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According to a member of the Scientific Pandemic Influenza Modelling group (Spi-M), the Omicron variant is causing the most "concerning" rates in the North East and North West of England. According to Dr. Mike Tildesley of the University of Warwick, cases in London are "slowing down," but experts need two weeks to determine if this trend continues. "Most other sections of the country are around two to three weeks behind London in terms of their pandemic profile," he continued. "The North East and North West are particularly troubling - hospital admissions in those two regions are increasing; likewise, the Midlands, where I live, is a little concerning, so it's a worry." Meanwhile, NHS leaders have been accused of scrutinizing hospitals for declaring critical incidents and delaying surgeries. An email instructing hospitals to use "proper wording" and offer advance warning before disclosing their status, according to sources, was a &q

After Sidney Poitier's death at the age of 94, Barack Obama and Oprah Winfrey paid tribute to the "trailblazing" Hollywood great. The Bahamian-American actor was most known for his roles in films such as In The Heat Of The Night, Blackboard Jungle, and Guess Who's Coming To Dinner, and was the first black man to receive an Academy Award for Best Actor. After awarding Poitier the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009, former US President Barack Obama released a photo of himself and his wife Michelle standing with him. "Through his trailblazing roles and extraordinary talent, Sidney Poitier epitomised dignity and elegance, showcasing the ability of film to bring us closer together," President Barack Obama wrote. "He also provided opportunities for a new generation of actors." "Michelle and I express our heartfelt condolences to his family and legions of admirers." "For me, the greatest of the 'Great Trees' has fallen: Sidney Po