General news

• Sajid Javid promises cash boost for schools, NHS and police

  27-08-2019 23:30
  The Chancellor is set to make a spending round statement containing the fresh pledges to the Commons next week.
  
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• Chancellor Sparks Fresh Snap General Election Speculation With Fast-Tracked Spending Boost

  27-08-2019 23:30
  Chancellor Sajid Javid is set to spark fresh speculation of an autumn snapelection by unveiling a cash injection for public services next week
  
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• Justin Welby: investors must pressure firms to act on climate crisis

  27-08-2019 23:00
  Archbishop of Canterbury says fund managers are not doing enough to press for change. The archbishop of Canterbury has criticised the investment industry for inaction over the climate crisis and called on fund managers to push companies to reduce their impact on the environment. Justin Welby said fund managers had “not sufficiently stepped up to the plate” to use their ownership of companies to press for change. He said investors should tell firms to help meet targets set by the Pari
  
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• Prince Andrew 'Knows What He's Done', Says Alleged Jeffrey Epstein Victim Virginia Giuffre

  27-08-2019 22:41
  A woman who claims she was forced to have sex with Prince Andrew when she was17 has said the royal "knows what he has done" as victims of Jeffrey Epstein'salleged sexual abuse gave evidence in court
  
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• Lyra McKee’s partner ‘appalled’ by republican’s predictions of future violence

  27-08-2019 21:52
  The talented writer was shot dead while she observed disturbances in Londonderry in April.
  
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• In Pictures: Machines and emotions captured in RAF photo competition

  27-08-2019 21:02
  These striking images came up trumps in the RAF's 2019 Photographic Competition.
  
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• Boris Johnson tells EU: Backstop must be abolished or it’s no deal

  27-08-2019 21:00
  The Prime Minister spoke on the phone with European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker.
  
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• Boris Johnson Tells EU That No-Deal Brexit Will Only Be Averted By 'Abolishing' Irish Backstop

  27-08-2019 20:43
  Boris Johnson has told European Commission president Jean-Claude Juncker thatBritain will leave without a deal unless the backstop is "abolished"
  
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• Would Nigel Farage be Hitler or Stalin in Brexit 'non-aggression pact'?

  27-08-2019 20:36
  Brexit party leader offers to back Boris Johnson – but only if the PM unleashes no deal on Britain. A bell tolled five times and then a loud, heavy metal drumbeat played through the PA system of the main hall of the Emmanuel Centre in Westminster. Five-hundred prospective Brexit party parliamentary candidates rose as one to greet their messiah in the very building where he had announced his retirement from frontline politics just three years earlier. Nigel Farage milked the acclaim as he s
  
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• Holiday heat headlines not focusing enough on climate crisis reality – experts

  27-08-2019 20:17
  People jumping into the River Medway as record temperatures were recorded in England. Climate experts say the balance of media coverage is still skewed away from the worrying reality of climate disruption. Photograph: Leon Neal/Getty ImagesIn what is fast becoming a British summer ritual, the record holiday heat this week has prompted reams of cheerful forecasts and sunny headlines but far too few reminders that the climate crisis has made record-breaking a norm, according to experts.The latest
  
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• Fresh £10m Brexit fund for English ports ‘tiny amount of money’

  27-08-2019 19:48
  Lorries queue on the A20 outside Dover in Kent. Photograph: Gareth Fuller/PAThe government is expected to open a £10m Brexit fund for English ports but, with grants limited to £1m per marine gateway, industry figures dismissed the proposal as “a tiny amount of money”.The infrastructure resilience call for English ports is expected to be announced by the Department for Transport this week.The British Ports Association said: “At this late stage a deal was the best way
  
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• Co Tyrone student injured by lightning at golf event

  27-08-2019 19:48
  Ryan Murphy was at the Tour Championship in Atlanta won by Rory McIlroy.
  
