#government-policy
#government-policy

Canada's biggest business and industry associations ask Freeland to scrap capital gains tax change

Canadian business associations oppose proposed capital gains tax increase. [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

1 week ago

Business groups walk back claim about share of Canadians hit by capital gains changes | CBC News

Prominent business groups retract claim on capital gains taxation impact on Canadians. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Childcare places fall by 1,000' as Labour accuses ministers of botched' expansion

Childcare places dropped by over 1,000 despite upcoming increase in demand due to free hours for two-year-olds.

Labour accuses Conservatives of lacking a solid plan for childcare expansion, leading to families struggling to enroll their children. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Self-defeating': senior Tories warn Sunak against clampdown on international students

Universities face financial distress if international student visas are further restricted. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

2 days ago

Education

What does the sex education curriculum currently include?

Government plans to ban explicit discussions on gender identity and sex before age 13 to address concerns of age-inappropriate lessons. [ more ]

NewsChain

Asylum seekers not reporting to Home Office 'will be found', vows minister

Asylum seekers earmarked for deportation to Rwanda who have stopped reporting will be located for detention, facing consequences for non-compliance. [ more ]

Irish Independent

2 weeks ago

Tanaiste says 80pc figure for migrants crossing border 'not based on evidence' after UK PM slaps down returns deal with Ireland

Government faces scrutiny over asylum seeker statistics. [ more ]

Kqed

Supreme Court Hears Pivotal Homeless Case | KQED

The Supreme Court is hearing a case on homeless camping restrictions. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Call for refugees in UK to have twice as long to find homes after hotel evictions

Homelessness charities urge government to extend time for refugees to find homes after a significant increase in rough sleeping among asylum accommodation leavers.

Calls for government to double the days given for refugees to move out from 28 to at least 56, with fully funded transition support for housing and benefits. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Rough sleeping in London up 23% to highest level in a decade

Rough sleeping in London is at its highest level in a decade.

Over half of those counted sleeping rough for the first time.

Refugees face additional challenges with government rules giving them just 28 days to move on. [ more ]

morehomelessness

Armscontrol

3 weeks ago

Dueling Views on AI, Autonomous Weapons

The international debate on controlling AI and autonomous weapons is divided between voluntary codes of conduct and a legally binding international ban. [ more ]

Theregister

Microsoft rolls out these safety tools for Azure AI

Microsoft introduces tools to enhance AI model safety in Azure

Tech industry and government are prioritizing AI safety due to risks associated with generative AI and large language models [ more ]

Fortune Europe

AI 'apocalypse' could wipe out 8 million jobs in the U.K., and women and Gen Z are most at risk

8 million UK workers at risk of job loss to AI

Government policy crucial for managing AI impact [ more ]

Nextgov.com

moreArtificial intelligence

New White House policy mandates safeguards for federal AI use

New OMB guidance on AI safeguards for public protection and government benefits.

Policy requires federal agencies to adopt concrete safeguards when using AI that could impact public rights or safety. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Heathrow urges government to scrap 10 fee for transit passengers

Heathrow urges government to remove 10 ETA for transit passengers to avoid competitive disadvantage.

ETA impacting transit passenger numbers, with 19,000 fewer from Qatar and potential long-term impact on UK's economy. [ more ]

London Business News | Londonlovesbusiness.com

London Chamber and London Higher urge Ministers not to harm London economy

Business and universities urge government to not make it difficult for international students to come to London

Concerns raised over short timescale for review of Graduate visa route [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Education

Schools in England accused of closing down debate on Israel-Gaza conflict

Schools in England are avoiding debate on the Israel-Gaza conflict due to concerns about being politically impartial.

Teachers feel ill-equipped and fear harassment, leading to a lack of guidance in addressing controversial topics in schools. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Education

As a teacher, I know the damage phones do to kids. But this new ban won't make a shred of difference | Nadeine Asbali

Children start smartphone addiction early, with 97% having a phone by age 12.

Government issues guidance to ban phones in schools to address negative impacts like bullying and self-esteem issues. [ more ]

economic-impact

Phys

Remote teams

Digital nomads: A benefit or burden for local communities?

Digital nomads attract controversy but can benefit local economies.

Carefully designed digital nomad visa programs can be successful. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Anti-migrant, pro-Boris, anti-care worker: the Tories are pushing panic buttons that no longer work | Owen Jones

Government banning overseas care workers' dependants from the UK

The Conservative government's strategies criticized for neglecting care worker exploitation [ more ]

moreeconomic-impact

www.theguardian.com

Revealed: homeless children spending entire lives in temporary housing in England

Homeless families in the UK are stuck in supposedly temporary accommodations for decades.

