Oct 27 (Reuters) - The following are the top stories on the business pages of British newspapers. Reuters has not verified these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.
The Times
- The owner of Ikea has bought the former Topshop store on Oxford Street for 378 million pounds ($519.83 million) after years of scouring London for a city-centre site.
- Britain's Queen Elizabeth has pulled out of hosting a reception for world leaders at the Cop26 climate change summit, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The Guardian
- A $22.4 billion takeover of Entain ENT.L , the owner of Ladbrokes, by the U.S. fantasy sports and gambling company DraftKings DKNG.O will not go ahead, after the prospective buyer's interest in a deal cooled.
- The government's flagship test-and-trace system has failed to achieve "its main objective" to cut infection levels and help Britain return to normal despite being handed an "eye-watering" 37 billion pounds($50.88 billion) in taxpayers' cash, UK's Commons spending watchdog has warned.
The Telegraph
- Centrica CNA.L , the owner of British Gas, is seeking to restore the defunct Rough site off the Yorkshire Coast to boost the country's energy reserves.
- Face coverings have become mandatory for everyone working in the House of Commons – apart from MPs – in new guidance released by Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker.
Sky News
Digital bank Monzo in talks to raise 300 mln pounds in new funding at 3 bln pounds valuation aimed at strengthening its financial firepower amid a booming fintech sector.
BT Group has moved to strengthen its defences against a prospective takeover bid from a French billionaire by hiring the advisory firm which employs George Osborne, the former chancellor.
The Independent
Britain's biggest operator of nightclubs Rekom UK is stepping up safety measures to tackle spiking, including the introduction of protective drink covers and full-body searches on entry.
Ministers will not make a decision on Covid-19 restrictions for two weeks until the impact of half-term on infections can be seen.
($1 = 0.7272 pounds)
(Compiled by Bengaluru newsroom)
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