cityam--2020-12-30--Boris must find the bandwidth to take on Sturgeon - and keep the UK united

Being prime minister is not an easy job .
Whether you adopt the approach of Thatcher ’ s four-hours-a-night , or Macmillan ’ s retreating to Trollope novels at moments of extreme stress , it is a position which occupies your every waking ( and probably many a sleeping ) moment ; the situation is not helped by the fact that the vast majority of prime ministers live ‘ above the shop ’ in the apartment complex of 10-11 Downing Street .
Time to think can be at a premium .
Boris Johnson is certainly not short of challenges to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Read more : Hancock expects UK to be out of the pandemic by spring Covid and Brexit are the two most obvious and pressing matters , but one could easily add the “ levelling up ” agenda , HS2 , the grievous state of the hospitality industry , repayment of the national debt , the examination system in schools , NHS shortages and law and order , and that would be the in-tray only half full .
Being leader of the opposition is a very different matter .
The effective levers in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ when you face a government with a healthy parliamentary majority early in the electoral cycle , and if you are not to be wholly reactive ( “ We think the government should have gone further… ” ) then thinking is one of the few things to which you can devote a lot of time .
Just before Christmas , Sir Keir Starmer made a “ major ” speech on devolution and the Union .
This is the sort of parlour game into which opposition leaders are forced ; those who occupy the territory @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Democrats .
The content of the speech promised a commission to examine the devolution of power , advised by former prime minister Gordon Brown .
While this is not a move which will capture the imagination on voters ’ doorsteps , it is a sensible and grown-up response to the persistent popularity of the SNP in Scotland and the inexplicable perception that the first minister , Nicola Sturgeon , has handled the Covid crisis well .
A recent poll showed support for Scotland ’ s secession from the Union at 58 % , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a referendum .
This is literally an existential threat to the UK : from a business point of view , secession would mean the United Kingdom losing the human capital of 5.5 million people , access to the oil and gas reserves of the North Sea , an enormous potential source of tidal and wind energy and the huge financial services sector in Edinburgh , apart from anything else .
It is by no means unrealistic to imagine an independent Scotland by 2030 : the government must address this .
What must worry @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and institutionally , simply does not have the bandwidth to take the fight to the nationalists at the present time .
It is often suggested that Johnson , for all his mixed heritage an ineffably English figure , is ill-suited to woo a truculent Scottish electorate .
Read more : Scottish independence would be nothing but a disaster But if not him , then who ?
The Labour Party lost its relevance in Scottish politics with its Westminster annihilation in 2015 , and its Holyrood leader , Richard Leonard , is the sort @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own memory foam mattress .
The Liberal Democrats are a harmless fringe .
Faute de mieux , the battle for the Union must be an SNP/Conservative fight .
But who is going to stand in the front line ?
The Scottish secretary , Alister Jack , is a landowner who looks like a refugee from a late-stage Macmillan cabinet ; Baroness Davidson ( as she will become ) is a proven vote-winner but is only standing in at Holyrood until next May ; the Scottish leader , Douglas Ross , is accident-prone and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ resonates with the electorate north of the border .
The prime minister needs help .
He needs some heavyweight unionist figures ( who need not necessarily be Conservatives ) ; he needs an ultra-smooth and highly responsive media team ; and he needs some enormous brains to sit in darkened rooms and find the arguments against secession which will strike a chord with the voters .
The second and third categories should not be impossible to satisfy .
The first , the cheerleaders , may prove more difficult .
If anyone has any @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Street , London SW1A…

Boris must find the bandwidth to take on Sturgeon – and keep the UK united
Analysis by the Herald and investigative outlet the Ferret of ministerial engagements showed “hundreds” of meetings were undertaken by Nicola Sturgeon’s government but not subsequently reported to the register.
Being prime minister is not an easy job.
Whether you adopt the approach of Thatcher’s four-hours-a-night, or Macmillan’s retreating to Trollope novels at moments of extreme stress, it is a position which occupies your every waking (and probably many a sleeping) moment; the situation is not helped by the fact that the vast majority of prime ministers live ‘above the shop’ in the apartment complex of 10-11 Downing Street. Time to think can be at a premium.
Boris Johnson is certainly not short of challenges to which he could devote his brain power.
Read more: Hancock expects UK to be out of the pandemic by spring
Covid and Brexit are the two most obvious and pressing matters, but one could easily add the “levelling up” agenda, HS2, the grievous state of the hospitality industry, repayment of the national debt, the examination system in schools, NHS shortages and law and order, and that would be the in-tray only half full.
Being leader of the opposition is a very different matter. The effective levers in your hands are virtually none, especially when you face a government with a healthy parliamentary majority early in the electoral cycle, and if you are not to be wholly reactive (“We think the government should have gone further…”) then thinking is one of the few things to which you can devote a lot of time.
Just before Christmas, Sir Keir Starmer made a “major” speech on devolution and the Union.
This is the sort of parlour game into which opposition leaders are forced; those who occupy the territory willingly are political oddballs and often Liberal Democrats. The content of the speech promised a commission to examine the devolution of power, advised by former prime minister Gordon Brown.
While this is not a move which will capture the imagination on voters’ doorsteps, it is a sensible and grown-up response to the persistent popularity of the SNP in Scotland and the inexplicable perception that the first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, has handled the Covid crisis well.
A recent poll showed support for Scotland’s secession from the Union at 58%, which would be a comfortable plurality at a referendum.
This is literally an existential threat to the UK: from a business point of view, secession would mean the United Kingdom losing the human capital of 5.5 million people, access to the oil and gas reserves of the North Sea, an enormous potential source of tidal and wind energy and the huge financial services sector in Edinburgh, apart from anything else. It is by no means unrealistic to imagine an independent Scotland by 2030: the government must address this.
What must worry unionists is that Boris Johnson, personally and institutionally, simply does not have the bandwidth to take the fight to the nationalists at the present time. It is often suggested that Johnson, for all his mixed heritage an ineffably English figure, is ill-suited to woo a truculent Scottish electorate.
Read more: Scottish independence would be nothing but a disaster
But if not him, then who? The Labour Party lost its relevance in Scottish politics with its Westminster annihilation in 2015, and its Holyrood leader, Richard Leonard, is the sort of man who is forgettable to his own memory foam mattress. The Liberal Democrats are a harmless fringe. Faute de mieux, the battle for the Union must be an SNP/Conservative fight.
But who is going to stand in the front line? The Scottish secretary, Alister Jack, is a landowner who looks like a refugee from a late-stage Macmillan cabinet; Baroness Davidson (as she will become) is a proven vote-winner but is only standing in at Holyrood until next May; the Scottish leader, Douglas Ross, is accident-prone and yet to find an authentic voice which resonates with the electorate north of the border.
The prime minister needs help. He needs some heavyweight unionist figures (who need not necessarily be Conservatives); he needs an ultra-smooth and highly responsive media team; and he needs some enormous brains to sit in darkened rooms and find the arguments against secession which will strike a chord with the voters.
The second and third categories should not be impossible to satisfy. The first, the cheerleaders, may prove more difficult. If anyone has any ideas, the address is 10 Downing Street, London SW1A…


cityam--2020-12-30--Over by Spring: Hancock hails Oxford/AstraZeneca jab as part of path to normality

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK could expect to be out of the pandemic by spring after the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab was approved .
Boss of the pharmaceutical firm Pascal Soriot said as many as 2m vaccines could be manufactured each week .
“ The vaccine is our way out of this , ” the Health Secretary told the BBC .
“ Whereas previously I ’ ve I hoped we ’ d be out of this by spring , I now have a high degree of confidence we ’ ll be out of this by spring , ” he said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ up , Hancock promised , with data suggesting that a first jab offers significant immunity from Covid-19 and a booster jab required for longer-term protection .
Soriot meanwhile said that the Government ’ s rollout target of 1m jabs a week could be beaten .
The UK has pre-ordered 100m doses of the jab , and Soriot said the firm had already produced “ millions.
” “ It is a massive logistical effort to inject so many people , but we will ramp up deliveries over the next two or three weeks .
@

Over by Spring: Hancock hails Oxford/AstraZeneca jab as part of path to normality
(Photo by Aaron Chown – WPA Pool/Getty Images)
Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the UK could expect to be out of the pandemic by spring after the Oxford/AstraZeneca jab was approved.
Boss of the pharmaceutical firm Pascal Soriot said as many as 2m vaccines could be manufactured each week.
“The vaccine is our way out of this,” the Health Secretary told the BBC.
Read more: Oxford/AstraZeneca jab approved
“Whereas previously I’ve I hoped we’d be out of this by spring, I now have a high degree of confidence we’ll be out of this by spring,” he said.
The vaccine rollout will be stepped up, Hancock promised, with data suggesting that a first jab offers significant immunity from Covid-19 and a booster jab required for longer-term protection.
Soriot meanwhile said that the Government’s rollout target of 1m jabs a week could be beaten.
The UK has pre-ordered 100m doses of the jab, and Soriot said the firm had already produced “millions.”
“It is a massive logistical effort to inject so many people, but we will ramp up deliveries over the next two or three weeks.”


cityam--2020-12-30--FTSE nibbles upward as Oxford jab approval lifts sentiment for 2021

The FTSE 100 nibbled upward in early trading this Wednesday , as traders welcomed the approval of the Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine @ @ @ @ @ index gained Tuesday , with many stocks hitting pre-pandemic highs .
Traders were less bullish @ @ @ @ @ 100 is up 0.26 per cent as of 9am .
Read more : Could 2021 @ @ @ @ @ s year ?
AstraZeneca , whose Covid-19 jab was approved by UK regulators this morning @ @ @ @ @ in early trading , up just north of 1.5 per cent .
The DAX and @ @ @ @ @ this morning .
Asian markets hit record highs overnight .
There is one more day @ @ @ @ @ a break for the New Year holiday in the UK .

