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Showing posts from November, 2019

UK’s military interventions have fuelled terrorism, says Corbyn

The Labour leader will highlight the radicalising effect of the Iraq war in attacks such as the London Bridge stabbings Britain’s repeated military interventions have “exacerbated rather than resolved” the problem of terrorism, Jeremy Corbyn will warn today. The Labour leader will use a speech to warn that the so-called “war on terror has manifestly failed”, adding that the world is “living with the consequences” of the botched invasion of Iraq, which he opposed. He will say that Britain risks being “tied to Donald Trump’s coat-tails” and US foreign policy under Boris Johnson. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2R8UBZC

Prince Andrew: why meeting with US authorities would be a 'catch-22'

Duke of York said he’s ‘willing to help law enforcement’ with Epstein investigation, but legal experts say it carries risks As the fallout from Prince Andrew’s friendship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein continues, questions have surfaced about whether the royal might face legal trouble. Andrew’s disastrous Newsnight interview on the issue – where he emphatically denied Epstein’s accuser Virginia Giuffre’s claim that she had a sexual encounter with the royal at age 17 – has seen the prince exit public life in disgrace. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2DAo72E

Joe Root ends poor run with ton as England move to within striking distance of New Zealand

Rory Burns also hits century on day three of second Test England move to 269-5 and cut deficit to 106 Joe Root’s 17th Test century and sixth as England captain was his slowest and possibly most determined to date. It might prove to be the most significant too, given the two-year Ashes moonshot he has been talking about of late looked in danger of burning up shortly after take off. The moment came at 4.55pm on the third day in Hamilton and was one that left him mildly embarrassed. New Zealand’s Neil Wagner had thundered in, took the inside edge and the ball flew just past the stumps and over BJ Watling for four. After a quick punch of the air, Root wore a wry smile and put a palm to his face, such are maddeningly fine margins in the sport. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2qSAtAu

Legal storm clouds gather over Rudy Giuliani, America's tarnished mayor

Analysts say an indictment is likely as prosecutors focus on Giuliani’s work for Trump and himself in Ukraine When the former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani emerged as one of Donald Trump’s most bareknuckle defenders during the Russia investigation, attacking his former colleagues in the justice department, people asked: “What happened to Rudy?” Related: Gerrymandering held sway in Michigan – until citizens fought back Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2R3nDtP

The big picture: the fading of hope in post-apartheid South Africa

Gideon Mendel’s powerful, water-damaged image from 1980s Johannesburg speaks to the deterioration of memory In 1990, when the photographer Gideon Mendel left his native South Africa for London, he deposited a number of boxes in his friend’s garage in Johannesburg for safekeeping. These boxes contained, among other things, negatives and transparencies from Mendel’s harrowing first few years as a photojournalist during the struggle against apartheid in the mid-80s. Over the next three decades, Mendel became renowned for his intimate, socially engaged photography, documenting the effects of the HIV/Aids crisis and climate breakdown. For one project, from his Drowning World series, he has gathered nearly 2,000 water-damaged family photographs picked up on his journeys through flooded communities in the US, India and elsewhere. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2szowQz

Sunday with Frances Morris: ‘I love to see how people interact with our galleries’

The Tate director on rest, toast, holidaying in Cork, and visiting galleries as a punter When do you wake up? I’m up between half eight and half nine; there’s no alarm for a change. I stay in bed, indulging in the news and reviews from the weekend’s papers. I pull things out and scribble stuff down. Do you breakfast or brunch? Rarely. I’m always thinking about my weight. Occasionally I’ll go for toast at Stockwell Continental, my go-to place. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2q7vM5f

Johnson ‘will have to call second referendum if he fails to win majority’

With Opinium poll showing his lead narrowing, academics warn PM could need support of minority parties for Brexit deal Boris Johnson could be forced into holding a second referendum on Brexit next summer if he fails to win a majority in the House of Commons but remains as prime minister, according to a new report by academics at University College London. The detailed analysis of how a referendum could be triggered, how long it would take, and how it would work concludes that a second public vote – in which the options would most likely be Johnson’s deal versus remaining in the EU – would be very much on the cards if the Conservatives are denied a majority, or are returned with only a very slender one, on 12 December. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34D84wD

Usman Khan was freed. Then he went on a killing spree. How did this happen?

In the aftermath of the London Bridge terror attack, questions are being raised over a justice system that freed a killer That Usman Khan killed two people having been released from prison under licence for terrorist offences has raised a flurry of urgent questions concerning public safety and prisoner supervision. The most pressing is why Khan, who was jailed in 2012 for his part in an al-Qaida-inspired plot to bomb high-profile locations and build a terrorist training camp in Pakistan, was freed in the first place. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/33xmMUB

I have come to dread looking after my grandchild each week

You should appreciate the value you offer to your own children, says Mariella Frostrup, and reset their weekly expectations The dilemma I have a two-year-old granddaughter who my wife and I love dearly. My son and his partner have jobs and we agreed to care for her one day each week. We have found, to our shame, that we’ve come to dread these days. We both still work freelance and the arrangement frequently interferes with this and other activities. We try to make the day fun, but I find it an exhausting chore . I also feel resentful over silly things, such as the inability of the parents to provide a change of clothes or food, etc. To an extent we feel taken for granted. My instinct is to explain we underestimated the task and suggest a new arrangement . Or we could find a childminder to take our granddaughter for a couple of hours; that, of course, would require permission and would probably not be met with enthusiasm. We want to play a big part in our granddaughter’...

The Leaping Hare, Suffolk: ‘One of the good ones’ - restaurant review

Locals have been loving the Leaping Hare for ages – and it doesn’t put a foot wrong The Leaping Hare, Wyken Vineyards, Stanton, Suffolk IP31 2DW (01359 250 287). Starters £6.95-£9.95, mains £14.95-£29.95, desserts £4.95-£6.95, three-course lunch £22, wines from £22 The good ones have a soundtrack all of their own; a gentle hum of easy, contented chatter, with the occasional clink of cutlery on plate and bottle to glass keeping time. The Leaping Hare at Wyken Vineyards, not far from Bury St Edmunds, is one of the good ones. Outside, on a calm autumn day, a few diners sit at tables, soaking up what feels like the last breath of the year’s warm sunshine, tucked in against the high, foliage-clad walls of the old barn. A herd of sheep and what appear to be a couple of llamas – I’ve never been that great on my camelids – keep the grass short beyond the fence. The air smells sweetly of leaf mulch on the turn. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34Ebdwa

Loud bang heard across London 'caused by supersonic fighter jets'

