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Showing posts from September, 2020

UK offshore detention proposal could create 'human rights disaster', Australian experts warn

At least 12 died in Australia’s offshore detention network, while thousands of others suffered mental illness and self harm A Downing Street plan to consider emulating Australia’s offshore detention system for asylum seekers risks creating a fresh “human rights disaster”, experts familiar with the immigration policy have said. On Wednesday, the Guardian reported that documents from the Foreign Office revealed Downing St had sought its advice on “negotiating an offshore asylum processing facility similar to the Australian model in Papua New Guinea and Nauru”. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/34dpZLx Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

New British standard for biodegradable plastic introduced

Products will have to prove they break down into harmless wax containing no microplastics A new British standard for biodegradable plastic is being published which scientists say will cut through a jungle of classifications that leave consumers confused. Plastic claiming to be biodegradable will have to pass a test to prove it breaks down into a harmless wax which contains no microplastics or nanoplastics in order to make the grade, published by the British Standards Institute. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2EOCPr1 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend speak of 'deep pain' after miscarriage

US model and TV presenter was pregnant with her third child when she was taken into hospital following complications Chrissy Teigen has said she and husband John Legend are “shocked” and in “deep pain” after she suffered a miscarriage. The US model and TV presenter had been taken to hospital suffering from excessive bleeding during her pregnancy. Teigen, 34, later announced she had suffered a miscarriage, writing in a statement on social media : “We are shocked and in the kind of deep pain you only hear about, the kind of pain we’ve never felt before. “We were never able to stop the bleeding and give our baby the fluids he needed, despite bags and bags of blood transfusions. It just wasn’t enough,” she wrote on Wednesday night. Teigen shared the news with a black-and-white picture showing her crying while sitting in a hospital bed. pic.twitter.com/iBFKYtYwi2 Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3cJzvdh Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Scientists use satellite tags to reveal white storks' migratory habits

Scientists look forward to data from tags tracking captive-bred white storks at a West Sussex farm Marge, a white stork released onto a rewilded farm in West Sussex, is shedding light on the birds’ unpredictable migratory habits by flying to Morocco for her first winter and spending the summer in Spain. Scientists are using satellite tags to track white storks released onto the Knepp estate to learn what migratory habits the captive-bred birds will develop. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3l2F2yy Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Pubs, bars and restaurants report Covid curfew sales dive

Sales at 7,000 chain outlets down 37% after 10pm limit imposed in England, Wales and Scotland Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Sales at pub, bar and restaurant chains plunged by more than a third on the same period last year after a 10pm coronavirus curfew was imposed across most of the UK, according to new analysis seen by the Guardian that reveals the extent of the impact on hospitality. The first hard figures from the days after the curfew was imposed drew anger from trade bodies and are likely to reinforce calls to reconsider a measure that critics say only drives people to gather elsewhere, while causing significant economic damage. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3l3pVEV Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Global coronavirus report: row as Spain announces Madrid lockdown measures

Measures restricting travel out of Spanish capital disputed; Germany declares 11 European risk zones; Northern Ireland records worst daily case toll Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Residents of Spain’s infection hotspot, Madrid, are to be barred from leaving except on essential trips under new rules to fight the coronavirus resurgence, Spain’s government said on Wednesday. But regional authorities said the decision had no legal basis, setting the stage for a political showdown in an area accounting for more than a third of Spain’s 133,604 new cases in the past two weeks. “Madrid’s health is Spain’s health. Madrid is special,” the country’s health minister, Salvador Illa, told a news conference to announce the new regulations, due to come into force in days. The capital city, home to more than 3 million people, and nine surrounding municipalities with at least 100,000 inhabitants each, are to see borders closed to outsiders for non-essential vis...

Drones, fever goggles, arrests: millions in Asia face 'extreme' Covid surveillance

Coronavirus tracking measures handing ‘unchecked powers’ to authoritarian regimes, activists warn Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Draconian surveillance measures introduced during the Covid-19 epidemic are handing “unchecked powers” to authoritarian regimes across Asia, human rights experts are warning. In a report out today , privacy analysts warn that “extreme measures and unchecked powers” brought in to tackle Covid-19 could become permanent features of government across the region, and have an impact on the rights and privacy of millions of people. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/33iWYi9 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'Who doesn’t love a plaid?’ How the Clueless look was made 25 years ago

Costume designer, Mona May, talks about the yellow plaid suit, that red Alaïa (“a-what-a?”) dress and other outfits that have ensured Clueless is a permanent fixture on fashion’s watchlist When it comes to films, the likes of Belle de Jour and Love Story have long been the default fashion classics. But the people name-checking those movies have obviously not seen Clueless. For a generation raised in the 90s, and another one just referencing it, the high school comedy – which came out in 1995 – is the one . It comes with meme-able lines (“Ugh, as if!”, “You’re a virgin who can’t drive”), a cast of characters including Alicia Silverstone’s Cher, Stacey Dash’s Dionne and Brittany Murphy’s Tai, and a wardrobe that stands up to multiple viewings. Here, Mona May, the costume designer behind all of these looks, as well as those for Romy and Miche le’s High School Reunion and Never Been Kissed, reminiscences on 25 years of Clueless. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https:/...

