Indian-owned Jaguar Land Rover is rushing through deliveries of small car parts to Britain from China, where supply chains are hit by the deadly coronavirus, the Financial Times said Wednesday. "We have flown parts in suitcases from China to the UK," said JLR chief executive Ralf Speth, quoted by the FT and other British media. Speth said Jaguar Land Rover's British plants were "safe for this week" and next, but that there was "a risk for overall production" thereafter, owing to further parts being delayed. Britain's biggest carmaker JLR, which is owned by Indian group Tata Motors, ordinarily transports the components by sea, which takes longer but is cheaper compared with transportation by air, the business daily added. Foreign firms from various sectors are facing disrupted supply chains in China because of the deadly virus. The death toll from the epidemic jumped past 2,000 on Wednesday after 136 more people died, with the number of new cases falling for a second ... » Learn More about Virus-hit Jaguar rushes car parts to UK in suitcases: Reports
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170 UK, 192 South Africa COVID-19 variant cases detected in latest sequencing
MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Health (DOH) on Sunday reported that 170 UK variant cases, 192 South Africa variant cases, 19 Philippine variant cases, and one Brazil variant case was found in the latest COVID-19 sample sequencing. This makes the total of UK variant cases in the country to be at 392, South Africa variant at 244, Philippine variant at 123, and Brazil variant at two. Of the total of UK variant cases, two cases have died while 168 have recovered. Of the 244 South Africa variant cases, two cases are active, three cases have died, and 187 cases have recovered, DOH said. Meanwhile, all of the 19 Philippine variant cases have recovered. The variant cases were detected among two batches of 25 samples sequenced on March 28 and 1,336 samples sequenced between March 28 to April 8. “With the increasing number of variant cases being detected, the DOH reiterates that strict and consistent adherence to the minimum public health standards and increased support ... » Learn More about 170 UK, 192 South Africa COVID-19 variant cases detected in latest sequencing
English Premier League suspended until April 4
The English Premier League suspended all fixtures until April 4 on Friday after a spate of coronavirus cases, including Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea winger Callum Hudson-Odoi. "Following a meeting of shareholders today, it was unanimously decided to suspend the Premier League with the intention of returning on 4 April, subject to medical advice and conditions at the time," the Premier League said in a statement. Everton also announced their entire first-team squad and coaching staff have been told to self-isolate after a player reported symptoms consistent with COVID-19. Leicester City had three players go into self-isolation on Thursday and Bournemouth said goalkeeper Artur Boruc and four staff members were also self-isolating. "Above all, we wish Mikel Arteta and Callum Hudson-Odoi speedy recoveries, and everyone else affected by COVID-19," said Premier League Chief Executive Richard Masters. "In this unprecedented situation, we are working closely with our ... » Learn More about English Premier League suspended until April 4
In the middle of the Covid pandemic “now is the winter of our discontent”
In the northern hemisphere anyway, winter is on the way, a dangerous time for authorities trying to mitigate the sudden surge of new cases and deaths from Covid-19 in parts of Europe, the UK and the US. With a vaccine timeline still ‘flexible’, the only cushioning to a further spread of the pandemic is more social distancing, face-masks, attention to hygiene. And lockdowns. Whilst there is no evidence that the ambient temperature has much effect on the direct spread or strength of the coronavirus, medical officials say the colder weather brings people indoors where there is more direct interaction of people, accelerating the spread of Covid-19. Th virus continues to rage in South America as well, though it’s heading into its summer instead. In the US, still without a declared winner in the presidential elections, Joe Biden has spent his early days as President-elect pleading with Americans to pay greater attention to the relentless North American surge of Covid-19. President ... » Learn More about In the middle of the Covid pandemic “now is the winter of our discontent”
Migration laws allow, but Covid forbids
WHILE vaccines, vaccine passports and vaxications are tempting, reachable goals to restore normalcy in travel and migration mobility, the Covid-19 virus remains the indecipherable variable holding up a new normal. For international travel “to come back,” more people must be vaccinated, and a government has to feel that it is safe to open its borders to visitors — and migrants. On April 2, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that people who are fully vaccinated with a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-authorized vaccine can travel safely within the United States. An individual is considered “fully vaccinated two weeks after having received the last required dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.” UK’s Global Travel Taskforce sets out a new traffic light system and green watchlist to safely reopen international travel. The traffic light system categorizes countries “based on risk alongside the restrictions required for travel and the vaccine roll-out from ... » Learn More about Migration laws allow, but Covid forbids
Concepcion: Huge benefits outweigh risk of AstraZeneca vaccine
Following the reports from various European medical agencies regarding the possible link between blood clotting and the AstraZeneca vaccine, and with the Department of Health and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announcing announcing their move of temporarily suspending AstraZeneca vaccination for persons below 60, Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship and Go Negosyo Founder Joey Concepcion 3rd highlighted that we should focus on and not forget the huge benefits of the vaccine, which outweigh its potential risks. “Of course, any information like this is a point of concern. Most especially, we are expecting around 22 to 26 million total combined doses of AstraZeneca from the Covax facility for local government units (LGUs) and private sector procurement. However, it’s important to note that the majority of the workforce in the private sector as well as LGUs belong to the age group below 60. So, this greatly affects our population. Vaccinating Filipinos is critical to our ... » Learn More about Concepcion: Huge benefits outweigh risk of AstraZeneca vaccine
Husband’s death has left ‘huge void’ for Queen Elizabeth II: Prince Andrew
Queen Elizabeth II has been hit hard by the death of her husband Prince Philip, their son Prince Andrew said. LONDON: Queen Elizabeth II has been left bereft at the death of her husband, Prince Philip, one of the couple's sons said on Sunday, as prayers were said at memorial services across Britain. Prince Andrew said his 94-year-old mother was "incredibly stoic" but had been hit hard by the death of the Duke of Edinburgh at the age of 99 on Friday. Last year the couple celebrated 73 years of marriage. "She described it (his death) as having left a huge void in her life," Andrew told broadcasters after a church service at Windsor Castle, west of London. He described his father as "the grandfather of the nation" and said close family were "rallying round" the queen in support. Younger brother Edward called his father's death "a dreadful shock," despite his recent illness. The comments came as the Church of England's highest-ranking cleric led prayers at a memorial service ... » Learn More about Husband’s death has left ‘huge void’ for Queen Elizabeth II: Prince Andrew