FTSE flat despite Oxford jab approval giving cause for 2021 optimism
(Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images)
The FTSE 100 nibbled upward in early trading but fell to flat by lunchtime, as traders looked forward with some optimism to 2021.
The index gained Tuesday, with many stocks hitting pre-pandemic highs.
Traders were less bullish today, and after reaching gains of 0.3 per cent this morning the index has settled flat.
Read more: Could 2021 be the FTSE 100’s year?
AstraZeneca, whose Covid-19 jab was approved by UK regulators this morning, was the biggest winner in early trading, up just north of 1.5 per cent.
The DAX and the CAC-40 were largely flat this morning. Asian markets hit record highs overnight.
There is one more day of trading to go before a break for the New Year holiday in the UK.
Read more: Oxford/AstraZeneca jab approved by UK regulators


cityam--2020-12-30--Three things to expect from  the business of sport in 2021

What does next year hold for sport in a commercial sense ?
Here , Neil Hopkins , global head of strategy at M & C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment , gazes into his crystal ball .
Fans are back .
Not many of them , but they are back .
With vaccination under way , at some point in 2021 the tentative trickle of supporters returning to stadia will become a steady stream .
Read more : How to stage a limited capacity match in the Covid era , from socially distanced seating to ordering drinks Make no bones about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Covid-19 jab will be just the shot in the arm professional sport in the UK needs .
Not only will full ( er ) grounds provide a much-needed financial boost to British sport but it will enable the UK to reassert its reputation for matchday experiences that are rarely equalled anywhere in the world .
It was clear from the lukewarm response to the artificial crowd noises that have soundtracked Premier League games since the restart that there really is no substitute for the visceral intensity of a live crowd that can turn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cauldrons .
It has even had an effect on results .
Data company Nielsen calculated the percentage of Premier League home wins has dropped from 44.8 per cent last season , with a crowd , to 41.6 per cent so far this season ( at the time of writing ) , without a crowd .
Away wins , meanwhile , have increased dramatically from 30.2 per cent of last season ’ s games with spectators to 37.9 per cent without a crowd this term .
If anything , so keen are fans to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next year , from the Premier League to Test match cricket , could well be unlike anything we ’ ve ever seen as supporters embrace the chance to do what so many have missed doing for so long .
Last year was going to be one of the biggest years sport there ’ s ever been .
Not only was a repackaged and expanded Euro 2020 going to take place across a dozen host cities stretching from Dublin to Baku , but the Olympics and Paralympics would also take place in Tokyo .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , these were postponed but , crucially , not cancelled .
This means that , as we emerge from lockdown , we can look forward to a glorious summer of football , with England at home for as many as five games , should they reach the final .
That will be followed by one of the most eagerly anticipated moments in the history of the Olympic movement as it seeks to fulfil its role in bringing people back together after so long apart .
Rarely has the opportunity to compete at the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so many athletes , not to mention their coaches , families and fans .
These mega-events will still go by the names of Euro 2020 and Tokyo 2020 , perhaps prompting a sense of deja vu , but there is no doubt that the organisers and sponsors will do everything in their power to put the experiences of this year firmly in the past .
Doing the right thing It is no secret that the pandemic has placed every sport under considerable commercial pressure .
With the exception of the Premier League , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ doors has ensured the terms of lucrative long-term TV deals have mostly been honoured , teams and governing bodies are feeling the pinch .
The broadcast income most receive ( if they receive any at all ) is not remotely comparable to the Premier League , meaning their commercial sustainability is determined by a combination of matchday revenue from ticketing , merchandise and food and beverages and commercial revenue from sponsorship .
The former has been decimated by the ban on supporters in grounds , leaving the latter as an absolutely crucial lifeline @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sponsors are committed to helping the sports they have supported in the good times to get back on their feet after the worst of times .
Of course , many businesses are under financial strain themselves but , as the economy recovers , fans will expect them to continue to play a supportive role .
Research suggests that not only are nearly 60 per cent of fans more likely to buy from a sponsor of their favourite team or player , but over two thirds of them would also pay more for that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ is not lost on the likes of O2 which has recently extended its 25-year partnership with England Rugby despite the downturn .
This is incredibly valuable income for a sport that has had its finances rocked , with the RFU themselves reporting a £10.8m annual loss in October .
It could prove the difference between being able to fund grassroots programmes designed to identify the next generation of England players and having to mothball such initiatives indefinitely .
In 2021 , supporters will repay those companies that continue to stand by the sports @ @ @ @ @ @ @ make those that don ’ t pay dearly .

Three things to expect from the business of sport in 2021
O2 renewed its long-standing sponsorship of England Rugby in 2020, handing the RFU a much-needed boost. Will other brands follow suit in 2021?
What does next year hold for sport in a commercial sense? Here, Neil Hopkins, global head of strategy at M&C Saatchi Sport and Entertainment, gazes into his crystal ball.
Grounds for optimism
Fans are back. Not many of them, but they are back. With vaccination under way, at some point in 2021 the tentative trickle of supporters returning to stadia will become a steady stream.
Make no bones about it, thousands of fans receiving the Covid-19 jab will be just the shot in the arm professional sport in the UK needs.
Not only will full(er) grounds provide a much-needed financial boost to British sport but it will enable the UK to reassert its reputation for matchday experiences that are rarely equalled anywhere in the world.
It was clear from the lukewarm response to the artificial crowd noises that have soundtracked Premier League games since the restart that there really is no substitute for the visceral intensity of a live crowd that can turn even the most modest arenas into seething cauldrons.
It has even had an effect on results.
Data company Nielsen calculated the percentage of Premier League home wins has dropped from 44.8 per cent last season, with a crowd, to 41.6 per cent so far this season (at the time of writing), without a crowd.
Away wins, meanwhile, have increased dramatically from 30.2 per cent of last season’s games with spectators to 37.9 per cent without a crowd this term.
If anything, so keen are fans to return that the atmosphere at big events next year, from the Premier League to Test match cricket, could well be unlike anything we’ve ever seen as supporters embrace the chance to do what so many have missed doing for so long.
Delayed gratification
Last year was going to be one of the biggest years sport there’s ever been.
Not only was a repackaged and expanded Euro 2020 going to take place across a dozen host cities stretching from Dublin to Baku, but the Olympics and Paralympics would also take place in Tokyo.
Along with a multitude of other events, these were postponed but, crucially, not cancelled.
This means that, as we emerge from lockdown, we can look forward to a glorious summer of football, with England at home for as many as five games, should they reach the final.
That will be followed by one of the most eagerly anticipated moments in the history of the Olympic movement as it seeks to fulfil its role in bringing people back together after so long apart.
Rarely has the opportunity to compete at the highest possible level meant so much to so many athletes, not to mention their coaches, families and fans.
These mega-events will still go by the names of Euro 2020 and Tokyo 2020, perhaps prompting a sense of deja vu, but there is no doubt that the organisers and sponsors will do everything in their power to put the experiences of this year firmly in the past.
Doing the right thing
It is no secret that the pandemic has placed every sport under considerable commercial pressure.
With the exception of the Premier League, where the hosting of matches behind closed doors has ensured the terms of lucrative long-term TV deals have mostly been honoured, teams and governing bodies are feeling the pinch.
The broadcast income most receive (if they receive any at all) is not remotely comparable to the Premier League, meaning their commercial sustainability is determined by a combination of matchday revenue from ticketing, merchandise and food and beverages and commercial revenue from sponsorship.
The former has been decimated by the ban on supporters in grounds, leaving the latter as an absolutely crucial lifeline.
What 2021 will reveal is which sponsors are committed to helping the sports they have supported in the good times to get back on their feet after the worst of times.
Of course, many businesses are under financial strain themselves but, as the economy recovers, fans will expect them to continue to play a supportive role.
Research suggests that not only are nearly 60 per cent of fans more likely to buy from a sponsor of their favourite team or player, but over two thirds of them would also pay more for that company’s product.
This loyalty is not lost on the likes of O2 which has recently extended its 25-year partnership with England Rugby despite the downturn.
This is incredibly valuable income for a sport that has had its finances rocked, with the RFU themselves reporting a £10.8m annual loss in October.
It could prove the difference between being able to fund grassroots programmes designed to identify the next generation of England players and having to mothball such initiatives indefinitely.
In 2021, supporters will repay those companies that continue to stand by the sports they sponsor.
They’ll also make those that don’t pay dearly.


cityam--2020-12-30--Breaking: Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved for UK use

The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use by the United Kingdom ’ s medicines regulator .
The jab , which is significantly easier to transport and store than alternatives including the Pfizer vaccine , will mark a step-change in the UK ’ s ability to immunise the population .
The vaccination rollout will start by January 4 .
AstraZeneca promised this morning it would begin shipments today .
The UK has ordered 100m doses , enough for 50m people .
Alongside the Pfizer jab , this essentially means the UK has a vaccine for every member of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ its approach to vaccination , and will now roll out the first dose of both vaccines to at-risk groups as quickly as possible , rather than providing the two doses in as short a time as possible .
Hundreds of thousands of at-risk individuals have received a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine already .
A Health Department spokesperson said : “ Everyone will still receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first .
The second dose completes the course and is important for longer term protection .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ UK will prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups .
With two vaccines now approved , we will be able to vaccinate a greater number of people who are at highest risk , protecting them from the disease and reducing mortality and hospitalisation.
” This is a breaking news story and will be updated .

