Precedent will

There was a point, earlier this year, when it looked like Cape Town was going to run out of water. As a consequence, the people who run the city decided to change the rules. At the beginning of February, officials introduced a series of water restrictions that are so draconian, they simply have no precedent world-wide. It is not like they had much choice. This bustling city of four million souls has gone three years without significant rainfall - and the six dams which supply this ocean-side community are running dangerously low. This was the moment "the crisis got real for a lot of people," says Richard Bosman, the city's executive director for safety and security. Advertisement Residents were restricted to just 50 litres of water and a host of everyday practices are prohibited under a series of measures known locally as "level 6B". Washing cars with municipal water is illegal. More from Cape Town Thousands of people evacuated as … [Read more...] about Cape Town introduces ‘world’s first water police’ after drought

The cost of Covid tests for holidaymakers could be slashed to below £50 making trips abroad much more affordable, it has been reported. A source from HMRC told The Telegraph that gold standard PCR tests done at home would be free from VAT, which currently sits at £20. This would cut the cheapest from £60 to below £50, while the most expensive would be around £240. Previously the VAT exemption was only in place for PCR tests done or overseen by a registered nurse. The source said: “Exempting the tests from VAT is being seriously considered. "The main concerns are that test providers pass on the saving to travellers and whether it will set a precedent for removing the charge in other areas of the economy.” The move could make returning from holidays to the UK significantly less expensive. The Government has ruled that all travellers coming back into the UK must take a PCR test on or before the second day of their arrival, if coming back from a country on the green … [Read more...] about Covid tests for holidaymakers could drop below £50 making travel more affordable