Fighting an Infodemic April 21, 2020 The world is in the throws of the COVID-19 pandemic. And one of the challenges being faced by society, the healthcare system, governments and the rest is an infodemic. The world is in the throws of the COVID-19 pandemic. And one of the challenges facing society, the healthcare system, governments and the rest is an [...]
UK considers three-stage ‘traffic light’ plan to exit coronavirus lockdown April 19, 2020 Michael Gove has poured cold water on reports that schools and some shops could be re-opened by next month in an easing of the UK’s coronavirus lockdown restrictions. When asked about a government report first leaked to Buzzfeed about the UK’s three-stage lockdown exit plan, Gove said it was not correct that schools could be [...]
Michael Gove hits out at reports Boris Johnson skipped coronavirus meetings April 19, 2020 Senior minister Michael Gove has defended Boris Johnson’s efforts during the coronavirus crisis after an explosive report claimed the Prime Minister missed a series of coronavirus Cobra meetings. The Sunday Times reported today that Johnson missed five of the crisis meetings in late January and early February when the coronavirus first began to spread outside [...]
Sky donates £500,000 to emergency coronavirus film and TV fund April 16, 2020 Sky today said it will donate £500,000 to an emergency relief fund aimed at supporting film and TV crew unable to work during the coronavirus crisis. The fund was established last month by BFI and the Film and TV Charity with an initial £1m donation from streaming giant Netflix. It will provide grants to thousands [...]
First of UK ventilators wins approval as private sector ramps up production April 16, 2020 Regulatory approval has been granted for thousands of new ventilators through the government’s private sector call to arms. Penlon’s Prima ES02 model is the first to be green lit by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), as a part of the “Ventilator Challenge”, a month after the rallying cry was issued. The government has [...]
Easyjet raises £1.9bn but faces £380m coronavirus loss April 16, 2020 Budget airline Easyjet said today that it had has raised £1.8bn-£1.9bn in extra cash to help it survive the shutdown caused by the coronavirus epidemic. But it could face first-half losses of up to £380m due to travel bans associated with the coronavirus lockdown, it warned. The airline said today that it had signed two [...]
Jobs lost as Oasis and Warehouse fall into administration due to coronavirus April 15, 2020 High street retailers Oasis and Warehouse have today fallen into administration, resulting in the loss of 202 jobs. In total, 41 head office jobs will be retained to assist Deloitte, which has been appointed as administrator, while 1,801 employees will be furloughed. The Oasis, Warehouse and Idle Man brands will continue to trade online in [...]
Coronavirus: Vital to start planning for economic recovery, CBI says April 14, 2020 The head of the UK’s largest business lobbying group has said that the UK must begin to plan its economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic even while the death toll continues to rise. Speaking to Sky News, Dame Carolyn Fairbairn, the director-general of the CBI, said that “we need to begin to chart a route [...]
China ‘using Covid cover’ to seize control of Imagination Technologies April 14, 2020 A state-owned Chinese investor is exploiting the coronavirus crisis to seize control of Imagination Technologies, the British chipmaker’s former boss has warned. Sir Hossein Yossaie, who served as chief executive until 2016, has written to ministers urging them to block China Reform Holdings from taking control of the company’s board, Sky News reported. Yossaie also [...]
Coronavirus: Oasis and Warehouse on the brink of collapse April 14, 2020 High street retailers Oasis and Warehouse are reportedly on the brink of collapsing into administration, putting more than 2,000 jobs at risk. The fashion chains are set to appoint Deloitte as administrator as soon as this afternoon or tomorrow, Sky News reported, making them the latest casualty of the coronavirus crisis. The Oasis and Warehouse [...]