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The NHS has started rolling out COVID-19 booster jabs. Over 50s, people in care homes, frontline health and social care workers and vulnerable people between 16 and 49 are among those who will be offered a third dose. At least six months must have passed since the second jab. Hospital hubs began giving third doses to health and social care workers on Thursday, NHS England said, with other eligible people now being identified. GP vaccination services will follow in the coming days and the full rollout will start next week as more vaccination centres and pharmacy centres finish final checks. Advertisement NHS England said people would be contacted by their GP or the National Booking Service when they become eligible. One of the first to get a third jab was Catherine Cargill, a maternity support worker at Croydon University Hospital. More on Covid-19 COVID-19: Army could be called in to help Scottish ambulance service, amid reports man died … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Vaccine booster programme begins as NHS starts giving third jabs

Vladimir Putin has said he will spend "a few days" in isolation after dozens of people in his entourage caught coronavirus, according to Russia's TASS news agency. News of the outbreak among the president's inner circle emerged earlier this week but the Kremlin said the president had tested negative and was "absolutely healthy". However, it was previously unclear how big the outbreak was and how long the president would isolate for. Mr Putin revealed more details as he spoke via video to a security summit in Tajikistan. "This is not just one person or two people, there are dozens of people," he said. Advertisement "And now I have to remain in self-isolation for a few days." Mr Putin, who is fully vaccinated with Russia's Sputnik V vaccine, had several public engagements on Monday. More on Covid-19 COVID-19: Army could be called in to help Scottish ambulance service, amid reports man died after a 40-hour wait COVID-19: Vaccine … [Read more...] about COVID-19: Dozens of infections in Putin entourage force him to self-isolate ‘for a few days’

CVC Capital Partners, the private equity giant, is buying one of Britain's biggest chains of veterinary clinics as it seeks to exploit a boom in pet ownership during the pandemic. Sky News has learnt that Medivet is being sold by Inflexion Private Equity to CVC in a deal worth more than £1bn. Medivet, which operates around 300 branches and more than 20 round-the-clock clinics across the UK, has been part-owned by Inflexion Private Equity since 2016. Investment bankers at HSBC ran the Medivet auction process. Sources said there had been substantial interest from financial bidders because of the opportunity to continue consolidating what remains a fragmented industry. Advertisement The potential for expansion into European markets is also likely to be a focus for Medivet's new owner, they added. Inflexion will make a handsome return from the sale to CVC, with other slugs of equity owned by Medivet's veterinary practice-owners as well as current and … [Read more...] about CVC snaps up Medivet in £1bn deal amid industry boom

Anti-monarchy billboards that say "Wales doesn't need a prince" have sparked fury for not being "reflective of public opinion". The signs, which were organised by the Republic campaign group and feature pictures of Prince Charles , have cropped up in Aberdare, Cardiff and Swansea this week. The group said they want the nation to hear their message that the Royal Family is "wrong in principle" and should be abolished in favour of an elected head of state. However, Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies criticised the billboards for not being "reflective of Welsh public opinion". He told MailOnline: "The Royal Family are extremely popular in Wales, and that is because their presence provides guaranteed stability in the UK and they are fantastic ambassadors for this country. Advertisement "This is a fringe movement, totally divorced from the people's priorities and opinion." The billboards were originally launched earlier this year in July, with … [Read more...] about ‘Wales doesn’t need a prince’: Anti-monarchy billboards spark backlash

Indonesia's president has been ordered to clean up the nation's congested capital after a court ruled the leader failed to fulfil citizens' rights to clean air. Thirty-two people filed a lawsuit against President Joko Widodo, as well as the country's health, environment and internal affairs ministers, and three other local governors of Jakarta, Banten and West Java. In the case which began in July 2019, they claimed the defendants were negligent by failing to curb air pollution in the country's capital city, Jakarta . On Thursday, three judges at the Central Jakarta District Court voted in favour of the residents and said the seven officials have to take serious action including tightening air quality regulations, enforcing rules around emissions from cars, businesses and waste burning, and educating the public on the rules and health risks. The court did not rule the actions of the defendants violated human rights. Advertisement Taxi drivers, … [Read more...] about Indonesian court rules president negligent over Jakarta air pollution