Breaking: Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved for UK use
YORK, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 22: Stephen Hartley is given his Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccination by Primary Care Practitioner Nikki Brown at Haxby and Wiggington Surgery on December 22, 2020 in York, England. The Haxby Group primary care provider will deliver the vaccine to eligible patients working with 11 GP practices in the area. Patients will be invited to attend for vaccination by their surgery and will have to return for a booster jab at a later date. (Photo by Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)
The Oxford/AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine has been approved for use by the United Kingdom’s medicines regulator.
The jab, which is significantly easier to transport and store than alternatives including the Pfizer vaccine, will mark a step-change in the UK’s ability to immunise the population.
The vaccination rollout will start by January 4. AstraZeneca promised this morning it would begin shipments today.
The UK has ordered 100m doses, enough for 50m people. Alongside the Pfizer jab, this essentially means the UK has a vaccine for every member of the population.
The Government has also shifted its approach to vaccination, and will now roll out the first dose of both vaccines to at-risk groups as quickly as possible, rather than providing the two doses in as short a time as possible.
Hundreds of thousands of at-risk individuals have received a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine already.
A Health Department spokesperson said: “Everyone will still receive their second dose and this will be within 12 weeks of their first. The second dose completes the course and is important for longer term protection.
“From today the NHS across the UK will prioritise giving the first dose of the vaccine to those in the most high-risk groups. With two vaccines now approved, we will be able to vaccinate a greater number of people who are at highest risk, protecting them from the disease and reducing mortality and hospitalisation.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.


cityam--2020-12-30--House price growth hits six-year high as pandemic fails to quell demand

House prices grew at the fastest rate in six years in 2020 , a respected tracker has revealed .
Property prices skyrocketed by 7.3 per cent across the year , according to the Nationwide House Price Index .
Home prices increased by 0.8 per cent in December alone .
Read more : A booming Britain will need a broadband boost The average UK property price is now £230,920 , though in London that figure is now £486,562 .
Prices in the capital increased by 6.2 per cent this year .
Lockdown restrictions hit the property market hard earlier in the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ once exemptions were carved out the market recovered , and was given a boost by the Chancellor ’ s decision to introduce a stamp duty holiday to stimulate demand .
“ Housing market conditions have remained robust in recent months , even as the wider economic recovery lost momentum and the UK economy faced the prospect of further lockdowns and continued uncertainty about the UK ’ s future international trading relationships , ” said Robert Gardner , the building society ’ s Chief Economist .
Gardner warned that housing market activity could slow @ @ @ @ @ @ @ programmes such as the furlough scheme are wound down .
But changes to working patterns , particularly with more Brits working from home , could provide much-needed support .

House price growth hits six-year high as pandemic fails to quell demand
Rental enquiries surged after the roadmap out of lockdown was revealed (Photo by Peter Summers/Getty Images)
House prices grew at the fastest rate in six years in 2020, a respected tracker has revealed.
Property prices skyrocketed by 7.3 per cent across the year, according to the Nationwide House Price Index.
Home prices increased by 0.8 per cent in December alone.
Read more: A booming Britain will need a broadband boost
The average UK property price is now £230,920, though in London that figure is now £486,562.
Prices in the capital increased by 6.2 per cent this year.
Lockdown restrictions hit the property market hard earlier in the year with many viewings forbidden.
But once exemptions were carved out the market recovered, and was given a boost by the Chancellor’s decision to introduce a stamp duty holiday to stimulate demand.
“Housing market conditions have remained robust in recent months, even as the wider economic recovery lost momentum and the UK economy faced the prospect of further lockdowns and continued uncertainty about the UK’s future international trading relationships,” said Robert Gardner, the building society’s Chief Economist.
Gardner warned that housing market activity could slow in the coming months as employment support programmes such as the furlough scheme are wound down.
But changes to working patterns, particularly with more Brits working from home, could provide much-needed support.


cityam--2020-12-30--Tech predictions for 2021

Tech predictions for 2021

2020 will forever be remembered as the year of the pandemic .
The economic fallout was felt by millions of people and businesses around the world , across different sectors .
The tech industry , however , has proved remarkably resilient .
The big tech story of 2020 has been how many companies actually thrived during this unprecedented period , surpassing expectations .
Read more : Tech jobs are an engine at the heart of our 21st century economy Success stories include digital money transfer firms such as Azimo and Transferwise , which recorded a surge in customer numbers , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ send money home .
Some companies , meanwhile , attracted record-breaking investment , including Starling Bank , fintech infrastructure player Thought Machine , virtual tech events firm Hopin ( currently valued at £2bn ) , and used car marketplace Cazoo — reportedly the fastest ever British company to achieve unicorn status .
And Revolut ’ s chief executive Nikolay Storonksy became the UK ’ s first tech billionaire , while gaining $ 500m of investment for the firm .
So , as we approach the end of the year and the beginning of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the UK ’ s tech industry ?
Let ’ s start with something we ’ ve all become hyper-familiar with over the past year : healthcare .
The use of so-called “ medtech ” by healthcare providers and the public for health and wellness self-management was on the rise before the Covid pandemic began .
That , of course , has now been turbocharged .
According to CB Insights , telehealth , continuous and remote diagnostics , teletherapy , virtual fitness and gyms , senior care and ageing are all categories that will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Health and wellness services are now well and truly online .
“ More healthcare providers will make use of apps in the mix of curative treatments for patients , as acceptance grows for digital options that have been scientifically proven to be clinically effective , ” says Richard Latham , chief executive of Wellmind Health , which provides NHS-approved digital courses Be Mindful and Pathway through Pain .
“ As the industry expands , I also expect to see calls for the setting of clinical standards for medical apps.
” “ Widespread @ @ @ @ @ @ @ so long-term solutions to enhance compliance risks and other remote working challenges will be adopted , ” says Ludre Stevens , cofounder of intelligent business email system platform iNBOTIQA .
What sort of long-term solutions ?
“ Video conferencing , collaboration tools , AI-driven automated solutions , analytics — and more — will be ramped up to help operations to continue and to improve productivity and management insights.
” Kay Lack , head of training at software bootcamp Makers , agrees about the rise of video conferencing , but suggests it could have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ “ The pandemic led to more people making the most of video conferencing for work , but it also provided access to remote education , which gave a boost to the edtech sector , ” she says .
“ Online learning will continue booming as the numbers seeking flexible job training post-Covid will rise.
” For those returning to an office setting next year , AI and machine learning could also help to promote back-to-work safety .
Adam Gibson , cofounder of AI Ecosystem Builder Skymind , explains .
“ This could look @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s body temperature at reception via a personal mobile device , followed by a mobile alert to wash their hands before they enter the office — and a palm scanner that checks for bacteria for secure hygiene monitoring .
Only clean hands will deactivate a locked office door.
” What about the impact of tech on our everyday lives ?
The biggest change here starts with the rollout of 5G , which will boost online and mobile payments and improve fraud detection .
“ The speed of 5G networks , and the further @ @ @ @ @ @ @ offer better performance of existing apps , websites and enable faster and simpler payments and proactive fraud detection , ” predicts Evgenia Loginova , cofounder of payment processing firm Radar Payments .
“ This will make mobile and digital payments even more appealing to the masses and merchants alike , further boosting usage.
” And speaking of digital payments , the massive acceleration towards online retail driven by Covid-19 will see a resulting surge of online fraud platforms to help banks and payment processors prevent theft and fraud .
“ Fraud platforms are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ , ” explains Vinoth Jayakumar , partner at London-based VC fund Draper Esprit .
“ The volume of fraudulent transactions around the world is just staggering , at $ 72bn per annum .
Merchants spend around $ 9bn per annum solving it .
This fits into our wider thesis around the invisible layer behind financial services , specifically in three verticals : fraud , payments and core banking systems — we call this the ‘ spinal cord of banking ’ .
” Finally , we should not forget the boom in alternative @ @ @ @ @ @ @ businesses survive and thrive in a post-Covid world .
“ Startup leaders will be planning for growth while actively looking at technology to help them build financial resilience and to develop realistic contingency plans for hiring , fundraising and determining revenue projections — all while leading their teams remotely , ” says Sara Green Brodersen of Canaree , a platform that helps early-stage businesses build financial models .
Few things are certain in such unpredictable times , but tech , so often seen as its own specific industry , looks set to become @ @ @ @ @ @ @ shapes , sizes and sectors .
So bring on 2021 .

