23 h. ago BBC faces ‘profound jeopardy’ without funding overhaul, Tim Davie says

Exclusive: Outgoing director general indicates support for update to licence-fee model as part of wider changesThe BBC will face “profound jeopardy” over its future unless it embraces significant changes to its funding, its outgoing director general has said, as he signalled his support for an overhaul of the licence fee.Speaking to the Guardian, Tim Davie called for supporters of the corporation to “stand up and fight” for it, amid increased hostility from its commercial and political critics. Continue reading...

Politics

37 h. ago Amsterdam prepares to ‘ban the fatbikes’ amid rise in serious accidents

Experts say souped-up e-bikes pose big risk for children aged from 12 to 15, who account for many A&E casesOn a busy lunchtime, thick-tyred electric bikes zoom through the leafy lanes of the Vondelpark in Amsterdam. But after a marked rise in accidents – particularly involving children – these vehicles the Dutch call “fatbikes” are to be banned in some parts of the Netherlands.“It’s nonsense!” said Henk Hendrik Wolthers, 69, from the saddle of his wide-tyred, electric Mate bike. “I drive a car, I ride a motorbike, I’ve had a moped and now I ride a fatbike. This is the quickest means of transport in the city and you should be able to use it.” Continue reading...

Politics

3 d. ago The greatest threat facing Britain may soon be the US – but the establishment won’t recognise it | Andy Beckett

Since the end of the second world war, all eyes have been on Russia. Yet Trump’s increasingly erratic, hostile presidency is shattering old assumptions One of the things that the depleted, often denigrated British state is still pretty good at is persuading the public that another country is a threat. As a small, warlike island next to a much larger land mass, Britain has had centuries of practice at cultivating its own sense of foreboding. Arguably, preparing for conflict with some part of the outside world is our natural mindset.Warnings about potential enemy countries are spread by our prime ministers and major political parties, intelligence services and civil servants, serving and retired military officers, defence and foreign affairs thinktanks, and journalists from the right and the left. Sometimes, the process is relatively subtle and covert: reporters or MPs are given off-the-record briefings about our “national security” – a potently imprecise term – facing a new threat.An...

Events

4 d. ago Inquest opens into mysterious death of Belfast schoolboy Noah Donohoe

Fourteen-year-old was found dead in a storm drain in June 2020 six days after setting off from home on his bikeSix years after Noah Donohoe’s bike ride across Belfast ended in a tragedy that mystified Northern Ireland, an inquest is seeking answers.Opening statements at Belfast coroner’s court on Thursday marked the formal start of an attempt to fathom what happened to the 14-year-old schoolboy, who left his home on 21 June 2020 and was found six days later dead in a storm drain. Continue reading...

Events

9 d. ago Mark Carney issues stark warning on Canada security in wake of Trump threats

Canada's Mark Carney made a major move away from the US and towards a rival, amid increasing hostility from the nation's closest ally - the US

Events

1 week ago Spain’s climate scientists subjected to ‘alarming’ rise in hate speech, minister warns

Environment minister says attacks on social media affect perceptions of meteorology and denigrate researchers’ workEurope live – latest updatesSpain’s environment minister has written to prosecutors to warn of “an alarming increase” in hate speech and social media attacks directed against climate science communicators, meteorologists and researchers.In a letter sent to hate crimes prosecutors on Wednesday, Sara Aagesen said a number of recent reports examined by the ministry had detected a “significant increase” in the hostile language that climate experts are subjected to on digital platforms. Continue reading...

Events

1 week ago Spain’s meteorologists subjected to ‘alarming’ rise in hate speech, minister warns

Environment minister says attacks on social media affect perceptions of meteorology and denigrate researchers’ workEurope live – latest updatesSpain’s environment minister has written to prosecutors to warn of “an alarming increase” in hate speech and social media attacks directed against climate science communicators, meteorologists and researchers.In a letter sent to hate crimes prosecutors on Wednesday, Sara Aagesen said a number of recent reports examined by the ministry had detected a “significant increase” in the hostile language that climate experts are subjected to on digital platforms. Continue reading...

Events

2 w. ago Wales' richest man quitting 'hostile' UK for another European country

Cardiff-born tech investment billionaire Michael Moritz says that the UK is an increasingly hostile place for British Jerws, and he's applying for German citizenship

Politics

3 w. ago Boy, 15, dies in freak bike crash just four years after escaping death in bouncy castle tragedy which killed 6 children

A TEENAGER has died in a freak bike crash just four years after he miraculously survived a bouncy castle tragedy. Lucas Reid, 15, was killed on New Year's Eve when he collided with a telephone pole while out on a nighttime e-bike ride, Australia police believe. The young man was cycling through Devonport, Tasmania, at...

Events

3 w. ago 'I was dead by the side of the road after my heart stopped for 15 minutes

Mark Moran collapsed while on a gentle bike ride

Events

3 w. ago London Naked Bike Ride hires more security, but denies measure due to increased hostility towards nude cyclists

London Naked Bike Ride hires more security, but denies measure due to increased hostility towards nude cyclists  Road.cc

Events

4 w. ago London Naked Bike Ride hires more security due to increased “hostility” towards nude cyclists

London Naked Bike Ride hires more security due to increased “hostility” towards nude cyclists  Road.cc

Events