- NewsThe Independent
Two thirds of Tory members believe UK areas 'under Sharia law', as poll reveals scale of Islamophobia in party
Two thirds of Conservative Party members believe that parts of Britain “operate under Sharia law”, a new poll has shown amid a mounting Islamophobia scandal.A YouGov poll found that almost half of Tories believed in the myth of no-go zones where “non-Muslims are not able to enter” and 39 per cent thought Islamist terror attacks “reflected widespread hostility to Britain among the Muslim community”.Counter-extremism group Hope Not Hate called on leadership candidates Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt to address the “Islamophobia crisis” in their party.“From the grassroots to the great offices of state, Conservative members buy into racist myths, with almost half unwilling to have a Muslim prime minister – and only 8 per cent being proud to have one – and most denying that there’s even an issue to confront,” said campaigns director Matthew McGregor.Shortly after Sajid Javid was knocked out of the contest, 43 per cent of members agreed with the statement that: “I would prefer to not have the country led by a Muslim.”The polling suggested that Tories are more opposed to Muslim immigration than that from other faiths, with 40 per cent wanting the number of Muslims entering Britain lowered.Under one in 10 members thought Islamophobia was an issue in the party, while almost 80 per cent denied there was a problem.
- NewsEvening Standard
Barack and Michelle Obama are visiting George and Amal Clooney at their Lake Como villa
George and Amal Clooney’s Lake Como villa appears to be the place to be this summer, as the Obama family has dropped in for a security-heavy visit.Former President and First Lady Barack and Michelle Obama have been living their best post-White House lives on a vacation in Europe with their daughters, Malia and Sasha.The governor of Laglio in Italy revealed the Obamas would be staying with the Clooneys last week, and now the two families have been spotted together. An Italian notice published by the Daily Mail had been translated to reveal the Obamas would visit the region between Saturday and Monday and, as is the case for any former American president, strict security measures were in place. Last week Mayor Roberto Pozzi told Italian outlet Estadao, “The parking lot at the back of Villa Oleandra [the Clooneys' home] will be closed for two days, Saturday and Sunday, because it should be available for the security service cars. In the territory and also on the lake, numerous men and law enforcement agencies will be in service.”Cars which come within 300 feet of the Clooneys’ home will also be fined 500 Euros.The Clooneys reportedly had their yard and pool groomed for the former President's visit, leaving neighboring yards left to dry as local gardeners were solely focused on perfecting the Clooney residence.It is believed that the Obamas joined the A-list couple at a “charity dinner for the Clooney Foundation for Justice on Saturday evening”. The presidential couple’s daughters Malia and Sasha also attended, as the college students were photographed travelling with their parents. The entire Obama-Clooney crew was spotted riding a boat on Lake Como to the charity dinner. All attendees were dressed to the nines. Barack Obama and George Clooney were photographed at the stern of the vessel in suits, Michelle Obama in a white blouse and black pants and Amal Clooney in an orange floral gown. According to the Daily Mail, the family have been travelling by private jet and have stayed in Provence’s wine-rich Châteauneuf-du-Pape region in a £47,000 a week villa, with a security detail in tow. It’s typical for former presidents to retain a secret service detail even after leaving office, as the Department of Homeland Security states in its official literature, “The Protective Operations program protects the President and Vice President and their families, former Presidents and their spouses, and other designated individuals.”This is a “permanent protective detail” and that employees “must move to the geographic location where protectees reside”.The Obama family isn’t the first high profile couple to stop by the Clooneys Como mansion, as the couple's friends Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also believed to have visited. Earlier this year, George even extended a Como invitation to two lucky members of the public in the name of their charity. Amal Clooney’s husband George offers YOU the chance to join him and Amal on a double date… on Lake Como! Donations benefit the Clooney Foundation for Justice. omaze georgeclooney amalclooney Enter here: https://t.co/MvrZaLUIc1 pic.twitter.com/1Lsxn3l70I — Omaze (@omaze) May 29, 2019The actor revealed he was giving away the chance to double date with him and Amal at their Como villa in an hilarious video posted to Twitter. He said, “Hi, I’m Amal Clooney’s husband George and we’d like you to come with us to Lake Como. Just picture it: you and Amal, wine in your hand, discussing current affairs while her husband...quietly serves lunch.”Fans hoping to lunch with the Clooneys have to join a ballot, which can only be entered by making a donation to his and Amal’s human rights charity The Clooney Foundation for Justice via fundraising platform Omaze.
- NewsEvening Standard
Spice Girls net worth: How much are Victoria Beckham, Mel B, Geri Halliwell, Emma Bunton and Mel C worth? What are they making from their tour?
