News
Lockdown extended: UK’s revised ‘freedom day’
England’s plan to lift all restrictions by June 21 has been pushed back by the country’s Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.
Johnson says the date dubbed “freedom day” by many residents, now has to be pushed back by four weeks to allow further vaccinations.
It comes as the highly infectious Delta variant spreads rapidly throughout the country, at a rate of 7 percent week-on-week.
The government fears that if restrictions are fully eased now, hospitalisations could reach the levels they were at during Britain’s first wave.
The new planned date for the full easing of restrictions is July 19, which will give health authorities a further four-week window to fully vaccinate those most vulnerable.
Which Covid-19 vaccine is more effective?
Health authorities have confirmed that both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing hospitalisation.
After two doses, the Pfizer shot is 96 percent effective at reducing hospitalisations, whilst AstraZeneca’s version is 92 percent effective.
The analysis was conducted by Public Health England and is a promising sign as countries begin to move into a post-pandemic world.
“It is absolutely vital to get both doses as soon as they are offered to you, to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants.”
PHE SAYS.
Further work remains underway to establish the level of protection against mortality from the Delta variant. However, as with other variants, this is expected to be high.
The analysis included 14,019 cases of the Delta variant – 166 of whom were hospitalised – between 12 April and 4 June, looking at emergency hospital admissions in England.
Public Health England (PHE) has previously published analysis showing that one dose is 17 per cent less effective at preventing symptomatic illness from the Delta variant, compared to Alpha, but there is only a small difference after 2 doses.
Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock says the UK vaccination programme continues at pace and has already saved thousands of lives and notes “It is our way out of this pandemic.”
“This evidence of the effectiveness of two doses against variants shows just how crucial it is to get your second jab.”
“These hugely important findings confirm that the vaccines offer significant protection against hospitalisation from the Delta variant.
The vaccines are the most important tool we have against COVID-19. Thousands of lives have already been saved because of them.
It is absolutely vital to get both doses as soon as they are offered to you, to gain maximum protection against all existing and emerging variants.
Dr Mary Ramsay, Head of Immunisation at PHE, said:
Vaccines Minister, Nadhim Zahawi says It is extremely encouraging to see research showing that vaccines are continuing to help break the link between hospitalisation and the Delta variant after one dose, and particularly the high effectiveness of 2 doses.
Separate PHE analysis indicates that the COVID-19 vaccination programme has so far prevented 14,000 deaths and around 42,000 hospitalisations in older people in England, up to 30 May.
News
Coalition cracks deepen as Nationals break ranks over Labor reforms
Nationals senators defy party lines, voting against Labor’s reforms as Coalition faces internal rifts and leadership concerns.
Nationals senators defy party lines, voting against Labor’s reforms as Coalition faces internal rifts and leadership concerns.
A rift has emerged in the Coalition after three Nationals senators crossed the floor to vote against Labor’s post-Bondi hate group reforms, defying party lines and raising questions about their future in the shadow cabinet.
Their proposed amendment calling for greater scrutiny was rejected, and Labor’s legislation passed the Senate 38 votes to 22, cementing the reforms into law despite opposition pushback.
Coalition leadership will meet Wednesday to assess the political fallout, though some MPs consider the issue minor in terms of potential resignations. The incident highlights growing tensions within the party as internal discipline comes under pressure.
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News
Trump escalates Greenland rhetoric as Davos leaders push back on sovereignty
Trump claims U.S. alone can ensure Arctic peace, sparking backlash as Greenland’s sovereignty faces geopolitical tensions at Davos.
Trump claims U.S. alone can ensure Arctic peace, sparking backlash as Greenland’s sovereignty faces geopolitical tensions at Davos.
President Trump has intensified his remarks over Greenland, claiming the U.S. is the only nation capable of ensuring peace in the Arctic, sparking sharp pushback from European leaders. His rhetoric, including hints at potential tariffs, comes as international attention turns to the strategic territory.
The debate has dominated discussions at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, where Trump confirmed plans to meet regarding Greenland following a positive conversation with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. Meanwhile, Greenland’s leadership has warned that the territory must be ready for potential military scenarios.
Canada’s Prime Minister Mark Carney also weighed in from Davos, drawing a firm line on sovereignty, declaring Greenland’s independence non-negotiable. The unfolding standoff highlights rising geopolitical tensions in the Arctic, with global powers increasingly staking their claims.
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News
OpenAI prepares first consumer device amid revenue boom
OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.
OpenAI plans to launch a screenless smart speaker by late 2026, shifting focus to hardware amid significant revenue growth.
OpenAI is gearing up to launch its first-ever consumer hardware device in late 2026. The product is expected to be a screenless smart speaker, signalling the tech giant’s move beyond software and into the world of physical devices.
The device comes after OpenAI acquired a promising hardware startup to accelerate development.
The company is also pushing a strategy to strengthen domestic manufacturing, working closely with U.S. manufacturers to secure efficient production of essential components.
Despite the progress, technical hurdles remain, especially around the device’s listening capabilities, which could delay the rollout.
This development comes on the heels of OpenAI reporting an annualised revenue of over $20 billion in 2025, representing a staggering 233% increase from the previous year. The combination of massive revenue growth and expansion into hardware marks a new era for the AI pioneer.
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