Tuesday, February 11
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Iran calls for expulsion of UK ambassador as arrests made over plane crash

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Iran calls for expulsion of UK ambassador as arrests made over plane crash Effigy burned on streets of Tehran as diplomat accused of ‘interfering in internal affairs’Iran’s judiciary has described the UK’s ambassador to Tehran as “persona non grata” and called for his expulsion, while crowds of regime supporters burned his effigy alongside the British flag.The moves came after the envoy, Rob Macaire, was briefly arrested at the weekend and accused of “coordinating” anti-government protests. Continue reading... Go to Source

UK rebuffs US presentation on Huawei security risks

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UK rebuffs US presentation on Huawei security risks A source said the threat outlined by US officials had already been ‘factored into our planning’Britain believes the information dramatically presented by a delegation from Donald Trump’s administration about the risks of using Huawei technology in 5G networks contains nothing its intelligence agencies had not foreseen.The rebuff implies that British intelligence will not alter its assessment that the Chinese company’s technology presents no manageable security risk to British citizens as a final decision by the UK on whether to use Huawei looms. Continue reading... Go to Source

James Murdoch criticises father’s news outlets for climate crisis denial

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James Murdoch criticises father's news outlets for climate crisis denial Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp and Fox cited for ‘frustrating’ coverage of Australian bushfiresRupert Murdoch’s son has strongly criticised his family’s news outlets for downplaying the impact of the climate crisis, as bushfires continue to burn in Australia.James Murdoch and his wife, Kathryn, issued a rare joint statement directly criticising his father’s businesses for their “ongoing denial” on the issue, which has been reflected in the family’s newspapers repeatedly casting doubt on the link between the climate emergency and the bushfires. Continue reading... Go to Source

Meghan did not take part in Sandringham summit, say royal aides

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Meghan did not take part in Sandringham summit, say royal aides Clarification seeks to end speculation Duchess of Sussex was banned from crunch meetingThe Duchess of Sussex did not take part in the Queen’s historic Sandringham summit to decide future roles that she and Prince Harry will carve out, it has been revealed.Before Monday’s crisis meeting, sources had said Meghan was “likely” to be personally involved in the discussions via a conference-call from Canada, where she had returned on Thursday following the couple’s bombshell announcement they were to “step back” as senior royals. Continue reading... Go to Source

Johnson: Huawei critics ‘must tell us what’s the alternative’

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Johnson: Huawei critics 'must tell us what's the alternative' PM stresses he will not put UK security at risk in upgrading UK’s 5G networkLive blog – today’s political events as they happenBoris Johnson has insisted that he would not risk Britain’s security when upgrading the nation’s 5G communications network – but said critics of Chinese technology firm Huawei must come up with an “alternative” provider.The prime minister is due to make a final decision on whether to allow the tech firm to operate “non-core” parts of the UK telecoms system within weeks. Continue reading... Go to Source

Flybe: government considers air passenger duty cut to save airline

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Flybe: government considers air passenger duty cut to save airline Sajid Javid examines allowing regional carrier to defer paying £100m tax bill for three yearsEmergency talks were taking place between the chancellor, Sajid Javid, and the business and transport departments, amid attempts to ensure the survival of Flybe, Europe’s largest regional carrier.The government is considering whether to cut air passenger duty on all domestic flights, allowing the Exeter-based airline to defer a tax bill of about £100m for three years. The rescue proposal would give Flybe time to implement a turnaround plan, and would also avoid a breach of EU state aid rules, but immediately drew criticism from environmental groups. Continue reading... Go to Source

European states trigger dispute mechanism in Iran nuclear deal

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European states trigger dispute mechanism in Iran nuclear deal Move brings closer the potential collapse of 2015 deal and return of EU sanctionsBritain, France and Germany have triggered the dispute resolution mechanism in the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, a step that over months could result in the collapse of the agreement entirely and the return of European sanctions on Tehran.Officials described the move as one taken more in sorrow than anger and said it was in part prompted by fears that Iran may now be less than a year away from possessing the capacity to develop a nuclear bomb. Continue reading... Go to Source

