Coronavirus: Latest updates on lockdowns, vaccines and Covid mutations around the world January 4, 2021 Countries around the world continue to grapple with rising coronavirus rates, as two new mutations of the virus have sparked calls for fresh restrictions across the globe. German politicians have called for a three-week lockdown extension, as current measures fail to stem ballooning cases across the country. Tight restrictions in place including the closure of [...]
National lockdown looms as teachers go head-to-head with government January 4, 2021 Ministers have refused to rule out a third national lockdown in England, as coronavirus cases and hospitalisations surge beyond numbers seen in the peak of the first wave. Health secretary Matt Hancock said this morning that the new strain of coronavirus was spreading rapidly across the country. “We can’t rule anything out,” he told Sky [...]
Sadiq Khan calls on government to release daily vaccination data December 18, 2020 Sadiq Khan has urged the health secretary to release daily data detailing uptake of the coronavirus vaccine across the UK, in an effort to build public awareness and trust in Britain’s largest ever vaccination programme. In a letter to Matt Hancock, the mayor of London called for daily reporting on the vaccine programme echoing infection [...]
Covid: London now has highest proportion of positive tests in the UK December 18, 2020 The number of people testing positive for coronavirus has risen sharply in London, as the Prime Minister faces mounting pressure to U-turn on plans to lift restrictions over Christmas. London is now tied with the East Midlands as having the highest proportion of positive Covid tests in the UK, after reporting a sharp spike in [...]
Royal Navy awards £1bn training contract to outsourcing firm in government spending splurge December 18, 2020 The Royal Navy has awarded a £1bn contract to British outsourcing firm Capita to spruce up its training services, as part of a government spending splurge to “modernise” the military. Capita this morning announced it has won a bid to transform and modernise the Royal Navy’s shore-based training across 16 sites in the UK. The [...]
John Lewis and Waitrose launch in-store Covid testing December 18, 2020 John Lewis is set to launch rapid Covid testing sites in select Waitrose and retail shops around the country in a bid to ensure its 16,000 staff are fit for work. Coronavirus testing will now be available at 40 partnership locations in England, including Waitrose and John Lewis supply chain sites, customer fulfilment centres, textiles [...]
Michel Barnier: ‘Just a few hours left’ to seal Brexit deal December 18, 2020 Michel Barnier has said there are “just a few hours” left to seal a deal with the UK, as he issued a stark warning to the European Parliament about Brexit talks. The EU’s chief negotiator said the possibility of a deal “is here”, but the path to secure it “is very narrow”. “It’s the moment of [...]
Barclays chair quits in boardroom shakeup December 18, 2020 Barclays UK chair Sir Ian Cheshire will step down at the start of next year, in a sudden departure after three years at the helm. In a statement, the company said: “With regret, Sir Ian has informed the group that he is unable to accommodate the increased time commitment and duration required to see through [...]
Amazon circles Post Office as it loosens ties with Royal Mail December 18, 2020 Amazon and Hermes are in talks to handle the Post Office’s packages, in a potentially major boost for Britain’s 11,500 branches. The Post Office yesterday revealed it had signed its first “non-exclusivity” deal with Royal Mail, in a move that will loosen ties that have been in place for hundreds of years. Silicon Valley giant [...]
Sole rights: Michael Gove pushes for UK sovereignty over fishing waters in Brexit talks December 17, 2020 The UK is not prepared to sign a trade deal with the EU unless British fishermen have “sole rights” to fishing waters around the isle, Michael Gove has confirmed. Speaking at a meeting on the future relationship with the EU, Gove said it is the UK’s “intention” that British fishermen will have exclusive access to [...]