More than 14,000 families have been in temporary housing for over five years, rendering the term 'temporary' meaningless. [ more ]

www.standard.co.uk

London theatres call on Chancellor to keep backing their stage success

Tax relief scheme crucial for theatres' success post Covid

Theatre Tax Relief led to bigger productions and employment increase. [ more ]

www.standard.co.uk

Number of homeless refugees in London jumps 39 per cent in one month

Over 800 individuals were left without a home in October after their claims were decided by the Home Office, leading to concerns about homelessness in London.

The problem is exacerbated by the short notice given by the Home Office before refugees need to vacate hotels or hostels. [ more ]

asylum-seekers

www.standard.co.uk

Rough sleeping in London up by a third as capital faces 'homelessness emergency'

Rise in rough sleeping numbers in London

Concern over policy of moving asylum seekers from hostels [ more ]

NewsChain

Four Rwandans 'granted refugee status in UK over fears of persecution'

Four Rwandans have been granted refugee status in the UK due to well-founded fears of persecution.

The cases undermine the Prime Minister's argument that Rwanda is safe for asylum seekers. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

More than 600 migrants cross Channel days after Sunak claimed plan was working'

More than 600 migrants have crossed the English Channel in a new daily record for 2023, days after Rishi Sunak claimed his plan to stop the boats was working.Figures released by the Home Office show that 616 people arrived in 12 boats on Sunday, bringing the total so far this year to around 8,400.At the same point last year, the total had just passed 10,000, and last Monday the prime minister hailed the reduction as proof that our approach is working.

www.independent.co.uk

France news

Asylum system riddled with abuse' and needs fundamental change Jenrick

The Immigration Minister has claimed the UK's asylum system is riddled with abuse and revealed that migrants will be asked to share hotel rooms as the Government comes under pressure to reduce net migrations.Robert Jenrick said a lot of progress has been made on illegal migration in a short period of time, with really unique landmark deals with France seeing a big increase in the number of interceptions on the beaches.

moreasylum-seekers

people

www.independent.co.uk

Asylum system riddled with abuse' and needs fundamental change Jenrick

The Immigration Minister has claimed the UK's asylum system is riddled with abuse and revealed migrants will be asked to share hotel rooms as the Government comes under pressure to reduce net migrations.Robert Jenrick said a lot of progress has been made on illegal migration in a short period of time, with really unique landmark deals with France seeing a big increase in the number of interceptions on the beaches.

www.independent.co.uk

Labour leads Tories in poll on immigration as figures set to show migration rise

Labour is more trusted than the Conservatives on immigration, a new poll has found as official figures are expected to show a large increase in net migration.After a rise in public confidence in the Tories' immigration, asylum and small boats policies in March, a poll carried out by Ipsos between May 16 and 18 found trust had fallen again, with Labour leading on all three issues.

www.independent.co.uk

Bregret' among Leave voters hits record high, poll finds

Brexit regret among Leave voters has reached a record high, a new poll has found.Seven years on from the UK's decision to leave the European Union, more voters than ever believe Brexit has been a failure.The YouGov poll found more than a third of those who backed Leave in the referendum say Brexit has been more of a failure than a success.

www.theguardian.com

Brexit wrecked UK car industry, but so have the Tories | Phillip Inman

There is no hope for Britain's car industry or at least no hope of maintaining the scale and productive capacity that this bedrock of the UK manufacturing sector could boast before the Covid-19 pandemic.It's downhill from here.Brexit is an issue whatever the business secretary, Kemi Badenoch, says because being inside the single market and sitting at the top table in discussions about the industry was always going to give the UK more heft when the inevitable Europe-wide carve-up over electric car factory locations happened.

www.independent.co.uk

Overcrowding in prisons is a powder keg waiting to blow'

British jails are being plunged into crisis as they face record levels of overcrowding, new figures reveal.Shocking statistics released by the Ministry of Justice show more than 85,000 inmates are now locked up in England and Wales, with just hundreds of spaces remaining in prisons across the two countries.

www.independent.co.uk

Cleverly raises areas of deep disagreement' in talks with China vice-president

The Foreign Secretary said he broached areas of deep disagreement during a meeting with the Chinese vice-president in London.James Cleverly said he made plain the UK's position on Hong Kong, Xinjiang and Taiwan during talks on Friday with Han Zheng ahead of the coronation.The Chinese politician, who has been blamed for overseeing a crackdown on freedom in Hong Kong, was recently appointed as President Xi Jinping's deputy and is set to represent China at the royal event on Saturday.

morepeople

www.theguardian.com

Pets

Benefit of putting Brits to the test | Brief letters

Surely there's an easy way to strip the controversy and unfairness from the citizenship test (Can you pull your weight in a pub quiz?Congratulations you're welcome in the UK!, 9 May).Simply validate the test by putting it to a random sample of, say, 2,000 UK nationals and then use the average or median score as the pass mark.

