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The Question Time leaders’ special: our panel’s verdicts | The panel Boris Johnson, Jeremy Corbyn, Jo Swinson and Nicola Sturgeon faced questions from a live BBC audience in SheffieldOwen Jones: There is new hope Labour can turn fortunes around Continue reading... Go to Source

Concern grows over ‘rough sex gone wrong’ defence in courts UK lawyers and activists demand action as researchers find tenfold rise in usageSenior lawyers and women’s organisations have condemned the increasing use of “rough sex gone wrong” as a courtroom defence to the murder of women and called for a change to the law in the UK.In the wake of the conviction of British backpacker Grace Millane’s killer in New Zealand, researchers have revealed a tenfold rise over the past two decades in the number of times similar claims have been made in UK courts. Continue reading... Go to Source

Revealed: concerns over string of incidents at UK prison where baby died At least four prisoners at HMP Bronzefield have given birth in potentially unsafe circumstances since 2017Pregnant in prison: ‘I could feel the blood but didn’t put the light on to see’The death of a newborn baby girl in a cell at HMP Bronzefield in September came after a string of concerning incidents involving pregnant women at the prison in the past two years, the Guardian has learned.On at least four occasions in this period, women held at the privately run Surrey prison have given birth in distressing and potentially unsafe circumstances, including one woman who gave birth in her cell and another who was left in labour at night-time supported only by another pregnant prisoner. Continue reading... Go to Sour...

Prince Andrew's private secretary steps down after Newsnight interview Amanda Thirsk, who orchestrated disastrous BBC interview, will run prince’s mentoring initiativeThe aide who orchestrated Prince Andrew’s disastrous interview about his links to the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein is no longer his private secretary, it has emerged as organisations continue to sever ties with the beleaguered royal.Amanda Thirsk, who was said to have played a key role in persuading him to agree to the BBC interview, has reportedly moved on to run his business mentoring initiative. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election 2019: Johnson, Corbyn, Sturgeon and Swinson prepare for Question Time special – live news All the latest from the campaign as Brexit party and Plaid Cymru launch manifestos, Labour sells its own plan and Tories announce 3% extra stamp duty for foreign property buyersMcDonnell rejects claims Labour would leave people worse offFarage asks voters to elect at least some Brexit party candidatesPlaid Cymru says Wales can be cradle of green revolutionSign up for the election briefing 5.25pm GMT 5.22pm GMTSpeaking to reporters on a visit to Bassetlaw district general hospital, Boris Johnson said that leaving the EU would allow the Conservatives to implement their plan to impose an extra 3% stamp duty on foreign buyers (see 7.43am) without having to leave out EU nationals. He ...

Malta's PM urged to step back from case of murdered journalist Two members of government linked to man arrested over Daphne Caruana Galizia killingA senior European monitor is calling for Malta’s prime minister to distance himself from the investigation into the killing of the prominent investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia due to a potential conflict of interest.Malta’s prime minister, Joseph Muscat, has the power to grant immunity from prosecution to a key witness who may have vital evidence about those who commissioned Caruana Galizia’s assassination two years ago. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump suggests he wants to be impeached and says 'I want a trial' – live President sounded off on public hearings on Fox & Friends, praised Giuliani as ‘one of the great crime fighters’ and called Pelosi ‘crazy as a bedbug’In this defining moment for America, support the Guardian’s independent journalism. Make a contribution 5.17pm GMTPete Buttigieg, flying high in the Iowa polls, flying low in states which have a significant population of people of color, has had his South Bend office taken over by protesters this morning.Garrett Blad, from the Sunrise Movement climate organization, says the occupation is to urge Buttigieg to adopt a Green New Deal for South Bend.We are occupying the office of @PeteButtigieg because South Bend, & the entire US, needs a Green New Deal.Pete’s climate p...

