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☆ ‘Heart-breaking’: Refugees once detained offshore by Australia warn the UK government not to push through its Rwanda policy
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-22 | by ( Antoinette Radford | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

The policy enjoys bipartisan political support in Australia, with both the coalition and Labor governments backing offshore detention. And on face value, the UK’s proposed offshore detention policy follows a similar model to that of Australia. Australia’s own offshore detention policy has been heavily criticized and fraught with controversy – but still seems to exert considerable appeal for some UK politicians. Another difference between two nations stems from the fact Australia does not have a human rights charter, Tubakovic said. She notes that the UK is still bound by human rights obligations, particularly as a signatory to the European Convention on Human Rights.

Persons: CNN — “, Behrouz Boochani, “, ”, Boochani, Mostafa Azimitabar –, –, ” Azimitabar, Rwanda Bill, Dan Kitwood, Rishi Sunak, Tony Abbott, Jonas Gratzer, Alexander Downer, Downer, Tamara Tubakovic, “ It’s, Tubakovic, David Gray, ” Tubakovic Organizations: CNN, Kurd, European, of Human, Australia’s Department of Home Affairs, Labor, Refugee Council of Australia, ‘, Conservative, English Channel, UK Border Force, University of Melbourne, University of Oxford, Human Rights, of Human Rights, UN, Reuters Locations: New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Iran, Indonesia, Australia, Nauru, Manus, Melbourne, United Kingdom, Rwanda, England, Britain, British, France, Sydney

☆ Opinion: Can the party of Winston Churchill really bring about the world’s toughest smoking ban?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Opinion Holly Thomas | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

London CNN —Last week, former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson treated a Canadian crowd to a helping of his signature bombast. Second World War-era Conservative British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, is also one of history's most famous cigar smokers. Central Press/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesDespite what Johnson may have led his audience to believe, a potential smoking ban enjoys broad popular support in the UK. New Zealand’s conservative National Party introduced a similar phased smoking ban last year, but reversed it before it went into effect to help pay for tax cuts. Smoking costs the NHS an estimated £2.5 billion ($3.1 billion) every year, equivalent to 2% of the health service’s budget.

Persons: Holly Thomas, Katie Couric, London CNN —, Boris Johnson, Winston Churchill, “, It’s, Rishi Sunak, Johnson, YouGov, Conservative backbenchers, Liz Truss, they’d, it’ll, ’ Organizations: Katie Couric Media, CNN, London CNN, Conservative Party Conference, Conservative British, Central Press, Hulton, National Health Service, Conservative, New, National Party, Cancer Research, Tory Locations: London, Quebec, Britain, America, England, Wales, Scotland

☆ 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' — the TV drama that shook Britain — comes to PBS
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-07 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +9 min

"Mr Bates vs the Post Office" had a remarkable impact after airing in Britain and now comes to PBS. Jo Hamilton, who ran the Village Shop and Post Office in South Warnborough, Hampshire, was wrongly convicted of theft in the Post Office Horizon scandal. ITVThe program focused on Alan Bates, who along with his partner invested in a post office store in Wales in 1998. Why did the Post Office — which has been owned by the government since 2012 – continue to prosecute people when there were doubts about the software? Advertisement"Mr Bates vs the Post Office" is being broadcast on PBS weekly from Sunday April 7.

Persons: Mr Bates, —, Rishi Sunak, Seema Misra, Peter Huxham, Martin Griffiths, Julian Wilson, Jo Hamilton, Adrian Dennis, Toby Jones, who's, Harry Potter, Alan Bates, Bates, wasn't, John Beer of, –, Kevin Hollinrake, Gwyneth Hughes, Innocent, Paula Vennells, Vennells, it's, James Strong, we'd, Polly Hill Organizations: PBS, Service, ITV, of, Post, Japan's Fujitsu, Office, Getty, Journalists, Computer, BBC, Post Office, Guardian, Fujitsu, Financial Times, subpostmasters, Channel Locations: Britain, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, South Warnborough, Hampshire, AFP, Wales, John Beer of Farnham, Surrey

