London First lobby group to change its name to catch up with govt ‘levelling up’ agenda December 8, 2021 London First, a lobby business group, plans to change its name in a bid to avoid an embarrassing clash with Boris Johnson’s “levelling up” agenda, widely seen as putting the capital far from first. The group, whose mission is “to make London the best city in the world in which to do business”, according to [...]
Plan B: Boris Johnson set to announce new Covid restrictions at 5.30pm today December 8, 2021 Boris Johnson is set to announce new Covid-19 restrictions imminently to deal with the growing cases of the more transmissible Omicron variant. Multiple media outlets are now reporting that Johnson is set to bring in the Plan B restrictions – mandatory face masks and vaccine passports, along with working from home orders – as early [...]
Johnson apologises for Number 10 party video and launches probe December 8, 2021 Boris Johnson has apologised for a leaked video appearing to show his staff joking about an illegal Christmas party last year and has launched a probe into the event. Johnson said he would draft in cabinet secretary Simon Case to investigate whether a party happened at Downing Street on 18 December last year when social [...]
UK to enforce diplomatic boycott of Beijing Winter Olympics December 8, 2021 The UK will enforce a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics next year in response to the country’s litany of human rights abuses. Boris Johnson said today in Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) that “no ministers are expected to attend or officials”. However, the Prime Minister said that he was not in favour of a [...]
Tax disadvantage affecting Scottish partnerships to be removed December 8, 2021 | City Talk In 2020 ICAS called for a tax disadvantage affecting Scottish partnerships to be removed, so we were pleased to see the recent government announcement that the relevant legislation will be amended. What’s the problem? The UK capital gains tax regime allows a roll-over style relief for CGT where joint owners of land exchange their interests [...]
Khashoggi murder suspect arrest a case of mistaken identity December 8, 2021 One of the suspected killers of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi was arrested at the Roissy airport near Paris this afternoon as he was about to board a flight to Riyadh.
India’s military chief dies in freak accident as army helicopter crashes in country’s far south December 8, 2021 India’s air force said that an Indian army helicopter carrying the country’s military chief has crashed in the southern Tamil Nadu state. Officials did not say whether chief of defence staff Bipin Rawat was injured in the accident. Public broadcaster Prasar Bharati said three injured people were taken to a hospital. Television images showed the [...]
Omicron hit to economy expected: India braces itself for ‘massive’ third Covid wave of Coronavirus infections December 8, 2021 Fears are growing rapidly in India that a massive third wave of Covid infections is building, as coronavirus infections may yet again spiral out of control, largely driven by the new Omicron variant. Last night local time, the Indian Medical Association (IMA) issued a warning to the country’s government that a third wave is inevitable [...]
Prime Minister to face grilling at PMQs over Number 10 party video December 8, 2021 Boris Johnson will face one of the most challenging Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) of his leadership today as he prepares to face a grilling on the Number 10 Christmas party scandal engulfing the government. A video was leaked to ITV yesterday of government aide Allegra Stratton joking about having an illegal Christmas party at Number [...]
German parliament electing Olaf Scholz as chancellor marks Angela Merkel’s last day as leader of Europe’s largest economy December 8, 2021 Germany’s parliament has opened a new era for the European Union’s most populous nation after Angela Merkel’s 16-year tenure by electing Olaf Scholz as the country’s ninth post-war chancellor. Scholz’s government takes office with high hopes of modernising Germany and combating climate change, but faces the immediate challenge of handling the country’s toughest phase yet [...]