BUSINESS LIVE: Lloyds brings backs dividend as profits surge

BUSINESS LIVE: Lloyds brings backs dividend as profits surge; BT issues bullish forecast for its prospects; Shell boosts dividend and launches bumper share buyback scheme Lloyds Banking Group swung to a profit of £2.6bn, new figures show Lloyds also announced plans to acquire savings and retirement firm Embark  By Jane Denton For Thisismoney Published: 02:59 … Read more

Shaynna Blaze backs Janine Allis to replace Lord Alan Sugar on Celebrity Apprentice

On Tuesday night she was declared the winner of Celebrity Apprentice Australia 2021. And Shaynna Blaze has weighed in on calls to replace the show’s CEO, British billionaire Lord Alan Sugar, with a home-grown entrepreneur. Talking about fan favourite advisor Janine Allis as a possible successor to Sugar in subsequent seasons, Blaze told Yahoo! Lifestyle, … Read more

Judy Murray backs Naomi Osaka after her French Open withdrawal amid mental health struggles

Judy Murray has sympathised with Naomi Osaka after the world No 2 withdrew from the French Open having been threatened with expulsion for not speaking to the media. The 23-year-old from Japan said last week she didn’t want to take part in press conferences at Roland Garros to ‘protect her mental health’. She received a … Read more

Aviva backs calls for Government crackdown on financial fraud

Pension giant Aviva backs calls for Government crackdown on financial fraud after its brand is hijacked by criminals At least 27 fake websites were set up in Aviva’s name to dupe unsuspecting victims into handing over cash  The pension giant warned that shutting down the scammer websites is like playing ‘whack-a-mole’ under the current rules  … Read more

Red Len ally who backs wealth tax is property millionaire

A union leadership contender demanding a wealth tax to pay for the pandemic has his own property empire, it can be revealed today. Unite, Britain’s most powerful union, is expected to fire the starting gun on the race to succeed Len McCluskey as general secretary within days. His closest lieutenant Howard Beckett, who is assistant … Read more

Boris Johnson backs plans to knight Prof. Whitty for his ‘tireless’ work amid the pandemic

Arise, Sir Chris… Boris Johnson backs plans to knight Prof. Whitty for his ‘tireless’ work amid the pandemic The Chief Medical Officer is likely to be put forward for the honour at the end of this year to recognise his ‘dedicated service’ during the coronavirus pandemic A Cabinet source has said Mr Johnson favours his … Read more

‘It’s a disgrace that shames CBS’: Piers Morgan backs Sharon Osbourne after she leaves The Talk

Piers Morgan has branded CBS a ‘disgrace’ over the network’s treatment of Sharon Osbourne after she defended him over accusations of racism. The former Good Morning Britain (GMB) presenter, 55, backed Osbourne, 68, after she left The Talk over a heated on-air debate on March 10. Morgan wrote on Instagram this evening: ‘What’s happened to … Read more

Chris Hughes backs Jesy Nelson’s decision to quit Little Mix

Chris Hughes has backed Jesy Nelson’s decision to quit Little Mix – as being in the world famous girl group put pressure on her. The former Love Island star, 28, told MailOnline him and Jesy, 29, who went their separate ways last April, didn’t have a ‘stereotypical breakup’ as they’re still good friends with ‘no … Read more

Sir Lewis Hamilton backs move to end drivers taking a knee before each race

Sir Lewis Hamilton backs move for drivers to STOP taking the knee before each race – as new guidelines are agreed with F1 chief Stefano Domenicali to support ‘WeRaceAsOne’ initiative instead New guidelines mean drivers do not have to take a knee before each race  Some drivers felt uncomfortable taking a knee for cultural or … Read more

Ex-PM David Cameron backs Covid passports ‘to open up our economy as rapidly as possible’

Ex-prime minister David Cameron says Covid passports ‘are coming’ because people will have to show they are safe to go to the pub ‘to open up our economy as rapidly as possible’ Ex-Tory leader likened the jab to childhood vaccinations for diseases like TB Ministers mulling system to help open pubs and sporting events in … Read more