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UN warns of rise of 'cybertorture' to bypass physical ban Rapporteur warns against trivialising psychological torture as states exploit internet to target individualsPsychological torture is being exploited by states to circumvent the more widely understood ban on physically inflicting pain and may open the way to a future of “cybertorture”, the UN torture rapporteur has said.Nils Melzer, professor of international law at the University of Glasgow and the UN’s special rapporteur on torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, is cautioning that the internet could be used systematically to target individuals remotely – through “intimidation, harassment, surveillance, public shaming and defamation”. Continue reading... Go to...

Isis supporter admits plot to bomb St Paul's Cathedral and a hotel Safiyya Amira Shaikh, 36, pleads guilty to preparing terrorist acts in hearing at Old BaileyA supporter of Islamic State has pleaded guilty to plotting to bomb St Paul’s Cathedral and a hotel.Safiyya Amira Shaikh, 36, from Hayes in Middlesex, admitted preparation of terrorist acts and dissemination of terrorist publications at a hearing at the Old Bailey. Continue reading... Go to Source

Coronavirus: air travel demand 'will fall for first time in 11 years' Predicted drop in passenger numbers because of outbreak will cost industry $29.3bn – IataThe spread of the coronavirus will result in the first fall in global air travel in more than a decade, the international airline industry body has predicted.The International Air Transport Association (Iata) warned that falling passenger demand as a result of the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus would cost the airline industry $29.3bn (£23.7bn) in lost revenues this year. Continue reading... Go to Source

EU leaders at odds over filling €75bn Brexit shortfall Agreement on a final budget deal at summit is unlikely, says Mette Frederiksen, Danish PMA summit to fix the EU’s long-term budget looked in danger of ending in failure after less than a day of talks, with leaders miles apart on how to fill the €75bn (£63bn) hole left by Brexit.As sources predicted a potential early close in Brussels, the European council president, Charles Michel, came under criticism for aiming “far too high” with a proposed budget of 1.074% of the bloc’s gross national income (€1.094tn). Continue reading... Go to Source

Priti Patel gets 'storm' warning over senior civil servant clashes David Normington, who served under five home secretaries, says timetable for new immigration system will be ‘tight’A former chief civil servant at the Home Office has warned that the department is in the grip of a number of “tropical storms” amid reports of clashes between Priti Patel and her chief mandarin.Sir David Normington, a former permanent secretary who served under five ministers at the Home Office, also warned that the government’s timetable for a new immigration system would be “tight”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Grace Millane murder: man jailed for life for killing of UK backpacker Man, who has name suppression, to spend at least 17 years in prison after murder of British backpacker that shocked New ZealandThe New Zealand man found guilty of murdering British backpacker Grace Millane has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum non-parole period of 17 years.The man appeared in Auckland’s high court on Friday morning, and his sentencing was overseen by Justice Simon Moore. Continue reading... Go to Source

Iran's leaders warn low turnout in election will boost Trump Voters set to shun Friday’s parliamentary poll in sign of protest or indifferenceIran’s senior leaders flooded the media with eve-of-poll warnings that abstentions in Friday’s parliamentary elections – either through indifference or as a protest – will only encourage Donald Trump to step up economic sanctions against Tehran.The one-week period of officially sanctioned campaigning for a seat in the next five year parliament ended on Wednesday night, 24 hours before voting started amid the first serious outbreak of coronavirus in Iran. Continue reading... Go to Source

Revealed: the areas in the UK with one Airbnb for every four homes ‘Out-of-control’ dominance of rentals in some communities depriving locals of homes, critics sayThe Devon village changed by AirbnbHow Airbnb is forcing out Barcelona localsAirbnb has become so prevalent in Great Britain that some parts of the country now have one listing for every four properties, prompting concern that the rapid expansion in short-term lets is “out of control” and depriving communities of much-needed homes.Exclusive analysis by the Guardian identified Airbnb hotspots in both rural areas and inner-city neighbourhoods, where the ratio of active Airbnb listings to homes was more than 20 times higher than the average across England, Scotland and Wales. Continue reading... Go to S...

Man arrested after London mosque stabbing Attempted murder inquiry launched after man allegedly stabbed in non-terror-related attackScotland Yard has launched an investigation into the attempted murder of a man who was stabbed at a mosque during afternoon prayers.The mosque’s muezzin, who calls others to prayers, was said to have been stabbed in the neck, according to one witness who posted a video showing the alleged attacker being detained by police at London Central Mosque in Regent’s Park. Continue reading... Go to Source

Hanau attack reveals 'poison' of racism in Germany, says Merkel Gunman who posted manifesto online kills nine at shisha bars before shooting himselfAngela Merkel has said the murder of nine people in a shooting rampage by a suspected rightwing extremist has revealed the “poison” of racism and hate in Germany.The man, identified as Tobias Rathjen, 43, carried out attacks at two shisha bars in Hanau, a commuter town near Frankfurt, before killing his mother and himself, police said. Continue reading... Go to Source

Roger Stone sentenced to 40 months in prison for obstructing Russia investigation – live Sentencing likely to prompt more Trump furyBloomberg the main target in bruising debate debut in Las VegasHelp us cover the critical issues of 2020. Consider making a contribution 5.49pm GMTRoger Stone will not report to prison for at least a few weeks, until Judge Amy Berman Jackson rules on his motion claiming juror bias in the case.Press and onlookers waiting for Stone, who is not going to prison for a least a few weeks, to emerge. pic.twitter.com/Z6LfVH8j9r 5.42pm GMTAs she delivered her sentence, Judge Amy Berman Jackson delivered a defense of facts, accusing Roger Stone of disregarding them in his case.“The truth still exists. The truth still matters,” Jackson said. “Roger St...

Powerful antibiotic discovered using machine learning for first time Team at MIT says halicin kills some of the world’s most dangerous strainsA powerful antibiotic that kills some of the most dangerous drug-resistant bacteria in the world has been discovered using artificial intelligence.The drug works in a different way to existing antibacterials and is the first of its kind to be found by setting AI loose on vast digital libraries of pharmaceutical compounds. Continue reading... Go to Source