Typhoon jets apparently scrambled in response to plane that was not answering air traffic control A huge bang heard across London and in Hertfordshire just after 4am on Sunday was caused by RAF jets going supersonic, the Met said. Flight tracking sites showed two Typhoons took off from RAF Coningsby around the time of the noise, apparently as a precautionary response to a plane that was not responding to air traffic control. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2L9Jc8g

World-first mobile phone detection cameras rolled out in Australia

New South Wales hopes to cut fatalities on the state’s roads by a third with devices that operate day and night in all weather New South Wales rolled out mobile phone detection cameras on Sunday, hoping to cut the number of fatalities on its roads by a third over two years, transport authorities said. The world-first mobile phone detection cameras, according to Transport for NSW, which manages the state’s transport services, operate day and night in all weather conditions to determine if a driver is handling a mobile phone. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37SFgm2

Six more countries join Trump-busting Iran barter group

Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Netherlands, Norway and Sweden sign up to Instex mechanism that sidesteps US sanctions Paris, London and Berlin on Saturday welcomed six new European countries to the Instex barter mechanism, which is designed to circumvent US sanctions against trade with Iran by avoiding use of the dollar. “As founding shareholders of the Instrument in Support of Trade Exchanges (Instex), France, Germany and the United Kingdom warmly welcome the decision taken by the governments of Belgium, Denmark, Finland, the Netherlands, Norway and Sweden, to join Instex as shareholders,” the three said in a joint statement. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/33DtiJs

Namibia election: president wins second term despite scandal and recession

Hage Geingob re-elected but ruling party takes hit at the polls, with two-thirds parliamentary majority whittled down Namibia’s president has won another term but the longtime ruling party has lost its powerful two-thirds majority in its most challenging election since independence nearly 30 years ago. The southern African nation’s electoral commission said on Saturday that the president, Hage Geingob, received 56% of the vote while opposition challenger Panduleni Itula had 29%. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35QmrOA

New Zealand begins genetic program to produce low methane-emitting sheep

‘Global first’ project will help tackle climate change by lowering agricultural greenhouse gases The New Zealand livestock industry has begun a “global first” genetic program that would help to tackle climate change by breeding low methane-emitting sheep. There are about six sheep for each person in New Zealand , and the livestock industry accounts for about one-third of the country’s total greenhouse gas emissions. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2DtDx8P

Shenzhen, vaping capital of the world, holds its breath as health concerns spiral

E-cigarette-related deaths in the US and a Beijing directive have China’s manufacturing sector on tenterhooks Online e-cigarette sales looked like a promising industry for Edwin Wong when he started his venture a year ago. The 34-year-old had studied Shenzhen’s businesses and products since 2012, and saw a sure bet. Soon, he had developed a loyal base of more than 600 repeat customers and business was steady. But suddenly, everything changed. Overnight his 2.2m yuan (£240,000) investment in a startup, called KiwiPod, disappeared. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2R7lvB2

EasyJet dreams of promotion to the FTSE 100 premier league

As the blue chip index reshuffles this week, other firms are braced for a familiar fight against relegation “There is no disgrace in Watford being a yo-yo club between the top two divisions, because sometimes they can be a yo, if you know what I mean.” Those are words from 2000 attributed to the late former England and Watford football manager Graham Taylor, whose tactical innovations memorably included bypassing both central midfield players and the usual conventions of English diction. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37VU2Z5

Tackling climate crisis is what we should be doing, says new IMF boss

In an exclusive interview, Kristalina Georgieva tells why global heating is as big a threat to economic stability as another financial crash Kristalina Georgieva is very keen to talk about the research one of her International Monetary Fund economists is doing. Surprisingly, this is not about any of the issues that have gripped the organisation in the past 75 years: balance of payments crises or global recessions. It is about whales and the part they play in the fight against climate change. “Whales act like giant pumps,” says Georgieva, noting that in its lifetime each of these mammals sequesters 33 tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while an average tree absorbs about 20kg a year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37Ugh1u

Essex lorry deaths: last of bodies returned to Vietnam

Remains of 23 victims arrive in Hanoi following repatriation of further 16 to their hometowns days earlier The remains of the last 23 of 39 Vietnamese people found dead in a lorry near London in October have been brought to Vietnam. The remains of the 23 victims arrived at Noi Bai airport in Hanoi early on Saturday, a local government official said. Seven of the bodies were cremated in Britain before being repatriated, said the official Vietnam News Agency. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37MTwfX

Best books of 2019

Need help with what to read or gift this Christmas? Our critics pick the best novels, poetry, sports, memoirs and children’s books of the year Bernardine Evaristo, Lee Child and more pick their favourites Save up to 30% on the books of the year at guardianbookshop.com It has been a year of doubles: two Nobel laureates, two Booker winners, even two Ian McEwan books. Guardian fiction editor Justine Jordan on the celebrated and overlooked books of the year, including some exceptional US novels, extraordinary translations and great short stories. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34BlU2z

Jennifer Hudson: 'How do you be a cat? I sat with that for ever'

The Cats star was the only choice to sing Memory in the new film. She talks about lucky breaks, her 26 siblings – and the family tragedy that haunts her T he trailer for Cats was truly the gift of the summer, one which many of us have struggled to scrub from our minds. In Tom Hooper ’s forthcoming version, Jennifer Hudson plays Grizabella, the shabby outcast Cat who stops the show with her rendition of Memory, alongside a cast that plays like the kind of dream you have when you’ve eaten too much cheese before bed: Ian McKellen, Judi Dench, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson and Idris Elba, all dancing around with digitised facial prosthetics against a not-to-scale, old‑timey London, the most disturbing aspect of which is not even that the female cats have furry boobs. But Hudson is at the heart of the film, bellowing her little heart out and looking as if she is about to go the full Joan Crawford and take a bite from the furniture. “I think that’s the cool thing,” she says with scrupulous...

New Zealand take control of second Test on day two in Hamilton | Ali Martin

England 39-2; New Zealand 375 Barney Ronay: It’s time to admit that Joe Root should not be England’s Test captain Stuart Broad spoke of his respect for New Zealand’s attack after another day on tour that witnessed English toil in the field followed by the late clatter of English wickets in the evening session. When Joe Root and Rory Burns (somehow) walked off at the close on day two the tourists sat on 39 for two in reply to the home side’s 375 all out after tea. Dom Sibley had endured a torrid time amid a 20-ball four, before Joe Denly nicked off for the same. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/33urceV

George the Poet: 'If I accepted an MBE, what would my descendants think?'

