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  The Queen has awarded the George Cross, the UK’s very best award for gallantry and heroism, to the NHS to mark its public service over seven decades, Buckingham Palace has announced. The NHS marks its 73rd birthday on Monday following a year of extraordinary challenges. It is only the third time the award has been given to a collective body, country or organization rather than an individual since it was instituted via the Queen’s father, George VI, at the peak of the blitz in 1940. In a handwritten private message, the Queen said: “It is with great pleasure, on behalf of a grateful nation, that I award the George Cross to the National Health Services of the United Kingdom. “This award recognises all NHS staff, previous and present, throughout all disciplines and all 4 nations. Over more than seven decades, and particularly in current times, you have supported the people of our country with courage, compassion and dedication, demonstrating the best possible standards of public service

  Boris Johnson is to announce that the lifting of most remaining Covid-19 restrictions in England will go ahead on 19 July amid a backlash from government scientific advisers who have warned that doing so would be like building new “variant factories”. Despite cases having risen to their highest level since January 2021, the prime minister is set to press ahead with the final stage of unlocking in two weeks. In a Downing Street press conference on Monday afternoon, he is anticipated to announce that, with 86% of adults in the UK having had at least a first jab, the government will move from relying on legal curbs to manage people’s behavior to letting people make their personal decisions. Changes to be announced include allowing fully vaccinated adults to tour to amber list countries without having to self-isolate when they return; making the wearing of face masks voluntary, apart from in hospitals and other healthcare settings; and no longer requiring fully vaccinated adults to self-

  THE European Union has been blasted for the mountain of paperwork fishermen have to complete in order to export to the trading bloc. Scottish fisherman Jamie McMillian informed the BBC that his crew spends three hours each and every morning completing paperwork for the European Union. He added that he now exports to markets in the Far East as it is "cheaper and quicker" than exporting to France following Brexit. Mr McMillian said: "The paperwork is just madness. "It is such a waste of paper, a waste of time, a waste of the environment, and a waste of cost. "That is three hours' work each morning that we export to the EU. "Three hours' work to do all that paperwork." He added: "In easy terms exports to China, Singapore or Hong Kong is less expensive and export there than it is to France. "So we are pushing sales in the UK and pushing sales in the Far East to attempt and compensate for what we have lost from Europe." June Mummer

  The Wild signed center Joel Eriksson Ek to an eight-year, $42 million contract on Friday, the first of three re-signings the crew prioritized this offseason. Kirill Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala are the other offensive leaders up for new deals. Eriksson Ek's contract carries an average annual value of $5.25 million and runs via 2028-29, making him the longest-signed player on the Wild. A 10-team, no-trade list kicks in for the second half of the contract, a source confirmed, and the deal dwarfs the $2.975 million Eriksson Ek earned over the previous two seasons. His overall performance on the ice the previous year explains the raise. A defense-first ahead early in his NHL tenure after getting drafted 20th overall in 2015 by the Wild, Eriksson Ek became a constant catalyst in the offensive zone after an offseason makeover positioned him at the top of the team's depth chart up the middle. Gone were former captain Mikko Koivu and veteran Eric Staal, creating more minutes and responsi

 The Biden administration is thinking about extending a pandemic freeze on Americans’ student-loan repayments beyond its scheduled expiration in September and turning to piecemeal measures to lower their student-debt bills. Five months into his term, President Biden has resisted calls from fellow Democrats and activists to cancel most of America’s $1.6 trillion in federal student-loan debt in one swoop through an executive action. Congress additionally appears unlikely to make it happen because Democrats lack the Republican support they would need to pass such a measure. Yet many Americans efficaciously are seeing their debt bills decreased via policy changes that started under the Trump administration, which froze student-loan repayments when the pandemic started unfolding in March 2020. The move, which the Biden administration extended through September, has in effect forgiven tens of billions of dollars in student debt that families otherwise would have paid, mostly by waiving inter

