News- UK

Boris Johnson seeks to mollify Tory MPs dismayed by U-turns PM admits government has backtracked on multiple issues but insists it is on right courseWhat are Conservative backbenchers’ main grievances?Boris Johnson has moved to mollify angry backbenchers disillusioned by the number of government U-turns, admitting the government has been forced to backtrack on multiple issues throughout the pandemic but insisting it is on the right course.The prime minister has been facing a restive party as MPs return to Westminster, with several senior Conservatives expressing public dismay over the disaster of A-Level grading and chaotic communication over quarantine periods and the use of masks in schools and shops. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump compares police shootings to golfing and defends teenager who shot protesters ‘They choke. Just like in a golf tournament. They miss a 3ft putt’Trump makes baseless claim ‘dark shadows’ control BidenBefore his visit to Kenosha, Wisconsin, on Tuesday, Donald Trump defended a teenager who shot two anti-racism protesters dead in the city last week. The president also compared the actions of a white Kenosha police officer who fired seven shots at a black man, hitting him four times in the back to a golfer choking on a putt. Related: Jacob Blake: father refuses to ‘play politics with my son’s life’ amid furor over Trump visit Continue reading... Go to Source

We let Grenfell Tower residents down, says London fire chief Andy Roe also accuses owners of tower blocks of endangering lives by ignoring fire risksTower block owners refusing to fix fire risks are endangering lives, the UK’s most senior firefighter has said, as he admitted the London fire brigade let down the residents of Grenfell Tower.Andy Roe, who took over as London fire commissioner in January following severe criticism of the LFB’s culture and response to the Grenfell disaster, took aim at the landlords and developers of thousands of high rise blocks, which more than three years on are still wrapped in dangerous cladding or contain other fire risks. Continue reading... Go to Source

Tony Abbott: some elderly Covid patients could be left to die naturally ‘Health dictatorships’ failing to consider economic costs of crisis, ex-Australian PM says Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageTony Abbott, the former Australian prime minister tipped to become a UK trade envoy, has railed against Covid “health dictatorships”, saying the economic cost of lockdowns meant families should be allowed to consider letting elderly relatives with the coronavirus die by letting nature take its course.He claimed it was costing the Australian government as much as $200,000 (£110,000) to give an elderly person an extra year’s life, substantially beyond what governments would usually pay for life-saving drugs. Continue reading... ...

UK coronavirus live: Johnson says country prepared for more 'wretched Covid' as some pupils return to school PM also claims workers heading back to offices ‘in huge numbers’; Gavin Williamson to face MPs after exams fiasco Decision due ‘very soon on delaying GCSEs and A-levelsGap between rich and poor pupils in England ‘grows by 46% in a year’Hancock favoured Tory areas with lockdown changesLittle room for manoeuvre as UK Covid cases increaseLatest global coronavirus updates 12.49pm BST Bolton council is urging the government to abandon plans to ease the lockdown restrictions currently applying in the town from tomorrow, my colleague Josh Halliday reports.NEW: Bolton council is asking govt to keep its Covid restrictions in place – less than 24 hours b...

Gap between rich and poor pupils in England 'grows by 46% in a year' Disadvantaged and BAME pupils lost more learning in lockdown and need urgent support, researchers say Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUrgent support must be targeted at disadvantaged pupils and schools in areas of high deprivation, researchers have said, as figures reveal the gap in England between some pupils and their wealthier peers widened by 46% in the school year severely disrupted by the coronavirus lockdown.As the school year begins for most pupils in England and Wales, the authoritative study by the National Foundation for Educational Research (NFER), based on interviews with more than 3,000 teachers and heads at more than 2,000 schools, revealed that disadvantaged and black a...