The poet, rapper and podcaster says he rejected an MBE as the British Empire’s actions were ‘pure evil’ When George the Poet turned down an MBE , he joined a long tradition of cultural figures who refused the honour because of the British empire’s legacy. Howard Gayle, Liverpool’s first black footballer, declined becoming a Member of the British Empire in 2016, saying: “My ancestors would be turning in their graves after how empire and colonialism had enslaved them”. In 1977, Ken Loach said he couldn’t accept because the British empire was a “ monument of exploitation and conquest ”. Benjamin Zephaniah went for the pithy “ No way Mr Blair, no way Mrs Queen. I am profoundly anti-empire ” when he was offered an OBE in 2003. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34JRLhX

'Becoming a carer for my father has been financially disastrous'

Terry Kirton, 50, on how he quit his job as a nurse but still manages to volunteer for St John Ambulance Name: Terry Kirton Age: 50 Income: £5,450 a year: carer’s allowance £264.60 a month, income support - £87.60 every fortnight Occupation: full-time carer, Monmouth About five years ago I quit my job as a general nurse in a private hospital in London to become a full-time carer for my dad. I’d called him up for a chat and he didn’t sound himself. Usually, he’d be upbeat and tell a joke but he seemed down and I thought I’d better pop back to see him at home in Wales. The person I saw wasn’t the dad I once knew; he was a frightened, frail 92-year-old who wasn’t coping. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2DyYtLm

A letter to… all my mothers

Mum, you’re irreplaceable – but the other women in my life are doing a pretty good job: the letter you always wanted to write To my mum: I was 12 when you died, and now, looking down the barrel of my 30th birthday, I realise more than ever how unfair it was on everyone that you were gone before your 39th birthday. I’ve had far more time without you than with you, but not a day goes by when I don’t think of you. I know so little about you as a woman in your own right: all of my memories are through a child’s eye, or are second-hand stories passed on. I hope you would have approved of the way I’ve turned out. I hope you approve, too, of the women I’ve used to fill my mum void. You’re irreplaceable, of course, but they’re doing a pretty good job. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Oy06zf

For Clive James, a sense of humour was just good manners

An exemplary critic, Clive laughed hard at himself and embraced his readers in their common failings Clive James never failed to get a joke. Or to go on to make a better one. This wasn’t because he was overly competitive: rather, like Dr Johnson, whom he often quoted, he believed that conversation obliged us to keep the ball in the air. People lacking the grace that is a sense of humour also lacked common sense, he once told Martin Amis. “A sense of humour,” he went on, “is nothing but common-sense dancing.” Since he loved the tango – perhaps because it, too, is conversation – it is hard not to put a picture to this. Only his was more than a common sense: it was a most uncommon genius for expressing subtle thought in the language of men speaking to men. The word for this isn’t populism: for him it was, as a matter of principle, intellectual good manners. Manners mattered to him. His talk was never coarse. Many years ago, at a dinner table, he told the woman sitting opposite him that ...

Jeffrey Epstein is dead but sex criminal's legal legacy may have years to run

The financier’s associates, such as Prince Andrew and Ghislaine Maxwell, and his victims are unlikely to see closure any time soon The legal fallout from Jeffrey Epstein’s arrest for sex trafficking and subsequent suicide in jail is likely to go on for years, ensuring that those caught up in the saga – like Prince Andrew – will face scrutiny and negative headlines for years to come. Federal authorities in the US have repeatedly said that the investigation into the sex trafficking case is ongoing, raising the prospect of a lengthy multi-pronged and international inquiry into the wealthy financier’s jet-set lifestyle. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2OxnAEW

Suriname president guilty of murder over 1982 executions

Desi Bouterse found guilty by military court over abduction and murder of 15 government critics in wake of coup A court in Suriname has convicted the country’s president, Desi Bouterse, of murder for the execution of 15 opponents in 1982 following a coup. The man who has dominated the former Dutch colony’s recent history was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Opposition parties called for the resignation of Bouterse, who was in China on an official visit when the sentence was handed down on Friday. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35JU6JJ

Trump to face protests by NHS staff when he arrives in London

US president’s visit to UK for Nato summit making Tories nervous about what he may say Donald Trump arrives in London next week for a two-day Nato summit which will see him greeted on Tuesday evening by doctors, nurses and other NHS workers leading a protest of tens of thousands outside Buckingham Palace. The protesters – aiming to highlight potential risks to the NHS in a future US-UK trade deal – will march from Trafalgar Square up the Mall, and gather at Canada Gate when Trump and other Nato leaders meet the Queen at a 6pm drinks reception. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35HiBHk

The view from Stevenage: 'Even the union rep says he isn't voting Labour'

My hometown has never completely abandoned Labour, but the ties have frayed David (not his real name) is a diehard socialist who finds himself increasingly exasperated with the working class. A manual labourer in Stevenage, he has argued himself hoarse trying to persuade his workmates that Labour in general, and Jeremy Corbyn in particular, can make their lives better. “I talk about things that are directly relevant, like council housing or privatisation,” says David, who is in his 30s and works in the public sector. “I tell them if the Tories win we could be privatised. We’ll be working longer hours for less money. But they don’t care. They just talk about immigrants bringing down wages and how Boris will get rid of them after he’s got Brexit done. I’ve stopped bothering,” he says. “Even the union rep says he’s not voting Labour this time. I just put in my earphones and get on with it.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2rEwxTM

'Parenting here means checking the ingredients of teargas': my return to Hong Kong

Emma-Lee Moss, who makes music as Emmy the Great, on life, new motherhood and her divided birthplace It feels as if the entire world’s press is there, standing on the pavement outside the Foreign Correspondents’ Club. They’re in Hong Kong to cover the protests, but tonight, the Friday before National Day, they’re off duty. From the bottom of the hill, the bars of Lan Kwai Fong thrum reliably. There is an uneasy peace in the air, as though we all know that, three days from now, the long-running citywide demonstrations will reach a violent new apex. I’ve walked this route hundreds of times, and been a parade of different selves. I’ve been a teenager trying to score 7-11 beer on the spot where Chungking Express was filmed. I’ve been a visiting writer ordering drinks at the FCC bar. But now I am the mother and primary carer of a nine-month-old, and my time out has been negotiated. Quite frankly, I am dazzled by the world after 7pm. As I shuffle past the media crowd, I feel a pull, a year...

