'British scientists showing again how skill can save lives outside UK with new ebola vaccine'
"Oxford University’s new Ebola vaccine has been developed in just eight weeks after a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This is British science at its finest."
Efforts will save lives
British scientists are once again showing how skill, urgency and public service can save lives far beyond our shores. Oxford University’s new Ebola vaccine has been developed in just eight weeks after a deadly outbreak in the Democratic Republic of the Congo killed 625 people and infected nearly 1,800. That speed is extraordinary, but corners are not being cut.
The same rigorous tests are being carried out, with teams working around the clock and in parallel. The technology behind the jab helped create the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid vaccine, credited with saving millions of lives worldwide. Now it could offer hope against the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola, for which there is currently no approved vaccine or treatment.
The first safety trial will take place in Britain before testing begins in Africa. This is British science at its finest: fast, careful and driven by the simple belief that every life matters, wherever it is lived.
Fairness for all
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood is right to argue that Britain’s asylum system needs reform. It is slow, costly and leaves people trapped in limbo for years. But change must be fair as well as firm.
Handing appeal decisions to members of the public raises questions about consistency and expertise, while charging successful applicants £10,000 for support and accommodation risks punishing people who have proved their right to stay. Meanwhile, concerns over trafficking survivors must be answered, not brushed aside.
Any new rules should protect victims rather than make it harder for them to rebuild their lives. Creating legal routes is welcome and could help restore order. Ministers should think carefully before changing settlement rules for those who came here under one promise and may now face another. Reform needs trust, clarity, as well as humanity.
Best bar none
Britain’s best pub may be closer than the local high street. Ingenious homeowners’ brilliant garden boozers prove imagination, recycled materials and a well-stocked fridge can create something special. The Pampered Chicken, The Mucky Pub and Hibbys are all worthy finalists. May the best backyard boozer win - with no closing time and no taxi home.
