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General election: Johnson apologises for article comparing women wearing burqas to letterboxes – live news Parties out in force during final stretch ahead of 12 December vote, after two days of Nato drama 11.55am GMTLance Forman, the London MEP, is speaking at the press conference.He says, if it is acceptable for the Brexit party to stand down in 317 Tory-held seats, it makes sense for the Brexit party to back the Conservative party everywhere. 11.49am GMTThe four Brexit party MEPs who have left to back the Conservatives are now holding a press conference in Westminster.There is a live feed here. Continue reading... Go to Source

Seventy Labour staffers give statements to antisemitism inquiry Testimonies by current and former party workers have been passed to EHRC, lawyer saysGeneral election latest - live newsScores of serving and former Labour officials have given sworn statements about antisemitism in the party as part of evidence submitted to the Equality and Human Rights Commission’s investigation into the issue.James Libson, a lawyer representing the Jewish Labour Movement, confirmed he has prepared 70 testimonies from current and former staffers as part of the inquiry. Continue reading... Go to Source

Joe Biden targets Trump's Nato sore spot with video mash-up of mockery Democratic frontrunner goes viral with video that ends with the message: ‘We need a leader the world respects’Democratic presidential hopeful Joe Biden has sought to capitalise on world leaders’ private ridicule of Donald Trump at the Nato summit, releasing a video montage including similar moments which soon went viral on Twitter.Within hours the video, posted by the Democratic frontrunner on Wednesday evening, amassed close to 2m views, and more than 21,000 retweets. By comparison, Trump’s video about his Nato trip had 1.4 million views and 14,600 retweets in the space of 12 hours. Continue reading... Go to Source

France grinds to halt in the biggest strikes of Macron's presidency Rail and air transport as well as schools and policing hit by walkouts over pension changesEmmanuel Macron is facing the biggest strikes of his presidency, as French rail workers, air-traffic controllers, teachers and public sector staff staged walkouts and took to the streets against proposed changes to the pension system.Rail services almost ground to a halt, with 82% of drivers on strike and at least 90% of regional trains cancelled, amid fears that the open-ended transport disruption could continue for days. In Paris, 11 out of the 16 metro lines were shut, forcing commuters to scramble to hire bikes and scooters. Continue reading... Go to Source

Plastic pollution kills half a million hermit crabs on remote islands Experts fear species decline after huge number of deaths on Henderson and CocosMore than half a million hermit crabs have been killed after becoming trapped in plastic debris on two remote island groups, prompting concern that the deaths could be part of a global species decline.The pioneering study found that 508,000 crabs died on the Cocos (Keeling) Islands archipelago in the Indian Ocean, along with 61,000 on Henderson Island in the South Pacific. Previous studies have found high levels of plastic pollution at both sites. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump cuts short Nato summit after fellow leaders' hot-mic video US president cancels press conference after video captured group of leaders apparently ridiculing himA furious Donald Trump cut short his attendance at the Nato summit in London after a group of leaders, including Boris Johnson, was caught on video ridiculing the US president at Buckingham Palace for staging lengthy press conferences .The notoriously thin-skinned Trump cancelled a planned press conference and branded the Canadian prime minister, Justin Trudeau, “two-faced” after he was revealed on video leading the laughter at Trump’s expense together with other US allies. Continue reading... Go to Source

London Bridge attack victims died after being stabbed in chest – inquest Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones suffered shock and haemorrhaging, Old Bailey toldThe two victims of the London Bridge attack both died as a result of being stabbed in the chest, the inquests into their deaths have heard.The inquests into the deaths of Jack Merritt, 25, and Saskia Jones, 23, both Cambridge graduates, opened at the Old Bailey in central London on Wednesday before being adjourned to a date to be determined. Continue reading... Go to Source

M&G suspends £2.5bn property fund blaming retail crisis and Brexit M&G Property Portfolio bans withdrawals after investors demand their money backOne of the UK’s biggest property funds, which owns shopping centres across the country, has alarmed investors by banning withdrawals and blaming both Brexit and the retail downturn for its problems.The £2.5bn M&G Property Portfolio was suspended after “unusually high and sustained outflows” – demand from investors for their money back – prompted by “Brexit-related political uncertainty and ongoing structural shifts in the UK retail sector”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Bob Willis, former England cricket captain, dies aged 70 Willis played in 90 Tests between 1971 and 1984Bowler also played for Surrey and WarwickshireBob Willis, the former England cricket captain, has died aged 70, his family announced on Wednesday.The pace bowler made 90 Test match appearances for his country and took 325 wickets, placing him fourth in the all-time list of England bowlers. He famously played a key part in the memorable 1981 third Test defeat of Australia at Headingley that was won from a seemingly impossible position, taking a career-best 8-43. He enjoyed a long career in broadcasting after his retirement in 1984, first for the BBC and then latterly on Sky. Continue reading... Go to Source

Impeachment inquiry: Trump's actions constitute bribery, says witness – live Law professor said Trump’s actions toward Ukraine meet constitutional definition of bribery, adding credibility to Democrats’ use of termHelp us cover the critical issues of 2020. Consider making a contribution 5.44pm GMTGeorge Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, the only witness at today’s impeachment hearing who was called by Republicans on the House judiciary committee, argued Trump’s actions toward Ukraine do not represent a “clear case of bribery.”Prof. Turley, contrasting with the other three witnesses, says there is not a "clear case of bribery" against President Trump https://t.co/5Pgb8iGzpR pic.twitter.com/R49wOYxTyX 5.39pm GMTCongressman Doug Collins also opened his questioning by j...