Brussels will allow firms on the Continent to continue using London's vital clearing services after the Brexit transition ends in a victory for the City.European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said the bloc will introduce “time limited” provisions from January next year to ensure firms are still able to access the capital's, middlemen which handle trillions of pounds of trades each year and are a crucial part of the global financial system. Brussels did not confirm how long the arrangement will last. It will kick in if the UK and the European Union fail to reach a Brexit...…Brussels will allow firms on the Continent to continue using London's vital clearing services after the Brexit transition ends in a victory for the City.European Commission vice-president Valdis Dombrovskis said the bloc will introduce “time limited” provisions from January next year to ensure firms are still able to access the capital's, middlemen which handle trillions of pounds of trades each year and are a crucial part of the global financial system. Brussels did not confirm how long the arrangement will last. It will kick in if the UK and the European Union fail to reach a Brexit...WW…

Emmanuel Macron on Thursday approved a plan to rebuild Notre-Dame's famed spire as it was before it crashed to earth in last year's devastating fire in the Paris cathedral."The president trusts the experts and approved the main outlines of the project presented by the chief architect which plans to reconstruct the spire identically," said the Elysee. His green light to restore the 19th-century spire atop the 13th-century edifice constitutes a change of heart for the president, who had suggested in the aftermath of the disaster he wanted a "contemporary gesture".It came as the French...…Emmanuel Macron on Thursday approved a plan to rebuild Notre-Dame's famed spire as it was before it crashed to earth in last year's devastating fire in the Paris cathedral."The president trusts the experts and approved the main outlines of the project presented by the chief architect which plans to reconstruct the spire identically," said the Elysee. His green light to restore the 19th-century spire atop the 13th-century edifice constitutes a change of heart for the president, who had suggested in the aftermath of the disaster he wanted a "contemporary gesture".It came as the French...WW…

Public and private hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa’s most densely populated city, are struggling to cope with a wave of new .The situation is now so bad that the health authority for Gauteng province, whose capital is Johannesburg, no longer has enough life-saving oxygen to deliver to the region’s hospitals, according to Professor Francois Venter, a senior researcher at the University of Witwatersrand.“[The government is] woefully unprepared and then they didn’t plan. How can they run out of oxygen? It is outrageous. The [health system] is sporadically collapsing in some places,”...…Public and private hospitals in Johannesburg, South Africa’s most densely populated city, are struggling to cope with a wave of new .The situation is now so bad that the health authority for Gauteng province, whose capital is Johannesburg, no longer has enough life-saving oxygen to deliver to the region’s hospitals, according to Professor Francois Venter, a senior researcher at the University of Witwatersrand.“[The government is] woefully unprepared and then they didn’t plan. How can they run out of oxygen? It is outrageous. The [health system] is sporadically collapsing in some places,”...WW…

The prime minister of Ivory Coast who was a favourite for the presidency died suddenly on Wednesday, according to the Ivorian government.Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who was 61, reportedly collapsed in a weekly cabinet meeting this morning. He had just returned to his country from a two-month stay in a hospital in France where he was treated for heart problems. Mr Coulibaly was the ruling party’s candidate for tense national elections in October and many analysts expected him to win the polls comfortably. The news of his death will most likely spark a dramatic power play in Abidjan, the West...…The prime minister of Ivory Coast who was a favourite for the presidency died suddenly on Wednesday, according to the Ivorian government.Amadou Gon Coulibaly, who was 61, reportedly collapsed in a weekly cabinet meeting this morning. He had just returned to his country from a two-month stay in a hospital in France where he was treated for heart problems. Mr Coulibaly was the ruling party’s candidate for tense national elections in October and many analysts expected him to win the polls comfortably. The news of his death will most likely spark a dramatic power play in Abidjan, the West...WW…