The Spice Girls recently finished making their triumphant return by bringing girl power back on their world tour. But how lucrative is touring two decades after their original pop stardom, and how much did the ladies make from their original time in the band? The Spice Girls first formed in 1994, recording in a small Shoreditch studio. They weren’t the Spice Girls at first - they were called Touch. They signed with 19 Management and Simon Fuller, who Victoria Beckham still works with today. The Spice Girls deal included a £1 million advance, celebrated with a wild party complete with five sex dolls created in their image. In the spring of 1996, the media takeover started in earnest.The band released "Wannabe" in July 1996 and it quickly went to number one in 37 countries. But it almost wasn't their first single - Virgin wanted them to release an R&B song called "Love Thing" or "Say You'll Be There." The label also wasn't sure about the "Wannabe" video and there were discussions about reshooting it to appeal to an American audience. Their debut album went on to become the best-selling album by a girl group, selling a grand total of 31 million copies worldwide. According to Rolling Stone, in the ‘90s the ladies made up to $75 million a year thanks to merchandising, the iconic Spice World movie and ticket sales, with their first tour in ‘98 grossing a cool $60 mil on its American leg alone.Their merchandise wasn't just tour tees. Tweens and teens bought up everything Spice, from Chupa Chup lollipops (there are still some available on eBay) to miniature dolls (also available on eBay, of course).Young girls dressed up as their favorite Spice Girl, merch in hand, inspired by the "Girl Power" the band members promoted. Whether it was buying up baby doll dresses to mirror Baby Spice or Union Jack mini-dresses to emulate Ginger Spice, their style was the ultimate inspiration to middle school girls in the '90s. The Spice Girls reunion tour in 2008 was equally lucrative, earning the girl group $70 million according to Billboard. It was their first time the band would reunite in the original form, with all five members including Posh, since their 1998 Spiceworld Tour. Tickets for the tour sold out in 38 seconds. All of the members were credited as co-writers, which means they’ve been making money from the hits since their “Wannabe” days. Even though Beckham was not on their most recent tour she's still set to take a cut of £30,000 ($38,000) now that the Spice Girls thirteen-date UK and Ireland tour is over. Money also predicts that the other four Spice Girls will rake in a reported $14 mil for this mini-tour. But how much has each Spice Girl earned individually pre and post-band? Victoria “Posh Spice” BeckhamPost-Spice, Posh has been the most wildly successful of the bunch, even though her contribution to the band wasn't particularly notable. "They used to turn [the microphone] off and just let the others sing. I got the last laugh - and now my mic is well and truly on, finally," Beckham said in 2016. Since the Spice Girls parted ways she's amassed a fortune thanks to sponsorship deals, SG royalties and her Beckham brand.The rest of the Spice Girls have expressed sadness that Beckham didn't join them on tour. "I expected her to come and just say hi at least, not even on stage, just as an audience member supporting," Mel B said during a recent interview, admitting she was "disappointed" by the absence of Posh. There was certainly no financial imperative for Beckham to do the tour. She is said to be worth about $450 million on her own, thanks to her time with the Spice Girls, her work in the fashion world and what she makes from Beckham Brand holdings, which she owns with her husband, David Beckham, and the former Spice Girls manager Simon Fuller. She and Becks are reportedly worth a billion US dollars together. Post-Spice, Beckham appeared in ads for LG, Giorgio Armani and Estee Lauder. There was also a brief, ill-feted foray into pop with the Dane Bowers collab "Out of Your Mind." But Beckham hit her stride with the launch of her eponymous fashion line in 2008, one that began with a decidedly low-key presentation. She impressed fashion editors with her New York Fashion Week debut and her line quickly became a go-to for her celebrity friends. Meghan Markle made headlines when she wore one of her designs while pregnant.Selena Gomez, Beyonce, Kim Kardashian and Gwyneth Paltrow are other A-list fans of the brand. She’s also the proud owner of Moody Productions. And while she chose not to accompany her former bandmates on their reunion tour, she still receives a cut of the group’s image and music rights. Next up, Beckham is launching a beauty brand and launched her own YouTube channel this year, which already has 100,000 subscribers. Emma “Baby Spice” BuntonIf you often donned a baby doll dress with spaghetti straps from Limited Too to play Baby Spice when you and your friends lip-synced “Stop” together, you’ll be happy to know that Emma “Baby Spice” Bunton is said to be worth about $40 million. Bunton's net worth comes largely from her time with the Spice Girls as well as her cameos in movies and television shows. She briefly had a solo career after the split but it wasn’t as successful as she would have hoped. She did, however, release four studio albums and 13 singles. She's even written for other artists, including the short-lived S Club 8. She released her first solo album in 13 years in April to lukewarm reviews. Bunton also founded the eco-friendly Kit and Kin, a company that carries “award winning sustainable diapers."The baby (spice) of the group also competed on Strictly Come Dancing back in 2006 and hosted her own radio show on Heart FM.For years she worked as a radio DJ with her own Sunday night show. In late 2018, she said goodbye to her days on the radio to focus on prepping for the Spice Girls reunion tour and to spend more time with her family during her limited downtime. Geraldine “Geri” “Ginger Spice” Halliwell HornerGinger was reported by Rolling Stone to have made $30 million when she was part of the group, before leaving them behind for her solo career. Now, the redheaded, Union Jack wearing superstar is said to be worth $40 million, just like her pal Emma Bunton who is also godmother to her daughter. Ginger's solo career was a little more successful than Baby’s. Post-Spice, she debuted the catchy single 'Look at Me,' which went to number one in New Zealand