Blind date: ‘She had already ordered a drink when I arrived, which is class’

Georgie, 28, physiotherapist, meets Sam, 29, aviation security manager What were you hoping for? A fun evening, to meet someone interesting and see what happens. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2L8BtqR

Goodbye Leia: Carrie Fisher's journey from film star to 'savage' writer

In an extract from her biography, Sheila Heller recounts how the actor’s confessional writing broke the Hollywood mold In the early spring of 1985, Carrie Fisher suffered an overdose of tranquilizers and was rushed to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center by two friends, one a doctor, David Kipper, and one a writer, Carol Caldwell; they pumped her stomach and saved her life. Her brush with death led to subsequent time spent in rehab – and a very earnest 11-month-long hewing to Alcoholics Anonymous sobriety. During this time she decided to write a book inspired by the incident – and by her complex relationship with her mother, Debbie Reynolds. She named that book Postcards From the Edge. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Y29qPd

Red Cross criticises UK for stripping Isis recruits of citizenship

Humanitarian organisation says policy is not helping bring clarity or peace to Syria The head of the international Red Cross has sharply criticised Britain’s policy of stripping the citizenship of people held in Syria after the fall of Islamic State, saying it is “not conducive” to long-term peace in the region. Related: Rescue of all 60 children of the ‘caliphate’ urged as winter nears Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2R0hSwZ

'Mystery solved': owner of boat washed up in Ireland found in Canada

Environmentalist Rick Small says he gave away boat now on display in community garden in Ireland The wooden houseboat washed ashore on Ireland ’s Atlantic coast three years ago, prompting two questions: how did it get there? And where was Rick Small? The 20ft (6-metre) craft, made with driftwood and polystyrene and fitted with solar panels, had no one at the helm when it turned up at Drum beach , near Belmullet in County Mayo, in November 2016. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Dxb8hX

Keiko Fujimori: Peru opposition leader walks free from jail

Rightwing leader imprisoned for more than a year pending corruption trial says release corrects a ‘process full of abuse and arbitrariness’ The Peruvian opposition leader Keiko Fujimori has walked free after being jailed for more than a year pending a trial over allegations she accepted illegal campaign contributions from the Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht. Fujimori, leader of the powerful rightwing Popular Force party, left prison in the Chorrillos district of the capital, Lima, according to a Reuters witness at the scene, where hundreds of supporters gathered outside in anticipation of her release. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2L98RxJ

Saving the Whanganui: can personhood rescue a river?

The Guardian travelled the length of the Whanganui in New Zealand to investigate whether new legal protections will make a difference Adam Daniel wades waist deep through the glassy water. Pumice stones spiral in the shallow eddy, while the shrill whistles of a male whio (blue duck) echo upstream through the green canyon walls. The mountain stream’s deep current slows around a lone tree standing on a small rocky island before rushing toward the sea. Like a doctor, Daniel spends the morning checking the pulse of the river’s upper arteries, taking temperature readings and drawing water samples to diagnose its vitality. Thirty kilometres to his south-east, the Whanganui River’s pristine headwaters begin in the internationally renowned Tongariro National Park, on the western flanks of three cone volcanoes, Ruapehu, Tongariro and Ngauruhoe. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2R3cHwg

Usman Khan attack at London Bridge: what we know so far

Convicted terrorist released on licence was shot dead after carrying out fatal stabbings Two people, one man and one woman, died after being stabbed in an attack that started at Fishmongers’ Hall during a conference about rehabilitating offenders. Two women and one man were injured and taken to hospital. The suspect was shot dead by police on London Bridge, about 2pm. He has been identified as Usman Khan , a 28-year-old man who was jailed for terrorism offences in 2012 after pleading guilty to involvement in the 2010 Stock Exchange plot. He was arrested in December 2010 and released on licence (parole) in December 2018 , wearing an electronic tag. He had reportedly been invited to attend the Learning Together conference . Related: London Bridge: attacker was al-Qaida inspired extremist jailed for bomb plot Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2swd0W7

London Bridge: attacker was al-Qaida inspired extremist jailed for bomb plot

Usman Khan shot dead by police while wearing fake suicide vest Man and woman killed in attack on Friday, three others injured Police searching Staffordshire address connected to Khan London Bridge attack: follow the latest developments A man and a woman were killed after a terror attack was carried out in London by an al-Qaida-inspired Islamist extremist who had recently been released from prison on licence. Scotland Yard are investigating how 28-year-old Usman Khan was able to launch the attack in London Bridge on Friday, despite being known to the authorities. He was allowed out a year ago, after serving time for his part in a plot to blow up the London Stock Exchange . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2OTW3fP

UK rail fares to rise 2.7% in January

Labour says latest above-inflation rise means fares have risen at double the rate of wages over a decade Rail fares in Britain across the board will rise by an average of 2.7% in January, train operators have announced. Confirmation of the above-inflation fare increase was met with dismay by campaigners and passenger groups. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2q8lIJo

Clutha helicopter crash: victims’ spouses call for fresh inquiry

Families of officers killed in Glasgow incident express ‘deep concerns and frustrations’ The spouses of the two police officers who died when their helicopter crashed into the Clutha bar in Glasgow six years ago have made public their “deep concerns and frustrations” with the findings of a fatal accident inquiry which blamed the crash on pilot error. The crash on the night of Friday 29 November 2013, killed the pilot, CaptDavid Traill, and police constables Tony Collins and Kirsty Nelis, along with seven customers of the bar, injuring 31 more. Last month, a fatal accident inquiry concluded that Traill had decided to ignore low fuel warnings. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Y1mu7s

Black Friday sales are fueling fashion’s dark side | Eva Kruse

We are producing and consuming fashion at a rate like never before – and mass shopping sales are simply fanning the flames This morning I opened my inbox to find reams of emails – mid-season sale , 50% off , exclusive offer – enticing me to grab the best deal while it lasts. When we’re barraged by messages from the fashion industry to buy more, it’s hard to resist – and I have easily succumbed to these temptations in the past. Related: Millions set for Thanksgiving disruption as storms sweep across US Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/33vmcXJ

'Can't let Corbyn in': Brexit and NHS top concerns in Morecambe

Town was hit hard by Tory-led austerity but is by no means a shoo-in for Labour Getting a GP appointment these days can often feel like a war of attrition, and the residents of Morecambe and Lunesdale feel they are fighting a harder battle than most. Ninety thousand people live in this Lancastrian coastal constituency and 53,839 of them are registered at the same mega-practice. Sometimes, when they have been on hold for more than half an hour trying to get through to the Bay Medical Group’s single telephone number, it can feel as though they have 53,838 rivals in the queue ahead of them. They compete to be seen by the equivalent of 20 full-time doctors since four clinics merged in 2016 amid a hiring crisis. The practice is still three GPs down, despite releasing a slick recruitment video featuring drone footage of Morecambe Bay and the nearby Lake District, with doctors extolling the joys of living in such a beautiful part of the world. Continue reading... from The Guardian http...

