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UK weather: rail lines and roads flooded after heavy rain Persistent downpours cause transport disruption with weekend washout forecastHeavy rain and flooding have caused severe disruption in parts of southern England, forcing one rail operator to advise against travelling by train.Some areas of the UK have had more than 50mm of rain in a day and a half. The village of Cardinham in Cornwall had 52mm of rain in 36 hours, while an area further inland, outside Launceston, got 53.4mm. Libanus in the Breacon Beacons, south Wales, had 43mm. Continue reading... Go to Source

Scott Morrison apologises for taking holiday during Australia's bushfire crisis Prime minister says he ‘deeply regrets’ any offence caused by him taking leave during fires, and he will return to Sydney Fire threat sweeps across NSW, Queensland and South Australia – follow live updatesScott Morrison has apologised for going on holiday while Australia is in the grip of an extended bushfire crisis and a record-breaking heatwave.In a statement on Friday morning the prime minister explained he had brought forward his leave with his family due to the need to travel to Japan and India in January. Continue reading... Go to Source

Democratic debate: Buttigieg becomes target as candidates clash in Los Angeles Klobuchar questions mayor’s political experience as Warren condemns his fundraising tacticsThe final Democratic presidential debate of the year brought together seven 2020 candidates in California on Thursday for an at times heated argument over their qualifications, policy proposals and paths to the White House.On the heels of Donald Trump’s impeachment, the debate, hosted by PBS NewsHour and Politico, opened with the historic events in Washington the day before but quickly pivoted to key issues for Democratic voters, such as social injustice and climate change. Facing repeated attacks was Pete Buttigieg, the South Bend, Indiana, mayor, who has been rising in the polls in early primary states. ...

Queen's speech: PM points to harder Brexit and 10-year rule Johnson government outlines tougher laws on sentencing and constitutional reformFollow all the latest political news – liveBoris Johnson has set out his vision for the Tories to govern for the next decade as he published a Queen’s speech that points the way towards a harder Brexit and sweeping constitutional reforms.The prime minister claimed that he wanted his programme for government to last for more than one parliament, describing it as a “blueprint for the future of Britain”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ketamine-like drug for depression gets UK licence Psychiatrists divided on ‘game-changing’ esketamine due to potential for addictionA radical ketamine-like drug has been licensed for use in the UK for severe depression, a decision that offers hope to the millions of patients for whom conventional treatments have failed.Esketamine, taken as a nasal spray, is one of the first rapid-acting drugs for depression and the first in decades that is thought to work in a fundamentally different way in the brain. However, psychiatrists are divided on the benefits, with some hailing esketamine as a game-changer and others raising fears about the potential for addiction and abuse. Continue reading... Go to Source

Democratic debate: candidates face off in Los Angeles – live updates Candidates taking the stage at Loyola Marymount University will seek to break through as impeachment dominates the headlinesFull story: seven candidates seek their star momentAnalysis: why California is now a primary powerhouse 11.53pm GMTThe debate is taking place in Los Angeles, a city where the escalating homeless crisis has become a public health emergency. LA experienced a 16% increase in homelessness this year, with a total of 36,000 people now homeless across the city, including 27,000 without shelter. Related: Workers on frontlines of homeless crisis tell Trump: 'We don't need tough talk' 11.44pm GMTThose tuning in to watch tonight’s Democratic debate might have a question when the participants take t...

Clive Lewis joins race to be Labour leader pledging to 'unleash' party Shadow Treasury minister says he wants to go further than Jeremy Corbyn in giving power to Labour membersClive Lewis: ‘I’m standing to be leader so the truth can be heard’Clive Lewis has declared his candidacy for Labour leader, with a pledge to go further than Jeremy Corbyn in giving party members a say on policy and the selection of MPs. Related: I’m standing to be Labour leader so the truth can be heard | Clive Lewis Continue reading... Go to Source