and number two in UK. Her most successful solo release was her cover of 'It's Raining Men,' which currently has more than 15 million listens on Spotify. She also had guest roles on shows including Sex and the City and was a judge on The X Factor. Her dollars (or pounds) unsurprisingly come from sponsorship deals.She’s also an author who wrote two autobiographies and six children’s books as part of the Eugenia Lavender series. Her last book, the memoir Just for the Record that frankly discussed her struggles with eating disorders, was repackaged and republished in 2012. She was also a judge on the BBC One music competition show All Together Now. Melanie “Mel C Sporty Spice” ChisolmMel C is said to be worth $33 million, thanks to her seven solo albums and time as a guest judge on The X Factor Australia in 2011 and Asia’s Got Talent in 2015.Sporty teamed up with Bryan Adams to release the single 'When You're Gone.' She also had her own prolific solo career, releasing seven studio albums and selling more than 200 million records. She’s also appeared onstage, acting in Blood Brothers in 2010 and in Jesus Chris Superstar in 2013, starring as Mary Magdalene. She certainly enjoyed her millions. “In the Spice Girls, we found ourselves with quite a few quid, so it was lovely to hire a big house in the Caribbean and have friends and family over,” she told The Guardian.At first, there were rumors that Mel C didn’t want to join her friends on the tour, but she's put on those athletic pants and sports bra for the much-anticipated reunion. If you couldn't make it to one of the reunion dates, you can catch Mel C solo during her pride tour this summer. Melanie “Mel B Scary Spice” BrownIf you were an animal print-wearing Scary Spice superfan, the news is not great - but don't put your leopard print leggings away quite yet. Mel B is said to be worth 'only' $10 million because of her love for spending “Too Much.” According to Variety, Melanie had to put her Hollywood home on the market back in 2017 after filing for divorce. It didn’t help that she had to pay her ex-husband $40,000 a month in spousal support. She has made bank from her appearances on America’s Got Talent, although she recently left the show to make time for the summertime Spice Girls tour, which got off to a rocky start with sound issues but was then called “incredible” by fans happy to see their idols (minus Posh, unfortunately).She's also reported to be launching her own line of upmarket sex toys. Tickets for Spice Girls tour might no longer be available but there's always merch to add to your favorite Spice’s net worth. Now, that’s what girl power is all about.
- NewsYahoo Celebrity UK
Geoffrey Boycott enrages 'GMB' viewers with 'no deal Brexit' rant
The former cricketer made himself very unpopular with his views on Brexit.
- Yahoo News UK
Take a look inside the £235,000 home which no one can view because it's too dangerous to enter
Welcome to Lavender Cottage.Lost to time the abandoned home is on the market for £235,000 but prospective buyers are barred from exploring - because the building just isn’t safe.These images capture a property slowly being reclaimed by nature as undergrowth obscures the much of the house.Would-be buyers are thought to have been put off as they would have to make a blind offer due to the precarious state of the building stopping anyone going inside.But these exclusive pictures, taken with special permission, show the "exciting development opportunity" that awaits potential suitors in St Agnes, Cornwall.The cottage is on the market with Camel Homes who, in their brochure for the property asks: “Have you got the imagination to turn this derelict property into the home of your dreams?”Located on a main road, the house is barely visible except for the roof and chimney which poke above an overgrown hedge.Surrounding the cottage is a thicket of brambles, and access can only be made by crawling on your hands and knees.The cottage is small, and the ground floor split in half by a staircase dividing what was once a lounge and a kitchen, leading upstairs to where there was once two bedrooms.The cottage features on historic maps dating back to 1875.As well as the main part of the cottage, there is an outhouse attached which can only be accessed through a two foot by one and half foot window.
- NewsThe Independent
Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper secret set at Glastonbury 'isn't happening', says Emily Eavis
Glastonbury Festival co-organiser Emily Eavis has denied rumours that Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga may stage a Star Is Born reunion at this weekend’s festival, following hints from BBC Radio DJ Edith Bowman that the pair were planning a secret set that hadn’t yet been publicly disclosed.“Before this one gets out of control,” Eavis tweeted this morning, “the answer is no, that isn’t happening.” She did, however, confirm that A Star Is Born can be watched at the festival’s cinema tent this Friday. Before this one gets out of control... the answer is no, that isn’t happening. (Although you can watch the amazing A Star Is Born in our Pilton Palais cinema tent at 4.30pm on Friday.) https://t.co/vUovpJAZuM — Emily Eavis (@emilyeavis) June 24, 2019Bowman sparked speculation during an appearance on the BBC’s Sunday Brunch yesterday morning, after revealing that she “may know” at least one surprise act due to perform at the festival. She then added that Cooper had hinted on her Soundtracking podcast last year that he was in discussions with festival organisers to perform with his co-star.Bowman said: “When I spoke to him I was like, ‘I just want to see you guys do a gig, [and] play it live.’ He was like, ‘Well, we have been talking to Nick [Dewey] and Emily Eavis about it, we’d do the Park Stage’. I said ‘That would be amazing!’”Cooper had previously shot scenes for A Star Is Born at Glastonbury 2017, secretly crashing Kris Kristofferson’s Pyramid Stage set in character as bedraggled country crooner Jackson Maine. He told Bowman during the podcast that Kristofferson had kindly allowed him four minutes of stage time for the purposes of filming, and that his four days spent at the event gave him valuable insight into touring and the psychology of musicians.“[Glastonbury] is the place that makes and rejuvenates careers,” he said. “You watch major, huge musicians still get nervous about playing on the Pyramid Stage. It’s still this place of fear and beauty."