☆ Now It’s Germany’s Turn to Frustrate Allies Over Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-04 | by ( David E. Sanger | Christopher F. Schuetze | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

First it was France’s president, Emmanuel Macron, who angered his NATO allies by suggesting that soon the West could be forced to send troops to Ukraine, portending a direct confrontation with Russian forces that the rest of the alliance has long rejected. Then Chancellor Olaf Scholz of Germany took his own turn exposing new divisions. Trying to justify why Germany was withholding its most powerful missile, the Taurus, from Ukrainian hands, he hinted that Britain, France and the United States may secretly be helping Ukraine target similar weapons, a step he said Germany simply could not take. While neither Britain or France has commented officially — they almost never discuss how their weapons are deployed — Mr. Scholz was immediately accused by former officials of revealing war secrets. “Scholz’s behavior has showed that as far as the security of Europe goes he is the wrong man in the wrong job at the wrong time,” Ben Wallace, Britain’s former defense minister, told The Evening Standard, a London daily.

Persons: Emmanuel Macron, portending, Olaf Scholz, Germany, Scholz, ” Ben Wallace, Tobias Ellwood, Vladimir V, Putin Organizations: NATO, Russian, Conservative Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Britain, France, United States, Europe, London, Washington

☆ In a bizarre British by-election, a pro-Palestinian firebrand just swept to victory
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

ROCHDALE, England - Feb 29: Workers Party of Britain candidate George Galloway speaks after being declared the winner in the Rochdale by-election on February 29, 2024. Christopher Furlong | Getty Images News | Getty ImagesStaunchly pro-Palestinian left-wing firebrand George Galloway on Thursday won a chaotic by-election in Rochdale, northwestern England that was defined by the Israel-Gaza conflict. ROCHDALE, England - Feb. 29, 2023: A man walks past a George Galloway election sign as residents begin to vote in the Rochdale by-election on February 29, 2024 in Rochdale, England. ROCHDALE, England - Feb. 19, 2024: People walk past pro-Palestinian graffiti in Rochdale on February 19, 2024 in Rochdale, England. Christopher Furlong | Getty Images News | Getty Images

Persons: George Galloway, Christopher Furlong, firebrand George Galloway, Galloway, Paul Tully, Azhar Ali, Ali, Conservative Paul Ellison Organizations: ROCHDALE, Workers Party of, Rochdale, Getty, Labour, Workers Party of Britain, Labour Party, Conservative Locations: England, Palestinian, Rochdale, Israel, Gaza, Britain's, ROCHDALE

☆ German chancellor appeared to suggest that British and French soldiers have helped Ukraine fire 'deep-strike' missiles at Russian targets, report says
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Nathan Rennolds | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz has been criticized for a "flagrant abuse of intelligence" after he appeared to suggest British and French soldiers had been helping Ukraine fire missiles they had supplied. "German soldiers must at no point and in no place be linked to targets this system reaches," he added. A German government spokesperson told Business Insider they had no comment on the reports. Thierry Wurtz/MBDAIn May 2023, the UK became the first country to begin sending Ukraine long-range missiles with the delivery of long-range Storm Shadow missiles. According to the Atlantic Council think tank, they enable Ukraine to target ammunition depots and command posts deep inside Russian territory.

Persons: —, Olaf Scholz, Scholz, Ben Wallace, Tobias Ellwood, Thierry Wurtz Organizations: Service, Business, Storm, Associated Press, Telegraph, Former UK, of Commons Defence, British Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces of, Rafale, Atlantic Council, Fleet, BBC Locations: Ukraine, Germany, Britain, France, Europe, Russia, Armed Forces of Ukraine, Sevastopol

☆ 2 Scientists in Canada Passed On Secrets to China, Investigations Find
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Ian Austen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Two scientists who worked at Canada’s top microbiology lab passed on secret scientific information to China, and one of them was a “realistic and credible threat to Canada’s economic security,” documents from the national intelligence agency and a security investigation show. Canadian universities can now be disqualified from federal funding if they enter into partnerships with any of 100 institutions in China, Russia and Iran. The release of the documents was the subject of a prolonged debate in Parliament that began before the last federal election, in September 2021. Opposition parties asked to see the records at least four times and found the Liberal government to be in contempt of Parliament in 2021. The government filed a lawsuit in an attempt to keep the records hidden, but dropped it when the vote was called.