NSW bushfires: RFS names two firefighters killed south-west of Sydney Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, both fathers of young children, died when their truck overturned near Buxton while fighting the Green Wattle Creek blaze A “tight-knit” western Sydney volunteer firefighting brigade has been devastated after two firefighters were killed in the battle to contain a blaze that ripped through villages south-west of the city.Geoffrey Keaton, 32, and Andrew O’Dwyer, 36, from the Horsley Park brigade, were in a truck convoy near the town of Buxton late on Thursday when a tree fell into their path, causing the vehicle to roll off the road. Continue reading... Go to Source

Johnson revises EU bill to limit parliament's role in Brexit talks Protections for workers and child refugees also cut out of withdrawal agreement billLatest politics news – live updatesBoris Johnson’s EU withdrawal agreement bill has been published, with protections on workers’ rights, unaccompanied refugee children and parliament’s say over the future relationship stripped out.MPs are expecting to vote on the EU withdrawal agreement bill for the first time in this parliament on Friday, as Johnson aims to rush it through its first stage before Christmas. Continue reading... Go to Source

Deadly shooting at Russian intelligence agency in Moscow, reports say Unidentified man said to have attacked reception at Federal Security Service officeAt least one person has reportedly been shot dead after an unidentified gunman opened fire on the office of the Federal Security Service, the FSB, Russia’s main intelligence agency, in the heart of Moscow.According to Russian media reports, the man attacked the reception of the Lubyanka building, home to the FSB and its communist-era predecessor the KGB. The victims were described as federal security guards. Continue reading... Go to Source

McConnell and Pelosi set for showdown over next steps of Trump impeachment Not clear when articles of impeachment will reach SenatePelosi threatens delay until she receives assurances of fair trialAs Washington awoke on Thursday to the realisation that it had impeached the third US president in American history, the capital remained racked with uncertainty about what will come next in an impeachment process defined by almost total partisanship and rancor. Related: Trump impeachment charges 'absolutely made up', says Putin Continue reading... Go to Source

Family wins fight to delete child from Met's anti-radicalisation records Lawyers argued child’s entry on Prevent database could lead to discrimination when olderOnly 1 in 10 Prevent referrals need acute supportA primary school-aged child has had details of their referral to the government’s controversial anti-radicalisation Prevent programme deleted by the Metropolitan police following court action, the Guardian can reveal.Following a settlement that remains confidential, the child will see all relevant records deleted, including from the Prevent case management (PCM) database, the existence of which was revealed by the Guardian and Liberty in October. The referring authorities also agreed to correct and delete relevant records. Continue reading... Go to Source

Queen's speech sets out Boris Johnson's focus on Brexit, the NHS and terrorist sentencing – live news Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including the Queen’s speech and Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn speaking in the subsequent Commons debate 11.46am GMTFrom the Sun’s Tom Newton DunnThe most interesting part of the Queen's Speech: major new espionage legislation is coming, will include extraterritorial elements for terror offences. Could look like a new Treason Act / the US’s Foreign Agents Registration Act. My story from February:https://t.co/WGdXrgLrfj pic.twitter.com/zZQVzkWUqE 11.44am GMTThe Queen ends with two messages at the end of every Queen’s speech.Members of the House of Commons - estimates for the public serv...

High court says UK's £1,012 child citizenship fee is unlawful Landmark judgment finds ‘mass of evidence’ showing fee stops many children from registering UK citizenship In a landmark judgment the high court has found that the Home Office’s £1,012 child citizenship fee is unlawful. The fee has been described as “shameless profiteering” by Amnesty International.The current fee affect tens of thousands of children in the UK. The Project for the Registration of Children as British Citizens, which brought the case, along with two children affected by the high fees, estimates there to be about 120,000 children in the UK without British citizenship, approximately 65,000 of whom were born here. In 2018, more than 40,000 children applied to be registered as ...

