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'Full of arrogance': Trump angers China by signing bills backing Hong Kong protesters Beijing says ‘US plot doomed to fail’ after legislation approved that threatens sanctions if officials abuse human rightsDonald Trump has signed into law legislation backing pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong, angering Beijing which has condemned the bill as “full of prejudice and arrogance”.The legislation, approved unanimously by the US Senate and by all but one lawmaker in the House of Representatives last week, threatens sanctions on Chinese and Hong Kong officials deemed responsible for human rights abuses in Hong Kong. The bill also requires the state department to annually review whether Hong Kong retains enough autonomy to justify favourable US trading terms. Continue reading... Go to Sou...

Blue Story to return to Vue cinemas after criticism of withdrawal Company’s chief executive says ‘racism does not enter into the equation’ Blue Story will return to screens following a backlash about it being pulled, the chief of Vue cinemas has announced, as he insisted race was never part of the equation.The film – a story of two childhood friends who get caught up in gangs from rival postcodes – was withdrawn by the cinema chain after seven police officers were injured in a disturbance at Star City in Birmingham on Saturday, where there were reports of youths with machetes. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour unveils plan to plant 2bn trees in next 20 years Party also pledges to create 10 new national parks and fund restoration of habitatsLabour has announced plan to plant 2bn trees over the next 20 years and create 10 new national parks, as part of a rewilding policy intended to tackle the climate emergency and help natural habitats.The proposals also include an investment of £1.2bn to restore habitats such as woodlands and peat bogs in England, and extra funding for national park authorities. Continue reading... Go to Source

South Korea to shut a quarter of its coal-fired plants over winter to cut pollution Plants will close during coldest months in a bid to reduce high levels of fine dust particlesSouth Korea will temporarily shut down up to a quarter of its coal-fired power plants next month in an attempt to combat dangerously high levels of fine dust pollution.The country’s energy ministry said 14 plants would be idled between December and February, and as many as 27 in March, but added that the closures would not affect energy supplies during the coldest months of the year. Continue reading... Go to Source

Leaked papers prove Tories want to sell off NHS, claims Corbyn US proposals for post-Brexit trade would cost NHS billions more each year, experts warnWhat does the dossier say about the NHS and drug pricing?General election latest - live newsBoris Johnson’s claim that healthcare is “not on the table” in UK and US trade talks has been undermined by the release of official papers that reveal the two countries have repeatedly discussed dismantling protections that keep NHS drug prices down.The 451 pages of uncensored documents show that between July 2017 and July 2019, senior UK and US trade officials discussed the NHS, drug patents, the pharmaceutical industry, health insurance and medical devices as part of the post-Brexit trade deal. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour fears Boris Johnson will duck Andrew Neil interview BBC reveals it has not confirmed PM’s appearance after Corbyn’s fierce grillingGeneral election latest - live newsLabour has expressed concerns about the BBC’s political coverage after it was revealed that Boris Johnson has still not confirmed whether he will subject himself to a cross-examination by Andrew Neil.Jeremy Corbyn’s team agreed to take part in the series of one-on-one interviews with the journalist after the BBC told them the prime minister would definitely be doing a similar broadcast next week. However, a BBC source strongly denied they had told Labour that Johnson had confirmed. Continue reading... Go to Source

Impact of air pollution on health may be far worse than thought, study suggests Results chime with earlier review indicating almost every cell in the body may be affected by dirty airThe number of health problems linked to air pollution could be far higher than previously thought, according to research suggesting hospital admissions for conditions ranging from heart failure to urinary tract infections increase as air becomes dirtier.Air pollution has already been associated with a number of conditions, from strokes to brain cancer, miscarriage and mental health problems. Continue reading... Go to Source

Clive James, writer, broadcaster and TV critic, dies aged 80 James died at his home in Cambridge on Sunday almost 10 years after his first terminal diagnosisClive James, the broadcaster, poet and television critic, has died aged 80 after a long illness.The Australian died at his home in Cambridge on Sunday, his agent confirmed. A private funeral attended by family and close friends took place in the chapel at Pembroke College, Cambridge, on Wednesday afternoon. Continue reading... Go to Source