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• EU ready to look at 'realistic' backstop plans from Johnson

  27-08-2019 19:36
  After the G7 summit and meetings with Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron in Berlin and Paris, the EU is taking Boris Johnson more seriously. Photograph: Dylan Martinez/ReutersEU officials are ready to look at “realistic” proposals from Boris Johnson on the Irish backstop – the main obstacle to a Brexit deal – but are pessimistic about his government’s chances of coming up with workable ideas.Downing Street’s optimism over an apparent shift in the EU’s wil
  
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• CCTV of man pulling wheelie bin may hold clue to teaching assistant’s killer

  27-08-2019 19:31
  Lindsay Birbeck was last seen on August 12.
  
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• UK advert for post-Brexit EU citizen scheme ruled misleading

  27-08-2019 19:26
  A radio ad that said EU citizens living in Britain only needed a passport or ID card to apply online for settled status after Brexit was misleading, the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) ruled.A complainant, who understood that in some cases applicants also needed to provide proof of address for the previous five years, had asked the ASA for a ruling.The Home Office (interior ministry) responded to the complaint by saying the ad was part of a wider campaign to promote awareness of the scheme
  
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• Sajid Javid drops first big speech, encouraging early election talk

  27-08-2019 19:22
  The decision to scrap major speech by the chancellor is understood to have come from No 10. Photograph: James Veysey/Rex/ShutterstockThe first major speech by the chancellor, Sajid Javid, has been mysteriously cancelled by the Treasury less than 24 hours before it was due to take place.A Treasury spokesman said that the one-year spending review, called a spending round, which had been due to take place later this year, was now being fast-tracked to take place in early September, adding fuel to s
  
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• Sajid Javid cancels first big speech, encouraging early election talk

  27-08-2019 19:22
  Earlier annual spending review by Treasury also suggests planning for a snap election. The first major speech by the chancellor, Sajid Javid, has been mysteriously cancelled by the Treasury less than 24 hours before it was due to take place. A Treasury spokesman said that the one-year spending review, called a spending round, which had been due to take place later this year, was now being fast-tracked to take place in early September, adding fuel to speculation the government could be planning a
  
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• Composer, musician wife and baby daughter killed in plane crash

  27-08-2019 19:20
  Jonathan Goldstein was the founder and creative director of Goldstein Music Group and Hannah Goldstein was a saxophonist.
  
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• No-deal Brexit: conflict remains among key players at Corbyn’s meeting

  27-08-2019 19:18
  Jeremy Corbyn offered a plan in which he leads a caretaker government before calling a general election. Photograph: Isabel Infantes/AFP/Getty ImagesJeremy Corbyn hosted a meeting of party leaders and key backbenchers on Tuesday, convening those who want to stop no deal. But what to do the key players and parties actually want in the long term? The Labour leadershipOpening the meeting, the Labour leader made it clear his party would back legislative efforts to stop no deal, seemingly a retreat f
  
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• EU ready to look at 'realistic' backstop plans from Johnson

  27-08-2019 19:11
  EU diplomats ‘not optimistic’ PM can find workable solution to Irish border impasse. EU officials are ready to look at “realistic” proposals from Boris Johnson on the Irish backstop – the main obstacle to a Brexit deal – but are pessimistic about his government’s chances of coming up with workable ideas. Downing Street’s optimism over an apparent shift in the EU’s willingness to negotiate could be scuppered by a new Irish push to reinforce th
  
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• Boris Johnson faces Commons showdown over no-deal Brexit

  27-08-2019 19:09
  Opposition leaders will push for a new law to prevent the Prime Minister taking the UK out of the European Union without a deal.
  
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• Campaigners urge Priti Patel to consider welfare of migrants during crisis talks

  27-08-2019 19:06
  Priti Patel is to meet her French counterpart in Paris on Thursday.
  
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• PM should show he’s serious about restoring free TV licences for over-75s

  27-08-2019 19:04
  Ricky Tomlinson joins protesters in Manchester at the BBC’s decision to axe free TV licences for 3.7 million pensioners.Photograph: Danny Lawson/PAThough pressed to do so during the Tory leadership campaign, Boris Johnson refused to comment on the BBC’s decision to remove the free TV licence from over-75s except for those on pension credit. His comment now that the present scheme should continue (Report, theguardian.com, 26 August) is an indication that No 10 is considering an early
  
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• Royal staff in line for backdated 4% pay rise

  27-08-2019 18:53
  The salary increase will have a performance related element.
  