‘It’s personal here': southern Iraq ablaze

Anger at those perceived to have profited since the defeat of Isis has fuelled sectarian resentment In the southern Iraqi town of al-Shatrah, after canal-side cafes have shed the last of their customers and demonstrators occupying the central market square have dispersed to their homes, an eerie howl from a brass trumpet breaks the uneasy silence. This is the signal for a group of young men to re-congregate for a night of personal and targeted action: burning the homes of local officials, politicians and militia leaders. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35HUEQ9

The Boy in the Dress review – Robbie Williams has a ball with David Walliams

Royal Shakespeare theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon A resplendent cast sing the praises of self-expression in Mark Ravenhill’s adaptation of the feelgood football novel The boy who defies tribal expectations is becoming a recurrent theme in the British musical. First came Billy Elliot , then Everybody’s Talking About Jamie , and now the RSC gives us a show based on David Walliams’ 2008 best seller , adapted by Mark Ravenhill, with music and lyrics by Robbie Williams, Guy Chambers and Chris Heath. The result is a cheerful, tuneful celebration of the desire to be different that could easily replicate the popularity of its predecessors. Walliams-watchers will hardly need to be reminded of the story. It focuses on the 12-year-old Dennis, who is star striker in the school football team but whose life changes when he covertly buys a copy of Vogue. His purchase is prompted by the cover shot of a woman who reminds him of his mum, who has left home. Dennis’s fascination with fashion starts a fri...

MEPs to send urgent mission to Malta over Caruana Galizia case

EU parliament team will examine rule of law as crisis embroils Muscat government The European parliament is sending an “urgent mission” to Malta after police investigating the murder of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia questioned key figures in Joseph Muscat’s government. With the police investigation now reaching deep into the government, the European parliament agreed on Thursday to task a “fact-finding” delegation of MEPs with examining the state of the rule of law. The Maltese president, George Vella, has postponed this week’s planned visit to the UK to deal with the crisis. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34xvjIr

'I'm not Māori': Air New Zealand teases customer with te reo answers

Customer asks for English translation about one of the national carrier’s airport lounges Air New Zealand has engaged in a provocative Twitter exchange with a customer who was disgruntled with the company’s use of te reo Māori. Māori is one of New Zealand’s three official languages and currently experiencing a revival in popularity and usage , with long waiting lists for te reo classes around the country. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Otrb6U

Thousands in Hong Kong praise Trump with 'Thanksgiving' rally as more protests loom

‘We really appreciate the effort made by Americans,’ says one protester, as city braces for another weekend of protest Thousands of protesters in Hong Kong, some draped in American flags, have staged a “Thanksgiving” rally in the heart of the city after the approval by Donald Trump of human rights legislation aimed at protecting them. “The rationale for us having this rally is to show our gratitude and thank the US Congress and also president Trump for passing the bill,” said 23-year-old Sunny Cheung, a member of the student group that lobbied for the legislation. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37QbU7F

Families living in tree huts as New Zealand housing crisis bites

A 30% rise in people waiting for state housing in Northland region fuels country’s ‘desperate’ shortage in affordable homes New Zealand government MPs have heard that the housing situation in Northland has become so desperate some families are living in the woods, in huts built in the forks of trees. Northland is one of the most deprived regions of the country, with a median income of NZ$23,400. The population is also 32% Māori – double that of the rest of the country. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2DsODuJ

How do you respond to a stranger when you remind them of their dead relative? | Brigid Delaney

Her eyes are swimming in tears. I wish I had responded with a bit more grace or given her a hug A few days ago I’m sitting in a train going down the coast. I can feel eyes on me. It’s the woman sitting in the seat across the aisle. I assume she’s staring past me to look out my window, but after a while I clock she’s staring at me. It’s the sort of stare you can feel. I write in my journal for a bit, check Twitter, look out the window. Eventually she speaks. She asks my name then says, “I can’t stop staring at you. Even your mannerisms. You look so familiar.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/33uNDAS

The alarming rise of the rough sex defence

Too many women’s lives are ending after what those accused of their deaths say were ‘sex games gone wrong’. Anna Moore looks at why strangling has become so normalised. And: Helen Pidd looks back on the general election week Since December 2018, a group of women have attempted to gather stories of use of the “sex games gone wrong” defence in cases where women have died. The result is the website We Can’t Consent to This . In the past decade, such killings have risen by 90%. Two-thirds involve strangulation. The Guardian journalist Anna Moore tells Rachel Humphreys why choking during sex is on the rise. Numerous studies have shown that non-fatal strangulation is one of the highest markers for future homicide, which is why Australia, New Zealand, Canada and most US states have developed preventive legislation to strengthen police, prosecutorial and sentencing policies that surround it. Yet in the UK, it can fall under battery, the mildest assault possible. But led by Harriet Harman, ...

Brad Gobright, renowned US rock climber, dies after fall in Mexico

The American was abseiling down El Potrero Chico near Monterrey when he plunged about 300m to his death One of the world’s most renowned rock climbers, the American Brad Gobright, has died after falling off a mountain in Mexico. The fall occurred on Wednesday on an almost sheer face known as Sendero Luminoso on the El Potrero Chico peak near the northern city of Monterrey, civil defense officials said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2L5lOZz

New world news from Time: ‘Stop Overproduction!’ French Climate Activists and Lawmakers Want to Ban Black Friday

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(PARIS) — Dozens of French activists blocked an Amazon warehouse south of Paris in a Black Friday-inspired protest, amid increased opposition to the post-Thanksgiving sales phenomenon that has seen a group of French lawmakers push to ban it altogether. Protesters from climate group Amis de la terre (Friends of the Earth) spread hay and old refrigerators and microwaves on the driveway leading to the warehouse in Bretigny-sur-Orge on Thursday. They held signs in front of the gates reading “Amazon: For the climate, for jobs, stop expansion, stop over-production!” The activists were later dislodged by police. More demonstrations are expected as Black Friday looms into view. French climate groups are planning “Block Friday” demonstrations Friday. Their objections are garnering some support within France’s National Assembly. Some French lawmakers want to ban Black Friday, which has morphed into a global phenomenon even though it stems from a specifically U.S. holiday: Thanksgivi...

New world news from Time: Forty Iraqi Protesters Slain in 24 Hours as Violence Spirals

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(BAGHDAD) — Security forces shot dead 40 anti-government protesters during 24 hours of bloodshed amid spiraling violence in the capital and Iraq’s south, security and medical officials said Thursday, one day after an Iranian consulate was torched. Iran condemned the burning of its consulate in the holy city of Najaf as violence continued into the night across southern Iraq, where security forces had killed 36 protesters and wounded 245 since Wednesday evening, the officials said. Another four protesters were shot dead in the capital. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity in line with regulations. Police and military forces were deployed across key oil-rich provinces to re-open roads closed off by demonstrations. The escalating violence and heavy response against demonstrators by a largely Iran-backed government threatened to intensify tensions, especially if efforts to implement electoral and anti-corruption reforms fail to placate protesters. Crisis committees ...