- NewsPA Ready News UK
Farage calls for postal ballot shake-up after by-election ‘vote-rigging rumours’
The Brexit Party leader called for an investigation into allegations of impropriety during Labour's slim victory in the Peterborough poll,
- NewsEvening Standard
Kate Middleton's brother James tells Tatler he was 'judged' after being thrust into the spotlight
Kate Middleton’s brother James has opened up to Tatler about the difficulties of being thrust into the spotlight following his sister's 2011 wedding to Prince William.The entrepreneur and dog lover revealed in the magazine's August issue that he “suddenly, and very publicly” was exposed to judgment about himself and his career, while he was still trying to figure things out in his early twenties. James, who runs a personalised gift company called Boomf, explained, “Suddenly, and very publicly, I was being judged about whether I was a success of a failure. That does put pressure on you. Because in my mind I’m doing this irrespective of my family and events that have happened.”Boomf, which started initially as a personalised marshmallow company, has since expanded into exploding confetti cards - a very different day job from Kate’s public appearances at the palace and various charity patronages.Middleton said he leads “a separate life” to the royals and explained, “If there’s interest in me, great. If there’s interest in me because of them, that’s different.”Another topic James spoke candidly about was his battle with depression, which he wrote about in a piece for the Daily Mail.He explained to Tatler that he felt “guilty” for being depressed and said, “I thought ‘What do I have to be depressed about?’ I’ve been so lucky with my upbringing, I had all the things I wanted. It’s not that I wanted more, but there was something that wasn’t always there... And the more I ignored it, the more it was taking over.”While he “didn’t communicate with [his] family at all” about his depression initially, in 2017 Middleton finally spoke about the issue with his GP. "Even saying that was an easing of the pressure. I was saying I wasn’t okay, when each day I’d wake up pretending I was.”Despite leading a separate life to the royals, Middleton has worked closely with his sister Kate's mental health charity Heads Together and said that he was “compelled to talk about [his mental health battle] openly” because of their efforts to support others in a similar situation. View this post on Instagram I've been in that angst of loneliness, where you're really alone in the universe. Luckily for me I had my dogs 🐾🐾 A post shared by James Middleton (@jmidy) on Mar 5, 2019 at 9:13am PSTJames revealed in a piece for the Daily Mail that he experienced clinical depression in 2016, calling it a “cancer of the mind”, and said that “it wouldn’t be honest to suppress my story” and that he was inspired to speak out about it thanks to his sister Kate Middleton, Prince Harry and brother-in-law Prince William.Since being diagnosed and undergoing treatment, which included cognitive behavioural therapy as well as “restorative time” at his brother-in-law Spencer Matthew’s home Glen Affric, James explained that he finally “feels like James Middleton again”.Middleton has also recently started sharing his life with the rest of the world with a public Instagram account filled with his many dogs, updates on his business and the occasional shot of his girlfriend Alizee Thevenet who he is reportedly “very much in love” with. View this post on Instagram Sail away with me ⛵️ ☀️ A post shared by James Middleton (@jmidy) on May 7, 2019 at 10:23am PDTHe told Tatler, “‘I am happy – I feel like James Middleton again. I feel like I was when I was 13, excited about life. I feel like myself again and I couldn’t ask for more.”For those seeking mental health support, the Samaritans helpline offers 24/7 help on their hotline 116 123 and their email jo@samaritans.org. The NHS has also compiled a list of resources with guidance on how to choose the right service for you. View this post on Instagram Penélope Cruz, in the midst of the dizzying heat of Cannes, is the August issue cover star. The Oscar-winning actress emanates a rare star quality, dressed in an orange organza gown by @ermannoscervino and bedecked in @atelierswarovski crystals – supplier of crystals to the Queen and, as of this week, recipient of the Royal Warrant. Tatler spends 48-hours in her company; she talks candidly about the madness of fame, relishing bad reviews and walking the red carpet with her husband, the Oscar-winning actor Javier Bardem. Photographed by @luiigiandiango and styled by @juancebrian. Make-up by Pablo Iglesias and hair by @luigimurenu. Click the link in bio for more. On newsstands Thursday 27 June. A post shared by Tatler (@tatlermagazine) on Jun 21, 2019 at 1:00am PDTThe full interview can be seen in the August issue of TATLER, available on newsstands and digital download on Thursday 27th June 2019. www.tatler.com
- Newsflare
Bloated cobra is filmed being forced to regurgitate seven whole eggs
This is the horrifying moment a cobra was forced to regurgitate seven whole eggs after raiding a hen house in northern India. Footage captured on June 24 shows a rescuer getting the reptile to regurgitate the eggs at Basipitha village in Khunta Tehsil in Mayurbhanj District of Odisha State. The cobra was later released in a forest nearby.
- Newsmotor1
New long-range Nissan Leaf EV details announced
£36,000 will buy you a Leaf e+ and many miles.