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• Archbishop of Canterbury says he may chair Brexit citizens’ forum

  27-08-2019 18:48
  The archbishop of Canterbury said the forum should not be a Trojan horse intended to delay or prevent Brexit. Photograph: BBC/PAThe archbishop of Canterbury has agreed in principle to chair a citizens’ assembly on Brexit despite provoking outrage from Eurosceptics for considering the idea.Acknowledging the controversy of such a role, Justin Welby said he would only take part if the exercise were not aimed at thwarting Brexit. He also suggested it could be conducted after the UK had left th
  
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• BA ordered to explain its treatment of passengers ahead of strike

  27-08-2019 18:39
  The carrier said it is rebooking passengers on flights with airlines from around the world including Virgin Atlantic and Norwegian.
  
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• Share your thoughts on the proposed education measures

  27-08-2019 18:32
  Whether you are a teacher, school leader or work in education, we would like to hear from you. A confidential briefing paper seen by the Guardian reveals education measures including disciplinary changes to improve behaviour and increase pay for teachers. The document, marked “Official-Sensitive”, includes plans to increase teachers’ basic pay to £30,000 by 2022, open a new wave of free schools and encourage school leaders to confiscate or ban mobile phones, allowing teac
  
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• Anna Soubry Blasts Cowardly Tory MPs Who Privately Oppose No-Deal But Won’t Stop Boris Johnson

  27-08-2019 18:30
  Former minister Anna Soubry has blasted the cowardice of Tory MPs whoprivately oppose a no-deal Brexit but refuse to stop Boris Johnson pursuingone
  
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• Archbishop of Canterbury agrees to chair Brexit citizens’ forum ‘in principle’

  27-08-2019 18:28
  But the Most Rev Justin Welby said the public meetings must not be used to try to stop Brexit.
  
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• MPs sign declaration to do ‘whatever is necessary’ to stop no-deal Brexit

  27-08-2019 18:25
  Shadow chancellor John McDonnell accused the Prime Minister of threatening democracy.
  
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• Home Office settlement scheme ad banned for misleading EU citizens

  27-08-2019 18:10
  The Home Office advert claimed only a passport or ID card was needed for registration. Photograph: NurPhoto/NurPhoto via Getty ImagesHome Office officials have been rebuked by the advertising watchdog for a misleading radio advert that promoted its registration scheme for EU citizens seeking permanent residency in the UK after Brexit.The advert for the EU settlement scheme, which aired on 13 April, claimed potential applicants only needed a passport or ID card to complete the online form.However
  
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• MPs pledge to form alternative parliament in case of prorogation

  27-08-2019 18:06
  Cross-party declaration calls Boris Johnson a threat to ‘very nature’ of British democracy. Boris Johnson has been described as a threat to the “very nature” of British democracy at a cross-party meeting where MPs agreed to form an alternative parliament in the event of the prime minister shutting down the existing one to make a no-deal Brexit happen. In a symbolic gathering at Church House in Westminster, where MPs met during the second world war, Labour’s John McD
  
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• 'Democracy will win through': readers on the cross-party no deal statement

  27-08-2019 18:04
  Cross-party MPs sign the Church House Declaration during an event about opposing the suspension of parliament to prevent no-deal Brexit. Photograph: Henry Nicholls/Reuters ‘I applaud Corbyn for taking the sensible line’This is most heartening news. Softly, softly does it in the way that water can wear away stone. I applaud Mr Corbyn for taking the calm, sensible line that he has, and members of other political parties for coming together to present a unified front in the midst of thi
  
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• Send us a tip on walks up UK hill and mountain peaks to win a £200 hotel voucher

  27-08-2019 17:41
  Tell us about great routes up UK hills and mountains, including quieter paths on well-known peaks The UK has a wonderfully varied roster of hills and mountains to summit, almost all of which can be reached without specialist climbing equipment. Many are remote while some have become so well trodden that it’s a round-the-clock effort to maintain the paths. Please tell us about interesting, less well known routes you’ve taken, and peaks that don’t attract a lot of walkers.Share d
  
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• Senior MPs ask Archbishop of Canterbury to chair public Brexit talks

  27-08-2019 17:36
  The MPs said holding a Citizens's Assembly on Britain exiting the EU could 'help the whole country'.
  
