British Airways boosts cash reserves by £2.45bn to weather COVID turbulence

The owner of British Airways has announced a new round of funding for its flagship airline amid continuing coronavirus crisis disruption to global travel.

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  • After record COVID-19 deaths, Bolsonaro tells Brazilians to stop 'whining'

    After two straight days of record COVID-19 deaths in Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro on Thursday told Brazilians to stop "whining" and move on, in his latest remarks attacking distancing measures and downplaying the gravity of the pandemic. Brazil has the world's second-highest death toll over the past year, after the United States. While the U.S. outbreak is ebbing, Brazil is facing its worst phase of the epidemic yet, pushing its hospital system to the brink of collapse.

  • EU parliament shelves vote on Brexit deal after Boris Johnson ‘violates’ agreement

    Group leaders have paused the ratification process amid the latest row

  • Capitol rioter who put feet on Pelosi’s desk yells in court over pre-trial jailing: ‘It’s not fair!’

    Richard Barnett, 60, of Arkansas faces federal charges including disorderly conduct in a capitol building

  • Meghan and Harry are the victims here – but the royal family refuse to see it

    The Duchess of Sussex is a woman who fell in love with a man. That’s it. Unfortunately for her, this man happened to be a British prince

  • France 'could join Italy' and block AstraZeneca's coronavirus vaccine exports

    France has threatened to block shipments of coronavirus vaccines from leaving the European Union after Italy denied 250,000 doses of AstraZeneca jabs to Australia. The threat came as Australia said it was seeking assurances from the European Commission that future vaccine shipments would go ahead. Olivier Veran, the French health minister, said on Friday that his country could block shipments of Covid vaccines to non-EU countries and was in discussions on the matter with European counterparts. “I understand (the Italian position). We could do the same thing,” said Mr Véran when asked by BFM TV if France could follow suit. “We’ll see. The more doses France has, the happier I will be as health minister,” he added. “We believe in a European approach … France has the right to talk to its European neighbours to ensure that laboratories respect their commitments and contracts. That seems to me to be common sense.” His comments came after the Italian prime minister, Mario Draghi, announced he would block a shipment of AstraZeneca vaccines to Australia on Thursday. Mr Draghi, supported by the European Commission, said it was blocking of quarter of million doses because the drug manufacturer had failed to meet its EU contract commitments. On Friday, Lia Quartapelle, an Italian politician of the Democratic Party (PD), said the move was legal due to EU law, and said: "I'm amazed by the fact that the problem is that Italy bans the export and the problem is not AstraZeneca not delivering what is written in the contracts. "Italy is coming under scrutiny for something that is allowed while AstraZeneca is doing something that is not allowed under the contract it signed. I do not understand why." However, German health minister Jens Spahn said on Friday that while drug manufacturers must honour vaccine supply contracts to Europe, Germany had not yet had any reason to stop shipments of shots produced domestically to other countries. "As of today, we have not had the reason not to authorise the delivery of vaccines to other parts of the world," said Mr Spahn, echoing the French minister’s call for a common EU stance. He said he had not spoken to his Italian counterpart.

  • Trump issues lengthy rant about veteran Republican Karl Rove after strategist criticises him

    The former president lashed out and called on Fox to fire ‘pompous fool’ Rove

  • Premier League ace Abdoulaye Doucouré caught driving £170k Lamborghini with no insurance in north London

    Police seized a £170,000 Lamborghini from Everton midfielder Abdoulaye Doucouré after he was caught driving the car through north London without insurance, a court heard. Doucouré was “shocked” when shown the speed gun reading, Bromley magistrates heard, suggesting he may have been confused because the speedometer on his French car is in km. On July 2, he was then pulled over in his wife’s Lamborghini Urus in Dartmouth Park Hill when driving without insurance.

  • Cyprus to welcome vaccinated British tourists from May 1

    Tourists would be required to have had their second dose at the latest seven days before travel.

  • Neighbours star Bonnie Anderson finishes filming her final scenes

    "End of an era."

  • Car crashes into Chelmsford Aldi store

    Cameras have captured the moment a car crashed through a supermarket window and knocked over shoppers. It happened at an Aldi store in Chelmsford, Essex, just before 12:00 GMT on Wednesday.

  • Pfizer or AstraZeneca? Vaccine snobbery is becoming a serious problem

    It is time to stop this nonsense – the best vaccine you can get is the one you’re offered on the day

  • US intelligence investigating links between Capitol rioters and members of Congress

    FBI looking at whether lawmakers knowingly or unknowingly helped pro-Trump mob

  • SNP ministers refuse to follow Rishi Sunak by extending property sales tax holiday

    Homebuyers in Scotland have been dealt a huge blow after SNP's Finance Secretary refused to follow the Chancellor in England by extending Scotland's property sales tax holiday. Rishi Sunak announced in Wednesday's Budget the stamp duty holiday south of the Border, which had been due to end on March 31, would be extended for a further six months. The current nil-rate band for purchases in England up to £500,000 will continue until the end of June, with a "tapered" period running until September. Mr Sunak also handed the SNP government an additional £1.2 billion- more than double the £500 million that the Scottish Government had assumed that they would get when the draft Scottish Budget was published. But Kate Forbes, the SNP's Finance Secretary, said yesterday the equivalent Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) holiday in Scotland will still finish at the end of March. She said there was no need to extend the holiday as it has "achieved its purpose", with "record" levels of home purchases being recorded despite the Covid pandemic.