- Newsmotor1
Lego announces 2020 Land Rover Defender Technic set
We have many reasons to believe that this is based on the upcoming model.
- NewsPA Ready News UK
How Norway’s rain and snow will soon be powering British homes with green energy
Connecting up Britain's grid with other countries to tap into their clean power will help cut carbon emissions from electricity by 17% by 2030.
- NewsPA Motoring
Thirty UK Honda dealerships to disappear over the next three years
Honda is set to reduce its dealership count to 125 from 155 in order to remain 'focused on doubling our return on sales for our investors'
- NewsThe Guardian
Brexit: alternative to Irish backstop 'feasible in three years'
Report on keeping border open, backed by Nicky Morgan and Greg Hands, suggests special economic zones. Alternative arrangements for keeping the Irish border open in the event of a no-deal Brexit or the collapse of future trade talks with the EU could be up and running within three years, a report concludes. The interim report by a non-government organisation calling itself the Alternative Arrangements Commission will be unveiled at a special conference on the Irish border in London on Monday. Their conclusions suggest that the UK would only need the Irish border backstop contained in the withdrawal agreement until 2022, if work on such arrangements started today. Backed by remain-voting Conservative party MPs Nicky Morgan and Greg Hands, the report makes eight interim recommendations following consultation with business, politicians and economic experts, including commercial interests in Northern Ireland. It suggests special economic zones “covering frontier traffic and national security offer potentially valuable solutions” which it said would respect the realities of the border. The report addresses key issues including the vexed question of health checks on any live animals, animal or plant produce crossing the border, including milk, pigs and sheep. The report says “sanitary and phytosanitary (SPS)” tests could be carried out by mobile units away from the border. This would require politicians in the Democratic Unionist party (DUP) to accept checks on farms and in food-production plants and related facilities, something they have opposed so far. Among the other recommendations are the creation of a multi-tier trusted trader programme for large and small companies, with exemptions for small companies. This was proposed by the government in August 2017 and dismissed by the EU. One of the major challenges for the EU and the UK in keeping the border invisible is the issue of standards on food and food processing currently governed by EU regulations. Under mandatory EU rules checks have to be done at the border at special inspection posts with facilities for lab testing and refrigeration to guard against cross-border infection on everything from salmonella to mad cow disease. Such are the rules that in the event of no deal, the EU milk from Northern Ireland will not be permissible in cheese, butter or infant formula made south of the border from day one, potentially devastating the dairy sector which sends 30% of its milk to the republic. Morgan and Hands say in the foreword to the report that the interim recommendations reflect the commission’s commitment to find solutions “compatible with any of the potential Brexit outcomes” including the current withdrawal agreement. The report found that any alternative arrangements must recognise “the supremacy of the Belfast/Good Friday Agreement” (GFA) and the preservation of the common travel area. They should also recognise the need for a trade policy in the UK that is independent of the EU, and the need to ensure east-west trade flows as easily as possible. The report also states that all future proposals “must be based on consent”, one of the central tenets of the GFA and a recognition of the two heritages in Northern Ireland. Common all-island regimes should continue and where possible “built upon”. Special arrangements such as special economic zones and common SPS regimes could “potentially span not only the island of Ireland” but also Britain with a common rule book, like the Australia-New Zealand Food Safety Area. The report suggests such an arrangement would allow Ireland to break the EU’s common rule book if the UK diverged from EU standards and regulations. This would, for instance, apply if the UK decided to do a trade deal with the US enabling chlorinat ed chicken to enter the country. This, it notes, would need checks in harbours, ports and airports in Northern Ireland to protect the entire island of Ireland, but this should be a decision for the Northern Ireland assembly. This scenario is predicated on Ireland having a side deal with the EU for a common rule book on the two countries and suggests Ireland would have the unilateral power to deviate from this, even though the EU is based on a system of rules that apply to all member states and not just one. Last October the DUP rejected any checks at ports or airports in Northern Ireland, arguing it would cut the region off from the rest of the UK, while the Northern Ireland secretary, Karen Bradley, struck a similar position saying the government would “never ever allow a border down the Irish Sea”. And last week the government finally released a mapping exercise which showed the extent to which the border issue impacted non-trade issues with 142 issues including healthcare for heart patients. The commission was set up by Prosperity UK, an organisation created in 2017 that describes itself as an independent platform bringing together business, academics and policymakers to look constructively at the UK’s future outside the EU. It said it welcomed the opportunity for feedback so it could “refine” its recommendations. Northern Ireland Retail Consortium director, Aodhán Connolly aid economic freezones would create borders within borders. He expressed scepticism about how the alternative arrangements could comply with the December 2017 joint commitment between the EU and the UK to avoid “a hard border, including any infrastructure or related checks and controls”. “The solutions proffered add complexity and costs that will make business in NI less competitive and in some cases unviable. But with all that said this is a step forward and it provides some much needed informed debate on the issue,” he added.
