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Captain Tom Foundation inquiry: three key failings

A book deal, personal appearance and plans for a swimming pool were all criticised by the Charity Commission Captain Tom’s family personally benefited from charity they founded, report finds The Charity Commission’s report on the Captain Tom Foundation is highly critical of the conduct and actions of its founders, Hannah and Colin Ingram-Moore, who it said had directly and inappropriately benefited financially from their links to the foundation. Here are three examples of how the Ingram-Moores’ failure to manage conflicts of interest – not least between the foundation and their private company – constituted misconduct, mismanagement and what the commission called failures of governance and integrity. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/vqO0siW via IFTTT
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Young, British and Anti-Abortion review – surely gen Z are too smart to devalue women’s lives like this?

This documentary meets the young people trying to fight against reproductive rights – and exposes the problems in their world view Documentary-maker Poppy Jay’s new film has a title guaranteed to make my hackles rise, and perhaps the hackles of many others in a country that polls nearly 90% support for a woman’s right to terminate a pregnancy: Young, British and Anti-Abortion. It’s an investigation into gen Z’s increasing presence among those who would seek to circumscribe or cancel that right. It looks at how they are looking to reposition the debate as a human rights issue rather than a religious one, and how they are emboldened by the overturning of Roe v Wade in the US two years ago. Jay meets a variety of young activists who hope that once again when the US sneezes, we will catch cold. Eden McCourt does most of her work for Abortion Resistance through TikTok. She says that though she is religious (a Google search reveals that she is a writer for the Catholic Herald), her views

Cheaters season two review – this romcom is so convincing it’ll worm its way into your heart

It’s the difficult second series for the comedy filled with graphic sex and kink exploration. Luckily, it breezes through it by being as impeccably well-observed as ever There are hordes of romcoms that could feasibly be renamed Cheaters. Despite the spicy frankness of this dramedy’s title, its premise – Cupid strikes while at least one of the pairing is in a relationship – isn’t actually a novel, modern twist on the format; it’s one of the founding principles of the genre. From Brief Encounter to Sleepless in Seattle to Bridget Jones’s Diary , unfaithfulness is the bedrock of many an enthralling love story. Cheaters is no exception. The first season , released in 2022, was a wildly entertaining romp that hinged on a classic romcom coincidence: having indulged in a passionate one-night stand in Finland, Josh (Joshua McGuire) and Fola (Susan Wokoma) returned to their respective homes and partners – only to find that both of these things were situated directly across the road from on

A kookaburra: ‘They think they are waking the world’

A kingfisher with a long, dagger-shaped beak. Soft white feathers on its belly, iridescent blue opal spots on its wings I walked out of my kitchen on an overcast morning last week, feeling depressed, trying to think my way around the US election result somehow towards acceptance – or a totally different reality. I walked to the garden, carrying a load of laundry. And perched on the top edge of a chair was a fat, fluffy laughing kookaburra. It looked at me, I looked at it. A large kingfisher with a long, dagger-shaped beak. The corners of its beak turn upwards so that it looks as though it is smiling slightly. Soft white feathers on its belly, iridescent blue opal spots on its brown wings. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2R4Vg3w via IFTTT

Declining standards of care for stroke patients must be reversed, says charity

Figures from audit of England, Wales and Northern Ireland show some basic care now worse than decade ago Ministers are being urged to improve declining care for stroke patients to lower the risk of death and disability as new figures show rising cases, especially among people in their 50s. Thousands of stroke patients are missing out on appropriate treatment and rehabilitation, the standards of which have worsened over the past decade, the Stroke Association has said as it publishes the latest figures from the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme (SSNAP), the nation’s biggest stroke data audit covering England, Wales and Northern Ireland. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/pJmtvwz via IFTTT

Floods, explosions and asbestos: Thames Water faces potential problems on all fronts

Exclusive: Senior managers say they are forced to press ahead with orders for vital items without approval Thames Water supply ‘on knife-edge’ When Sarah Bentley and Sarah Albon met at Beckton sewage treatment works in east London, the choice of location was designed to underline Thames Water’s predicament. The site is Europe’s largest sewage treatment operation, with Grade II-listed parts of the site dating to the 1860s. It is now connected with the new Thames Tideway super-sewer, but insiders say several parts of the site are simply crumbling. The site is also riddled with asbestos. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/BhEFzGv via IFTTT

Technology used to recreate Richard III’s voice with Yorkshire accent

A digital avatar of the king’s head, complete with ‘meticulously researched’ voice, is on display at York Theatre Royal Technology has been used to recreate the voice of the medieval king Richard III, complete with a distinctive Yorkshire accent. A digital avatar of the monarch went on display at York Theatre Royal on Sunday after experts helped to generate a replica of his voice. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2N3Ua7d via IFTTT

Lewis and Hope blast West Indies to T20 victory over England

4th T20i: West Indies, 221-5, bt England, 218-5, by five wickets Opening partnership of 136 gives hosts a perfect platform For the seventh match in succession, it was win toss, win match in the Caribbean, as West Indies shone in a St Lucia runfest, chasing down England’s total of 218 with an over to spare. It was perfect conditions for batting in St Lucia, as a combination of playing on the same wicket as Thursday, a blazing afternoon sun and at times fierce crosswind led to 32 sixes being struck across the match. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/8kmofI9 via IFTTT

Pregnant cow rescued after getting stuck in swimming pool in Rutland

The 600kg animal was in the deep end and it took Leicestershire firefighters three hours to get her out safely A pregnant cow has had to be rescued by firefighters after she got stuck in a small swimming pool. The 590kg (93-stone) cow was found in the deep end of the pool in two to three feet of water at a house in Ketton, Rutland. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/zYAI1iW via IFTTT

Bank of England governor says Brexit has undermined UK economy

Andrew Bailey callls for relations with EU to be rebuilt as Trump plans US tariffs The Bank of England governor has urged ministers to “rebuild relations” with the EU, warning that Brexit has undermined the UK’s economy. Speaking at the Mansion House dinner in the City of London on Thursday evening, Andrew Bailey said he took no position on Brexit “per se”, but added: “I do have to point out consequences.” Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/MwNX65H via IFTTT

Who is RFK Jr and what might his top priorities be?

