is returning to British terrestrial television. Channel 4 has bought the rights to show England’s tour of India, which begins on Friday in Chennai. But why is cricket back on a free-to-air broadcaster? Who stands to gain? And what does this mean for [...]