Persons: Xiangguo Qiu, Keding Cheng Organizations: Commons, Liberal Locations: China, Russia, Iran

☆ In Britain, Shockwaves From Israel-Hamas War Are Jolting Domestic Politics
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-29 | by ( Mark Landler | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Inside Britain’s Parliament, lawmakers jeered, booed, and stormed out of the House of Commons to protest the speaker’s handling of a vote calling for a cease-fire in Gaza. The chaotic scenes in London last week captured how Israel’s war in Gaza is reverberating far beyond the Middle East. In Britain, political parties and the public are not actually that divided over how to respond to Gaza; a solid majority back a cease-fire. The governing Conservative Party seized on anti-Israel comments made by a Labour Party parliamentary candidate to accuse Labour of failing to stamp out a legacy of anti-Semitism in its ranks. Labour pointed to disparaging comments by a Tory lawmaker about London’s Muslim mayor as evidence of simmering Islamophobia among Conservatives.

Persons: jeered, Big Ben Organizations: Conservative Party, Labour Party, Labour Locations: Gaza, Israel, London, United States, Europe, Muslim, Britain

☆ UK nuclear missile test fails for second time in eight years
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Lauren Kent | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

London CNN —A British nuclear missile test launch failed at a site off the coast of Florida, marking the second time in eight years that the country’s Trident 2 ballistic missiles have malfunctioned during trials. The fault was specific to the test kit and that the launch would have likely been successful if it had occurred out on a patrol, using a real nuclear warhead, according to the source. “The UK’s nuclear deterrent remains safe, secure and effective,” The Ministry of Defense spokesperson added. “The test has reaffirmed the effectiveness of the UK’s nuclear deterrent, in which we have absolute confidence.”A Trident II missile is launched by the US navy during a test in 1989. Phil Sandlin/AP/FileShapps is expected to present a written ministerial statement on Britain’s nuclear deterrent to Parliament on Wednesday, according to the House of Commons order paper.

Persons: London CNN —, of Defense Grant Shapps, Sir Ben Key, Phil Sandlin, ”, John Healey Organizations: London CNN, HMS Vanguard, Ministry of Defense, Trident, CNN, The Sun, of Defense, “, Vanguard, US, Labour Party, Royal Navy Locations: British, Florida, United States, Georgia

☆ Labour opposition deals another historic blow to UK PM Rishi Sunak with by-election defeats
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Elliot Smith | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Winning candidate Gen Kitchen said the result was a "stunning victory for the Labour Party and must send a message from Northamptonshire to Downing Street." LONDON — U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's ruling Conservative Party suffered another double by-election defeat on Thursday, as the opposition Labour Party's momentum shows no sign of slowing. The double defeat of Thursday was the latest in a string of unfavorable by-election results for the ruling party in what were previously considered safe seats. "I was very pleased last night to see that we were clearly getting Tory switchers, in other words people who hadn't voted for the Labour Party before, coming out last night and voting for the Labour Party in a by-election." The Labour Party maintains a lead of more than 20 points over the Conservatives in all national polling, with a general election due no later than January 2025.

Persons: Kitchen, Peter Bone, —, Rishi Sunak's, Helen Harrison, Gen Kitchen, Chris Skidmore, Damien Egan, Keir Starmer, Tory switchers, hadn't, Boris Johnson, Robert Ford Organizations: Labour, Labour Party, Downing, Conservative, Conservatives, LONDON, Conservative Party, Kettering Leisure Village, Tamworth, Liberal Democrats, BBC, University of Manchester, CNBC Locations: Northamptonshire, Wellingborough , Northamptonshire, KETTERING, England, Wellingborough, Kettering, Kettering , England, Kingswood , South Gloucestershire, North, Kingswood, Mid Bedfordshire, West Midlands, Selby, Ainsty, Somerton, Frome

