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Trump cared more about investigating Biden than Ukraine, key witness reveals House begins public hearings with testimonies from Bill Taylor and George Kent as president struggles to prevent investigationTrump impeachment inquiry public hearings – live updatesDonald Trump cared more about investigating his political rival Joe Biden than the fate of Ukraine, according to dramatic testimony from a key witness in the first impeachment inquiry hearing before the American public. Related: Lights, camera, impeachment: TV phase of inquiry carries pluses and pitfalls Continue reading... Go to Source

Norwegian wealth fund blacklists G4S shares over human rights concerns Sovereign wealth fund cites risk of company contributing to ill-treatment of migrant labour in Qatar and UAENorway’s sovereign wealth fund has banned all holdings of shares in British security services company G4S because of the risk of human rights violations against its workforce in Qatar and the United Arab Emirates.Norway’s Council of Ethics, which monitors investments in the country’s Government Pension Fund Global (GPFG), said there was an “unacceptable risk of the company contributing to systematic human rights violations”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson heckled over floods but does not apologise for 'slow response' Government working ‘round the clock’ to help deluged regions, prime minister saysBoris Johnson declined to apologise over his government’s slow response to the flooding across parts of the north of England, insisting that a huge amount of work was going on to help and compensate victims.The prime minister faced difficult questions over whether enough had been spent on flood defences in deluged regions of Yorkshire, the east Midlands and Lincolnshire, after giving a speech on how he would give billions of pounds to research and development. Continue reading... Go to Source

Donald Trump says US military presence in Syria 'only for the oil' – live Bill Taylor and George Kent testify in first day of public impeachment inquiry – follow for live updatesTrump impeachment hearings: five things to watch forIn this defining moment for America, support The Guardian’s independent journalism. Make a contribution 11.53pm GMTSome non-impeachment news courtesy of The Guardian’s Nina Lakhani: 11.18pm GMTThe Guardian’s Washington correspondent David Smith: Continue reading... Go to Source

McCluskey sparks Labour backlash over tough line on free movement Unite leader infuriates activists who campaigned for radical pro-migration motionJeremy Corbyn’s key union supporter, Unite’s Len McCluskey, sparked a backlash on Tuesday as he told the Labour leader that victory in the general election means taking a tough line on free movement of workers.In a Guardian interview, the Unite general secretary said shadow cabinet members should not upset Labour’s carefully crafted Brexit position during the election and that he would oppose any attempts to extend free movement as voted for at the party’s annual conference in Brighton. Continue reading... Go to Source

Hillary Clinton warns of path to 'fascism' after MPs stand down Former US secretary of state concerned that female MPs cited online threatsOnline threats which intimidate people into standing down as MPs are “the path to authoritarianism [and] fascism”, Hillary Clinton has said.Speaking to an audience in London, Clinton said she took “very seriously” the fact that significant numbers of female MPs had opted not to run again for parliament in the coming election, in many cases citing online intimidation and threats against their safety. Continue reading... Go to Source

Climate crisis will affect lifelong health of young, warn doctors Lancet Countdown tracks impacts of global heating covering disease, wildfires and malnutritionThe climate crisis will determine the lifelong health of today’s children, doctors have warned, noting that global heating was already causing harm.Children are especially vulnerable and the global team of researchers say rising temperatures mean the bacteria causing deadly diarrhoea will thrive while poorer crop yields could lead to more malnutrition. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: McDonnell says 95% of taxpayers won't face income tax or NI increases under Labour – live news The prime minister will deliver the first big set-piece speech of the campaign as Labour pledges £26bn extra per year for NHSSign up to the Guardian’s morning briefingThe leave-voting seat where the library matters as much as BrexitLabour vows £26bn rescue plan for NHSFarage working in cahoots with Boris Johnson, says Rayner 11.55am GMTQ: What would you do on social care, and on free movement?Ashworth says Labour will be making an announcement about social care later in the campaign. 11.53am GMTJohn McDonnell and Jonathan Ashworth are now taking questions.Q: Are you worried that you might be raising expectations unreasonably? Continue reading... Go to Source

Two reported dead as Venice flooded by highest tide in 50 years High waters peaked at 1.87 metres as the flood alarm sounded across the Italian city of canalsIn pictures: flooding in VeniceThe mayor of Venice is poised to declare a state of emergency after the city was hit by the highest tide in more than 50 years, with another surge expected to cause further widespread flooding and destruction on Wednesday.Flooding in the lagoon city reached its second-highest level ever in the wake of the aqua alta, or high waters, which reached 1.87 metres late on Tuesday night amid heavy rain, just short of the record 1.94 metres (78 in) recorded in 1966. Continue reading... Go to Source