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Tom Watson quits as Labour deputy leader and steps down as MP Move will reopen debate about party’s direction under Jeremy CorbynTom Watson is quitting parliament and stepping down as Labour’s deputy leader, reopening the debate about the party’s direction under Jeremy Corbyn. Watson, who is one of Labour’s best-known figures, has represented the constituency of West Bromwich East since 2001.In a letter to Corbyn released by Labour, he said his decision to step down was “personal, not political”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Top US diplomat observed clear Trump-Ukraine quid pro quo, testimony reveals US officials said Trump would not ‘sign a check’ for military aid without investigation into Joe Biden, Bill Taylor tells inquiryTrump impeachment inquiry – live updatesFor a second time in two days, newly released testimony in the impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump has produced a firsthand account of US officials negotiating a quid pro quo in Ukraine in which military aid would be used to pay for a political hit against Joe Biden, the president’s potential 2020 adversary. Related: Trump-Ukraine scandal: Taylor transcript details direct quid pro quo via irregular channels – live Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson goes on attack after series of high-profile Tory gaffes PM vows to quickly resolve Brexit, then berates Jeremy Corbyn and Nigel Farage Boris Johnson sought to turn around his scandal-hit election campaign on Wednesday as he gave his first major speech, attacking Jeremy Corbyn for planning tax rises to fund “deranged” nationalisation and Nigel Farage for thriving on Brexit not happening.The prime minister promised activists in Birmingham that he would get Brexit completed within weeks and spend next year focusing on the NHS, schools and other priorities, as he tried to draw a line under a disastrous few days for the Conservatives. Continue reading... Go to Source

Twitter employees charged with spying for Saudi Arabia Company workers reportedly obtained personal account information of critics of the government in Saudi ArabiaTwo former Twitter employees have been charged with spying after they reportedly obtained personal account information for critics of the government of Saudi Arabia.A complaint unsealed on Wednesday in US district court in San Francisco detailed a coordinated effort by Saudi officials to recruit employees at the social media giant to look up the private data of thousands of Twitter accounts. Continue reading... Go to Source

Schiphol security alert a false alarm caused by hijack warning sent in error Air Europa says crew member on board Madrid flight accidentally sent alert, prompting huge evacuation and lengthy delaysA false alarm has sparked a massive security operation at Schiphol airport in Amsterdam after a crew member on board a flight to Madrid accidentally sent a hostage-taking alert. Related: Dutch police find 16 migrants at port in lorry destined for UK Continue reading... Go to Source

Boris Johnson urged to ditch Alun Cairns as an election candidate Welsh secretary’s resignation over rape trial allegations not enough, says CorbynLatest election news – live updatesBoris Johnson is facing calls to remove Alun Cairns as a Conservative candidate after the Welsh secretary resigned over allegations that a former aide sabotaged a rape trial.Cairns stepped down following huge pressure in recent days over the actions of his former adviser Ross England, with the furore threatening to derail the Tory campaign in Wales. Continue reading... Go to Source

Labour NEC drops antisemitism row MP as election candidate Chris Williamson blocked from standing for party along with Stephen Hepburn and Roger GodsiffLatest election news - live updatesLabour has blocked the leftwing campaigner Chris Williamson from standing as a candidate for the party in the general election after he was suspended over accusations he had downplayed antisemitism.The party’s ruling body also refused to endorse the Jarrow MP, Stephen Hepburn, who was kicked out of the party over allegations of sexual harassment. Continue reading... Go to Source

Trump impeachment inquiry: public hearings to begin next week, Schiff announces – live House intelligence chair announces Bill Taylor and George Kent to testify on Wednesday and Marie Yovanovitch to appear next Friday – follow liveSign up for the US briefing and get a new perspective 5.53pm GMTCongresswoman Ayanna Pressley has broken with The Squad... to endorse Elizabeth Warren for president.Pressley’s close House allies Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have all endorsed Bernie Sanders, but Pressley announced she would back Warren in a Twitter video this afternoon.Big structural change can’t wait. pic.twitter.com/8Sanof9COD 5.38pm GMTReuters is reporting that a meeting between Donald Trump and China’s Xi Jinping to sign an interim trade deal could be delaye...

