Naked MEP leapt from window as Belgian police broke up lockdown-flouting sex party December 1, 2020 A naked MEP leapt from a window after police tried to break up a 25-strong orgy in Brussels for breaking the city’s coronavirus rules. József Szájer, a Hungarian MEP from Viktor Orban’s Fidesz party, said in a statement that he was “present” at the “private party” of diplomats on Friday night, which took place just [...]
Britain takes the lead in vaccine race as EU regulators delay safety assessments December 1, 2020 European regulators have pushed back formal safety assessments of the Pfizer/Biontech and Moderna vaccines, meaning vaccinations will not take place on the continent until next year. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) today said it planned to decide on whether to approve the vaccine being developed by Pfizer and BioNTech by 29 December, meaning distribution will [...]
Ince Group: ‘‘Rightsizing’ our office is an idea with legs’ December 1, 2020 The Ince Group is mulling “rightsizing” its office in wake of changes to working patterns brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, CEO Adrian Biles told City A.M. In today’s half year results the listed law firm recorded a revenue increase of six per cent to £48.2m, despite challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. Biles said [...]
‘Vaccine passports’ will not be required for the pub, says Michael Gove December 1, 2020 So-called ‘vaccine passports’ will not be required to visit the pub, Michael Gove has said. Speaking on Sky News this morning the minister for the Cabinet Office said vaccine passports would not be required to visit the pub, and nor was he aware of any discussions taking place on such an idea. Just yesterday Nadim [...]
London festive travel guide: How to get around safely this Christmas December 1, 2020 UK leaders have agreed to lift coronavirus lockdown restrictions over the festive period, granting families the chance to see their loved ones for Christmas. Under the plans, members of up to three different households will be able to form an exclusive bubble between 23 and 27 December. Transport secretary Grant Shapps has warned Brits to [...]
Tier system may cause increase in chronic illness, government review finds November 30, 2020 Tougher restrictions under the new three-tier system may have a knock-on effect that could see a spike in “morbidity and mortality of certain long-term conditions”, a government review has found. In its analysis of the health and economic effects of the tier system, the government found that a modest rise in unemployment may exacerbate chronic [...]
Moderna seeks green light from US and EU for Covid-19 vaccine November 30, 2020 Moderna will today apply for emergency authorisation to roll out its Covid-19 vaccine in the US and the EU after its latest trial showed a 94 per cent success rate. The US biotech firm will submit data to regulators in both regions, paving the way for a potential rollout in December. Moderna today published full [...]
Corona Impact Series: A Shoreditch paper goods supplier forced to move online November 30, 2020 In this series, City A.M. looks at the financial and economic impact of the ongoing pandemic on a range of small and medium-sized businesses across London. Today: how a small stationery brand was forced to accelerate its digital transformation. “At the start of the first lockdown we had to close our five brick-and-mortar stores pretty much overnight,” sighs Sidonie [...]
Exclusive: Crunch time for insurers on Covid-19 discount decisions November 30, 2020 It is crunch time for the insurance industry, which now must decide what Covid-19 refunds and discounts to give customers ahead of the deadline set by the city regulator. Insurers have until 3 December to decide where, if at all, it is appropriate to apply Covid-19 related refunds or discounts on insurance policies. The Financial [...]
Public may need immunity passport for ‘restaurants, bars, and cinemas’, says vaccine minister November 30, 2020 The government is looking at ways to enable businesses to establish whether customers have received a coronavirus vaccine before allowing them onto their premises, the vaccine minister has announced. Nadim Zahawi, the business minister who was appointed vaccine tsar over the weekend, told BBC Radio 4’s World at One: “We are looking at the technology, [...]