PM to reopen cinemas, museums and galleries in England June 23, 2020 Museums, cinemas, galleries and other cultural venues are set to be allowed to reopen as long as social distancing measures are kept in place, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce this afternoon. The easing would come into effect on 4 July, in tandem with the reopening of other parts of the hospitality industry [...]
Khan calls for London furlough extension as he warns of ‘looming unemployment crisis’ June 23, 2020 Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has urged the chancellor to extend the furlough scheme in London’s most deprived areas, as he warned of a “looming unemployment crisis” in the UK. Khan today called on Rishi Sunak to extend the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme beyond the end of the lockdown to avoid a sudden surge in [...]
US suspends work visas and green cards until end of 2020 June 22, 2020 The US government will suspend certain non-immigrant work visas and extend an existing ban on certain green cards until the end of the year, the Trump administration announced today, as America gr The suspension will include H-1B visas for high-skilled workers, which are frequently used by technology companies, and H-2B visas for seasonal guest workers. [...]
Brits to reunite with grandparents as government eases shielding rules June 22, 2020 More than 2m vulnerable people will be able to leave their homes for the first time in over three months, the government said today, as Prime Minister Boris Johnson prepares to announce a wider easing of social distancing rules. Advisory guidance for more than 2.2m people who are currently shielding indoors will be eased from [...]
Reading attacks: Government undertaking ‘biggest overhaul of terrorism laws in decades’ June 22, 2020 The government is currently undertaking the “biggest overhaul” of anti-terrorism laws in decades, Priti Patel said today, as the home secretary visited the site of a terror attack in Reading that took place over the weekend. A 25-year-old man, named yesterday as Khairi Saadallah, is currently being detained under terrorism powers after the stabbings on [...]
German banks press EU for action on Brexit equivalence June 22, 2020 The Association of German Banks (BDB) has called for the EU to prioritise equivalence rules in discussions surrounding the UK’s upcoming exit, arguing they are vital for achieving market and financial stability on both sides. “Clarity regarding future market access arrangements should be provided at the earliest possible date,” the BDB said in a position [...]
Former chancellor backs government plans to slash VAT June 22, 2020 Former chancellor Ken Clarke has said cutting VAT would be the “sensible thing to do” as the government prepares to implement new measures to revitalise the British economy. Speaking to the BBC today, the Tory MP said: “I think coming out of the lockdown, sorting out the mess — including the recession after the coronavirus [...]
Government to unveil new bill to help businesses adjust to social distancing measures June 22, 2020 The government is set to bring forward fresh legislation to help businesses adjust to new social distancing requirements, as the UK begins to emerge from months of lockdown. The Business and Planning Bill is set to be introduced this week and will be led by the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (Beis), the [...]
With the rest of the world distracted, China is on the march across Asia June 22, 2020 There are iron-clad geopolitical rules as to how the world works, edicts no less true because they are unknown by the vast majority of people. The vastly underrated Nicholas J. Spykman, the foremost US strategic theoretician of the twentieth century, was a primary articulator of these secret runes. As Spykman postulated, the underlying rules to [...]
Government trials new ‘no-swab’ saliva test for coronavirus June 22, 2020 A new “no-swab” coronavirus test using patients’ saliva is set to be piloted in Southampton starting this week, the government has announced. More than 14,000 GP staff, essential workers and university staff will participate in the first phase of the trial, which they will be able to complete at home using their own saliva, the [...]