Kanye West has said he will run for the White House under the banner of the "Birthday Party" and is ending his past support for Donald Trump in his first interview since tweeting he would seek the US presidency. While significant doubt remains about whether the rapper is serious about challenging in this November’s election, West has where he discussed  During what Forbes described as “four rambling hours of interviews”, with West occasionally breaking into rap, the 43-year-old gave insights into his political thinking as well as making a number of controversial statements. West initially...…Kanye West has said he will run for the White House under the banner of the "Birthday Party" and is ending his past support for Donald Trump in his first interview since tweeting he would seek the US presidency. While significant doubt remains about whether the rapper is serious about challenging in this November’s election, West has where he discussed  During what Forbes described as “four rambling hours of interviews”, with West occasionally breaking into rap, the 43-year-old gave insights into his political thinking as well as making a number of controversial statements. West initially...WW…

Serbian police say 23 people have been detained and scores of police officers and demonstrators injured in clashes that erupted over announced return of lockdown measures against the coronavirus.Police director Vladimir Rebic told the state RTS television that police are working to identify more people who took part in the rioting in central Belgrade that left 43 police officers and 17 demonstrators injured.Thousands of people came out in the streets on Tuesday evening after autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic announced that a curfew will be imposed for the entire weekend in...…Serbian police say 23 people have been detained and scores of police officers and demonstrators injured in clashes that erupted over announced return of lockdown measures against the coronavirus.Police director Vladimir Rebic told the state RTS television that police are working to identify more people who took part in the rioting in central Belgrade that left 43 police officers and 17 demonstrators injured.Thousands of people came out in the streets on Tuesday evening after autocratic President Aleksandar Vucic announced that a curfew will be imposed for the entire weekend in...WW…

China on Wednesday opened a new office for its security agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time under a , transforming a hotel into the force's headquarters."The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was inaugurated here on Wednesday morning," China's official Xinhua news agency said.The new base is the Metropark Hotel, a skyscraper overlooking Hong Kong's Victoria Park.The city's leader said the opening of the new office a "historic moment" that will help safeguard national...…China on Wednesday opened a new office for its security agents to operate openly in Hong Kong for the first time under a , transforming a hotel into the force's headquarters."The Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region was inaugurated here on Wednesday morning," China's official Xinhua news agency said.The new base is the Metropark Hotel, a skyscraper overlooking Hong Kong's Victoria Park.The city's leader said the opening of the new office a "historic moment" that will help safeguard national...WW…

One Friday afternoon last month a group of politicos logged on to Zoom, a video conference platform, to war-game what could happen after the US election. Among them were senior figures who had previously served in the White House, Pentagon, Homeland Security and Congress.They were split into teams. Some acted as employees of US President  or his Democratic rival , making arguments accordingly. Others would play the Republicans or Democrats in Congress, or represent the media or the courts. The scenario given for the exercise - a technique commonly used in government and business to plan for...…One Friday afternoon last month a group of politicos logged on to Zoom, a video conference platform, to war-game what could happen after the US election. Among them were senior figures who had previously served in the White House, Pentagon, Homeland Security and Congress.They were split into teams. Some acted as employees of US President  or his Democratic rival , making arguments accordingly. Others would play the Republicans or Democrats in Congress, or represent the media or the courts. The scenario given for the exercise - a technique commonly used in government and business to plan for...WW…

Accidental chemical poisonings have surged amid the coronavirus pandemic, as misinformation and heightened demand for hand sanitisers and disinfectants has led to inappropriate use. Speaking at a World Health Organization event on Tuesday, experts warned that poison health centres across the globe have reported a significant spike in calls. One facility in Chile reported a 60 per cent rise in cases in March and April compared with the same period last year, while the US’s national poison data system has reported a 20 per cent increase in calls related to disinfectant exposure. “We quite...…Accidental chemical poisonings have surged amid the coronavirus pandemic, as misinformation and heightened demand for hand sanitisers and disinfectants has led to inappropriate use. Speaking at a World Health Organization event on Tuesday, experts warned that poison health centres across the globe have reported a significant spike in calls. One facility in Chile reported a 60 per cent rise in cases in March and April compared with the same period last year, while the US’s national poison data system has reported a 20 per cent increase in calls related to disinfectant exposure. “We quite...WW…