TNW | Deep-Tech

EU nears ban on predictive policing and facial recognition

Story by Senior reporter
Thomas is a senior reporter at TNW.He covers European tech, with a focus on deeptech, startups, and government policy.The EU is edging closer to a landmark ban on predictive policing and facial recognition.At a crunch vote today on the bloc's flagship AI Act, two committees of MEPs overwhelmingly endorsed sweeping new rules on artificial intelligence.

www.independent.co.uk

1 week ago

James Cleverly mocked for forgetting Conservatives' asylum policy

James Cleverly criticized for forgetting own government's Syrian refugee policy. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

3 weeks ago

Britain to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030, Rishi Sunak announces

Britain plans to increase defense spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030, with calls for a further increase to 3% to address global threats. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

UK inflation falls less than expected to 3.2% in March

Inflation in the UK eased to 3.2% in March, the lowest level in two-and-a-half years, potentially leading to interest rate cuts in the future. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

How can motorways be made safer? Join The Independent Debate

The government is urged to reconsider smart motorways to improve safety and address concerns about wasted money on scrapped projects. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

UK takes step away from recession as economy grows for second month in a row

The UK's economy grew by 0.1% in February, signaling a step away from the recession. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Government U-turns over decision to make assaulting shopworkers a separate offence

Assaulting a shopworker to become a separate criminal offence.

The new offence carries a maximum sentence of six months' imprisonment or an unlimited fine. [ more ]

BBC News

2 days ago

LGBT

Schools told not to teach about gender identity

Government plans to ban sex education for under-nines and teaching about gender identity to protect children from 'disturbing content'. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

2 weeks ago

Left-wing politics

Biden Cancels $6.1 Billion in Debt for Former Art Institute Students

The Biden administration canceled over $6 billion in student debt for 317,000 Art Institutes attendees due to the schools' misleading practices. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

3 weeks ago

Minister urges MPs and peers to back Rwanda bill as likely final day of debate begins

Government pressing for unamended passage of the Rwanda bill despite opposition attempts for changes in asylum scheme. [ more ]

Independent.ie

Government to charter flights to deport asylum seekers in clampdown on migration

Chartered flights may be used to transport potentially dangerous individuals with garda escort.

The government is fast-tracking the decision-making process around asylum claims. [ more ]

Independent.ie

Sinn Fein changes policy on the future of Ukrainian refugees in Ireland

Sinn Féin is waiting for the government to set out its position on the future of Ukrainian refugees after the EU temporary protection directive expires next year.

Sinn Féin has had multiple policy positions on this issue in the last month. [ more ]

www.nytimes.com

New York City

Report Pinpoints N.Y.C. Communities Most Hurt by Environmental Factors

The report identifies high pollution areas with social inequities, impacting government policy decisions.

Nearly half of NYC's population resides in environmental justice areas, facing various challenges like pollution and lack of green spaces. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

France politics

Unlimited rail travel is coming to France this summer for less than 50

France is launching a nationwide rail pass for unlimited travel at 49 a month, available to individuals under 27 only.

The pass excludes high-speed TGV trains and travel in the Ile-de-France region, with an expected sale date in June. [ more ]

www.france24.com

France politics

Business - French government plans unemployment reform, refuses new taxes

French Prime Minister Gabriel Attal plans to tighten unemployment benefits to address a large budget deficit.

The French government rejects calls for new taxes, including on corporate windfalls and share buybacks. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Menopausal women struggling to find HRT implants despite government U-turn

The government initially blocked the distribution of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) implants for menopausal women, causing significant distress and challenges to access this life-changing treatment.

Menopausal women are experiencing serious physical and mental health symptoms, with HRT implants providing consistent relief in comparison to other forms of HRT. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Minister says being smelly shouldn't be arrestable offence amid legislation backlash

Legislation seeks to criminalize nuisance rough sleeping, including excessive smells, with potential prison time or fines.

