UK says it still wants deal on global digital tax after US quits talks June 18, 2020 The UK will continue to push for a solution to taxing international digital companies such as Google and Facebook after the US abandoned negotiations for a global digital tax, the Treasury said. US treasury secretary Steven Mnuchin pulled out of talks on digital services taxes with EU officials after they failed to make any progress, [...]
Trump asked for China’s help to win 2020 election, says ex-adviser Bolton June 18, 2020 In a withering behind-the-scenes portrayal, President Donald Trump’s former national security adviser John Bolton accused him of sweeping misdeeds that included explicitly seeking Chinese President Xi Jinping’s help to win re-election in 2020. Bolton, a longtime foreign policy hawk who Trump fired in September over policy differences, also said that the US president had expressed [...]
China hawks risk accelerating the outcomes they are trying to avoid June 18, 2020 The Covid-19 pandemic is leading to a clear hardening of western attitudes towards China. The origins of the virus in Wuhan, coupled with suspicions that the Chinese government suppressed awareness of the initial outbreak, have emboldened sino-sceptics and heightened fears of growing Chinese influence. Yet blanket hostility risks accelerating the emergence of the aggressive and [...]
Oriel College votes to take down Cecil Rhodes statue June 17, 2020 The governing body of Oriel College at Oxford University has tonight said that it has recommended that its statue of colonialist benefactor Cecil Rhodes be taken down. It also said that it would launch an inquiry into the issues surrounding the statue, which has been the subject of student protests for five years. In recent [...]
Exclusive: Government review delays announcement that pubs can reopen June 17, 2020 Downing Street’s plan to announce earlier this week that pubs and restaurants could open on 4 July was delayed by a government review, putting hundreds of thousands of jobs at risk. City A.M. understands that Covid-19 operating guidelines for England’s hospitality sector have been drawn up by the government and are ready to distribute. However, the [...]
Health minister admits NHS coronavirus app might not be ready before winter June 17, 2020 A government minister has admitted that the NHS’ contact-tracing coronavirus app might not be ready before the winter. Speaking to the parliamentary science and technology committee this afternoon, department of health minister Lord Bethell said the app was “no longer a priority”. In answer to questions about the app, Bethell said: “We are seeking to [...]
China-India border dispute: Diplomats exchange blows as Chinese mobile firm scraps Indian launch June 17, 2020 The Indian and Chinese foreign ministers exchanged protests today in an escalation of tensions after clashes at the border yesterday left 20 Indian soldiers dead. A phone call between India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar and China’s Wang Ji earlier today heard both sides disagree over which country had crossed the border first. Jaishinkar claimed China tried to [...]
Downing Street stands by pension triple lock manifesto pledge June 17, 2020 Downing Street has said it will stick by its manifesto pledge to not break the pension triple lock, despite speculation to the contrary. The Prime Minister’s spokesman said today that there were “no plans to abolish the triple lock and we will always stand by pensioners”. The triple lock, brought in by David Cameron in [...]
Coronavirus deaths in the UK rise by 184 June 17, 2020 A further 184 people died after testing positive from coronavirus, the government said today. As of 9am this morning, there have been 7,121,976 tests, with 140,359 tests carried out on 16 June. To date, 299,251 people have tested positive. As of 5pm yesterday, of those tested positive for coronavirus, 42,153 have died in hospitals, care [...]
Boris Johnson’s car involved in minor collision outside parliament June 17, 2020 Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s convoy was involved in a minor collision outside the Houses of Parliament today following Prime Minister’s Questions. One of the cars in the convoy was forced to suddenly brake by a protester, meaning the vehicle behind shunted the back of the lead car. The BBC reported that a dent was visible [...]