David Olusoga: I wanted to join protesters who tore down Colston statue Historian talks of ‘hugely emotional moment’ statue of Bristol slave trader was toppledOne of Britain’s most prominent historians, David Olusoga, has admitted he “desperately” wanted to join the protesters who tore down the statue of the slave owner Edward Colston in his home town of Bristol.The broadcaster and historian said the dumping of the statue in Bristol’s harbour in June, part of the Black Lives Matter protests, was the most remarkable event of the summer. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump escalates war of words with Biden over civil rights protests – live The president says Biden lied that demonstrators have been peaceful Portland police declare protest unlawful after fatal shootingDemocrats push to register voters in attempt to rip Texas from TrumpActivist tells top Republican to apologise over doctored videoSign up for our First Thing newsletter 12.21am BST Joe Biden has responded to Trump’s refusal to condemn Kyle Rittenhouse: In a statement, he said: Tonight, the President declined to rebuke violence. He wouldn’t even repudiate one of his supporters who is charged with murder because of his attacks on others. He is too weak, too scared of the hatred he has stirred to put an end to it.So once again, I urge the President to join me in saying that whil...

Adele accused of cultural appropriation over Instagram picture David Lammy came to the singer’s defence while Naomi Campbell also showed support Adele has faced accusations of cultural appropriation after sharing an Instagram picture showing her wearing a traditional African hairstyle while marking what would have been Notting Hill Carnival.In the photograph, the 32-year-old chart-topping act wore a string bikini decorated with the Jamaican flag and had her hair in Bantu knots – small coiled buns typically associated with people of African descent. Continue reading... Go to Source

Thousands of diabetics to be given soup-and-shake diet plan on NHS After successful trials, weight-loss plan will be rolled out to 5,000 more patientsThousands of people will be offered a soup-and-shakes weight-loss plan on the NHS to tackle the rise of type 2 diabetes.A successful trial of the low-calorie diet and lifestyle plan has already taken place. The government said the programme will now be expanded to reach 5,000 more patients in 10 areas. Continue reading... Go to Source

Criminal justice in England and Wales facing triple threat, lawyers say System hit by shortage of defence lawyers, end of furlough scheme and postponement of trials during pandemicThe criminal justice system in England and Wales is facing the triple threat of a shortage of defence lawyers, financial shock as furlough assistance from the government ends and the mass postponement of trials due to the coronavirus pandemic.With judges postponing trials as far ahead as 2022 and some refusing to remand suspects in custody when time limits are repeatedly breached, pressure is mounting on the Ministry of Justice to open more emergency courtrooms that will operate safely during the crisis. Continue reading... Go to Source

Low demand for UK office workers reveals ‘asymmetric recovery’ Data shows rise in transport, healthcare and construction jobs while ‘white-collar roles’ lag behindDemand for office workers in the UK is lagging behind other types of work, according to data that suggests the labour market is undergoing an “asymmetric recovery” after the near-total freeze in hiring during the coronavirus lockdown.The proportion of workers with new jobs in industries that mainly employ people in so-called white-collar roles – such as media, software and finance – has lagged behind other sectors despite the gradual return to workplaces, according to data from LinkedIn, the work-focused social network owned by Microsoft. Continue reading... Go to Source

White House spokeswoman refuses to say if Trump condemns Kenosha shooting suspect – live Kayleigh McEnany: ‘The president is not going to weigh in on that’Portland police declare protest unlawful after fatal shootingDemocrats push to register voters in attempt to rip Texas from TrumpActivist tells top Republican to apologise over doctored videoSign up for our First Thing newsletter 6.47pm BST Speaking in Pittsburgh, Democratic nominee Joe Biden attacked Trump’s handling of the recent protests against racism and police brutality.Biden said the president is “incapable of telling us the truth,” making him uniquely ill-suited to lead the country through the multiple crises it faces right now. 6.42pm BST White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany also outlandi...