LONDON (AP) — Voters in two districts in England delivered new blows to beleaguered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, electing opposition-party lawmakers in seats that Sunak’s Conservatives had held for years. Labour Party candidate Damien Egan won the House of Commons seats of Kingswood in southwest England, and Labour's Gen Kitchen took Wellingborough in the country’s center, results announced Friday showed. The Conservatives won both by large margins at the last national election in 2019 but saw support collapse in Thursday's special elections. The hard-right Reform party — formerly known as the Brexit Party — came third, putting more pressure on the Conservatives. The Conservatives pointed to the low turnout — less than 40% of eligible voters cast ballots — as a sign British electors are not enthusiastic about Labour.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Damien Egan, Kitchen, —, Brexit Party —, Keir Starmer, Chris Skidmore, Peter Bone, Sunak, Liz Truss, Brexit, Boris Johnson, John Curtice, ” “, ” Organizations: —, Labour Party, Wellingborough, Conservatives, Brexit Party, Labour, Conservative, European Union, University of Strathclyde, BBC Locations: England, Kingswood, Wellingborough

☆ Biden’s verbal slip-ups over dead European leaders put the focus on his most potent political weakness: His age
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

Two verbal slip-ups in the last few days are again bringing the concerns about the president’s cognition to the forefront. A January NBC poll of 1,000 registered voters found that three quarters of all voters, including half of Democrats, had concerns about Biden’s physical or mental health. The White House did not immediately provide a response to this story. In last year’s physical, Biden’s physician said an “extremely detailed” neurologic exam found no findings that would be consistent with stroke, multiple sclerosis or Parkinson’s disease. As with his previous physical in 2021, the White House did not say whether Biden underwent any cognitive tests, which some doctors recommend for older adults.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, juggles, Biden, – François Mitterrand, Helmut Kohl –, Robert Hur’s, Beau, Trump, Karine Jean, Pierre, Mike Johnson, Sean Hannity, ” Jean, Pierre said, –, I’ve, ”, Biden misspeaks –, Emmanuel Macron, Mitterrand –, Kohl, Angela Merkel, Olaf Scholz, “ Helmut Kohl, ‘ Joe, ” Biden, Biden’s, Dean Phillips, Nikki Haley, Donald Trump, Haley, Nancy Pelosi, ” Haley, Jean, Kevin O’Connor, “, Covid, ” O’Connor, O’Connor, Kevin Liptak, MJ Lee Organizations: Washington CNN, House, White, NBC, Senate, London Times, Democratic, Republican South, United Nations, Trump, CNN, Biden Locations: Israel, Germany, New York, Republican South Carolina, United States

☆ The British monarchy has never been more vulnerable to destruction
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-07 | by ( Mikhaila Friel | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

King Charles' cancer diagnosis marks a dangerous new era for the British monarchy, which is running out of key players. Charles' monarchy is too small and too oldThe palace said the king will continue undertaking state business and official paperwork while receiving treatment. The royal family appears on the balcony of Buckingham Palace after King Charles III's coronation. King Charles III and Princess Anne during the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022. AdvertisementPrince George, 10, is second in line to the throne — but he won't be eligible to undertake royal duties until he's at least 18.

Persons: King Charles, Buckingham, Charles, Prince William, Princess Anne, King Charles III's, Max Mumby, Phil Dampier, Prince Andrew, Duke, Duchess of, Kate, King Charles III, Queen Elizabeth II, Karwai Tang, WireImage Dampier, Prince George, he's, George, Prince of Wales, Yui Mok, Queen Camilla, Anne, Prince Edward, Sophie, Richard Fitzwilliams, Victoria Howard, Marlene Koenig, Queen Margrethe, Howard, Charles III, Fitzwilliams, Koenig, William, Lord Chancellor, Charles abdicates, King, Prince Andrew's, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, Chris Jackson, Kristen Meinzer, BI's Samantha Grindell, Beatrice, Eugenie, I've, Dampier Organizations: Buckingham, Business, CBC News, Westminster Abbey, Unit, Getty Locations: British, Buckingham, Duchess of Sussex, Netherlands, Spain

☆ King Charles has cancer. Here’s what we know
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Lauren Said-Moorhouse | Max Foster | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

London CNN —King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has started treatment in London. Specific medical conditions of members of the royal family are rarely divulged publicly. Andrew Parsons/Kensington PalaceQueen Camilla has been undertaking a full program of public duties in recent weeks, with that expected to continue. Now, 11 members of the clan conduct royal duties - more than half of whom are over the age of 70. Under the Regency Act 1937, that would be the next in line to the throne, which is Prince William.

