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The government has produced a rabbit out of the hat, just as we teeter on the edge of a deal to restore Stormont.

Suddenly, they’ve revealed the fruits of months of secret negotiations with the EU to change the legal text governing the way trade operates in Northern Ireland.

After some speculation that the UK was prepared to rewrite the rules unilaterally, it’s emerged the EU not only knew, but were prepared to throw the UK government a bone in order to assist Rishi Sunak in getting the Northern Ireland Assembly up and running.

Hardline unionists will no doubt say it does not deal with the fundamental, quite existential questions raised by the Windsor Framework likely to play out over the next 20 years.

Nevertheless, the EU has been prepared to extend the range of goods it is content to see going into Northern Ireland without checks.

The change means the EU has agreed to expand the “not at risk” category of stuff that can use the goods Green Lane, which doesn’t require checks.

Supporters are claiming this means Northern Ireland can properly take advantage of free trade agreements struck by post-Brexit Britain.

More on Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland secretary Chris Heaton-Harris says it means a cut to food tariffs to goods like New Zealand lamb and Australian beef.

We shall see.

Critically, politically, it has allowed Sir Jeffrey Donaldson to strike a note of vindication against critics who say the “deal” the DUP has agreed to is meaningless.

“This demonstrates that the naysayers are wrong. There will be legal changes,” he trumpeted on social media.

This is further than many expected, and takes us even closer to a restoration of Stormont which feels closer than it has ever been so far.

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US lawmakers to discuss crypto tax policy amid push to pass three bills

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US lawmakers to discuss crypto tax policy amid push to pass three bills

US lawmakers to discuss crypto tax policy amid push to pass three bills

The hearing notice suggested a focus on a tax framework for digital assets, but did not mention specific witnesses or policies previously proposed.

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Japan’s Gates to tokenize $75M in Tokyo real estate on Oasys blockchain

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Japan’s Gates to tokenize M in Tokyo real estate on Oasys blockchain

Japan’s Gates to tokenize M in Tokyo real estate on Oasys blockchain

Gates Inc. and Oasys’s partnership is one of Japan’s largest real estate tokenization projects, with phase 1 aiming to expand liquidity to $34 billion.

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Why Boris’s best mate is off to Reform

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Why Boris's best mate is off to Reform

👉Listen to Politics at Sam and Anne’s on your podcast app👈       

Former Conservative chairman and friend of Boris Johnson – Sir Jake Berry – is defecting to Reform UK, causing more problems for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.

On today’s episode, Sky News’ Sam Coates and Politico’s Anne McElvoy discuss if his defection will divide parts of Reform policy.

Elsewhere, the Anglo-French summit gets under way, with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer hoping to announce a migration deal with French President Emmanuel Macron to deter small boat crossings.

Plus, chatter around Whitehall that No10 are considering a pre-summer reshuffle, but will it have any value?

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