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Uncovered: reality of how smartphones turned election news into chaos Groundbreaking research gives snapshot of world in which politics coverage is warped by social media algorithms and friendship groupsSecrets of their smartphones: see how voters follow the news in memesAsk the average 2019 voter where the problems with political news lie, and you might hear a few familiar claims: fake news. Russian interference. The biased BBC.But take a look at their smartphones, and you might discover a different, more chaotic world – in which news is being shaped less by publishers or foreign agents but by social media algorithms and friendship groups. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Johnson apologises for article comparing women wearing burqas to letterboxes – live news Parties out in force during final stretch ahead of 12 December vote, after two days of Nato drama 11.55am GMTLance Forman, the London MEP, is speaking at the press conference.He says, if it is acceptable for the Brexit party to stand down in 317 Tory-held seats, it makes sense for the Brexit party to back the Conservative party everywhere. 11.49am GMTThe four Brexit party MEPs who have left to back the Conservatives are now holding a press conference in Westminster.There is a live feed here. Continue reading... Go to Source

Seventy Labour staffers give statements to antisemitism inquiry Testimonies by current and former party workers have been passed to EHRC, lawyer saysGeneral election latest - live newsScores of serving and former Labour officials have given sworn statements about antisemitism in the party as part of evidence submitted to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s investigation into the issue.James Libson, a lawyer representing the Jewish Labour Movement, confirmed he has prepared 70 testimonies from current and former staffers as part of the inquiry. Continue reading... Go to Source

Joe Biden targets Trump's Nato sore spot with video mash-up of mockery Democratic frontrunner goes viral with video that ends with the message: ‘We need a leader the world respects’Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden has sought to capitalise on world leaders’ private ridicule of Donald Trump at the Nato summit, releasing a video montage including similar moments which soon went viral on Twitter.Within hours the video, posted by the Democratic frontrunner on Wednesday evening, amassed close to 2m views, and more than 21,000 retweets. By comparison, Trump’s video about his Nato trip had 1.4 million views and 14,600 retweets in the space of 12 hours. Continue reading... Go to Source

France grinds to halt in the biggest strikes of Macron's presidency Rail and air transport as well as schools and policing hit by walkouts over pension changesEmmanuel Macron is facing the biggest strikes of his presidency, as French rail workers, air-traffic controllers, teachers and public sector staff staged walkouts and took to the streets against proposed changes to the pension system.Rail services almost ground to a halt, with 82% of drivers on strike and at least 90% of regional trains cancelled, amid fears that the open-ended transport disruption could continue for days. In Paris, 11 out of the 16 metro lines were shut, forcing commuters to scramble to hire bikes and scooters. Continue reading... Go to Source

Plastic pollution kills half a million hermit crabs on remote islands Experts fear species decline after huge number of deaths on Henderson and CocosMore than half a million hermit crabs have been killed after becoming trapped in plastic debris on two remote island groups, prompting concern that the deaths could be part of a global species decline.The pioneering study found that 508,000 crabs died on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands archipelago in the Indian Ocean, along with 61,000 on Henderson Island in the South Pacific. Previous studies have found high levels of plastic pollution at both sites. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump cuts short Nato summit after fellow leaders' hot-mic video US president cancels press conference after video captured group of leaders apparently ridiculing himA furious Donald Trump cut short his attendance at the Nato summit in London after a group of leaders, including Boris Johnson, was caught on video ridiculing the US president at Buckingham Palace for staging lengthy press conferences .The notoriously thin-skinned Trump cancelled a planned press conference and branded the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, “two-faced” after he was revealed on video leading the laughter at Trump’s expense together with other US allies. Continue reading... Go to Source

London Bridge attack victims died after being stabbed in chest – inquest Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones suffered shock and haemorrhaging, Old Bailey toldThe two victims of the London Bridge attack both died as a result of being stabbed in the chest, the inquests into their deaths have heard.The inquests into the deaths of Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, both Cambridge graduates, opened at the Old Bailey in central London on Wednesday before being adjourned to a date to be determined. Continue reading... Go to Source

