News- UK

Prince Andrew scandal: Virginia Giuffre pleads for UK public support American tells BBC she was told to have sex with royal by Jeffrey Epstein’s friend Ghislaine MaxwellA beleaguered Prince Andrew faced fresh embarrassment after his accuser Virginia Giuffre, who claims she was trafficked as a teenager to have sex with him, appeared on television to implore the British public to “not accept this as being OK”.In her first UK broadcast interview, Giuffre repeated allegations she had sex with the prince when she was aged 17 on the instructions of Ghislaine Maxwell, a socialite and close friend of the US financier and sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, who killed himself in August. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson accused of politicising London Bridge knife attack Justice activists and political leaders speak out in wake of article by victim’s father‘Jack would be livid his death has been used to further an agenda of hate’ | Dave MerrittPolitical leaders and criminal justice campaigners have condemned the prime minister, Boris Johnson, for his response to the London Bridge attack in the wake of an article written for the Guardian by the father of one of the victims.Jack Merritt, 25, coordinator for Cambridge University’s Learning Together initiative, which brings together offenders and those in higher education “to study alongside each other”, was stabbed to death by convicted terrorist Usman Khan on Friday, alongside 23-year-old Saskia Jones. Continue reading... Go to Source...

'Jack would be livid his death has been used to further an agenda of hate' | Dave Merritt The father of Jack Merritt, who died on Friday at London Bridge, writes that the attack has been used to reinforce the worldview his son fought againstJack was proud. Jack was absorbingly intelligent. Jack was fiercely loyal. Jack loved music, art, eating good food with his family, and having more than one pint with his mates. Oh, and in case you haven’t realised by now … he was also devilishly handsome.But Jack was also angry, frustrated, selfless, stubborn. He was angry because he saw our society failing those most in need. He was frustrated because the political elite have forgotten why it is important to be fair. He was selfless in his dedication to make things right in every second of his li...

Johnson's response to London Bridge attack ignores complex reality PM is seeking to dodge questions on impact of austerity on police, prisons and probationBoris Johnson has focused entirely on sentencing when discussing the implications of the terror attack at London Bridge – and in doing so ignores a wide range of factors that could have influenced the tragic outcome.By concentrating on sentencing, the prime minister is able to focus on his opponents, Labour, for introducing the regimes under which the attacker, Usman Khan, was jailed. He can offer a quick fix: toughening up jail sentences is not difficult – governments can amend or introduce legislation and lock people up for longer with little challenge from wider society. It all fits neatly into Johnson’s tough approach to crime s...

UK election: halt US trade talks until NHS off table, Corbyn tells Johnson Labour leader calls for break in talks unless pharmaceuticals excluded from negotiationsJeremy Corbyn has urged the prime minister to break off trade talks with Donald Trump until any reference to pharmaceuticals is struck out of Washington’s negotiating objectives.As the US president prepared to fly in on Monday evening to attend the Nato summit alongside other world leaders, Corbyn wrote to Boris Johnson to urge him to give fresh reassurances about NHS privatisation. Continue reading... Go to Source

Hugh Grant: 'I want to do my bit to prevent a national catastrophe' Actor says voters should ‘do everything we can’ to stop a Conservative governmentLatest election news - live updatesHugh Grant has said he considered formally entering politics before the general election, but instead decided to campaign for people to vote tactically to prevent a Conservative majority to stop Brexit.Speaking before he canvassed in Westminster with Chuka Umunna, who is standing there for the Liberal Democrats, the actor said he had decided his best role in the election was “banging the drum for tactical voting”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Google and YouTube reportedly pull hundreds of Trump ads for violating policies YouTube chief executive officer confirmed in interview there were ‘ads of Trump that were not approved to run on Google or YouTube’Google and YouTube have pulled hundreds of ads for Donald Trump over the last few months, according to 60 Minutes on CBS. Related: Trump heads to UK for Nato summit as impeachment deadline looms – live Continue reading... Go to Source