Doctors call for tighter control of traditional Chinese medicine Exclusive: European experts fear WHO recognition will encourage use of unproven therapies Europe’s leading doctors are to call for tighter regulation of traditional Chinese medicine, anxious that recent recognition by the World Health Organization will encourage the use of unproven therapies that can sometimes be harmful.The Federation of European Academies of Medicine (FEAM) and the European Academies’ Science Advisory Council will issue a joint statement on Thursday urging the WHO to clarify how traditional Chinese medicine and other complementary therapies should be used. Continue reading... Go to Source

Wife of killed Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi captured, says Turkey Erdoğan decries US for ‘communications campaign’ over jihadist’s deathA woman married to the slain Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has been captured and is in Turkish custody, Turkey’s president, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, has said.Erdoğan made the announcement during a speech in Ankara on Wednesday but did not provide any further details. “The United States said Baghdadi killed himself in a tunnel,” Erdogan said, criticising the US for a “communications campaign” over the jihadist’s death. Continue reading... Go to Source

Extinction Rebellion protesters may sue Met as ban ruled unlawful Section 14 order issued to halt protest across London was not legitimate, high court rulesHundreds of Extinction Rebellion protesters may sue the Metropolitan police for unlawful arrest after the high court quashed an order banning the group’s protests in London last month.In a judgment handed down on Wednesday morning, Mr Justice Dingemans and Mr Justice Chamberlain said the section 14 order imposed during XR’s “autumn uprising” in October was unlawful. Continue reading... Go to Source

Watchdog bans DWP's 'misleading' universal credit adverts ASA found claim that people could move into work faster on UC to be unsubstantiatedA series of government ads extolling the virtues of universal credit and purporting to bust negative myths about the flagship Conservative welfare policy has been banned because it is “misleading”.In an embarrassing indictment of the policy before next month’s general election, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) found that a claim that people moved into work faster on universal credit (UC) than under the old system could not be substantiated. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Corbyn says he will be different sort of PM, 'not kind who thinks politics is game' – live news Rolling coverage of the day’s developments in the 2019 general election campaignDon’t sign pledges on NHS or climate, Tory HQ tells candidatesRees-Mogg’s Grenfell remarks ‘caused huge distress’, admits Cleverly 11.58am GMTHow do we know for certain that the election campaign is underway? Because I’m on a battle bus - the Lib Dem bus, which has a huge picture of the party leader on the side and the slogan, “Jo Swinson’s Lib Dems”. It’s all quite presidential. As an aside, this is a Chinese-made electric bus, one of two the party has in service. The electric one, for obvious reasons, does the briefer trips. 11.50am GMTQ: Do you think renegotiating a Brexit deal with the...

Jordan attack: foreign tourists and guide stabbed in Jerash Police officer also reported to be among those attacked in city known for Roman ruinsSeveral foreign tourists as well as a guide and a police officer have been stabbed in the Jordanian city of Jerash, a popular destination for visitors.Police sources told the Guardian at least three of those stabbed were Mexican citizens and that there might be one other foreign victim. Authorities were expected to release an official statement soon. Continue reading... Go to Source

Barcelona picks itself up after protests as Spain goes to the polls once more Catalan question again dominates campaign with fears over rise of far-right Vox partyBarcelona no longer goes to bed to the smell of smoke, the whoop of sirens or the clattering of helicopters.Three weeks after the violent unrest that greeted the Spanish supreme court’s decision to jail nine Catalan separatist leaders for sedition over their roles in the failed push for regional independence two years ago, the city is slowly returning to something resembling normality. Continue reading... Go to Source