Champions League: Barcelona on brink ahead of Bayern Munich trip December 8, 2021 The last time that Barcelona were absent from the Champions League knockout stages, Lionel Messi was yet to make his debut and Gavi, the club’s newest star, hadn’t even been born. But 18 years later that scenario could come to pass again on Wednesday evening, depending on the outcome of the club’s make-or-break final Group [...]
Lure of Christmas parties draws workers back into the City December 7, 2021 The lure of Christmas parties has propelled the number of workers in the City to the highest level since the first Covid-19 lockdown in March last year. Traders, brokers and bankers have flocked back to their physical offices in the capital to capitalise on boozy parties that sweep across the City during the festive period. [...]
In a brave new world, we still need clear lines to tackle a dark online underbelly December 7, 2021 The Online Safety Bill has the potential to trigger a full-blown shake-up of how we interact online, from shopping, to searching or streaming. The online world is a cornerstone of modern life: it enables us to stay in touch with those we know, while building communities with those we don’t. The presence of all things [...]
Government drafts in Saudi Arabia to help with levelling up investment push December 6, 2021 The government is launching a concerted effort to attract Middle East investors to buy up property in parts of the UK outside London, with the drive touted as a potential tool in Boris Johnson’s levelling up agenda. A senior Department for International Trade (DIT) source said investment minister Lord Gerry Grimstone was helping “package together” [...]
Covid: Javid confirms community transmission of Omicron variant in England December 6, 2021 There is now community transmission of the Omicron variant of Covid across “multiple regions of England”, health secretary Sajid Javid has confirmed. Javid said today that there are 335 recorded cases of the variant in the UK, which “includes cases with no links to international travel”, but that there is not enough scientific evidence to [...]
Sainsbury’s tells staff to delay Christmas parties until next year as UK Omicron cases top 300 December 6, 2021 Sainsbury’s staff have been asked to delay their Christmas get-togethers until next year amid fears of staff shortages. The request came following the return of mask rules to shops and public transport networks last week, following the arrival of new coronavirus variant Omicron in the UK. “We have asked all of our teams to postpone [...]
Biotech BenevolentAI to make £1.3bn market debut in Europe’s biggest Spac deal December 6, 2021 British biotech BenevolentAI has today agreed to go public at a €1.5 billion (£1.3bn) valuation in Amsterdam via Europe’s largest-ever merger via a special acquisition company (Spac). BenevolentAI’s deal with Odyssey, a blank cheque company founded by dealmaker brothers Michael and Yoel Zaoui, will allow it to raise €390 million (£332 million) ahead of its [...]
Johnson says no new restrictions needed as top scientist warns people with ‘sniffle’ to stay home December 6, 2021 Boris Johnson has today insisted no new restrictions are needed, despite warnings from a top Covid scientist that people with a “sniffle” should work from home. Johnson this morning said the UK had been “the first country in the world to take decisive measures to tackle Omicron” in the face of criticism that his government [...]
3i Infrastructure gets green light to acquire SRL Traffic Systems in £191m deal December 6, 2021 3i Infrastructure will acquire a controlling stake in equipment rental company SRL Traffic Systems for £191m.
Daily Mail agree the largest office letting in West London in a commitment to its ‘talented people’ December 6, 2021 Daily Mail & General Trust (DMGT), the owner of the Daily Mail and Metro newspapers, has agreed a 103,000 sq ft lease to create a new HQ at Barkers Building in Kensington from 2024.