Minister denies using 'Trump playbook' in terror attack response Justice secretary Robert Buckland rejects claim government is seeking to exploit situation for political gainGeneral election latest - live newsThe justice secretary has insisted that the government is not trying to exploit the deaths of two young people in a terrorist attack for election purposes after the father of one of the victims criticised the “ignorance” of the political response.Robert Buckland denied that cuts to prison officer numbers and probation services might have played a role in increasing the risk from terrorism, and said “public protection” had to be at the centre of any response to the deaths on Friday of Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson ignores family’s plea not to exploit victims' deaths PM accused of ‘distasteful’ attempt to turn London Bridge attack into election issueBoris Johnson has been accused of twisting the facts of the London Bridge terror attack in a “distasteful” attempt to turn it into an election issue, as he tried to blame Labour for the release of the terrorist who stabbed two people to death.Despite one of the victims’ families pleading for their son’s death not to be used as an excuse for kneejerk political reaction, Johnson claimed that “a lefty government” was responsible for Usman Khan being freed. Continue reading... Go to Source

Malta’s PM quits in crisis over Daphne Caruana Galizia murder Joseph Muscat says he will stay on until January but journalist’s family calls for his immediate departureMalta’s embattled prime minister Joseph Muscat has resigned, driven from office by the constitutional and political crisis triggered by the murder of the investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.In a televised address broadcast on Sunday evening, Muscat announced that he would stay on until a new leader of his ruling Labour party was elected in January. The prime minister expressed “deep regret” for Caruana Galizia’s murder and spoke of the need for a “fresh page”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Parties attack Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage over Donald Trump ties Seven-way ITV debate sees Farage defend Trump’s ‘crass’ talk while Tory keeps out of frayOpposition leaders attacked Boris Johnson for his closeness to Donald Trump on the eve of the US president’s visit to the UK for a Nato summit, as politicians clashed in a seven-way television debate.Labour, the Liberal Democrats, the SNP, the Greens and Plaid Cymru all expressed concern about the prime minister’s relationship with Trump, with Nicola Sturgeon saying he should “sup with a very long spoon” in dealing with him. Continue reading... Go to Source

BBC to air interview with Prince Andrew accuser Virginia Giuffre was interviewed for a Panorama episode that will air on Monday nightThe royal family is braced for more revelations about the Duke of York’s connections with Jeffrey Epstein, as the BBC prepares to air a Panorama interview with his accuser Virginia Giuffre on Monday night.Giuffre was interviewed by the programme last month for a long-running investigation about Prince Andrew and his connections with the deceased sex offender. But before the Panorama episode was ready to air, Andrew agreed to do a disastrous sit-down interview with the rival BBC programme Newsnight. Continue reading... Go to Source

Island states want 'decisive action' to prevent inundation The impact of rising seas prompts plea ahead of climate summit that begins on MondayThe countries most at risk of deluge from climate chaos have issued an impassioned plea to the industrialised world ahead of crucial negotiations on the Paris agreement that start on Monday in Madrid.“We see [these talks] as the last opportunity to take decisive action,” Janine Felson, deputy chair of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) told the Guardian. Continue reading... Go to Source

Second London Bridge attack victim named as Saskia Jones, 23 Former Cambridge student was killed along with Jack Merritt, 25, in attack on FridayThe second victim of the London Bridge terror attack has been named by the Metropolitan police as Saskia Jones, 23, a former Cambridge student from Stratford-upon-Avon. Her family paid tribute to her on Sunday as a “funny, kind, positive influence at the centre of many people’s lives”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Lib Dems suspend campaigner after apparent email forgery Party had sought retraction of journalist’s story about alleged sale of voter dataLatest election news – live updatesThe Liberal Democrats have suspended a senior member of their campaign team just days before polling day, after an official apparently forged emails to support a legal threat against a journalist over an embarrassing story.Jo Swinson’s party has been fighting the website openDemocracy for weeks over a little-noticed article published last month about the party allegedly selling voter data to the remain campaign for £100,000 during the EU referendum. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Boris Johnson says 74 convicted terrorists released early from prison – live news Prime minister and Labour leader interviewed on TV as scrutiny of counter-terrorism policies continues Boris Johnson: 74 other terror convicts on early releaseUK’s military interventions have fuelled terrorism, says CorbynJohnson thrusts London Bridge attack into centre of election battle 11.58am GMTThere are some interesting lines at the end from Corbyn about patriotism, often regarded as a front on which his opponents have been eager to hammer him on“I am patriotic about the people of this country,” he says, to applause. 11.54am GMTCorbyn says that “Labour’s new internationalism” means the party will create a peace and conflict-prevention fund, and invest an extra £400 million to expa...