M&G suspends £2.5bn property fund blaming retail crisis and Brexit M&G Property Portfolio bans withdrawals after investors demand their money backOne of the UK’s biggest property funds, which owns shopping centres across the country, has alarmed investors by banning withdrawals and blaming both Brexit and the retail downturn for its problems.The £2.5bn M&G Property Portfolio was suspended after “unusually high and sustained outflows” – demand from investors for their money back – prompted by “Brexit-related political uncertainty and ongoing structural shifts in the UK retail sector”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Bob Willis, former England cricket captain, dies aged 70 Willis played in 90 Tests between 1971 and 1984Bowler also played for Surrey and WarwickshireBob Willis, the former England cricket captain, has died aged 70, his family announced on Wednesday.The pace bowler made 90 Test match appearances for his country and took 325 wickets, placing him fourth in the all-time list of England bowlers. He famously played a key part in the memorable 1981 third Test defeat of Australia at Headingley that was won from a seemingly impossible position, taking a career-best 8-43. He enjoyed a long career in broadcasting after his retirement in 1984, first for the BBC and then latterly on Sky. Continue reading... Go to Source

Impeachment inquiry: Trump's actions constitute bribery, says witness – live Law professor said Trump’s actions toward Ukraine meet constitutional definition of bribery, adding credibility to Democrats’ use of termHelp us cover the critical issues of 2020. Consider making a contribution 5.44pm GMTGeorge Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, the only witness at today’s impeachment hearing who was called by Republicans on the House judiciary committee, argued Trump’s actions toward Ukraine do not represent a “clear case of bribery.”Prof. Turley, contrasting with the other three witnesses, says there is not a "clear case of bribery" against President Trump https://t.co/5Pgb8iGzpR pic.twitter.com/R49wOYxTyX 5.39pm GMTCongressman Doug Collins also opened his questioning by j...

General election: McDonnell questions truth of Trump's NHS claim - live news Shadow chancellor also says Labour will lay out ‘first 100 days’ programme in Birmingham speech as Nato leaders meetFootage appears to show leaders joking about Trump at Nato summitFactcheck: would Labour really save families more than £6,700 a year?Sign up for Andrew Sparrow’s daily election briefing 11.57am GMTMcDonnell says he thinks that, just as the Attlee government is remembered for founding the NHS, the Corbyn government will be remembered for setting up a national education service.Education is not a commodity, he says. He says it is a gift from one generation to another. The national education service will transform lives, he says. 11.52am GMTQ: Why were you not more explicit about the Waspi women p...

Footage appears to show world leaders joking about Trump at Nato summit Group including Macron and Johnson appear to be discussing US president A video has emerged that appears to show world leaders joking about Donald Trump at the Nato summit in London, which has been marked by sharp disagreements over spending, future threats including China and Turkey’s role in the alliance.The footage shows leaders including Boris Johnson, Justin Trudeau and Emmanuel Macron at a function at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening. Johnson asks Macron: “Is that why you were late?” before Trudeau interjects: “He was late because he takes a 40-minute press conference off the top”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Stakes rise for Republicans as Trump impeachment inquiry enters new phase President’s allies expected to launch procedural objections during judiciary committee hearingsAs round two of public impeachment hearings was set to begin on Wednesday, Republicans were expected to resort to procedural objections and high-temperature harangues in an effort to protect Donald Trump.With the party-line 13-9 approval on Tuesday night by the House intelligence committee of a 300-page report by congressional Democrats describing how Trump abused the power of his office for personal and political gain, the impeachment inquiry has now moved into the hands of the judiciary committee, the last stop in the process before lawmakers would vote on impeaching Trump. Continue reading... Go to Source

Germany expels two Russians over killing of Georgian in Berlin German prosecutors say evidence suggests involvement either by government of Russia or Chechen republicGermany has expelled two Russians working at the Russian embassy in Berlin after federal prosecutors took over the case of a Georgian citizen killed in August in Berlin, saying they had concluded that evidence suggests involvement either by the government of Russia or the Chechen republic.The German foreign ministry said it was responding in this way because Russian authorities had not cooperated in investigations into the murder. Continue reading... Go to Source