Persons: London CNN — King Charles III, Charles ’, King, Catherine , Princess of Wales, Charles, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Mary Magdalene Church, Buckingham, Prince William, Catherine, William, Prince of Wales, Prince, Wales, ’, Andrew Parsons, Camilla, ”, King Charles , Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Duke, Duchess, Duchess of Gloucester, Duchess of Kent, Prince Harry, Meghan, Andrew, Jeffrey Epstein, Harry, Duchess of Sussex, –, hasn’t, Princes William, Princess Beatrice, Prince Edward, Dukes of, Lord Chancellor, England, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis Organizations: London CNN, Buckingham, London Clinic, CNN, London Air Ambulance, Kensington, CNN’s Royal Locations: London, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, Regent’s, St, Sandringham , Norfolk, Kensington, Windsor, Edinburgh, United Kingdom, California, Queen, Dukes of Sussex, York

☆ The high-profile failure of a $3.7B aircraft carrier shows how Britain is struggling to keep up with first-rate militaries
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-05 | by ( Tom Porter | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Years of underfunding have left the UK's navy in a threadbare state, according to a report. AdvertisementThe high-profile failure of the UK's flagship aircraft carrier over the weekend has shown how Britain is struggling to keep up with first-rate navies around the world. AdvertisementThe Prince of Wales and the HMS Queen Elizabeth have only been in service for around three years. Having two aircraft carriers means that HMS Prince of Wales can quickly prepare to deploy in place of HMS Queen Elizabeth," said a spokeswoman. Advertisement"HMS Prince of Wales will deploy soon on NATO exercise Steadfast Defender, carrying out her duties to keep the nation and our allies safe."

Persons: underfunding, —, Elizabeth, Wales, Tom Sharpe, Lord Houghton, of Wales, HMS Queen Elizabeth, Prince, Sir Richard Barrons Organizations: NATO, Service, Britain's Royal Navy, US Navy, Navy, The Times, Britain's, Ministry of Defence, Armed Forces, Financial Locations: Britain, East Asia, Russia, Ukraine, Red, Bahrain, Wales

☆ The UK's flagship aircraft carrier suffers new misfortune and won't lead major NATO exercise
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-04 | by ( Rebecca Rommen | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The UK Royal Navy's fleet flagship had to withdraw from a major NATO exercise at the last minute. HMS Queen Elizabeth had issues with its starboard propeller shaft. In 2019, HMS Queen Elizabeth was left without propulsion for days and flooded. The ship had to anchor off Britannia Royal Naval College for 24 hours to undergo repairs, per The News. The House of Commons Defence Committee called the UK military "consistently overstretched" and under "unrelenting pressure," the Independent reports.

Persons: Queen Elizabeth, HMS Queen Elizabeth, —, Elizabeth, HMS, Wales, HMS Prince, Kalnins, Sir Richard Barrons Organizations: Royal, Service, NATO, Royal Navy, Business, Royal Navy's, Britannia Royal Naval College, Warfare Development Command, UK Defense, British, REUTERS, Bangor, Financial Times, Navy, Recruits, of Commons Defence Locations: NATO, Portsmouth, Europe, Scandinavia, Northern Europe, Westminster, Riga, Latvia, Bahrain, Bangor