Tech predictions for 2021
2020 will forever be remembered as the year of the pandemic.
The economic fallout was felt by millions of people and businesses around the world, across different sectors.
The tech industry, however, has proved remarkably resilient. The big tech story of 2020 has been how many companies actually thrived during this unprecedented period, surpassing expectations.
Success stories include digital money transfer firms such as Azimo and Transferwise, which recorded a surge in customer numbers, as more people bypassed costly banks to send money home.
Some companies, meanwhile, attracted record-breaking investment, including Starling Bank, fintech infrastructure player Thought Machine, virtual tech events firm Hopin (currently valued at £2bn), and used car marketplace Cazoo — reportedly the fastest ever British company to achieve unicorn status.
And Revolut’s chief executive Nikolay Storonksy became the UK’s first tech billionaire, while gaining $500m of investment for the firm.
So, as we approach the end of the year and the beginning of 2021 beckons, what is next for the UK’s tech industry?
Digital doctors
Let’s start with something we’ve all become hyper-familiar with over the past year: healthcare.
The use of so-called “medtech” by healthcare providers and the public for health and wellness self-management was on the rise before the Covid pandemic began. That, of course, has now been turbocharged.
According to CB Insights, telehealth, continuous and remote diagnostics, teletherapy, virtual fitness and gyms, senior care and ageing are all categories that will emerge as winners after the Covid-19 pandemic. Health and wellness services are now well and truly online.
“More healthcare providers will make use of apps in the mix of curative treatments for patients, as acceptance grows for digital options that have been scientifically proven to be clinically effective,” says Richard Latham, chief executive of Wellmind Health, which provides NHS-approved digital courses Be Mindful and Pathway through Pain. “As the industry expands, I also expect to see calls for the setting of clinical standards for medical apps.”
The power of video
“Widespread office working looks unlikely next year, so long-term solutions to enhance compliance risks and other remote working challenges will be adopted,” says Ludre Stevens, cofounder of intelligent business email system platform iNBOTIQA.
What sort of long-term solutions? “Video conferencing, collaboration tools, AI-driven automated solutions, analytics — and more — will be ramped up to help operations to continue and to improve productivity and management insights.”
Kay Lack, head of training at software bootcamp Makers, agrees about the rise of video conferencing, but suggests it could have another purpose too: online training.
“The pandemic led to more people making the most of video conferencing for work, but it also provided access to remote education, which gave a boost to the edtech sector,” she says. “Online learning will continue booming as the numbers seeking flexible job training post-Covid will rise.”
The AI office
For those returning to an office setting next year, AI and machine learning could also help to promote back-to-work safety. Adam Gibson, cofounder of AI Ecosystem Builder Skymind, explains.
“This could look like an automated check of someone’s body temperature at reception via a personal mobile device, followed by a mobile alert to wash their hands before they enter the office — and a palm scanner that checks for bacteria for secure hygiene monitoring. Only clean hands will deactivate a locked office door.”
5G, fraud, and finance
What about the impact of tech on our everyday lives? The biggest change here starts with the rollout of 5G, which will boost online and mobile payments and improve fraud detection.
“The speed of 5G networks, and the further release of 5G compatible devices, will offer better performance of existing apps, websites and enable faster and simpler payments and proactive fraud detection,” predicts Evgenia Loginova, cofounder of payment processing firm Radar Payments. “This will make mobile and digital payments even more appealing to the masses and merchants alike, further boosting usage.”
And speaking of digital payments, the massive acceleration towards online retail driven by Covid-19 will see a resulting surge of online fraud platforms to help banks and payment processors prevent theft and fraud.
“Fraud platforms are like banking’s ‘nervous system’,” explains Vinoth Jayakumar, partner at London-based VC fund Draper Esprit. “The volume of fraudulent transactions around the world is just staggering, at $72bn per annum. Merchants spend around $9bn per annum solving it. This fits into our wider thesis around the invisible layer behind financial services, specifically in three verticals: fraud, payments and core banking systems — we call this the ‘spinal cord of banking’.”
Finally, we should not forget the boom in alternative financing and software tools designed for helping businesses survive and thrive in a post-Covid world. “Startup leaders will be planning for growth while actively looking at technology to help them build financial resilience and to develop realistic contingency plans for hiring, fundraising and determining revenue projections — all while leading their teams remotely,” says Sara Green Brodersen of Canaree, a platform that helps early-stage businesses build financial models.
Few things are certain in such unpredictable times, but tech, so often seen as its own specific industry, looks set to become ever more integral to business of all shapes, sizes and sectors. So bring on 2021.
Main image credit: Getty


cityam--2020-12-31--Software startup Ondato moves to London in post-Brexit boost

Software startup Ondato is establishing new headquarters in London , marking a show of confidence in the UK ’ s booming tech scene after Brexit .
Ondato , which operates biometric authentication software , said it was “ undeterred ” by the UK ’ s departure from the EU and would use its new base in Canary Wharf to drive further expansion in Europe .
The move comes after the company secured $ 2m ( £1.5m ) in seed capital from venture capital giant OTB Ventures and startup accelerator Startup Wise Guys .
Ondato , which was founded in Lithuania @ @ @ @ @ @ @ look to expand in France , Germany and Spain next year .
Founder and chief executive Liudas Kanapienis told City A.M. that the move reflected continued confidence in the capital after the UK formally leaves the EU .
“ London was , is and will be the main financial centre in Europe , ” he said .
Adam Niewinski , managing partner at OTB Ventures , added that the capital was “ still the place to be when you want to invest in fintech and fintech infrastructure ” .
Ondato ’ s platform @ @ @ @ @ @ @ user verification , data monitoring , screening and due diligence services .
For example , its technology is used by a major transport rental startup to verify the identity and driving qualifications of potential customers .
The firm has enjoyed a sharp rise in demand for its services during the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to a shift to online working and the growth of companies in sectors such as ecommerce and food delivery .
Revenue has risen more than threefold since the start of the year .
Ondato now has more than 150 clients @ @ @ @ @ @ @ banks and gig economy startups .

Software startup Ondato moves to London in post-Brexit boost
Ondato is establishing its new headquarters near Canary Wharf
Software startup Ondato is establishing new headquarters in London, marking a show of confidence in the UK’s booming tech scene after Brexit.
Ondato, which operates biometric authentication software, said it was “undeterred” by the UK’s departure from the EU and would use its new base in Canary Wharf to drive further expansion in Europe.
The move comes after the company secured $2m (£1.5m) in seed capital from venture capital giant OTB Ventures and startup accelerator Startup Wise Guys.
Ondato, which was founded in Lithuania in 2016, said it will also look to expand in France, Germany and Spain next year.
Founder and chief executive Liudas Kanapienis told City A.M. that the move reflected continued confidence in the capital after the UK formally leaves the EU.
“London was, is and will be the main financial centre in Europe,” he said.
Adam Niewinski, managing partner at OTB Ventures, added that the capital was “still the place to be when you want to invest in fintech and fintech infrastructure”.
Ondato’s platform uses biometric technology to provide businesses with user verification, data monitoring, screening and due diligence services.
For example, its technology is used by a major transport rental startup to verify the identity and driving qualifications of potential customers.
The firm has enjoyed a sharp rise in demand for its services during the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to a shift to online working and the growth of companies in sectors such as ecommerce and food delivery. Revenue has risen more than threefold since the start of the year.
Ondato now has more than 150 clients in 24 countries, including major Baltic banks and gig economy startups.


cityam--2020-12-30--UK parliament passes post-Brexit trade deal in one day

Both houses of the UK parliament have passed Boris Johnson ’ s Brexit trade deal , just 13 hours after it was introduced in the House of Commons .
The deal was voted through by the House of Lords just after 11.30 pm , after MPs passed the legislation by 521 votes to 73 earlier this afternoon .
Read more : Brexit trade deal passes House of Commons after quick vote The deal will now be sent to the Queen for Royal Assent in order for it to officially pass it into law .
The agreement has already been signed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after the bloc ’ s 27 ambassadors signed on to the deal .
Johnson ’ s trade deal will now come into effect on 1 January when the UK leaves the EU single market and customs union , meaning there will be a a relatively seamless transition .
The agreement has set the parameters of the UK ’ s future relationship with the EU and has ensured the continued zero tariff trade of goods .
Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this morning in the House of Commons by saying that 1 January would herald “ a new chapter in our national story ” .
“ Those of us who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU never sought a rupture with our closest neighbours , ” he said .
“ What we sought was not a rupture but a resolution , a resolution of the old and vexed question of Britain ’ s political relations with Europe , which bedevilled our post-War history .
“ Now , with this Bill , we are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the best friend and ally the EU could have – working hand-in-glove whenever our values and interests coincide while fulfilling the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws , made by their own elected parliament.
” Read more : Theresa May slams Brexit trade deal for not including financial services Labour criticised the Brexit trade deal for not including any provisions for services , which make up the vast majority of the UK economy .
However , Sir Keir Starmer still instructed his MPs to vote for it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two days ’ time .

UK parliament passes post-Brexit trade deal in one day
Boris Johnson signing the post-Brexit trade deal
Both houses of the UK parliament have passed Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal, just 13 hours after it was introduced in the House of Commons.
The deal was voted through by the House of Lords just after 11.30 pm, after MPs passed the legislation by 521 votes to 73 earlier this afternoon.
The deal will now be sent to the Queen for Royal Assent in order for it to officially pass it into law.
The agreement has already been signed EU chief Ursula von der Leyen, after the bloc’s 27 ambassadors signed on to the deal.
Johnson’s trade deal will now come into effect on 1 January when the UK leaves the EU single market and customs union, meaning there will be a a relatively seamless transition.
The agreement has set the parameters of the UK’s future relationship with the EU and has ensured the continued zero tariff trade of goods.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
The Prime Minister opened the last Brexit debate this morning in the House of Commons by saying that 1 January would herald “a new chapter in our national story”.
“Those of us who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU never sought a rupture with our closest neighbours,” he said.
“What we sought was not a rupture but a resolution, a resolution of the old and vexed question of Britain’s political relations with Europe, which bedevilled our post-War history.
“Now, with this Bill, we are going to become a friendly neighbour – the best friend and ally the EU could have – working hand-in-glove whenever our values and interests coincide while fulfilling the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws, made by their own elected parliament.”
Labour criticised the Brexit trade deal for not including any provisions for services, which make up the vast majority of the UK economy.
However, Sir Keir Starmer still instructed his MPs to vote for it as it avoids a no-deal Brexit in two days’ time.


cityam--2020-12-30--Wall St closes higher, dollar drops as remarkable year winds down

