EU secures 300 million more Moderna vaccines amid variant worries

Feb 17 2021

The European Union has revealed that they have reached an agreement with Moderna to secure another 300 million doses of their COVID-19 vaccine amid worries caused by the recent spread of virus variants.

The news comes after the EU’s purchase of another 200 million doses of Pifzer and BioNTech vaccines with EU Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen stating that with 2.6 million doses the union will be able to provide vaccines to citizens, neighbours and partners.

The EU plans to ramp up virus-detection programmes and speed up vaccine approvals as many countries lag behind inoculation programmes in countries such as Britain and the United States, despite starting vaccines close to two months ago.

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HSBC to move forward with plans for monthly €5 fee

Feb 17 2021

HSBC have confirmed that one in every four of its customers will be charged with a monthly €5 banking fee despite previous requests for reconsideration from the Central Bank and financial regulator.

The bank had first announced the plans back in January but halted due to public outcry and the aforementioned requests from the Central Bank and MFSA but will now move ahead with a revised version which will not affect 75% of its customer base.

This will affect customers under the age of 61 who deposit less than €2,300 per three months into their accounts while those over 61 will have to deposit at least €1,250 every three months to avoid fees.

Exemptions also include those with home loans, personal loans or wealth products as well as disabled people who do not qualify for social security benefits and part-timers who get paid into their HSBC account.

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Italian authorities say Etna eruption poses no danger

Feb 17 2021

Following Mount Etna’s eruption, intimidating clouds of smoke and ashes covered the Catania skyline but Italian Authorities have revealed that it poses no immediate danger to surrounding areas.

Stefano Branco, head of INGV National Institute for Geophysics and Vulcanology stated that they’ve seen worse and that the volcanoes activity was nothing to worry about.

Etna with Mosta Rotunda this morning photographed from the fields between Laferla Cross and Wardija ta’ San Ġorġ behind…

Posted by Daniel Cilia on Tuesday, February 16, 2021

Despite this, a decision was made to temporarily close the Catania international airport and the situation will be closely monitored to assure overall safety.

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The Umbrella Academy season 3 begins filming

Feb 17 2021

Netflix’s The Umbrella Academy has risen to the top of our list when it comes to quirky superhero series and every season finale leaves us on the edge of our seat waiting for the next update, and that may be soon.

Series star Elliot Page posted an umbrella logo with the number 3 Instagram, captioned ‘Omg we’re back again’, which means that the squad are on set once more.

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A post shared by @elliotpage

Netflix has yet to reveal any plot details but given how we left our favourite superhero family at the end of season 3, you better believe that things are getting a whole lot stranger.