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Government's top legal advisers divided over move to override Brexit deal Exclusive: Scottish advocate general warned of breach of ministerial code but two other advisers disagreed, letter showsAre MPs obliged to comply with international law?A behind–the–scenes rift has emerged between the government’s top legal advisers over the legality of the decision to bring legislation that overrides the EU withdrawal agreement.Legal advice contained in a three–page letter marked “official – sensitive”, seen by the Guardian, summarises the legal opinions of the government’s three law officers, whose role includes ensuring ministers act in accordance with the law. Continue reading... Go to Source

Diana Rigg, Avengers and Game of Thrones star, dies aged 82 Actor who played Emma Peel in hit spy series and James Bond’s only wife was diagnosed with cancer in MarchThe actor Diana Rigg, known for her roles on stage and in film and television – including The Avengers and On Her Majesty’s Secret Service – has died at the age of 82.Rigg, who rose to prominence in the 1960s through her starring role as Emma Peel in The Avengers alongside Patrick Macnee, enjoyed a long and varied career, playing Lady Olenna Tyrell in HBO’s smash hit Game of Thrones, a show she admitted in 2019 that she had never watched. She also played Countess Teresa di Vicenzo, or Tracy Bond, James Bond’s first and only wife to date, in the 1969 film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Continue reading... Go to Source...

Coronavirus live news: Portugal back on England's quarantine list as UK records 2919 new cases Portugal, Hungary, French Polynesia and Reunion on England’s quarantine list; fifth day in a row UK records over 2,000 infections; France reports 8,500 new casesCentral Europe faces worse second wave after avoiding worst of firstUK looks to Belgium for Covid inspiration despite infections riseTrump admits playing down virus as total deaths exceed 900,000AstraZeneca chief claims vaccine still possible this year 6.42pm BST Six months on since declaring a pandemic, the World Health Organisation’s director general has said what worries him most is the lack of solidarity and leadership among world powers. Though the UN health agency declared a public health emergency of international concern - its ...

Women in England struggling to access contraception as result of underfunding Report calls for access to progestogen-only contraceptive pills over counterAccess to progestogen-only contraceptive pills should be available over the counter, experts have said, as a report finds many women in England are struggling to access contraception as a result of underfunding and cuts to services.An inquiry by the all-party parliamentary group on sexual and reproductive health (APPG SRH) heard that difficulties accessing contraception was leaving women at risk of unplanned pregnancies, a situation made worse by the Covid-19 outbreak. The inquiry said such problems also affected trans men and non-binary individuals. Continue reading... Go to Source

Belarus opposition figure says authorities threatened to kill her Maria Kolesnikova says she was told she would be leaving country ‘alive or in bits’Maria Kolesnikova, the Belarusian opposition politician who ripped up her passport to avoid forcible deportation earlier this week, said on Thursday that security officers put a bag over her head and threatened to kill her in response.Kolesnikova, a trained flautist and music teacher who has emerged as one of the most prominent figureheads of protests against authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko, said she was told by security officers that she would be removed from Belarus “alive or in bits” after she thwarted their plan to dump her in Ukraine by tearing up her passport at the border. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK has already breached withdrawal agreement, EU lawyers say Leaked legal opinion says bloc already has grounds to take ‘legal remedies’ that could lead to financial and trade sanctionsBritain has already breached the withdrawal agreement by tabling the internal market bill, prompting Brussels to plan legal action that could lead to financial and trade sanctions, according to a leaked EU legal opinion.The European commission believes Boris Johnson’s government breached the terms of the treaty just by taking the first steps to pass a new law that would negate key parts of the agreement signed last year. Continue reading... Go to Source

London bus attack couple join campaign to make misogyny a hate crime Increase in violence against women during lockdown makes new law imperative, says MP Stella CreasyA couple who were victims of a violent, homophobic attack on a London bus are calling for misogyny to become a hate crime, as a report reveals that women are three times more likely to experience sexual violence and threats than men.Melania Geymonat and her partner Chris, who were unwillingly propelled into the spotlight last year when they were beaten up by a gang of young men after refusing to kiss, have joined forces with a former police chief, MPs, religious leaders and the charity Citizens UK to put pressure on the government to introduce the new law. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK coronavirus live: Hancock considering 'eligibility' restriction to limit who can have a test News updates: health secretary speaks in Commons; experts sceptical PM’s £100bn plan to do up to 10m tests a day can be deliveredUK expert says rush back to the office should be pausedJohnson pinning hopes on £100bn ‘moonshot’ to avoid second lockdownWhat is No 10’s ‘moonshot’ plan and is it feasible?AstraZeneca chief claims vaccine still possible this yearGlobal coronavirus updates - live 12.49pm BST Sir Desmond Swayne, a Conservative, asks Hancock if he is starting to consider that the possibility that government policies are having an impact “worse than the disease itself”. Hancock says he disagrees. 12.47pm BST These are from my colleague Peter Walker, who points out that Matt Hancock ha...

Winchester school bus crash leaves children seriously injured Double-decker hit railway bridge, causing ‘significant damage’, police sayThree children have been taken to hospital with serious injuries while 13 others suffered minor injuries after the school bus they were travelling in crashed into a railway bridge.The collision caused “significant damage” to the top of the double-decker bus in the crash in Wellhouse Lane, Winchester, Hampshire, at 8.10am on Thursday. Continue reading... Go to Source

Julian Assange hearing paused for lawyer to get Covid test Judge grants adjournment until Monday in extradition hearing against WikiLeaks co-founderCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageJulian Assange’s extradition case has been paused until Monday so that a member of one of the legal teams can be tested for Covid-19 after potential exposure.The judge Vanessa Baraitser granted an adjournment at the request of lawyers for the WikiLeaks co-founder and the US government. Continue reading... Go to Source