Bosch has partnered with amid fears future lockdowns could worsen labour shortages in the field.Fieldwork was spun out of the University of Plymouth and earlier this year raised £298,000 in its first funding round.Its robot works by using artificial intelligence to identify ripe raspberries and then plucking the fruit from the vine and depositing it in a punnet.Up until now, though, and Bosch's expertise should help the start-up reduce the cost of the robots and increase their speed. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there had already been an increasing shortage of labour to pick crops and...…Bosch has partnered with amid fears future lockdowns could worsen labour shortages in the field.Fieldwork was spun out of the University of Plymouth and earlier this year raised £298,000 in its first funding round.Its robot works by using artificial intelligence to identify ripe raspberries and then plucking the fruit from the vine and depositing it in a punnet.Up until now, though, and Bosch's expertise should help the start-up reduce the cost of the robots and increase their speed. Prior to the Covid-19 pandemic, there had already been an increasing shortage of labour to pick crops and...WW…

Hands up everybody who was shocked to hear that the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement had been taken over by the hard Left. Can I see some at the back of the room? Welcome to the world as some of us have known it for a long time.There is nothing at all surprising here: this is just what happens to pretty much any imagination. All it takes is a flurry of headlines and a few choice spots on the broadcast news and your cause is a prime candidate for infiltration by the people who attach the same label to everything that attracts socially acceptable opprobrium: all forms of injustice, suffering...…Hands up everybody who was shocked to hear that the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement had been taken over by the hard Left. Can I see some at the back of the room? Welcome to the world as some of us have known it for a long time.There is nothing at all surprising here: this is just what happens to pretty much any imagination. All it takes is a flurry of headlines and a few choice spots on the broadcast news and your cause is a prime candidate for infiltration by the people who attach the same label to everything that attracts socially acceptable opprobrium: all forms of injustice, suffering...WW…

Ghislaine Maxwell could not have chosen a better spot than Bradford, New Hampshire for the hidden location of her house Tuckedaway. Known as the ‘Granite State’ for the local psychology as much as the landscape, New Hampshire is a live- and-let-live place whose motto is ‘Live Free or Die’. Locals are famed for their quiet resilience, indifference to high-net-worth visitors and cool welcome. Apart from a nod, diners in the Appleseed Restaurant in Ms. Maxwell’s new home town of Bradford won’t have second-glanced the international jet-set’s most wanted if she happened to blow in for a...…Ghislaine Maxwell could not have chosen a better spot than Bradford, New Hampshire for the hidden location of her house Tuckedaway. Known as the ‘Granite State’ for the local psychology as much as the landscape, New Hampshire is a live- and-let-live place whose motto is ‘Live Free or Die’. Locals are famed for their quiet resilience, indifference to high-net-worth visitors and cool welcome. Apart from a nod, diners in the Appleseed Restaurant in Ms. Maxwell’s new home town of Bradford won’t have second-glanced the international jet-set’s most wanted if she happened to blow in for a...WW…

President Emmanuel Macron replaced his prime minister on Friday in the first stage of a government reshuffle aimed at relaunching his presidency for the final two years of his term.Jean Castex, the conservative mayor of the small southern town of Prades, succeeded Édouard Philippe, also a conservative.Mr Philippe, 49, whose adroit handling of the coronavirus epidemic made him is seen by some as a possible rival to Mr Macron in the 2022 presidential election.The reshuffle comes after a wave of Green local election victories humiliated Mr Macron’s centrist party last weekend, although it was...…President Emmanuel Macron replaced his prime minister on Friday in the first stage of a government reshuffle aimed at relaunching his presidency for the final two years of his term.Jean Castex, the conservative mayor of the small southern town of Prades, succeeded Édouard Philippe, also a conservative.Mr Philippe, 49, whose adroit handling of the coronavirus epidemic made him is seen by some as a possible rival to Mr Macron in the 2022 presidential election.The reshuffle comes after a wave of Green local election victories humiliated Mr Macron’s centrist party last weekend, although it was...WW…

