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Impeachment inquiry transcripts reveal shock and concern over Trump plot Yovanovitch and McKinley warned plot undermined national securityImpeachment inquiry live – rolling reportTwo senior American diplomats warned congressional investigators a White House plot to manufacture political dirt on Joe Biden in Ukraine had undermined US national security interests and shredded faith among foreign service personnel, according to transcripts released on Monday by committees pursuing an impeachment inquiry against Donald Trump. Related: Trump rejects whistleblower offer to answer Republican questions Continue reading... Go to Source

Sir Lindsay Hoyle promises calm after being elected Speaker Successor to John Bercow – and 158th occupant of the job – beats Chris Bryant in final round of votingSir Lindsay Hoyle was elected as the new Speaker of the House of Commons on Monday, succeeding John Bercow who held the role for more than a decade.The 62-year-old Labour MP for Chorley, the only candidate who refused to say how he voted in the 2016 EU referendum, became the 158th Speaker after beating six others in a secret ballot of members. Continue reading... Go to Source

Scotland stops treating under-12s as criminals but is urged to do more Children’s commissioner says move is inadequate and minimum age should be 14Scotland is to stop treating children under 12 as offenders later this month after the Scottish parliament voted earlier this year to raise the age of criminal responsibility from eight.The Scottish children’s commissioner, however, has criticised the measure as inadequate and urged ministers in Edinburgh to revisit the decision and raise the minimum age to 14. Continue reading... Go to Source

Flour power: Hong Kong protest-themed cake disqualified from UK baking contest Creator claims cake was victim of political censorship after attendees at Cake International show threatened to damage itA Hong Kong protest-themed cake has become the latest cause célèbre of the city’s five-month political crisis after it was disqualified from a cake decorating competition in the UK.The three-tiered cake features a mini black-clad protester in a yellow hard hat, a large Guy Fawkes mask, tiny umbrellas and mini political slogans – all symbols of the ongoing protests. It even has a miniature black LP record playing the unofficial anthem of the protest, Glory to Hong Kong, and emits a vapour designed to look like tear gas. Continue reading... Go to Source

Girl, 11, who drowned at theme park was on ride without a teacher, inquest told Evha Jannath died after falling into 12ft of water at Drayton Manor, StaffordshireAn 11-year-old girl who drowned after falling into 12ft of water on the river rapids at a theme park was allowed aboard the ride without a teacher, an inquest has heard.Evha Jannath was “propelled” from a six-seater vessel on Splash Canyon at Drayton Manor, Staffordshire on 9 May 2017, while on an end-of-year school trip with staff and friends from Jameah girls academy in Leicester. Continue reading... Go to Source

No 10 blocks Russia EU referendum report until after election Decision to prevent publication described as ‘jaw-dropping’ by Dominic GrieveDowning Street has effectively blocked the publication of a potentially explosive parliamentary report on the security threat that Russia poses to the UK until after the general election.The 50-page document from the intelligence and security committee examines allegations that Kremlin-sponsored activity distorted the result of the 2016 EU referendum, but has to be cleared by No 10 before it can be released. Continue reading... Go to Source

General election: Lindsay Hoyle clear winner in first ballot for Speaker, but short of 50% of votes needed – live news Rolling coverage of the day’s political events as they happen, including 2019 general election campaigningSinn Féin steps aside for remain candidates in three key seatsJuncker: Boris Johnson told ‘so many lies’ in EU referendum campaignQ&A: how will MPs elect a new Speaker? 5.50pm GMTKen Clarke has just read out the results of the second round of voting. Here they are (with the results from the first round in brackets).Round 2... #speakerelection pic.twitter.com/qX7vHvQlNK 5.41pm GMTIn the Commons the division bells are ringing, which means the results of the next round of voting in the election of the new Speaker will be announced soon. Continue reading... Go to...

Age of criminal responsibility must be raised, say experts In England and Wales, children as young as 10 can be convicted of a crime – the lowest minimum age of any EU stateHundreds of primary school-aged children are being needlessly criminalised because of the “ridiculously young” age of criminal responsibility in England and Wales, according to experts who are calling for it to be increased.Representatives from youth services, the justice system and politicians are urging the government to raise the minimum age a child can be convicted of a crime by at least two years from 10 to 12, in response to the Guardian’s investigation into youth courts. Continue reading... Go to Source

Nasa's Voyager 2 sends back its first signal from interstellar space Nasa craft is second to travel beyond heliosphere but will give most detailed data yetTwelve billion miles from Earth, there is an elusive boundary that marks the edge of the sun’s realm and the start of interstellar space. Voyager 2, the longest-running space mission, has finally beamed back a faint signal from the other side of that frontier, 42 years after its launch.The Nasa craft is the second ever to travel beyond the heliosphere, the bubble of supersonic charged particles streaming outwards from the sun. Despite setting off a month ahead of its twin, Voyager 1, it crossed the threshold into interstellar space more than six years behind, after taking the scenic route across the solar system and providing wh...

Police find 41 migrants alive in refrigerated truck in Greece Driver arrested after seven people are rushed to hospital with respiratory problemsGreek police have found 41 people alive in a refrigerated truck in a discovery that has underscored the extraordinary risk migrants are prepared to take to get into Europe.At least a third of the people, of apparent Afghan origin, had developed breathing problems and seven were rushed to a nearby hospital with respiratory problems. Continue reading... Go to Source