NEW YORK ( Reuters ) -Wall Street ended the session in positive territory and the dollar dipped to its lowest in more than two years on Wednesday , the penultimate trading day in a remarkable year of pandemic , recession and recovery .
All three major U.S. stock indexes gained modestly , but short of all-time closing highs as recently enacted coronavirus relief and the ongoing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines fed optimism over economic recovery in 2021 .
“ It is light action today , ” said JJ Kinahan , chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade in Chicago .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ‘ Hey , we are going to finish the year strong , ’ everybody feels good and we will see what happens come January 4.
” “ But at some point we are going to start to have volatility again related to COVID , ” Kinahan added .
“ This is not a story that is going away in the first six months of 2021.
” That sentiment was shared by Matthew Keator , managing partner in the Keator Group , a wealth management firm in Lenox , Massachusetts .
“ My anticipation @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will probably be more robust in the latter part of 2021 , ” Keator said .
“ Once there ’ s the sense of an all-clear sign , we would anticipate a robust response from the consumer , ” Keator added .
Britain approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca in the latest development in the rapid progression , testing , approval and deployment of drugs to battle the disease .
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 73.89 points , or 0.24 % , to 30,409.56 , the S & @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 0.13 % , to 3,732.04 and the Nasdaq Composite added 19.78 points , or 0.15 % , to 12,870.00 .
European stocks reversed gains to end a five-day winning streak , closing lower as investors locked in year-end gains .
The pan-European STOXX 600 index lost 0.34 % and MSCI ’ s gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.35 % .
Emerging market stocks rose 1.73 % .
MSCI ’ s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 1.85 % higher , while Japan ’ s Nikkei lost 0.45 % .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ Wednesday afternoon as traders bought longer-dated debt to rebalance their portfolios ahead of the month-end .
Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 4/32 in price to yield 0.9231 % , from 0.935 % late on Tuesday .
The 30-year bond last rose 12/32 in price to yield 1.6576 % , from 1.674 % late on Tuesday .
The dollar fell to the lowest since April 2018 against a basket of world currencies as investors bet on more fiscal support and positioned for year-end in light trading volume .
The dollar index fell 0.38 % @ @ @ @ @ @ @ at $ 1.2293 .
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.30 % versus the greenback at 103.28 per dollar , while the British pound was last trading at $ 1.3614 , up 0.84 % on the day .
Crude oil prices advanced on the back of the weaker dollar and a dip in U.S. inventories , but gains were capped by dimming hopes of a demand rebound .
U.S. crude futures gained 0.83 % to settle at $ 48.40 per barrel and Brent settled at $ 51.34 per barrel , up 0.49 % on the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a dip in the greenback , although global COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and increased risk appetite limited the safe-haven metal ’ s gains .

Wall St closes higher, dollar drops as remarkable year winds down
By Stephen Culp
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Wall Street ended the session in positive territory and the dollar dipped to its lowest in more than two years on Wednesday, the penultimate trading day in a remarkable year of pandemic, recession and recovery.
All three major U.S. stock indexes gained modestly, but short of all-time closing highs as recently enacted coronavirus relief and the ongoing rollout of COVID-19 vaccines fed optimism over economic recovery in 2021.
“It is light action today,” said JJ Kinahan, chief market strategist at TD Ameritrade in Chicago. “It’s a little bit of ‘Hey, we are going to finish the year strong,’ everybody feels good and we will see what happens come January 4.”
“But at some point we are going to start to have volatility again related to COVID,” Kinahan added. “This is not a story that is going away in the first six months of 2021.”
That sentiment was shared by Matthew Keator, managing partner in the Keator Group, a wealth management firm in Lenox, Massachusetts.
“My anticipation is that (the economic rebound) will probably be more robust in the latter part of 2021,” Keator said. “Once there’s the sense of an all-clear sign, we would anticipate a robust response from the consumer,” Keator added.
Britain approved a coronavirus vaccine developed by Oxford University and AstraZeneca in the latest development in the rapid progression, testing, approval and deployment of drugs to battle the disease.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 73.89 points, or 0.24%, to 30,409.56, the S&P 500 gained 5 points, or 0.13%, to 3,732.04 and the Nasdaq Composite added 19.78 points, or 0.15%, to 12,870.00.
European stocks reversed gains to end a five-day winning streak, closing lower as investors locked in year-end gains.
The pan-European STOXX 600 index lost 0.34% and MSCI’s gauge of stocks across the globe gained 0.35%.
Emerging market stocks rose 1.73%. MSCI’s broadest index of Asia-Pacific shares outside Japan closed 1.85% higher, while Japan’s Nikkei lost 0.45%.
The U.S. Treasury yield curve flattened on Wednesday afternoon as traders bought longer-dated debt to rebalance their portfolios ahead of the month-end.
Benchmark 10-year notes last rose 4/32 in price to yield 0.9231%, from 0.935% late on Tuesday.
The 30-year bond last rose 12/32 in price to yield 1.6576%, from 1.674% late on Tuesday.
The dollar fell to the lowest since April 2018 against a basket of world currencies as investors bet on more fiscal support and positioned for year-end in light trading volume.
The dollar index fell 0.38%, with the euro up 0.38% at $1.2293.
The Japanese yen strengthened 0.30% versus the greenback at 103.28 per dollar, while the British pound was last trading at $1.3614, up 0.84% on the day.
Crude oil prices advanced on the back of the weaker dollar and a dip in U.S. inventories, but gains were capped by dimming hopes of a demand rebound.
U.S. crude futures gained 0.83% to settle at $48.40 per barrel and Brent settled at $51.34 per barrel, up 0.49% on the day.
Gold prices rose, countering a dip in the greenback, although global COVID-19 vaccine rollouts and increased risk appetite limited the safe-haven metal’s gains.
Spot gold added 0.8% to $1,892.06 an ounce.
(Reporting by Stephen Culp; Additional reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; editing by Jonathan Oatis)


cityam--2020-12-30--Covid: Another 981 UK deaths in biggest daily toll for eight months

Almost 1,000 people died in the UK from Covid yesterday in what is the largest one-day total since the first peak of the virus .
The government ’ s latest figures show that 981 people died on Tuesday , which takes the total to 72,548 .
Read more : Most of England now in a Tier 4 lockdown after Covid cases hit record high The number was a large jump from the previous day , with a likely backlog of deaths shown in the data .
There were also another 50,023 cases of coronavirus in the UK yesterday , the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ strain that spreads at a much faster rate .
Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said today that case rates had doubled in the UK over the past two weeks .
It comes as three-quarters of England was today put into a Tier 4 lockdown by health secretary Matt Hancock .
Boris Johnson said at today ’ s 5pm press conference that the country needed to “ redouble our efforts to contain the virus ” .
“ That ’ s why the health secretary has announced more areas of England will be moving @ @ @ @ @ @ @ say again – no one regrets these measures more bitterly than I do , but we must take firm action now , ” he said .
Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data Speaking to MPs today , Hancock said : “ Unfortunately this new variant is spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast .
“ The NHS is under very significant pressure , there are over 21,000 people in hospital with coronavirus right now and we can see the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ The threat to life from this virus is real and the pressures on the NHS are real too.
” English Covid rates rose to 402.6 per 100,000 between 18 and 24 December – a 32 per cent increase on the previous week .
Hospitalisations have also risen by 18 per cent in the same period .
The UK ’ s medicines regulator today announced it had approved the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine , making it the second jab to be deemed safe .
Government ministers have indicated that the news could mean the end @ @ @ @ @ @ @ next few months .
Millions of doses of the vaccine have already been produced and will be rolled out from Monday across the UK , significantly increasing the country ’ s capacity to administer jabs .
AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot said as many as 2m vaccines could be manufactured each week .
Read more : What next for healthcare investing after Covid vaccine success ?
“ The vaccine is our way out of this , ” Hancock told the BBC .
“ Whereas previously I ’ ve I hoped we ’ d be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ now have a high degree of confidence we ’ ll be out of this by spring .
”

Covid: Another 981 UK deaths in biggest daily toll for eight months
Almost 1,000 people died in the UK from Covid yesterday in what is the largest one-day total since the first peak of the virus.
The government’s latest figures show that 981 people died on Tuesday, which takes the total to 72,548.
The number was a large jump from the previous day, with a likely backlog of deaths shown in the data.
There were also another 50,023 cases of coronavirus in the UK yesterday, the majority of which were the new mutant strain that spreads at a much faster rate.
Deputy chief medical officer Jonathan Van-Tam said today that case rates had doubled in the UK over the past two weeks.
It comes as three-quarters of England was today put into a Tier 4 lockdown by health secretary Matt Hancock.
Boris Johnson said at today’s 5pm press conference that the country needed to “redouble our efforts to contain the virus”.
“That’s why the health secretary has announced more areas of England will be moving into Tier 4 from tomorrow and I say again – no one regrets these measures more bitterly than I do, but we must take firm action now,” he said.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
Speaking to MPs today, Hancock said: “Unfortunately this new variant is spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast.
“The NHS is under very significant pressure, there are over 21,000 people in hospital with coronavirus right now and we can see the impact that this is having.
“The threat to life from this virus is real and the pressures on the NHS are real too.”
English Covid rates rose to 402.6 per 100,000 between 18 and 24 December – a 32 per cent increase on the previous week.
Hospitalisations have also risen by 18 per cent in the same period.
The UK’s medicines regulator today announced it had approved the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, making it the second jab to be deemed safe.
Government ministers have indicated that the news could mean the end of England’s lockdowns in the next few months.
Millions of doses of the vaccine have already been produced and will be rolled out from Monday across the UK, significantly increasing the country’s capacity to administer jabs.
AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot said as many as 2m vaccines could be manufactured each week.
Read more: What next for healthcare investing after Covid vaccine success?
“The vaccine is our way out of this,” Hancock told the BBC.
“Whereas previously I’ve I hoped we’d be out of this by spring, I now have a high degree of confidence we’ll be out of this by spring.”


cityam--2020-12-30--Lockdown board games: Forget Monopoly, here are the real games