- NewsThe Guardian
Hillsborough police chief David Duckenfield to face hearing over retrial
The jury failed to reach a verdict in the manslaughter case earlier this year. The former South Yorkshire police chief superintendent who was in command of the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough, where a crush killed 96 people, has faced a hearing on Monday to determine if he will be tried again on a charge of gross negligence manslaughter. The jury that heard the prosecution of David Duckenfield at Preston crown court failed to reach a verdict in April on their eighth day of deliberations, following 10 weeks of evidence heard between 14 January and 25 March. Duckenfield was charged with manslaughter in relation to 95 of the 96 people killed by the crush at the semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield Wednesday’s stadium. Richard Matthews QC, the lead barrister for the Crown Prosecution Service, told the judge, Sir Peter Openshaw, on the day the jury failed to reach its verdict that the CPS intended to seek a retrial of Duckenfield. Benjamin Myers QC, representing Duckenfield, told Openshaw he would be opposing the application. The jury did return a 10-2 majority guilty verdict against the other defendant, Graham Mackrell, the Sheffield Wednesday secretary and safety officer for the Hillsborough ground at the time of the disaster, on a charge of breaching his legal duty to keep people safe at his place of work. Mackrell negligently allocated too few turnstiles, only seven, for the 10,100 people with tickets to stand and support Liverpool on the Leppings Lane terrace, and only 23 turnstiles altogether for the 24,000 people with tickets allocated to Liverpool supporters. The 96 victims, aged between 10 and 67, were killed by a lethal crush in the central “pens” 3 and 4 of the Leppings Lane terrace. No charge was brought against Duckenfield in relation to the 96th person to die, Tony Bland, who was critically injured in the crush and was maintained on life support in hospital until 1993, when the support was lawfully withdrawn. According to the law in 1989, a criminal charge relating to a death could not be brought if the victim died longer than a year and a day after the acts which allegedly caused it. A decision is expected on Tuesday.
- NewsEvening Standard
Shadow Chancellor John McDonnell: Extinction Rebellion London protest was 'worth it'
Disruption in London and other cities caused by green group Extinction Rebellion was “worth it” to expose the dangers of climate change, shadow chancellor John McDonnell said today.In a speech in central London he said “direct action” had succeeded in getting the public to think about the hard choices ahead.“The relatively minor disturbance to everyday life caused by the demonstrations by Extinction Rebellion and the school student strikes has definitely been worth it,” he told a city audience.“These forms of direct action have secured the publicity that clearly has focussed people’s minds, not just on the threat of climate change but importantly on the solutions available to us.“A space has been created for an ongoing creative and constructive dialogue on the key issue facing current generations.”The speech comes ahead of London rally on Wednesday when more than 15,000 people are expected to demonstrate at Westminster for action on the climate.Mr McDonnell, who has invited Extinction Rebellion to brief his shadow ministerial team on their ideas for tackling climate change, used his speech to promise to deter investment in fossil fuels.Under Labour, he said, the private sector would be made to invest in a “green industrial revolution” or risk losing the right to be listed on the London Stock Exchange.“This means that when we de-list companies that fail to meet environmental criteria from the London Stock Exchange, investors can be confident that their money is not going on making the world uninhabitable for their children,” he said.
- NewsSky News
Eight Australian children of IS fighters to be repatriated from Syria
Eight Australian children whose parents and grandparents joined Islamic State have been removed from Syria ahead of their repatriation to Australia.
- NewsReuters
Kashmir separatists ready for talks, Indian government says
The leader of disputed Kashmir's largest separatist group said it was ready for talks with India's government on Monday, after the state governor said he was optimistic about dialogue. The Muslim-majority Kashmir valley is at the heart of more than seven decades of hostility between nuclear arch-rivals India and Pakistan. Rhetoric from both sides, as well as Kashmiri separatists, some of whom want to join Pakistan, has been highly charged since a February suicide car bomb attack by a Pakistan-based militant group killed more than 40 Indian police in the part of the region it controls.
- NewsThe Independent
Janet Jackson says her brother Michael's legacy 'will continue' despite child sex abuse claims
Janet Jackson has spoken publicly about her late brother Michael for the first time since sexual abuse allegations were made against him earlier this year, claiming that they will not harm his legacy.Speaking to The The Sunday Times in advance of her set at this weekend’s Glastonbury Festival, Jackson said that Michael’s legacy “will continue”, and that the allegations have not derailed his influence on music and pop culture at large.“I love it when I see kids emulating him, when adults still listen to his music,” she said. “It just lets you know the impact that my family has had on the world. I hope I’m not sounding arrogant in any way – I’m just stating what it is. It’s really all God's doing, and I’m just thankful for that.”Jackson did not, however, specifically address the allegations made earlier this year in the controversial documentary Leaving Neverland, which saw former actor James Safechuck and dancer Wade Robson both accuse Jackson of sexual abuse and rape when they were children. But her statement did indicate that she is not worried about their effect on her brother’s reputation.Jackson has largely stayed silent on the accusations levelled at her brother, but did not deny rumours earlier this year that she had refused to perform at March’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame ceremony, for which she was inducted, in protest over the event’s TV broadcasters HBO. HBO had previously broadcast Leaving Neverland.
