Tuesday 15 December
News Briefing VIDEO
- Covid: Millions more face tier 3 as new strain identified
- UK to fast track some perishable goods at ports from 1 January
- Tech giants would face steep fines, market bans under draft EU rules
- Kabul’s deputy governor killed in Afghanistan blast
- Arab nations condemn bomb attack on oil tanker in Jeddah port
- Biden aims to unify nation as electoral college formalises election victory
- Low-paid workers face pandemic ‘double whammy’
- Tech companies face multibillion-pound UK fines over harmful content
- London in Covid tier three: Football, darts & rugby union hit as fans not allowed
- Little Mix: Jesy Nelson leaves band after it ‘took a toll on her mental health’
Low-paid workers face pandemic ‘double whammy’ – BBC News
Tech companies face multibillion-pound UK fines over harmful content – FT
U.S. Homeland Security, thousands of businesses scramble after suspected Russian hack – Reuters
Sizewell C talks could leave us with another horribly expensive nuclear white elephant – The Independent
Covid: Millions more face tier 3 as new strain identified
BBC News says millions more people in England are set to move into the toughest Covid restrictions after ministers warned that a new Covid strain of the virus may be linked to a rise in infections.
London, most of Essex and parts of Hertfordshire will join tier three on Wednesday. Matt Hancock said action was needed immediately to slow an “exponential” spike in cases.
No 10 rejected suggestions it might now review Christmas guidelines.
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UK to fast track some perishable goods at ports from 1 January
City AM says the UK will fast track the movement of some perishable goods when its Brexit transition period with the EU ends on 31 December as part of efforts to deal with expected disruption at British ports, the BBC reported earlier today.
The UK government has warned that even with a trade deal with the EU, 7,000 trucks heading for Channel ports in south-east England could be held in 62-mile queues if companies do not prepare the extra paperwork required.
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Tech giants would face steep fines, market bans under draft EU rules
France24 says draft EU rules to be unveiled Tuesday would see tech giants face huge fines or banned from the market for breaches, sources said, posing a major challenge to the likes of Google and Facebook.
The EU Commission is gearing up to present its long-trailed Digital Services Act and its accompanying Digital Markets Act to lay out strict conditions for internet giants to do business in the 27 countries.
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Kabul’s deputy governor killed in Afghanistan blast
Aljazeera says Kabul’s deputy governor and his assistant have been killed in a blast in Afghanistan, police say, adding that a sticky bomb was attached to his car by unknown assailants.
Deputy Governor Mahboobullah Mohebi was travelling with his security guards when the blast occurred on Tuesday. Two guards were injured in the blast.
Afghanistan’s TOLO news, quoting Kabul police, reported on Twitter that “Mohibullah Mohammadi, the deputy governor of Kabul, and his secretary were killed in a blast from an IED placed on their vehicle”.
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Arab nations condemn bomb attack on oil tanker in Jeddah port
Arab News says Arab nations condemned what has been label as a “terrorists attack” on an oil tanker as it unloaded fuel at Jeddah port.
A small boat laden with explosives targeting the Singapore-flagged BW Rhine, which was carrying 60,000 tons of gasoline, causing an explosion and a fire on board.
The ship’s crew put out the fire and there were no casualties, but parts of the vessel’s hull were damaged.
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Biden aims to unify nation as electoral college formalises election victory
TRT World says Joe Biden has said that “democracy prevailed” as electors nationwide cast votes affirming his victory in last month’s election, saying the country’s governing principles were “pushed, tested, threatened” but did not crumble.
In a speech, Biden on Monday aimed to guide Americans past the tumult of the campaign and Donald Trump’s refusal to accept defeat.
“If anyone didn’t know it before, we know it now. What beats deep in the hearts of the American people is this: Democracy,” Biden said. “The right to be heard. To have your vote counted. To choose the leaders of this nation. To govern ourselves.”
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In Review: London in tier 3
London, most of Essex and parts of Hertfordshire will move into England’s highest tier of Covid restrictions, Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said. The areas join tier three at 00:01 GMT on Wednesday, meaning some 34 million people will face the toughest rules.10 hours ago – BBC
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UK coronavirus: people urged to be extra careful at Christmas as millions in England face toughest restrictions – as it happened – The Guardian
Will we be able to travel this Christmas? – TimeOut
London Tier 3: All the rules around seeing friends and family in Tier 3 – MyLondon
London going into tier 3 seems silly knowing Christmas will bring a new surge – The Independent
‘I just feel like crying’ – chefs react to ‘cruel’ Tier 3 restrictions – CityAm
London Tier 3 backlash: Boris attacked as ‘thousands’ of businesses on the brink – Express
Trump Says Barr Resigning, Will Leave Before Christmas
Attorney General William Barr, one of President Donald Trump’s staunchest allies, is resigning amid lingering tension with the president over the president’s baseless claims of election fraud and the investigation into President-elect Joe Biden’s son. – VOA
Switzerland express regret over illegal adoptions of Sri Lankan children
Switzerland’s government expressed “sincere regret” for failing to prevent the illegal adoption of children from Sri Lanka in the 1990s.
The issue came to light several years ago after Sri Lankan adults who had been adopted as children in the 1980s and 1990s returned to find their birth parents, only to discover that information contained in their files was sometimes false. – Euronews
Ivorian President Allassane Ouattara has been sworn in for a third term in office.
“Before the sovereign people of Ivory Coast, I solemnly swear on the honour to respect and faithfully defend the Constitution, to embody national unity, to ensure the continuity of the State and defend its territorial integrity”. Ouattara said as he took the oath of office. – Africanews
Lebanon jails activist Kinda Al-Khatib for ‘collaborating’ with Israel
Lebanon’s military prosecution on Monday sentenced an activist to three years in prison for “collaborating” with Israel and traveling to the Jewish state, a judicial source said.
Kinda Al-Khatib, who is in her twenties, was arrested in June and charged with “collaborating with the enemy,” “entering the occupied Palestinian territories” and “collaborating with spies of the Israeli enemy.” – Arab News
US$4 million seized in Singapore from Canadian group that sold encrypted devices to drug cartels
About US$4 million of illicit funds linked to a Canadian group that sold encrypted devices to drug traffickers in multiple countries have been seized in Singapore, said the United States Department of Justice on Monday. – CNA