☆ UK Must Comply With Human Rights' Court Orders, President Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-25 | by ( Jan. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON (Reuters) - The president of Europe's human rights court said on Thursday there was a legal obligation on states to comply with its injunctions in response to Britain's threat to ignore such orders over its plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda. In order to enact this plan, a bill is going through the British parliament which the government admits might not be compatible with the European Convention on Human Rights and would give ministers the power to decide whether to comply with injunctions from the European Court of Human Rights. "There is a clear legal obligation under the convention for states to comply with Rule 39 measures," Siofra O’Leary, the President of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR), told reporters. Last June, the ECtHR issued an injunction - known as interim measures under Rule 39 - to prevent the first deportations of asylum seekers to the east African nation. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak remains determined to put the policy into operation amid pressure from right-wing lawmakers in his Conservative Party and voter concern about thousands of asylum seekers arriving without permission across the Channel in small boats.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Rwanda Bill, Michael Holden, Andrew MacAskill Organizations: European, Human Rights, of Human, of Human Rights, Conservative Party, Commons Locations: Rwanda, British, Britain

Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesThe news is a major blow to Port Talbot, a town of about 35,000 people whose economy has been built on the steel industry since the early 1900s. At its height in the 1960s, the Port Talbot steelworks employed around 20,000 people, before cheaper offerings from China and other countries hit production. More than 300,000 people worked in Britain’s steel industry in 1971; by 2021 it was about 26,000. Last year the U.K. government gave Tata up to 500 million pounds ($634 million) to make the Port Talbot steelworks greener. “We saw it with the coal industry and now it is happening again with the steel industry.

Persons: ”, T.V, Narendran, Port, Tata, “, Tata's, Anthony Slaughter Organizations: Tata Steel, Tata, ” Tata Steel, Unions, Port Talbot, Commons Library, Community, Green Party Locations: Port Talbot, Wales, China, Port

☆ 'Get on board': UK PM Sunak appeals to Lords to deliver his Rwanda asylum law
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-18 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 18: UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during a press conference in Downing Street on January 18, 2024 in London, England. He spoke after seeing the Safety of Rwanda Bill pass its third reading in the House of Commons by a majority of 44 last night. Weakened by the failed rebellion that simply underlined the deep divisions in his party, Sunak repeated his mantra that it was time to "stick with the plan", that his "plan was working" and that the opposition Labour Party had "no plan". "The House of Lords must pass this bill. An opinion poll underlined his party's flagging fortunes, putting support for the Conservatives at the lowest level since former Prime Minister Liz Truss was forced from office.

Persons: Rishi Sunak, Rwanda Bill, Stefan Rousseau, Sunak, Liz Truss Organizations: British, Conservatives, Labour Party, Labour Locations: ENGLAND, Downing Street, London, England, Rwanda

☆ Fujitsu shares drop nearly 4% as its Europe chief says compensating Post Office victims is a 'moral obligation'
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-17 | by ( Lim Hui Jie | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

This case received new public attention this year when ITV broadcast a drama series, "Mr Bates vs The Post Office," about the sub-postmasters fight for justice. Horizon was manufactured by Fujitsu in 1999 and rolled out across Post Office branches to manage financial transactions. "We did have bugs and errors in the system and we did help the Post Office in their prosecutions of the sub-postmasters," he told the committee. The government has set aside 1 billion pounds in compensation for victims of the Post Office scandal. And the role of the post office has been well known in these court prosecutions, but Fujitsu for some reason had been rarely mentioned in the press."

Persons: Paul Patterson, Mr Bates, Patterson, Timothy Morse Organizations: Fujitsu Services, Business, Trade, Nikkei, Fujitsu, IT, Post, ITV, of Commons Business, Trade Committee, Government Locations: Europe, London

☆ Opinion | The U.S. Lacks What Every Democracy Needs
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Richard L. Hasen | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The history of voting in the United States shows the high cost of living with an old Constitution, unevenly enforced by a reluctant Supreme Court. Unlike the constitutions of many other advanced democracies, the U.S. Constitution contains no affirmative right to vote. Our problems are only going to get worse until we get constitutional change. The framers were skeptical of universal voting. The original U.S. Constitution provided for voting only for the House of Representatives, not for the Senate or the presidency, leaving voter qualifications for House elections to the states.

