Wednesday newspaper round-up: Furlough scheme, Arm Holdings, Boots

(Sharecast News) - The furlough scheme should be extended to protect workers in industries that continue to be damaged by the pandemic, business groups and unions have said as the job subsidy programme that has supported more than 11 million employees entered its final month. Aviation industry workers and staff at Britain's airports should be allowed to remain on furlough until next year when travel restrictions are likely to be lifted and the airline industry returns to normal, they said. - Guardian The UK's financial watchdog is warning banks to review their potential exposure to financial crime in Afghanistan amid fears of resurgent terrorist activity in the country following the withdrawal of foreign troops. Hours after the last evacuation flight left Kabul airport, the Financial Conduct Authority issued a notice reminding financial firms to guard against money-laundering risks after US military operations were wound down and the Taliban took control of the country. - Guardian

The rogue chief executive of Arm Holdings' Chinese division has "declared independence" from its UK parent company, an analyst has claimed, after it revealed a host of new chip designs in a bid to win over Beijing. Allen Wu, who leads Arm China, vowed at a conference to launch breakaway designs for artificial intelligence microchips amid a feud with its Cambridge-based owner, which is one of the world's leading chipmakers and is considered a crown jewel of British tech. - Telegraph

The chief executives of the world's biggest businesses are preparing to go on an acquisition spree as confidence in the global economy returns to levels not seen since the start of the pandemic, a survey has found. A poll of 1,325 business leaders in the world's largest economies, including 150 in Britain, found that 87 per cent were looking to do deals in the next three years to help boost and transform their businesses. Mergers and acquisitions, joint ventures and strategic alliances were identified as the main strategies for expansion and business transformation by 67 per cent of leaders of companies turning over at least $500 million (£365 million) in Britain. - The Times

A post-pandemic makeover is on the cards for 30 Boots shops as it tries to win back shoppers who have switched to buying cosmetics online. The retailer is revamping regional stores from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight by introducing beauty consultation areas and new brands including Drunk Elephant, Mac and Fenty Beauty, the cosmetics range by the pop star Rihanna. The business is also recruiting 100 "beauty specialists" who can give personalised make-up advice to customers who want to buy a variety of brands, in contrast to the department store model of using brands' representatives. - The Times