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Apr52021 by adminNo Comments

Vitamin D: The truth about an alleged Covid ‘cover-up’

Health

Getty ImagesAs Covid-19 swept the world, so did misinformation about how to treat it. But sometimes misinformation can develop even around ideas that have some truth to them - and that can be the most difficult kind to tackle.Why vitamin D?There are many treatments that have been suggested for Covid-19.Hydroxychloroquine, Ivermectin and vitamin D - all are, or were, being studied. Suggesting that a treatment could be effective and then finding it isn't upon further research is all part of the normal scientific process. But online, early or low quality research can be shared out of context. And the confusion this creates can be exploited by people promoting conspiracy theories. There is some logic behind why vitamin D might be useful in treating or preventing Covid.It plays a role in immuni...

Apr42021 by adminNo Comments

What to know about tax credits in the American Rescue Plan

Finance

kate_sept2004 | E+ | Getty ImagesMany Americans will pocket some extra money this year and next courtesy of changes the American Rescue Plan made to a handful of tax credits.The $ 1.9 trillion Covid relief measure tweaked the child tax credit, earned income credit, and child and dependent care credit.The changes, especially those to the child tax credit, are aimed at lower earners. They're temporary and will only apply to tax season next year (for 2021 income), unless Congress extends the new rules or makes them permanent.More from Personal Finance:Biden's infrastructure plan won't raise individual taxes, for nowFourth stimulus checks are unlikely. What federal aid may be nextIRS refunds will start in May for $ 10,200 unemployment tax breakThe pandemic aid law also lets households claim ...

Mar272021 by adminNo Comments

‘Our customers are worried about the Suez Canal blockage’

Business

Seaport Freight ServicesBritish businesses are getting worried as Egypt's Suez Canal continues to be blocked by a Taiwanese mega-container ship for the fourth day in a row. Seaport Freight Services, a shipping and freight-forwarding company based at the Port of Felixstowe, has 20 containers of goods stranded on the Ever Given. "We're waiting on food goods like coconut milk and syrups, some spare parts for motors, we've got some fork lift trucks, some Amazon goods on there, all sorts," Steve Parks, director of Seaport Freight Services, tells the BBC."All our customers are hearing about it, and they're phoning us to ask when it will be resolved."The 400m-long (1,312ft) ship Ever Given, operated by Taiwanese transport company Evergreen Marine, is one of the world's largest biggest container v...

Mar252021 by adminNo Comments

Number of e-scooters on UK roads set to soar – why not everyone’s pleased about it

Technology

The number of e-scooters on the UK's roads is set to soar as London prepares to launch a trial of the vehicles in the coming weeks.They have been hailed as a greener, more sustainable mode of transport that can reduce traffic congestion, but concerns have been raised after trials in other UK cities. Newcastle has introduced an overnight curfew for e-scooter riders after a spate of drink-driving arrests, with six men due in court on Thursday.A councillor in Merseyside recently branded the devices "orange death traps" after witnessing people riding them on pavements in Liverpool. Image: E-scooters have been hailed as a greener, more sustainable mode of transport And in Leicester, where e-scooters are not being trialled, a six-year-old b...

Mar232021 by adminNo Comments

Stock futures are flat amid renewed concern about pandemic recovery

Finance

U.S. stock futures were flat in overnight trading on Tuesday amid renewed investor concern about the global recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.Dow futures rose 20 points. S&P 500 futures gained 0.08% and Nasdaq 100 futures rose 0.3%.On Tuesday, stocks tied to an economic recovery led the losses amid rising new coronavirus cases in the U.S. and abroad.The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost more than 300 points, dragged down by a 3.4% drop in Caterpillar's stock. The S&P 500 fell 0.76% with major losses from airlines and cruise lines. The Nasdaq Composite dropped 1.12% as Facebook, Apple and Tesla all closed lower.The small-cap benchmark Russell 2000 fell 3.58%, for its worst day since June.Many regions of the world are seeing rising Covid-19 cases as highly contagious varian...