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Friendship with Prince Charles made paedophile bishop Peter Ball 'impregnable' BBC2 documentary shows how establishment figures rallied round clericThe disgraced paedophile bishop Peter Ball made himself apparently “impregnable” by cultivating friendships with Prince Charles and other senior establishment figures who later rushed to support him when he was accused of sexual abuse, according to a BBC documentary.Ball, the former bishop of both Lewes and Gloucester who died last year, boasted of his role as “counsellor to royalty”, Cliff James, one of his victims, says in the programme. He cultivated friendships with Margaret Thatcher, peers of the realm, senior judges and headmasters of leading public schools. Continue reading... Go to Source

Using Huawei in UK 5G networks would be 'madness', US says British ministers told allowing Chinese firm access would put intelligence sharing at riskSenior US officials told British ministers on Monday that using Huawei technology in UK 5G networks would put transatlantic intelligence sharing at risk, warning that allowing the Chinese firm access would be “nothing short of madness”.The extraordinary American ultimatum came as a special delegation led by Donald Trump’s deputy national security advisor, Matt Pottinger, presented an incendiary dossier which they said featured new evidence of the security risks of relying on Huawei technology in future phone networks. Continue reading... Go to Source

Queen gives reluctant blessing to Harry and Meghan's plans She agreed to a ‘period of transition’ and stressed the couple remain ‘a valued part of my family’The Queen has given her reluctant blessing to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex to split their time between the UK and Canada, making it clear that though she had wanted the couple to remain as full-time working royals, she supported their decision.After a historic summit of senior royals at Sandringham, details over exactly how Harry and Meghan will carve out the new “progressive” roles they seek remained unclear. The Queen has, however, agreed to a “period of transition” and stressed the couple remain “a valued part of my family”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Ocean temperatures hit record high as rate of heating accelerates Oceans are clearest measure of climate crisis as they absorb 90% of heat trapped by greenhouse gasesThe heat in the world’s oceans reached a new record level in 2019, showing “irrefutable and accelerating” heating of the planet.The world’s oceans are the clearest measure of the climate emergency because they absorb more than 90% of the heat trapped by the greenhouse gases emitted by fossil fuel burning, forest destruction and other human activities. Continue reading... Go to Source

Queen says Harry and Meghan to have 'period of transition' in UK and Canada - live news Monarch says she would have preferred couple to remain full-time working royals as day of talks endsFull report: Harry to attend crisis talks with QueenThe royal showdown: all you need to know 5.36pm GMTAfter a mountain of speculation since Harry and Meghan declared their intentions last week, today’s statement from the Queen leaves us a little clearer about what the future will hold for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, even if it is necessarily light on detail. The Queen said there were complex issues to address and that more work needed to be done,but she also set a timetable, saying she expects final decisions to be reached in days.The statement announces a “period of transition&rdquo...

Five make it through to next round of Labour leadership contest Thornberry joins Long-Bailey, Starmer, Phillips and Nandy on list of leadership hopefulsFive candidates have made it through to the next round of the Labour leadership contest – Keir Starmer, Rebecca Long-Bailey, Lisa Nandy, Jess Phillips and Emily Thornberry.The leadership hopefuls passed the first hurdle after gaining the nominations of 22 MP and MEP colleagues, with one candidate, Clive Lewis, dropping out in the process. Continue reading... Go to Source

Oscars 2020: Joker leads pack – but Academy just trumps Baftas for diversity Joker nominated for 11 awards1917, The Irishman, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood up for 10Little Women and Parasite take six nominationsCynthia Erivo sole non-white acting nomineeOscar nominations: full list for 2020Less than a week since Bafta’s strikingly white and male awards shortlist met with widespread criticism – including from the organisation’s own chief executive – the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has released a set of nominations whose small concessions to diversity seem striking by contrast.Cynthia Erivo is nominated for best actress for her role in a biopic of abolitionist Harriet Tubman, and Parasite – Bong Joon-ho’s acclaimed South Korean black c...

Priti Patel defends inclusion of Extinction Rebellion on UK terror list Home secretary accepts XR is not terror group but says assessment has to be based on ‘security risks’The home secretary, Priti Patel, has defended anti-terror police for putting the Extinction Rebellion environmental protest group on a list of extremist ideologies, saying it was important to look at “a range of security risks”.While accepting that XR was not a terrorist organisation, Patel told LBC radio that such assessment had to be “based in terms of risk to the public, security risks, security threats”. Continue reading... Go to Source

Prince Harry and Prince William dismiss 'false story' about their relationship – live news Harry to meet Queen and senior royals at Sandringham with Meghan phoning in from Canada in bid to resolve crisisFull report: Harry to attend crisis talks with QueenThe royal showdown: all you need to know 11.45am GMTPrince Harry and Prince William have dismissed a “false story” in a UK newspaper today speculating about their relationship. The joint statement on behalf of the Duke of Sussex and Duke of Cambridge said: “Despite clear denials, a false story ran in a UK newspaper today speculating about the relationship between The Duke of Sussex and The Duke of Cambridge. For brothers who care so deeply about the issues surrounding mental health, the use of inflammatory language i...

Iranian police fired live rounds to disperse protesters, say witnesses Several people wounded during demonstrations in Tehran over plane deathsIran protests over downed jet – live updatesIranian authorities appear to have fired live ammunition to disperse protesters in Tehran, wounding several people, according to witness accounts provided to the Guardian and footage circulating on social media.Hundreds of protesters on Sunday defied a heavy security presence in the Iranian capital to hold vigils and demonstrations throughout the day and march in the evening on Azadi Square in the centre of the city. Continue reading... Go to Source