View in browser

Thursday June 24 2021

 
 

By Chris Evans,
EDITOR

Dear Reader,

Boris Johnson has this lunchtime said there is a “real opportunity to open up travel” this summer for those who have had two doses of the Covid vaccine, in the clearest signal yet that quarantine will be waived for those who are fully protected. The green list of 11 destinations is also due to expand today – find out which countries could turn green, amber and red here, and follow all the latest news with our live blog.

Angela Merkel, the German chancellor, however, seems set to make “hassle-free” travel more difficult by urging EU countries to introduce mandatory quarantine for Britons. What’s behind this sudden and dramatic intervention? General concern over the delta variant surge has been blamed, but some suspect there may be other reasons at play.

The decision by St Paul’s Girls’ School to axe the role of head girl because it is “too binary” has been met with consternation across the country. That, along with the news that New Zealand has selected trans weightlifter Laurel Hubbard for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Tokyo, has prompted Allison Pearson to respond. In this powerful piece, she writes that in pushing for a “non-binary” future, institutions are helping to usher in an era in which women’s sport as we know it cannot survive.

As we stumble ever closer towards the “terminus date” of July 19, attention is naturally turning to the legacy of Covid. In this blistering column, Allister Heath argues that lockdown has precipitated a cultural revolution which will eventually make us poorer and less free, and urges the Government to get a grip before it’s too late. It’s a must-read.

Jane Russell’s iconic face would be recognised anywhere. But her incredible life story is less well known. In this fascinating long read, Martin Chilton takes us on her wild journey from Hollywood’s most famous sex symbol to God-fearing Christian.

(If you’d like more culture articles, sign up to our new Culture Headlines newsletter – we’ll send you a personalised selection of the best arts and entertainment stories, picked just for you based on what you read.)

Chris

PS We've extended our brilliant June sale until Sunday. It's an unmissable offer – get three months of full access to our website and app for just 1, saving 85 per cent. You’ll start with a one-month free trial and then pay 50p per month for the next two months. Sign up here.

 
 

My Choices

Holiday destination collage

The countries that could go green, amber and red today. Our measly green list of 11 destinations should be upped to 25, according to the Government’s own criteria.

Laurel Hubbard weightlifter

'The essence of who we are as women is under attack,' writes Allison Pearson, arguing that a line on gender has to be drawn in women sporting events.

Boris Johnson

'Decadent Britain is sleepwalking into a vortex of permanent decline' – Allister Heath makes the case that lockdown has precipitated a pernicious cultural revolution in Britain.

 
German football fans

Germany are favourites, Wembley suits us – what Germans are saying about England: They are confident of spoiling England's party in the Euro 2020 last 16.

Illustration person with letters flying out of mouth

Do pacific mistakes in pronunciation drive you mad? Probly… As a poll identifies our chief linguistic irritants, Christopher Howse reveals his own btes noires. (Free to read)

Jane Russell in The Outlaw

Jane Russell’s wild journey from licentious lust object to ‘conservative Christian bigot’: The formidable star, who would have turned 100 this week, endured typecasting and tragedy. (Free to read)

 
 

What did you think?
Let us know how we're doing using the feedback button below or tweet me @chrisevans1. Although I am unable to respond individually to all the emails I receive, I am grateful to you for sending them to me.

 
 

We hope you enjoyed our newsletter. If you have questions or feedback, please visit our help page. If you have questions about your Telegraph subscription, including delivery issues or technical ones, please visit this page and contact us that way.

If you would like a letter to the Editor published in The Telegraph, email it to dtletters@telegraph.co.uk. Please include name, address, work and home telephone numbers.

 

See more Telegraph newsletters

 

Front Bench  |  Cookbook  |  Cars  |  Good News

 

We have sent you this email because you have either asked us to or because we think it will interest you.

 

Unsubscribe  |  Update your preferences

 

For any other questions, please visit our help page here.

 

Any offers included in this email come with their own Terms and Conditions, which you can see by clicking on the offer link. We may withdraw offers without notice.

 

Telegraph Media Group Limited or its group companies - 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT. Registered in England under No 451593.