China’s Uighur minority is allegedly manufacturing shoes for Nike and products for dozens of the world’s largest brands in factory conditions that “strongly suggest” forced labour, according to a new investigation by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).Nike, Apple and Adidas were identified by the ASPI investigation as being among 83 well-known brands who reportedly had a Uighur workforce in their supply chain.Between 2017 and 2019, the Canberra-based Institute estimates that at least 80,000 Uighurs were transferred from their homes in Xinjiang province and assigned to...…China’s Uighur minority is allegedly manufacturing shoes for Nike and products for dozens of the world’s largest brands in factory conditions that “strongly suggest” forced labour, according to a new investigation by the Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI).Nike, Apple and Adidas were identified by the ASPI investigation as being among 83 well-known brands who reportedly had a Uighur workforce in their supply chain.Between 2017 and 2019, the Canberra-based Institute estimates that at least 80,000 Uighurs were transferred from their homes in Xinjiang province and assigned to...WW…

The UK’s joint bid with India’s Bharti Enterprises to buy satellite operator OneWeb has won at an auction in New York, The Telegraph can reveal.The government has pledged $500m (£400m) in equity for the company, which went bankrupt in March after its biggest investors, including SoftBank, pulled out amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bharti Enterprises will invest another $500m. If the deal gains US regulatory approval on 10 July, it will give the UK a 45pc stake in the company along with a consortium of other private investors.“This deal underlines the scale of Britain’s ambitions on the...…The UK’s joint bid with India’s Bharti Enterprises to buy satellite operator OneWeb has won at an auction in New York, The Telegraph can reveal.The government has pledged $500m (£400m) in equity for the company, which went bankrupt in March after its biggest investors, including SoftBank, pulled out amid the coronavirus pandemic. Bharti Enterprises will invest another $500m. If the deal gains US regulatory approval on 10 July, it will give the UK a 45pc stake in the company along with a consortium of other private investors.“This deal underlines the scale of Britain’s ambitions on the...WW…

US prosecutors have said they would "welcome" Prince Andrew's testimony after the FBI arrested his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell on charges of sex trafficking for the dead financier Jeffrey Epstein. Ms Maxwell, a former girlfriend of the disgraced late financier, was picked up in a small town in New Hampshire on Thursday morning and charged with helping elicit underage girls to travel for sex and of lying to investigators about it later. The arrest could have significant implications for the Duke of York, who is reported to have been introduced to Epstein in 1999 by his friend Ms Maxwell,...…US prosecutors have said they would "welcome" Prince Andrew's testimony after the FBI arrested his close friend Ghislaine Maxwell on charges of sex trafficking for the dead financier Jeffrey Epstein. Ms Maxwell, a former girlfriend of the disgraced late financier, was picked up in a small town in New Hampshire on Thursday morning and charged with helping elicit underage girls to travel for sex and of lying to investigators about it later. The arrest could have significant implications for the Duke of York, who is reported to have been introduced to Epstein in 1999 by his friend Ms Maxwell,...WW…

A public health chief has called for an investigation into his fears that a major Black Lives Matter protest may have led to a spike in coronavirus cases in Birmingham.Dr Justin Varney, the director of public health for Birmingham City Council, has requested an examination of a "red alert" rise in cases detected 10 days after thousands of people gathered in the city earlier this month, The Telegraph can reveal.It comes after the Government urged people amid concern that such gatherings could fuel the spread of coronavirus.A spokesman for Public Health England confirmed that officials were...…A public health chief has called for an investigation into his fears that a major Black Lives Matter protest may have led to a spike in coronavirus cases in Birmingham.Dr Justin Varney, the director of public health for Birmingham City Council, has requested an examination of a "red alert" rise in cases detected 10 days after thousands of people gathered in the city earlier this month, The Telegraph can reveal.It comes after the Government urged people amid concern that such gatherings could fuel the spread of coronavirus.A spokesman for Public Health England confirmed that officials were...WW…