- NewsThe Independent
Chris Davies: Tory MP convicted for faking expenses re-selected by party to stand in by-election
Former Conservative MP Chris Davies has been selected by the party to fight for the same parliamentary seat he lost following a recall petition triggered by his conviction for faking expenses claims.More than 10,000 people in the Welsh constituency of Brecon and Radnorshire signed a petition to remove the Tory MP earlier this year after he admitted submitting two false expenses invoices for nine photographs costing £700 to decorate his new office.Convicted in March, Mr Davies was fined £1,500, ordered to pay £2,500 towards legal costs and told to carry out 50 hours of community service.Local officials confirmed the 51-year-old would stand again as the Tory candidate for the forthcoming by-election following a vote of party members held in Talgarth on Sunday night.Mr Davies, who held the seat since 2015, insisted he was “the right person” for the contest. “I would like to thank members of my local association for supporting me, and putting their faith in me once again,” he said.“I look forward to campaigning over the next few weeks and winning back this seat, so that I can continue to work hard for the people of Brecon and Radnorshire,” he added. “A lot has been achieved over the past four years, but there is so much more to do, and I am the right person to do it.”Peter Weavers, chairman of Brecon and Radnorshire Conservatives, said Mr Davies still had the “full backing” of his party despite the recall petition.“Chris is local, he knows the area, he knows the constituents, knows the issues and problems we face, and that matters. Chris is not simply a one-issue wannabe politician, as his record shows.”The Liberal Democrats, the Brexit Party, and Labour have all announced they will contest the seat. A spokesperson for the Lib Dems said: “By adopting Chris Davies again the Conservatives have demonstrated they can offer nothing more than an MP embroiled in controversy. People deserve better.”The Tories were forced to call a by-election after 19 per cent of Mr Davies’ constituents – well above the 10 per cent threshold needed for a recall – ousted Mr Davies from his job.It is the second time an MP has been successfully recalled after Labour’s Fiona Onasanya was unseated in Peterborough after her conviction for perverting the course of justice over a driving offence.Although a date for the latest by-election has yet to be arranged, it is set to become be the first electoral test for the new prime minister, since the Tory leadership contest leader is likely to have finished before it is held.
- NewsEvening Standard
Thousands look on in awe as brother and sister act cross high wire 25 storeys above New York
A brother and sister tightrope act entertained thousands of tense onlookers in New York last night as they crossed Times Square on a high wire strung 25 storeys above the ground.Nik and Lijana Wallenda of the of the “Flying Wallendas” stunt troupe, walked from opposite ends of the 1,300 foot long wire, which stretched from 42nd Street to 47th Street, and crossed halfway.The stunt, which took 36 minutes to complete, was Lijana’s first high wire performance since a disastrous 2017 fall when she broke nearly every bone in her face.The siblings walked from opposite ends of the 1,300-foot wire suspended between the towers, crossing each other in the middle, where Lijana sat on the wire and let her brother step over her.Both then continued to the opposite side.Their latest daredevil stunt was streamed live on US network ABC and watched by thousands of spectators from below.The two were wearing tethered safety harnesses required by the city in case they fell.The Wallenda family has been a star tightrope-walking troupe for generations, tracing their roots to 1780 in Austria-Hungary, when their ancestors travelled as a band of acrobats, aerialists, jugglers, animal trainers, and trapeze artists.They never use nets in live shows or in rehearsals.In 1978, 73-year-old Karl Wallenda fell to his death from a high wire strung between two buildings in Puerto Rico.In 1962, Karl Wallenda's nephew and son-in-law died, and his son was paralysed, after a seven-person pyramid collapsed during a performance.Lijana's fall happened during an attempt to break a Guinness world record with an eight-person pyramid.Nik's high-wire walks above Niagara Falls, the Chicago skyline, and the Little Colorado River Gorge near Grand Canyon National Park were broadcast on national television.
- NewsRFI
Women's World Cup: France into quarters after dumping out Brazil
Women's World Cup hosts France survived a scare to beat Brazil in extra time and reach the quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory on Sunday. "Les Bleues" will face either reigning champions the United States or Spain in the last eight in Paris on Friday."It was tense, really, really tense, against a great side. We put everything into it and never gave up," said the France coach, Corinne Diacre, referring to a match which definitely had its fair share of drama.Despite being roared on by a partisan crowd at the Stade Oceane in Le Havre, France were struggling to put Brazil under any pressure early in the game.They were denied a first-half opener when Valerie Gauvin's headed effort was disallowed following a VAR review for a foul on Brazil goalkeeper Barbara, but Gauvin converted Kadidiatou Diani's assist to give the hosts the lead seven minutes into the second half.However, Brazil hit back and a Cristiane header was turned onto the bar before Thaisa made it 1-1 just past the hour mark, her strike eventually being given having originally been disallowed for an offside against Debinha.A little bit of luck...and teamworkInto extra time they went, and Captain Amandine Henry scored a dramatic winner when she turned in Amel Majri's free-kick in the 107th-minute."I saw Amel (take the free-kick), I slid, I had a little luck," she told Canal+."After, I didn't know what happened. I didn't even have the strength to get up... I hoped VAR wasn't going to take it back."It wasn't easy, we came across a very strong team that played with rhythm, aggression, we were looking to the mind."Meanwhile, Brazil star Marta issued an emotional appeal to her heirs on Sunday, telling them they are responsible for the survival of the women's game in her football-obsessed country.The 33-year-old Marta, nicknamed 'Pele in a skirt' by the Brazil great, is widely considered to be the best female player of all time. "We're asking for support, you have to cry at the beginning and smile at the end," said Marta, the record World Cup scorer with 17 goals."Women's football depends on you to survive. Think about it, savour it."England vs CameroonThe French could yet end up facing England in the last four, with Phil Neville's team easing through to the quarter-finals thanks to a 3-0 win over Cameroon in Valenciennes.They will now play Norway.In other matches, the USA meet Spain in Reims on Monday before Sweden take on Canada at the Parc des Princes in Paris on Monday evening.
