NewsThe TelegraphEmmanuel Macron challenged by fellow EU leaders over AstraZeneca vaccine criticism
European Union leaders challenged Emmanuel Macron over his inaccurate claims that the AstraZeneca vaccine was “quasi-ineffectual”, it emerged on Wednesday. The French president said the jab did not appear to work on the over 65s in late January just hours before the EU’s medicines regulator approved it for use on all adults. A senior EU official revealed that Mr Macron was asked about his comments, which have been linked to a reluctance in some European countries to take the AstraZeneca jab. EU leaders have held regular video summits, including one on Thursday where they will call for coronavirus restrictions to continue, since the pandemic. “The point was raised by some leaders indeed. I cannot say who and when it was raised,” the official said. “There are in some countries some doubts and I think that the question was more to get clarification on if it was true or not and since then I think the commission has reacted to this."
CelebrityThe TelegraphBBC rules itself out of running for UK rights to Harry and Meghan's Oprah interview
The BBC will not be “pulling out its cheque book” for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s tell-all interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Telegraph can reveal. The Duchess, 39, is understood to have wanted the highly anticipated tete-a-tete to be broadcast on the most prestigious British channel. But as the corporation ruled itself out, ITV became the frontrunner to win the UK rights. The 90-minute special - the couple’s first sit-down interview since they got engaged in November 2017 - is expected to attract huge viewing figures. It will begin with a no-holds barred, “intimate” chat between Ms Winfrey and the Duchess, in which the pregnant 39-year-old will spill the beans about everything from stepping into life as a royal to how she is handling “life under intense pressure”. They will then be joined by the Duke as they speak about “their move to the United States and their future hopes and dreams for their expanding family.”
NewsThe TelegraphSecond phase of Covid vaccine rollout should be decided by age, adviser says
Vaccine distribution in the second phase should be decided by age because prioritising teaching or other occupations would slow down the rollout, a leading government adviser has said. Prof Anthony Harnden, the deputy chairman of the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation (JCVI), said there "isn't a strong scientific argument" to immunise teachers, telling MPs on the science and technology committee that workers in meat processing factories would have a better case to jump the queue. Prof Harnden said deviating from the age-based approach at all could lead to "harm" by slowing down the overall number of doses administered each day. The committee has submitted its recommendations to ministers, who are expected to make a final decision on the second stage of the rollout in the coming days. All adults aged 50 and above, as well as patients of all ages over 16 with underlying health conditions, are expected to have been offered a first vaccine dose by the end of April.
PoliticsThe IndependentTrump Jr deposed by DC attorney general over inaugural funds lawsuit
Ex-president’s son is latest family member interviewed over alleged misuse of 2017 inaugural money
- PoliticsITN Productions
Ministers accused of thinking they are ‘above the law’
Shadow Cabinet Office minister Rachel Reeves has accused government ministers of thinking that they are "above the law", in an urgent question relating to the awarding of Covid contracts during the pandemic. Health minister Edward Argar responded: "The NAO report was absolutely clear that there was no evidence of any inappropriate behaviour and indeed, no court has found this."
CelebrityDigital SpyHolby City's Laila Rouass details extent of horrific racist abuse
"If you tell people they don’t believe it happens so often."
NewsThe TelegraphSturgeon blasts Salmond but faces claim she is 'acting like tin pot dictator'
Nicola Sturgeon has launched an astonishing attack on Alex Salmond after she was accused of behaving like a “tin pot dictator” who risked bringing UK politics into worldwide disrepute. The First Minister accused her former mentor of inventing an “alternative reality” around claims of sexual assault and suggested it was his behaviour towards women, rather than a grand conspiracy, that were the "root" of the allegations against him. Ms Sturgeon was also forced to deny leaning on Scottish prosecutors to censor damning evidence put forward by Mr Salmond, following a fiasco that saw large chunks of his written testimony deleted. The episode over the written evidence, which saw Holyrood quickly back down to the Crown Office which is run by a member of Ms Sturgeon's government, has been seen as a major humiliation for the legislature.
HealthThe IndependentParents of child who died of Covid share the warning signs of the virus in kids
Parents of Gigi Morse, 6, say she seemed fine except for a few unusual ailments.
EntertainmentThe IndependentPiers Morgan shocks Good Morning Britain viewers after host ‘admits’ he’s a ‘b***end’ on live TV
“I just spat coffee in my cornflakes,’ one surprised viewer said
NewsReutersIndia's health workers balk at taking homegrown COVID-19 vaccine
India is struggling to convince its health and front-line workers to take a homegrown COVID-19 vaccine controversially approved without late-stage efficacy data, government data showed https://dashboard.cowin.gov.in on Thursday, days ahead of a wider roll-out. The country has the world's second-highest number of COVID-19 infections after the United States, with cases recently surging as mask wearing declines and states have eased social distancing measures. A lack of confidence in a homegrown vaccine country could prevent India from meeting its target of vaccinating 300 million of its 1.35 billion people by August.
