UK Covid alert level downgraded as hospital pressure eases February 25, 2021 The UK’s Covid alert level has been downgraded, after officials said the NHS is no longer at immediate risk of being overwhelmed. The UK was placed under the highest alert level last month, after the Joint Biosecurity Centre found there was “a risk of healthcare services being overwhelmed”. However, Britain has now moved from alert [...]
EU hosts virtual summit on vaccine supply as scepticism blights Astrazeneca uptake February 25, 2021 EU leaders will host a virtual summit this afternoon over its immunisation programme, as supply issues and false suspicions over the Astrazeneca jab continue to hamper vaccine uptake. Countries across the continent are facing growing anger over the sluggish progress of the EU’s vaccine rollout, as the bloc continues to lag behind Britain. European leaders [...]
Extra surge testing rolled out in Ealing after new South Africa Covid cases found February 25, 2021 Additional surge testing will be rolled out in the London borough of Ealing after new cases of the South Africa Covid mutation were detected. The extra measures are an extension of the surge testing launched in the West London area earlier this month following the discovery of previous cases. People living in Ealing are strongly [...]
London has highest level of antibodies in England, study finds February 25, 2021 London currently has the highest level of Covid antibodies in England, a major new study has found, following a huge surge in coronavirus cases in the capital over Christmas. Imperial College London’s latest React study used blood tests on over 155,000 people to test for immunity levels against coronavirus. One in seven people in England tested [...]
Hikma Pharmaceuticals sees revenue soar on strong demand for Covid treatment drugs February 25, 2021 London-based Hikma Pharmaceuticals has said it expects a huge rise in annual core operating profit for the year, after being called in to supply emergency drugs for Covid patients during the pandemic. The FTSE 100–listed company, which supplies generic drugs including anaesthetics, pain medications and sedatives, said core operating profit jumped 11 per cent to [...]
Tory rebels prepare to block proposed corporation tax hike February 25, 2021 Conservative rebels are preparing to unite with Labour MPs to block a proposed hike in corporation tax from 19 per cent to 25 per cent, according to reports. Chancellor Rishi Sunak has laid down plans to introduce a “pathway” for hiking corporation tax over the next few months, as he prepares to announce his spring [...]
World’s largest brewer AB InBev toasts better-than-expected lockdown sales February 25, 2021 Anheuser-Busch InBev, the world’s largest brewer, has reported a better-than-expected core profit in the final quarter of 2020 and said it expected earnings to be “meaningfully” better this year. The brewer behind major beer brands including Budweiser and Stella Artois saw revenue hike 4.5 per cent in the three months to December, marking a strong [...]
Reading and Leeds festivals to go ahead this summer in boost for return to normality February 24, 2021 Reading and Leeds music festivals will go ahead this summer, organisers have confirmed, in a major boost for hopes of a return to normality in the second half of the year. Stormzy, Post Malone and Liam Gallagher have been confirmed as the headline acts of the twin events, which will run on the August Bank [...]
Greece ready to welcome Brits ‘from May’ as government revamps NHS app for vaccine passports February 24, 2021 Greece is under discussions to begin welcoming British visitors as early as May, according to reports, as the Prime Minister draws up plans for vaccine passports to resume foreign travel. Under fast-tracked plans, Athens is considering a departure from the EU’s cautious approach to resuming non-essential travel from outside the bloc, the Telegraph reported. Greece [...]
Chancellor ‘to pay out £7,500 grants’ for self-employed in Budget February 24, 2021 The chancellor will pay out grants of up to £7,500 for self-employed workers in next week’s Budget, though he is considering dropping the scheme from May, according to reports. The fourth round of grants handed out through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) will cover February, March and April. People who meet the criteria will [...]
