German virus tracing app hits 6.5m downloads as Norway and Russia experience technical glitches June 17, 2020 Germany’s app to help trace coronavirus infections has been downloaded 6.5m times within the first 24 hours since its launch. Chief executive of software giant SAP Christian Klein today said he viewed the promising figures as a sign of a job well done, following a collaborative effort between SAP and Deutsche Telekom to develop the [...]
‘Best news so far’: Matt Hancock hails steroid drug that can combat coronavirus June 17, 2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock today hailed the use of a steroid drug called dexamethasone for treating coronavirus patients as the best news so far of the outbreak. Trial results announced on Tuesday showed dexamethasone, which is used to reduce inflammation in other diseases such as arthritis, reduced death rates by around a third among the [...]
The City View podcast: The view from Luxembourg, with Nicolas Mackel June 17, 2020 In this episode, Christian gets the view from Luxembourg, which has established itself as a key European hub for financial services. Nicolas Mackel is CEO of Luxembourg for Finance, the body representing financial services in the country, and he shares his thoughts on how the sector should respond to the economic challenges of the pandemic; [...]
Beijing shuts all schools as second wave fears escalate June 16, 2020 Beijing has shut all schools in a sharp escalation of containment measures, as fears that new coronavirus outbreaks could develop into a second wave accelerate. The Chinese capital has suspended on-campus classes for all primary school, middle school and high school students in a bit to stem the rapid spread of new cases, state news [...]
Government gives NHS immediate authorisation for coronavirus drug June 16, 2020 The government has given the NHS immediate authorisation to use the first drug shown to reduce the coronavirus death rate on patients. Earlier today the results of a clinical trial carried out by Oxford University showed that dexamethasone, a common steroid, been proven to reduce the risk of death significantly in patients with severe forms [...]
UK scientists make ‘major breakthrough’ as common steroid found to cut coronavirus death rate June 16, 2020 A common steroid has been labelled a “major breakthrough” in the fight against coronavirus by researchers after trials showed it cut the risk of death for those patients on ventilators by a third. The drug, which is called dexamethasone, is widely available, and scientists said it would be “instantly affordable” worldwide. The results of the [...]
New Zealand reports two new coronavirus cases who flew in from London June 16, 2020 New Zealand is no longer coronavirus-free, after two women who arrived in the country from Britain tested positive. The cases are New Zealand’s first for 24 days, after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared the country virus-free last week. The women were released early from government quarantine and allowed to drive nearly 650km from Auckland to [...]
UK unemployment: 612,000 workers lose jobs as vacancies crash to record low in lockdown June 16, 2020 The UK unemployment rate unexpectedly remained unchanged in the three months to April, but workers on company payrolls fell 612,000 between March and May while job vacancies plunged to a record low. The unemployment rate remained unchanged at 3.9 per cent between February and April, new data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed. [...]
City watchdog tells UK banks to prepare for coronavirus debt pile June 16, 2020 British banks must accelerate preparations for dealing with businesses unable to repay funds borrowed to help them survive the coronavirus pandemic, the financial regulator warned. Over 860,000 UK businesses have taken out state-backed loans worth over £38bn under three emergency credit programmes introduced by the government as lockdowns forced companies to shutter temporarily. Financial Conduct [...]
Workers on furlough pass 9m as cost of job support measures nears £30bn June 16, 2020 Over 9m workers in the UK have now been furloughed due to the Covid-19 pandemic at a cost of £20.8bn, new figures from the Treasury show. As of 14 June, 9.1m jobs were being supported by the government’s coronavirus job retention scheme (CJRS) at a cost of £20.8bn, up from £19.6bn the week before. The [...]