Concerns raised by ministers, housing charities, and campaigners about the impact on women and the vague definitions in the Criminal Justice Bill. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Stealth tax freeze threatens income of 1.6 million pensioners

Around two million pensioners will have to pay income tax due to freezing tax threshold.

The freeze on tax thresholds will leave the average taxpaying pensioner around 1,000 worse off by 2027-28. [ more ]

Los Angeles Times

California

To catch a thief: Oakland installs hundreds of surveillance cameras to try to thwart crime

Surveillance cameras to be installed in Oakland for crime combatting purposes

Cameras will provide detailed attributes of vehicles to aid law enforcement [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Rwanda ridiculous plan without any legal justification', say readers

Readers believe Priti Patel and Boris Johnson's Rwanda asylum plan should be scrapped.

The United Nations Human Rights Committee urges Britain to withdraw or repeal the contentious bill. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Privacy professionals

Sunak says UK more robust' on China than most allies

The UK's approach to China is robust compared to allies

Criticism towards UK's handling of Chinese-owned companies like Bytedance [ more ]

Washington Post

Privacy professionals

New Biden order would stem flow of Americans' sensitive data to China

President Biden expected to issue order to prevent flow of sensitive data to hostile countries like China

Order aims to block data brokers from selling personal information to countries like China, Russia, Iran. [ more ]

Coindesk

Cryptocurrency

Nayib Bukele Update on El Salvador Bitcoin Holdings Shows Growing Stack

El Salvador increased its bitcoin holdings to over 5,700 BTC, worth more than $400 million.

The country uses various methods to acquire bitcoins, including selling passports and eliminating income tax on foreign money. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Labour challenges Sunak to explain how 46bn plan to axe national insurance would be funded UK politics live

China identified as security threat to the UK

Shadow Cabinet Minister challenges Rishi Sunak on funding proposal [ more ]

BBC News

Michael Gove: What are the hurdles facing his plans on extremism?

Defining extremism in British public life is challenging

Various governments have struggled to establish a clear definition of extremism [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

The Guardian view on Gove and extremism: this definition is a problem, not a solution | Editorial

Minister emphasizes limits of new extremism definition

Concerns raised over broad wording of new extremism definition [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Gove says three Muslim-led groups and two far-right to be assessed for extremism

Muslim-led and far-right groups assessed under new extremism definition by government.

Criticism faced by the government's new extremism definition from across parliament. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

UK government overturns plans to phase out badger cull

The government plans to continue badger culling in the UK despite initial plans to phase it out.

The proposed targeted culling aims to exterminate almost all badgers in areas at high risk of bovine TB. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Revealed: legal fears over Michael Gove's new definition of extremism'

Ban on undermining UK's liberal democracy from public life proposed by Michael Gove

Organizations and individuals deemed extremist would be excluded from government engagement and funding [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Tell us if more incentives would encourage you to buy an EV

Critics argue Chancellor Hunt missed opportunity to boost EV sales by ignoring industry calls for incentives.

Manufacturers express disappointment over lack of incentives for private EV buyers which could hamper meeting ZEV Mandate targets. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Plan to step up badger cull prompts new row between ministers and wildlife defenders

Government plan to wipe out badgers in certain areas is causing controversy among officials and wildlife activists.

Critics claim the badger cull is politically motivated, lacks transparency, and ignores contrary scientific evidence. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Michael Gove's department to create public list of blacklisted extremist' groups

The government plans to blacklist extremist groups from funding and interactions, using a new definition of extremism.

Criticism of the new definition from former home secretaries and religious leaders raises concerns about freedom of expression and targeting Muslim communities. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Getting a mobile phone a rite of passage' for children, says schools minister

Smartphones for children between Year 6 and 7 as a rite of passage

Government guidance on mobile phone usage in schools [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall in TV bust-up with minister over obesity

TV chef Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall criticized the government for not doing enough to tackle obesity despite existing policies from various organizations.

Health Secretary Victoria Atkins defended the government's approach, emphasizing a prevention strategy and the importance of the NHS app in promoting individual health responsibility. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Ministers call for much greater pace' of UK defence investment

Call for increased defense spending to 2.5% of GDP

Concerns over lack of credible plan for defense funding [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Tory minister criticises party's Budget and slams key part as deeply disappointing'

Conservative minister criticizes government's windfall tax extension on oil and gas firms.

Ministerial job at risk due to public disagreement with government position. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Parenting

Single parents on benefits being punished' by Tory policy pushing them to work 30-hour week

Single parents struggle with unrealistic government policies on work hours and face challenges like lack of childcare and job discrimination. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

UK ministers look to install highly paid boss to spearhead rail reform plan

Ministers propose highly paid rail industry figure to lead Great British Railways (GBR) creation.