Iraq in turmoil as 45 shot dead by security forces in protests

Deaths follow torching of Iran’s consulate in a challenge to Tehran’s power and influence on its neighbour Iraqi security forces have shot dead at least 45 protesters after demonstrators stormed and torched an Iranian consulate in Najaf, in what could mark a turning point in the uprising against the Tehran-backed authorities. At least 29 people died in the southern city of Nassiriya when troops opened fire on demonstrators who blocked a bridge before dawn on Thursday and later gathered outside a police station. Police and medical sources said dozens of others were wounded. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2XURV36

Who won the general election climate debate?

Corbyn and Berry best informed on issues as leaders battled to top each others’ commitments Full coverage of the TV debate – as it happened Sign up for Andrew Sparrow’s daily election briefing With Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage refusing to take part, Channel 4’s climate debate was a pretty straightforward affair, with the leaders of the Greens, Labour, Plaid Cymru, Scottish National party and Liberal Democrats competing to outdo each other on climate promises, rather than attacking anyone’s record. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37MuBt3

Daphne Caruana Galizia murder: prime minister's aide released

Maltese police say they conducted ‘intensive investigation’ into claim Keith Schembri was behind killing Police investigating the murder of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia have released the prime minister’s closest aide following an “intensive investigation” into allegations that he was the mastermind behind the killing. Keith Schembri was arrested on Tuesday , just after resigning as head of the office of prime minister Joseph Muscat, following allegations made by a prominent businessman who is seeking immunity from prosecution in exchange for providing evidence that could solve the case. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37Lt4mR

Ex-MP Harvey Proctor wins payout from Met over false child abuse allegations

Legal battle came after former politician implicated in disastrous Operation Midland investigation The former Conservative MP Harvey Proctor has agreed a settlement with Scotland Yard after being subject to false accusations of child abuse and murder, with reports putting the figure he is due to receive at £900,000. Proctor, whose home was raided as part of the disastrous Operation Midland investigation following fictitious claims made by fantasist Carl Beech, is to receive £500,000 in compensation from the Metropolitan police plus nearly £400,000 towards his legal costs, according to the Daily Mail. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2R2Oeai

2019 British Ecological Society photography competition winners

Winning images will be exhibited at the society’s annual conference in Belfast next month Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37LjmRB

Waterstones chooses books of the year 'for a better, kinder world'

Greta Thunberg’s speeches and surprise hit The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse have together defined 2019, say booksellers With the UK in the throes of a divisive election campaign and scientists warning that we are in a “planetary emergency” , Waterstones has chosen two titles that “call for a better and kinder world” as its books of the year. After nominations from staff, a panel at the country’s largest book chain picked Charlie Mackesy’s illustrated call for love, friendship and kindness, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, as book of the year, and Greta Thunberg, author of No One Is Too Small to Make a Difference, as author of the year. Both choices, said bookseller Kate McHale, are “testament to the extraordinary power of books to move and shape us”. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2L48bcT

Poor careers advice at university hits minority students hardest

It’s time for universities to start an honest discussion on race and the role of careers services When black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) students come to my careers consultancy, it means they haven’t been hearing the right things from their uni. One student told me he didn’t feel his white careers advisors could relate to his experience of life as a young black male. They couldn’t quite grasp why he struggled with being assertive on paper and in interviews, which he said was a result of adapting in order to come across as likeable and counteract the aggressive black male stereotype. Others have said they felt prejudged when it came to the types of jobs or institutions they should apply for. A student described being directed towards less prestigious jobs: they were told to be more “realistic”, and got the impression that advisers didn’t have high expectations of BAME students. Some also reported a lack of industry advice on the importance of networking and work experience. Con...

UK should contribute £20bn to UN climate fund by 2030, report says

IPPR says UK should shoulder burden due to major historical contribution to rising carbon emissions The UK contribution to the UN’s climate fund should balloon to £20bn by 2030 if it plans to pay a “fair share” to helping tackle the global climate crisis, according to new research. A report from the IPPR thinktank says the UK should “shoulder more of the burden” of the global climate crisis because of its major contribution to the world’s rising carbon emissions. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2L1jDpC

One in four children 'have problematic smartphone use'

Research suggests behaviour could be linked to poorer mental health but further studies needed One in four children and young people could have problematic smartphone use, according to research that also suggests such behaviour is associated with poorer mental health. The amount of time children and teens spend using their devices has become an issue of growing concern, but experts say there is still little evidence as to whether spending time on screens is harmful in itself. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34ykvd6

Messy handwriting reveals mystery translator: Queen Elizabeth I

Researcher at Lambeth Palace follows ‘usefully messy’ fragment of Roman history to its royal source The appalling handwriting gave the game away. An academic has identified the anonymous 16th-century author of a translation of Tacitus: Queen Elizabeth I. Kept in Lambeth Palace’s library since the 17th century, the manuscript was identified by John-Mark Philo, an honorary fellow in English studies at the University of East Anglia, while he was researching manuscript translations of the Roman historian. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2soSwhT

I'm now the oldest person at the rock concert – should I be worried? | Adrian Chiles

My engineer and I were the oldest by far at a crowded student gig, watching Scouting for Girls play live, warm lager in hand. I’m not sure what gave us away … I had some funny experiences last week in Norwich, where I was working on Radio 5 Live’s election coverage. In a coffee shop on the square, I met Colin, a revolutionary socialist. I asked Colin, who to my mind looked a little like Lenin, what he made of the election manifestos. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2KY1Yiz

New world news from Time: Trump Signs Legislation to Protect Human Rights in Hong Kong Amid Ongoing Protests

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President Donald Trump has signed a bill aimed at protecting human rights in Hong Kong following its swift passage through Congress last week—a move likely to further complicate trade negotiations with Beijing, which has already warned of retribution. In a White House statement released Wednesday, Trump said he approved the Hong Kong Human Rights and Democracy Act “out of respect for President Xi, China, and the people of Hong Kong,” and hoped it would allow leaders in mainland China and Hong Kong to “amicably settle their differences.” Anti-government protests demanding greater autonomy from Beijing have roiled the city for close to six months. The law, proposed when the protests broke out in June, will require the State Department to annually assess whether Hong Kong retains sufficient political autonomy to continue to qualify for favorable trading terms with Washington. If not, it could lose its special trade status and thus find its exports subject to the same tari...