For decades board games lived largely unloved lives , their battered boxes pulled off dusty shelves on rainy days and holidays .
But as we approach essentially another national lockdown , many of us will be dusting them off once more .
Back in their heyday , board games were designed to be simple , with concepts that could appeal equally to your gran or your toddler .
Games like Monopoly , Cluedo and Risk give the illusion of nuance and complexity , but once you ’ ve mastered the basics , they ’ re mostly luck-based distractions .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ stirred in 007 ’ s new Land Rover Defender More involved titles have existed on the peripheries of popular culture for decades , games that require a day or more to play and a doctorate to understand their labyrinthine rule-set .
But times have changed .
Geek culture has become pop culture , and lockdown has only accelerated our desire for physical , social experiences .
Now board games of dizzying complexity are multi-billion pound enterprises , played by City bankers as well as nerdy teens .
It ’ s hard to overstate @ @ @ @ @ @ @ GamesWorkshop , best known for its futuristic Warhammer 40,000 game , is worth more than ITV or Marks & Spencer .
Earlier this year more than 80,000 people backed a game called Frosthaven , generating $ 13m to produce a game that costs $ 145 to buy .
The industry as a whole was worth $ 7.2bn in 2017 and that ’ s expected to rise to $ 12bn by 2023 .
Part of the appeal of board games is the nostalgia of recreating childhood experiences , with successful board game adaptations including @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles .
There ’ s also a huge market for out of print games , with second-hand titles changing hands for hundreds or even thousands of pounds .
So if you ’ re looking for ways to survive lockdown 2.0 , here ’ s our guide to some of the best board games out there .
But beware : once you tumble down the rabbit hole , you may never escape .
Launched in 2004 , Ticket To Ride is a “ gateway game ” , spanning the gap between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ sneered at by the board game community – and more complex titles .
It sees you compete with friends to collect “ train cards ” , which allow you to build points-scoring railways across America or Europe .
The simple premise can be picked up by children , but there are layers of strategy and nuance that give it a huge amount of replay value .
What could be more perfect for a lockdown afternoon than collaborating with your family to fight the spread of deadly diseases ?
This cooperative title requires teamwork @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the individual players to beat a pandemic before it gets out of control .
With varying difficulty levels , this is a game that requires skill and determination to beat , with the very real possibility that a deadly disease may end up the winner .
At least in this fictional version , you can always have another attempt .
If the thought of fighting off a pandemic sounds a bit too close to home , why not try instead combatting a host of classic monsters terrorising a town ?
In Horrified you @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and resources to fight off Frankenstein , The Bride of Frankenstein , The Wolf Man , Dracula , The Mummy , The Invisible Man and the Creature from the Black Lagoon .
Each has a unique set of characteristics that require specific strategies to overcome .
Monstrously good fun .
Read more : Turner at the Tate Britain : An Imax-sized naval blockbuster Another game of conquest , this one sees you transported to mythical ancient Egypt , where you play a god directing your armies and feeding on the power of prayer @ @ @ @ @ @ @ tactical experience that ’ s as much an insight into the mind of your opponents as it is into Egyptian mythology .
A board game you can play alone or with others , Terraforming Mars sees you take control of a corporation attempting to set up a human colony on Mars .
You must make an atmosphere , create drinkable water and encourage immigrants to take the trip to your brave new world .
It ’ s a game of space capitalism that Elon Musk hopes to be playing for real , played @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Combining elements of Choose Your Own Adventure , dungeon crawling and grudging cooperative play , Gloomhaven is designed to be played over many sessions .
Summing up its complex rules in a pithy sentence is all but impossible , but this medieval European adventure is a truly unique experience .
As much a lifestyle as it is a tabletop game , Warhammer 40,000 doesn ’ t just involve highly complex battles , but assembling and painting an entire army of miniatures .
With tournaments across the world , there is a hugely @ @ @ @ @ @ @ narrative game styles for less competitive players .
A game itself will comfortably eat up an afternoon , but it will take months to get to a stage where you ’ re ready to put your little space-men into bloody battle in the grim dark future of the 41st century .

Lockdown board games: Forget Monopoly, here are the real games
The board game Pandemic – perfect for lockdown
For decades board games lived largely unloved lives, their battered boxes pulled off dusty shelves on rainy days and holidays. But as we approach essentially another national lockdown, many of us will be dusting them off once more.
Back in their heyday, board games were designed to be simple, with concepts that could appeal equally to your gran or your toddler. Games like Monopoly, Cluedo and Risk give the illusion of nuance and complexity, but once you’ve mastered the basics, they’re mostly luck-based distractions.
More involved titles have existed on the peripheries of popular culture for decades, games that require a day or more to play and a doctorate to understand their labyrinthine rule-set.
But times have changed. Geek culture has become pop culture, and lockdown has only accelerated our desire for physical, social experiences. Now board games of dizzying complexity are multi-billion pound enterprises, played by City bankers as well as nerdy teens.
It’s hard to overstate the size of the market: The GamesWorkshop, best known for its futuristic Warhammer 40,000 game, is worth more than ITV or Marks & Spencer. Earlier this year more than 80,000 people backed a game called Frosthaven, generating $13m to produce a game that costs $145 to buy. The industry as a whole was worth $7.2bn in 2017 and that’s expected to rise to $12bn by 2023.
Part of the appeal of board games is the nostalgia of recreating childhood experiences, with successful board game adaptations including Back to the Future, Ghostbusters and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. There’s also a huge market for out of print games, with second-hand titles changing hands for hundreds or even thousands of pounds.
So if you’re looking for ways to survive lockdown 2.0, here’s our guide to some of the best board games out there. But beware: once you tumble down the rabbit hole, you may never escape.
Terraforming Mars
Ticket to Ride
Kemet
Warhammer 40,000
Gloomhaven
Horrified Our top board games for lockdown
Ticket to Ride
Launched in 2004, Ticket To Ride is a “gateway game”, spanning the gap between the basics like Risk – which are sneered at by the board game community – and more complex titles.
It sees you compete with friends to collect “train cards”, which allow you to build points-scoring railways across America or Europe. The simple premise can be picked up by children, but there are layers of strategy and nuance that give it a huge amount of replay value.
Pandemic
What could be more perfect for a lockdown afternoon than collaborating with your family to fight the spread of deadly diseases? This cooperative title requires teamwork and communication, utilising the strengths of the individual players to beat a pandemic before it gets out of control.
With varying difficulty levels, this is a game that requires skill and determination to beat, with the very real possibility that a deadly disease may end up the winner. At least in this fictional version, you can always have another attempt.
Horrified
If the thought of fighting off a pandemic sounds a bit too close to home, why not try instead combatting a host of classic monsters terrorising a town? In Horrified you and your teammates must pool your skills and resources to fight off Frankenstein, The Bride of Frankenstein, The Wolf Man, Dracula, The Mummy, The Invisible Man and the Creature from the Black Lagoon.
Each has a unique set of characteristics that require specific strategies to overcome. Monstrously good fun.
Kemet
Another game of conquest, this one sees you transported to mythical ancient Egypt, where you play a god directing your armies and feeding on the power of prayer. It’s a deep, tactical experience that’s as much an insight into the mind of your opponents as it is into Egyptian mythology.
Terraforming Mars
A board game you can play alone or with others, Terraforming Mars sees you take control of a corporation attempting to set up a human colony on Mars.
You must make an atmosphere, create drinkable water and encourage immigrants to take the trip to your brave new world. It’s a game of space capitalism that Elon Musk hopes to be playing for real, played on a handsome board of interlocking hexagons.
Gloomhaven
Combining elements of Choose Your Own Adventure, dungeon crawling and grudging cooperative play, Gloomhaven is designed to be played over many sessions. Summing up its complex rules in a pithy sentence is all but impossible, but this medieval European adventure is a truly unique experience.
Warhammer 40,000
As much a lifestyle as it is a tabletop game, Warhammer 40,000 doesn’t just involve highly complex battles, but assembling and painting an entire army of miniatures.
With tournaments across the world, there is a hugely competitive scene, as well as more narrative game styles for less competitive players.
A game itself will comfortably eat up an afternoon, but it will take months to get to a stage where you’re ready to put your little space-men into bloody battle in the grim dark future of the 41st century.


cityam--2020-12-30--Most of England now in a Tier 4 lockdown after Covid cases hit record high

Around three-quarters of England is now in lockdown , after areas like Greater Manchester , the entire North East and Birmingham were placed in Tier 4 by the government today .
A statement from the Department of Health also said that “ almost all remaining areas ” have been escalated into Tier 3 including Liverpool , York and North Yorkshire and Cornwall .
Read more : Breaking : Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine approved for UK use Education secretary Gavin Williamson also announced that the planned reopening of primary schools in some areas , including London , next week has been delayed .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ schools and further colleges to open next week only for vulnerable children , children of critical workers and exam students .
The country recorded 50,023 new Covid cases yesterday , with the majority of cases thought to be the new strain of the disease .
Speaking to MPs today , health secretary Matt Hancock said : “ Unfortunately this new variant is spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast .
“ The NHS is under very significant pressure , there are over 21,000 people in hospital with coronavirus right now @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this is having .
“ The threat to life from this virus is real and the pressures on the NHS are real too.
” Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data English Covid rates rose to 402.6 per 100,000 between 18 and 24 December – a 32 per cent increase on the previous week .
Hospitalisations have also risen by 18 per cent in the same period .
The spiraling figures have meant that the government ’ s back to school plan has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
All primary school students will go back next week , except for London , Essex , Kent , East Sussex , Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire .
Boris Johnson said : “ I am afraid the start of the new term will be delayed until at least 18 January , when the latest data on those infection rates will be reviewed .
“ That is because the rate of transmission in these areas is so high , and there ’ s just such pressure on the local NHS , that extra action is required @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” He added : “ In secondary schools , all vulnerable children and the children of critical workers will go back next week across England , as originally planned .
“ But we will ask exam year pupils in secondary schools to learn remotely during the first week of term and return to the classroom from 11 January .
The remaining secondary school pupils , i.e .
non exam groups will go back a week later , that is from 18 January.
” The UK ’ s medicines regulator today announced that it @ @ @ @ @ @ @ making it the second jab to be deemed safe .
Government figures have indicated that the news could mean the end of England ’ s lockdowns in the next few months .
Millions of doses of the vaccine have already been produced and will be rolled out from Monday across the UK , significantly increasing the country ’ s capacity to administer jabs .
AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot said as many as 2m vaccines could be manufactured each week .
Read more : What next for healthcare investing after Covid vaccine success ?
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ of this , ” Hancock told the BBC .
“ Whereas previously I ’ ve I hoped we ’ d be out of this by spring , I now have a high degree of confidence we ’ ll be out of this by spring .
”