Extinction Rebellion protester glues himself to Lib Dem battlebus Activist dressed as bee targets campaign bus as XR tries to push environment up agendaAn Extinction Rebellion protester dressed as a bee has glued himself to the Liberal Democrats’ battlebus, as the environmental group intervenes in the general election.The group said it was “buzzing around” political parties’ campaign battlebuses on Wednesday “demanding the climate and ecological emergency is top of the agenda this election”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Jeremy Corbyn on the offensive over Donald Trump’s plans for NHS Labour leader questions US president’s assertion that he has no interest in health serviceJeremy Corbyn has again sought to pile pressure on the Conservative party over the status of the NHS in any future trade deal with the US, as Donald Trump arrived in London just over a week from polling day.Despite the US president insisting that he would not be interested in access to the NHS if it was presented “on a silver platter”, the Labour leader said he remained deeply sceptical of Trump’s claims and vowed to tackle him personally over the issue. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump abused presidency for own gain, Democrats' impeachment report concludes Congressional Democrats lay out damning findings and say president improperly pressured Ukraine to influence 2020 electionHelp us cover the critical issues of 2020. This Giving Tuesday, consider making a contributionDonald Trump “abused the power of his office for personal and political gain, at the expense of [US] national security”, congressional Democrats alleged in a report on Tuesday, laying out damning conclusions after two weeks of public hearings in the impeachment inquiry. Related: The only antidote to a campaign of lies is a campaign of truth | Richard Wolffe Continue reading... Go to Source

Queen greets her Nato guests – but problems mount for absent son Such engagements would normally be for Prince Andrew to undertake but no longerLatest election news - live updatesAs the Queen hosted world leaders to mark 70 years of Nato cooperation and collective spirit, her Buckingham Palace reception was counterpointed by political discord and protest.Outside, hundreds of anti-Donald Trump and anti-Nato demonstrators blocked roads in central London. Inside, the Duke of York was absent from the guest list, having quit public life in the wake of his car-crash Newsnight interview addressing Virginia Giuffre’s allegations. Continue reading... Go to Source

Turner prize awarded four ways after artists' plea to judges All four nominees asked judges to recognise ‘commonality, multiplicity and solidarity’‘Good for them!’ – subverting the Turner prize is what artists are meant to doAll four artists shortlisted for the 2019 Turner prize have been named winners after they came together and made a plea for judges to recognise the causes of “commonality, multiplicity and solidarity”.At a ceremony in Margate on Tuesday evening, Turner prize history was made when Lawrence Abu Hamdan, Helen Cammock, Oscar Murillo and Tai Shani were named the collective winner after they jointly wrote to judges. Continue reading... Go to Source

Grenfell survivors tell party leaders safety delays will cost lives Campaigners say more will die unless flammable cladding is urgently taken off high risesPeople will be burned to death in their homes unless the next government accelerates action to fix hundreds of unsafe apartment blocks, survivors of the Grenfell Tower disaster have warned party leaders.In a stark election intervention, people who escaped the west London blaze and bereaved family and friends told Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn and Jo Swinson of their “deep and grave concern that a Grenfell-like fire is going to occur again”. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Corbyn expresses doubts about Trump's NHS pledge ahead of possible meeting – live news Doctors and nurses to march to Buckingham Palace, where US president to dine with Queen and other leadersSign up for the election briefingTrump says US doesn’t want NHSWhat Trump said about UK election and JohnsonCorbyn expresses doubts about Trump’s NHS pledge 5.20pm GMTThe BBC’s Andrew Neil has said the Tories are still refusing to suggest a date for his proposed interview with Boris Johnson.There are not really any negotiations going on. We’re simply waiting on a date, time and venue. As we have for several weeks. So far — not a sausage. https://t.co/APj6SXf4Nl 5.18pm GMT Continue reading... Go to Source