Inside the revamped Bodmin jail, one of Britain's 'most haunted' buildings

18th-century prison with gory history reopens as £8.5m visitor attraction in Cornwall Most visitors to Cornwall head to the surf beaches, the picturesque fishing harbours, art galleries, gardens or castles in search of light and joy. However, a murkier side of life in the south-west of Britain is being told from within the towering granite walls of an 18th-century prison, which is reopening as a new visitor attraction on Thursday. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3jo4Gxa Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

NHS Covid disruption could cause tens of thousands of deaths, MPs warn

Interruptions to care have created a ‘cancer timebomb’ of untreated patients, says Macmillan Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Tens of thousands of patients could die because the NHS suspended such a large proportion of normal care to focus on tackling Covid-19, MPs have warned. Illnesses that went undetected or untreated included cancer and heart disease, the Commons health and social care committee says in a hard-hitting report. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2Sblvzq Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Steve McQueen and Bernardine Evaristo named among '100 great black Britons'

List celebrates high-achieving black British individuals over past 400 years The model and transgender activist Munroe Bergdorf, the artist and film director Steve McQueen and the Booker prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo are among the new names on a list celebrating key black individuals over the past 400 years. The mayor of Bristol, Marvin Rees , businesswoman Sharon White and British Vogue’s first black editor, Edward Enninful , are among other new entries on the list of 100 great black Britons , whose stories are told in a book of the same name. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2G5R1ww Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Tokyo stock exchange trading halted for the day due to technical problem

Trading called off on Thursday amid uncertainty over when the issue would be resolved Trading on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was suspended on Thursday because of a problem in the system for relaying market information. The Tokyo Stock Exchange said trading would not resume for the rest of the day. It was unclear when it would be resolved and the system would be operating again. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/30ncPdO Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Paul Stephenson: the hero who refused to leave a pub – and helped desegregate Britain

When he sat down in a pub that banned black people, Stephenson helped change Britain’s discrimination laws. He talks about organising the Bristol bus boycott, attacks from the National Front – and why Muhammad Ali composed a poem about him In 1964, Paul Stephenson walked into the Bay Horse pub in Bristol and ordered half a pint. A bartender served him, but when the pub’s manager noticed, he told Stephenson to get out, saying: “We don’t want you black people in here – you are a nuisance.” Stephenson refused, and the police were called. Eight officers arrived to arrest him for refusing to quit a licensed premises and held him in the police cells until midnight. The Bay Horse pub may have been notorious for banning black people, but it was not alone. In 1964 it was legal in the UK to refuse service on the basis of someone’s skin colour – and black and Asian people found themselves turned away not just from pubs but from working men’s clubs – and even from housing and jobs. Continue rea...

How one man spent 34 years in prison after setting fire to a pair of curtains

David Blagdon’s long-term detention has been described as ‘barbaric’. Whatever his disastrous personal choices, the system failed him repeatedly There’s never a good time to get a phone call from an escaped prisoner. I was at a talent show in Essex in August 2001, watching a succession of soul singers, when three missed calls from an unknown number appeared on my mobile, starting at 10.07pm. Stepping out of the club, I listened to the first message: “It’s David. I’m at King’s Cross station. This is urgent.” David Blagdon was a longtime prisoner who had become a friend after I interviewed him for a story in 1999. He’d left the number of a phone box for me to call him back, and when we spoke, he said he was on temporary home leave from prison and needed somewhere to stay. I called my neighbours in London, who agreed to let him in. It was after midnight when I returned to find David chatting to my neighbours, eating a sausage and drinking a beer. Continue reading... from https://ift....

Hong Kong police out in force to deter protests on China's national day

Last year fierce clashes broke out between protesters and police on 1 October, but the introduction of harsh security laws has largely stifled dissent Thousands of riot police were stationed across Hong Kong on Thursday to stamp out any large democracy rallies as the financial hub marked China’s National Day under the shadow of a growing crackdown on dissent. The People’s Republic of China celebrates its founding on 1 October with a holiday and carefully choreographed festivities. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3l7Ku3f Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'In my dreams I'm there': the exodus from Hong Kong

Beijing’s national security law has prompted the exit of people from all walks of life in fear they or their children are at risk Joe Kwong* loves Hong Kong. But he knows he has to leave. A university-educated construction worker in his 30s, he is just one of many Hongkongers who have uprooted their lives in recent months – or are now planning to – because of fears over the rapid demise of the rule of law and civil liberties. Hong Kong’s descent into effective Chinese control has been swift, and was cemented in June by the introduction of the national security law , which prohibits acts of secession, subversion, terrorism, and collusion with foreign forces. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/36lBsvl Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Oui ou non: New Caledonia set for fresh vote on independence from France

Sunday’s vote could lay the foundations for the birth of a new nation in the Pacific after surprising support emerged in 2018 referendum It’s the final week of campaigning and two flags fly above the competing rallies, concerts, and campaign meetings: the French tricolour and the multi-coloured flag of Kanaky. On Sunday, voters in New Caledonia will go to the polls for a second referendum on the political future of the French Pacific dependency. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2ScbX7t Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Coronavirus live news: Madrid lockdown looms; 34m jobs lost in Latin America

Northern Ireland’s cumulative cases per 100,000 double in a week ; Neanderthal genes increase risk of serious Covid-19, study claims ; Russia places huge bet on Covid vaccine . Follow the latest updates 34m jobs lost in Latin America Madrid lockdown looms Germans embrace fresh air to tackle coronavirus Israel bans mass protests as Covid lockdown tightens See all our coronavirus coverage 1.32am BST Stormont’s health minister is to recommend the introduction of further coronavirus restrictions in Northern Ireland, as it recorded its highest number of infections in a 24-hour period - 424 - since the region’s testing regime was expanded, PA Media reports. Northern Ireland’s seven-day cumulative number of cases per 100,000 population has almost doubled to 103.6 from 58.1 in the last week. 12.56am BST The UN’s International Labour Organization said Wednesday that at least 34 million jobs have been lost in Latin America due to the coronavirus pandemic. The ILO urged countries in...

Gone to pot: New Zealand cools on legalising cannabis

With a crowded election cycle, non-committal politicians and a pandemic to worry about, public support for a yes vote in the referendum is eroding It is believed to be the first country in the world to put the legalisation of recreational cannabis to a national public vote. But amid a pandemic, an election concentrated almost entirely on the Covid-19 crisis, and a simultaneous vote on euthanasia, New Zealand’s upcoming marijuana referendum has not captivated the mainstream public attention that it might have in an ordinary year. New Zealand would join Canada and Uruguay on the list of countries legalising the sale and use of cannabis for adults if more than half of voters approved it – but public backing for the measure has eroded in polling during 2020, reversing growing support in recent years. In a debate plagued by claims of misinformation from both sides – and taking place during an overcrowded election cycle – some politicians have shied away from the matter altogether, fearing...

