3 d. ago Revealed: oligarchs spied on UK lawyers who ran Serious Fraud Office cases

The Guardian has obtained surveillance images taken by hired spies whose goal is said to have been identifying sources and gaining ‘leverage’Is surveillance by private operators legal in the UK?Oligarchs whose business empire was under investigation by the Serious Fraud Office spied on lawyers who ran some of the UK’s most sensitive criminal cases.The Guardian has obtained surveillance images of former SFO prosecutors taken by hired spies. Their goal is said to have been gathering information on the agency’s activities, identifying its sources and gaining “leverage”. Continue reading...

Society

7 d. ago Sixty years after the Voting Rights Act, our voices are being eroded | Al Sharpton

The 1965 law, a rare and profound act of consensus, has been hollowed out. We cannot forget the power Dr King saw in the right to voteIn a moment when we should be celebrating one of the most important pieces of legislation in American history, we are in fact at a worse place as a nation than when it was passed. Those of us fighting to protect the right to vote find ourselves against a movement that doesn’t want to take us back to 1965. They want to create an America that more closely resembles the one of 1865.Sixty years ago, in a rare and profound act of consensus, Congress passed a law to end the centuries-old rigging of American democracy. Yet today the system is as rigged as ever, with the battered Voting Rights Act on life support.Rev Al Sharpton is an American Baptist minister, civil rights activist and radio talkshow host Continue reading...

Politics

8 d. ago Horrifying moment thug smashes car into peacemaker who was trying to break up fight and leaves him traumatic brain injury

Hugh Raymond Holmes, 35, got into a fight in Ferryhill, County Durham, which involved several men and women on the day he left jail for a separate offence.

Events

8 d. ago Lord Dannatt urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at request of US firm

Police officer was concerned ex-army chief, a Teledyne adviser, sought to have ‘input’ into factory attack investigationA member of the House of Lords urged ministers to crack down on Palestine Action at the request of a US defence company that employs him as an adviser.Richard Dannatt, a former head of the British army, wrote privately to two separate Home Office ministers asking them to address the “threat” posed by the group after its activists targeted a factory in 2022. Continue reading...

Politics

3 w. ago Scientists uncover exactly what you see the moment you die as brain activity continues

For all of human history, people have been preoccupied with what happens to us when we die - and cutting-edge research has begun to provide some tantalising answers

Events

3 w. ago Darts star suffers complete head loss busting 178 during horror World Matchplay debut

Cameron Menzies had an absolute nightmare on his World Matchplay debut as the Scot incredibly managed to bust his score of 178 in a moment of complete brain fade

Events

3 w. ago Essex police arrest two after asylum hotel protests turn violent

Police say eight officers were assaulted when crowds surrounded a small counter-demonstrationTwo people have been arrested after a protest outside a hotel housing asylum seekers during which eight officers were assaulted, Essex police said.Riot police wore helmets and took up position while crowds of men, some masked, surrounded a small counter-demonstration by anti-racism activists on Thursday evening. Continue reading...

Events

3 w. ago Tax on AI and crypto could fund climate action, says former Paris accords envoy

Laurence Tubiana urges governments to consider levies on energy-hungry technologyGovernments should consider taxing artificial intelligence and cryptocurrencies to generate funds to deal with the climate crisis, one of the architects of the Paris agreement has said.Laurence Tubiana, the chief executive of the European Climate Foundation and a former French diplomat, is co-lead of the Global Solidarity Levies Task Force, an international initiative to find new sources of funds for climate action by taxing highly polluting activities including aviation and fossil fuel extraction. Continue reading...

Economics

3 w. ago Scientists uncover why man was paralysed after catching the flu as a toddler

Timothy Bingham was two years old when he had a mild flu-like illness which left him unable to walk

Science

last month Heatwaves have caused 10,000 excess deaths in England in past four years, says Miliband – UK politics live

Energy secretary addresses MPs, telling them the UK is getting hotter and wetter with three times the number of days above 30 degreesAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue readin...

Politics

last month Streeting says BMA ‘shockingly irresponsible’ over tactics for doctors’ strikes – UK politics live

Health secretary welcomes talks with union but says members have been told not to inform trusts if they are going to take actionAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue reading...

Events

last month Starmer to meet Trump in Scotland this month as demonstrations planned against state visit – UK politics live

PM to meet US president during private visit in July as Stop Trump Coalition announces protest planned for SeptemberAs Rowena Mason revealed recently, No 10 has issued guidance that in effect bans civil servants from any level of speaking at events where journalists are present.Today the Times has published a letter signed by almost 30 experts – including former senior officials, thinktank leaders, academics and union leader – saying this policy is a mistake because it is having “a chilling effect on public discussion” and that it should be withdrawn. They say:The government’s new guidance that prevents public officials from participating properly in public or stakeholder events is a mistake. Effective government relies on public servants, whose salaries are paid by the taxpayer, hearing directly from businesses, charities, academics and citizens to help them make better policy. They should be able to explain government activity to those same groups. Continue reading...

Politics