Organizations: U.S . Constitution, Canadian Charter of Rights, Freedoms, Bundestag, Constitution, Senate Locations: United States, U.S ., Canada, Federal Republic of Germany, U.S

☆ Suicides, jail, and wrongful convictions — but it took the TV drama 'Mr Bates vs the Post Office' to bring them justice
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-13 | by ( Chris Johnston | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

Martin Griffiths, 59, jumped in front of a bus in 2013 after being falsely accused of theft at his post office branch in Ellesmere Port, near Liverpool. Jo Hamilton, who ran the Village Shop and Post Office in South Warnborough, Hampshire, was wrongly convicted of theft in the Post Office Horizon scandal. ITVThe program focused on Alan Bates, who along with his partner invested in a post office store in Wales in 1998. Why did the Post Office — which has been owned by the government since 2012 – continue to prosecute people when there were doubts about the software? "Mr Bates vs the Post Office" is available in the UK on ITVX.

Persons: It's, Mr Bates, Rishi Sunak, Seema Misra, Peter Huxham, Martin Griffiths, Julian Wilson, Jo Hamilton, Adrian Dennis, Toby Jones, who's, Harry Potter, Alan Bates, Bates, wasn't, John Beer of, —, –, Kevin Hollinrake, Gwyneth Hughes, Innocent, Paula Vennells, Vennells, it's, James Strong, we'd, Polly Hill Organizations: Service, Business, ITV, Post, of, Japan's Fujitsu, Office, Getty, Journalists, Computer, BBC, Post Office, Guardian, Fujitsu, Financial Times, subpostmasters Locations: Britain, Ellesmere Port, Liverpool, South Warnborough, Hampshire, AFP, Wales, John Beer of Farnham, Surrey

The world also said goodbye to former U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, who died Nov. 29. Political Cartoons View All 1277 ImagesAnother political figure who died this year was former U.S. first lady Rosalynn Carter, who died Nov. 19. Among the entertainers who left the world this year was singer Tina Turner, who died May 24. Here is a roll call of some influential figures who died in 2023 (cause of death cited for younger people, if available):___JANUARY___Fred White, 67. A Hall of Fame forward who helped the Chicago Blackhawks win the 1961 Stanley Cup Final.

