Millions of people in England are set to be relieved of coronavirus restrictions under Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s “live with Covid” plan.
Mr Johnson had been scheduled to chair a cabinet meeting on Monday morning to discuss his plan with ministers, but it was cancelled at short notice. Some government ministers were photographed arriving in Downing Street for the meeting, but the prime minister's official spokesman said it would instead be held via a call rather than in person “because of expedience”.
The spokesman said the meeting was cancelled “so that the prime minister could have both a security briefing and have further meetings to finalise the plan on living with Covid”. It is uncommon for Cabinet meetings to be cancelled at such short notice.
No 10 said Mr Johnson would still give a statement to MPs in the House of Commons on his plan. However, he is expected to make the announcement at around 4.30pm — slightly later than had originally been expected.
The delay to the meeting is understood to have centred on a request from Health Secretary Sajid Javid regarding how elements of the plan would be funded.
Labour’s shadow health secretary Wes Streeting said the delayed cabinet meeting was a sign of “chaos and incompetence”.
What rules are set to be scrapped?
Downing Street said the prime minister’s plan would be “vaccine led”, with the programme remaining open to those who have not yet had an inoculation.
The Conservative leader’s blueprint to further release society from rules comes two years after the first measures were introduced at the beginning of the pandemic.
The plan will include the overturning of the legal requirement to self-isolate after a positive coronavirus test. This would mean people in England who know they have the virus would be free to go out in public and mix with others.
Under the rules as they stand, people who test positive have to isolate for up to 10 days, but can leave early if they test negative for Covid-19 on lateral flow tests on days five and six.
The requirement is due to expire at the end of March, but earlier this month the prime minister said “encouraging trends” in Covid-19 data meant that ministers hoped to scrap the rule a month early.
Government-funded PCR tests for people displaying Covid-19 symptoms are also expected to be scrapped. It is unclear whether the availability of free lateral flow tests will be reduced.
Mr Johnson said testing would continue at a “much lower level” under his plan.
Business Minister Paul Scully suggested the government could stop providing free coronavirus tests, as the £2 billion ($2.72bn) a month could be better used elsewhere.
He told Sky News: “We can’t continue for evermore spending £2bn a month on tests.”
What advice will replace the rules?
Mr Scully suggested Covid-19 should be treated like “any illness” in terms of staying at home.
“I would say that it’s like any illness, frankly, any transmissible illness that you would say stay at home,” he told Sky News, but he admitted “It’ll be down to themselves or down to their employer”.
He said workers should contact Acas, the public body which aims to improve working conditions for people in the UK, if they “really think that there is a detriment to them”.
Will this be the end to all restrictions in England?
While the prime minister has said he hopes his “live with Covid” plan will take England “towards a return to normality”, some are likely to continue to face restrictions.
All travellers to England are required to complete a passenger locator form before arrival.
Unvaccinated travellers have to take a Covid-19 test (PCR or lateral flow) before travelling to England and must have a pre-booked PCR test to take upon arrival. Only those who return a positive result are required to self-isolate.
The Department for Transport is expected to review the rules before Easter.
What has Boris Johnson said about his plan?
Mr Johnson said the proposal would be about “finally giving people back their freedom” after “one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history”.
“Today will mark a moment of pride after one of the most difficult periods in our country’s history as we begin to learn to live with Covid,” Mr Johnson said announcement on Monday.
“It would not be possible without the efforts of so many — the NHS who delivered the life-saving vaccine roll-out at phenomenal speed, our world-leading scientists and experts, and the general public for their commitment to protecting themselves and their loved ones.
“The pandemic is not over, but thanks to the incredible vaccine roll-out we are now one step closer towards a return to normality and finally giving people back their freedoms, while continuing to protect ourselves and others.”
