thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Beating illegal wildlife trade tests our resolve to save the Earth

Over recent years the degradation of our natural environment has rightly climbed the public agenda .
As Sir David Attenborough warned last week , “ the moment of crisis has come ” .
Our collective efforts are urgently needed to maintain the world as we know it : we must move away from the prevailing blend of pessimistic fatalism to one of optimism and action .
Over the new year , The Earthshot Prize was announced to help do just that .
Its aim is to inspire Earth ’ s greatest problem-solvers to solve Earth ’ s greatest problems .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ to achieving more sustainable living across the world – for which innovation and invention is clearly required – we already have the solutions to one vital aspect .
Five years ago , we identified the illegal wildlife trade ( IWT ) as conservation ’ s “ elephant in the room ” .
As the fourth most profitable criminal global enterprise in the world , trading everything from rhino horns to pangolin scales , it continues to deplete our most precious wildlife .
Given its links to corruption and the trafficking of arms , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ financing , IWT is unquestionably an intolerable crime , for both its conservation and human consequences .
The criminals who plunder the world ’ s natural resources are also trapping its most vulnerable communities in poverty , denying future generations the right to economic and social development .
That is why , in 2014 , we formed a Transport Task Force , to engage the transport sector in identifying and developing solutions to wildlife trafficking .
In 2018 , we broadened that work to include the financial sector because for every wildlife product @ @ @ @ @ @ @

Like Kate, I’ve partied at Houghton Hall – she’d have been the least posh person there


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Jurgen Klopp: Scrap replays and give lower-division teams home advantage in the FA Cup

Having heard the argument that the greed of the biggest clubs is the real cause of the problem - it is the chief executives and owners who agree to the domestic schedule , after all - Klopp said it would be better to earn less to play less .
“ There is no year without a tournament anymore and that makes no sense .
I don ’ t know why nobody sees it like this , ” he said .
“ And then you come up with the money ( argument ) , so I say , ‘ less money @ @ @ @ @ @ @ But the Carabao Cup second ( leg ) semi-final is nothing to do with money .
Nothing .
It ’ s not okay , These games are not okay .
“ So that ’ s the thing where we have to start and that ’ s not about money .
The Football League and the FA have to talk and find a solution , just internally .
That would already decrease the situation because every year we do the same .
We talk about it at this stage of the year and then @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t talk about it .
We have seven games in a week and then we start talking about it .
So just talk now because it ’ s time.
” Liverpool can see the situation getting worse the more successful they are .
In June 2021 the revamped 24-team Club World Cup will take place in China .

Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp wants replays scrapped and lower-division teams given compulsory home advantage in a revamped FA Cup.
Klopp also claimed he would willingly accept a lower salary if financial considerations are at the root of the excessive demands on his players in an expanding schedule.
The Liverpool coach's campaign against fixture congestion shows no sign of diminishing, Klopp making his point on a weekly basis when invited to comment on the demands on his squad.
He says there must be a radical change to the calendar.
“Replays in the FA Cup? Have a penalty shoot-out,” said Klopp, who takes his side to Shrewsbury in the competition this weekend.
“The explanation against that is that the smaller teams have a chance to win the game. Then give them the home game in the first place. Go there, play there. If they beat us, ‘Congratulations. Go for it’. It’s just another game on television. But who watches these games?”


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Wilfred Ndidi poised for Leicester return after miraculously quick recovery from surgery

Brendan Rodgers has revealed how `` colossal player '' Wilfred Ndidi is poised to face West Ham , just 13 days after a knee operation .
Ndidi is in line to make a swift return from injury on Wednesday night with Leicester manager Rodgers admitting the Nigeria international 's importance to his Champions League qualification mission can not be overestimated .
Leicester have not won in the three games Ndidi has missed since he underwent knee surgery after damaging his meniscus in training .
The initial diagnosis was that the 23-year-old could miss up to six weeks .
But the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and is likely to be included in the squad to face West Ham .
Rodgers said : `` He is so valuable to us and if we had been playing an FA Cup final a few days ago , he would probably have played .
`` He 's made an incredible recovery and he 's just a machine , a real colossal player .
There will have been other players who unfortunately , genetically , wo n't have got through it and had other issues .
`` He gives a lot of the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ express himself because of the ground that he covers .
He 's like having two players . ''

Brendan Rodgers has revealed how "colossal player" Wilfred Ndidi is poised to face West Ham, just 13 days after a knee operation.
Ndidi is in line to make a swift return from injury on Wednesday night with Leicester manager Rodgers admitting the Nigeria international's importance to his Champions League qualification mission cannot be overestimated.
Leicester have not won in the three games Ndidi has missed since he underwent knee surgery after damaging his meniscus in training. The initial diagnosis was that the 23-year-old could miss up to six weeks.
But the defensive midfielder has made an excellent recovery and is likely to be included in the squad to face West Ham.
Rodgers said: "He is so valuable to us and if we had been playing an FA Cup final a few days ago, he would probably have played. "He's made an incredible recovery and he's just a machine, a real colossal player. There will have been other players who unfortunately, genetically, won't have got through it and had other issues.
"He gives a lot of the talent in the team that chance to express himself because of the ground that he covers. He's like having two players."


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--West Brom move for Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic as Slaven Bilic targets two new signings

Slaven Bilic is set to offer £8 million for Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic after a late-night transfer summit at @ @ @ @ @ move for the Croatia international this week as he bids to fire up West Brom @ @ @ @ @ a recent slump in form for the Championship leaders .
The Albion head coach was @ @ @ @ @ executive Mark Jenkins and Luke Dowling , the club 's technical director , until close @ @ @ @ @ defeat to Stoke on Monday night .
And Bilic is targeting up to two new @ @ @ @ @ closes , with Orsic viewed as a priority .
Orsic , 27 , has scored @ @ @ @ @ season , including a hat-trick against Atalanta in the Champions League , and will cost @ @ @ @ @ wants to add competition in the full-back department as he moves to boost his squad @ @ @ @ @ one win in the last eight league games .

Slaven Bilic is set to offer £8 million for Dinamo Zagreb winger Mislav Orsic after a late-night transfer summit at the Hawthorns.
Bilic will move for the Croatia international this week as he bids to fire up West Brom’s promotion bid after a recent slump in form for the Championship leaders.
The Albion head coach was locked in talks with chief executive Mark Jenkins and Luke Dowling, the club's technical director, until close to midnight after the home defeat to Stoke on Monday night.
And Bilic is targeting up to two new signings before the transfer window closes, with Orsic viewed as a priority.
Orsic, 27, has scored 17 goals for Dinamo this season, including a hat-trick against Atalanta in the Champions League, and will cost around €9.5m.
Bilic also wants to add competition in the full-back department as he moves to boost his squad following an alarming run of one win in the last eight league games.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Chris Packham: 7.7 Billion People and Counting, review - this eco polemic had a severe lack of focus

Chris Packham is often described as the new David Attenborough , so it was an enticing prospect when the BBC ’ s two foremost naturalists sat down together for a chat in Chris Packham : 7.7 Billion People and Counting ( BBC Two ) .
Sadly , like much of this somewhat scattergun film , it didn ’ t prove terribly instructive .
This one-off documentary found Packham investigating the impact that our burgeoning population is having on the planet .
Can the Earth sustain the UN ’ s predictions of 10 billion people by 2050 ?
Are humanity ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ own survival ?
Packham travelled the globe in search of answers , starting in Brazil .
He saw how the sprawling megacity of São Paulo ( five times the size of London , frighteningly ) was running out of water , with communities digging their own wells and experiencing “ drought riots ” when the supply dried up .
In Nigeria , set to overtake the US by becoming the third most populous nation by 2050 , he visited the stilt houses in Lagos lagoon ( “ Welcome white man !
” sang @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an all-girls school determined to help bring down the birth rate by educating pupils in family planning and sending them off to university .
Nothing delays childbirth like it , we were told .
He examined the impact of China ’ s “ one child ” policy , heard about forced sterilisations in India during the mid-Seventies , met a couple struggling to get pregnant through IVF and visited a subterranean urban farm in a former London air-raid shelter .