Persons: Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin, Prigozhin, Vladimir Putin’s, Henry Kissinger, Rosalynn Carter, Jimmy Carter, Silvio Berlusconi, Dianne Feinstein, James Buckley, James Abourezk, Nigel Lawson, Pervez Musharraf, Sandra Day O’Connor, Li Keqiang, Martti Ahtisaari, United Nations Bill Richardson, Gov, Sheila Oliver, Theodoros Pangalos, Tina Turner, Ike Turner, Suzanne Somers, Matthew Perry, Raquel Welch, Richard Belzer, Chaim Topol, Jacklyn Zeman, Lance Reddick, Alan Arkin, Paul Reubens, David McCallum, Richard Roundtree, Tom Sizemore, Jimmy Buffett, Sinéad O’Connor, Rita Lee Jones, Burt Bacharach, David Crosby, Fito Olivares, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Astrud Gilberto, Coco Lee, Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Cormac McCarthy, William Friedkin, Bob Barker, Jerry Springer, Louise Glück, Jeff Beck, Mary Quant, Kaija Saariaho, Lloyd Morrisett, Fred White, Maurice, Verdine White, Ken Block, Walter Cunningham, Fay Weldon, ” Jan, Russell Pearce, Charles Simic, Lynette “ Diamond ” Hardaway, Donald Trump, Diamond, Constantine, Jan, Tatjana Patitz, George Michael’s, Lisa Marie Presley, Elvis Presley, Robbie Knievel, Evel Knievel, Ray Cordeiro, Elmo, Cookie, Gina Lollobrigida, Chris Ford, Crosby, Stills, Nash, Young, Cindy Williams, Shirley, “ Laverne, Billy Packer, Sylvia Syms, Alex ”, Barrett Strong, Norman Whitfield, “ Papa, Rollin ’ Stone, Tom Verlaine, Patti Smith, Bobby Hull, Paco Rabanne, Harry Whittington, Dick Cheney, Hsing Yun, ”, San Jose ”, Carlos Saura, Spain’s, Hugh Hudson, Oscar, “ Greystroke, Hans Modrow, David Jude Jolicoeur, Huey “, ” Smith, Little Richard, Lloyd Price, “, Leiji Matsumoto, Yamato ”, Tim McCarver, Stella Stevens, Jerry Lewis’s, John Munch, Ahmed Qureia, Betty Boothroyd, Ricou Browning, Gill, Gérard Latortue, Fontaine, Barbara Everitt Bryant, Ryan ”, Kenzaburo Oe, Judy Heumann, Gary Rossington, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Georgina Beyer, Traute Lafrenz, Rose, Peterson Zah, Tevye, Robert Blake, Jiang Yanyong, Bud Grant, Dick Fosbury, Pat Schroeder, Gloria Bosman, Jacqueline Gold, Britain’s Ann Summers, John Wick ”, John Jenrette, Juana La, Willis Reed, Darcelle, Paul O’Grady, Lily Savage, Emperor ”, Hedda Kleinfeld Schachter, Margaret Thatcher, Ben Ferencz, Nuremberg, Elisabeth Kopp, Michael Lerner, Jack Lipnick, “ Barton Fink, Bugsy Calhoun, Anne Perry, Thomas Pitt, William Monk, Al Jaffee, magazine’s, Charles Stanley, Richard Riordan, Todd Haimes, Tony Awards, Barry Humphries, Tony, Dame Edna Everage, Len Goodman, Carolyn Bryant Donham, Emmett Till, LeRoy “ Lee ” Carhart, Larry “, ___ Gordon Lightfoot, Tori Bowie, Vida, Grace Bumbry, Rock ”, Ovelha, Denny Crum, Heather Armstrong, Bobbie Spencer, Rolf Harris, Kenneth Anger, Doyle Brunson, Jim Brown, Timothy Keller, Andy Rourke, Ray Stevenson, Thor ”, Ed Ames, George Maharis, Carroll Cooley, Miranda, John Beasley, Kaija, George Winston, Ipanema ”, Robert Hanssen, Richard Snyder, Simon & Schuster, Françoise Gilot, Pablo Picasso —, Pat Robertson, Theodore “ Ted ” Kaczynski, Roger Payne, 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☆ Labour leader Starmer praises Thatcher in bid to woo UK Conservative voters
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-03 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's Labour Party, speaks during the Prime Minister's Questions, at the House of Commons in London, Britain November 29, 2023. UK Parliament/Jessica Taylor/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsLONDON, Dec 3 (Reuters) - Keir Starmer, leader of Britain's main opposition Labour Party, has praised former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, a deeply unpopular figure among many Labour supporters, as he seeks to woo Conservative voters before an election expected next year. Thatcher, dubbed the "Iron Lady" by the UK press at the time, was Britain's Conservative leader from 1979 to 1990. "Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them," Starmer wrote in an article for the Sunday Telegraph newspaper. After hailing Thatcher, Starmer wrote that Labour had "changed dramatically in the last three years".

Persons: Keir Starmer, Jessica Taylor, Handout, Britain's, Margaret Thatcher, Starmer, Rishi Sunak's, Thatcher, Tony Blair, Clement Attlee, Jeremy Corbyn, Victoria Atkins, Margaret Thatcher's, Michael Holden, Bernadette Baum Organizations: Britain's Labour Party, REUTERS, Labour Party, Labour, Conservative, Sunday Telegraph, Sky News, Thomson Locations: London, Britain

☆ Your network is the key to your career, says the woman who heads up The Gender Index
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-01 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Jill Pay, chairman of The Gender Index and the first female Serjeant at Arms, said it was her self-belief that allowed her to get the prestigious job in the U.K.'s House of Commons. "The people who've taken me through this process who've interviewed me, who've invited me to come to this final interview, they believe I can do this job. And I went into the interview in that frame of mind, and I got the job," she told CNBC's Make It. After her retirement in 2012, Pay would go on to assume leadership roles in charities and organizations advocating for female entrepreneurship. She is now the chairman of The Gender Index, which tracks and analyses the number of female-led companies in the U.K.Watch the full interview to learn more about Jill Pay's biggest lessons.

Persons: Jill Pay, who've, CNBC's, Jill Pay's Organizations: Westminster

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