Recent winners
2002 Giselle Khoury (Colombia)
2004 Nathalie Nasralla (France)
2005 Catherine Abboud (Oceania)
2007 Grace Bijjani (Mexico)
2008 Carina El-Keddissi (Brazil)
2009 Sara Mansour (Brazil)
2010 Daniella Rahme (Australia)
2011 Maria Farah (Canada)
2012 Cynthia Moukarzel (Kuwait)
2013 Layla Yarak (Australia)
2014 Lia Saad (UAE)
2015 Cynthia Farah (Australia)
2016 Yosmely Massaad (Venezuela)
2017 Dima Safi (Ivory Coast)
2018 Rachel Younan (Australia)
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
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England Test squad
Ben Stokes (captain), Joe Root, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow, Stuart Broad, Harry Brook, Zak Crawley, Ben Foakes, Jack Leach, Alex Lees, Craig Overton, Ollie Pope, Matthew Potts
Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
Emergency
Director: Kangana Ranaut
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Anupam Kher, Shreyas Talpade, Milind Soman, Mahima Chaudhry
Rating: 2/5
Country-size land deals
US interest in purchasing territory is not as outlandish as it sounds. Here's a look at some big land transactions between nations:
Louisiana Purchase
If Donald Trump is one who aims to broker "a deal of the century", then this was the "deal of the 19th Century". In 1803, the US nearly doubled in size when it bought 2,140,000 square kilometres from France for $15 million.
Florida Purchase Treaty
The US courted Spain for Florida for years. Spain eventually realised its burden in holding on to the territory and in 1819 effectively ceded it to America in a wider border treaty.
Alaska purchase
America's spending spree continued in 1867 when it acquired 1,518,800 km2 of Alaskan land from Russia for $7.2m. Critics panned the government for buying "useless land".
The Philippines
At the end of the Spanish-American War, a provision in the 1898 Treaty of Paris saw Spain surrender the Philippines for a payment of $20 million.
US Virgin Islands
It's not like a US president has never reached a deal with Denmark before. In 1917 the US purchased the Danish West Indies for $25m and renamed them the US Virgin Islands.
Gwadar
The most recent sovereign land purchase was in 1958 when Pakistan bought the southwestern port of Gwadar from Oman for 5.5bn Pakistan rupees.
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What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
The flights: South African Airways flies from Dubai International Airport with a stop in Johannesburg, with prices starting from around Dh4,000 return. Emirates can get you there with a stop in Lusaka from around Dh4,600 return.
The details: Visas are available for 247 Zambian kwacha or US$20 (Dh73) per person on arrival at Livingstone Airport. Single entry into Victoria Falls for international visitors costs 371 kwacha or $30 (Dh110). Microlight flights are available through Batoka Sky, with 15-minute flights costing 2,265 kwacha (Dh680).
Accommodation: The Royal Livingstone Victoria Falls Hotel by Anantara is an ideal place to stay, within walking distance of the falls and right on the Zambezi River. Rooms here start from 6,635 kwacha (Dh2,398) per night, including breakfast, taxes and Wi-Fi. Water arrivals cost from 587 kwacha (Dh212) per person.
List of alleged parties
May 12, 2020: PM and his wife Carrie attend 'work meeting' with at least 17 staff
May 20, 2020: They attend 'bring your own booze party'
Nov 27, 2020: PM gives speech at leaving party for his staff
Dec 10, 2020: Staff party held by then-education secretary Gavin Williamson
Dec 13, 2020: PM and his wife throw a party
Dec 14, 2020: London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey holds staff event at Conservative Party headquarters
Dec 15, 2020: PM takes part in a staff quiz
Dec 18, 2020: Downing Street Christmas party
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UPI facts
More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions
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The specs
Engine: 3.5-litre twin-turbo V6
Power: 380hp at 5,800rpm
Torque: 530Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed auto
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THE BIO
Favourite author - Paulo Coelho
Favourite holiday destination - Cuba
New York Times or Jordan Times? NYT is a school and JT was my practice field
Role model - My Grandfather
Dream interviewee - Che Guevara
