Turkey set to welcome unvaccinated Brits ‘with open arms’ this summer March 15, 2021 Turkey has announced plans to welcome UK holidaymakers this summer without proof of a Covid vaccine. Tourism minister Mehmet Ersoy said the country will also be unlikely to require a negative Covid test from UK travellers, as it seeks to revive its ailing tourism industry after almost a year of closure. Ersoy added that Turkey [...]
Job vacancies mark biggest drop on record in ‘year like no other’ during pandemic March 15, 2021 Job vacancies saw a bigger drop last year than in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crash, in a “year like no other” during the pandemic, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS). The number of jobs up for grabs in the UK plunged 57 per cent to a record low of 343,000 in [...]
EU considers turning to Russia’s Sputnik vaccine as Astrazeneca scepticism swells March 15, 2021 The EU is in discussions to place an order of Russia’s Sputnik vaccine, according to reports, as scepticism about the efficacy and possible side effects of Astrazeneca’s Covid jab considers to spread across the continent. The bloc is now turning to Moscow’s Sputnik V vaccine as it attempts to speed up its sluggish immunisation programme, [...]
Netherlands and Ireland suspend rollout of Astrazeneca jab March 15, 2021 The Netherlands and Ireland have joined a growing list of countries that have temporarily suspended the rollout of the Astrazeneca vaccine over possible side effects. Ireland announced the two-week ban yesterday after Norway reported that one person had died and three had been admitted to hospital after receiving the shot. Dr Karina Butler, head of [...]
Virgin Atlantic set to raise £160m amid ongoing travel restrictions March 13, 2021 Virgin Atlantic is in discussions to raise £160m from shareholders and creditors as the airline seeks to shore up its finances ahead of the planned reopening of travel in the coming months. Billionaire businessman Sir Richard Branson is set to provide the bulk of the funding through Virgin Group, which is expected to inject around [...]
Nearly 50,000 businesses register for rapid Covid tests for staff to return to work March 13, 2021 Almost 50,000 businesses in the UK have registered to take part in the government’s free workplace testing programme, which will see rapid Covid tests used to return staff to the workplace. The health secretary welcomed the “fantastic” news. adding that it marked “a huge step forward in getting businesses back on their feet and helping [...]
Housebuilders warned against gagging orders on new home owners March 13, 2021 Housebuilders that carry out repairs on new-build homes are forcing residents to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) as a condition of repairs being done, according to the chairman of Parliament’s Housing Committee. Clive Betts, MP for Sheffield South East, told Radio 4’s Money Box programme that the practice was “appalling” and would not be acceptable in [...]
All adults to be vaccinated ‘by June’ as jab programme accelerates March 13, 2021 Every adult in Britain will be offered their first dose of a Covid vaccine by early June, according to reports, as the nation’s largest ever vaccination programme continues to accelerate. All adults will be offered at least one jab by around 10 June, beating the government’s target of the end of July, according to estimates [...]
Sarah Everard vigil in south London cancelled over fears of £10,000 fine March 13, 2021 A vigil for Sarah Everard set to take place in south London this evening has been cancelled over fears that going ahead with the plans could result in a £10,000 fine. Reclaim These Streets had planned to hold a gathering on Clapham Common later today, near to where the 33-year-old was last seen alive. Organisers [...]
Italy to enter third national lockdown over Easter following spike in Covid cases March 12, 2021 Italy will enter its third nationwide lockdown over the Easter weekend as the country struggles to curb a fresh spike in coronavirus cases. Non-essential shops will be shuttered across the country between 3 April and 5 April, when Italians will only be allowed to leave their homes for work, health or emergency reasons. The decree, [...]
