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Apr12021 by adminNo Comments

Liberty Steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta promises workers ‘no plants will close under my watch’

Business

Liberty Steel tycoon Sanjeev Gupta has promised thousands of UK workers facing uncertainty after the collapse of lender Greensill that he will not close any of its plants.In an interview with Sky News, Mr Gupta gave a bullish assessment of prospects for the business - while admitting the collapse was a "shock to the system". He said his business empire had already been in the process of switching away from Greensill as a source of financing and that his only regret was not doing so earlier. Image: The Liberty plant at Rotherham is part of Mr Gupta's steel empire In comments directed at Liberty Steel's 3,000 UK workers, Mr Gupta said: "I will not give up on you. You are my family."Under my watch, none of my steel plants will close, I p...

Mar102021 by adminNo Comments

Covid: Brazil experts issue warning as hospitals ‘close to collapse’

World

ReutersHealth systems in most of Brazil's largest cities are close to collapse due to Covid-19 cases, the country's leading health institute warns. More than 80% of intensive care unit beds are occupied in the capitals of 25 of Brazil's 27 states, Fiocruz said.Experts warn that the highly contagious variant in Brazil may have knock-on effects in the region and beyond."Brazil is a threat to humanity," Fiocruz epidemiologist Jesem Orellana told the AFP news agency.The country has recorded more than 266,000 deaths and 11 million cases since the pandemic began. It has the second highest number of deaths in the world after the US and the third highest number of confirmed cases. Despite this, President Jair Bolsonaro has consistently opposed quarantine measures and expert advice on fighting coro...

Mar92021 by adminNo Comments

Covid-19: Nightingale hospitals to close from April

Health

PA MediaThe network of emergency Nightingale hospitals set up to cope with a surge of Covid-19 cases is to close from April, the NHS has said.Established last spring amid fears that the NHS might be overwhelmed, the temporary hospitals in England were largely not needed.Some were used as rehab centres and the sites in London and Sunderland will stay open for vaccinations.The NHS said they had been the "ultimate insurance policy".Seven Nightingale hospitals were built in England, starting in April 2020 with the 4,000-bed facility at London's ExCel centre. Another was set up in Belfast, while Scotland and Wales had their own temporary hospitals.But they were never used on a large scale, because the NHS did not have enough trained staff to fill the Nightingales as well as the permanent hospit...

Feb262021 by adminNo Comments

‘Red alert for our planet’: UN report warns governments ‘nowhere close’ to climate targets

World

A UN climate change report has found that global efforts to reduce CO2 emissions "fall far short of what is required" and that nations must "step up" to fulfil promises made under the Paris agreement. In a stark warning ahead of a make or break COP26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year, countries were criticised over their emission reduction plans - known as Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) - and urged to make "more ambitious" commitments. Following a legally binding international treaty on climate change signed in Paris in 2015, almost 200 countries set a goal of limiting global temperature rise by 2C - or ideally 1.5C - by the end of the century. Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player ...

Jan302021 by adminNo Comments

France to close borders to all non-EU countries from Sunday

World

France is to close its borders to all countries outside the European Union from Sunday, according to prime minister Jean Castex.All people looking to enter from the EU will need a negative PCR test, except for commuters. UK transport secretary Grant Shapps later clarified the ban would not apply to hauliers, adding "trade will continue to flow smoothly".Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world French PM Jean Castex has announced that France is to close its borders to all countries outside the EU from Sunday. However, I can confirm that this does NOT apply to hauliers, so trade will continue to flow smoothly.— Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP (@grantshapps) January 29, 2021 Mr Castex said all large shopping centres will close and travel to the na...