Easyjet warns passengers of ‘very low’ coronavirus risk February 10, 2020 British airline Easyjet has warned passengers there is a “very low” risk of coronavirus infection after discovering one customer has since been diagnosed with the illness. Public Health England is now notifying all passengers on the Easyjet EZS8481 flight from Geneva to London on 28 January that they are at risk of infection. It comes [...]
Storm Ciara: Travel chaos and ‘danger to life’ warning as gales batter the UK February 9, 2020 Severe gales and heavy rain are battering the UK as Storm Ciara sweeps across the country, with dozens of flights cancelled and rail companies warning passengers not to travel. The Met Office has issued yellow weather warnings for rain across the entire country for Sunday, and 150 flood warnings are also in place. An additional [...]
Don’t turn BBC reform into a political football February 7, 2020 Move over Brexit, there’s a new B-word battle: over the fate of the BBC. Dominic Cummings, the Prime Minister’s chief adviser, has had the broadcaster in his sights for some time, with reports from his think tank in 2004 suggesting axing it altogether. Opening shots were fired after December’s election, when Cummings imposed a ministerial [...]
UK confirms third coronavirus patient February 6, 2020 A third person in the UK has tested positive for coronavirus, the Department of Health has confirmed. The patient, who did not acquire the virus in the UK, has been transferred to a specialist NHS centre. “We are using robust infection control measures to prevent any possible further spread of the virus,” said chief medical [...]
Government defends handling of SWR’s future after union says passengers are left ‘in limbo’ February 5, 2020 The Department for Transport (DfT) has denied claims by a major union that it has left passengers and staff “in limbo.” The RMT union has demanded the government provide an update on talks to secure the future of the troubled South Western Railway (SWR). However, the government has defended its handling of the process. “We [...]
Coronavirus: Foreign Office urges all British citizens to leave China February 4, 2020 The Foreign Office has urged all British nationals in China to leave the country due to the coronavirus outbreak. The Foreign Office is advising against “all but essential” travel to mainland China and today recommended that all Brits who are able to leave the country do so. Read More: What is the coronavirus and how [...]
Coronavirus hits UK as first two cases confirmed January 31, 2020 There have been two cases of coronavirus confirmed in the UK today, Public Health England has said. Two people from the same family have tested positive for the virus, according to Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England. The Department of Health has declined to confirm the identities of the pair or where in [...]
Listed firms need public flogging January 31, 2020 The £18.5 trillion in assets managed by members of the Investor Forum would cover a fair few shopping trips to Poundland, and buy its parent’s shares hundreds of times over — but will public market shareholders get the chance? That’s one of the questions indirectly prompted by the forum’s latest annual review, which highlights the [...]
WHO declares public health emergency as coronavirus escalates January 30, 2020 The World Health Organization (WHO) has declared an international public health emergency as the coronavirus outbreak continues to spread. Following an emergency committee meeting in Geneva, Tedros Adhanom, WHO director general, said: “We don’t know what sort of damage this [coronavirus] could do if it were to spread in a country with a weaker health [...]
Coronavirus: UK to evacuate 200 Brits from Wuhan at 9pm January 30, 2020 Foreign secretary Dominic Raab has confirmed that a delayed evacuation of UK citizens from Wuhan will be able to leave tonight (UK time). The UK had postponed the evacuation of nearly 200 citizens from coronavirus-ravaged Wuhan because it had not yet been granted the right permissions to leave by authorities. However, a rescheduled evacuation will [...]