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Tories act to prevent NHS crisis hitting election hopes No 10 plans to set up emergency unit to oversee the service as doctors warn of ‘extreme pressure’Downing Street has taken emergency action to head off winter pressures in the NHS amid growing fears in government that a healthcare crisis could derail the Tory party’s general election campaign.The prime minister Boris Johnson has been holding regular meetings at No 10 with the head of NHS England, Simon Stevens, as evidence mounts of lengthening delays in treatment caused by shortages of doctors and nurses. In addition, the health secretary Matt Hancock has been seeing Stevens every week, on Monday mornings, to assess how to prevent a deterioration in waiting times at hospitals and GP surgeries. Continue reading... Go to Sourc...

Brazilian 'forest guardian' killed by illegal loggers in ambush Paulo Paulino Guajajara was killed by armed loggers in the Araribóia region in MaranhãoA Brazilian indigenous land defender has been killed in an ambush by illegal loggers in an Amazon frontier region.According to a statement by the Brazilian Indigenous Peoples Association, Paulo Paulino Guajajara was shot and killed inside the Araribóia indigenous territory in Maranhão state. Another tribesman, Laércio Guajajara, was also shot and hospitalised and a logger has been reported missing. No body has yet been recovered. Continue reading... Go to Source

Jeremy Corbyn decries fracking suspension as election stunt Labour leader’s comments come after minister suggests halt may only be temporaryCalls are growing for the next government to make the suspension of fracking in England permanent after a minister suggested the halt to exploration may only be temporary.The government announced an immediate moratorium on fracking on Friday in a major U-turn after the Oil and Gas Authority said in a report that it was unable to predict the magnitude of any earthquakes triggered by hydraulic fracturing. One in August measured 2.9 on the Richter scale. Continue reading... Go to Source

Dominic Grieve calls for release of report on Russian meddling Intelligence and security committee chair says dossier has facts ‘germane’ to votersDominic Grieve has called for the publication of a report on Russian meddling in the democratic process to be published before the general election, saying it contains knowledge “germane” to voters.Boris Johnson had been expected to approve publication of the 50-page dossier, compiled by the cross-party intelligence and security committee, by Thursday. His failure to do so sparked calls for its release amid speculation that it could potentially be damaging to the government. Continue reading... Go to Source

Rugby World Cup: South Africa surge to glory as England fall short • Live reaction to the Springboks’ World Cup triumph• Springboks crowned world champions for a third time• Pollard kicks 22 points, Mapimpi and Kolbe add triesIn the end it appeared to be written in the stars. Every 12 years South Africa have an unerring habit of winning Rugby World Cups and they have done it again, following up their triumphs of 1995 and 2007 with another prodigious display of power and might. The image of Siya Kolisi, the first black captain to collect the Webb Ellis Cup, raising the trophy is set to become as treasured as any picture in Springbok history.In truth they had a crestfallen England exactly where they wanted them long before two last quarter tries from the wingers Makazole Mapimpi and...

Fracking banned in UK as government makes major U-turn Victory for green groups follows damning scientific study and criticism from spending watchdogThe government has banned fracking with immediate effect in a watershed moment for environmentalists and community activists.Ministers also warned shale gas companies it would not support future fracking projects, in a crushing blow to companies that had been hoping to capitalise on one of the new frontiers of growth in the fossil fuel industry. Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson faces threat of Brexit party battle in every seat PM rejects Nigel Farage’s offer of electoral pact, saying it could allow Jeremy Corbyn into No 10Boris Johnson faces the threat of battling against the Brexit party for leave votes in every seat across Britain, after Nigel Farage gave the prime minister a two-week deadline to drop his Brexit deal.After a rocky 48 hours, which saw Johnson booed during a hospital visit and urged by Donald Trump to join forces with Farage, the Brexit party leader urged him to strike a “leave alliance”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Beto O'Rourke withdraws from Democratic race to face Trump Former El Paso congressman announces primary exitPromises focus on key issues, reportedly will not target SenateBeto O’Rourke has withdrawn from the race for the Democratic presidential nomination.In a Medium post and a series of tweets on Friday afternoon, the former congressman from El Paso said: “Our campaign has always been about seeing clearly, speaking honestly, and acting decisively. Continue reading... Go to Source