  • Downing Street says Boris Johnson has 'full confidence' in Cabinet Secretary amid Meghan bullying claims

    Boris Johnson still has full confidence in his top civil servant after it was claimed he knew about Meghan Markle’s alleged bullying of royal staff, Downing Street said, insisting there is “no place” for bullying in Government. Simon Case, the Cabinet Secretary, was reportedly aware of allegations that the Duchess of Sussex had bullied Buckingham Palace staff in his capacity as the Duke of Cambridge’s private secretary in 2018. Boris Johnson’s spokesman yesterday said he had “full confidence” in Mr Case in his new role as head of the Civil Service, but would not comment on the allegations about the Duchess or that the Cabinet Secretary knew about them. The spokesman repeatedly said the controversy was a “matter for the Palace”. Allegra Stratton, Mr Johnson’s press secretary, reminded reporters that the Prime Minister wrote to ministers last year to tell them there was no place for bullying in Government. Bullying allegations are something both men “take seriously”, she said, adding: “The pair of them wrote to all government ministers last year underlining that commitment and making clear that in government we expect a culture which is respectful, professional and focussed on ambitious change, but in which there is no place for bullying.”

  • Lauren Boebert criticised for calling Equality Act ‘supremacy of gays’

    Bill to prevent discrimination against LGBT+ people passed House last week

  • Trump may have delayed sending National Guard to Capitol riot to serve his political narrative, former FBI agent says

    Police were braced for more violence at the Capitol on Thursday

  • Newly published legal advice appears to contradict Salmond claim

    The documents related to the botched investigation into allegations of sexual harassment by the former First Minister.

  • Home Office pays civil servant £340,000 to settle Priti Patel bullying claim

    A former top civil servant has agreed one of the biggest civil service pay-offs to settle his dismissal claim after accusing Priti Patel of bullying. Former Home Office permanent secretary Sir Philip Rutnam has received a £340,000 payout, plus his legal costs, from the Government after agreeing to end his unfair dismissal claim. Sir Philip resigned in February last year, accusing Ms Patel of a "vicious and orchestrated" briefing campaign against him, claiming constructive dismissal and accusing Ms Patel of bullying her subordinates. A 10-day employment tribunal to hear Sir Philip's case was due to take place in September. But, in a statement on Thursday, the Home Office said: "The Government and Sir Philip's representatives have jointly concluded that it is in both parties' best interests to reach a settlement at this stage rather than continuing to prepare for an employment tribunal. "The Government does not accept liability in this matter and it was right that the Government defended the case." In a statement issued via his FDA union, Sir Philip said: "I am pleased to say that the Government has today settled the claims that I brought against them and which were due to be heard in an employment tribunal in September. "This settlement resolves my own case. The FDA is continuing to pursue in separate proceedings the wider issues that have been raised. I now look forward to the next stages of my career." The Government said it "regrets the circumstances" surrounding his resignation but added that both parties were "pleased that a settlement has been reached to these proceedings." Sir Philip’s resignation led the Cabinet Office to launch an inquiry into whether Ms Patel had broken the code governing ministers' behaviour. Boris Johnson's standards chief Sir Alex Allan found that she had - but the Prime Minister rejected his findings and kept her in post. Sir Alex resigned in response. In his report, Sir Alex found Ms Patel's "approach on occasions has amounted to behaviour that can be described as bullying in terms of the impact felt by individuals." "To that extent her behaviour has been in breach of the ministerial code, even if unintentionally," he concluded. Ms Patel apologised for her alleged behaviour, saying "any upset I have caused was completely unintentional". Mr Johnson said he did not think Ms Patel was a bully, and had "full confidence" in her. The FDA launched a judicial review in a bid to overturn Mr Johnson's decision to stand by Ms Patel. Nick Thomas-Symonds, Labour's shadow home secretary, accused the Prime Minister of "terrible judgement", adding: "Taxpayers will be appalled at having to pick up the bill for the Home Secretary's unacceptable behaviour.

  • Who are the key players at war with Meghan and what is the “Firm of Eight”?

    From ex-Sussex squad members citing bullying allegations to the Hollywood dream team fighting the Duke and Duchess’ PR battle from LA, Katie Strick has a who’s-who of this week’s royal drama

  • French rugby chief appears before ministers in Six Nations Covid-19 probe

    An internal investigation into the outbreak of Covid-19 within the France Six Nations squad has concluded that the health protocol was "well developed" and "respected" by the team, French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said on Friday. "Nobody broke protocol," added the president of the French Rugby Federation (FFR), Bernard Laporte, after an hour-long meeting with Blanquer, who has overall governmental responsibility for sport, and Sports Minister Roxana Maracineanu.Last weekend's Six Nations clash against Scotland was postponed after 16 members of the France squad, including head coach Fabien Galthie and 12 players, tested positive for coronavirus. Galthie has come under particular scrutiny after it emerged that, the day after France defeated Italy 50-10 in the opening round at the start of February, he had left the secure bubble to watch his son play a game.Questions have also been raised about the sight of France players enjoying waffles in the streets of Rome ahead of the opening match of the tournament against Italy. While the investigation declined to point the finger of blame at anyone in particular, the three officials agreed on Friday that the protocol should be strengthened. "You can never be too vigilant," said Blanquer. "We can always better tighten the mesh."Laporte had already given his full backing to Galthie, a former France captain, saying he had been wearing a mask and was outside, decreasing the risk of him infecting anyone.However, he emphasised that the bubble would now be even tighter."Now, no more leaving the hotel," said Laporte. "It's belt and braces." After the postponement of the match against Scotland, which is likely to be rescheduled for the end of March, the France squad will gather at the national training centre in Marcoussis to prepare for the match against England at Twickenham on March 13.(AFP)