Von der Leyen under pressure to resign as EU Commission President over vaccine debacle January 31, 2021 European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen is reportedly under pressure to resign her post, after a disastrous and shortlived decision to block vaccines traveling to the UK. The call to block vaccines entering the UK, after a dispute with drugmaker AstraZeneca over supplies of its vaccines, would have breached the Belfast Good Friday peace [...]
Social distancing may not end in 2021 even with successful vaccine rollout January 31, 2021 Social distancing in the UK could be in place until the end of the year unless a vaccine is 85 per cent effective in stopping the transmission of coronavirus. A sub-group of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage) has reportedly given Downing Street modelling that suggest a third spike in Covid deaths will [...]
Liz Truss: ‘Too early’ for UK to consider giving vaccines away to other nations January 31, 2021 It is “too early” for the UK to consider the prospect of giving away excess Covid-19 vaccines to other countries, according to international trade secretary Liz Truss. Truss said the UK was on track to vaccinate every adult in the UK by autumn and that the UK was committed to ensure “vaccines are there to [...]
EU rows back on Irish border vaccine controls January 30, 2021 The European Union amended its controversial measures seeking to limit exports to Northern Ireland on Friday evening. The bloc had moved to restrict exports of vaccines into Northern Ireland by overriding parts of the Brexit deal, sparking widespread anger from politicians in Belfast, after an escalation in the vaccine row. Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster described the move [...]
Liz Truss makes de-escalating trade disputes with US a top priority January 29, 2021 Trade minister Liz Truss has said she will make it her top priority to de-escalate trade disputes over steel and aircraft subsidies with the United States. Speaking at this year’s virtual Davos summit, Truss said countries must “resist protectionism”, and that there should not be tariffs between the UK, the EU and the US. “On [...]
What next for Biden’s climate and social agenda? January 29, 2021 | City Talk Joe Biden ran on one of the most progressive platforms the US has ever seen, with climate ambition at its heart. His victory will result in a sea-change in US climate ambition. That said, the narrow margin of victory will pose challenges for the more ambitious elements of his agenda. Below we assess the policy [...]
China will no longer recognise Hong Kong citizens’ British overseas passports January 29, 2021 China said today it will “no longer recognise” British National Overseas (BNO) passports for Hong Kong citizens as the UK prepares to welcome those fleeing the National Security Law. A foreign ministry spokesperson for the Chinese government said: “From January 31, China will no longer recognise the so-called BNO passport as a travel document and [...]
EU approves Astrazeneca vaccine for all over-18s January 29, 2021 The EU drugs regulator has approved the use of the Astrazeneca Covid vaccine for all people over the age of 18. The green light from the European Medicines Agency means Astrazeneca vaccine is the third to be approved by the EU, after those developed by Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna. The move follows an increasingly bitter dispute [...]
London’s R rate falls to between 0.6 and 0.9 January 29, 2021 London’s R rate has dropped to a best estimate of 0.6 to 0.9 — the lowest in the country — suggesting infections are heading for a significant decline over the next few weeks. The figure means infections may be falling anywhere between two and seven per cent each day. It also plunge London’s rate of [...]
Government pulls Covid advert after ‘1950s sexism’ complaints January 29, 2021 The government has pulled a coronavirus public health ad urging Brits to stay at home following complaints that it portrayed “1950s sexism”. The advert showed four households — three with women doing housework and looking after children and one with a man reclining on a sofa. The poster was lambasted online over its sexist depiction [...]