Only one in 10 utility firms prioritise renewable electricity – global study Vast majority of world’s electricity companies remain heavily invested in fossil fuelsOnly one in 10 of the world’s electric utility companies are prioritising investment in clean renewable energy over growing their capacity of fossil fuel power plants, according to research from the University of Oxford.The study of more than 3,000 utilities found most remain heavily invested in fossil fuels despite international efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and some are actively expanding their portfolio of polluting power plants. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Hotel Rwanda' inspiration Paul Rusesabagina held on terror charges Rusesabagina’s role saving refugees during 1994 genocide inspired award-winning filmA businessman whose role in saving more than a thousand lives inspired the film Hotel Rwanda has been arrested on terrorism-related charges in the small east African country.Paul Rusesabagina, 66, was the general manager of a luxury hotel in Kigali, the capital, during the 1994 genocide, in which an estimated 800,000 people were killed with knives, clubs and other weapons. Continue reading... Go to Source

Special schools in England urgently seek coronavirus advice Institutions awaiting greater clarity over safety rules days before many reopenCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageSpecial schools in England are anxiously seeking updated coronavirus advice, only days before many reopen in a sector where social distancing is often impossible.The most recent guidance was published in July but those running special schools say they need greater clarity, particularly in relation to children with suctioning needs. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: 'selfish covidiots' on flight to UK from Greek island criticised Tui launches investigation after almost 200 passengers told to isolate after outbreakCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA flight from the Greek island of Zante was “full of selfish ‘covidiots’ and an inept crew”, according to a passenger among the almost 200 who were onboard who have been told to self-isolate after a coronavirus outbreak.Tui said it had launched an investigation after 16 people tested positive for Covid-19 linked to its flight to Cardiff on 25 August, including seven passengers who were infectious or potentially infectious on the plane. Continue reading... Go to Source

Portland clashes: Trump accused of encouraging violence after shooting Police say it was not clear if shooting was linked to fights between protesters and caravan of Trump supportersPortland mayor Ted Wheeler on Sunday slammed Donald Trump, accusing the president of encouraging the kind of violence that erupted in the city overnight when a reported member of a rightwing group was shot dead after a group of Trump supporters confronted Black Lives Matter protesters.“What America needs is for you to be stopped,” Wheeler said of Trump, after the president tore into Wheeler on Twitter in the hours after the death and retweeted video footage of his supporters in trucks firing paintballs and pepper spray at protesters downtown. Continue reading... Go to Source

Arctic wildfires emit 35% more CO2 so far in 2020 than for whole of 2019 About 205 megatonnes emitted in June and July alone as Siberia hit by heatwaveThe amount of carbon dioxide emitted by Arctic wildfires this year is already 35% higher than the figure for the whole of 2019.The latest data, provided by the EU’s Copernicus atmosphere monitoring service, shows that up to 24 August 245 megatonnes of CO2 had been released from wildfires this year. The figure for the whole of last year was 181 megatonnes. Continue reading... Go to Source

Thomas Piketty refuses to censor latest book for sale in China French economist admired by Xi Jinping says he will not cut sections on inequality in ChinaThe latest book by the French economist Thomas Piketty appears unlikely to be sold in mainland China after he refused requests to censor it.The Chinese president, Xi Jinping, has expressed admiration for Piketty’s work, but Capital and Ideology, which was published last year, has not made it to the mainland China market due to sections on inequality in the country. Continue reading... Go to Source

Counter-terror arrests at Stansted after fighter jets intercept airliner Pair from Kuwait and Italy arrived on flight from Vienna on SundayCounter-terrorism police have said they detained two men at Stansted airport.A 34-year-old from Kuwait and a 48-year-old from Italy were detained by counter-terrorism officers from the Eastern Region Special Operations Unit soon after 7pm on Sunday, the unit said in a statement. Continue reading... Go to Source

Consultation begins on banning pavement parking in England Disabled people and parents are particularly affected by parked cars blocking their wayParking on pavements could be banned across England under government plans to ease journeys for disabled people and parents pushing prams.The practice is banned in London but elsewhere in the country it is only prohibited for lorries. Continue reading... Go to Source

Alarm as FDA willing to issue Covid-19 vaccine before stringent safety testing FDA under intensifying pressure from Trump, who wants to see a vaccine come on stream or ready to announce before the electionPublic health experts have reacted with alarm to remarks by the head of the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) that he might give the green light for a US Covid-19 vaccine before the normal clinical trial process had reached its conclusion.As the US was on the verge of 6m coronavirus cases on Sunday, Stephen Hahn, the FDA commissioner, told the Financial Times in an interview published on Sunday that he was prepared to issue emergency use authorization for a Covid-19 vaccine before the end of Phase 3 human trials that put the drug through stringent testing for safety and efficacy. C...

