A group of Asian and other ethnic celebrities have come together on film to dispel popular myths about the coronavirus vaccines and to call for all British minorities to have the inoculation.
"We will find our way through this and we will be united once again with our friends and families," former Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati says on the video.
“All we have to do is take the vaccination.”
Gulati is followed by English international cricketer Moeen Ali who says: “Many in our community have suffered the most largely due to our efforts on the front line at the NHS or as key workers.”
London Mayor Sadiq Khan also appears on the video.
“Today those doctors and nurses have found us a way forward – a Covid vaccine that is safe and will help save lives,” Mr Khan says.
British journalist and writer Rageh Omaar addresses one myth that you could develop Covid-19 symptoms from the vaccine.
“It’s important to understand that the vaccine does not contain the live virus itself, only harmless elements of it,” Omaar says.
“Taking the vaccine is the only way to boost the immunity against Covid for you and your loved ones.”
Actor Sanjeev Bhaskar also addressed concerns over the testing of the vaccines.
“The Covid-19 vaccines have gone through the same strict processes and regulations as other vaccines, such as for measles, mumps, rubella and TB,” Bhaskar says.
Atand-up comedian Romesh Ranganathan says: “There is no chip or tracker in the vaccine to keep watching where you go. Your mobile phone actually does a much better job of that."
The video then shows all of the celebrities naming those in their family who had already received the vaccine.
Former EastEnders actress Nina Wadia stresses the importance of having the vaccine in concluding the video.
“Not only will you be saving your life, you will be saving other lives too, and there can be no better gift,” Wadia says.
It is hoped that the video will help to negate many of the rumours and misinformation surrounding the virus and encourage people from ethnic minority backgrounds to have the vaccine.
Minority populations have been shown to be most at risk of death if they contract coronavirus.
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
Global state-owned investor ranking by size
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Japan
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Canada
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Virtual banks explained
What is a virtual bank?
The Hong Kong Monetary Authority defines it as a bank that delivers services through the internet or other electronic channels instead of physical branches. That means not only facilitating payments but accepting deposits and making loans, just like traditional ones. Other terms used interchangeably include digital or digital-only banks or neobanks. By contrast, so-called digital wallets or e-wallets such as Apple Pay, PayPal or Google Pay usually serve as intermediaries between a consumer’s traditional account or credit card and a merchant, usually via a smartphone or computer.
What’s the draw in Asia?
Hundreds of millions of people under-served by traditional institutions, for one thing. In China, India and elsewhere, digital wallets such as Alipay, WeChat Pay and Paytm have already become ubiquitous, offering millions of people an easy way to store and spend their money via mobile phone. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines are also among the world’s biggest under-banked countries; together they have almost half a billion people.
Is Hong Kong short of banks?
No, but the city is among the most cash-reliant major economies, leaving room for newcomers to disrupt the entrenched industry. Ant Financial, an Alibaba Group Holding affiliate that runs Alipay and MYBank, and Tencent Holdings, the company behind WeBank and WeChat Pay, are among the owners of the eight ventures licensed to create virtual banks in Hong Kong, with operations expected to start as early as the end of the year.
