‘We cannot go on as we are’: UK outlines proposed changes to Northern Ireland Protocol July 21, 2021 The UK has today outlined proposed changes to the post-Brexit Northern Ireland Protocol, with a cabinet minister saying that “we cannot go on as we are”. The move is set to ignite a furious row with the EU, with one of its top officials saying there is no room for renegotiation of the protocol. Northern [...]
Keir Starmer calls for clarity over which businesses can get self-isolation exemption July 21, 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has called for clarity over which businesses can get an exemption to the government’s self-isolation rules. Downing Street yesterday said some businesses in vital industries can apply to have their staff exempt from self-isolating when pinged by the NHS Track and Trace app. It comes as more than 1m people [...]
MPs call out ‘complete absence’ of invasive beauty treatment regulation July 21, 2021 MPs have urged the government to strengthen regulation on non-surgical beauty treatments, like fillers and injections, citing a “complete absence” of a legal framework. After a year-long review, the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Beauty, Aesthetics and Wellbeing have claimed the government has left the young industry to regulate itself. The APPG advised mandatory training [...]
UK set for major EU row as Frost prepares to redraw Northern Ireland Protocol July 21, 2021 The UK is set to force another major post-Brexit row with the EU as it prepares to demand significant changes to the Northern Ireland Protocol today. Defacto Brexit minister Lord David Frost will reportedly call for almost all checks between Great Britain and Northern Ireland to be removed to avoid economic and civil disruption. The [...]
UK sets out plan for greater free trade for green technologies in lead up to Cop26 July 20, 2021 The UK has today set out its plan for greater free trade in green technologies in the lead up to the Cop26 climate conference in Glasgow later this year. A new Board of Trade report calls for the UK to “encourage” other countries to cut tariffs on green technology and to use its diplomatic standing [...]
Pegasus spyware data leaks spark political rows from Delhi to Mexico July 20, 2021 Politicians, journalists and human rights activists are believed to be targeted by Israeli spyware company NSO Group in the interest of its government clients, media reports on Monday. A list of more than 50,000 phone numbers was allegedly selected for potential surveillance as those of people of interest by government clients of NSO Group since [...]
Dominic Cummings plotted to oust Boris Johnson days after 2019 election July 20, 2021 Dominic Cummings has today revealed he was plotting to oust Boris Johnson from Downing Street just days after his landslide 2019 General Election victory. Johnson’s former chief aide made the explosive revelation in an upcoming BBC 2 interview tonight, after months of attacks on the Prime Minister. Cummings said the influence of Johnson’s wife, then [...]
Who is lying? Downing Street flatly denies Cummings claim Boris Johnson insisted on seeing Queen early in pandemic July 20, 2021 Downing Street this afternoon flatly denied Dominic Cummings’ claim that Boris Johnson wanted to visit the Queen early in the pandemic despite coronavirus having hit No 10. The former chief aide in No 10 alleged that he had to convince the Prime Minister out of visiting her by warning of the potentially grave consequences. But [...]
China calls US, UK cyber attack allegations ‘groundless and irresponsible’ July 20, 2021 China has denied US-led accusations of orchestrating a global cyber hacking campaign against tech giants including Microsoft. The US and a coalition of allies, including the UK, EU, Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand and Nato, on Monday accused China behind the “systematic cyber sabotage”, including a major hacking of Microsoft earlier this year. China hit [...]
‘Severe consequences’: Israel warns Unilever against Ben & Jerry’s West Bank boycott July 20, 2021 Israel has warned consumer goods giant Unilever of “severe consequences” if its subsidiary Ben & Jerry’s upholds its decision to boycott the West Bank. Vermont-based ice cream company Ben & Jerry’s said it plans to stop selling ice cream in Israeli-occupied territories yesterday. However, Israel’s prime minister Naftali Bennett urged the US to invoke anti-boycott [...]