- NewsReuters
European shares fall as Daimler weighs, Sino-U.S. trade news awaited
Up 4% so far in June, the pan-European STOXX 600 index closed 0.25% lower on the day, with most of its major component markets in the red, led by a 0.5% dip in Frankfurt's DAX. The main European index has shown signs of flagging in the past week after recouping almost all of its losses from a sharp sell-off in May, helped by expectations of more monetary stimulus globally. Corporate newsflow continues to point to a slowdown in growth and Mercedes-Benz maker Daimler dropped 3.8% after it cut its 2019 earnings outlook and lifted provisions for issues related to its diesel vehicles by hundreds of millions of euros.
- NewsEvening Standard
Fund for cyclist who hit woman on phone soars past £50k
More than £50,000 has been raised for a cyclist who was ordered to pay compensation to a pedestrian he crashed into as she crossed the road while looking at her mobile phone.Garden designer Robert Hazeldean, 38, faces a £100,000 bill and bankruptcy after hitting Gemma Brushett, 28, as she crossed a busy junction in London Bridge in July 2015.Ms Brushett, a yoga teacher, sued for compensation after suffering damage to her front teeth and facial scars in the crash.A judge at the Central London county court said Mr Hazeldean was a “calm and reasonable road user” but shared equal responsibility for the collision because he had a duty of care.Mr Hazeldean’s friend Brittany Maher-Kirk set up a fundraising page which has now raised more than £50,000. She said: “I’m incredibly thankful for everyone who has donated, shared or sent messages of support. You’re all wonderful. “The cost to Robert - one of the kindest, most gentle and responsible people I have the privilege of calling a friend - is likely to bankrupt him.”Mr Hazeldean said he was “forever thankful” to the people who have helped him and he was “overwhelmed” by the response.His lawyers are disputing the £100,000 costs claim “in the strongest terms”.The case will return to court at a later date to decide exactly how much Mr Hazeldean must pay in legal costs.
- NewsEvening Standard
Look into the tea leaves and the posh stuff’s future is strong
Time for tea. The cup that “cheers but does not inebriate”, as Victorian teetotallers observed, is having a moment. Sales are rising by double-digit figures, year on year, not of the stuff that starts with the initials PG or is sold in bags in supermarkets. The swanky stuff. Loose leaf. Single estate. Fine terroir and good years. Yep, all the ways we describe wine now apply to the beverage of the moment, and the prices are to match. The kind of tea that’s in fashion (for once, a trend I can be on the cusp of) may sell for £35 for 90g, but lots are cheaper.Fortnum & Mason is so busy at its old tea counter there’s a new one on the first floor, where tastings and an actual tea school are held twice a month. Like every trend, the accessories are half the fun: check the teapot wall and the tea-strainer space. Remember strainers?Last year, two very swanky tea merchants set up shop in London: the Singapore-based TWG Tea, with its main store next to LEGO in Leicester Square. And Mariage Frères, the historic Parisian tea house that opened a five-storey building in Covent Garden with an actual wall of teas. Franck Desains, its deputy managing director, is already talking about sales doubling. “Things are changing very fast,” he says. “People are very much interested in tea … they want to be educated.” Millennials are open to new tea experiences.And that’s the thing. There’s a lot to be said about tea: where it comes from, the ethics of production, the variety, the age (yep, age is a factor when it comes to vintage Pu’er), the flavour, from black breakfast to first-flush Darjeeling (this year is especially good). As Fortnum’s Ottilie Cunningham says: “There are lots of exciting stories.”Some of the increase in sales is driven by people with money from tea cultures such as China, India and Japan. But the interesting thing is, when they pitch up at a London tea merchant they buy other countries’ teas, they experiment. And they’re prepared to pay more than most of us; that raises the bar.Another reason why fine tea is having a moment is that people are drinking less alcohol; tea is now a plausible alternative to wines and spirits. And unlike elderflower spritz, it actually goes with food. For the other big thing now is pairing tea with food: not just strong tea with your breakfast sausages and Earl Grey with teatime sandwiches, but tea with everything at lunch and dinner. “You can drink tea with every course from soup to dessert,” says Jameel Lalani, who pairs teas for restaurants such as Heston Blumenthal’s Fat Duck. “You can’t say the same about coffee.” The cult of fine tea is part of a general foodie culture; people are more obsessive about what they eat and drink than a generation ago. But the great thing about tea is that it’s both homely and exotic. It’s part of the food tradition of Britain and Ireland — what your granny would have drunk — and of far-flung places in Asia. With milk (Assam) or without (China). More tea? Yes please.