First London Bridge attack victim named as Jack Merritt Father confirms death of son who was working on prisoner rehabilitation programmeThe first victim of the London Bridge attack has been named as Jack Merritt, a 25-year-old who worked for a programme aimed at improving prisoner rehabilitation.Merritt’s death was confirmed by his father, David, who described him as a “champion for underdogs everywhere”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Blocked roads then bullets: Iran's brutal crackdown in its City of Roses An internet blackout hid the state’s response to unrest in Shiraz. Interviews with activists and an analysis of social media posts reveal what happened“What are you scared of?” the woman in the black coat shouts. “Help me to understand.” She marches up to a man in uniform guarding the petrol station. “You’re ruining us,” she screams, as the man walks away.The exchange comes from footage taken around 1am on Friday 15 November in the south-central Iranian city of Shiraz. Hours earlier, in a surprise announcement, Iran’s government had said it was raising the price of fuel by up to three times, adding to the strain on a population already struggling with an economy suffocated by US sanctions. Continue reading... Go...

Sonic boom: loud bang that shook London caused by supersonic fighter jets Typhoon jets scrambled in response to plane that was not answering air traffic controlA huge bang heard across London and in Hertfordshire just after 4am on Sunday was caused by RAF jets going supersonic, the Met and the MoD said.“Two Typhoon fighter aircraft from RAF Coningsby were scrambled at 0409 this morning, as part of the UK’s Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) procedures, after an aircraft lost communications in UK airspace,” said the Ministry of Defence. “The aircraft was intercepted and its communications were subsequently re-established. The Typhoons are returning to their base.” Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson thrusts London Bridge attack into centre of election battle Prime minister says terrorists convicted of the most serious offences should never be released from prisonBoris Johnson on Saturday said that those convicted of the most serious terrorist offences should never be released from prison, as arguments over the blame for Friday’s London Bridge attack were thrust centre stage into the election campaign.The prime minister reacted to the latest terrorist incident – in which three people died, including the assailant – by promising a package of hardline reforms which also included mandatory minimum 14-year sentences, an end to automatic early release for terrorist and extremism offences, and a new system under which those convicted will have to serve every day of sentenc...

‘We don’t understand how Usman Khan ended up like this’ Neighbours in Stoke-on-Trent, where the terrorist grew up, talk of their shock that he became a disciple of radicalsOutside a small white and green mosque in Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent, at Zuhr prayers on Saturday lunchtime dozens of men and women in padded jackets, heavy coats and kurtas gathered in the car park, unable to squeeze into the single-storey building for the funeral taking place inside.“One of our community elders has passed. It’s a massive death,” explained a softly-spoken man in his 20s who didn’t want to give his name. He grew up with Usman Khan, whose family live in a terraced cul-de-sac around the corner. A day earlier Khan had brought terror to central London, embarking on a knife rampage, killing Cambridge Unive...

