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Over 100 million COVID-19 vaccinations have now been given in the EU - and a major extension to the European Commission's contract with Pfizer-BioNTech has been announced. European Union countries will receive 50 million more coronavirus vaccines produced by Pfizer-BioNTech in the second quarter of 2020, head of the commission Ursula von der Leyen said, as deliveries expected at the end of the year will be brought forward. Live COVID updates from the UK and around the world Today we have reached 100 million vaccinations in the EU. A milestone we can be proud of! #StrongerTogether https://t.co/eK09vYhcnG — Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 14, 2021 Ms von der Leyen said the earlier deliveries, which will start this month, will take total supplies to the EU from Pfizer to 250 million doses in the second quarter of this year. She also confirmed the Commission was in talks with the two companies for a new contract for 1.8 billion … [Read more...] about COVID-19: EU hits 100 million vaccine doses – and announces major extension to Pfizer deal

Financier Bernie Madoff, who swindled thousands of clients out of billions of dollars, has died in prison. The 82-year-old passed away from natural causes at the Federal Medical Center in Butner, North Carolina, the Associated Press reported. He was put behind bars in 2009 after pleading guilty to defrauding thousands of clients out of billions of dollars in investments over several decades, and was serving a prison term of 150 years. It is estimated that investors put $17.5bn into Madoff's business, with $13bn having been recovered so far. In what was the largest Ponzi scheme in history, Madoff told clients that they had holdings of $60bn in his company Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. Advertisement But in actual fact, investigators said he used the money paid to him by clients to make deposits to new investors, and that he had not made a trade for his advisory clients in years by the time of his arrest in 2008. Madoff pleaded guilty … [Read more...] about Bernie Madoff: Fraudster who swindled clients out of billions dies in US prison

Hundreds of British Gas engineers lost their jobs on Wednesday as a bitter row between the company and its staff deepened. The engineers had refused to sign up to new contracts that would force them to work longer hours, after being told to accept tougher conditions or lose their jobs. Hundreds more engineers have already agreed to the new deals, a key issue in the nine-month contract deadlock that began last summer when the company announced it would axe more than 5,000 jobs . In July, the owner of British Gas told more than 21,000 staff to accept new contracts or potentially lose their jobs. Britain's largest energy supplier said it was trying to restructure its employment contracts to shore up its financial position following years of shrinking customer numbers and declining profits. Advertisement The company has seen its market value plunge by more than 75% in the last five years alone. The job losses are the latest development in a … [Read more...] about Hundreds of British Gas staff laid off after refusing new contracts

Boris Johnson has told MPs he shares "widespread concern" about the Greensill controversy - and questioned whether "boundaries" between top civil servants and businesses had been "properly understood". The prime minister faced repeated quizzing by MPs about the lobbying row that has engulfed his predecessor David Cameron and also dragged in former and current government ministers and officials. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer used Prime Minister's Questions to accuse Mr Johnson of overseeing the "return of Tory sleaze", while he also suggested Ted Hastings and his anti-corruption policing unit - from TV's Line Of Duty - were "needed to get to the bottom of this one". What is the Greensill lobbying scandal and why is David Cameron involved? The Greensill row has deepened after it emerged the former head of Whitehall procurement became an adviser to Greensill Capital while still working as a civil servant, in a move approved by the Cabinet … [Read more...] about Greensill controversy: Boris Johnson shares ‘widespread concern’ over lobbying row – as Labour claim ‘return of Tory sleaze’

ASHLEY Cain's baby Azaylia has been rushed back to the hospital for an emergency transfusion after she started crying blood last night. Her brave mum Safiyya shared the shocking news on Instagram this afternoon in a video of her partner Ashley , 30, cradling his terminally ill daughter. Ashley is seen rocking his eight-month-old, who has leukaemia, as Safiyaa speaks to their supporters. She says: "We've just gone back into hospital to get Azaylia another platelet transfusion because last night the tears started having blood in them, so we needed more platelets". Pointing to the intravenous drip that was hooked up to Azaylia she added: "This is our saviour right now". Ashley and girlfriend Safiyya had only just raised over £1.5million to take Azaylia to Singapore in a last-ditch attempt to save her life - but were last week told the specialists in the country could not help. She has now been given just days to live as more tumours have formed across her … [Read more...] about Ashley Cain’s baby Azaylia rushed to hospital for emergency transfusion after she started crying blood, says mum Safiyya