A mess of Trump's making: key takeaways from the first presidential debate

The president refused to condemn white supremacists and analysts called the chaotic debate a failure Moderator Chris Wallace of Fox News was unable to rein in the candidates and that meant Donald Trump was mostly free to interrupt, make false claims, rant and violate the previously agreed structure and rules of the debate. There were a few moments where Biden talked over Trump when it wasn’t his turn, but the lion’s share was from Trump. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3jeI8ig Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Shell to cut up to 9,000 jobs; UK house prices jump – business live

Rolling coverage of the latest economic and financial news Introduction: Shell to cut 10% of workforce Up to 9,000 jobs to go by 2022 Cost-cutting plan will help push to net-zero 8.13am BST The FT’s Anjli Raval says Shell is trying to streamline its business after the shock of Covid-19, writing : Shell has in recent months reviewed its operations as it seeks not only to become more financially resilient, but better set up for a shift towards lower-carbon energy businesses. Job reductions of between 7,000 and 9,000 are expected by the end of 2022, including 1,500 people that have chosen to take voluntary redundancy. . @Shell is cutting up to 9,000 jobs by 2022 (out of 83,000) as part of an organisational restructuring to not only save $$$ but to prepare the company for a shift into cleaner businesses. CEO: "a large part of the cost saving for Shell will come from having fewer people" #OOTT 8.05am BST Shell’s job cuts mean that tens of thousands of positions are ...

Wednesday briefing: 'Shut up man' – angry debacle as Biden and Trump clash

Moderator loses control amid interruptions and president’s spurious claims … law-breaking Brexit bill clears House of Commons … singer Helen Reddy dies Hello, Warren Murray with interesting scenes to bring you. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3cIrSUd Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Report calls for universal care service to transform UK economy

Women’s Budget Group says plan for free full-time childcare and elderly care would create 2m jobs The UK economy needs radical transformation equal to the post-second world war era, including the creation of a universal care service providing free full-time childcare and elderly care, according to a seminal report published by the Women’s Budget Group . The service, which would be free at the point of delivery, would create more jobs than equivalent investment in transport and construction and help provide secure work for the thousands of people losing livelihoods in retail and hospitality, according to an 18-month commission on a gender equal economy . Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3ihbUBC Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Astronauts trace air leak to Russian side of space station after midnight alarm

Nasa officials stress that the leak on ISS remains small and poses no danger but will send extra air supply on the next delivery A small air leak at the International Space Station finally has been traced to the Russian side, following a middle-of-the-night search by astronauts. Nasa said on Tuesday that the two Russians and one American on board were awakened late Monday to hurriedly seal hatches between compartments and search for the ongoing leak, which appeared to be getting worse. It was the third time in just over a month that the crew had to isolate themselves on the Russian side, in an attempt to find the growing leak. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3if4COZ Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Apple iPad 2020 review: all the iPad you need, none of the tablet you don’t

Cheapest iPad gets faster, offering most of what makes Apple’s top tablets great for half the cost Apple’s cheapest iPad just got faster with revamped chips to keep it ahead of the competition. The eighth-generation iPad costs from £329, slotting in under the iPad Mini, iPad Air and iPad Pro lines, yet offering much of the same experience. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2GpCrje Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Grit and beauty: the lives of Irish Traveller children – in pictures

Jamie Johnson spent five years photographing the fun-loving, fashion conscious kids who are forced to spend their childhoods battling prejudice Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3ieXFxe Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

10 of the UK's best large holiday cottages – at reduced prices

The rule of six means there’s plenty of space – and handsome discounts – at these grand self-catering properties, all set in superb countryside There is currently 30% off stays at this six-bedroom Georgian house, which usually sleeps 12. Groups of six won’t be short of space – downstairs is a drawing room with an open fire, a dining room, a kitchen with an Aga, an office, a snug with French doors to the garden, a utility room and a boot room. Up the main staircase are six bedrooms and a family bathroom, with two more bedrooms and a shower room via a second staircase. The sizeable grounds include a walled garden and a barn converted into a games room. Two dogs are welcome. Rennington village has a pub, and it is a few miles to Alnwick, with its castle, and the fishing village of Craster. • Seven nights from £882 for six , saving £378, until 1 December, crabtreeandcrabtree.com Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2HBva04 Check out https://ronaldstoner.we...

Trump plunges debate into chaos as he repeatedly talks over Biden

Trump refuses to denounce white supremacist violence as candidates throw insults and tempers flare The first presidential debate between Donald Trump and Joe Biden deteriorated into an ugly display of contempt on Tuesday night, as the president relentlessly interrupted and attacked his Democratic rival during clashes over the coronavirus pandemic, race, the economy and the future of the supreme court. Over the course of an extraordinarily combative and chaotic 90-minute performance, a fitting coda to what has been one of the nastiest presidential campaigns in recent memory, Trump interjected so frequently that Biden at one point lost his patience and snapped: “Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3n6U8oC Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Care home coronavirus outbreaks cast doubt on official PHE data

Exclusive: Largest provider says 70 of its homes have had outbreaks, with 20 in the last fortnight Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The UK’s largest care home provider has had Covid outbreaks in 70 of its facilities, prompting questions about whether official figures on the virus’s return to social care may be too low. As care leaders issued fresh warnings about testing delays, HC-One said it had closed one in five of its 329 homes because of outbreaks and that 20 homes had seen new outbreaks in the last fortnight. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3cJiwaQ Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

How HSBC got caught in a geopolitical storm over Hong Kong security law

Bank’s future remains uncertain as it finds itself under pressure from Beijing and Washington HSBC has been a fixture of the Hong Kong economy for more than a century. However, its origins as a financial bridge between Asia and the west have placed it in the centre of a modern day geopolitical storm. Facing pressure to choose sides as Hong Kong is convulsed by the new security law imposed by Beijing and Donald Trump pursues a trade war with China , HSBC is in danger of finding itself without friends in either direction. Headquartered in London, but dependent on Hong Kong and China for profits, HSBC has been affected by tensions between Washington and Beijing – and shareholder concern over its controversial acceptance of an authoritarian crackdown in its key market. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2HLTv3D Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Many GCSE pupils never study a book by a BAME author