Chris Packham is often described as the new David Attenborough, so it was an enticing prospect when the BBC’s two foremost naturalists sat down together for a chat in Chris Packham: 7.7 Billion People and Counting (BBC Two). Sadly, like much of this somewhat scattergun film, it didn’t prove terribly instructive.
This one-off documentary found Packham investigating the impact that our burgeoning population is having on the planet. Can the Earth sustain the UN’s predictions of 10 billion people by 2050? Are humanity’s ever-increasing numbers a threat to our own survival?
Packham travelled the globe in search of answers, starting in Brazil. He saw how the sprawling megacity of São Paulo (five times the size of London, frighteningly) was running out of water, with communities digging their own wells and experiencing “drought riots” when the supply dried up.
In Nigeria, set to overtake the US by becoming the third most populous nation by 2050, he visited the stilt houses in Lagos lagoon (“Welcome white man!” sang a sweet gang of children) and an all-girls school determined to help bring down the birth rate by educating pupils in family planning and sending them off to university. Nothing delays childbirth like it, we were told.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Ask council to plant a tree on your street to fight pollution, says Royal Horticultural Society

Ask your local council to plant a tree on your street , the Royal Horticultural Society ( RHS ) has said , as it announces the majority of the Britain in Bloom finalists are in urban areas .
In the competition 's 56th year , rather than simply being judged on the beauty of the flowers planted , town centres won points for increasing the number of trees to help mitigate urban pollution , flooding and temperature rises and boost footfall and lower vacancy rates .
Each place will be visited by a pair of RHS judges in August as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ category win and to be named Champion of Champions .
Of the 70 finalists , nearly two-thirds 63 per cent are greening urban areas with a surge in entries using plants to help regenerate the high street .
This includes the Business Improvement Districts ( BIDs ) , Town and City Centres category which has seen a surge in entries since it was introduced two years ago .
Leeds , Blackburn and Paddington , London , are among the ten finalists that will be `` greening '' central shopping and business hubs .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ inspiration from this and brighten up their own streets with flowers and trees .
Kay Clark , RHS Community Development Manager said : “ If you ’ re keen to brighten up your own street , try starting off small by growing climbers up your fence or wall , adding a few colourful pots and planters around your front door or scattering a wildflower seed bomb on an unused patch of ground .
By greening your local environment you can make a big difference to wildlife and wellbeing , as well as helping @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .

Ask your local council to plant a tree on your street, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) has said, as it announces the majority of the Britain in Bloom finalists are in urban areas.
In the competition's 56th year, rather than simply being judged on the beauty of the flowers planted, town centres won points for increasing the number of trees to help mitigate urban pollution, flooding and temperature rises and boost footfall and lower vacancy rates.
Each place will be visited by a pair of RHS judges in August as they vie for a medal, a category win and to be named Champion of Champions.
Of the 70 finalists, nearly two-thirds 63 per cent are greening urban areas with a surge in entries using plants to help regenerate the high street. This includes the Business Improvement Districts (BIDs), Town and City Centres category which has seen a surge in entries since it was introduced two years ago.
Leeds, Blackburn and Paddington, London, are among the ten finalists that will be "greening" central shopping and business hubs.
Horticulturalists have asked British people to take inspiration from this and brighten up their own streets with flowers and trees.
Kay Clark, RHS Community Development Manager said: “If you’re keen to brighten up your own street, try starting off small by growing climbers up your fence or wall, adding a few colourful pots and planters around your front door or scattering a wildflower seed bomb on an unused patch of ground. By greening your local environment you can make a big difference to wildlife and wellbeing, as well as helping to mitigate flood risk and capture pollution.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Driverless 'pods' tested with public for first time

Mini-driverless 'pods ' , which could eventually be ferrying people around busy city centres , have been tested with the public for the first time in Britain .
Shoppers heading to a Bristol shopping centre yesterday had a chance to ride shuttle-like vehicles around its car park .
It is hoped the pods , which have been developed by the company AECOM with government funding , will eventually become a common feature in cities , allowing people to hail them with an app to make short journeys .
The vehicles use radar , sensors and vision processing to navigate busy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ real time .
This week ’ s tests , which are being carried out at The Mall , Cribbs Causeway , are the first time the public will be able to ride in the vehicles without a dedidated supervisor .
As well as testing the vehicles ’ ability to navigate crowded areas , AECOM is also using the scheme to gauge the public ’ s reaction to being in the driverless pods .
George Lunt , Technical Director at AECOM , said : “ With a number of environmental , efficiency and mobility @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , there is great potential for the UK to enter a diverse range of international markets .
`` However , for this idea to fully develop , it is vital the public are on board and have the chance to experience a mobility service that can potentially transform the way they travel .
”

Mini-driverless 'pods', which could eventually be ferrying people around busy city centres, have been tested with the public for the first time in Britain.
Shoppers heading to a Bristol shopping centre yesterday had a chance to ride shuttle-like vehicles around its car park.
It is hoped the pods, which have been developed by the company AECOM with government funding, will eventually become a common feature in cities, allowing people to hail them with an app to make short journeys.
The vehicles use radar, sensors and vision processing to navigate busy environments with pedestrians and other cars in real time.
This week’s tests, which are being carried out at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, are the first time the public will be able to ride in the vehicles without a dedidated supervisor.
As well as testing the vehicles’ ability to navigate crowded areas, AECOM is also using the scheme to gauge the public’s reaction to being in the driverless pods.
George Lunt, Technical Director at AECOM, said: “With a number of environmental, efficiency and mobility benefits associated with connected and autonomous vehicles, there is great potential for the UK to enter a diverse range of international markets. "However, for this idea to fully develop, it is vital the public are on board and have the chance to experience a mobility service that can potentially transform the way they travel.”


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Advert for summer job on remote Irish island attracts 24,000 applications

A couple have received more than 24,500 applications for two summer vacancies on the remote and uninhabited Great Blasket Island in Ireland .
Alice Hayes and her partner , Billy O'Connor , posted the offer 10 days ago for two friends or a couple to manage the County Kerry island ’ s coffee shop and three holiday cottages between April 1 to October 2020 .
The successful applicants will live without electricity and hot water and will be the only inhabitants on the 2 and a half mile squared island , which lies 2km south-west of the mainland Ms Hayes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` It ’ s been unbelievable .
We were worried we wouldn ’ t get anyone .
We had a lot of interest last week but in the last few days it ’ s been mad .
`` We ’ ve received applications from places like Iran , Argentina , Finland , Mexico , everywhere really .
We ’ ve had applications in languages we can ’ t even recognise .
Our email is in meltdown and our phones are just pinging constantly .
“ I suppose people just want to disconnect @ @ @ @ @ @ @ get off the grid.
” Last year ’ s successful applicants were 27-year-old Lesley Kehoe , and her partner Gordon Bond , 29 .
The Irish couple left behind their city jobs to take care of the site for the summer before leaving the island in October 2019 .

A couple have received more than 24,500 applications for two summer vacancies on the remote and uninhabited Great Blasket Island in Ireland.
Alice Hayes and her partner, Billy O'Connor, posted the offer 10 days ago for two friends or a couple to manage the County Kerry island’s coffee shop and three holiday cottages between April 1 to October 2020.
The successful applicants will live without electricity and hot water and will be the only inhabitants on the 2 and a half mile squared island, which lies 2km south-west of the mainland
Ms Hayes and Mr O’Connor told RTÉ: "It’s been unbelievable. We were worried we wouldn’t get anyone. We had a lot of interest last week but in the last few days it’s been mad.
"We’ve received applications from places like Iran, Argentina, Finland, Mexico, everywhere really. We’ve had applications in languages we can’t even recognise. Our email is in meltdown and our phones are just pinging constantly.
“I suppose people just want to disconnect from the rush of everyday life and get off the grid.”
Last year’s successful applicants were 27-year-old Lesley Kehoe, and her partner Gordon Bond, 29. The Irish couple left behind their city jobs to take care of the site for the summer before leaving the island in October 2019.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Tiger Woods focusing on form at Torrey Pines despite PGA Tour-win record looming on the horizon

History never seems too far from Tiger Woods , but in the first week of his competitive year at perhaps his most favourite hunting ground of all , fresh immortality is within tantalising touching distance .
At the 2008 US Open , Torrey Pines witnessed its most prolific champion famously winning on one leg .
A dozen years on , he returns to the San Diego layout perched on the Californian cliffs with both legs in working order and confident of marching past Sam Snead and claiming what would be a hugely significant milestone in his career .
As ever @ @ @ @ @ @ @ further past Sunday at the Farmers Insurance Open .
“ I ’ m just thinking about the things I have to do to win this golf tournament , ” Woods said in his press conference .
“ I ’ m more consumed in that .
Let ’ s just get there first and then I ’ ll think about what 83 might mean.
” At least the queries which Woods seemingly finds so tiresome were not , for once , focused on when he will eclipse Jack Nicklaus ’ s record major haul @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Instead , the questions marks are flashing above his attempt to pass “ Slammin ’ Sam ” in the charts of the golfers with most PGA Tour wins .
And in this regard there is no “ whether ” about it .

History never seems too far from Tiger Woods, but in the first week of his competitive year at perhaps his most favourite hunting ground of all, fresh immortality is within tantalising touching distance.
At the 2008 US Open, Torrey Pines witnessed its most prolific champion famously winning on one leg. A dozen years on, he returns to the San Diego layout perched on the Californian cliffs with both legs in working order and confident of marching past Sam Snead and claiming what would be a hugely significant milestone in his career.
As ever, however, his eyes extend no further past Sunday at the Farmers Insurance Open. “I’m just thinking about the things I have to do to win this golf tournament,” Woods said in his press conference. “I’m more consumed in that. Let’s just get there first and then I’ll think about what 83 might mean.”
At least the queries which Woods seemingly finds so tiresome were not, for once, focused on when he will eclipse Jack Nicklaus’s record major haul of 18 - Woods has 15. Instead, the questions marks are flashing above his attempt to pass “Slammin’ Sam” in the charts of the golfers with most PGA Tour wins. And in this regard there is no “whether” about it.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Crazy Delicious, episode 1 review: like MasterChef for hipsters

I hope you didn ’ t tune into new cookery show Crazy Delicious ( Channel 4 ) looking for ideas about what to make for supper .
Well , unless you had some hay , marigolds or dry ice in the fridge that needed using up .
This Willy Wonka-esque contest was strictly for the sort of self-styled “ foodie ” who favours dishes designed for Instagram approval , rather than eating enjoyably , and who indulge the tedious trend for “ illusion '' food which looks like something entirely .
Publicity material insisted that we ’ re “ bored @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are we ? )
, hence everyone was hellbent on cooking everything “ with a twist ” , whether it was needed or not .
It usually wasn ’ t .
This was MasterChef for hipsters .
In a migraine-inducing day-glo studio which resembled a trippy cross between Teletubbies and a Tim Burton film , competitors foraged ingredients from an edible “ enchanted garden ” ( complete with chocolate soil and babbling prosecco brook ) to tackle tasks set by judges – sorry , “ world-renowned food gods ” – Heston Blumenthal , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ production went overboard on the whole deity theme , with the trio dressed in angelic white and descending from above to award the winner with a golden apple .
I ’ m not sure they ’ d thought this through theologically .
Instead we ’ d gone through the looking glass and disappeared up Blumenthal ’ s soggy bottom .

