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Republicans argue only Trump can save America at first night of convention President’s allies and family issued dark warnings of what’s at stake in the election, and an array of misleading claimsRepublicans have used the first night of their national convention to issue dark warnings about the future of America, arguing that re-electing Donald Trump is the only way to save the country from falling into socialism, economic ruin, violence and anarchy.Monday night’s theme was officially the “land of promise,” but the collection of speeches offered an almost apocalyptic vision of what’s at stake in November’s elections, and a dizzying array of misleading claims. Continue reading... Go to Source

Tuesday briefing: Apocalyptic themes as Republicans back Trump Democrats will ‘disarm you, lock you in your homes’ … expectant mothers told only zero caffeine is safe … and how chairs shape our lives for the worseGood morning, Warren Murray with the news tamed and corralled for your inspection. Continue reading... Go to Source

Headteachers launch stinging criticism of education secretary England’s school leaders accuse government of failing to listen during coronavirus crisisThousands of headteachers have written to the education secretary, Gavin Williamson, accusing the government of repeatedly failing to listen or collaborate as schools prepare to reopen to millions of children across England.In what appears to be a damaging breakdown in relations, headteachers say they are facing some of the most significant challenges of their professional lives but feel they are “working in isolation”, unsupported by the government. Continue reading... Go to Source

David Olusoga: racism in British TV has led to 'lost generation' of black talent Lack of BAME people in executive and behind-camera roles down to being ignored or worn down by industry, says historianSystemic racism in British television has forced out a generation of black talent who quit because they were being ignored or worn down by their experiences, the industry’s leaders were told on Monday.In a devastating critique, the prominent broadcaster and historian David Olusoga said the impact of this “lost generation” could be seen in unrepresentative programmes that failed to reflect modern Britain. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK delays Zaghari-Ratcliffe release for fear of offending Trump, lawyers claim Lawyers call for meeting with defence secretary and accuse government of waiting for US permission to pay money owed to IranThe British government has deliberately delayed taking steps necessary to secure the release of Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe – including payment of a £400m debt owed to Iran – for fear of offending the Trump administration, lawyers acting for the British-Iranian woman have alleged.The lawyers requested a meeting with the defence secretary, Ben Wallace, and his advisers at the “earliest convenience” to discuss the approach the government was taking on the issue of debt owed to Iran. Continue reading... Go to Source

Teachers hit back at claims coronavirus is spread by school staff Unions react angrily to report from Public Health England on Covid-19 in schoolsCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageUnions have reacted angrily to claims that coronavirus is more likely to be spread by teachers than pupils, warning that everyone has a responsibility to try to avoid bringing Covid-19 into school and transmitting it to others.It follows a report by Public Health England (PHE) which found that though Covid-19 outbreaks were “uncommon” in English schools after they reopened in June, the virus was more likely to be spread by staff than pupils. Continue reading... Go to Source

Tests indicate Alexei Navalny was poisoned, says German clinic Kremlin critic being treated with same antidote used after 2018 nerve agent attack in SalisburyTests indicate that Alexei Navalny was the victim of a poisoning and he is being treated with atropine, the same antidote used after the 2018 nerve agent attack in Salisbury, the German clinic where the Kremlin critic is a patient said on Monday.While Berlin’s Charité hospital did not identify the specific poison responsible for Navalny’s sudden illness on an internal Russian flight last Thursday, the substance was part of a group that affects the central nervous system, and includes nerve agents and pesticides, as well as some drugs. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump formally renominated by Republicans as convention gets under way – live Kellyanne Conway set to leave White House at end of monthWisconsin protests after video appears to show police shooting man 446 deaths and 32,340 new cases of Covid-19 reported in US on SundaySign up to our First Thing newsletter 6.56pm BST More on lawsuits facing the Trump organization – New York state Attorney General Letitia James has filed a lawsuit investigating whether Trump inflated the valuations of certain assets. New York’s Democratic attorney general asked a court Monday to enforce subpoenas into an investigation into whether President Donald Trump and his businesses inflated assets on financial statements.Attorney General Letitia James filed a petition in state trial court in New York C...

Berlin reports rise in fatalities as new bike lanes fail to keep cyclists safe Campaigners demand more rules for lorries after initial hope pandemic would mean less trafficA coronavirus-related drop in traffic and new protected bike lanes have failed to make Berlin’s roads safer for cyclists, as the German capital reports a four-year record in fatalities.A woman run over by a right-turning articulated lorry in the district of Reinickendorf on Friday became Berlin’s 14th official cycling fatality of 2020 – more than twice as many as the six recorded in 2019. Continue reading... Go to Source

Councils scrapping use of algorithms in benefit and welfare decisions Call for more transparency on how such tools are used in public services as 20 councils stop using computer algorithmsCouncils are quietly scrapping the use of computer algorithms in helping to make decisions on benefit claims and other welfare issues, the Guardian has found, as critics call for more transparency on how such tools are being used in public services.It comes as an expert warns the reasons for cancelling programmes among government bodies around the world range from problems in the way the systems work to concerns about bias and other negative effects. Most systems are implemented without consultation with the public, but critics say this must change. Continue reading... Go to Source

Parents in England could be fined if they keep children off school Schools minister Nick Gibb says fines would be ‘last resort’ as PM says risk of children getting Covid-19 is smallCoronavirus – latest updatesSee all our coronavirus coverageParents in England could be fined if they decide to keep their children off school from September, the schools minister, Nick Gibb, has said.Financial penalties would be a “last resort” but were still available to local authorities if youngsters were kept away from the classroom, he said. Continue reading... Go to Source

Christchurch gunman planned to burn mosques down, New Zealand police say Court hears that Australian planned to attack a third mosque before he was arrestedA court in New Zealand has heard for the first time an official account of how a terrorist who murdered 51 people at two mosques in Christchurch planned and executed the attacks – and his intentions to burn down both places of worship and attack a third.The details of the attack were read at the beginning of a high-security hearing to decide whether the Australian man who has admitted committing the mass shootings will ever leave prison. Continue reading... Go to Source

Children raised in greener areas have higher IQ, study finds Research also found lower levels of difficult behaviour in rich and poor neighbourhoodsChildren growing up in greener urban areas have increased intelligence and lower levels of difficult behaviour, a study has found.The analysis of more than 600 children aged 10-15 showed a 3% increase in the greenness of their neighbourhood raised their IQ score by an average of 2.6 points. The effect was seen in both richer and poorer areas. Continue reading... Go to Source

Protests in Wisconsin after video appears to show police shooting black man in the back Video on social media appears to show officers shoot at man seven times as he leaned into vehicleResidents have confronted law enforcement officers at the scene of a police shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, that drew a harsh rebuke from the state’s governor and prompted crowds to take to the streets after a video posted on social media appeared to show officers shoot at a man’s back seven times as he leaned into a vehicle.Kenosha police said one person was left in a serious condition in hospital after a shooting by officers about 5pm on Sunday, as police were responding to a “domestic incident”. Continue reading... Go to Source