Exam board AQA features no black writers on GCSE English literature syllabus Pupils could complete their GCSEs and leave secondary school in England without studying a single work of literature by a non-white author, research has found. The largest exam board in the country, AQA, does not feature a single book by a black author among set texts for its GCSE English literature syllabus, according to a report by the education charity Teach First. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/30jZcw6 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Visually impaired Scots get sonic help with Covid graphs

New website uses musical notes to create an audio map of infection rates or fatalities Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Blind and visually impaired people in Scotland can now learn about the latest data on Covid outbreaks near their home thanks to a website with a special sonic interface developed by volunteers. The site plays musical notes to create sonic graphs of Covid-19 cases that allow the visually impaired to keep track of infection rates and fatalities, using the latest official data for health boards and local councils. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3igems7 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Michael Rosen on his Covid-19 coma: ‘It felt like a pre-death, a nothingness’

Earlier this year, the beloved children’s writer spent six weeks on a ventilator with coronavirus. He talks about the magic of the NHS, the mismanagement of the crisis and how his near-death experience has changed him “I’m drinking lemon tea,” Michael Rosen says. “Would you like some? It’s what my mother used to call Russian tea, by the way.” And before I am through the kitchen door of his north London home, he has given me a potted history of Russian tea. It is classic Rosen. Rarely does a sentence pass without the much-loved children’s poet and author teaching you something. There are anecdotes within anecdotes, tangents galore and an astonishing frame of reference – from the Palestinian professor Edward Said on “othering” to the former footballer Gordon Strachan on resilience, the poet Benjamin Zephaniah on us all being migrants and the father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, on memory banks – and back again. “Sorry to inflict the Arsenal mug on a Man City fan ,” he says with a wi...

'He came out of the womb dancing!' Stars relive their wild times with Michael Clark

Baryshnikov couldn’t keep up, Sam Taylor-Wood had a panic attack and Sarah Lucas built him the rudest stage set ever … as a new show celebrates the dance legend, stars pin down his punk genius Les Child , dancer with Michael Clark Company, 1982-89 Before I’d even met Michael I saw him on a poster and was in awe – just because of his amazing proportions. The first time I really saw him dance, he did a solo in a tutu and I was gobsmacked. I started to throw things at him: “You bitch! I didn’t think that was possible!” Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/349Ue6b Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Presidential debate live: Trump tries to steamroll Biden in chaotic clash

Candidates spar on climate, protests and coronavirus Trump refuses to condemn white supremacists Moderator Chris Wallace criticized as Trump derails debate Biden: ‘It’s hard to get any word in with this clown’ Full story: Trump and Biden in bitterly personal clash at debate Sign up for Fight to Vote – our weekly US election newsletter 5.22am BST Fact check: drug prices Donald Trump claimed that he has lowered drug prices, and noted that insulin is now so cheap it’s “like water”. Insulin costs about $300 per vial – and people with diabetes need two or more vials per month. 5.20am BST Trump just tweeted this photo, suggesting he was up against both Biden and moderator Chris Wallace during tonight’s debate. pic.twitter.com/HUSFkHqsyC Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3inxmVX Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Donald Trump refuses to condemn white supremacists at presidential debate

President tells Proud Boys, a far-right group often associated with violent protests, to ‘stand back and stand by’ Donald Trump declined to condemn white supremacists and violent rightwing groups during a contentious first presidential debate in which the issue of anti-racism protests and civic unrest was one of the topics of discussion. Asked repeatedly by the moderator, Chris Wallace, to condemn the actions of white supremacists and other groups, such as militias or far-right organizations, Trump ignored the question and sought to instead criticize the actions of leftwing groups and activists. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2G4LSoq Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Trump and Biden in bitterly personal clash at first presidential debate

Candidates throw insults amid arguments over healthcare, coronavirus and supreme court First presidential debate: follow live Donald Trump and Joe Biden sparred bitterly during the first presidential debate of the general election on Tuesday night, hurling personal insults as they clashed over healthcare, the coronavirus and the supreme court. Ignoring the rules, the candidates repeatedly interrupted each other, with Biden losing his patience at one point and retorting: “Will you shut up, man? This is so unpresidential.” Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3n6U8oC Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

A £56m bill and rising: the cost of Covid consultancy contracts

Some of the most lucrative contracts received by firms such as PwC and Deloitte since the pandemic began Whitehall ‘infantilised’ by reliance on consultants Since the onset of the pandemic, the government has spent tens of millions of pounds on management consultants to help it manage elements of the Covid-19 response, from the much-criticised NHS test-and-trace programme to buying PPE. Earlier this year, the Guardian revealed that at least £56m of taxpayers’ money had gone to companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Deloitte and McKinsey for their help with initiatives that often have not run smoothly. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/348gGfU Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Helen Reddy, Australian singer of feminist anthem I Am Woman, dies aged 78

The singer, whose career was celebrated in the 2019 biopic of the same name, had been diagnosed with dementia several years ago Helen Reddy, the Australian singer best known for her anthemic 1972 hit I Am Woman, has died at 78. Reddy had been diagnosed with dementia in 2015 and had been living in a Los Angeles nursing home for professional entertainers. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3jhZI4Z Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Big tech firms may be handing Hong Kong user data to China

Allegation follows new law that lets Hong Kong ask for sensitive data if deemed to threaten national security Big technology companies may already be complying with secret Chinese requests for user information held in Hong Kong and ought to “come clean” about the vulnerability of the data they hold there, a senior US state department official has said. The allegation of possible secret cooperation between major companies and Hong Kong authorities follows the implementation of a sweeping and controversial new national security law that allows Hong Kong authorities to demand sensitive user data from companies if it is deemed to threaten national security . Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/34cGyqL Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Presidential debate live: Trump and Biden to face off for first time

Trump campaign baselessly claimed Biden may take drugs ahead of event Chris Wallace of Fox News to moderate TV showdown All you need to know about the first presidential debate Sign up for Fight to Vote – our weekly US election newsletter 1.19am BST Another topic sure to be brought up tonight: Trump’s tax returns, some of which were obtained by the New York Times. The Times reported Sunday that Trump paid only $750 in federal income taxes in 2016, the year he won the presidency. Biden's 2019 tax returns show taxable income of $944,737 and tax payments of $346,204. ( https://t.co/lioOTzZriN ) The Harris/Emhoff returns show a taxable income of $3,018,127 and payments of $754,809. ( https://t.co/8ewhH4eocA ) (That's more than $750). pic.twitter.com/fP1cBike9p 1.10am BST The debate will have six 15-minute segments. It will run for 90 minutes, with no breaks for commercials. There will be no opening statements, and the first question will go to Trump . Moderator Chr...