Smoke plays havoc as Australian Open qualifier suffers coughing fit

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Smoke plays havoc as Australian Open qualifier suffers coughing fit Slovenian Dalila Jakupovic suffers breathing difficultiesMatch at Kooyong involving Maria Sharapova abandonedThe safety of players at this year’s Australian Open has been brought into sharp focus after a day of poor air quality in Melbourne forced the abandonment of the former world No 1 Maria Sharapova’s match in a warm-up event at Kooyong. Another player, Dalila Jakupovic, collapsed on court at Melbourne Park in jarring scenes at the venue for the year’s first grand slam.Jakupovic was forced to retire midway through her qualifying match when she suffered a coughing fit. The match had been given the green light to go ahead by tournament organisers after the day’s play had initially been delaye...

Friendship with Prince Charles made paedophile bishop Peter Ball ‘impregnable’

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Friendship with Prince Charles made paedophile bishop Peter Ball 'impregnable' BBC2 documentary shows how establishment figures rallied round clericThe disgraced paedophile bishop Peter Ball made himself apparently “impregnable” by cultivating friendships with Prince Charles and other senior establishment figures who later rushed to support him when he was accused of sexual abuse, according to a BBC documentary.Ball, the former bishop of both Lewes and Gloucester who died last year, boasted of his role as “counsellor to royalty”, Cliff James, one of his victims, says in the programme. He cultivated friendships with Margaret Thatcher, peers of the realm, senior judges and headmasters of leading public schools. Continue reading... Go to Source

Using Huawei in UK 5G networks would be ‘madness’, US says

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Using Huawei in UK 5G networks would be 'madness', US says British ministers told allowing Chinese firm access would put intelligence sharing at riskSenior US officials told British ministers on Monday that using Huawei technology in UK 5G networks would put transatlantic intelligence sharing at risk, warning that allowing the Chinese firm access would be “nothing short of madness”.The extraordinary American ultimatum came as a special delegation led by Donald Trump’s deputy national security advisor, Matt Pottinger, presented an incendiary dossier which they said featured new evidence of the security risks of relying on Huawei technology in future phone networks. Continue reading... Go to Source

Queen gives reluctant blessing to Harry and Meghan’s plans

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Queen gives reluctant blessing to Harry and Meghan's plans She agreed to a ‘period of transition’ and stressed the couple remain ‘a valued part of my family’The Queen has given her reluctant blessing to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to split their time between the UK and Canada, making it clear that though she had wanted the couple to remain as full-time working royals, she supported their decision.After a historic summit of senior royals at Sandringham, details over exactly how Harry and Meghan will carve out the new “progressive” roles they seek remained unclear. The Queen has, however, agreed to a “period of transition” and stressed the couple remain “a valued part of my family”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ocean temperatures hit record high as rate of heating accelerates

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Ocean temperatures hit record high as rate of heating accelerates Oceans are clearest measure of climate crisis as they absorb 90% of heat trapped by greenhouse gasesThe heat in the world’s oceans reached a new record level in 2019, showing “irrefutable and accelerating” heating of the planet.The world’s oceans are the clearest measure of the climate emergency because they absorb more than 90% of the heat trapped by the greenhouse gases emitted by fossil fuel burning, forest destruction and other human activities. Continue reading... Go to Source

Queen says Harry and Meghan to have ‘period of transition’ in UK and Canada – live news

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Queen says Harry and Meghan to have 'period of transition' in UK and Canada - live news Monarch says she would have preferred couple to remain full-time working royals as day of talks endsFull report: Harry to attend crisis talks with QueenThe royal showdown: all you need to know 5.36pm GMTAfter a mountain of speculation since Harry and Meghan declared their intentions last week, today’s statement from the Queen leaves us a little clearer about what the future will hold for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, even if it is necessarily light on detail. The Queen said there were complex issues to address and that more work needed to be done,but she also set a timetable, saying she expects final decisions to be reached in days.The statement announces a “period of transition&rdquo...
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