NHS set for ‘grab-a-jab’ campaign in vaccination

England adds more countries to its travel ‘green list’

The UK government has added Malta, Ibiza and several Caribbean countries to its quarantine-free “green list” of travel destinations. Malta, Madeira, Spain’s four Balearic Islands and Barbados are among those to move at 4am on June 30 from the tougher “amber list” in England’s so-called traffic light system.

Portugal tightens coronavirus restrictions in Lisbon

Portugal, previously the only EU country on the “green list”, plans to tighten restrictions in three municipalities, including Lisbon, amid a spread of infections linked to the more transmissible Delta variant of Covid-19. A ban on non-essential travel to and from greater Lisbon, home to about 2.8m people, will be imposed for a second consecutive weekend, from 3pm on Friday.

Carnival reports $2.1bn loss but reports strong demand

Cruise operator Carnival has reported strong demand for future booking and expects its entire fleet to be sailing next spring. Advance bookings for next year were “ahead of a very strong 2019”, Carnival said. Forty-two of its ships, or more than half its capacity, have resumed sailing from overseas ports or have announced plans to sail.

Mexico raises rates in wake of inflation surprise

Mexico’s central bank delivered a surprise quarter-point rise in its key interest rate to 4.25 per cent, reflecting concerns over inflation as the economy rebounds from the coronavirus pandemic. The market had unanimously been expecting the bank to hold rates, which was the position of two of the five-member Banxico board. Inflation hit 6.02 per cent in the first two weeks of this month, overshooting estimates of 5.87 per cent.