EU mission tells Malta PM to quit immediately over Caruana Galizia case Joseph Muscat has made serious errors over investigation into journalist’s murder, says Dutch MEPThe head of an EU mission to Malta has called on the country’s embattled prime minister to quit immediately amid anger over his handling of the investigation into the murder of the journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.The Dutch liberal MEP Sophie in ‘t Veld, who is leading the European parliament’s emergency fact-finding mission to Malta, said she was “not reassured” after meeting Joseph Muscat and his justice minister, Owen Bonnici. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump says China-US trade deal could wait until after 2020 election Shares tumble after US president claims trade war hurting China more than USBusiness updates – liveDonald Trump has warned that a trade deal with China could be more than a year away in comments that sent shares in Britain’s top 100 companies tumbling.Speaking at the Nato summit in London, the US president said the US was doing “very well” from the trade war and he was in no hurry to sign an agreement before he runs for re-election next November. Continue reading... Go to Source

Bionic neurons could enable implants to restore failing brain circuits Scientists say creation could be used to circumvent nerve damage and help paralysed people regain movementScientists have created artificial neurons that could potentially be implanted into patients to overcome paralysis, restore failing brain circuits, and even connect their minds to machines.The bionic neurons can receive electrical signals from healthy nerve cells, and process them in a natural way, before sending fresh signals on to other neurons, or to muscles and organs elsewhere in the body. Continue reading... Go to Source

Macron clashes with Erdoğan over anti-Isis Kurdish fighters French president says Turkey should not pressure Nato to label Syrian Kurds as terroristsEmmanuel Macron has confronted his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, with his most direct warning yet that Ankara’s recent behaviour is not compatible with its Nato membership.The French president said it was not acceptable for Turkey to threaten to block all the planned declarations at Wednesday’s Nato leaders meeting in London unless the rest of Nato agreed that Kurdish Syrian forces fighting Islamic State were terrorists. Continue reading... Go to Source

Corbyn tells Trump NHS will never be for sale under Labour Party leader issues warning as US president arrives in Britain for Nato summitLatest election news – live updatesJeremy Corbyn ramped up his election message to Donald Trump that the NHS would never be for sale under a Labour government, as the US president spends his first full day in the UK.The Labour leader said his “firm” message to the president, who is in Britain for a Nato summit, was that under a Labour majority in the Commons neither the NHS nor any other public service would be part of trade talks. Continue reading... Go to Source

At least 135,000 children in Britain to be homeless at Christmas Housing charity Shelter estimates that 183 children lose their homes every dayAt least 135,000 children will be homeless and living in temporary accommodation across Britain on Christmas day – the highest number for 12 years – according to the housing charity Shelter.It estimates that a child loses their home every eight minutes – 183 children per day. At this rate, 1,647 children will become homeless between now and the general election on 12 December, and more than 4,000 by 25 December. Continue reading... Go to Source

London Bridge attack: girlfriend praises 'phenomenal' Jack Merritt Prisoner course coordinator opened doors for marginalised in society, says Leanne O’BrienThe girlfriend of Jack Merritt, killed in the London Bridge terror attack, has paid an emotional tribute to the “phenomenal” Cambridge graduate.Leanne O’Brien, who was comforted by family members as she wept during a vigil for Merritt in Cambridge on Monday, said her boyfriend had “opened so many doors for those that society turned their backs on”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Elon Musk defamation trial begins in case brought by British diver LA court to hear Vernon Unsworth’s lawsuit over comments after Thai cave rescueIt was a gripping tale of peril and prowess that captivated the world for more than two tense weeks in the summer of 2018. Twelve boys and their football coach were lost in a subterranean maze in the Tham Luong caves in Thailand. An international team of cave divers raced to rescue them before monsoon rains were due to flood the caves. The story was destined to be fodder for a Hollywood blockbuster – and that was before an eccentric billionaire got involved.On Tuesday, a postscript to the feelgood tale of the Tham Luang cave rescue will play out in a federal courthouse in Los Angeles, California, as the trial begins in a defamation case brou...