I hope you didn’t tune into new cookery show Crazy Delicious (Channel 4) looking for ideas about what to make for supper. Well, unless you had some hay, marigolds or dry ice in the fridge that needed using up.
This Willy Wonka-esque contest was strictly for the sort of self-styled “foodie” who favours dishes designed for Instagram approval, rather than eating enjoyably, and who indulge the tedious trend for “illusion" food which looks like something entirely.
Publicity material insisted that we’re “bored by the same old dishes” (are we?), hence everyone was hellbent on cooking everything “with a twist”, whether it was needed or not. It usually wasn’t. This was MasterChef for hipsters.
In a migraine-inducing day-glo studio which resembled a trippy cross between Teletubbies and a Tim Burton film, competitors foraged ingredients from an edible “enchanted garden” (complete with chocolate soil and babbling prosecco brook) to tackle tasks set by judges – sorry, “world-renowned food gods” – Heston Blumenthal, Carla Hall and Niklas Ekstedt.
The production went overboard on the whole deity theme, with the trio dressed in angelic white and descending from above to award the winner with a golden apple. I’m not sure they’d thought this through theologically. Instead we’d gone through the looking glass and disappeared up Blumenthal’s soggy bottom.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--The Crown viewing figures revealed: 73 million households watch royal drama

Netflix has lifted the veil of secrecy over viewing figures for The Crown , revealing that nearly half of its @ @ @ @ @ .
In total , 73 million of the 158 million households with a Netflix account @ @ @ @ @ .
The third series , starring Olivia Colman as the Queen , was watched by @ @ @ @ @ first four weeks - 40 per cent up on the same period for series two @ @ @ @ @ that Colman paled in comparison to her predecessor , Claire Foy .
Netflix hailed the @ @ @ @ @ .
Ted Sarandos , Netflix ’ s chief content officer , said : “ Seventy-three @ @ @ @ @ have made The Crown part of the global cultural zeitgeist .
“ Thanks to creator @ @ @ @ @ a phenomenal cast and crew , the show ’ s popularity grows with each new @ @ @ @ @ recent SAG and Golden Globe Awards demonstrate , its quality remains unsurpassed .
”

Netflix has lifted the veil of secrecy over viewing figures for The Crown, revealing that nearly half of its subscribers have watched the show.
In total, 73 million of the 158 million households with a Netflix account have seen the royal drama.
The third series, starring Olivia Colman as the Queen, was watched by 21 million households in its first four weeks - 40 per cent up on the same period for series two - despite some viewers suggesting that Colman paled in comparison to her predecessor, Claire Foy.
Netflix hailed the figures as a major success. Ted Sarandos, Netflix’s chief content officer, said: “Seventy-three million households around the world have made The Crown part of the global cultural zeitgeist.
“Thanks to creator and writer Peter Morgan and a phenomenal cast and crew, the show’s popularity grows with each new season and, as the recent SAG and Golden Globe Awards demonstrate, its quality remains unsurpassed.”


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Hillary Clinton says 'nobody likes' Bernie Sanders as she refuses to say if she would endorse him as

Hillary Clinton says 'nobody likes' Bernie Sanders as she refuses to say if she would endorse him as a Democratic nominee

Hillary Clinton dismissed Bernie Sanders as a `` career politician '' who `` nobody likes '' in a scathing attack @ @ @ @ @ she weighed into the Democratic presidential nomination race .
Mrs Clinton , the Democrats ' @ @ @ @ @ also declined to commit to backing Mr Sanders if he wins the race to take @ @ @ @ @ .
The barbed remarks , made in a Hulu documentary , come just before the @ @ @ @ @ the Democratic primaries on February 3 .
`` He was in Congress for years .
@ @ @ @ @ him .
Nobody likes him , nobody wants to work with him , he got @ @ @ @ @ a career politician .
It 's all just baloney and I feel so bad that @ @ @ @ @ , '' Mrs Clinton says in the documentary , according to The Hollywood Reporter .
@ @ @ @ @ Mrs Clinton has towards Mr Sanders , who launched an unexpected challenge against her presidential @ @ @ @

Hillary Clinton dismissed Bernie Sanders as a "career politician" who "nobody likes" in a scathing attack on her 2016 rival as she weighed into the Democratic presidential nomination race.
Mrs Clinton, the Democrats' presidential candidate in 2016, also declined to commit to backing Mr Sanders if he wins the race to take on Donald Trump this November.
The barbed remarks, made in a Hulu documentary, come just before the first votes are cast in the Democratic primaries on February 3.
"He was in Congress for years. He had one senator support him. Nobody likes him, nobody wants to work with him, he got nothing done. He was a career politician. It's all just baloney and I feel so bad that people got sucked into it," Mrs Clinton says in the documentary, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
It underscores the lingering bitterness Mrs Clinton has towards Mr Sanders, who launched an unexpected challenge against her presidential nomination in 2016.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Boris Johnson to meet Richard Ratcliffe to discuss wife Nazanin's detention in Iran

Boris Johnson is to meet the husband of British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe for the first time as the Prime Minister @ @ @ @ @ to free her and other British citizens jailed by Iran .
Richard Ratcliffe will have @ @ @ @ @ Johnson in Downing Street on Thursday as he seeks to increase international diplomatic pressure on @ @ @ @ @ , who has been detained on controversial spying charges since 2016 .
Mr Johnson has @ @ @ @ @ handling of the case as Foreign Secretary , but Mr Ratcliffe has said he wants @ @ @ @ @ that he is `` personally taking interest '' and signal that his wife ’ s @ @ @ @ @ ” .
Downing Street announced the meeting after Mr Ratcliffe and families of other jailed @ @ @ @ @ the UK ’ s Ambassador to Iran , Rob Macaire , who was himself recently @ @ @ @ @ tensions following the killing of a top Iranian general and the apparent shooting down of @ @ @ @ @

Boris Johnson is to meet the husband of British-Iranian mother Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe for the first time as the Prime Minister is to discuss renewed efforts to free her and other British citizens jailed by Iran.
Richard Ratcliffe will have a face-to-face meeting with Mr Johnson in Downing Street on Thursday as he seeks to increase international diplomatic pressure on Tehran to free his wife, who has been detained on controversial spying charges since 2016.
Mr Johnson has previously been criticised for his handling of the case as Foreign Secretary, but Mr Ratcliffe has said he wants the Prime Minister to show that he is "personally taking interest" and signal that his wife’s case “is a priority”.
Downing Street announced the meeting after Mr Ratcliffe and families of other jailed dual nationals met yesterday with the UK’s Ambassador to Iran, Rob Macaire, who was himself recently detained in Tehran amid heightened tensions following the killing of a top Iranian general and the apparent shooting down of a Ukrainian passenger jet.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Republicans accused of 'national disgrace' as rules row dominates opening of Donald Trump's impeachm

Republicans accused of 'national disgrace' as rules row dominates opening of Donald Trump's impeachment trial

Republican leaders were accused of a “ cover-up ” on Tuesday after outlining rules for Donald Trump ’ s impeachment @ @ @ @ @ run late into the evening and end next week .
Democrats were left furious by @ @ @ @ @ given just 24 hours to outline their case for removing the US president and for @ @ @ @ @ to be delayed until later in the trial .
Republican leaders in the Senate , @ @ @ @ @ as Mr Trump , can set the rules providing there are no rebels because they @ @ @ @ @ 's 100 seats , a clear majority .
It meant a fierce row broke out @ @ @ @ @ earnest on Tuesday , in marked contrast to former president Bill Clinton 's impeachment trial @ @ @ @ @ were agreed 100 votes to zero .