Exclusive: Bolsonaro is turning back the clock on Brazil, says Lula da Silva The former union leader and two-term president said his mission now was to “battle for democracy”Brazil’s former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has vowed to spearhead opposition to the country’s far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro, warning that his country is backsliding on years of hard fought progress.“Bolsonaro has already made clear what he wants for Brazil: he wants to destroy all of the democratic and social conquests from the last decades,” he told the Guardian. Continue reading... Go to Source

Grace Millane trial: New Zealand man found guilty of murdering British backpacker A jury in Auckland has decided a 27-year-old, whose name has been suppressed, knowingly killed the British touristA 27-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of Grace Millane, a British backpacker who disappeared a year ago in Auckland after going on a date.A jury of seven women and five men took just five hours to unanimously agree that the accused, who cannot be named, had murdered Millane in the hotel room where they had gone after their night out. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election 2019: Nigel Farage launches Brexit party's policies – live news All the latest from the campaign as Brexit party and Plaid Cymru launch their manifestos, Labour sells its own plan and Tories are to announce 3% extra stamp duty for foreign property buyersSign up here to get the election briefing in your email inboxJeremy Corbyn urges public to vote for ‘manifesto of hope’Boris Johnson set to snub election leaders’ debate on climate crisisPeterborough voters: ‘We need to give people hope again’ 11.58am GMTFarage then outlines the party’s tree-planting proposals, as reported by my colleague Kate Proctor yesterday. Related: Farage hoping to enlist help of Trump in Brexit party tree-planting plan 11.55am GMTFarage welcomes the apparent movement within Tory party policy to...

Cybertruck: Tesla unveils new pickup truck but windows shatter during demo Elon Musk says model essential to sustainable energy – but is embarrassed when ‘armour glass’ windows breakElon Musk’s glitzy unveiling of the first Tesla “cybertruck” descended into farce when a PR stunt testing the “bulletproof” body strength of the electric vehicle resulted in smashed windows.The Blade Runner-meets-cyberpunk themed launch of the $39,900 (£30,000) futuristic armoured vehicle was meant to take aim at the traditional Detroit carmakers, proving that Tesla could make a credible electric version of America’s favourite vehicle, the pickup truck. Continue reading... Go to Source

Jeremy Corbyn urges public to vote for 'manifesto of hope' ‘Investment blitz’ promised as experts taken aback by scale of Labour’s tax and spend plansLatest election news – live updatesJeremy Corbyn has urged the public to vote for his “manifesto of hope” as he unveiled plans for the most dramatic increase in tax and spending in more than half a century if Labour wins power next month’s general election.In an upbeat launch event at Birmingham City University, the Labour leader said he welcomed the hostility of the billionaires, bad bosses and dodgy landlords who would lose out from his policies. Continue reading... Go to Source

Fiona Hill: stop ‘fictional narrative’ of Ukraine meddling in US election Former expert on Russia attacked debunked conspiracy theory used to defend Trump against allegations of briberyImpeachment hearings – live updatesRepublicans loyal to Donald Trump must stop pushing the “fictional narrative” that Ukraine interfered in the 2016 presidential election because it plays into Vladimir Putin’s hands, the White House’s former top expert on Russia has told the impeachment inquiry in dramatic testimony.British-born Fiona Hill, appearing in Washington on Thursday, attacked a debunked conspiracy theory used by Republicans to defend the US president against allegations that he sought to bribe Ukraine for his own political gain. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson set to snub election leaders' debate on climate crisis Channel 4 to broadcast first such discussion – but prime minister unlikely to participateLatest election news – live updatesThe first ever election leaders’ debate focusing on the climate crisis will be broadcast by Channel 4 next week, with the prime minister the only major party leader set to be absent.Channel 4 News said it was awaiting confirmation from Boris Johnson as to whether he would take part and could place an empty chair in the place of the PM if he declines to attend. Continue reading... Go to Source

Jeffrey Epstein: newest accuser comes forward, says she was ‘perfect victim’ Teala Davies sues disgraced financier’s estateAbout a dozen women have brought accusations of sexual abuseA woman who says she suffered lasting damage from sexual abuse by Jeffrey Epstein when she was 17 years old has sued his estate, joining the growing list of women who have sued the late disgraced financier.Teala Davies filed her lawsuit in Manhattan federal court on Thursday and appeared at a news conference with attorney Gloria Allred. Continue reading... Go to Source

Johnson was briefed on declaring friendships before he met Jennifer Arcuri Revealed: PM pledged to ‘bear in mind the definition of close associate’ after affair with Helen MacintyreBoris Johnson and his staff were given compulsory training on the importance of acknowledging personal friendships months before he met the US businesswoman Jennifer Arcuri, and just after he was rebuked for failing to declare an interest with another woman, the Guardian can reveal.City Hall’s standards committee recommended the governance training after a panel found that Johnson had failed to acknowledge a personal interest in Helen Macintyre. It later emerged that Macintrye, who held an unpaid advisory post, had an extramarital affair with Johnson and gave birth to his daughter in 2008. Continue reading....

