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Alarm at fingerprinting and custody proposal for Channel migrants Immigration minister wants ‘real consequences’ to stop people making journey to UKUK proposals to introduce hardline measures to discourage refugees and illegal migrants from seeking sanctuary have been met with alarm.The immigration minister, Chris Philp, called for migrants caught crossing the Channel to be fingerprinted and face “real consequences”, before a meeting next week with his French counterparts. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: just 10 enforcement orders issued for breach of UK quarantine rules Fears measures may be extended to France, but little enforcement appears to be taking placeCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageJust 10 enforcement orders have been issued to people for breaking quarantine rules after arriving in the UK, it has emerged, as fears of an extension of the measures to other parts of Europe led to a surge in last-minute enquires from customers desperate to get away before any further crackdown.This week travellers arriving from Belgium, Andorra and the Bahamas were told they would have to quarantine for 14 days following a rise in Covid-19 cases in those countries. Spain and Luxembourg had already been removed from the travel corridor list. Continue r...

Beirut braced for protests as Lebanese demand answers and justice With recovery and rescue under way after huge port explosion, attention turns to political accountabilityProtests are expected in Beirut on Saturday amid growing anger at the corruption and incompetence that appears to have paved the way for one of the biggest non-nuclear explosions the world has ever seen.Now the dust from the explosion has settled, the injured are being treated, professional rescue teams have taken over the grim search for survivors and remains, and cleanup operations are under way. Moreover, Beirut’s battered residents are demanding answers and accountability for their city’s tragedy. Continue reading... Go to Source

India plans to fell ancient forest to create 40 new coalfields Narendra Modi’s dream of a ‘self-reliant India’ comes at a terrible price for its indigenous populationOver the past decade, Umeshwar Singh Amra has witnessed his homeland descend into a battleground. The war being waged in Hasdeo Arand, a rich and biodiverse Indian forest, has pitted indigenous people, ancient trees, elephants and sloths against the might of bulldozers, trucks and hydraulic jacks, fighting with a single purpose: the extraction of coal.Yet under a new “self-reliant India” plan by the prime minister, Narendra Modi, to boost the economy post-Covid-19 and reduce costly imports, 40 new coalfields in some of India’s most ecologically sensitive forests are to be opened up for co...

Jeremy Corbyn accuses Labour officials of sabotaging election campaign Exclusive: Former leader and allies say alleged diversion of funds in 2017 could be fraudJeremy Corbyn and his former leadership team have openly accused disgruntled Labour officials of potentially costing the party the chance of victory by sabotaging the 2017 election campaign in a factional dispute.In a joint statement that shines a light on the scale of continued Labour splits, Corbyn, the former shadow chancellor John McDonnell and seven other former shadow ministers and aides have for the first time formally endorsed claims made in a party report leaked in April. Continue reading... Go to Source

Nearly 40% of A-level result predictions to be downgraded in England Exclusive: Assessments likely to be adjusted down before students receive results – analysis Coronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverage Nearly 40% of A-level grades submitted by teachers are set to be downgraded when exam results in England are published next week, the Guardian has learned, as criticism intensifies of this year’s makeshift results.Analysis of the algorithm and data used by the exam regulator Ofqual to distribute grades after the cancellation of exams amid the coronavirus pandemic found that a net 39% of assessments of A-level grades by teachers are likely to be adjusted down before students receive their results. Continue reading... Go to Source

Preston added to areas with bans on households mixing due to Covid-19 Restrictions to remain in place until at least 14 August across parts of north-west of England, West Yorkshire and LeicesterCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageA ban on households mixing in homes or gardens in large parts of the north of England is to stay in place for at least another week, and has been extended into Preston, the health department has announced.After a review by ministers and councils on Thursday, the decision was reached that with no sign yet of worrying levels of coronavirus infections falling, the restrictions would stay in place across parts of the north-west of England, West Yorkshire and Leicester. Continue reading... Go to Source

Beirut explosion: former port worker says fireworks stored in hangar Angry Lebanese plan major protest on Saturday, one day before team investigating explosion reports to cabinet Dozens of bags of fireworks were stored in the same hangar as thousands of tonnes of ammonium nitrate at Beirut’s port and may have been a decisive factor in igniting the explosive chemical compound that fuelled Tuesday’s huge explosion, a former port worker and other sources have told the Guardian.As angry Lebanese plan a major protest in central Beirut on Saturday, scrutiny has focused on how 2,750 tonnes of the dangerous material could have been stored so close to residential neighbourhoods for years – despite repeated warnings of the risk it posed. Continue reading... Go to Source

