Putin could miss COP26 climate conference October 17, 2021 Vladimir Putin has not decided whether to attend the upcoming COP26 climate conference in Glasgow later this month. Russian ambassador to the UK, Andrei Kelin, told Andrew Marr that a decision on the president’s trip has “not been taken yet”. This follows Wednesday’s comments from the Russian premier that he might avoid the conference due [...]
French fishermen threaten to block Channel amid post-Brexit licences row October 17, 2021 French fishermen have reportedly threatened to block Channel trade after president Emmanuel Macron failed to align European governments on how to tackle British fishing licences. “We were promised to be able to go fishing in English waters, but since January 1, it’s forbidden to us. We’re losing 50 per cent of our income,” Pierre-Yves Dachicourt, a French fisherman from [...]
United Nations job offer to Matt Hancock withdrawn after only three days October 16, 2021 A United Nations job offer to disgraced former health secretary Matt Hancock has apparently been withdrawn after only three days. Earlier this week, Hancock announced he had been appointed a special representative to the UN in an unpaid role. The former cabinet minister, who resigned in June after admitting he broke coronavirus restrictions during relations [...]
White House gives coveted US-UK corridor the green light to double jabbed travellers October 15, 2021 The White House has reportedly confirmed that it will lift Covid-19 travel restrictions for vaccinated travellers entering the country from November 8. Those flying into the US will need to show proof that they have had both jabs, as well as having a negative coronavirus test with three days of departure, a White House official [...]
Amazon appeals record €746m fine for EU data law breach October 15, 2021 Amazon has officially appealed a record €746m fine from the European Union’s privacy watchdog for breaching the bloc’s data protection rules. The appeal, which was filed today at the Luxembourg Administrative Tribunal, is for the collection and use of individuals’ personal data, which violated General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR law. The retail and technology [...]
Xi set to snub summit on climate crisis October 15, 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping will not attend the COP26 climate conference in person. The Times has reported that the Prime Minister Boris Johnson has already been told of Xi’s upcoming absence. The UK is hosting the global summit in Glasgow later this month and over a hundred world leaders are expected to show up. It [...]
Exclusive: Most investors believe Brexit will make UK more attractive place to do business October 15, 2021 More than half of all investors from the UK, US and Germany believe Brexit, and the need therefore for the UK to secure new trade deals and support businesses, will make the overall business environment in the country more attractive over the next three years. Only one in five (22 per cent) expect it to [...]
Boots sales knocked by dip in footfall but buoyed by Covid-19 test demand October 14, 2021 Sales hit £34bn in the three months to 31 August at Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA), the combined group of pharmacy chains Walgreens and Boots. Boots UK pharmacy sales lifted 11.4 per cent in comparison with last year, signalling strong demand for pharmacy services, notably Covid-19 tests. While retail sales jumped 15 per cent. High street [...]
Brexit: EU ‘preparing for the worst’ as UK government scrutinises Irish Sea proposals October 14, 2021 After setting out new Brexit proposals to cut trade red tape across the Irish Sea. last night, the European Union is “preparing for the worst” as the bloc awaits the UK’s response, according to media reports in Europe. The European Union Commission has laid out measures to slash 80 per cent of regulatory checks and [...]
Post-Brexit trade: UK eyes sectoral deals with US as Biden is not up for full-fledged pact October 13, 2021 While the UK does not know when it might get a full trade deal with the United States, the government is looking to secure separate accords on a sector-by-sector basis, the international trade secretary, Anne-Marie Trevelyan, said today. Watch the full report.