Republican leaders were accused of a “cover-up” on Tuesday after blocking Democrat proposals to subpoena key witnesses for Donald Trump’s impeachment trial and for outlining rules that could see proceedings run late into the evening and end next week.
In seven consecutive votes on Tuesday night - all of which split precisely along party lines - the Senate blocked Democrat proposals to subpoena testimony from potential witnesses and documents from government agencies.
Democrats had sought to subpoena Mick Mulvaney, the White House chief of staff, Robert Blair, his aide, and Michael Duffey, the White House's budget official. They had also pursued testimony from the State Department, the Defense Department and the Budget Office. Each of the proposals was defeated 53-47.
Late on Tuesday night, Republicans - who came under pressure from their own party - abandoned plans to cram the arguments into two late-night sessions. It was a setback for Mitch McConnell, the Republican leader in the Senate, and the president's legal team, exposing potential crack in GOP ranks.
Democrats were also left furious by proposals for them to be given just 24 hours to outline their case for removing the US president and for a decision on new witnesses to be delayed until later in the trial.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Exclusive: Exeter Chiefs call for tweaks to £30k salary-cap threshold for academy players

Exeter and a host of Premiership clubs are calling for an increase in the pay allowance for academy players as part of Lord Myners ' review of the salary cap .
The current £30,000 threshold - which includes salary , fees and bonuses - for those under 24 is `` difficult '' and `` counter-productive '' for developing young English talent , a senior club source said .
Regulations state `` for the avoidance of doubt , if total salary paid to an academy player is , in any salary cap year , in excess of £30,000 , the academy @ @ @ @ @ @ @ player for the purposes of the regulations '' .
A higher or sliding-scale threshold would , the clubs believe , benefit English players at the age of 22 and 23 who are still developing .
`` As it stands clubs are being forced into really difficult decisions and it 's to the detriment of developing talent , '' a club source said .
Lord Myners is certain to examine the current academy threshold as part of his independent review , which will strengthen Premiership Rugby 's ability to check on club expenditure in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Rugby announced a comprehensive independent review in December in a bid to ward off criticism following the breach by Saracens , who have now accepted relegation .

Exeter and a host of Premiership clubs are calling for an increase in the pay allowance for academy players as part of Lord Myners' review of the salary cap.
The current £30,000 threshold - which includes salary, fees and bonuses - for those under 24 is "difficult" and "counter-productive" for developing young English talent, a senior club source said.
Regulations state "for the avoidance of doubt, if total salary paid to an academy player is, in any salary cap year, in excess of £30,000, the academy player shall be treated as a senior player for the purposes of the regulations".
A higher or sliding-scale threshold would, the clubs believe, benefit English players at the age of 22 and 23 who are still developing. "As it stands clubs are being forced into really difficult decisions and it's to the detriment of developing talent," a club source said.
Lord Myners is certain to examine the current academy threshold as part of his independent review, which will strengthen Premiership Rugby's ability to check on club expenditure in time for the next campaign.
Premiership Rugby announced a comprehensive independent review in December in a bid to ward off criticism following the breach by Saracens, who have now accepted relegation.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Donald Trump impeachment trial: US Senate hears opening arguments

Donald Trump 's historic impeachment trial began in earnest on Tuesday , with the Republican-controlled US senate rejecting a Democratic @ @ @ @ @ House to produce documents and evidence .
The chamber voted 53-47 along party lines to @ @ @ @ @ Schumer , the top Democrat in the Senate , to subpoena White House documents related @ @ @ @ @ with Ukraine .
During early debate , Mr Trump 's chief legal defender attacked the @ @ @ @ @ the Democrats argued there was `` overwhelming '' evidence of the president 's wrongdoing .
@ @ @ @ @ , the chief justice of the Supreme Court , John Roberts , convened the proceedings @ @ @ @ @ in history that a US president has endured an impeachment trial .
White House counsel @ @ @ @ @ leading Mr Trump 's defence , attacked the foundation of the charges against the president @ @ @ @ @ come close to meeting the US Constitution 's criteria for impeachment .

Donald Trump's historic impeachment trial began in earnest on Tuesday, with the Republican-controlled US senate rejecting a Democratic bid to force the White House to produce documents and evidence.
The chamber voted 53-47 along party lines to block a motion from Chuck Schumer, the top Democrat in the Senate, to subpoena White House documents related to the president's dealings with Ukraine.
During early debate, Mr Trump's chief legal defender attacked the case as baseless, while the Democrats argued there was "overwhelming" evidence of the president's wrongdoing.
With the television cameras rolling, the chief justice of the Supreme Court, John Roberts, convened the proceedings - just the third time in history that a US president has endured an impeachment trial.
White House counsel Pat Cipollone, who is leading Mr Trump's defence, attacked the foundation of the charges against the president and said Democrats had not come close to meeting the US Constitution's criteria for impeachment.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Rules, timings, votes: How Donald Trump's impeachment trial will likely play out

The Senate trial about whether to remove Donald J Trump from office - only the third ever held for a US president - is finally getting underway .
While the rules could change as the trial plays out , with 51 of the 100 senators needed to pass any change , a sense of how the proceedings will play out has emerged .
The Republicans , Mr Trump ’ s party which holds 53 Senate seats and therefore the power in the chamber , have decided how they want the trial to take place .
Based on what we know @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Seven Democratic congressmen from the House of Representatives , the other body that makes up the US Congress which impeached Mr Trump before Christmas , will be up first to make their case against the president .
Their task will be to convince the US senators who will act like the jury that the president should be removed from office on the basis of two articles of impeachment they passed - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress .
They will get 24 hours to outline their case , spread over three @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday and Friday ( the Senate sits for six days during impeachment trials ) .
Given proceedings will start at 1pm , that means they could be speaking on the Senate floor into the evening .

The Senate trial about whether to remove Donald J Trump from office - only the third ever held for a US president - is finally getting underway.
While the rules could change as the trial plays out, with 51 of the 100 senators needed to pass any change, a sense of how the proceedings will play out has emerged.
The Republicans, Mr Trump’s party which holds 53 Senate seats and therefore the power in the chamber, have decided how they want the trial to take place.
Based on what we know, it will go something like this.
Democrats make their case
Seven Democratic congressmen from the House of Representatives, the other body that makes up the US Congress which impeached Mr Trump before Christmas, will be up first to make their case against the president.
Their task will be to convince the US senators who will act like the jury that the president should be removed from office on the basis of two articles of impeachment they passed - abuse of power and obstruction of Congress.
They will get 24 hours to outline their case, spread over three days - expected to be Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. Given proceedings will start at 1pm, that means they could be speaking on the Senate floor into the evening.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Richard Johnson's title hopes are dashed by broken arm but jockey hopes to be back for Cheltenham

Richard Johnson ’ s chances of a fifth straight jump jockeys ’ championship took a severe blow on Tuesday when he broke his arm after being unseated in the novice chase at Exeter .
He can expect to be out for at least six weeks but , on Tuesday night , was upbeat about being back in time for the Cheltenham Festival .
“ He ’ s broken his right arm just below the elbow and Dr Jerry Hill ( the BHA chief medical officer ) has arranged for him to have an operation tomorrow or Thursday , ” said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ speaking to the jockey on Tuesday night .
“ He was quite positive and says he will be back for Cheltenham but I guess it doesn ’ t do his championship aspirations much good.
” Johnson , the perennial runner-up ( 16 times ) to Sir Anthony McCoy over 20 years , has won all four titles with relative ease since McCoy ’ s retirement but this season he has been engaged in a ding-dong battle with northern-based Brian Hughes .
However , on Monday , Johnson had fallen three behind his rival @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to his blank at the same course .
With Hughes taking Tuesday off , the scores remain at 114-111 in the Northern Irishman ’ s favour .

Richard Johnson’s chances of a fifth straight jump jockeys’ championship took a severe blow on Tuesday when he broke his arm after being unseated in the novice chase at Exeter.
He can expect to be out for at least six weeks but, on Tuesday night, was upbeat about being back in time for the Cheltenham Festival.
“He’s broken his right arm just below the elbow and Dr Jerry Hill (the BHA chief medical officer) has arranged for him to have an operation tomorrow or Thursday,” said Philip Hobbs, his trainer, after speaking to the jockey on Tuesday night. “He was quite positive and says he will be back for Cheltenham but I guess it doesn’t do his championship aspirations much good.”
Johnson, the perennial runner-up (16 times) to Sir Anthony McCoy over 20 years, has won all four titles with relative ease since McCoy’s retirement but this season he has been engaged in a ding-dong battle with northern-based Brian Hughes.
However, on Monday, Johnson had fallen three behind his rival when Hughes rode a treble at Newcastle to his blank at the same course. With Hughes taking Tuesday off, the scores remain at 114-111 in the Northern Irishman’s favour.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Boss of RBS start-up bank Bó quits, plunging its future into chaos

The banker who spearheaded the launch of RBS ’ s money saving app Bó is set to leave the bank , plunging the online bank 's future into chaos just weeks after its high-profile debut .
The exit of Mark Bailie , the taxpayer-controlled bank ’ s former operating chief who was at one point tipped as a successor to former chief executive Ross McEwan , comes as part of a sweeping overhaul that will be announced in February , Sky News reported .
Bó launched at the end of November as an attempt to compete with a wave of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have attracted millions of customers in recent years .
However , sources said there was internal conflict about whether or not it was worthwhile to launch an app that might turn out to be unsuccessful .
Mr Bailie ’ s departure raises questions over the fate of Bó within RBS .
The NatWest owner is understood to have spent more than £100m building the app , which has around 170 employees .
The Telegraph reported last year that Mr Bailie had originally approached Monzo about a deal but baulked at the high price @ @ @ @ @ @ @ break down daily spending to help customers budget and has a bright yellow debit card to rival its competitor ’ s hot coral one .