World Bank announces $12bn plan for poor countries to buy Covid vaccines

Initiative aims to ensure low-income countries are not frozen out by rich nations Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The World Bank has announced plans for a $12bn (£9.3bn) initiative that will allow poor countries to purchase Covid-19 vaccines to treat up to 2 billion people as soon as effective drugs become available. In an attempt to ensure that low-income countries are not frozen out by wealthy nations, the organisation is asking its key rich-nation shareholders to back a scheme that will disburse cash over the next 12 to 18 months. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2GoBlnS Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'Where is the money going?': students demand tuition fee refunds

Young people on the impact of Covid and isolation on their teaching and mental health Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage University students have told of the mental health impact of the coronavirus restrictions on campuses and demanded to be refunded part of their tuition fees. Young people from across the UK have moved into halls and student houses after months at home, but rising coronavirus cases have led to face-to-face teaching being halted in some universities until test and trace improves and the spread of the virus is curbed. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3kVRZKe Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Tuesday briefing: Million Covid deaths with 'true toll probably higher'

Number who have fallen ill or died likely underestimated – expert … Trump vs Biden debate looms … Mars believed to have underground briny ponds Hello, Warren Murray alerting you to the gaining of an unwanted milestone. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3jdUlnx Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

UN to hold emergency talks on Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict

Meeting on Tuesday follows two days of fighting over th separatist region of Nagorno-Karabakh The UN security council will hold emergency talks behind closed doors on the ethnic Armenian region of Nagorny Karabakh, where fighting continued overnight on Monday. The meeting will be held at 5:00pm (2100 GMT) on Tuesday. Belgium formally requested the session, after France and Germany had led a push for it to be placed on the agenda. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2EHPU5n Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Robots and magnetic soap: scientists rethink oil spill clean-ups

Incidents such as tanker stranding in Mauritius stress need for quick and effective solutions Special sponges, magnetic soap and autonomous robots are among the latest wave of inventions aimed at tackling oil spills. Incidents such as the tanker stranding in Mauritius in August can devastate the environment and threaten communities who rely on the sea or tourism for their livelihoods. They often take months or years to clean up. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/339e02m Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

The new centre of dissent: Britain becomes hub for Hong Kong activists

Longstanding cultural ties and a newly welcoming government have led to prominent exiles choosing London as their base The UK has become an international hub for Hong Kong dissidents as China’s harsh new security law leads to an exodus of pro-democracy politicians, campaigners and protesters, who now face jail terms for their activism. Longstanding cultural ties, a newly welcoming government and Covid-era travel restrictions that have in effect closed off other potential destinations, such as Canada and Australia, have boosted the number of new arrivals to Britain. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/36gHJrW Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'I need to spread love with the gifts God gave me': funk master Steve Arrington returns

Arrington helped turn Ohio into America’s funkiest state, but turned away from music for 25 years to work as a minister – and find himself. Now he’s back with a new album Yellow Springs, Ohio, is buzzing, despite it being a weekday afternoon in a pandemic. When Steve Arrington and I meet at a cafe on the town’s main strip, we instinctively reach out our hands to shake. And then, midway, we remember. As we switch to the now-common elbow bump, he sighs. “We do what we can to get by, I guess.” Arrington, 64, is no stranger to adaptation. His career as one of the greatest funk stars in the US began on the underground scene in nearby Dayton just as it began to take off in the mid-1970s. Arrington’s older brother was in bands, and some of the best funk drummers of the era would come to the family home and play while a young Steve sat on the steps. They would give him permission to play on their kits when they weren’t using them, and this is how Arrington drummed his way into bands througho...

The Glorias review – Gloria Steinem biopic is a laughably shoddy mess

Julie Taymor’s film on the multiple life stages of the defining feminist turns what should be a fascinating character study into an embarrassing disaster It takes less than a minute into The Glorias, the director Julie Taymor’s shallow biopic of the feminist icon Gloria Steinem, to realize something is off. Four iterations of Steinem at different ages – child (Ryan Kiera Armstrong), teen (Lulu Wilson), young woman (Alicia Vikander), and middle-aged (Julianne Moore) – sit on an old Greyhound bus going … somewhere, each shaded a strange and uncomfortably wan gray against the colorful scenery out the window. Why edit half the scene in color, half in black and white, like the early iPhoto effects of the mid-2000s? There doesn’t seem to be a reason other than to gesture at depth – one of many baffling artistic choices that turn a nearly two-and-a-half-hour film on what should be a fascinating, mettlesome, complicated character study into an uneven, trite and at times laughably shoddy mess....

