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Beirut explosion: dead and wounded among 'hundreds of casualties', says Lebanon Red Cross – live updates Scale and cause of blast still being assessed amid reports hospitals too damaged to treat patientsFull report: huge explosion in BeirutBeirut explosion – in pictures 6.52pm BST Here is some quick analysis from my colleague, Peter Beaumont.Amid highly conflicting and vague initial explanations over the cause of the Beirut explosion, a few things stand out. Most of the video footage that has been posted on social media, appears to begin with the aftermath of the first of the two explosions. 6.46pm BST Israeli officials have denied involvement in the Beirut port explosion.“Israel has nothing to do with the incident,” the official said on condition of anonymity, accordi...

Trump refuses to praise late civil rights leader John Lewis President unhappy that Lewis did not attend his inaugurationTrump questions value of Civil Rights Act: ‘How’s it worked out?’Donald Trump refused to praise the late John Lewis, the Georgia congressman and original Freedom Rider, during his latest one-on-one interview, and also questioned the value of the pivotal Civil Rights Act of the 1960s, which Lewis fought and almost died for. Related: Coronavirus US: Biden tells Trump 'step up and do your job' over Covid-19 death toll – live Continue reading... Go to Source

Starmer says PM has one month to fix coronavirus test-and-trace system Exclusive: Labour leader says Boris Johnson must make ‘hard decisions’ to halt second waveKeir Starmer: The government must up its game to prepare for a second wave of Covid-19Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageMinisters have one month to fix the broken test-and-trace system and halt a devastating second wave of coronavirus or Britain will face a “long and bleak winter”, Keir Starmer says today.The Labour leader warned there is “precious little evidence” of serious preparation for a resurgence in Covid-19 cases. Continue reading... Go to Source

Witness claims to have seen Prince Andrew at club with Virginia Giuffre Woman has come forward claiming she recalls seeing duke at Mayfair nightclub with GiuffreThe FBI has been passed information from a witness claiming to have seen the Duke of York at a nightclub with a woman who alleges the pair had sex when she was a teenager.The US lawyer Lisa Bloom, who is representing the victims of the royal’s former friend and convicted sex offender, Jeffrey Epstein, said Shukri Walker recalled seeing Prince Andrew at Tramp nightclub in Mayfair and had come forward to support Virginia Giuffre’s version of events. Continue reading... Go to Source

Tate removes reference to 'amusing' restaurant after racist images in mural draw anger Exclusive: gallery removes reference to venue as ‘most amusing room in Europe’ as call grow for artwork’s removalTate Britain has removed a reference to its restaurant as “the most amusing room in Europe” after complaints about racist depictions in a 1920s mural.The Rex Whistler restaurant is covered floor to ceiling in a specially commissioned mural by the eponymous British artist titled The Expedition in Pursuit of Rare Meats, which depicts the enslavement of a black child and the distress of his mother. It also shows the boy running behind a horse and cart which he is attached to by a chain around his neck. Continue reading... Go to Source

Local authority sets up test-and-trace system to plug gaps in English scheme Teams of Covid hunters in Blackburn with Darwen aim to offset national failingsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe local authority with the highest infection rate in England has launched its own contact-tracing system to plug holes in the £10bn national scheme described by Boris Johnson as “world-beating”.Blackburn with Darwen council, in Lancashire, set up its own virus-hunting team after the national system failed to reach hundreds of its most vulnerable residents. Continue reading... Go to Source

Donald Trump on the ropes in interview over US Covid-19 death toll President again says he is doing ‘incredible job’ fighting pandemic and casts doubt on Jeffrey Epstein’s cause of deathCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDonald Trump visibly floundered in an interview when pressed on a range of issues, including the number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the US, his claims that mail-in voting is fraudulent, and his inaction over the “Russian bounty” scandal.The US president also repeatedly cast doubt on the cause of death of Jeffrey Epstein, and said of Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who has pleaded not guilty to allegedly participating in the sex-trafficking of girls by Epstein, that he wished her well. Continue ...