Most of England now in a Tier 4 lockdown after Covid cases hit record high
Shopper numbers have taken a tumble following Christmas as Omicron fears continue to bite.
Around three-quarters of England is now in lockdown, after areas like Greater Manchester, the entire North East and Birmingham were placed in Tier 4 by the government today.
A statement from the Department of Health also said that “almost all remaining areas” have been escalated into Tier 3 including Liverpool, York and North Yorkshire and Cornwall.
London and England’s South East remain in lockdown.
Education secretary Gavin Williamson also announced that the planned reopening of primary schools in some areas, including London, next week has been delayed.
The government has also told all secondary schools and further colleges to open next week only for vulnerable children, children of critical workers and exam students.
The country recorded 50,023 new Covid cases yesterday, with the majority of cases thought to be the new strain of the disease.
Speaking to MPs today, health secretary Matt Hancock said: “Unfortunately this new variant is spreading across most of England and cases are doubling fast.
“The NHS is under very significant pressure, there are over 21,000 people in hospital with coronavirus right now and we can see the impact that this is having.
“The threat to life from this virus is real and the pressures on the NHS are real too.”
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
English Covid rates rose to 402.6 per 100,000 between 18 and 24 December – a 32 per cent increase on the previous week.
Hospitalisations have also risen by 18 per cent in the same period.
The spiraling figures have meant that the government’s back to school plan has been delayed for the most affected areas.
All primary school students will go back next week, except for London, Essex, Kent, East Sussex, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire.
Boris Johnson said: “I am afraid the start of the new term will be delayed until at least 18 January, when the latest data on those infection rates will be reviewed.
“That is because the rate of transmission in these areas is so high, and there’s just such pressure on the local NHS, that extra action is required to control the spread of the virus.”
He added: “In secondary schools, all vulnerable children and the children of critical workers will go back next week across England, as originally planned.
“But we will ask exam year pupils in secondary schools to learn remotely during the first week of term and return to the classroom from 11 January. The remaining secondary school pupils, i.e. non exam groups will go back a week later, that is from 18 January.”
The UK’s medicines regulator today announced that it had approved the AstraZeneca/Oxford University vaccine, making it the second jab to be deemed safe.
Government figures have indicated that the news could mean the end of England’s lockdowns in the next few months.
Millions of doses of the vaccine have already been produced and will be rolled out from Monday across the UK, significantly increasing the country’s capacity to administer jabs.
AstraZeneca boss Pascal Soriot said as many as 2m vaccines could be manufactured each week.
“The vaccine is our way out of this,” Hancock told the BBC.
“Whereas previously I’ve I hoped we’d be out of this by spring, I now have a high degree of confidence we’ll be out of this by spring.”


cityam--2020-12-30--Our top picks of art, film and theatre in 2020

It ’ s been a year of existential crisis for the arts , to the extent you could be forgiven @ @ @ @ @ and cancellations .
But squeezed between 2020 ’ s lockdowns were some excellent moments for @ @ @ @ @ : The top films of 2020 , from Parasite to Mank Here are my top @ @ @ @ @ films and shows I managed to attend this year .

Our top picks of art, film and theatre in 2020
The Lighthouse was one of the films of the year
It’s been a year of existential crisis for the arts, to the extent you could be forgiven for only remembering the closures and cancellations. But squeezed between 2020’s lockdowns were some excellent moments for the arts.
Here are my top picks from the exhibitions, films and shows I managed to attend this year.
https://beta.cityam.com/andy-warhol-at-tate-modern-review-a-rare-glimpse-into-the-human-side-of-this-larger-than-life-icon/
https://beta.cityam.com/death-of-england-review-rafe-spall-dazzles-in-this-timely-portrait-of-the-resurgent-far-right/
https://beta.cityam.com/parasite-movie-review-bong-joon-hos-surreal-social-commentary-is-a-work-of-rare-genius/
https://beta.cityam.com/the-lighthouse-film-review-robert-pattinson-and-willem-dafoe-shine-in-this-tale-of-madness-at-sea/
https://beta.cityam.com/the-man-who-killed-don-quixote-review-terry-gilliam-goes-balls-to-the-wall-in-this-kaleidoscope-of-imagination/
https://beta.cityam.com/picasso-and-paper-at-the-royal-academy-review-a-daft-name-adorns-a-roller-coaster-of-form-and-imagination/
https://beta.cityam.com/the-welkin-at-the-national-theatre-review-hilarious-tragic-and-utterly-harrowing/


cityam--2020-12-30--Loungewear sales up 1,303 per cent as lockdown changes consumer habits

Loungewear and leggings sales spiked by 1,303 per cent in 2020 according to new data from John Lewis .
The department store ’ s annual look at consumer habits shows lockdown ’ s impact on customers ’ baskets .
As well as sitting room fashion , sales of chess sets ( a 121 per cent increase on 2019 ) , TVs ( 45 per cent ) and paint ( 33 per cent ) show a Britain forced to stay at home .
Scalextric toys become particularly popular in the run-up to Christmas .
By contrast , sales of high-heeled shoes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 56 per cent respectively .
Alarm clocks ( down 38 per cent ) and suitcases ( down 69 per cent ) were big losers , too .
Simon Coble , Trading Director of John Lewis says : “ The world is a very different place than it was in January .
This year we stayed in , hunkered down , decked out and spruced up our homes.
” Retail wonks expect high street footfall to pick up in the new year as vaccine rollout continues .
The Retail Think Tank , run by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cent sales growth next year .

Loungewear sales up 1,303 per cent as lockdown changes consumer habits
Loungewear and leggings sales spiked by 1,303 per cent in 2020 according to new data from John Lewis.
The department store’s annual look at consumer habits shows lockdown’s impact on customers’ baskets.
As well as sitting room fashion, sales of chess sets (a 121 per cent increase on 2019), TVs (45 per cent) and paint (33 per cent) show a Britain forced to stay at home.
Read more: Wanted – a minister for hospitality
Scalextric toys become particularly popular in the run-up to Christmas.
By contrast, sales of high-heeled shoes and party handbags plummeted by 62 and 56 per cent respectively.
Alarm clocks (down 38 per cent) and suitcases (down 69 per cent) were big losers, too.
Simon Coble, Trading Director of John Lewis says: “The world is a very different place than it was in January. This year we stayed in, hunkered down, decked out and spruced up our homes.”
Retail wonks expect high street footfall to pick up in the new year as vaccine rollout continues.
The Retail Think Tank, run by KPMG and Ipsos, predict 3 per cent sales growth next year.


cityam--2020-12-30--Brexit trade deal passes House of Commons after quick vote

MPs have voted to pass Boris Johnson ’ s Brexit trade deal after just five hours , clearing the first hurdle for it to come into law in two days ’ time .
The Brexit vote was passed by 521 to 73 .
Read more : Boris Johnson : UK to begin ‘ new chapter in our national story ’ on Friday The bill was introduced to the House of Commons at 9.30am and will be rushed through both houses of parliament today , with Downing Street expecting the Queen to give it Royal Assent around midnight .
The EU @ @ @ @ @ @ @ voted to ratify the deal , meaning it will come into place on 1 January when the UK leaves the EU ’ s single market and customs union .
The Prime Minister opened the debate by saying that the 1 January would herald “ a new chapter in our national story ” .
“ Those of us who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU never sought a rupture with our closest neighbours , ” he said .
“ What we sought was not a rupture but a resolution , a resolution of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s political relations with Europe , which bedevilled our post-War history .
Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data “ Now , with this Bill , we are going to become a friendly neighbour – the best friend and ally the EU could have – working hand-in-glove whenever our values and interests coincide while fulfilling the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws , made by their own elected parliament.
” The bill was passed with the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ MPs , after party leader Sir Keir Starmer decided to whip in favour of the trade deal .
The Scottish National Party , the Liberal Democrats , Plaid Cymru and the Democratic Unionist Party ( DUP ) all voted against the deal or abstained .
Starmer said the deal was “ thin ” , but that it was far better than the alternative – a no-deal Brexit .
“ People voting ‘ no ’ today want ‘ yes ’ , ” he said .
“ They want others to save them from their @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the truth of the situation and that ’ s why my party has taken a different path.
” Former Prime Minister Theresa May voted for the deal , but said it was worse than hers and that she was “ disappointed ” it did not include a financial services agreement .
“ In 2018 in Mansion house , I said that we wanted to work to get a financial services deal in the future treaty arrangement and that it would be truly groundbreaking , ” she said .
Read more : The Tories @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal tomorrow “ It would have been , but sadly it has not been achieved .
We have a deal in trade which benefits the EU , but not a deal in services that would have benefited the UK .
“ The arrangement treaty is clear that future negotiation on these points is possible and I hope the government will go to the negotiations with alacrity and vigour , particularly on financial services .
”