The banker who spearheaded the launch of RBS’s money saving app Bó is set to leave the bank, plunging the online bank's future into chaos just weeks after its high-profile debut.
The exit of Mark Bailie, the taxpayer-controlled bank’s former operating chief who was at one point tipped as a successor to former chief executive Ross McEwan, comes as part of a sweeping overhaul that will be announced in February, Sky News reported.
Bó launched at the end of November as an attempt to compete with a wave of banking start-ups including Monzo and Revolut which have attracted millions of customers in recent years. However, sources said there was internal conflict about whether or not it was worthwhile to launch an app that might turn out to be unsuccessful.
Mr Bailie’s departure raises questions over the fate of Bó within RBS. The NatWest owner is understood to have spent more than £100m building the app, which has around 170 employees.
The Telegraph reported last year that Mr Bailie had originally approached Monzo about a deal but baulked at the high price tag. Like Monzo, Bó will break down daily spending to help customers budget and has a bright yellow debit card to rival its competitor’s hot coral one.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--England poised to rest both James Anderson and Stuart Broad for Sri Lanka tour

England could go on tour next month without one of either Stuart Broad or James Anderson for the first time in 14 years when they name the squad for the Sri Lanka Test series .
The selectors will hold a number of discussions with players after the series against South Africa and are tempted to leave out both of their veteran seamers because the series will be played on pitches unsuited to their bowling .
Anderson took only one wicket in Sri Lanka in 2018 and was left out for the third Test while Broad has played every Test this @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
He appeared in one Test on the last tour to Sri Lanka , replacing Anderson in Colombo .
Anderson is recovering from a broken rib and resting him to ensure he is fit for a home series against West Indies in June makes sense .
Instead England will pick an extra spinner and could leave the few overs of seam to Chris Woakes , Sam Curran , Jofra Archer or Mark Wood , depending on their fitness .
One of either Broad or Anderson has been on every England tour since March @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way into the squad for Sri Lanka after his performance in Port Elizabeth but the selectors will sit down and talk to Moeen Ali when he arrives in South Africa at the weekend to see if he is ready to play Test cricket again .

England could go on tour next month without one of either Stuart Broad or James Anderson for the first time in 14 years when they name the squad for the Sri Lanka Test series.
The selectors will hold a number of discussions with players after the series against South Africa and are tempted to leave out both of their veteran seamers because the series will be played on pitches unsuited to their bowling.
Anderson took only one wicket in Sri Lanka in 2018 and was left out for the third Test while Broad has played every Test this winter and is ready for a rest. He appeared in one Test on the last tour to Sri Lanka, replacing Anderson in Colombo.
Anderson is recovering from a broken rib and resting him to ensure he is fit for a home series against West Indies in June makes sense.
Instead England will pick an extra spinner and could leave the few overs of seam to Chris Woakes, Sam Curran, Jofra Archer or Mark Wood, depending on their fitness. One of either Broad or Anderson has been on every England tour since March 2006 .
Dominic Bess has worked his way into the squad for Sri Lanka after his performance in Port Elizabeth but the selectors will sit down and talk to Moeen Ali when he arrives in South Africa at the weekend to see if he is ready to play Test cricket again.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Jos Buttler has coach's backing to regain form but doubts grow about long-term Test prospects

England have not won a series in South Africa by more than one Test match since 1948 and have the chance to chalk up a significant achievement in Johannesburg this week .
At 2-1 up , England are in the ascendancy with many of their working parts in good order but as ever there is always one player under pressure and Jos Buttler arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday knowing he needs a good performance to keep his place in the side .
Two weeks ago Buttler began 2020 admitting he was not “ performing to the standards I need to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ two difficult Tests in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth .
Scores of 29 , 23 and one have coincided with a fine from the match referee for swearing at Vernon Philander and he appeared to wither under a barrage of South African sledging as they took their revenge in Port Elizabeth .
On a slow turner his keeping was ragged , conceding 16 byes but that only tells one part of the story .
There were fumbles that did not cost runs and he appeared to struggle when standing up to the stumps @ @ @ @ @ @ @ far more on the next tour to Sri Lanka in six weeks ’ time .
There is also the fact he has scored only one hundred in 40 Tests and averages 22 since the start of the last Ashes series .

England have not won a series in South Africa by more than one Test match since 1948 and have the chance to chalk up a significant achievement in Johannesburg this week.
At 2-1 up, England are in the ascendancy with many of their working parts in good order but as ever there is always one player under pressure and Jos Buttler arrived in Johannesburg on Tuesday knowing he needs a good performance to keep his place in the side.
Two weeks ago Buttler began 2020 admitting he was not “performing to the standards I need to” and since then he has endured two difficult Tests in Cape Town and Port Elizabeth.
Scores of 29, 23 and one have coincided with a fine from the match referee for swearing at Vernon Philander and he appeared to wither under a barrage of South African sledging as they took their revenge in Port Elizabeth.
On a slow turner his keeping was ragged, conceding 16 byes but that only tells one part of the story. There were fumbles that did not cost runs and he appeared to struggle when standing up to the stumps, a skill that will be stretched far more on the next tour to Sri Lanka in six weeks’ time.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Bank executive accuses HSBC of tolerating "culture of sexism"

A senior manager at HSBC has been accused of being on “ a mission to destroy ” his colleague after she ended their affair .
Madeleine Luckham claims that Robert Clegg subjected her to a campaign of sexual harassment , alleging that the bank tolerated a “ pervasive culture of sexism ” in the workplace .
She made the stinging accusation at an employment tribunal in which she claims that Mr Clegg sexually harassed her after she called an end to their relationship .
Ms Luckhan , 38 , told the East London Employment Tribunal : `` I had raised @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and my grievance interview .
The touching and flirting in public .
“ The point is that he was on a mission to destroy me .
He had made it abundantly clear that I was both professionally and personally worthless .
`` He had objectified me and every other woman around us .
He was destroying my reputation and spreading lies about me.
” Ms Luckham , who was Global Head of Product Delivery at HSBC Digital , said Mr Clegg ’ s behaviour was part of a pattern by male employees at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : `` At HSBC women only have a voice if there is a stronger male voice behind them .
`` There is a pervasive culture of sexism at HSBC in which women are objectified by their male colleagues , ignored when complaints are raised by them and frozen out of the business when they are perceived as 'difficult . '
''

A senior manager at HSBC has been accused of being on “a mission to destroy” his colleague after she ended their affair.
Madeleine Luckham claims that Robert Clegg subjected her to a campaign of sexual harassment, alleging that the bank tolerated a “pervasive culture of sexism” in the workplace.
She made the stinging accusation at an employment tribunal in which she claims that Mr Clegg sexually harassed her after she called an end to their relationship.
Ms Luckham, 38, told the East London Employment Tribunal: "I had raised Rob's sinister behaviour in my grievance and my grievance interview. The touching and flirting in public.
“The point is that he was on a mission to destroy me. He had made it abundantly clear that I was both professionally and personally worthless.
"He had objectified me and every other woman around us. He was destroying my reputation and spreading lies about me.”
Ms Luckham, who was Global Head of Product Delivery at HSBC Digital, said Mr Clegg’s behaviour was part of a pattern by male employees at the bank.
She told the tribunal: "At HSBC women only have a voice if there is a stronger male voice behind them.
"There is a pervasive culture of sexism at HSBC in which women are objectified by their male colleagues, ignored when complaints are raised by them and frozen out of the business when they are perceived as 'difficult.'"


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--World 'precariously reliant' on handful of companies developing drugs to treat superbugs, report war

World 'precariously reliant' on handful of companies developing drugs to treat superbugs, report warns

The world is “ precariously reliant ” on just a handful of companies to develop new antibiotics , running the @ @ @ @ @ superbugs , a report has warned .
The Access to Medicine Foundation ’ s two-yearly @ @ @ @ @ which looks at pharmaceutical companies ’ efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance , has found that @ @ @ @ @ eight major drug firms are developing antibiotics and the pipeline of new products is very @ @ @ @ @ of drug resistance – predicted to kill 10 million people by 2050 if it continues @ @ @ @ @ means that , increasingly , the treatments we rely on to kill infections are not @ @ @ @ @ needed .
But because antibiotics are not viewed as a profitable product many companies are @ @ @ @ @ Multinational pharmaceutical companies Novartis and Sanofi have both withdrawn from developing antibiotics in the last @ @ @ @ @ biotechs , Achaogen and Melinta , have filed for bankruptcy .

