China exports tumble 17 per cent as coronavirus batters trade March 7, 2020 China’s exports slumped in January and February of this year as global supply chains were hit by the coronavirus outbreak. China saw exports plummet by 17.2 per cent in the last two months following reduced business activity across the world’s second-largest economy. It was a bigger contraction than economists at Bloomberg had forecast. Imports fell [...]
Coronavirus: $2bn needed to develop Covid-19 vaccine, says epidemic response group March 7, 2020 An epidemic response group set up to fight diseases such as the coronavirus has called for $2bn (£1.5bn) to support the development of a vaccine for Covid-19. The global movement, known as the Coalition for Epidemic Preparedness Innovations (CEPI), has said the outbreak is an “unprecedented threat in terms of its global impact”. The group [...]
Defence committee to probe 5G network security amid Huawei concerns March 7, 2020 The UK’s defence committee is set to investigate the security of the country’s 5G mobile network, it said on Friday. It comes amid continuing concerns over the role of Chinese firm Huawei, with the US urging the UK to rethink the tech company’s involvement. Prime Minister Boris Johnson granted the controversial Huawei a limited role [...]
Coronavirus: Donald Trump wants thousands left on Grand Princess cruise ship as 21 test positive March 7, 2020 US President Donald Trump has said he would rather leave thousands of people on board the coronavirus-hit Grand Princess cruise ship as 21 people tested positive for Covid-19. It was revealed on Friday that 21 people on the ship off the coast of California had tested positive for coronavirus. The US vice-president Mike Pence confirmed [...]
Oil prices tumble 10 per cent as Russia rejects Opec deal March 7, 2020 Oil prices plummeted by around 10 per cent on Friday as a proposal to reduce output by major producers collapsed. With global demand slowing due to the coronavirus’s impact on travel, manufacturing and supply chains, the plan had intended to keep prices steady. But Russia decline to participate and talks ended with there being no [...]
Coronavirus fear returns to Wall Street as global markets slide March 7, 2020 The US stock market followed the suit of other global markets by plunging further on Friday as coronavirus fears continued to grip investors. The Dow Jones fell by one per cent, or 256 points, to finish the week on 25,865 points. Meanwhile, other major indices, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, saw losses of 1.7 [...]
Budget 2020: Chancellor Rishi Sunak to scrap ‘tampon tax’ March 6, 2020 The so-called tampon tax is set to be abolished in next week’s Budget. A zero rate of VAT will apply to women’s sanitary products from the start of next year. The UK has been obliged to pay the EU VAT Directive since 1973 and the tampon tax is currently five per cent. MPs voted against [...]
Ikos Aria hotel review: No better place from which to explore the charms of Kos March 6, 2020 Found on the impossibly scenic bay of Kefalos, on the southwestern tip of Kos, the latest hotel opening from Ikos Resorts is the group’s prettiest yet. An ideal place to soak up the sun, get fit – there’s a huge amount of activities in store – or as a base to discover the charms of [...]
Le Farnatchi hotel review: Refined, laid-back luxury in the heart of Marrakech March 6, 2020 Personal space? In the souk, there’s no such thing. Belts. Bags. Trinkets. Shoes. Earthenware. Snakes. All will be thrust under your nose within minutes of entering the old town. Mules kick up clouds of nose-tickling dust. Scooters slalom recklessly through the throng. All around, commerce unfolds as it has done for centuries: aggressive, loud, and, [...]
Meet the influential women building the future of Britain March 6, 2020 With International Women’s Day on the horizon, we celebrate some of the UK’s most influential women, and how their contributions are shaping the future of the nation. It’s been over a month since the UK entered the transitional period between leaving the EU and confirming a final deal with Europe. Although the pound has remained [...]