Brexit trade deal passes House of Commons after quick vote
Prime Minister Boris Johnson waves as he returns to Downing Street after opening today’s debate on the Brexit trade deal
MPs have voted to pass Boris Johnson’s Brexit trade deal after just five hours, clearing the first hurdle for it to come into law in two days’ time.
The Brexit vote was passed by 521 to 73.
The bill was introduced to the House of Commons at 9.30am and will be rushed through both houses of parliament today, with Downing Street expecting the Queen to give it Royal Assent around midnight.
The EU’s 27 national ambassadors have already voted to ratify the deal, meaning it will come into place on 1 January when the UK leaves the EU’s single market and customs union.
The Prime Minister opened the debate by saying that the 1 January would herald “a new chapter in our national story”.
“Those of us who campaigned for Britain to leave the EU never sought a rupture with our closest neighbours,” he said.
“What we sought was not a rupture but a resolution, a resolution of the old and vexed question of Britain’s political relations with Europe, which bedevilled our post-War history.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
“Now, with this Bill, we are going to become a friendly neighbour – the best friend and ally the EU could have – working hand-in-glove whenever our values and interests coincide while fulfilling the sovereign wish of the British people to live under their own laws, made by their own elected parliament.”
The bill was passed with the assistance of the vast majority of Labour MPs, after party leader Sir Keir Starmer decided to whip in favour of the trade deal.
The Scottish National Party, the Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru and the Democratic Unionist Party (DUP) all voted against the deal or abstained.
Starmer said the deal was “thin”, but that it was far better than the alternative – a no-deal Brexit.
“People voting ‘no’ today want ‘yes’,” he said.
“They want others to save them from their own vote.
“That’s the truth of the situation and that’s why my party has taken a different path.”
Former Prime Minister Theresa May voted for the deal, but said it was worse than hers and that she was “disappointed” it did not include a financial services agreement.
“In 2018 in Mansion house, I said that we wanted to work to get a financial services deal in the future treaty arrangement and that it would be truly groundbreaking,” she said.
“It would have been, but sadly it has not been achieved. We have a deal in trade which benefits the EU, but not a deal in services that would have benefited the UK.
“The arrangement treaty is clear that future negotiation on these points is possible and I hope the government will go to the negotiations with alacrity and vigour, particularly on financial services.”


cityam--2020-12-30--EU and China sign investment pact after Merkel's intervention

The EU and China have concluded in principle negotiations on an investment deal , with Angela Merkel playing an “ active role ” in driving through the accord .
The deal comes amid deep concerns about the Chinese government ’ s use of its economic clout to enmesh itself in western countries .
A European Commission statement said the agreement is of “ major economic significance ” and that China has “ committed to an unprecedented level of market access for EU investors.
” China has agreed to “ work towards ” meeting global standards on forced labour .
Footage @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be Uighur Muslims , a repressed group within China , being kept in labour camps .
Chinese President Xi Jinping will join an EU-China leaders ’ meeting in Brussels in 2021 , another sign of growing links between the EU and China .
The UK has moved in a different direction since Boris Johnson moved into Downing Street .
Chinese telecoms firm Huawei have been booted out of the bidding to build the country ’ s 5G network and work is ongoing to set hard limits on Chinese involvement in infrastructure projects @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from Britain ’ s 5G network

EU and China sign investment pact after Merkel’s intervention
Angela Merkel after a video call with Chinese leaders earlier this year (Photo by Sean Gallup/Getty Images)
The EU and China have concluded in principle negotiations on an investment deal, with Angela Merkel playing an “active role” in driving through the accord.
The deal comes amid deep concerns about the Chinese government’s use of its economic clout to enmesh itself in western countries.
A European Commission statement said the agreement is of “major economic significance” and that China has “committed to an unprecedented level of market access for EU investors.”
Read more: EU departure signals a ‘new chapter’ for Britain
China has agreed to “work towards” meeting global standards on forced labour.
Footage emerged earlier this year of what appeared to be Uighur Muslims, a repressed group within China, being kept in labour camps.
Chinese President Xi Jinping will join an EU-China leaders’ meeting in Brussels in 2021, another sign of growing links between the EU and China.
The UK has moved in a different direction since Boris Johnson moved into Downing Street.
Chinese telecoms firm Huawei have been booted out of the bidding to build the country’s 5G network and work is ongoing to set hard limits on Chinese involvement in infrastructure projects.
Read more: Huawei booted out from Britain’s 5G network


cityam--2020-12-31--Brexit: Ireland beefs up police patrols at Northern Ireland border

Ireland will intensify its police presence at the Northern Ireland border from tomorrow in a bid to stop organised crime taking advantage of post-Brexit changes .
Ireland ’ s national police force , Garda , has already increased officers posted at the border by 20 per cent since 2016 and are set to add more as the Brexit transition period ends .
Read more : Eurotunnel operator ‘ confident ’ there will not be border chaos tomorrow Irish firms will have to fill out customs declarations when exporting goods to Great Britain from tomorrow , but not to Northern Ireland @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ s single market and abide by EU customs rules .
This arrangement has prevented a hard border on the island of Ireland , which is a key term of the Good Friday peace agreement .
Before the Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data However , the Irish government is still concerned about organised crime gangs exploiting the new arrangements to smuggle goods .
The Garda will create roving checkpoints in the border region in a bid to clamp down on this .
Read @ @ @ @ @ @ @ deal in one day Garda superintendent Liam Geraghty told the Financial Times : “ We are very conscious that any change that will come into place has the potential for organised crime groups to try and take advantage of that .
“ People living along the approximately 500-km border will see an increased Garda presence over the coming days .
Members of [ the force ] will not be posted on the border , will not be manning permanent checkpoints or guarding infrastructure .
”

Brexit: Ireland beefs up police patrols at Northern Ireland border
Ireland will intensify its police presence at the Northern Ireland border from today in a bid to stop organised crime taking advantage of post-Brexit changes.
Ireland’s national police force, Garda, had already increased officers posted at the border by 20 per cent since 2016 and are set to add more as the Brexit transition period ended at 11pm last night.
From today, Irish firms will have to fill out customs declarations when exporting goods to Great Britain, but not to Northern Ireland as it will remain in the EU’s single market and abide by EU customs rules.
This arrangement has prevented a hard border on the island of Ireland, which is a key term of the Good Friday peace agreement.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
However, the Irish government is still concerned about organised crime gangs exploiting the new arrangements to smuggle goods.
The Garda will create roving checkpoints in the border region in a bid to clamp down on this.
Garda superintendent Liam Geraghty told the Financial Times: “We are very conscious that any change that will come into place has the potential for organised crime groups to try and take advantage of that.
“People living along the approximately 500-km border will see an increased Garda presence over the coming days. Members of [the force] will not be posted on the border, will not be manning permanent checkpoints or guarding infrastructure.”


cityam--2020-12-31--Eurotunnel operator 'confident' there will not be border chaos tomorrow

The Eurotunnel ’ s operator has said there will not be chaos at the border after the UK leaves the EU ’ s single market and customs union tonight .
Channel Tunnel operator Getlink has said it is “ confident ” there will not be a repeat of scenes last week when 800-long lorry queues were seen at the Kent border .
Read more : UK parliament passes post-Brexit trade deal in one day John Keefe , Getlink ’ s director , told the BBC that “ things will start slowly ” , but warned traffic may build up in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will be a quiet Bank Holiday after New Year ’ s Eve , ” he said .
“ I don ’ t think traffic will build up until late in the first or second week of January.
” Lorries crossing the border into mainland Europe will need to fill out a range of customs paperwork from 11pm tonight when the UK splits with the EU .
There has been concern from lorry lobby the Road Haulage Association ( RHA ) that firms are not ready for the changes and that there will be @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Open newsletter : Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data The government estimates that the UK needs 50,000 customs agents , private operators contracted to help firms complete border crossings , to cope with the changes next year .
However , RHA boss Richard Burnett told City A.M. last month that there was a large shortfall of agents operating in the UK .
“ This is going to be a mess unless you can negotiate a transition period…if not this is going to be an incredibly bumpy ride @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a major impact on trade , ” he said .
Lorry drivers will need a special permit to enter Kent from next year , which they can only get if they have filled in the correct paperwork to transport goods to the EU .
Read more : Exclusive : Government offshoring customs jobs to prep UK firms for Brexit There will also be lorry parks set up to conduct border checks where necessary .
A Cabinet Office document released earlier this year warned that 7,000-long lorry queues could form at the border if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s changes .

Eurotunnel operator ‘confident’ there will not be border chaos tomorrow
A car waits to disembark the Eurotunnel Train on December 28
The Eurotunnel’s operator has said there will not be chaos at the border after the UK leaves the EU’s single market and customs union tonight.
Channel Tunnel operator Getlink has said it is “confident” there will not be a repeat of scenes last week when 800-long lorry queues were seen at the Kent border.
John Keefe, Getlink’s director, told the BBC that “things will start slowly”, but warned traffic may build up in the days ahead.
“1 January will be a quiet Bank Holiday after New Year’s Eve,” he said.
“I don’t think traffic will build up until late in the first or second week of January.”
Lorries crossing the border into mainland Europe will need to fill out a range of customs paperwork from 11pm tonight when the UK splits with the EU.
There has been concern from lorry lobby the Road Haulage Association (RHA) that firms are not ready for the changes and that there will be congestion at the border.
Before the Open newsletter: Start your day with the City View podcast and key market data
The government estimates that the UK needs 50,000 customs agents, private operators contracted to help firms complete border crossings, to cope with the changes next year.
However, RHA boss Richard Burnett told City A.M. last month that there was a large shortfall of agents operating in the UK.
“This is going to be a mess unless you can negotiate a transition period…if not this is going to be an incredibly bumpy ride and it’s going to have a major impact on trade,” he said.
Lorry drivers will need a special permit to enter Kent from next year, which they can only get if they have filled in the correct paperwork to transport goods to the EU.
There will also be lorry parks set up to conduct border checks where necessary.
A Cabinet Office document released earlier this year warned that 7,000-long lorry queues could form at the border if businesses are unprepared for next year’s changes.