The world is “precariously reliant” on just a handful of companies to develop new antibiotics, running the risk of a rise in superbugs, a report has warned.
The Access to Medicine Foundation’s two-yearly Antibiotic Resistance Benchmark report, which looks at pharmaceutical companies’ efforts to tackle antimicrobial resistance, has found that only a core group of eight major drug firms are developing antibiotics and the pipeline of new products is very small.
The growing threat of drug resistance – predicted to kill 10 million people by 2050 if it continues at its current rate – means that, increasingly, the treatments we rely on to kill infections are not working and new ones are needed.
But because antibiotics are not viewed as a profitable product many companies are retreating from the market.
Multinational pharmaceutical companies Novartis and Sanofi have both withdrawn from developing antibiotics in the last 12 months while two smaller biotechs, Achaogen and Melinta, have filed for bankruptcy.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Husband of Lebanese pop star charged with murder after shooting intruder 16 times

The husband of a superstar of the Arab pop world will appear in a Lebanese court this week charged with murder after he allegedly shot dead an intruder into the glamourous couple ’ s home .
Fadi Al-Hashem , a celebrity dentist and husband of Lebanese singer and television talent judge Nancy Ajram , claims that he killed in self-defence after a man broke into the house just after dawn and started threatening his wife and family with a pistol .
But having initially been released by Lebanese judges , Dr Hashem last week was re-arrested and charged with “ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the victim had sustained no less than 16 gunshot wounds and may have been known to the couple .
Local media channels have broadcast security camera footage from the night of the incident that showed a masked man carrying what appeared to be a gun and appearing to confront Dr Hashem , before being chased and shot at by him .
The dead man has been named as Mohamed Hassan Moussa , a 30-year-old Syrian immigrant whose family claim had been working for Mr Hashem and Ms Ajram as a gardener and who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Ms Ajram , 36 , is one of Lebanon ’ s most successful singers , who has sold more than 30 million records worldwide since starting her career as a teenager and latterly becoming a judge on the “ Arab Idol ” television series .

The husband of a superstar of the Arab pop world will appear in a Lebanese court this week charged with murder after he allegedly shot dead an intruder into the glamourous couple’s home.
Fadi Al-Hashem, a celebrity dentist and husband of Lebanese singer and television talent judge Nancy Ajram, claims that he killed in self-defence after a man broke into the house just after dawn and started threatening his wife and family with a pistol.
But having initially been released by Lebanese judges, Dr Hashem last week was re-arrested and charged with “intentional murder” after it emerged that the victim had sustained no less than 16 gunshot wounds and may have been known to the couple.
Local media channels have broadcast security camera footage from the night of the incident that showed a masked man carrying what appeared to be a gun and appearing to confront Dr Hashem, before being chased and shot at by him.
The dead man has been named as Mohamed Hassan Moussa, a 30-year-old Syrian immigrant whose family claim had been working for Mr Hashem and Ms Ajram as a gardener and who they say was owed money by them.
Ms Ajram, 36, is one of Lebanon’s most successful singers, who has sold more than 30 million records worldwide since starting her career as a teenager and latterly becoming a judge on the “Arab Idol” television series.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--NHS risks £4.3bn legal bill if it fails to admit errors quicker, warns former health secretary

The NHS must admit its failings quicker or face paying out legal fees of up to £4.3 billion , a former Tory health secretary has said .
Stephen Dorrell spoke out after an investigation revealed NHS estimates of how much services would pay to lawyers if all the current claims they are facing go ahead .
Last year the NHS paid out £2.4 billion for negligence claims .
And assessments of the total cost of all outstanding claims reached £83 billion , health watchdogs said .
Freedom of Information disclosures supplied to the BBC reveal that trusts expect to pay @ @ @ @ @ @ @ if all such claims went ahead .
Last year an investigation by this newspaper revealed that compensation paid out for harm and deaths caused by NHS delays and blunders had doubled in five years .
On Tuesday , Mr Dorrell , a former Tory health secretary , who chaired the Health Select committee for four years , said the NHS needed to admit mistakes more quickly , instead of spending huge sums on lawyers .
He said “ the real scandal ” in the health service was the time trusts spent arguing legal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ failings .
“ That ’ s why we end up providing more than £4billion for lawyers to extend the process and argue over who is responsible , ” he said .

The NHS must admit its failings quicker or face paying out legal fees of up to £4.3 billion, a former Tory health secretary has said.
Stephen Dorrell spoke out after an investigation revealed NHS estimates of how much services would pay to lawyers if all the current claims they are facing go ahead.
Last year the NHS paid out £2.4 billion for negligence claims.
And assessments of the total cost of all outstanding claims reached £83 billion, health watchdogs said.
Freedom of Information disclosures supplied to the BBC reveal that trusts expect to pay out £4.3 billion in legal fees, if all such claims went ahead.
Last year an investigation by this newspaper revealed that compensation paid out for harm and deaths caused by NHS delays and blunders had doubled in five years.
On Tuesday, Mr Dorrell, a former Tory health secretary, who chaired the Health Select committee for four years, said the NHS needed to admit mistakes more quickly, instead of spending huge sums on lawyers.
He said “the real scandal” in the health service was the time trusts spent arguing legal cases when they should have admitted to failings.
“That’s why we end up providing more than £4billion for lawyers to extend the process and argue over who is responsible,” he said.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--The best budget hotels in San Francisco, from friendly guest houses to tech-savvy crash pads

A small façade allows The Inn at Union Square to hide out from the crowds and the typically hectic pace @ @ @ @ @ shopping district .
The hotel may be small – with just 30 guestrooms and suites @ @ @ @ @ a big number of perks , for example all guests are offered a glass of @ @ @ @ @ floor has public sitting areas or parlours with cushy seating .
They vary slightly from @ @ @ @ @ , with different amenities such as wood burning fireplaces , filtered water , ice machines @ @ @ @ @ games , and in the evening , chocolate chip cookies .
Evening cheese and wine @ @ @ @ @ select parlour areas .

A small façade allows The Inn at Union Square to hide out from the crowds and the typically hectic pace of San Francisco's popular shopping district. The hotel may be small – with just 30 guestrooms and suites – but it comes with a big number of perks, for example all guests are offered a glass of champagne at check-in. Each floor has public sitting areas or parlours with cushy seating. They vary slightly from one floor to the next, with different amenities such as wood burning fireplaces, filtered water, ice machines, extra refrigerators, board games, and in the evening, chocolate chip cookies. Evening cheese and wine receptions are also held in select parlour areas.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Smart motorways could be reviewed by courts after widow brings judicial review

Smart motorways could be reviewed by the courts after a widow brings a judicial review .
Widow Claire Mercer is in the process of bringing a High Court legal challenge calling for smart motorways to be scrapped after her husband was killed on a 'smart section ' of the M1 .
Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell , acting on behalf of Mrs Mercer , have started the legal process that could lead to a High Court legal case against Highways England .
Jason Mercer , 44 , of Rotherham , and 22-year-old Alexandru Murgreanu , from Mansfield , had been involved @ @ @ @ @ @ @ over to exchange details .
They were killed when a HGV hit them near junction 34 of the M1 at Meadowhall in South Yorkshire .
The stretch of road is classed as an ‘ all lanes running ’ ( ALR ) motorway , meaning there is no hard shoulder in operation .
A 16 mile stretch of the M1 between junction 32 – the M18 - and junction 35a , near Meadowhall , is classed as all lanes running smart motorway .
In place of the hard shoulder are emergency refuges , which @ @ @ @ @ @ @ apart , though in some areas it is thought that their availability is far less .
Overhead signs indicate the speed limit and whether a lane is closed .

Smart motorways could be reviewed by the courts after a widow brings a judicial review.
Widow Claire Mercer is in the process of bringing a High Court legal challenge calling for smart motorways to be scrapped after her husband was killed on a 'smart section' of the M1.
Lawyers at Irwin Mitchell, acting on behalf of Mrs Mercer, have started the legal process that could lead to a High Court legal case against Highways England.
Jason Mercer, 44, of Rotherham, and 22-year-old Alexandru Murgreanu, from Mansfield, had been involved in a minor collision and had pulled over to exchange details.
They were killed when a HGV hit them near junction 34 of the M1 at Meadowhall in South Yorkshire.
The stretch of road is classed as an ‘all lanes running’ (ALR) motorway, meaning there is no hard shoulder in operation.
A 16 mile stretch of the M1 between junction 32 – the M18 - and junction 35a, near Meadowhall, is classed as all lanes running smart motorway.
In place of the hard shoulder are emergency refuges, which are said to be roughly a mile apart, though in some areas it is thought that their availability is far less.
Overhead signs indicate the speed limit and whether a lane is closed.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--World Health Organisation: E-cigarettes are harmful to health and are not safe

The World Health Organisation ( WHO ) has issued its strongest warning to date about e-cigarettes , claiming they increase the risk of heart disease and lung disorders .
In a new Q & A and a series of strongly worded Tweets released on Tuesday afternoon , the organisation said vaping was particularly risky for the developing brains of teenagers , and could damage a growing foetus .
They also warned e-cigarettes expose non-smokers and vapers to nicotine and other harmful chemicals and said there was little evidence that they helped smokers to quit .
The WHO said governments should @ @ @ @ @ @ @ way as cigarettes and regulating their promotion and use .
“ E-cigarettes are harmful to health and are not safe , ” said the organisation .
“ E-cigarettes increase the risk of heart disease and lung disorders .
They pose significant risks as they can damage the growing foetus .
They also expose non-smokers to nicotine and other harmful chemicals .
“ They are particularly risky when used by adolescents .
Nicotine is highly addictive & young people ’ s brains develop up to their mid-twenties .
Exposure to nicotine can have long-lasting @ @ @ @ @

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued its strongest warning to date about e-cigarettes, claiming they increase the risk of heart disease and lung disorders.
In a new Q&A and a series of strongly worded Tweets released on Tuesday afternoon, the organisation said vaping was particularly risky for the developing brains of teenagers, and could damage a growing foetus.
They also warned e-cigarettes expose non-smokers and vapers to nicotine and other harmful chemicals and said there was little evidence that they helped smokers to quit.
The WHO said governments should consider taxing the products in a similar way as cigarettes and regulating their promotion and use.
“E-cigarettes are harmful to health and are not safe,” said the organisation.
“E-cigarettes increase the risk of heart disease and lung disorders. They pose significant risks as they can damage the growing foetus. They also expose non-smokers to nicotine and other harmful chemicals.
“They are particularly risky when used by adolescents. Nicotine is highly addictive & young people’s brains develop up to their mid-twenties. Exposure to nicotine can have long-lasting, damaging effects.”


