BBC coverage of FA Cup scores biggest audience since football’s return June 29, 2020 Saturday’s FA Cup match between Norwich City and Manchester United was the most-watched UK football match since football returned to TV screens after months of lockdown. The quarter-final match, which finished 2-1 to Manchester United, saw 6.4m people tune into the action on the BBC, with a further 1.7m views on iPlayer. Sunday’s semi-final clash [...]
Covid consolidation bears low-hanging fruit for traders June 29, 2020 No understatement is truer than the one about how “nothing will ever be the same again” following the coronavirus pandemic. Businesses in the hundreds of thousands will not reopen. Millions of jobs have been lost. Billions of dollars have been wiped off the valuations of household brands and City darlings. Past worries about Brexit seem [...]
Government urged to fast-track 5G roll out to boost coronavirus recovery June 29, 2020 The government could boost overall economic activity by £150bn if the UK were to speed up 5G rollout by two years, a new report has found, as Britain seeks to bolster its economy from the financial turmoil of coronavirus. A new report published today by Vodafone found that the British economy could see productivity gains [...]
CMA chair Tyrie was ‘forced to step down’ after row with directors June 28, 2020 The chairman of the UK’s competition watchdog was forced to step down three years early after a stand-off with the firm’s chief executive, according to reports. Lord Tyrie, who last week announced he would stand down as chairman of the Competition and Markets authority (CMA) in September three years earlier than planned, had fallen out [...]
Virgin Atlantic seeks up to £900m in rescue bid after coronavirus turbulence June 28, 2020 Embattled airline Virgin Atlantic is looking to raise up to £900m in a last-ditch rescue bid days after it said it was unlikely to secure a government bailout. The carrier, founded by Sir Richard Branson in 1984, has beefed up its original £750m cash call amid forecasts for an extended recovery period for the aviation [...]
Mitie snaps up Interserve facilities arm to create outsourcing giant June 25, 2020 Mitie will buy the facilities management arm of rival outsourcer Interserve for £271m, the company announced today, creating a new business with nearly 80,000 employees. The move will make the company the UK’s largest facilities management group, and see Mitie increase its interests in the country’s lucrative outsourcing industry. The acquisition, which was confirmed this [...]
Swimming pools and gyms could reopen later in July June 24, 2020 It might be possible for swimming pools and gyms to open later in July if the UK continues to meet certain health tests, business secretary Alok Sharma said this morning. Speaking to Sky News, Sharma said: “I hope that we can allow leisure facilities to open at some point later on in July but only [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Power can add to Purton’s Total June 23, 2020 ALTHOUGH Joao Moreira will be desperate to cut into Zac Purton’s lead in the jockeys’ title race, it would be a brave man to expect the reigning champion to leave the track empty-handed. If ever a horse looks likely to have been ear-marked for a contest, it’s Purton’s mount TOTAL POWER, who carries top-weight, in the [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Moreira could find Winning Method in Valley finale June 23, 2020 WHEN Joao Moreira arrives at Happy Valley today, he will surely know this could prove a pivotal week in his efforts to wrest the jockeys’ title back from arch-rival Zac Purton. With a full-book of rides on the nine-race card, he has to cut into the four-winner deficit he currently trails the Australian by, especially as the [...]
Competition watchdog moves closer to green light on Amazon and Deliveroo deal June 23, 2020 The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is set to make the first step in giving the tie-up between Amazon and Deliveroo the green light. The announcement, which could be made this afternoon, would reissue a provisional approval of Amazon’s £442m deal to buy a 16 per cent stake in Deliveroo, Sky News reported. The watchdog [...]