London tops list of world's most vegan-friendly cities

The capital is home to 125 fully vegan restaurants, including a plant-based take on a chicken shop, sushi bar and pizzerias London has been named the most vegan-friendly city in the world for the second year running by online vegan restaurant guide Happy Cow. Berlin, New York and Los Angeles also rank high in the 2019 list – with Bangkok in the top 10 for the first time. Home to 125 vegan restaurants – including eateries serving plant-based takes on fried chicken, sushi and pizza – London’s meat-free scene has gone mainstream in recent years. In 2017 it was the first city on the Happy Cow list to reach 100 completely vegan restaurants – perhaps not surprising for a city with its own vegan hair salon. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37JputF

Thursday briefing: Political climate too hot for Johnson?

Tory leader and Nigel Farage shy from leaders’ debate on crisis … Labour drives home ‘proof Tories would sell NHS’ … record uni entrance figures Good morning, we’re now exactly two weeks out from the vote. Today the climate crisis is high on the agenda – Labour will unveil its environment policies, there is the leaders’ TV climate debate tonight, and all of this comes after a warning from scientists that the world may already have crossed a series of tipping points meaning “we are in a state of planetary emergency”. Make sure to keep on top of politics at our live blog . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2Oszxf6

Johnson accused of racial stereotyping with view on Nigerians

Exclusive: prime minister made comment on people’s ‘interest in money’ in a Spectator column Boris Johnson has been accused of pushing racial stereotypes over a newly-unearthed column written during his time as editor of the Spectator in which he said young people had “an almost Nigerian interest in money”. The prime minister has been under pressure in recent months over a series of comments he made during his career as a columnist, writer and editor, including referring to black people as “piccaninnies ” with “watermelon smiles” and arguing Islam has caused the Muslim world to be “literally centuries behind” the west . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35IjYFP

Corbyn nationalisation plans for energy sector to collide with EU law

Lawyers say energy treaty among those that could greatly increase costs of Labour pledge The Labour party’s plans to take large parts of the energy industry back under public control is on a collision course with EU laws that guard Europe-owned companies against government takeovers. The EU rules mean a Labour administration could face rising costs or a legal battle in European courts over plans to pay a discount to nationalise energy networks and the big six energy suppliers . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2shsnBw

Nicole Scherzinger: ‘I was living in a very dark world – either working or tormenting myself’

The Pussycat Dolls are back, and their main singer is determined to enjoy it. She discusses body image, online abuse, success and Simon Cowell “It takes a lot for Nicole Scherzinger to burn out,” says Nicole Scherzinger, X Factor judge, Broadway singer, Pussycat Doll, and celebrity face of yoghurt; and I believe her. “In the past I’ve said you can never work too much.” We are at the Rosewood hotel in Holborn, London, picking up where we left off a few days ago, when our interview had ended after half an hour due to a meeting being brought forward. Scherzinger had only just returned to London from presenting at the MTV Europe music awards in Spain the previous night. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35KZFY7

How has Brexit vote affected UK economy? November verdict

Each month we look at key indicators to see what effect the Brexit process has had on growth, prosperity and trade Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2L1CK34

Tories and Labour would both struggle to stay in borrowing limits – thinktank

Two main parties on track to break their own spending rules, says Resolution Foundation Boris Johnson’s election spending pledges have left a Conservative-led administration with a slender chance of staying within its borrowing limits if it returns to power, according to a leading thinktank. The extra costs of employing 50,000 more nurses and increasing the national insurance personal threshold to £9,500 would leave the “smallest headroom any chancellor has had” against a government borrowing rule, the Resolution Foundation said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35ERVa7

Can the radical left win power in the UK? The world is watching | Aditya Chakrabortty

This political moment began in Spain, Greece and the Occupy movements. A Labour victory would resonate globally From this point in the coverage of an election, everything shrinks into minutiae. Whose campaign bus is hurtling into what marginal? Which niche of voters is being wooed by the small print on that policy? Whose poll lead is getting squeezed? What fun it is to play trivial pursuits! Yet it jars a little in this election, because this one bears such significance. Not just for the next five years, not only over Brexit and not solely in the UK. This election puts Britain at the frontline of the international political battle of our time. The votes we cast on 12 December will shape the answer to two questions of far-reaching importance. The first is whether the new hard right can be beaten: whether our democracies can put a halt to the forces represented here by Boris Johnson, or around the world by Donald Trump, Matteo Salvini and Narendra Modi , to name just a few. If we canno...

Harry Dunn's family starts legal action against Foreign Office

Teenager’s parents say diplomatic immunity for woman allegedly involved in accident was ‘wrong in law’ The family of teenage motorcyclist Harry Dunn have launched a legal action against the Foreign Office which they said could cost them “upwards of £50,000”. The 19-year-old’s parents submitted a judicial review against the foreign secretary, Dominic Raab, on Wednesday following a long-running dispute over the extension of diplomatic immunity to intelligence staff and their families at RAF Croughton. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2QXftTC

'99 problems but my ABCs ain’t one': Jay-Z sues Australian woman over lyrics in children’s books

US rapper accuses Jessica Chiha and her online retailer The Little Homie of knowingly infringing on his trademarks An Australian woman says she’ll fight US rapper Jay-Z’s copyright lawsuit because she thinks she should be able to use the Grammy winner’s name and lyrics to sell children’s books. Jessica Chiha and her business The Little Homie are being sued in the federal court by the US billionaire, legally named Shawn Carter, who accuses them of knowingly infringing on his trademarks and misleading conduct. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35FrHV6

South Korea to shut a quarter of its coal-fired plants over winter to cut pollution

Plants will close during coldest months in a bid to reduce high levels of fine dust particles South Korea will temporarily shut down up to a quarter of its coal-fired power plants next month in an attempt to combat dangerously high levels of fine dust pollution. The country’s energy ministry said 14 plants would be idled between December and February, and as many as 27 in March, but added that the closures would not affect energy supplies during the coldest months of the year. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34ueQon

'When did we become this cruel?' Poverty looms large for Norwich voters

Brexit and climate don’t appear to be as decisive as billed in an anxious constituency At first glance, Norwich North might offer a neat test of how environmental issues will shape this election. Norwich, “a fine city” as its signs declare, is a green place. The Greens are the second-largest party after Labour on the city council . Global heating imperils the Norfolk coast 15 miles away. Norwich South is held by Clive Lewis, the Labour MP who drew up the green new deal bill with Caroline Lucas. But first glances and neat ideas do not apply to contemporary politics. Or Norwich North. The climate crisis and environmental issues are only a distant concern, and only when voters are prompted. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37KhBUM

Labour unveils plan to plant 2bn trees in next 20 years

Party also pledges to create 10 new national parks and fund restoration of habitats Labour has announced plan to plant 2bn trees over the next 20 years and create 10 new national parks, as part of a rewilding policy intended to tackle the climate emergency and help natural habitats. The proposals also include an investment of £1.2bn to restore habitats such as woodlands and peat bogs in England, and extra funding for national park authorities. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2KXOJyn

