In today’s briefing update, we look at Sunday’s top stories. Most papers focus on the vaccine showdown, Covid-19 frontline workers and the possibility gambling logos will be removed from Sport’s jerseys.
Also featured: The latest Covid-19 figures, Sports, business and entertainment news.
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Several papers set out details of what the Sun on Sunday calls Boris Johnson’s “seven hour showdown” with EU chiefs.
A senior government official tells the Sunday Times and the Sun that the phone calls to President Ursula von der Leyen were “pretty spicy”.
The Mail on Sunday suggests contingency plans were drawn up to airlift vaccination doses out of the EU following the short-lived decision to introduce export controls on the Northern Ireland border.
British and EU vaccine industry bodies warn in the Observer of the dangers of export bans when firms are working collaboratively.
Online, the Independent stresses that the UK has offered to help the bloc with its production crisis.
The Sunday Times says ministers are considering removing gambling logos from sports shirts.
The paper says a crackdown on betting firm sponsors could hit football clubs, snooker, darts, boxing and rugby league.
A source from one Premier League club suggests the timing is the worst possible with finances hit by the pandemic.
But the Times says MPs and campaigners have welcomed the possibility because of concerns about gambling addictions.
Below are our top picks of the Sunday Papers.
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The Observer says the EU’s “blunder” over the Irish border has reopened the “toxic” political row over Northern Ireland’s post-Brexit status, according to the Observer. The EU is facing a backlash after it announced potential export controls on vaccines produced within the bloc – a move the European Commission backpedalled on just hours later, says the paper. Some Conservative politicians are planning to use the row to demand an overhaul of the Brexit deal over Northern Ireland, it adds.
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The Mail on Sunday is celebrating, with the headline: “Boris’s double vaccine victory.” The paper says that the PM “forced the EU into an extraordinary double climbdown” on vaccines reaching the UK. Meanwhile, 8.4m first doses of the vaccine have been administered, the paper adds.
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The Sunday People also hails the “vaccine victory”. The paper describes “a day of hope” after “one year of hell” as the EU backtracks over potential export controls. Plus, experts say the jab is working, the Sunday People adds.
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The Sunday Telegraph says Britain is set to help the EU with its vaccination crisis, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has told the paper. Meanwhile, it says new modelling suggests that the UK may not be able to abandon social distancing rules this year unless a vaccine proves to be 85% effective at stopping transmission of the virus.
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The Sunday Mirror reports on the “crisis” facing doctors and nurses “on the corona front line” in hospitals, carrying an image of medical staff wearing personal protective equipment and tending to a patient.
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The Sunday Express says UK Trade Secretary Liz Truss will on Monday request to join an 11-nation, £9 trillion trans-Pacific trading bloc. The paper is celebrating it as “another big Brexit bonus”.
Today will start bright, with cloud building from the west through the day. Rain, sleet and snow will push into southern and western areas later. Remaining drier and brighter further north and east.
This evening, areas of rain, sleet and snow will ease in Wales and southwest England, but remain for a time overnight. Northern areas will turn clear, with scattered showers for northeast Scotland.
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION: JOHN KRASINSKI AND MACHINE GUN KELLY ARE HOSTING AND MUSICAL GUEST TONIGHT ON @nbcsnl
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“Toto, I’ve a feeling we’re not in Kansas anymore.” THE WIZARD OF OZ (1939)
A bit of Nostalgia from our entertainment people
There has been a lot of interest in the stock market this week after investors from the Reddit message board managed to give shares in GameStop a huge boost.
Here’s a look back at the story so far, with an explanation of stocks, short-selling and what has been happening with GameStop. – BBC News
GameStop: Wolf of Wall Street gives his advice to people investing in gaming retailer – Sky News
New York Mets owner Steve Cohen deletes Twitter account over GameStop threats – The Guardian
Billionaires are blaming the GameStop surge on Covid stimulus checks – The Independent
A 10-Year-Old GameStop Investor Cashed In. His Return? Over 5,000% – The New York Times
GameStop winners and losers: How small ‘Wolves of Reddit’ investors are now MILLIONAIRES on paper and ‘Roaring Kitty’ is up $31M – while hedge funds face $19B in losses – Daily Mail
GameStop and AMC: UK trading platform IG stops new trades – BBC News
Data Reveals Bitcoin Could Be About To Become The New GameStop After Huge Price Spike – Forbes
After GameStop, which companies are Reddit investors targeting next? – The Guardian
Should I buy Gamestop shares? – This Is Money
Millennials have grabbed power with GameStop – it must not be misused – The Telegraph
UK applies to join trans-Pacific trade group – FT News
Pub chain Marston’s shares jump on takeover news – BBC Business
ASOS on brink of sealing TopShop and Miss Selfridge takeover – Sky Business
Social media platform Reddit hit by outages in U.S. -Downdetector – Reuters
Man Utd’s Marcus Rashford racially abused on social media – Read on
Celtic 1-2 St Mirren: Defeat is ‘lowest point’ of Neil Lennon tenure – Read on
Patrick Reed benefits from controversial drop in Farmers Insurance Open – Read on
Man Utd dropped lose ground in title race with a draw at Arsenal – Read on