How to go skiing this winter

Covid-19 restrictions may seem daunting but ski resorts are open – and if the continent seems too far, hit the slopes in Scotland When Covid-19 closed Europe’s ski season in early March – leaving thousands of skiers stranded when their resorts shut and others having to cancel trips – some assumed they would be able make up for it this winter, when everything would be back to normal. As the 2020-21 season approaches, that clearly isn’t the case and we face another winter of travel restrictions, special measures and possible lockdowns. Where does that leave skiing? Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3398kp1 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

US election to have far fewer international observers than planned

Covid concerns and a lack of an invitation for Latin American observers reduce monitoring as US faces fears over fair vote There will be far fewer international election observers than planned at this year’s fraught US presidential vote because of a combination of health concerns during the pandemic and the lack of an invitation from the state department for Latin American observers. The electoral arm of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) has had to scale down its ambitions because of Covid-related precautions and travel restrictions. It is sending 30 observers, instead of the 500 that had been recommended in view of the scale of concern about the US election . Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2HGa4Og Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Wales to ban smoking on sidelines of children's football

Welsh FA to ask junior clubs to adopt no-smoking rules for parents and other spectators Wales is to become the first country in the UK to ban spectators from smoking on the sidelines of children’s football games. The Football Association of Wales (FAW) will ask all 522 junior clubs in the country to tell parents and other spectators not to smoke during matches and training sessions for children aged five to 13. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3cMTgRe Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'Let down': calls for Gibraltar's Covid-delayed abortion vote to take place

Pro-choice activists demand decriminalisation referendum happen despite conservative opposition Earlier this year, pro-choice activists in Gibraltar were hopeful that their territory’s abortion laws – the harshest in Europe – could soon be overturned. Terminations are banned in the tiny British territory, even in the cases of rape, incest, or foetal abnormality where the foetus will not survive. Abortions are punishable by life imprisonment, except when the woman’s life is in danger. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3cR0rId Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Joggers and drinkers: what a day in the life of a Leeds park tells us about modern Britain

During lockdown, parks became more important to us than ever – as gyms, pubs and nightclubs. From dawn to dusk at Woodhouse Moor, I found out why they are so essential now On a crisp, clear morning just before dawn, the sky above Woodhouse Moor in Leeds is shades of ochre, mauve and pigeon-grey. The park is empty, save the joggers making solitary laps, and I circle the perimeter on foot, too, in search of the rising sun. During lockdown, we used parks as our gyms, social spaces and – as restrictions eased – our nightclubs and pubs, wringing every drop from our hour or so outside each day. To better understand how we are now using these spaces, I have come to this 26-hectare (64-acre) park, 2km from central Leeds, to spend a day from sunrise to sunset. As I stand at the less lovely end – where tarmac has been laid over wild moorland – the sun rises. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/339cop8 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Inside the airline industry's meltdown

Coronavirus has hit few sectors harder than air travel, wiping out tens of thousands of jobs and uncountable billions in revenue. While most fleets were grounded, the industry was forced to reimagine its future When an airline no longer wants a plane, it is sent away to a boneyard, a storage facility where it sits outdoors on a paved lot, wingtip to wingtip with other unwanted planes. From the air, the planes look like the bleached remains of some long-forgotten skeleton. Europe’s biggest boneyard is built on the site of a late-30s airfield in Teruel, in eastern Spain, where the dry climate is kind to metallic airframes. Many planes are here for short-term storage, biding their time while they change owners or undergo maintenance. If their future is less clear, they enter long-term storage. Sometimes a plane’s limbo ends when it is taken apart, its body rendered efficiently down into spare parts and recycled metal. In February, Patrick Lecer, the CEO of Tarmac Aerosave, the company t...

Bruce Nauman: 'Jasper Johns poured me a few bourbons – and my legs gave way'

He is a titan of the artworld whose work can be savage, prescient or slapstick. Ahead of a major show, the US artist looks back on studio stunts and liquid lunches with legends Bruce Nauman is telling me a story from his childhood. “I had a friend in high school who was a little bit of a loner,” says the artist, speaking by phone from New York. “If someone hit him with a snowball when we were walking to school, he wouldn’t just throw a snowball back, he’d attack. He’d get ’em down on the ground and pound on him.” It is a story that seems to chime with Nauman’s art, where the line between peaceable interaction and sudden violence often seems terrifyingly thin. The artist, about to be the subject of a retrospective at London’s Tate Modern, is interested in the moment a social ritual or game pivots into cruelty. In the 1986 video work Violent Incident , a smartly dressed couple are at a table set for cocktails and dinner – but the date soon descends into a vicious brawl. You can feel pu...

Covid costs could wipe out Sunak's spending plans, says IFS

Thinktank warns chancellor will have to cut budgets, increase taxes or borrow more A prolonged battle against Covid-19 would swallow up a large chunk of the government’s planned increase in public spending and force the chancellor into an unenviable choice between fresh austerity, higher taxes or more borrowing, a leading thinktank has warned. The Institute for Fiscal Studies said that even if only a quarter of the extra £70bn allocated by Rishi Sunak to fight the pandemic had to be repeated in future years, the Treasury would either have to find more money than set aside in this year’s budget or announce cuts. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/33d1DSO Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Most countries failing women and girls with Covid response, UN finds

Global gender tracker assesses how governments address violence, strengthen women’s economic security and support unpaid caring Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Most countries are failing to adequately protect women and girls during the fallout from Covid-19, according to a new UN database that tracks government responses to the pandemic. The global gender tracker has looked at how 206 countries and territories address violence against women and girls, support unpaid care workers and strengthen women’s economic security. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3jdR87t Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Protests flare in Papua as students demand independence referendum

Police fire shots as crowds of demonstrators demand a vote on secession from Indonesia Unrest has flared in the restive Indonesian region of Papua with police firing shots during a protest by hundreds of university students in the provincial capital, Jayapura. The group was demonstrating against plans to extend a special autonomy law that protestors say has not done enough to help people in one of the country’s poorest regions. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3jbbYnO Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Global Microsoft outage brings down Office 365, Outlook and Teams

Microsoft says a recent update has affected the processing of authentication requests, making cloud-based services inaccessible Microsoft has said it is investigating an outage that brought down Microsoft’s cloud-based office services including the meetings software, Teams, worldwide. Microsoft reported issues with authentication for its cloud services at around 9.25pm UTC, meaning people were having issues logging into the online services Teams, Outlook and Office. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2HIHdJj Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Global coronavirus deaths pass 1m with no sign rate is slowing

Johns Hopkins University data points to rises in countries that seemed to have slowed spread Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage The number of people who have died from Covid-19 has exceeded 1 million, according to a tally of cases maintained by Johns Hopkins University, with no sign the global death rate is slowing and infections on the rise again in countries that were thought to be controlling their outbreaks months ago. The milestone was reached early on Tuesday morning UK time, nine months since authorities in China first announced the detection of a cluster of pneumonia cases with an unknown cause in the central Chinese city of Wuhan. The first recorded death, that of a 61-year-old man in a hospital in the city, came 12 days later. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2EHBiTB Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

One million coronavirus deaths: how did we get here?