Rick Stein urges unemployed chefs to join his Cornish empire Restaurateur and TV celebrity struggling to fill 39 vacancies across his 13 eateries in south-westCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe TV chef and food writer Rick Stein is urging unemployed chefs in other parts of the UK to consider moving to Cornwall to work in his family’s restaurant empire.The restaurant and hotel group, which has 13 eateries, is trying to fill 39 vacancies, including for a pastry chef and junior sous chef at its famous Seafood Restaurant in Padstow. Continue reading... Go to Source

Rishi Sunak: UK will not hesitate to add nations to quarantine list Chancellor’s warning comes amid concerns France may lose its travel corridor statusCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageRishi Sunak has issued a warning that the UK government will “not hesitate” to impose quarantine restrictions on arrivals from other countries amid concerns that France may be the next destination to be removed from the travel corridor list.The chancellor said Downing Street constantly kept measures under review, highlighting that people needed to bear in mind there is a risk to travel plans because of the pandemic. Continue reading... Go to Source

Beirut explosion: Lebanon security forces fire teargas at protesters as anger mounts State media say several injured in protests as ambassador to Jordan resigns over ‘state negligence’Blast timeline: what we know, and what we don’t‘None of them this time’: Lebanese vow not to let leaders off hookLebanese security forces have fired teargas at demonstrators in Beirut, as rage over the country’s leadership grew following a massive explosion that laid waste to large parts of the capital on Tuesday.State media reported late on Thursday that security forces confronted dozens of anti-government protesters in central Beirut. Some in the small protest were wounded, the National News Agency (NNA) reported. Continue reading... Go to Source

Covid-19 lockdown will have 'negligible' impact on climate crisis – study Drop in emissions was a blip, say scientists, and a green recovery is vital to halt global heatingThe draconian coronavirus lockdowns across the world have led to sharp drops in carbon emissions, but this will have “negligible” impact on the climate crisis, with global heating cut by just 0.01C by 2030, a study has found.But the analysis also shows that putting the huge sums of post-Covid-19 government funding into a green recovery and shunning fossil fuels will give the world a good chance of keeping the rise in global temperatures below 1.5C. The scientists said we are now at a “make or break” moment in keeping under the limit – as compared with pre-industrial levels – agreed ...

UK weather: being outdoors could become dangerous during heatwaves Health experts call for action on climate emergency as parts of country brace for record temperaturesAs parts of the UK get set for potentially record-breaking temperatures, a leading health expert has warned it would become highly dangerous to be outdoors during heatwaves if nothing were done to curtail the climate emergency.Forecasters have said Friday could be the hottest day of the year in some parts of the country, with temperatures predicted to rise as high as 38C (100F) in some places. This was expected to give way to thunderstorms early next week. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ex-Labour MP Eric Joyce gets suspended jail sentence over child abuse image Former MP sentenced at Ipswich crown court to eight months in prison suspended for two yearsThe former Labour MP Eric Joyce has been handed a suspended sentence after admitting to making an indecent image of a child.The 59-year-old ex-army major, who served as MP for Falkirk for more than a decade, was given an eight-month sentence, suspended for two years, and also ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Continue reading... Go to Source

NHS shutdown risks thousands of deaths in Covid-19 second wave Exclusive: Medical experts have warned of patient misery and pain if normal care is axed againCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageThe NHS will be inflicting pain, misery and risk of death on tens of thousands of patients if it again shuts down normal care when a second wave of Covid-19 hits, doctors’ and surgeons’ leaders are warning.They are urging NHS bosses not to use the same sweeping closures of services that were introduced in March to help hospitals cope with the huge influx of patients seriously ill with Covid. Continue reading... Go to Source

Prove Dominic Cummings did not make second Durham trip, No 10 urged Exclusive: Two of four people who say they saw PM’s aide in north-east complain to police watchdogCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageDowning Street has been urged to provide proof that Dominic Cummings did not make a second trip to Durham during lockdown amid claims that police failed to properly investigate alleged sightings of the prime minister’s chief aide.Two of four people who claim to have seen Cummings on what would have been a second visit to the north-east of England have complained to the police watchdog, accusing the Durham force of not fully probing their claims. Continue reading... Go to Source

Refugees tell of brutality as people-smuggling across Channel booms Exclusive: People reportedly forced on to small boats at gunpoint as gangs move into tradeRefugees have told of increasingly brutal tactics used by people-smugglers transporting thousands across the Channel in small boats, as calm seas and the Covid-19 pandemic create a boom in the trade.The Guardian has heard testimonies of migrants being forced into boats at gunpoint or knifepoint and threatened with having their fingernails ripped out if they do not follow the orders of smugglers, who often use inflatable dinghies to transport their human cargo. Continue reading... Go to Source