Donald Trump impeached by House of Representatives in historic vote Trump becomes third American president to be impeached as two articles approved, mostly along party linesHouse impeaches Trump – live updatesJust shy of the third anniversary of his presidency, Donald Trump was impeached in a mostly party-line vote in the House of Representatives on Wednesday evening.Trump became the third president to be impeached in US history. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Doesn't feel like we're being impeached': Trump holds rally amid House vote President shrugs off process at a rally with thousands of supporters in Battle Creek, MichiganDonald Trump opened his remarks at a campaign rally in Michigan on Wednesday evening right as members of Congress moved to make him the third US president in history to be impeached.At the start of his rally in Battle Creek, Michigan, Trump shrugged off the historic vote taking place in Washington. “It doesn’t really feel like we’re being impeached,” the president said before a roaring crowd. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump’s impeachment may be just another battle in the US's civil war Trump will be wounded, seething, hellbent on revenge – and turn the weight of impeachment against his foes in 2020After Donald Trump’s inaugural address, George W Bush turned to Hillary Clinton and said: “Well, that was some weird shit,” the former secretary of state confirmed earlier this month.For nearly three years since that chilly day here at the US Capitol in Washington, Democrats (and many others) have accused of Trump using and abusing the United States like his personal punchbag. On Wednesday, that slice of America finally punched back via impeachment. Continue reading... Go to Source

Australia fires: nation records hottest day ever for second day running as NSW fire crew injured – live All of New South Wales, South Australia, large parts of Queensland, and northern Victoria have been placed under a total fire ban on Thursday with extreme weather forecast. Follow the latest bushfires news and updates 5.40am GMT 5.18am GMTDespite the fire danger easing off tomorrow, it is still listed as “severe” for the Central Ranges and “very high” for the Southern Ranges, Northern Slopes and North Western and Southern Slopes.A Fire Weather Warning has been issued for Friday for Severe Fire Danger on the Central Ranges and Very High Fire Danger for theSthn Ranges, Nthn Slopes, Nth Western and Sthn Slopes. Fire info #NSWRFS: https://t.co/dXlyv2fIh1 NSW fore...

Pelosi says Democrats have 'no choice' but to impeach Trump as formal debate begins – live House speaker Nancy Pelosi opens debate, which will culminate later today with a vote that is all but certain to impeach the presidentHelp us cover the critical issues of 2020. Consider making a contribution 5.56pm GMTHouse judiciary committee Jerry Nadler criticized his Republican colleagues’ remarks on the floor, saying he has heard them say everything “except a defense of President Trump’s conduct, which is indefensible.”Nadler then turned the floor over to congressman Ted Deutch of Florida. There is still more than five hours of debate left to go. 5.49pm GMTMoments after the White House claimed Trump would be “working all day” and would only catch “s...

Lady Hale warns UK not to select judges on basis of political views Outgoing president of supreme court advises against approach seen in USThe government should not select judges on the basis of their political views as they do in the US, the outgoing president of the supreme court, Lady Hale, has warned.Speaking at a ceremony to mark her retirement as she approaches the age of 75, the first woman to lead the UK’s highest court made a direct intervention in the debate about the dividing line between politics and the law. Continue reading... Go to Source

Emily Thornberry throws her hat into ring for Labour leadership Exclusive: shadow foreign secretary says she warned party leaders going to polls would be ‘act of catastrophic political folly’Emily Thornberry: We can’t be so inept againEmily Thornberry has declared she is entering the race to succeed Jeremy Corbyn, revealing she warned the Labour leadership that backing a Brexit election would be an “act of catastrophic political folly”.The shadow foreign secretary set out her pitch to be the next Labour leader in an article for the Guardian, arguing she has already “pummelled” Boris Johnson across the dispatch box and knows how to exploit his failings. Continue reading... Go to Source

India clamps down on citizenship law protests Critics say Narendra Modi’s Citizenship Amendment Act ‘has declared war on Muslims’Authorities have imposed an emergency law banning large gatherings in parts of India’s capital, Delhi, as nationwide protests escalated, injuring police and demonstrators.A week after a controversial new citizenship law was passed by parliament, which has been accused of openly discriminating against Muslims, protests across the country showed no sign of abating. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ayoub Majdouline jailed for murder of 14-year-old Jaden Moodie Nineteen-year-old imprisoned for life with minimum term of 21 yearsAyoub Majdouline, 19, has been jailed for life with a minimum term of 21 years for the “barbaric” gang murder of 14-year-old Jaden Moodie.Jaden became the year’s youngest gang victim when he was knocked off a scooter and stabbed nine times in Leyton, east London, on 8 January. Continue reading... Go to Source