Milestone is known toll of months of Covid pandemic that has changed everything, from power balances to everyday life Though an inevitable milestone for months, its arrival is still breathtaking. Deaths from Covid-19 exceeded 1 million people on Tuesday , according to a Johns Hopkins University database, the known toll of nine relentless months of a pandemic that has changed everything, from global balances of power to the mundane aspects of daily life. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2EMnUxy Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'Where is the money going?': students demand tuition fee refunds

Young people on the impact of Covid and isolation on their teaching and mental health Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage University students have told of the mental health impact of the coronavirus restrictions on campuses and demanded to be refunded part of their tuition fees. Young people from across the UK have moved into halls and student houses after months at home, but rising coronavirus cases have led to face-to-face teaching being halted in some universities until test and trace improves and the spread of the virus is curbed. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3kVRZKe Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Dispirited but defiant, Hong Kong's spirit of resistance endures

Security law has largely stamped out anti-government protests, but the opposition is finding new ways to fight Tony Chung spends his days in fear and solitude. For the 19-year-old activist, who became the first political figure to be arrested under Hong Kong’s national security law , the spectre of prison looms large. Chung was arrested in late July with three other former members of the pro-independence group Studentlocalism – which he founded at the age of 15 – on suspicion of inciting secession under the law. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2HErlYa Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Covid-19: what are UK students' rights over accommodation and courses?

The lowdown on rent and finances as universities tackle a term like no other Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage As university terms get under way around the UK, students are facing a new academic year like no other. Some have been locked down in halls , others have learned that their lessons will be online-only for the next two weeks. It seems likely that the picture will continue to change over the coming weeks as cases of coronavirus are confirmed and universities take action to keep staff and students safe. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2GeTC6P Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'We’ve crossed a threshold': has industrial farming contributed to Ireland’s water crisis?

A surge in milk production has reaped economic rewards, but at what cost to once-pristine rivers and estuaries? When Barry Curtin was a young boy, he would cycle alone along the River Bride in search of a soft mossy stone on which to sit and fish. The river is a tributary of the Blackwater, which flows through Cork, Kerry and Waterford, and it has a sacred significance: its name comes from Brigid, the flame-haired pagan goddess of water. “It was an incredibly diverse place,” says Curtin. “The cleanliness of the water, the damselflies, the dippers – it was full of life.” But Curtin, a retired teacher, hasn’t fished the river for years. He is appalled at the extent of water pollution, which he says has all but killed the rich diversity of aquatic life. “If you stand in Fermoy and look at the Blackwater at low water level, you can see the slime. There’s no doubt about it – we’ve crossed a threshold. It’s saturated with pollution.” Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https...

Monday briefing: Trump swerves tax as debts pile up

Great deal-maker paid no federal taxes in 10 of last 15 years … coronavirus fines come into force … and Hongkongers’ fight for their rights Hello, Warren Murray with you as we start the week. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3421GA4 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Dozens dead as Armenia-Azerbaijan clashes continue

Dispute over breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh prompted Armenia and Karabakh to declare martial law At least 24 people have died in clashes between Armenia and Azerbaijan, as the latest violence in the decades-long territorial dispute sparked international calls to halt the fighting. Fighting that broke out on the weekend over the breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh continued on Monday morning, according to Reuters, with the deployment of heavy artillery on both sides. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/34k5QUj Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Create safe, legal routes for refugee families to reunite in UK, stars urge PM

Exclusive: High-profile names demand change to family reunion laws in letter to Boris Johnson Some of Britain’s biggest cultural stars, including Olivia Colman, Michaela Coel and Stephen Fry, are calling on the government to establish safe and legal routes for asylum seekers to reach the UK. More than 70 high-profile actors, musicians, comedians, artists and sports players have sent a letter, seen by the Guardian, to the prime minister demanding a change to the UK’s restrictive refugee family reunion laws. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3n06cHS Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Drone Awards 2020: the world seen from above

The winners of the international awards dedicated to aerial photography have been announced. Here we showcase a selection of the shots that will be on display in the Siena Photo Awards in Italy from 24 October to 29 November Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3kTA2Mx Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Samsung Galaxy Tab S7+ review: Android tablet to rival the iPad Pro

Powerful Android tablet has fantastic screen, great speakers and long battery life for work and play The Galaxy Tab S7+ is Samsung’s unreserved attempt to beat Apple’s iPad Pro with an Android tablet designed just as much for work as it is for play. The new tablet comes in two sizes: the 11in Tab S7 costing £619 and the 12.4in Tab S7+ costing £799, as reviewed here. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/339giON Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

10 of the UK's best cycle trails for family days out

From forests tracks to highland lochs and coastal paths, we pick easy-to-follow bike routes through beautiful scenery The ritual of riding bikes together was a saving grace for our family during lockdown. We started cycling to give our sons some exercise in the absence of school playtime or a proper garden, but it became so much more than that. The meditative aspects of pedalling, of heading somewhere in the same direction, brought a sense of unity and calm to us all. Some days we rode through woods, others by the sea; some days we chatted, others we stayed silent. But we always returned home feeling better. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2SbewX3 Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Confidence in UK's global role plunges after Brexit, poll finds

Belief that Britain is force for good in world is down 10 points from April 2019 in UK Belief that Britain is a force for good in the world has plunged in the last 18 months, a national poll has found, with under half of the UK now convinced of the country’s positive impact. As negotiations on the UK’s future relationship enter a key week in Brussels and with the country set to leave the EU’s single market and customs union at the end of the year, a poll by Ipsos Mori suggests there is a lack of confidence in Britain’s global role. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3mZ1Lgr Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Record low number of British butterflies baffles scientists