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Sydney's most romantic hotels, from private sunset terraces to restaurants with amazing views

Altitude , the hotel ’ s in-house restaurant , is known as one of Shangri-La ’ s most defining features @ @ @ @ @ and with floor-to-ceiling windows , this is where you take your date when you want @ @ @ @ @ level 36 is Blu Bar , your first stop for a pre-dinner cocktail .
If @ @ @ @ @ something a little more exciting try the hour-long Liquid Physics demonstration and don ’ t @ @ @ @ @ it ’ s pretty fancy up here .
Rooms above level 30 come with the @ @ @ @ @ the Horizon Club .
Some come with window seats overlooking the city , The Harbour @ @ @ @ @ an ideal spot to relax with a drink and soak up the audacious view .

Altitude, the hotel’s in-house restaurant, is known as one of Shangri-La’s most defining features. Thirty-six floors up, and with floor-to-ceiling windows, this is where you take your date when you want to impress. Also on level 36 is Blu Bar, your first stop for a pre-dinner cocktail. If you’re looking for something a little more exciting try the hour-long Liquid Physics demonstration and don’t forget to dress up, it’s pretty fancy up here. Rooms above level 30 come with the best views and access to the Horizon Club. Some come with window seats overlooking the city, The Harbour and The Opera House – an ideal spot to relax with a drink and soak up the audacious view.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--7 stylish boutique hotels in Moscow, including futuristic designer pads to Art Nouveau mansions

This four-star boutique is a fairly unique and highly romantic accommodation spot .
Situated in a quiet , central neighbourhood @ @ @ @ @ OTT interiors and top-notch service means it ’ s used regularly as a wedding and @ @ @ @ @ as overnight stays .
The hotel has been designed in classic 18th-century English style , @ @ @ @ @ the garden and crystal chandeliers and salon paintings in the public areas .
The nine @ @ @ @ @ small side , are sumptuous and ooze period charm with vibrant red and gold colour @ @ @ @ @ .
It might be slightly too much for some , but for others it will @ @ @ @ @ romance .

This four-star boutique is a fairly unique and highly romantic accommodation spot. Situated in a quiet, central neighbourhood, its opulent, slightly OTT interiors and top-notch service means it’s used regularly as a wedding and honeymoon venue, as well as overnight stays. The hotel has been designed in classic 18th-century English style, complete with stone lions in the garden and crystal chandeliers and salon paintings in the public areas. The nine rooms, while on the small side, are sumptuous and ooze period charm with vibrant red and gold colour schemes matched to antique furnishings. It might be slightly too much for some, but for others it will feel like the epitome of romance.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--The 7 best budget hotels in Rio for an affordable stay without compromising on culture

The Arena is the most serene , but far from sleepy , accommodation in the traditional neighbourhood of Leme , @ @ @ @ @ to peer through the more modern apartment buildings .
It overlooks one of the city @ @ @ @ @ those in the know ’ beaches , where the sands are less crowded and fishermen @ @ @ @ @ at its eastern edge .
The hotel ’ s communal areas have a sophisticated finish @ @ @ @ @ as laid-back as you would hope for given the setting .
The rooftop pool is @ @ @ @ @ rooms make the most of the hotel ’ s surroundings , looking out to Sugarloaf @ @ @ @ @ Copacabana Beach .

The Arena is the most serene, but far from sleepy, accommodation in the traditional neighbourhood of Leme, where Art Deco flourishes continue to peer through the more modern apartment buildings. It overlooks one of the city’s few remaining ‘those in the know’ beaches, where the sands are less crowded and fishermen cast off the huge rock at its eastern edge. The hotel’s communal areas have a sophisticated finish and the whole experience is as laid-back as you would hope for given the setting. The rooftop pool is a bonus, while corner rooms make the most of the hotel’s surroundings, looking out to Sugarloaf Mountain or the length of Copacabana Beach.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Madrid's most romantic hotels, from rooftop bars at sunset to room service

It 's the little things you discover as you stroll through the different neighbourhoods of Madrid that will leave you @ @ @ @ @ of romantic spots and is very much a feel-good city where you invariably go home @ @ @ @ @ than when you arrived .
For a special weekend with your partner , where you @ @ @ @ @ of the experience , from intimate hotels where you can hide away together ( at @ @ @ @ @ ) and order all the room service you want , to characterful hotels with cool @ @ @ @ @ .
Ultimately , Madrid is fashionable , flirty , and full of opportunities to impress @ @ @ @ @ the occasion .

It's the little things you discover as you stroll through the different neighbourhoods of Madrid that will leave you smiling. It's full of romantic spots and is very much a feel-good city where you invariably go home in a much better mood than when you arrived. For a special weekend with your partner, where you stay is a crucial part of the experience, from intimate hotels where you can hide away together (at least some of the time) and order all the room service you want, to characterful hotels with cool rooftop bars and panoramic views. Ultimately, Madrid is fashionable, flirty, and full of opportunities to impress your loved one, whatever the occasion.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Cambridge lawn to be trodden on for the first time in 300 years after being transformed into wildflo

Cambridge lawn to be trodden on for the first time in 300 years after being transformed into wildflower meadow

Its immaculate green blades have been maintained for centuries and its 'keep off the grass ' signs even inspired one of Pink Floyd 's most famous songs .
But the pristine King 's College Chapel lawn in Cambridge will now be trodden on for the first time in 300 years , as the university plans to turn it into a wildflower meadow in a bid to tackle climate change .
Sloping down to the River Cam , it has become an iconic view for visitors since the 1700s and trampling on it was strictly forbidden .
So famous is the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ some of whose members grew up in Cambridge , mentioned it in their 1973 hit Brain Damage , singing : `` The lunatic is on the grass .
Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs .
Got to keep the loonies on the path . ''
However , the 'keep off the grass ' signs will now be removed and there are plans to mow temporary paths so students can admire the `` biodiversity-rich ecosystem '' that gardeners are hoping to cultivate .
Head gardener Steve Coghill said the meadow should bloom between @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buttercups , poppies and cornflowers .
He told The Telegraph : `` Here we are in the 21st century and King 's College is always known as being progressive .

Its immaculate green blades have been maintained for centuries and its 'keep off the grass' signs even inspired one of Pink Floyd's most famous songs.
But the pristine King's College Chapel lawn in Cambridge will now be trodden on for the first time in 300 years, as the university plans to turn it into a wildflower meadow in a bid to tackle climate change.
Sloping down to the River Cam, it has become an iconic view for visitors since the 1700s and trampling on it was strictly forbidden.
So famous is the green that rock band Pink Floyd, some of whose members grew up in Cambridge, mentioned it in their 1973 hit Brain Damage, singing: "The lunatic is on the grass. Remembering games and daisy chains and laughs. Got to keep the loonies on the path."
However, the 'keep off the grass' signs will now be removed and there are plans to mow temporary paths so students can admire the "biodiversity-rich ecosystem" that gardeners are hoping to cultivate.
Head gardener Steve Coghill said the meadow should bloom between May and July, sprouting harebells, buttercups, poppies and cornflowers.
He told The Telegraph: "Here we are in the 21st century and King's College is always known as being progressive.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--The most romantic stays in San Francisco, including twinkling bay views and crackling fireplaces

The hotel is spread over the top 10 floors of one of the city ’ s tallest buildings , so @ @ @ @ @ living in the clouds .
The reception area in particular , with its silver and @ @ @ @ @ in a way that ’ s modern and clean .
From here , guests are @ @ @ @ @ ear-popping speed to the building ’ s uppermost floors .
All rooms give grand , @ @ @ @ @ ’ s greatest landmarks and binoculars are provided to make the most of this .
@ @ @ @ @ to Bridge category with its broad vista that takes in most of the city .

The hotel is spread over the top 10 floors of one of the city’s tallest buildings, so a stay here feels like living in the clouds. The reception area in particular, with its silver and gold accents, feels swish in a way that’s modern and clean. From here, guests are whizzed in a lift at ear-popping speed to the building’s uppermost floors. All rooms give grand, sweeping views over the city’s greatest landmarks and binoculars are provided to make the most of this. Most impressive is the Bridge to Bridge category with its broad vista that takes in most of the city.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--The best boutique hotels in Shanghai, from hip hideaways to ancient villas

In this sprawling megatropolis of over 24 million people , home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world @ @ @ @ @ is beautiful .
But against this fast-paced high-rise backdrop there are some very special small @ @ @ @ @ from tiny galleries hidden in old French mansions , to speakeasies secreted in basements , @ @ @ @ @ in shikumen-style back streets and out the way water villages .
But , while Shanghai @ @ @ @ @ small hotels , quality and standards of service can be an issue .
We 've @ @ @ @ @ the bunch for you here .