Impeachment hearings: Fiona Hill rejects Republicans' ‘fictional narrative’ Ukraine meddled in US election – live Military aid was withheld by Trump to express dissatisfaction or increase pressure, state department aide Holmes testifiesIn this defining moment for America, support the Guardian’s independent journalism. Make a contribution 5.49pm GMTOK, Adam Schiff has come back to the hearing room and they’re about to resume for real this time. For updates also please follow @julianborger who is in the chamber. 5.43pm GMTA lot of people on the Internet are putting Trump’s lyrics to music. Who did it best?somebody on twitter today: trump's weird hand-scrawled denial today sounds like a ramones song. me: pic.twitter.com/mynZjx0E0MEmo Trump recites poem on White House lawn pic.twitter.com...

Jeremy Corbyn launches most radical Labour manifesto in decades ‘Investment blitz’ to be funded by wealthy and includes tax on energy firms to tackle climate crisisLatest election news - live updatesJeremy Corbyn has launched the most radical Labour manifesto in decades, promising an “investment blitz” that would leave no corner of the UK untouched and welcoming the hostility of billionaires, big business and dodgy landlords.Speaking at an upbeat event at Birmingham City University, where students and activists leaned over balconies adorned with banners setting out Labour’s policies, Corbyn urged the public to vote for “hope” at the general election in three weeks’ time. Continue reading... Go to Source

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu indicted for bribery and fraud Attorney general announces charges as crisis deepens for longest-serving leaderIsrael’s attorney general has indicted Benjamin Netanyahu for bribery, fraud and breach of trust, in a damning blow to the prime minister as he fights for his political survival.Avichai Mandelblit charged the 70-year-old leader on Thursday in all three major corruption cases for which he was investigated. It was the first time a sitting Israeli prime minister has been charged with a crime. Continue reading... Go to Source

Some British citizens in Syria to be repatriated within days Planned repatriation of some of those living in area once dominated by Isis ‘likely to be exceptional’The UK government is in the process of repatriating a number of British citizens from north-east Syria, with the individuals expected to return from an area once dominated by Isis within days.The Home Office has said it would always consider how to repatriate individuals on a “case by case” basis, although authorities have generally been reluctant to help Britons who lived under the so-called caliphate to return home. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election 2019: Corbyn vows to take on wealthy elite as he launches Labour's 'manifesto of hope' – live news Party to promise huge social housing investment, 1m green jobs and overhaul of business regulation Labour to slap £11bn tax on oil and gas firms to fund green planSign up to the election briefing emailLabour to unveil £75bn social housing plan to ‘build for the many’Is Labour’s pledge to build 100,000 council houses achievable? 11.47am GMTRebecca Long-Bailey asks Labour supporters in the audience to let journalists ask their questions without interruption.She calls the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg. 11.45am GMTBefore the Q&A Corbyn says this is the 45th anniversary of the Birmingham pub bombings. He says that should be a reminder that peace in Northern Ireland is priceless. Con...

Alex Salmond appears in court on attempted rape charge Scotland’s former first minister faces 14 charges that also include indecent assault Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland, has appeared in court accused of attempting to rape a woman at Bute House, the Georgian property in Edinburgh’s new town used as the official residence of Scotland’s first ministers, in June 2014.He appeared at the high court in Edinburgh on Thursday in front of Lady Dorrian, the lord justice clerk, to face a total of 14 charges including one of attempted rape, 11 charges of sexual and indecent assault, some of which allegedly occurred numerous times, and two common law charges of indecent assault dating to 2008. Salmond has repeatedly denied the charges. Continue reading... Go to Source

