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Israel reportedly pulls back from threat to slash humanitarian aid entering Gaza

Israel reportedly pulls back from threat to slash humanitarian aid entering Gaza

Rafah border crossing will be allowed to open, say reports, after Hamas hands over remains of more hostages Gaza ceasefire – live updates Israel will allow Gaza’s Rafah border crossing with Egypt to open and will not cut the amount of humanitarian aid entering the devastated Palestinian territory as threatened, Israel’s public broadcaster, Kan, has reported, after Hamas handed over more remains of hostages. The fragile ceasefire in Gaza had faced its first test when Israel said on Tuesday the flow of vital humanitarian assistance into Gaza would be cut by half and the crucial Rafah border crossing with Egypt would not open on Wednesday as planned, accusing Hamas of failing to comply with the deal agreed last week by delaying the return the bodies of hostages. Continue reading...

Abolishing stamp duty won’t solve Britain’s housing crisis – but this radical property tax just might | Josh Ryan-Collins

Abolishing stamp duty won’t solve Britain’s housing crisis – but this radical property tax just might | Josh Ryan-Collins

Economists on all sides agree: rather than incremental changes, this deeply unfair market needs a ‘big bang’ moment Josh Ryan-Collins is associate professor of economics and finance at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose The UK’s property tax system is both inefficient and unfair. There is consensus among all political parties that something needs to be done. On the efficiency side, stamp duty is the main culprit: as a lump sum tax on property wealth paid at point of purchase, it discourages people to move as frequently as they should. It prevents people from realising their full economic potential by finding the right job, in the right area, or moving into a home suitable for their household size. In combination with high interest rates and sluggish growth, tax is contributing to UK property transactions reaching near record lows . Meanwhile, over a third of English households live in homes defined by the government as “under-occupied”, with two or more spare bedrooms; 90% of these are homeowners . Reforming stamp duty to free up some of these under-occupied properties – mainly concentrated in the baby-boomer generation now hitting retirement – could enhance growth, productivity and, potentially, the affordability crisis. Josh Ryan-Collins is associate professor of economics and finance at the UCL Institute for Innovation and Public Purpose Continue reading...

George Ford turns down R360 riches for last shot at England World Cup glory

George Ford turns down R360 riches for last shot at England World Cup glory

Sale fly-half rebuffs £1m offer to chase dream ‘There’s no better motivation than winning for England’ George Ford has turned down the riches on offer from R360 for one last shot at a Rugby World Cup with England. The 32-year-old revealed he was approached by the rebel circuit , fronted by the former England centre Mike Tindall, but rejected a deal believed to be worth £1m a season to chase his dream. Ford, who reached a century of caps last summer, has signed a three-year contract extension with Sale which will ensure his availability for the 2027 tournament in Australia. Continue reading...