5 Common Tax Mistakes to Avoid in 2021
These blunders happen all the time -- but you should take extra care to steer clear of them this year.
Nicola Sturgeon criticised Boris Johnson for laying out exact dates in his more detailed exit strategy
Goddard held Morgan accountable for Meghan Markle question
The first step of the coronavirus lockdown brings the return of schools and limited social contact
New Zealand has signed an agreement to buy an extra 8.5 million doses of Pfizer
Eagle-eyed fans spotted the surprising detail in a Twitter post
Queens-born septuagenarian arrives back at former Fifth Avenue residence following four year absence
Former No 10 chief of staff says it is ‘dishonest’ to pretend Brexit deal has not added costs to trade
Four characters will be taken and locked in a shipping contrainer.
First time daily deaths below 100 since 19 October
Experts said the Oprah interview with Harry and Meghan led to some 'astonishing' claims.
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Damning findings by immigration and prisons watchdogs reveal ‘inadequate’ support for residents who self-harmed at military site and litany of failings by Home Office to comply with guidance and recognise risks
The actor has said she doesn't regret the photographs.
Britain should prepare itself for a "hard winter" with the threat of Covid-19 and a flu surge still a possibility, a Public Health England official has said. The NHS will have to be ready for a potential rise in respiratory viruses as people wait to discover if there is a strong level of immunity in the population, according to Dr Susan Hopkins, who advises the Government on its Covid policy. Dr Hopkins, who is Covid-19 strategic response director to Public Health England, told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "I think we have to prepare for a hard winter, not only with coronavirus but we've had a year of almost no respiratory viruses of any other type, and that means potentially the population immunity to that is less, and so we could see surges in flu. "We could surges in other respiratory viruses and other respiratory pathogens." Dr Hopkins added: "So it's really important that we're prepared from the NHS point of view, from public health and contact tracing, that we have everything ready to prepare for a difficult autumn, and we hope that it won't occur and there will be a normal winter for all of us." Dr Hopkins said she believed "we will all have our summer holidays" but her job is to advise the Government and to prepare for "worst-case scenarios". She told the programme: "We have to make sure that we're prepared, and that we're better prepared for this autumn than we have been previously." Despite her warnings for next year, Dr Hopkins said the emergence of new variants of the coronavirus should not derail a plan to start easing a nationwide lockdown in England over the coming weeks. "I think it won't change it for the next three to five weeks, that would be highly unlikely," Dr Hopkins, PHE’s strategic response director, told the BBC's Andrew Marr show. "We will need to watch it carefully as new strains come into the country from around the world and we will need to be very ready for autumn."
Members of the public react to Prince Harry and Meghan's interview with Oprah which is set to air in the UK on Monday evening.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made a number of revelations about the Royal Family.
The TV star showed off a vaccine card bearing a different name.
Boris Johnson has hailed the “joy and relief” that Monday's easing of lockdown will bring families as he confirmed a grandparent will be able to see young grandchildren under the new rules. Before Monday, the Government's Covid-19 guidance said two people were only allowed to meet outdoors if they were doing exercise, such as walking or jogging. Those restrictions have been loosened, with people now allowed to meet one-on-one outside for recreational activities such as having a coffee on a park bench or a picnic. The Telegraph can confirm that children aged under five are exempt from such rules, however, meaning a parent meeting a grandparent can bring along young children. Mr Johnson told this newspaper: “Today marks the first step in our cautious easing of lockdown restrictions, with pupils returning to schools and outdoor socialising with one other person allowed. “While this is only a small relaxation of the rules, I know this increased social contact will provide joy and relief for families with grandparents being able to see young grandchildren again after months of tough restrictions. "But we must remain vigilant as we move through our plan to reopen society and return towards normality.” The rule tweak is one of three key changes happening today, which is the first date in Mr Johnson’s “roadmap” out of lockdown. The other two are the reopening of all English schools and the ability for care home residents to be visited by a single named individual, with hand-holding allowed. The changes reflect that fact that the Prime Minister and his inner team have prioritised getting children into the classroom again and reuniting families. Many of the existing restrictions remain, however. No more than two adults from different households can meet outdoors to chat. Full family reunions outside will have to wait until March 29 at the earliest. Such one-on-one meetings also have to take place in public outdoor settings rather than private gardens. Social distancing rules also remain in place, which means people are advised to remain six feet apart and wear face masks if close to others. But the change does end the need to be moving when catching up with someone – a rule difficult to abide by for those with limited mobility and which was being broken by some. Mr Johnson has made “cautious but irreversible” the central theme of his reopening plan, which takes place in four stages. By the end of March groups of six or two different households will be able to meet outside. By April 12, pubs and restaurants should be allowed to serve outside. May 17 is the earliest indoor dining and indoor meet-ups will be allowed, with June 21 provisionally named as the date almost all restrictions will be lifted. However, the Prime Minister has repeatedly stressed that these dates are simply “earliest” ones, with delays possible if the data tracking the fight against Covid-19 worsens. Four metrics are being watched: the speed of the vaccine roll-out; the efficacy of the vaccines on deaths and hospitalisations; whether case rises threaten to overwhelm the NHS; and whether new variants emerge that increase risk. Reviews are ongoing to determine when social distancing rules could be eased and whether overseas holidays could be allowed again in time for summer.