Strictly Come Dancing's first same-sex routine sparks almost 200 complaints The groundbreaking performance on the BBC ballroom smash has garnered 189 complaints for being ‘offensive’Strictly Come Dancing has received 189 complaints following the “offensive” broadcast of its first ever individual same-sex routine this month.On the 3 November edition of the hit BBC ballroom show, professional dancers Johannes Radebe and Graziano di Prima danced together during a performance by the singer Emeli Sandé. Radebe – who is gay – told Hello! magazine that the groundbreaking routine made him feel that “for the first time in my life, I feel accepted for who I am” and that being able to perform with di Prima, who is in a heterosexual relationship, “says so much about the people of this country”. I...

Downward mobility 'becoming a reality for much of British youth' Social policy experts call for educational, tax and pay reforms to beat economic slideDownward mobility – the phenomenon of children doing less well than their parents – will become a reality for young people today unless society makes dramatic changes, according to two of the UK’s leading experts on social policy.The UK is among the worst of the developed countries for social mobility. It appears increasingly unlikely that people will be able to escape economic disadvantages linked to their background. Continue reading... Go to Source

Prince Andrew: lawyers for Jeffrey Epstein's victims hint at subpoena Royal pressed to turn over all relevant documents about contacts with financierLawyers representing the victims of the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein have signalled they are willing to serve a subpoena to Prince Andrew to ensure he cooperates with their investigations.In a statement on Wednesday announcing he was standing down from public duties, the Duke of York said he was willing to help “any appropriate law enforcement agency” with their investigations after what he accepted was his “ill-judged association” with Epstein. Continue reading... Go to Source

Prince Andrew to step back from public duties 'for foreseeable future' Duke of York issues statement amid criticism over relationship with Jeffrey EpsteinThe Queen has given permission for Prince Andrew to “step back from public duties for the foreseeable future” after days of mounting pressure following his interview with the BBC about his friendship with the convicted child sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.The Duke of York also said he was “willing to help any appropriate law enforcement agency with their investigations if required” over the US probe into Epstein. Continue reading... Go to Source

Sondland's bombshell testimony blows holes in Trump's Ukraine defence Ambassador to EU testifies as House impeachment hearingSondland: ‘We followed the president’s orders’A star witness at the impeachment inquiry has delivered a devastating blow to Donald Trump, testifying about the existence of a quid pro quo with Ukraine and insisting: “We followed the president’s orders.”Gordon Sondland, the US ambassador to the European Union, stunned Washington with bombshell evidence that blew a hole in the White House’s defences, implicated numerous senior officials and left the US president facing probable impeachment. Continue reading... Go to Source

Extinction Rebellion founder’s Holocaust remarks spark fury German politicians accuse Roger Hallam of downplaying significance of genocideA co-founder of Extinction Rebellion has sparked anger in Germany after referring to the Holocaust as “just another fuckery in human history”.Roger Hallam has been accused of downplaying the Nazis’ genocide of 6 million Jews by arguing in an interview that the significance of the Holocaust has been overplayed. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Liberal Democrats promise £50bn windfall from stopping Brexit at manifesto launch – live news Lib Dems say they are only party to offer credible plan for climate crisis; prime minister reveals national insurance manifesto pledgeLib Dems’ manifesto pledges £5bn duty rise for frequent flyersNo deal made with Labour on Scottish referendum, says SturgeonSign up for Andrew Sparrow’s evening election briefing 5.51pm GMTListen in to this week’s Politics Weekly, as my colleague Heather Stewart is joined by Ayesha Hazarika, Paul Harrison and Will Jennings to pick apart the ITV debate. Plus, Rowena Mason calls in from the Tory battlebus and Peter Walker reports from the Green party’s manifesto launch: Related: When Johnson met Corbyn – Politics Weekly podcast 5.46pm GMTJo Swi...

Police investigating Caruana Galizia murder arrest businessman on yacht Maltese journalist was killed by car bomb on Mediterranean island in 2017A prominent Maltese businessman has been arrested onboard his yacht as it was heading out to sea, in an operation linked to the murder of the Maltese anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia.Armed forces personnel boarded a vessel at about 5.30am on Wednesday and detained Yorgen Fenech. Continue reading... Go to Source