Annual Big Butterfly Count shows big falls in peacocks and small tortoiseshells Despite a warm and sunny British summer, fewer butterflies than ever were recorded in each count by the biggest butterfly survey in the world. Record numbers of people took part in the Big Butterfly Count in July and August, with nearly 150,000 15-minute counts of butterflies taking place in parks, gardens, woods and nature reserves across the country. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2GcdyHF Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Case to extradite Huawei executive Meng Wanzhou to US resumes

Telecoms group to claim abuse of process, saying US government has provided partial evidence The legal battle between Washington and Huawei resumes this week when a Canada-based senior executive at the Chinese state-backed telecommunications firm reappears in a Vancouver court on Monday claiming the effort to extradite her to the US should be thrown out. Huawei will claim an abuse of process, arguing the US government has provided Canadian authorities with partial and misleading evidence in an effort to show finance officer Meng Wanzhou tried to circumvent US sanctions on Iran 10 years ago. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3kUf3JC Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Rehoming pigeon: kererū returns to hatchery 24 years after flying the coop

‘Pidge’ disappeared from Rainbow Springs in New Zealand in 1996 and was not seen again before his return in August He might not have had the best homing instincts. But a New Zealand native pigeon – or kererū – named Pidge made it back, eventually, to the place of his hatching after 24 years missing in the wild. Pidge, who was hand-reared at Rainbow Springs – a wildlife and nature park in Rotorua, on New Zealand’s North Island – disappeared in 1996 and was not seen again before his return in August. That would make the bird, identified by a numbered band on his leg, 29 years old; most references list kererū lifespans as between 15 and 25 years. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3mWGCnk Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

'My business may not survive': wedding suppliers despair at Covid restrictions

Sector workers appeal to government for clarity and support after losing an entire year’s earnings Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Wedding coordinator Nina Beer started 2020 with 63 weddings in her diary. Of those, she has been able to do just one. Most of her brides postponed to next year, but if they do not go ahead she faces a second year with no income. “I’m slowly having to come to the realisation that my business may not survive,” she says. She is one of 400,000 workers in the UK’s wedding industry, which contributes £14.7bn to the economy and feeds into a plethora of sectors including retail, travel and tourism, and the creative industries. Suppliers earn most of their revenue during the wedding season between May and October, which sees them through the quiet colder months. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3icCDiK Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

‘Like the English civil war’: Covid crisis inflames neighbour disputes

Professional mediators report a surge in requests for help as community tensions boil over Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage A couple are having raucous parties in flagrant breach of the “rule of six”. An elderly woman with symptoms faces the fury of other residents by touching a communal door. A music teacher is imposing her students’ discordant notes on the flat downstairs. And a small child following an exercise routine has prompted a neighbour to declare: “I want to kill Joe Wicks.” Over six months of the coronavirus crisis, community relations have been strained to the point that one concerned retiree in the south-west told the Guardian: “It’s like the English civil war.” Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3mYf0hC Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Three more Welsh councils to go into coronavirus lockdown

Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and Vale of Glamorgan will be covered by latest restrictions Coronavirus – latest updates See all our coronavirus coverage Three more council areas in south Wales are to go into local lockdown, the Welsh government has announced. Neath Port Talbot, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan will be covered by the restrictions from 6pm on Monday, from which time people will not be able to enter or leave the areas without a reasonable excuse. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/30cCl5q Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

‘There is a fear that this will eradicate dwarfism’: the controversy over a new growth drug

A new treatment could help children with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, grow taller and avoid health problems in later life. But there are concerns about whether this is ethical Samuel Gray is very brave about his daily injections. At six-and-a-half, confident and happy, he was a boy who knew his own mind and made a big decision about his future. His parents had asked him if he wanted to take part in a clinical trial for a drug that could improve some of the conditions associated with achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism, with which Samuel was born. It would also, the researchers believed, increase his height. “Maybe children don’t know the bigger picture, but they know deep within themselves whether they want to do something or not,” says his mother, Kristina Gray, “and we would never force Samuel to do anything that he didn’t want to do.” She says she is proud of him for taking part, and that for their family it has always been about “the bigger pictur...

Public Enemy's Chuck D: 'Trump is a half-baked celebrity real estate hypocrite'

As Fight the Power is reworked for the age of Black Lives Matter, rap’s elder statesman gives his message for the US election – and explains the ‘hoax’ firing of Flavor Flav It is 1989 and racial tensions in the US are simmering. Public Enemy have just released Fight the Power on Def Jam, with a video featuring a massive political rally, the Young People’s March to End Racial Violence. Fast-forward 31 years and Public Enemy are back on Def Jam and Fight the Power, immortalised in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing , has been reworked in response to the Black Lives Matter protests that spread across the US and beyond. The intervening years have seen all the hope surrounding Barack Obama, the US’s first black president, being replaced by the fear and divisiveness caused by Donald Trump . So it is unsurprising that Chuck D is finding it hard to see progress. In his distinctive baritone, Public Enemy’s leader and founder says Black Lives Matter “has made a difference – but you know, it’...

The 10 best high street pieces for working from home – in pictures

Want to look professional without compromising on comfort? Easy. Try these key looks – from dungarees to statement socks Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/3kTVC3m Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com

Oxford moves to protect students from China's Hong Kong security law

Students will submit work related to China anonymously and told not to record classes Who runs Hong Kong: party faithful shipped in to carry out Beijing’s will ‘Back where we were’: history repeats for freedom swimmers Quiz: how well do you know Hong Kong’s national security law? Students at Oxford University specialising in the study of China are being asked to submit some papers anonymously to protect them from the possibility of retribution under the sweeping new security law introduced three months ago in Hong Kong. The anonymity ruling is to be applied in classes, and group tutorials are to be replaced by one-to-ones. Students are also to be warned it will be viewed as a disciplinary offence if they tape classes or share them with outside groups. Continue reading... from https://ift.tt/1Zwy43B https://ift.tt/2HtS1dU Check out https://ronaldstoner.weebly.com