Dominic Raab in danger of losing seat to Lib Dems, poll suggests Tactical voting could lead to big upsets at constituency level, according to study by DeltapollDominic Raab, the foreign secretary, is in danger of providing this election’s “Portillo moment”, after a poll in his constituency suggested that he was at risk of losing his seat. Related: Could tactical voting result in a ‘Portillo moment’ for Dominic Raab? Continue reading... Go to Source

Maltese businessman charged over murder of investigative journalist Yorgen Fenech entered not guilty plea to charges relating to killing of Daphne Caruana Galizia A businessman has been charged with the murder of Malta’s best known investigative journalist, Daphne Caruana Galizia.Local tycoon Yorgen Fenech, the 38-year-old head of a gambling and property empire, was arraigned on Saturday evening, and charged with participating in a criminal organisation, complicity in causing an explosion, and complicity in the murder of Caruana Galizia. Continue reading... Go to Source

Iraq risks breakup as tribes take on Iran’s militias in ‘blood feud’ Unrest spreads after security forces fire on protesters and anger at Tehran’s influence increasesIraq’s parliament will today begin the process of electing a new leader after the prime minister, Adel Abdul-Mahdi, resigned last week. His successor will have to cope with the severe unrest that is spreading across the country and which has pitched security forces against demonstrators for nearly two months. Fears are mounting that the country could unravel altogether.Security forces killed at least 45 civilians who were protesting around the southern city of Nasiriyah on Thursday in one of the worst incidents in the recent outbreak of anti-government protests. The government’s actions were intended to be a show of brute...

London Bridge attack: swift review of sentencing pledged - latest updates Attacker Usman Khan was ‘student and friend’ of radical preacher Anjem Choudary, according to reportsNarwhal tusk and fire extinguisher used to tackle attacker ‘It is scary, I don’t feel safe around London Bridge’Tell us: have you been affected? 11.40am GMTUsman Khan was likely to be considered a low to medium risk, priority three target for Britain’s intelligence agencies, reports the Guardian’s defence and security editor Dan Sabbagh. MI5 characterises the individuals it monitors in four categories, with priority one applying where there is “credible and actionable” intelligence of attack planning. Priority 3 individuals are those where “further action is needed to determine where a threat exists”. 11.35am GMT...

'It is scary, I don't feel safe around London Bridge' Workers in local community tell of panic, fear and anger over second terrorism attackFollow the latest news on the attackBelow the dramatic judder of a police helicopter, workers around London Bridge gathered on the street on Friday afternoon, shellshocked by the violence inflicted yet again on a community still recovering from the tragic 2017 attack.“We’ve been standing here for an hour,” said Alex de Silva, 25, a restaurant worker who had huddled with his colleagues on the pavement. “The police haven’t told us anything, and we are waiting for our manager to tell us what to do because they don’t want us to go home yet.” Continue reading... Go to Source

Red Cross criticises UK for stripping Isis recruits of citizenship Humanitarian organisation says policy is not helping bring clarity or peace to SyriaThe 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... Go to Source

London Bridge: attacker had been jailed for al-Qaida inspired bomb plot Usman Khan shot dead by police while wearing fake suicide vest Man and woman killed in attack on Friday, three others injuredPolice searching Staffordshire address connected to KhanLondon Bridge attack: follow the latest developmentsA man and a woman were killed in a terror attack in London carried out by an Islamist extremist who had been jailed for an al-Qaida inspired bomb plot and was recently released 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 and fitted with an electronic tag to monitor his movements. He was allowed out a year ago after serving time for his part in a plot to blow up the...

Usman Khan attack at London Bridge: what we know so far Convicted terrorist released on licence was shot dead after carrying out fatal stabbingsTwo 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: Londo...

Revealed: Millions to be affected by NHS plan to ration 34 everyday tests and treatments List includes hernia repair surgery and blood tests to detect prostate cancerMillions of patients will be stopped from having an X-ray on their sore back, hernia repair surgery or scan of their knee to detect arthritis under controversial plans from NHS and doctors to ration “unnecessary” treatment.The Guardian has seen a list of 34 diagnostic tests and treatments that in future patients in England will only be able to get in exceptional circumstances as part of a drive to save money and relieve the pressure on the NHS. Continue reading... Go to Source