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 [...]
‘Vaccines are working’ against new Covid variants, says Jonathan Van-Tam February 24, 2021 “Vaccines are working” against the Kent Covid variant and will likely reduce the risk of severe disease from new mutations, the deputy chief medical officer has said. Jonathan Van-Tam said the B117 strain of coronavirus first identified in Kent now accounts for around 95 per cent of all Covid cases in the UK. Speaking to [...]
Hong Kong Racing Tips: Luck on Fownes’ side again at Happy Valley February 23, 2021 HAVING been surpassed by John Size in the trainers’ championship race at Sha Tin on Sunday, expect Caspar Fownes to come back with all guns blazing in his attempt to wrest back the lead at Happy Valley on Wednesday. Fownes, with over 500 career winners at the city-track, saddles eight runners, including some of the [...]
Boris Johnson plots domestic vaccine passports for pubs, theatres and football matches February 23, 2021 The Prime Minister has announced plans to explore introducing vaccine passports for entry to pubs, theatres and football matches, marking a major government U-turn after ministers previously ruled out the idea. Boris Johnson said he was confident all Covid restrictions will be lifted by 21 June, after outlining his roadmap for leaving lockdown last night. [...]
Crypto selloff sends Bitcoin tumbling below $50,000 February 23, 2021 Bitcoin tumbled this morning as investors ditched cryptocurrencies amid nervousness over sky-high valuations. Bitcoin suffered its biggest daily drop in a month to fall as low as $45,000 before recovering to just over $48,500. Ethereum is also down more than 18 per cent to $1,512. It follows Monday’s crash which saw Bitcoin plunge from $58,000 [...]
Matt Hancock: International travel could return sooner if vaccines work against new Covid variants February 23, 2021 The health secretary has left the door open for international travel to return sooner than planned this summer if available vaccines work against emerging Covid variants. Unveiling his roadmap for exiting lockdown yesterday, the Prime Minister said international travel will only resume from 17 May at the earliest. Boris Johnson said the government first needed [...]
England cricket chiefs to launch The Hundred with women’s match between Oval Invincibles and Manchester Originals February 23, 2021 The Hundred, English cricket’s new short-form competition, will begin with a women’s match between the Oval Invincibles and the Manchester Originals. The fixture at the Kia Oval on Wednesday 21 July will be followed by the first men’s match, featuring the same franchises at the same venue, the following day. Tickets for The Hundred are [...]
Squeamish ministers must include casual sex exemption in lockdown roadmap February 23, 2021 Sex and intimacy are a part of what makes us human, but the infinite ways that we all experience our sexuality and inter-personal relationships have been completely lost in the Government’s approach to lockdown and yesterday’s roadmap did not offer any real light at the end of the tunnel. For most of the past year, [...]
Foxtons confirms talks to buy rival Douglas & Gordon February 22, 2021 London-listed estate agent Foxtons has confirmed it is in talks to buy West London-based agent Douglas & Gordon. In a statement, Foxtons said the discussions “reflect the company’s stated ambition to acquire high quality businesses with strong lettings books.” Douglas and Gordon, which is run by former Foxtons executive James Evans, has 17 branches in [...]
Pfizer vaccine cuts Covid transmission by up to 85 per cent February 22, 2021 “Vaccines are working,” the health secretary has announced, after new data showed the Pfizer vaccine cuts Covid transmission by up to 85 per cent and reduces the risk of death and hospitalisation by three-quarters. In a major boost for the Prime Minister’s plans to lift lockdown restrictions, early data from Public Health England’s (PHE) first [...]