 A section of the M25 has been closed following a serious crash, with emergency services rushing to the scene. Kent Online has reported a lorry and three motors have been involved in the collision and has warned of delays in the Dartford Tunnel. The website wrote: "An accident involving a lorry and three vehicles in Essex could cause delays if you're heading through the Dartford tunnel. "One lane is closed anticlockwise between Junction 30 (Lakeside) and Junction 29." Highways England wrote on Twitter: "The #M25 anticlockwise #J30 (#A13 #Lakeside #Tilbury) to #J29 (#A127 #Romford #Basildon) 1 lane has been closed due to a collision. "Traffic Officers @EPRoadsPolicing @metpoliceuk @EastEnglandAmb @Ldn_Ambulance & Recovery are on their way to the area." Several motorists have been left wondering why there are massive tailbacks and increased tour times. One individual wrote on Twitter their SatNav maps were showibng heavy traffic and extended travel t

  SAJID JAVID could support a tax rise to pay for the long-awaited reform of the social care sector, allies have claimed, and has been backed as a "problem solver" that can stop a Government standoff over funding to handle the crisis. Sajid Javid, who changed Matt Hancock as Health Secretary last weekend, has been tipped to make the step forward by former colleagues as he is without an "ego" and has experience in both the Treasury and other government departments to form a compromise, the Daily Telegraph has reported. When he was Communities Secretary, he was instrumental in pressing ahead with a social care principle that caused a two percent amplify to council tax bills to cover care costs, suggesting he could be open to a comparable move now. But one former colleague of Mr Javid, who has worked closely with him on policy issues, claimed he could be instrumental in forming a step forward in the standoff between Number 10 and 11. They said: “He’s a team player. He’

  Fully vaccinated people who have been in contact with a coronavirus sufferer will be free within weeks to carry on life as normal with no need to take every day tests, The Times has learnt. In the clearest sign yet of ministers’ plans to substitute virus restrictions with a focus on personal responsibility, they intend to drop all legal necessities on those who have had both jabs if they come across a confirmed case. Despite acknowledging that unvaccinated people may additionally start ignoring quarantine guidelines and could “game” the system, ministers want to introduce the proposals next month. Official estimates recommend that infections will increase by as much as 26 per cent under the plans but the government is probably to accept the danger.

  Prince Harry has been seen at Heathrow Airport as he heads back to the US less than 24 hours after the Diana statue unveiling. The Duke of Sussex arrived at Terminal 5 in a VW MiniBus, accompanied via two security personnel in the front seats. He has been in the UK for a week, which included isolating for 5 days at Frogmore Cottage before yesterday's official unveiling of the new Princess Diana statue at Kensington Palace. Harry travelled over from California without spouse Meghan Markle, with the duchess having given birth to the couple's 2nd child, Lilibet, last month. It appeared Harry and William had put aside their differences to honour their late mum and even shared a glass of bubbly after the event at round 2.45pm. Harry, who alongside with Meghan stepped down as a senior royal more than a year ago, appeared in high spirits in the course of the ceremony, which saw him reunited with a range members of his household from his mother's side. He and William, who have lo

  Hopeful England followers are getting geared up to celebrate like it’s 1966 with a £533million spending spree on food, booze and souvenirs. Experts are predicting the large splurge ahead of Saturday’s Euro 2020 quarter-final towards Ukraine. Around £150m will be blown in pubs and bars, and £348m splashed out on meals and drink through followers watching at home, figures from the Centre for Retail Research and website VoucherCodes.co.uk show. And £35m will be spent on merchandise such as replica shirts, flags, banners, mugs, hats and key rings. Supermarkets anticipate a food, snacks and drinks buying frenzy as millions stock up today prepared for the 8pm kick-off. Experts are warning followers to shop early for barbecue food, with 13.6 million people stated to be planning a barbie and two million vowing to carry on even if predicted widespread showers arrive. Aldi stated 50 million burgers, bangers and steaks will be served up in pre-match feasts. Julie Ashfield, managing director of