Rail fares in England and Wales rose by 4.9% amidst plans to reform railway management. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Cigarettes and vapes: How much more will the UK pay after the spring Budget?

Vaping products to have dedicated levy

Vaping and tobacco products to become more expensive [ more ]

time.com

Public health

South Korea Hits Back at Striking Doctors With Criminal Complaint Against 5 Alleged Leaders

Authorities in South Korea are cracking down on doctors involved in a strike due to the government's plan to increase the annual quota for medical students.

The strike by thousands of trainee doctors and medical students is in protest of the quota expansion, which they believe will not solve the shortage of doctors in specific fields. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Public health

New Zealand moves to abolish Maori health authority despite protests

The Centre-right government in New Zealand plans to abolish the Maori Health Authority by June, transferring its functions to the national health system.

Indigenous groups are concerned that dismantling the Maori Health Authority will undermine Maori health rights. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Welsh 20mph speed limit is a success, claims government

20mph limit rollout in Wales shows a 4mph decrease in speeds in studied communities.

Lowering speeds correlates to reduced collisions and injuries on urban roads. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Thousands more badgers could be killed under proposal to raise target numbers

The government may increase culling targets to 100% in certain areas, potentially leading to the killing of thousands more badgers beyond the original plan. [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

Government extends ban on foreign buying of Canadian housing | CBC News

The federal government is extending the ban on foreign home purchasing in Canada until 2027.

Experts question the significant impact of the ban on housing affordability due to the small share of the market owned by non-Canadians. [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

4 months ago

Who benefits most from Canada's ambitious EV targets? Maybe China | CBC News

Flavio Volpe, head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, believes that Canada's electric vehicle targets cannot be met and will have a negative impact on the domestic auto industry.

Volpe accuses the government of not caring whether EVs are domestically built or come from China, which he believes is damaging to Canadian industry and interests. [ more ]

www.theguardian.com

Reform UK leader accuses Tories of stealing' social housing policy

Reform UK accuses Conservatives of copying their policies on giving priority to British citizens for social housing.

The Conservatives' move to prioritize British citizens for social housing has sparked anger and criticism from some in government and opposition parties. [ more ]

www.dw.com

Poland seeks to ease access to 'morning after' pill DW 01/24/2024

Poland's new ruling coalition is planning to relax the restrictive measures on access to emergency contraception.

Prime Minister Donald Tusk seeks to undo the prescription-only policy and make the morning-after pill available without prescription for women over 15 years old. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Boris Johnson Covid Inquiry LIVE: Ex-PM to face second day's grilling

Boris Johnson denies deleting WhatsApp messages ahead of Covid inquiry

Johnson's credibility is questioned during his testimony at the Covid inquiry [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Boris Johnson Covid Inquiry LIVE: Ex-PM to face second day's grilling

Boris Johnson denies deleting WhatsApp messages ahead of Covid inquiry

Johnson's credibility is questioned during his testimony at the Covid inquiry [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Boris Johnson Covid Inquiry LIVE: Ex-PM to face second day's grilling

Boris Johnson denies deleting WhatsApp messages ahead of Covid inquiry

Johnson's credibility is questioned during his testimony at the Covid inquiry [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

4 months ago

Cars

Who benefits most from Canada's ambitious EV targets? Maybe China | CBC News

Flavio Volpe, head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, believes that Canada's electric vehicle targets cannot be met and will have a negative impact on the domestic auto industry.

Volpe accuses the government of not caring whether EVs are domestically built or come from China, which he believes is damaging to Canadian industry and interests. [ more ]

www.cbc.ca

4 months ago

Cars

Who benefits most from Canada's ambitious EV targets? Maybe China | CBC News

Flavio Volpe, head of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association, believes that Canada's electric vehicle targets cannot be met and will have a negative impact on the domestic auto industry.

Volpe accuses the government of not caring whether EVs are domestically built or come from China, which he believes is damaging to Canadian industry and interests. [ more ]

www.aljazeera.com

Black Lives Matter

Turkish MP who suffered heart attack during speech in parliament dies

Turkish opposition legislator Hasan Bitmez dies two days after suffering a heart attack during an anti-Israel speech in parliament.