Starmer implicitly criticises Labour leadership for sidelining him during election campaign - live news Rolling coverage of the day’s political developments as they happen, including Tony Blair’s speech on the lessons from Labour’s defeat.Keir Starmer’s Today interview - SummaryYvette Cooper’s Today interview - Summary 11.49am GMTSally Gimson, who was selected and then deselected as Labour’s candidate for Bassetlaw in the election, has strongly rejected John Mann’s claim that Sir Keir Starmer did not support her. (See 11.10am.) She is backing Starmer for leader.John - this is totally unfair and untrue. Keir did stand up for me, and did all he could to help me behind the scenes, and gave me his support publicly. I back him whole heartedly and t...

Three generations of Windrush family struggling to prove they are British Courtney Lawrence and two-year old son face homelessness in fight over documentationThree generations of one Windrush-descended family are struggling to prove that they are British in a protracted fight for documentation which has left a London-born woman facing homelessness with her two-year-old son.Courtney Lawrence, 25, was denied emergency housing in May because officials said she needed to show a passport to prove she was eligible for council support, despite the fact that she was born in the UK and has never left the country. As a result of this refusal she was forced to sofa-surf with her son for five months; she has subsequently been given emergency accommodation in a Travelodge hotel. Continue reading.....

Donald Trump writes blistering letter accusing House leaders of 'war on democracy' Letter is a thinly veiled attempt to redirect back impeachment inquiry’s findings he abused power and obstructed CongressDonald Trump has accused Democratic leaders in the House of declaring “open war on American democracy”, on the eve of a historic vote that is likely to make him only the third president in US history to be impeached.Trump issued the incendiary accusation in an intemperately-worded letter sent to the speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, on Tuesday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Australia experiences hottest day on record and its worst ever spring bushfire danger Tuesday’s average maximum 0f 40.9C was Australia’s hottest ever and follows the driest and second warmest spring on record Australia has just experienced its hottest day on record and its worst spring on record for dangerous bushfire weather, according to data released by the Bureau of Meteorology.Preliminary analysis suggested that Tuesday was the hottest day on record for Australia, with an average maximum across the country of 40.9C. The temperature beat the previous 40.3C set on 7 January 2013, in a record going back to 1910. Continue reading... Go to Source

Two teenagers charged over antisemitic attack on rabbi in London Police say boys handed themselves in after CCTV images released of suspectsTwo teenagers have been charged after an antisemitic attack on a senior rabbi.Two attackers shouted antisemitic abuse as the man walked through Amhurst Park in Clapton, north London, at around 9.45pm on 29 November. Continue reading... Go to Source

Keir Starmer lays out case for 'radical Labour government' Exclusive: shadow Brexit secretary calls for end to party infighting and return to being a ‘broad church’Keir Starmer has set out his pitch for the Labour leadership with a call for his party not to lurch to the right as a result of last week’s devastating election result.While the leadership race has not yet formally been launched, the shadow Brexit secretary confirmed to the Guardian that, as widely expected in Westminster, he was “seriously considering” running to succeed Jeremy Corbyn. Continue reading... Go to Source

Violence in Paris amid nationwide pension reform protests As prelude to day of action, power to thousands of homes deliberately cut by workers Police fired teargas and charged at demonstrators in central Paris as hundreds of thousands of protesters across the country staged a show of force against the government’s controversial pension reform plans.The violence erupted at Place de la Nation, one of Paris’s biggest squares, as riot police attempted to disperse protesters. Police said they had charged after coming under a hail of paving stones and missiles. There were 27 arrests by late afternoon. Continue reading... Go to Source