Breaking covid rules

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner said on Twitter late Wednesday in the US that he had tested positive for COVID after his appointments with the International Monetary Fund and the G20 in Washington. "After two years without a COVID-19 infection, after a negative result yesterday in a test center and another negative rapid test earlier today: positive," Lindner wrote. "Thanks to three vaccinations only mild and already fading cold symptoms." Lindner was taking part in various appointments in the US capital, focused on the spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund as well as a G20 session he participated in and a smaller G7 finance ministers' meeting he chaired, as Germany is the current G7 presidency holder. According to Finance Ministry officials, he had been undergoing regular tests, all of them negative, until recording one positive rapid test late on Wednesday. The 43-year-old had further appointments scheduled for Thursday in the US, and then a late … [Read more...] about COVID digest: German Finance Minister Lindner tests positive in US

Novak Djokovic is under threat of a grand slam exile after he was told he would need to be vaccinated to play at the French Open and Wimbledon gave no guarantees he would be allowed to defend his title this summer. The French government became the latest to ban those refusing to be vaccinated against coronavirus from the country’s stadiums in a move which will also impact the Six Nations and Chelsea's Champions League campaign. Djokovic faces being locked out of three of the four majors, with the United States having already joined Australia in imposing a policy of mandatory vaccinations on foreign visitors. Wimbledon also provided no assurances that it would allow Djokovic to play – even if the UK government continued to permit unvaccinated overseas sportspeople to come here to compete and train. Djokovic was deported from Australia on Sunday , and could be banned from re-entering for three years , following an extraordinary saga triggered by his refusal to be jabbed … [Read more...] about Wimbledon offers no participation guarantees to Novak Djokovic amid threat of grand slam ban

Euro 2020: Ronaldo coy on future amid Man Utd links Sign up HERE for breaking transfer news, team updates and latest gossip SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info Manchester United’s official app may have dropped a hint the club could re-sign Cristiano Ronaldo - by frequently posting about their former star. Juventus forward Ronaldo has been linked with a sensational return to Old Trafford 12 years after he departed in a then-world record £90million move to Real Madrid. Related articles Ronaldo’s pining for Man Utd return as Juventus star ‘receives offer' How to do CPR in Covid-safe way after Christian Eriksen saved A poor season for Juventus married with United’s need for a forward to … [Read more...] about Man Utd website may have dropped Cristiano Ronaldo transfer hint with unusual behaviour

Good evening. The Monday, May 16 edition of Today in Slovakia is ready with the main news of the day in less than five minutes. Čaputová to pack for Kyiv President Zuzana Čaputová. (Source: TASR) President Zuzana Čaputová was absent when Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed Slovak MPs via teleconference last week. She said she was preparing for a meeting with the Polish President the following day. Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Čaputová is now preparing to meet her Ukrainian counterpart in person. Zelensky invited her during a joint phone call last Thursday. They have had several calls. "The president gladly accepts the invitation to visit Kyiv, as it would mean another way of expressing support for Ukraine," said president spokesperson Martin Strižinec. Refugees: On Sunday, May 15, 2,833 Ukrainian … [Read more...] about News digest: Police detain controversial ex-Supreme Court judge

After weeks of speculation, Boris Johnson is preparing to approve a law scrapping key parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol. One of the Prime Minister's key arguments is that the agreement is holding back Westminster from helping with the cost of living crisis . Mr Johnson will travel to Belfast today for talks with political leaders and is expected to sign off plans later this week for domestic legislation giving the Government the right to suspend elements of the Brexit deal. In an article ahead of his visit, he argues that the Protocol is "restricting" his ability to help with the province's "post-Covid recovery" and holding back growth. He notes that a UK-wide VAT cut on renewable energy products cannot be implemented in Northern Ireland due to the Protocol. Political editor Ben Riley-Smith says the move comes despite warnings it could collapse talks and cause a trade war with the EU . Meanwhile, Andrew Griffith, director of the No 10 Policy Unit, today argues … [Read more...] about Monday morning news briefing: PM attacks EU on cost of living

SIR – Denis Wilkins (Letters, May 12) rightly identifies the Griffiths report of 1983 as the start of a new order within the running of the NHS. Non-medical management now measured success in terms of numbers and percentages, rather than common sense. One index of efficiency was considered to be bed occupancy of as close to 100 per cent as possible. The way to achieve this was to get rid of what were seen as redundant beds. Well, Covid demonstrated what a good idea that was. Some years ago, I was clinical director of an ear, nose and throat department, and was asked to explain how it was that the ratio of operations performed to outpatient consultations was lower than in other surgical specialities. I said it was in the nature of ENT practice that many patients could be treated conservatively. This explanation did not satisfy management, and I was asked if there was any way the number of operations could be increased. When I then asked if they would like me to start performing … [Read more...] about Letters: The consequences of sidelining clinicians in the running of the NHS

As peak Covid raged in the New Year of 2021, the turmoil around vaccines threatened to overwhelm the minds of world leaders. And a few lost their cool. That wobble cost so many lives it breaks my heart. In those dark weeks, faced with new mutations, creaking healthcare systems, exhausted populations and economic carnage, political leaders were hugely stressed about a promised cure that seemed tantalisingly beyond reach. It felt nerve-wracking. Competing vaccine brands, spikey clinical data, vaccine capacity shortage and disruption of essential supply chains caused high anxiety at the Élysée Palace, Berlaymont, and the Bundeskanzleramt. In London, we were keeping our nerve. The DHSC had prioritised vaccines from the outset. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRa) had taken advantage of Brexit freedoms to accelerate the assessment process. Operating outside EU procurement, Kate Bingham had bought everything she reasonably could. Thanks to this foresight, … [Read more...] about Macron’s unfounded criticism of AstraZeneca has had far reaching consequences