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• British musician couple killed in Swiss light aircraft crash

  27-08-2019 17:35
  A British composer of film and television music and an acclaimed saxophonist died along with their baby in a plane crash in Switzerland on Sunday, a family spokesman said on Tuesday.The couple, Jonathan Goldstein and Hannah Marcinowicz, had posted updates of their trip on Facebook, with a last update from Lausanne on Saturday afternoon and pictures of him flying their small plane while she held their infant daughter.
  
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• Harry and Meghan split from royal charity

  27-08-2019 17:15
  Harry and Meghan split from royal charity
  
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• Sheep grazing again on Hampstead Heath after 70 years

  27-08-2019 17:03
  The animals have been introduced to replace noisy and polluting machinery.
  
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• Bolton fan, 7, scrubs seats as rival supporters gather to help crisis-hit Bury

  27-08-2019 16:54
  Fans of numerous clubs joined in the efforts to help clean up Gigg Lane ahead of a deadline which could see the historic club go out of business.
  
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• Notting Hill Carnival: Calls for ‘full review’ after 30 Met officers assaulted

  27-08-2019 16:47
  The two-day event saw 353 people arrested including 37 for assaulting police.
  
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• Edinburgh international book festival 2019 – in pictures

  27-08-2019 16:39
  From prime ministers to sheep herders to broadcasters and novelists, photographer Murdo MacLeod captures the stars of this year’s event Continue reading...
  
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• Fears for 'isolated' Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as she is moved to mental health ward

  27-08-2019 16:25
  Fears for 'isolated' Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe as she is moved to mental health ward
  
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• Mountbatten bombing anniversary ‘a reminder of dark days’, service told

  27-08-2019 16:01
  Church of Ireland Archdeacon Isaac Hanna addressed a commemoration just outside the seaside village of Mullaghmore, Co Sligo.
  
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• Boris Johnson accused of misleading public over police numbers

  27-08-2019 15:59
  Labour say home secretary’s letter suggests officers will be recruited away from frontline. Labour has accused Boris Johnson of misleading the public when he promised to recruit 20,000 police officers after it emerged from leaked correspondence that thousands are likely to be recruited away from frontline roles. The opposition has seized on a letter written by the home secretary, Priti Patel, to the London mayor, Sadiq Khan, last week, in which she says the new officers will be allocated &
  
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• How could a no-deal Brexit be stopped?

  27-08-2019 15:56
  With the clock ticking, how could a no deal Brexit be stopped by those who oppose it?
  
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• Narrow Water victims’ service told: We are here for peace

  27-08-2019 15:40
  General Sir Mike Jackson was among around 200 veterans at the service in Co Down to remember 18 soldiers killed 40 years ago by two IRA bombs.
  
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• Orangutans ‘could hold key to how human speech evolved’

  27-08-2019 15:19
  Scientists from the University of St Andrews and Indianapolis Zoo gathered a unique insight into the language similarities while studying great apes.
  
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• Killings of Mountbatten and Narrow Water soldiers remembered 40 years on

  27-08-2019 14:59
  The Queen's second cousin and 18 soldiers were among those killed on one of the bloodiest days of the Troubles.
  
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• Jeremy Corbyn agrees to prioritise legislation to stop no-deal Brexit

  27-08-2019 14:52
  From left: Keir Starmer, Valerie Vaz, Jeremy Corbyn and John McDonnell prepare for the meeting. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PAJeremy Corbyn has backed cross-party plans to delay a vote of no confidence in Boris Johnson and prioritise rebel MPs’ attempts to use legislation to stop a no-deal Brexit.In a meeting with opposition parties convened by the Labour leader, Corbyn is understood to have opened the discussion by reassuring MPs that Labour would not seek a premature vote of no confidenc
  
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• Playing in a port and MTV awards: Tuesday’s best photos

  27-08-2019 14:45
  The Guardian’s picture editors select photo highlights from around the world Continue reading...
  
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