PoliticsThe IndependentTrump-appointed judge overturns Biden 100 day ban on deportations
Mr Biden pitched 100-day pause during campaign as part of rollback of Trump immigration policies
NewsThe TelegraphNicola Sturgeon backtracks over lockdown plan by suggesting lower tier of restrictions in April
Nicola Sturgeon has backtracked over her controversial lockdown plan by conceding that parts of Scotland could move in April to a lower tier of restrictions that allows domestic travel and pubs to serve alcohol. The First Minister faced a barrage of criticism over her blueprint after stating that the entire mainland would initially move to Level 3 of her five-tier system when full lockdown formally ends on April 26. The beleaguered tourism and hospitality industries said many of their businesses would have to remain shut, with alcohol and travel outside council areas banned under the Level 3 restrictions that operated last year. Ms Sturgeon has conceded that parts or all of the country could instead speedily move to Level 2, which previously allowed restaurants and pubs to serve alcohol and open later. In a second about-turn, she said she hoped that travel restrictions within Scotland could be lifted from the end of April. The previous day she said they needed to continue "for some time yet" and her blueprint gave no indication of when they would be eased. Adopting a markedly more optimistic tone, after she was accused of failing to give people hope, she predicted that Scotland "could move to lower levels of restrictions fairly quickly over May and June."
CelebrityPA Media: EntertainmentStrictly’s Karen Hauer details jealousy and painful split from Kevin Clifton
She said she wanted to fight for their relationship.
CelebrityYahoo Celebrity UKPiers Morgan's wife reveals they've had panic button installed after death threats
The couple had a visit from the police and have beefed up their home security.
NewsThe IndependentPriti Patel blames asylum seekers after nearly 200 test positive for coronavirus at Napier Barracks
Home secretary accuses residents forced to sleep 28 to a dormitory of ‘not following rules’ on Covid safety
PoliticsThe IndependentBiden news - live: Trump Jr deposed over inaugural funds as White House defends migrant camp after AOC attack
Follow all the latest news from the White House
NewsThe TelegraphThreat to summer holidays as WHO says vaccines should not be condition of entry to countries
Summer holidays face a new threat after the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned that Covid vaccinations should not be used to determine whether people can enter a country. The WHO said there were still "critical unknowns" about the efficacy of vaccinations in reducing transmission and preventing the virus even as governments work on vaccine certificates as a way to kickstart travel. It said that, as a result, national authorities, airlines and travel operators "should not introduce requirements of proof of Covid-19 vaccination for international travel as a condition for departure or entry". Vaccination should not exempt travellers from having to undergo other "travel risk-reduction measures", such as testing or quarantine, it added. Vaccination documents are seen as critical to enable holidaymakers to travel abroad this summer. In his roadmap out of lockdown, announced on Monday, Boris Johnson signalled that international travel could restart as early as May 17.
PoliticsThe IndependentAOC accuses Marjorie Taylor Greene of ‘trying to get out of work early’
New York congresswoman hits out at controversial Republican over Equality Act
NewsThe IndependentNicola Sturgeon denies political influence behind censorship of explosive evidence in Salmond affair
Former first minister expected to answer questions at inquiry hearing on Friday
SportPA Media: UK NewsLatest weekly Covid-19 rates for local authority areas in England
Corby, Peterborough and Leicester are recording the highest rates.
HealthEvening StandardPfizer jab produces ‘high level’ of coronavirus antibodies after two doses, UK study shows
People of all ages who have had two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine produce high numbers of antibodies, new research suggests. More than 154,000 participants tested themselves at home using a finger prick test between January 26 and February 8, showing 13.9 per cent of the population had antibodies either from infection or vaccination. The data indicates that 87.9 per cent of people over the age of 80 tested positive for antibodies after two doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
HealthYahoo News UKChildren warned over hugging their grandparents – even if they've had the vaccine
Dr Jenny Harries said children hugging grandparents should be avoided 'until we’re absolutely sure' about the effectiveness of COVID vaccines.
PoliticsThe IndependentKevin McCarthy and Liz Cheney in awkward clash over Trump after top Republican claims ‘there is no civil war’
Congresswoman was previously censured by Wyoming’s GOP for voting to impeach the former president
- NewsSky video
Vaccine side-effects, fertility and jab shortages - Van-Tam answers your questions
England's deputy chief medical officer Professor Jonathan Van-Tam has appeared on Sky News to answer some questions from the public on the coronavirus crisis.
- PoliticsITN
PM and Starmer in first PMQs since roadmap announcement
Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer faced each other across the despatch box at PMQs on Wednesday. The Labour leader challenged the prime minister on financial support for people who are required to self-isolate, and argued against tax rises for families and businesses in next week’s Budget.
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