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Russia report reveals UK government failed to investigate Kremlin interference Intelligence and security committee publishes long-delayed findings on Russian influence over UK politicsWhat does the UK’s Russia report say? Key points explainedThe British government and intelligence agencies failed to prepare or conduct any proper assessment of Kremlin attempts to interfere with the 2016 Brexit referendum, according to the long-delayed Russia report.The damning conclusion is contained within the 50-page document from parliament’s intelligence and security committee, which said ministers in effect turned a blind eye to allegations of Russian disruption. Continue reading... Go to Source

Greta Thunberg says EU recovery plan fails to tackle climate crisis Exclusive: Activist says €750bn fund shows leaders not treating global heating as emergencyGreta Thunberg has accused EU politicians of failing to acknowledge the scale of the climate crisis and said its €750bn Covid-19 recovery plan does not do enough to tackle the issue.The climate campaigner said the package of measures agreed by EU leaders proved that politicians were still not treating climate change as an emergency. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK targets up to 12 Covid-19 vaccines from around the world Head of the government’s vaccines taskforce reveals strategy aimed at ‘exploring the landscape’ and hedging betsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe UK government aims to secure stocks not of one vaccine or even two – but up to 12 that are being developed around the world, hedging its bets to ensure it has something that works as early as possible to try to end the health, social and economic havoc being wreaked by Covid-19.As Oxford University published its first results, showing its vaccine is safe and provokes a good immune response, Kate Bingham, chair of the government’s vaccines taskforce, explained that the strategy was to have an entire portfolio, not just o...

Campaigners launch legal challenge against UK's green recovery plans Plan B says government proposals unlawful in light of obligations to cut emissionsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageClimate campaigners have launched a formal legal challenge against the government’s green recovery plans, claiming they are inadequate and “clearly unlawful” in light of the UK’s obligations to reduce emissions.Plan B, the pressure group that successfully challenged the UK government over its plans to expand Heathrow, sent a “pre-action” letter to the prime minister and the chancellor on Tuesday, saying the government was missing an historic opportunity to avoid catastrophe. Continue reading... Go to Source

Priti Patel promises 'compassionate' Home Office after Windrush scandal Home secretary lays out five-point plan to implement recommendations of independent review Priti Patel has promised to revolutionise the culture of the Home Office in the wake of the Windrush scandal, pledging a more compassionate, “people first” approach to immigration to meet the recommendations of an independent review into UK government failures.While Labour welcomed the home secretary’s response to Wendy Williams’ review of lessons learned from the scandal, it said the government lacked credibility on the issue, and queried the slow pace of compensation payments to those wrongly targeted for immigration enforcement. Continue reading... Go to Source

Government rejects ISC's call for inquiry into Russian interference in Brexit referendum - live news Report was sent to Downing Street in October last year, in time for publication before the general electionFull story: Russia report reveals UK government failed to investigate Kremlin interferenceGlobal coronavirus updates – live 12.43pm BSTAnd these are from the businessman Bill Browder on the ISC report. Browder has been a prominent campaigner against Russian corruption following the death of the Russian lawyer working on his behalf, Sergei Magnitsky, following his mistreatment by the Russian authorities.My initial take on Russia report: This is a strong report. The ISC recognizes the whole Russian enabler problem in London-lawyers, accountants and consultants getting rich off d...

Hundreds more potentially avoidable baby deaths found at Shropshire NHS trust Additional 496 cases raise fears of a possible cover-up at Shrewsbury and Telford trustHundreds more cases of potentially avoidable baby deaths, stillbirths and brain damage have emerged at an NHS trust, raising concerns about a possible cover-up of the true extent of one the biggest scandals in the health service’s history.The additional 496 cases raise further serious concerns about maternity care at Shrewsbury and Telford hospital NHS trust since 2000. Continue reading... Go to Source

EU leaders seal deal on spending and €750bn Covid-19 recovery plans Euro rises as heads of state finally thrash out agreement on day fiveExplainer: what has been agreed and why was it so difficult?EU leaders have reached a historic agreement on a €750bn coronavirus pandemic recovery fund and their long-term spending plans following days of acrimonious debate at the bloc’s longest summit in nearly two decades.As the meeting reached its fifth day, the 27 exhausted heads of state and government finally gave their seal of approval to a plan for the EU to jointly borrow debt to be disbursed through grants on an unprecedented scale, in the face of an economic downturn not seen since the Great Depression. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump's vow to send federal officers to US cities is election ploy, critics say Opponents warn of grave threat to civil liberties as observers say president seeks to build ‘law and order’ credentialsDonald Trump has vowed to send federal officers to several American cities led by Democrats in what critics say is an attempt to play the “law and order” card to boost his bid for re-election.The president’s threat came after a federal crackdown on anti-racism protests in Portland, Oregon, that involved unmarked cars and unidentified forces in camouflage. Continue reading... Go to Source

Amber Heard insists she had visible injuries after alleged Johnny Depp attack Actor tells court makeup could have covered marks on her face after incident in May 2016Amber Heard has insisted she had visible injuries on her face the day after her former husband Johnny Depp allegedly assaulted her in their Los Angeles penthouse and their marriage finally fell apart.Giving evidence for a second day at the high court in London, Heard was asked to explain why other witnesses could not see any signs of bruises, cuts or marks on her in the days after the alleged attack on 21 May 2016. Continue reading... Go to Source

Almost 900,000 public sector workers to get pay rise, says Rishi Sunak TUC calls for social care workers to also receive pay rise as chancellor praises frontline effortsAlmost 900,000 public sector workers will be given an above-inflation pay rise on Tuesday, the Chancellor has announced, praising their work on the frontline during the pandemic.Teachers and doctors will be seeing the largest increase at 3.1% and 2.8% respectively, according to the Treasury. Police, prison officers and National Crime Agency staff will be given a 2.5% rise in pay and members of the armed forces will receive a 2% uplift. Members of the judiciary and senior civil servants will also see their pay topped up by 2%. Continue reading... Go to Source