he BBC increased its salary bill for presenters by £11 million last year, as Theresa May demanded to know how the corporation can justify such a rise while cutting off free television licences for the over-75s.The , and the BBC’s overall headcount increased by nearly 1,000.The number of presenters earning £150,000 or more increased from 64 to 75 in the last financial year, with the combined bill up from £19.8 milion to £21.8 million.Those elevated to the ’rich list’ included Zoe Ball and Sara Cox, the Radio 2 DJs, and Jermaine Jenas, the Match of the Day pundit and former footballer, as the...…he BBC increased its salary bill for presenters by £11 million last year, as Theresa May demanded to know how the corporation can justify such a rise while cutting off free television licences for the over-75s.The , and the BBC’s overall headcount increased by nearly 1,000.The number of presenters earning £150,000 or more increased from 64 to 75 in the last financial year, with the combined bill up from £19.8 milion to £21.8 million.Those elevated to the ’rich list’ included Zoe Ball and Sara Cox, the Radio 2 DJs, and Jermaine Jenas, the Match of the Day pundit and former footballer, as the...WW…

Finland’s air force has quietly removed the last swastikas from unit emblems after over a century in use.Until recently the country’s Air Force Command emblem depicted a pair of wings around a swastika, a symbol which pre-dates its associations with Nazism.The change was first observed by Teivo Teivainen, a politics professor at the University of Helsinki, who argued its negative associations made the swastika's ongoing use politically fraught.Professor Teivainen, who has written widely on the issue, said using the swastika could cause difficulties for the Nato country, particularly if worn...…Finland’s air force has quietly removed the last swastikas from unit emblems after over a century in use.Until recently the country’s Air Force Command emblem depicted a pair of wings around a swastika, a symbol which pre-dates its associations with Nazism.The change was first observed by Teivo Teivainen, a politics professor at the University of Helsinki, who argued its negative associations made the swastika's ongoing use politically fraught.Professor Teivainen, who has written widely on the issue, said using the swastika could cause difficulties for the Nato country, particularly if worn...WW…

The picture shows a tearful three-year old child squatting on the chest of his dead grandfather.While to many Indians it was an image of desolation, and the human toll of the long-running tensions in Kashmir, to the spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) it was an opportunity to mock the of the region.Sambit Patra tweeted the photo, which occurred in the aftermath of a rebel attack in the town of Sopore, with the caption "Pulitzer Lovers ??"Members of the Hindu-nationalist BJP have sneered at Kashmiris for their excitement over the victory of three Kashmiris in the feature...…The picture shows a tearful three-year old child squatting on the chest of his dead grandfather.While to many Indians it was an image of desolation, and the human toll of the long-running tensions in Kashmir, to the spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) it was an opportunity to mock the of the region.Sambit Patra tweeted the photo, which occurred in the aftermath of a rebel attack in the town of Sopore, with the caption "Pulitzer Lovers ??"Members of the Hindu-nationalist BJP have sneered at Kashmiris for their excitement over the victory of three Kashmiris in the feature...WW…

The United States has bought up virtually the whole supply of a drug that could ., an antiviral drug, is made by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. America has secured more than 500,000 treatment courses through September.That represents 100 per cent of Gilead’s projected production for July, and 90 per cent for each of the next two months.But the US has been accused of "undermining" the global effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic.Business minister Nadhim Zahawi said in buying all supplies of remdesivir the US was not helping the global effort, saying the UK was working...…The United States has bought up virtually the whole supply of a drug that could ., an antiviral drug, is made by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences. America has secured more than 500,000 treatment courses through September.That represents 100 per cent of Gilead’s projected production for July, and 90 per cent for each of the next two months.But the US has been accused of "undermining" the global effort to fight the coronavirus pandemic.Business minister Nadhim Zahawi said in buying all supplies of remdesivir the US was not helping the global effort, saying the UK was working...WW…