Bitmez accused the government of continuing friendly economic relations with Israel during its assault on Gaza. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Boris Johnson Covid Inquiry LIVE: Ex-PM to face second day's grilling

Boris Johnson denies deleting WhatsApp messages ahead of Covid inquiry

Johnson's credibility is questioned during his testimony at the Covid inquiry [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Coronavirus

Boris Johnson Covid Inquiry LIVE: Ex-PM to face second day's grilling

Boris Johnson denies deleting WhatsApp messages ahead of Covid inquiry

Johnson's credibility is questioned during his testimony at the Covid inquiry [ more ]

The Drum

Marketing

How Fatima's Fertilizers are aiding Pakistan's farmers

Fatima Fertilizer's Salam Kissan initiative aims to raise awareness and appreciation for farmers in Pakistan.

The campaign seeks to elevate farmers' voices and draw the attention of policy makers. [ more ]

www.independent.co.uk

Sunak challenged on timing of small boats speech as crossings drop amid strong winds

Rishi Sunak joked that he can't control the weather after he was questioned on whether the fall in small boat crossings was down to high winds in the Channel rather than government policy.In a speech in Kent on Monday, the prime minister said that the numbers making the crossing were down by a fifth since last year, claiming that our plan is starting to work.

BBC News

Deadline looms in row over WhatsApp release to Covid inquiry

The government has until 4pm to hand over unredacted messages and notebooks to the Covid inquiry, or face potential legal action.The inquiry wants to see various messages between Boris Johnson and his advisers during the pandemic, as well as his diaries and notebooks.The government has refused to disclose some of the material, arguing it is not relevant to the inquiry's work.

Patently-O

Intellectual property law

Guest Post: Jillian Grennan, Charting New Paths in Innovation: Reflections from Harvard's Innovation Economics Conference

(Editor's note: (This post is part of a series by the Diversity Pilots Initiative, which advances inclusive innovation through rigorous research.The first blog in the series is here, and resources from the first conference of the initiative are available here.-Jason) By: Jillian Grennan, Associate Professor of Finance and Principal, Diversity Pilots Initiative Recently, I had the privilege of being part of the Junior Innovation Economics Conference at Harvard Business School.

www.independent.co.uk

Sunak U-turn on ban for China's Confucius Institute like script for Yes Minister'

Rishi Sunak's U-turn on a pledge to shut down 30 Chinese state-sponsored Confucius Institutes in the the UK has been compared to the scriptwriters for Yes Minister.The retreat, first reported by TalkTV, has been criticised by more hawkish Tory backbenchers, with former prime minister Liz Truss urging him to deliver on the language he used during last summer's contest.

www.independent.co.uk

Rebel SNP MSPs threatened with de-selection, says former minister

A former Scottish minister has claimed SNP MSPs who spoke out against Government policy were threatened with de-selection.Alex Neil, who served under both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon in the Scottish Government, was critical of Ms Sturgeon's leadership, claiming she showed a total intolerance to different points of view and accusing the party and Government hierarchy seeking to snuff out dissenting voices.

www.thelocal.fr

Books

France to compensate relatives of Algerian Harki fighters

French Prime Minister Elisabeth Borne has filed a suit with a court demanding the withdrawal of parts of a biography published this month, arguing they violate her private life, the publishing house said.Published: 11 May 2023 09:03 CEST According to the complaint seen by AFP, Borne lists passages in the book by journalist Berengere Bonte referring to her health and sexual orientation, as well as to her family life, that need to be removed.

www.independent.co.uk

Transgender woman jailed for rape sent to male prison

A transgender woman has been sent to a male prison, for committing a rape shortly after being released from jail for previous offences.Lexi-Rose Crawford, 24, was jailed for nine years for one count of rape and one of assault by penetration relating to an incident in April 2019.Crawford committed the offences shortly after being released from a four-year prison sentence for two counts of sexual activity with a child, which took place in 2017.

www.nytimes.com

Europe news

Russia eases travel restrictions on Georgian nationals, in the latest sign of thawing ties.

TBILISI, Georgia President Vladimir V. Putin on Wednesday ordered the restoration of direct flights from Russia to the mountainous former Soviet republic of Georgia starting May 15 and abolished visa requirements for Georgian nationals, in the latest sign of continued rapprochement between the two nations.

www.independent.co.uk

Bridgen sues Hancock over claims tweet was antisemitic'

Andrew Bridgen has formally begun a libel action against Matt Hancock following a row over a tweet.After Mr Bridgen tweeted that the Covid-19 vaccination programme was the biggest crime against humanity since the Holocaust, the former health secretary described his comments as disgusting and dangerous antisemitic, anti-vax, anti-scientific conspiracy theories.

www.independent.co.uk