Biden turns on the investment taps with $1.2 trillion bill agreement June 25, 2021 The US Senate has finally agreed on a $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill, which was watered down some $1.1 trillion from Biden’s original pitch. The deal, worth an eyewatering £860bn, accompanies an eight-year plan to fund roads, bridges, the power grid, public transport and the internet. However, left-wing Democrats have called the deal ‘paltry’ after Biden [...]
Rishi Sunak vows to change UK’s ‘economic geography’ June 24, 2021 Rishi Sunak has vowed to alter the UK’s “economic geography” by ensuring the post-Covid recovery is “more evenly felt across the country”. Sunak also highlighted the need for Britain to invest in high-growth sectors, such as fintech, which the chancellor says will fundamentally alter the economy. Sunak highlighted the government’s Help to Grow scheme, which [...]
European Parliament approves landmark law to make emissions targets legally binding June 24, 2021 The European Parliament has approved a landmark law today which makes emissions targets within the European Union legally binding. Earlier today, the UK’s Committee on Climate Change (CCC) said the government’s lack of policies jeopardise the country’s chances of meeting its net zero emissions by 2050 target. “Today is a historic day,” Swedish Social Democrat [...]
Russia warns UK to respect borders, or it may ‘drop bombs’ on intruding ships June 24, 2021 Russia has warned the UK that if it fails to respect ‘Russian borders’ then it may bomb intruding ships, while the UK continues to deny any shots or bombs were fired. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, Sergei Ryabkov, said: “The inviolability of the Russian borders is an absolute imperative”, adding that they will be protected “by [...]
EU ambassador to UK ‘encouraged’ by Northern Ireland developments June 24, 2021 Brussels’ ambassador to the UK has said he is “encouraged” by recent developments in UK-EU Northern Ireland talks as tensions begin to cool between the two sides. João Vale de Almeida told peers today that the EU had shown “a great deal of understanding and flexibility” in negotiations with the UK over the implementation of [...]
UK Navy boasts ‘battle winning’ drone, day after Ukraine defence deal June 24, 2021 The Royal Navy has today boasted how its new drone, which can monitor an area larger than Greater Manchester, has come ‘leaps and bounds’ during ‘amphibious assaults’. Testing the airborne surveillance, known as Puma, in the Baltic and the North Sea, lieutenant Ash Loftus and Puma flight commander said the Navy’s tech is advancing into [...]
Minister: UK imperial and Commonwealth ties to India will help secure trade deal June 24, 2021 The UK and India’s shared imperialist and Commonwealth history will help the two countries close a trade deal, according to trade minister Ranil Jayawardena. Jayawardena also told City A.M. in a wide ranging interview that a trade deal would help the UK have more “honest conversations” with India over things like its human rights and [...]
‘Lack of policies’ jeopardising UK climate targets June 24, 2021 A lack of policies on net zero emissions by 2050 risks jeopardising the UK’s chance of meeting the target, climate advisers have said. In 2019 the UK became the G7 first member to set a net zero target, which will require wholesale changes in the way residents travel, eat and consume electricity. The country is [...]
Lib Dems unveil their answer to Vladimir Putin aggression: Webcams June 23, 2021 The Liberal Democrats have called for all Royal Navy ships to be on webcams 24/7 so the government can identify where they are at all times and to fight off potential Vladimir Putin aggression. The party’s defence spokesperson Jamie Stone MP said constant video surveillance would help clearly identify acts of aggression against UK ships, [...]
Government announces a ‘London summit’ to boost vaccine uptake June 23, 2021 The government will hold a London “vaccine summit” on Friday with Sadiq Khan and top health officials in a bid to boost the capital’s comparatively low take up of vaccines. Vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi today announced that the summit will aim to scrutinise why the take-up of first vaccine doses in London “is slightly behind [...]