Staycation prices a third higher in holiday hotspots this year When can I go on holiday? What Med destinations will look like this summer The countries already rolling out vaccine passports Sign up to the Telegraph Travel newsletter Travel industry leaders have lashed out at new ‘exit permits’ required for leaving the country, claiming they are complex and lack clear messaging. The Declaration to Travel form, which comes into effect today, must be completed by anyone in England who enters “a port of departure to travel internationally”, with fines of up to £6,400 for those who flout the rules. But critics have highlighted a number of issues with the form, arguing that it appears ‘rushed’ and that several valid reasons for international travel are not covered. Paola Fiocchi Van den Brande, founder of Passepartout Homes, said: “I understand the move and what the Government is trying to achieve. It is a bit too little too late and such policies would have been accepted and tolerated a year ago. A year later, with a successful vaccination program under way and the promise of releasing restrictions, I question the move to introduce a Declaration to Travel, if not for political reasons before elections. “The document has been rushed through with not so much attention to detail or clear messaging. There is no box to justify you are leaving the country because you have residency elsewhere or are leaving the country for good. There is no box to state kids are visiting a parent working overseas (only those with divorced parents and a court order are allowed). There is no box to state you are reuniting with a spouse or legal partner working overseas.” Others, such as Abby Penston, CEO of Focus Travel Partnership, called the form a "half-cocked rushed out process", adding: "Today’s imposition of the Declaration for International Travel form has been deliberately designed to dampen demand in international travel." Scroll down for the latest travel updates.
Nicola Sturgeon's deputy is to face a vote of no confidence at Holyrood this week after he was accused of "blatantly" withholding the publication of damning legal advice until two days after she appeared at the Alex Salmond inquiry. The Scottish Tories said they would press the vote after alleging John Swinney failed to hand over all the advice requested by the inquiry and made inaccurate statements about its release. On the eve of Ms Sturgeon's appearance before the inquiry last Wednesday, Mr Swinney published what he described as "the key legal advice" and claimed "all of this material is now in the public domain." The disclosure was made after it became clear there was a Holyrood majority for a Tory no confidence motion that would have forced his resignation. He had previously ignored two parliamentary votes for the documents to be released. But Mr Swinney published a further tranche of documents on Friday afternoon that showed the Scottish Government lawyers fighting Mr Salmond's judicial review had challenged Ms Sturgeon whether she wanted to "plough on" regardless of their warnings he would win. A note written on Dec 17, 2018 showed Roddy Dunlop QC and Christine O'Neill said they were "perilously close" to being unable to mount a defence and were "firmly of the view" Mr Salmond would succeed on at least one of his challenges. Despite this, two days later the Scottish Government started an expensive 'Commission and Diligence' process in the court fight. The Sunday Mail reported yesterday that ministers spent a further £135,000 of taxpayers' money before the case was conceded in early January. In another note published last Friday, and dated Dec 7, 2018, Mr Dunlop said there were now only two possible counter-arguments against Mr Salmond's action and "I doubt either will work."