Rampant destruction of forests ‘will unleash more pandemics’ Researchers to tell UN that loss of biodiversity enables rapid spread of new diseases from animals to humans Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageScientists are to warn world leaders that increasing numbers of deadly new pandemics will afflict the planet if levels of deforestation and biodiversity loss continue at their current catastrophic rates.A UN summit on biodiversity, scheduled to be held in New York next month, will be told by conservationists and biologists there is now clear evidence of a strong link between environmental destruction and the increased emergence of deadly new diseases such as Covid-19. Continue reading... Go to Source

'Our superhero': black British figures praise Chadwick Boseman Tributes to groundbreaking star come from spheres of film, TV, sport and politicsChadwick Boseman has been widely praised for breaking down cultural boundaries and inspiring a generation of young black people, following news of his untimely death.The Black Panther star died at his home in the Los Angeles area aged 43, four years after being diagnosed with colon cancer. He was best known for his role as the regal T’Challa in the Marvel cinematic universe, the franchise’s first high-profile black superhero. Continue reading... Go to Source

New audio recordings reveal aunt's criticisms of Ivanka and Eric Trump President’s niece reveals more tapes of Maryanne Trump BarryIvanka’s Instagram post mocked as ‘Madonna and child’Mary Trump has revealed more audio recordings she says are of her aunt, Maryanne Trump Barry, that aim pointed criticism at the US president’s children, Ivanka and Eric. Related: Mary Trump’s book: eight of its most shocking claims about the president Continue reading... Go to Source

Tens of thousands join Get Your Knee Off Our Necks march in Washington DC Rally highlighted police brutality and voting rightsEvent organised by NAN, NAACP and National Urban LeagueTens of thousands of people gathered in Washington DC on Friday, demanding criminal justice reform and voting rights following a summer of protests against systemic racism and against police treatment of Black people.The Get Your Knee Off Our Necks march, announced in early June following the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis, Minnesota, also marks the 57th anniversary of the March on Washington, where Martin Luther King Jr gave his “I have a dream” speechurging racial equality. Continue reading... Go to Source

Time for a 'Nightingale moment' for England's children, says watchdog Exclusive: children’s commissioner calls for mental health support and focus on vulnerable teenagersCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA “Nightingale moment” for children is needed, providing increased funding, extra training for teachers and counsellors in every school, the children’s commissioner for England has said.Invoking the gargantuan effort taken to build Nightingale hospitals for thousands of Covid patients in a matter of weeks, and the £35bn furlough scheme to save jobs, Anne Longfield said children’s recovery from missing months of school would take up to a year and would have a profound psychological impact. Continue reading... Go to So...

Far-right activists filmed hassling asylum seekers in hotels One video shows members of Britain First entering hotel and banging on bedroom doorsQ&A: are asylum seekers really living in luxury hotels?Anger is mounting over a series of videos posted by far-right organisations in which activists enter hotels where asylum seekers are being held, knock on their doors to interrogate them and accuse them of wasting taxpayers’ money.A video by Britain First, circulated widely on social media, shows a group of far-right activists entering a hotel in Bromsgrove, near Birmingham, and banging on bedroom doors, demanding to know what country the asylum seekers are from. Continue reading... Go to Source

Revealed: auditors raised minimum-wage red flags at Boohoo factories Exclusive: Third-party reports set out allegations at 18 Leicester suppliers How Leicester’s factories went to war with BoohooThe fast-fashion retailer Boohoo has been selling clothes made by at least 18 factories in Leicester that audits say have failed to prove they pay the minimum wage to workers, a Guardian investigation has found.Third-party audit reports produced over the past four years make claims of “critical” issues over record-keeping and working hours at the time they were written, suggesting that in parts of the supply chain workers may be paid as little as £3-£4 an hour. Continue reading... Go to Source