Dominic Cummings tells Brexiters: election is tighter than it looks

No 10 adviser issues ‘bat signal’ asking Vote Leave supporters to persuade friends to vote Tory General election latest – live news Boris Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings has told Brexit supporters that the general election is “much tighter” than polls might suggest and urged them to persuade their friends to vote Tory. Cummings has worked closely alongside Johnson from the moment he entered No 10, though he has taken a back seat during the election campaign. With little more than a fortnight to go until polling day, he used his blog to send up what he called a “bat signal” to Vote Leave supporters, warning them Brexit is at risk. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/37J3sqP

'Bless this referendum': Bougainville votes and prays for independence

Celebrations as voting begins to decide whether the region will break away from Papua New Guinea In the coastal town of Buka a solemn procession of people makes its way from the Catholic church to Bel Isi park, where worshippers kneel before a makeshift cross. There is one subject that dominates the prayers in Bougainville today. “We are gathered here this morning in Bel Isi Park to ask you to bless the referendum. May it be peaceful and successful,” says the priest. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35KLYZv

New world news from Time: Mexico Is Infuriated by Trump’s Pledge to Designate Drug Cartels as Terrorist Organizations

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(MEXICO CITY) — Mexicans reacted Wednesday with anger to U.S. President Donald Trump’s pledge to designate Mexican drug cartels as terrorist organizations. Mexican officials and experts don’t fear that Trump will send killer drones into Mexico. Such drone strikes have been a mainstay of U.S. anti-terror operations in Pakistan and Afghanistan, but nobody thinks they would be launched into Mexico. What Mexicans do fear a terrorism designation could send bilateral relations back into the dark days of the 1990s, when annual U.S. certifications of Mexico’s anti-drug efforts became a regular source of friction. The possibility of U.S. sanctions and aid reductions constantly loomed over Mexico between 1987 and 2002, when the certification process was weakened to a less threatening form. Mexico was faced with loss of aid or access to international financing, as well as possible trade, visa and banking sanctions. “Every time, those procedures made cooperation with the United Sta...

Election 2019: shifting identities in Peterborough

Robert Booth on the battle for Peterborough, one of the key swing seats set to determine the election. Plus: Can Dündar on press freedoms under threat in Turkey When the high street travel firm Thomas Cook imploded this year it left holidaymakers stranded and thousands of employees out of work. It also came as a huge blow to Peterborough, the city that has been its home since 1977. Voters in Peterborough have had an uncanny ability to elect an MP for the winning party in many of the elections in recent history, although it went against the tide last time around by electing a Labour MP. This year, it is in the sights of not only the Conservatives, but the Brexit party too which is looking at its 61% leave vote as an opportunity for a gain. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/35MmNWx

CoinTracker (YC W18) Is Hiring Senior Software Engineers in SF

CoinTracker (YC W18) Is Hiring Senior Software Engineers in SF by jonlerner | on Hacker News .

Nursing shortages forcing NHS to rely on less qualified staff – report

Workforce gaps in England and Wales plugged by support staff, says Health Foundation charity The NHS is relying on less qualified staff to plug workforce gaps because of a huge shortage of nurses, according to a new report. Support staff, such as healthcare assistants and nursing associates, have been used to shore up staffing numbers, said the Health Foundation charity. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2QWD5YD

City investors urge UK's top firms to pay workers living wage

Letter addresses companies including Royal Mail, British Airways and JD Sports Influential City investors have written to the chief executives of companies including Royal Mail, British Airways and JD Sports urging them to pay their workers a real living wage. The letter calls on businesses to seek accreditation from the Living Wage Foundation , which makes sure companies pay employees and contractors an hourly rate higher than the national minimum. Signatories include the UK’s largest asset manager, Legal & General Investment Management, Candriam Investors Group, BMO Global Asset Management and responsible investment group Hermes EOS. The investors together control almost £2tn in assets. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/34pRmkk

William Blake's final work to be projected on St Paul's Cathedral

Artist of unfulfilled grand ambitions to light up London night with Ancient of Days William Blake always dreamed of making vast works for churches and palaces but to his bitter disappointment he never achieved it. More than two centuries after his death Tate has announced it is going some way to making up for that by projecting his final work on to the giant dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2XXjhG6

Voters have shifted since 2017. Here’s what I’ve seen | Rafael Behr

Out on the streets, attitudes to Brexit and Corbyn have hardened. But there’s little trust in Boris Johnson, even among Tory voters has little At school I was told a cautionary tale about an art teacher who had the tips missing from two fingers. One had been lost showing a class how not to use a craft knife. The second was lost demonstrating what had happened the first time. The story may be apocryphal, but the lesson is real enough: there is no mistake so stupid that it can’t be made twice. Boris Johnson still has time to bungle this election. If he fails to win an outright victory, his missing lead will take a special place in Westminster folklore alongside its spectral twin – the majority that Theresa May vaporised in 2017. That campaign, defined by the incumbent’s hubris, haunts the current one with unusual intensity, and not just because it is recent. It is hardly a memory; more a presence. It fuels Labour hopes and Tory fears. It lurks in every pundit’s caveat and every pollst...

We must not abandon the women and children of Isis in Syrian camps | Azadeh Moaveni

The prospect of scoring political points at home should not trump considerations of humanity and fairness The water in al-Hawl, the bleak camp in north-eastern Syria where the British children of Islamic State detainees now live, swims with parasites. The winter chill seeps into tents, and there is nothing to play with but plastic medical gloves and flaps of cardboard. There is no school, no trauma care and virtually no medical care, and there are cases of sexual abuse. There are stabbings and shootouts between militant Isis women and camp guards – members of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), the Kurdish-led group that helped the US coalition defeat Isis. The children have watched more women and babies die in recent months than a soldier might witness over the course of a military career. There are also British women and children at another camp, called al-Roj, close to the Iraqi border. Kimberly and Maryam, a Canadian and a German, feel themselves lucky to be held at al-Roj rathe...

'This time we all have to vote': Southampton residents relate their concerns

In a city of 30,000 university students, housing and poverty are higher up the agenda than Brexit For the first time in his life, Musah Stamburi will walk into a polling station next month and exercise his democratic right to vote in a general election. It’s a significant moment for the 22-year-old, who arrived in the UK six years ago from Zimbabwe and is now in the third year of a degree in public relations and communications. Stamburi is one of more than 30,000 university students in the port city of Southampton, where he lives in the Itchen constituency held by the Conservatives with a majority of just 31 votes. “This year I’m definitely voting,” says Stamburi, who lives with his mother. “This time I feel we all have to – because everything is a mess from Brexit.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2DlmqWC