Simon Cheng Man-kit, the former UK consulate staffer tortured by Chinese secret police, has been granted political asylum in the UK. He is the first British National Overseas (BNO) passport holder from Hong Kong to receive the status.“I am pleased the UK’s Home Office has granted me a political asylum but I have fixed feelings because the situation in Hong Kong is very worrying,” Cheng told reporters in a virtual press conference on Wednesday the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s sovereignty handover. “I hope that I can be the to seek asylum and humanitarian protection,” he said. His...…Simon Cheng Man-kit, the former UK consulate staffer tortured by Chinese secret police, has been granted political asylum in the UK. He is the first British National Overseas (BNO) passport holder from Hong Kong to receive the status.“I am pleased the UK’s Home Office has granted me a political asylum but I have fixed feelings because the situation in Hong Kong is very worrying,” Cheng told reporters in a virtual press conference on Wednesday the 23rd anniversary of Hong Kong’s sovereignty handover. “I hope that I can be the to seek asylum and humanitarian protection,” he said. His...WW…

around 21,000 gaming apps from its Chinese App Store, as it faces growing pressure from Beijing to enforce local regulations.  App developers who operate paid gaming apps, or apps which contain in-app purchases, were told on Wednesday that they would need to submit their licence for each game in order to continue to update it.Until now, Apple has also allowed games to be available from the App Store while developers await approval.Developers used a loophole which allowed them to submit false approval numbers to keep their games online in China.  Gaining a licence from China’s National Press...…around 21,000 gaming apps from its Chinese App Store, as it faces growing pressure from Beijing to enforce local regulations.  App developers who operate paid gaming apps, or apps which contain in-app purchases, were told on Wednesday that they would need to submit their licence for each game in order to continue to update it.Until now, Apple has also allowed games to be available from the App Store while developers await approval.Developers used a loophole which allowed them to submit false approval numbers to keep their games online in China.  Gaining a licence from China’s National Press...WW…

Mohamad barely looks surprised when his phone vibrates with an update on the devaluation of the Lebanese pound.  “Great, now my salary is worth $60,” the 30-year-old Syrian economics teacher turned refugee said, shaking his head.In the past week alone, the Lebanese pound has lost over 40 per cent of its value. Millions of people are watching their savings and salaries disappear as food inflation hits nearly 200 per cent.Mohamad stood in the market in Beirut’s Shatila refugee camp, trying to calculate how much food he could afford for himself, his wife and two children. In the end, he...…Mohamad barely looks surprised when his phone vibrates with an update on the devaluation of the Lebanese pound.  “Great, now my salary is worth $60,” the 30-year-old Syrian economics teacher turned refugee said, shaking his head.In the past week alone, the Lebanese pound has lost over 40 per cent of its value. Millions of people are watching their savings and salaries disappear as food inflation hits nearly 200 per cent.Mohamad stood in the market in Beirut’s Shatila refugee camp, trying to calculate how much food he could afford for himself, his wife and two children. In the end, he...WW…

he United States has that could shorten the recovery time of coronavirus patients, leaving hardly any for other countries.Remdesivir, an antiviral drug, is made by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, based in California. America has secured more than 500,000 treatment courses through September. That represents 100 per cent of Gilead’s projected production for July, and 90 per cent for each of the next two months.Alex Azar, the US health secretary, said: "President Trump has struck an amazing deal to ensure Americans have access to the first authorised therapeutic for Covid-19. To the...…he United States has that could shorten the recovery time of coronavirus patients, leaving hardly any for other countries.Remdesivir, an antiviral drug, is made by biopharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences, based in California. America has secured more than 500,000 treatment courses through September. That represents 100 per cent of Gilead’s projected production for July, and 90 per cent for each of the next two months.Alex Azar, the US health secretary, said: "President Trump has struck an amazing deal to ensure Americans have access to the first authorised therapeutic for Covid-19. To the...WW…