Trump’s nominee to oversee key US health agencies is a vaccine denier and experts predict the return of diseases ‘we have controlled for decades’ Robert F Kennedy Jr, the man Donald Trump has nominated to oversee key US health agencies, rose to national prominence as one of the most persistent and influential vaccine deniers in the country. Kennedy, 70, backed Trump after ending his own third-party bid for president in August. He is the son of the former attorney general and presidential candidate Robert F Kennedy and the nephew of president John F Kennedy. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/RHoUPDF via IFTTT

Council tax bills could rise by 5% after Labour keeps cap in place

Rise would be almost three times above current levels of inflation and add £100 to average family’s bills Labour has confirmed council tax rises will be kept at the 5% cap next year, which could mean a rise of £100 for the average family’s bills. The prime minister’s press secretary said on Wednesday that the threshold by which local authorities can increase bills would “remain the same”. Hours earlier Keir Starmer had dodged a question from Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, at prime minister’s questions about whether he would keep the cap on council tax. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/dwekGMi via IFTTT

‘No sign’ of promised fossil fuel transition as emissions hit new high

Despite nations’ pledges at Cop28 a year ago, the burning of coal, oil and gas continued to rise in 2024 There is “no sign” of the transition away from burning fossil fuels that was pledged by the world’s nations a year ago, with 2024 on track to set another new record for global carbon emissions. The new data, released at the UN’s Cop29 climate conference in Azerbaijan, indicates that the planet-heating emissions from coal, oil and gas will rise by 0.8% in 2024. In stark contrast, emissions have to fall by 43% by 2030 for the world to have any chance of keeping to the 1.5C temperature target and limiting “increasingly dramatic” climate impacts on people around the globe. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/t7fBgDr via IFTTT

Who could succeed Justin Welby as archbishop of Canterbury?

Some will think a woman should lead the C of E and age limitation will rule out a number of bishops Justin Welby to step down as archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s resignation will trigger a search for the 106th archbishop of Canterbury, a role that combines moral and spiritual leadership, ceremonial duties, a seat in the House of Lords, oversight of Anglican churches in more than 160 countries, and the day-to-day management of a large but declining English institution. Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, is expected to step up to the number one position in the Church of England until a new archbishop of Canterbury can be appointed – a process that will take several months. Many in the church and beyond will be hoping that the successful candidate is a woman or person of colour – or both. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/GxhV63Q via IFTTT

Trump reportedly picks China critic Mike Waltz as national security adviser – US politics live

Media reports say Trump may announce retired army green beret – a loyalist who has also served as a colonel in the national guard Trump picks ally Lee Zeldin as environment chief and vows to scrap rules Who else could be in Trump’s cabinet? US president-elect Donald Trump said on Sunday that Tom Homan , the former acting director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (Ice), will be in charge of the country’s borders in his new administration. Homan’s areas of control will include “the southern border, the northern border, all maritime, and aviation security”, Trump said in a post on his Truth Social platform. Trump added that “border czar” Homan will be in charge of the deportation of illegal immigrants . Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/2p7hDLB via IFTTT

NHS England hopes to save thousands of lives with pill that helps smokers quit

Experts say once-a-day varenicline tablet reduces nicotine cravings and side-effects from cutting out tobacco Hundreds of thousands of smokers will be given a pill that increases people’s chances of quitting, in a move that NHS bosses believe will save thousands of lives. About 85,000 people a year in England will be offered the chance to use varenicline, a once-a-day tablet that experts say is as effective as vapes at helping people to kick the habit. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/sQzVGaD via IFTTT

Israel says ‘certain progress’ made in Lebanon ceasefire talks

Foreign minister says talks continuing over Israel’s stated objectives of pushing Hezbollah away from Israeli border Israel’s foreign minister, Gideon Saar, said on Monday that “certain progress” had been made on ceasefire talks in Lebanon, where Israel has been engaged in fighting Hezbollah for more than 13 months. “We will be ready to be there if we know, first of all, that Hezbollah is not on our border, is north of the Litani River, and that Hezbollah will not be able to arm with new weapons systems,” Saar said. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/FNajd2T via IFTTT

South Africa run in four tries as world champions prove too strong for Scotland

Scotland 15-32 South Africa Springboks hold off stubborn hosts at Murrayfield Not much arguing with this. Scotland threw everything at this match, setting their beloved stadium on a roar time and again, but four tries to none tells its own story. And a familiar one at that. South Africa, ­without ever really seeming to play much more than within themselves, were just too strong. The image of a lusty puncher failing to land a single blow came to mind, as the Springboks held a swinging Scotland at arm’s length, rarely too troubled, for all their opponents’ fire and enthusiasm. Time and again either side of half-time, Scotland broke out, but they could not quite score a try, let alone four of them. Eben Etzebeth, the only Springbok forward to play the whole match, was the icon, huge, commanding and, at times, laughing in his opponents’ faces. Continue reading... from The Guardian https://ift.tt/75C8N4D via IFTTT
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