In this sprawling megatropolis of over 24 million people, home to some of the tallest skyscrapers in the world, it appears that big is beautiful. But against this fast-paced high-rise backdrop there are some very special small packages to be found, from tiny galleries hidden in old French mansions, to speakeasies secreted in basements, to inventive boutique hotels scattered in shikumen-style back streets and out the way water villages. But, while Shanghai has its fair share of small hotels, quality and standards of service can be an issue. We've narrowed down the best of the bunch for you here.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Smart spas and caviar bars: 8 opulent hotels for a luxury stay in St Petersburg

Russia has a reputation for luxury lifestyle , and elegant St. Petersburg is right up there with Moscow when it @ @ @ @ @ by a slew of renowned European architects , its Baroque palaces , geometric layout and @ @ @ @ @ of Europe , although Orthodox churches and the ubiquitous Cyrillic script are reminders that this @ @ @ @ @ .
Many of the hotels – including The Trezzini Palace Hotel , Belmond Grand and @ @ @ @ @ Russian as well as European aesthetics to create grand , stately experiences , while others @ @ @ @ @ showcase the current fervour for contemporary design and décor .
Expect lavish interiors , Michelin-starred @ @ @ @ @ excellent facilities with our pick of the best luxury hotels in St. Petersburg .

Russia has a reputation for luxury lifestyle, and elegant St. Petersburg is right up there with Moscow when it comes to decadence. Designed by a slew of renowned European architects, its Baroque palaces, geometric layout and picturesque canals are purposely reminiscent of Europe, although Orthodox churches and the ubiquitous Cyrillic script are reminders that this is nonetheless an exotic land. Many of the hotels – including The Trezzini Palace Hotel, Belmond Grand and State Hermitage – draw on Russian as well as European aesthetics to create grand, stately experiences, while others such as the SO Sofitel showcase the current fervour for contemporary design and décor. Expect lavish interiors, Michelin-starred dining, five-star service and excellent facilities with our pick of the best luxury hotels in St. Petersburg.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Tuesday evening news briefing: Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg exchange thinly-veiled attacks at Dav

Tuesday evening news briefing: Donald Trump and Greta Thunberg exchange thinly-veiled attacks at Davos

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email , sign up to the Front Page newsletter here .
For two-minute audio updates , try The Briefing - on podcasts , smart speakers and WhatsApp .
It was the battle of the thinly-veiled attacks .
On the one hand , there was the US President , telling the World Economic Forum in Davos his country pledges to join efforts to plant a trillion trees in the world , while dismissing climate change `` alarmists '' and `` prophets of doom '' .
On the other hand was the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ your inaction is fuelling the flames '' before quipping - without mentioning Donald Trump by name - `` planting trees is very good of course but it is nowhere near enough '' .
Yes , Greta vs Trump is the talk of the summit of world leaders .
Click here to follow live updates from the event .
But the real news for the UK is the president using his speech to open the door to a `` tremendous '' trade deal with Britain - but with a catch .
Ben Wright has @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , which he calls one of the most unDavos-like speeches of the World Economic Forum 's 50-year history .
Of course the other major event affecting the president is his historic impeachment trial , which begins in earnest today in the Senate .
Four months after the Ukraine scandal exploded and went on to overshadow the end of Trump 's term , and 10 months before Americans go to the polls to decide whether to re-elect him , the 100 members of the Senate will gather at 6pm with chief justice John Roberts @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an explanation of the inquiry and Ben Riley-Smith reconstructs how a fateful July phone call led to Mr Trump 's impeachment vote .

If you want to receive twice-daily briefings like this by email, sign up to the Front Page newsletter here. For two-minute audio updates, try The Briefing - on podcasts, smart speakers and WhatsApp.
Trump dismisses climate change 'prophets of doom'
It was the battle of the thinly-veiled attacks. On the one hand, there was the US President, telling the World Economic Forum in Davos his country pledges to join efforts to plant a trillion trees in the world, while dismissing climate change "alarmists" and "prophets of doom". On the other hand was the activist Greta Thunberg, telling leaders "your inaction is fuelling the flames" before quipping - without mentioning Donald Trump by name - "planting trees is very good of course but it is nowhere near enough". Yes, Greta vs Trump is the talk of the summit of world leaders. Click here to follow live updates from the event. But the real news for the UK is the president using his speech to open the door to a "tremendous" trade deal with Britain - but with a catch. Ben Wright has a summary of Mr Trump's address, which he calls one of the most unDavos-like speeches of the World Economic Forum's 50-year history.
Of course the other major event affecting the president is his historic impeachment trial, which begins in earnest today in the Senate. Four months after the Ukraine scandal exploded and went on to overshadow the end of Trump's term, and 10 months before Americans go to the polls to decide whether to re-elect him, the 100 members of the Senate will gather at 6pm with chief justice John Roberts presiding over the trial. Here is an explanation of the inquiry and Ben Riley-Smith reconstructs how a fateful July phone call led to Mr Trump's impeachment vote.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Toyota GR Yaris: World Rally Championship racer for the road unveiled

Two wild versions of the same supermini in as many years might `` look like carelessness '' by an automotive Lady Bracknell , but that 's exactly what Toyota has done with its second Gazoo Racing ( abbreviated to GR ) Yaris , based on the next version of the supermini of the same name which goes on sale later this year .
After Akio Toyoda , Toyota 's boss , climbed out of the company 's Yaris World Rally Championship ( WRC ) contender and said `` build it '' to his nonplussed engineers , the team set to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of driving the WRC car on public roads .
This is a stunning machine and a true homologation special , for while it 's unique four-wheel-drive system is n't eligible for WRC competition , the specialised , low-roof , lightweight three-door bodyshell most certainly is .
To qualify to use the new car in the WRC , however , the company will have to build 25,000 road-going models in a single year .
With carbon-fibre polymer for the roof and aluminium for the doors and bonnet , the GR Yaris is , at @ @ @ @ @ @ @ than the standard car .
There is also a wider track ( width between the wheels ) at the rear , with race-style double wishbone rear suspension replacing the less sophisticated twist beam set-up of the standard car .

Two wild versions of the same supermini in as many years might "look like carelessness" by an automotive Lady Bracknell, but that's exactly what Toyota has done with its second Gazoo Racing (abbreviated to GR) Yaris, based on the next version of the supermini of the same name which goes on sale later this year.
After Akio Toyoda, Toyota's boss, climbed out of the company's Yaris World Rally Championship (WRC) contender and said "build it" to his nonplussed engineers, the team set to work to most closely match the experience of driving the WRC car on public roads.
This is a stunning machine and a true homologation special, for while it's unique four-wheel-drive system isn't eligible for WRC competition, the specialised, low-roof, lightweight three-door bodyshell most certainly is. To qualify to use the new car in the WRC, however, the company will have to build 25,000 road-going models in a single year.
With carbon-fibre polymer for the roof and aluminium for the doors and bonnet, the GR Yaris is, at 1,180kg, about 10 per cent lighter than the standard car. There is also a wider track (width between the wheels) at the rear, with race-style double wishbone rear suspension replacing the less sophisticated twist beam set-up of the standard car.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Migrants attempting to sail to Britain from Belgian beaches for the first time, in an attempt to avo

Migrants attempting to sail to Britain from Belgian beaches for the first time, in an attempt to avoid French police patrols

Migrants are attempting to sail to Britain from Belgian beaches for the first time , in an attempt to avoid French police patrols .
The move indicates a change in tactics by smuggling gangs , who have historically operated in northern France , with one local official calling the development “ shocking ” .
Now , the Home Office has confirmed that it is sending a Border Force officer to Zeebrugge to `` support information sharing with Belgian law enforcement colleagues.
” On Tuesday , Belgian police were called after a boat carrying 14 people capsized in poor weather .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including two children , had to swim back to the beach at De Panne , a town on the border with France .
Eight of them ran away and have not been found .
Bram Degrieck , the mayor of De Panne told the Telegraph that they were lucky to be alive .
“ This is the first time we have been confronted in real life with this problem .
Where people have tried to go on their own little boat from a beach here to the UK .
It is a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said .

Migrants are attempting to sail to Britain from Belgian beaches for the first time, in an attempt to avoid French police patrols.
The move indicates a change in tactics by smuggling gangs, who have historically operated in northern France, with one local official calling the development “shocking”.
Now, the Home Office has confirmed that it is sending a Border Force officer to Zeebrugge to "support information sharing with Belgian law enforcement colleagues.”
On Tuesday, Belgian police were called after a boat carrying 14 people capsized in poor weather. The group of Afghan and Iraqi migrants, including two children, had to swim back to the beach at De Panne, a town on the border with France. Eight of them ran away and have not been found.
Bram Degrieck, the mayor of De Panne told the Telegraph that they were lucky to be alive.
“This is the first time we have been confronted in real life with this problem. Where people have tried to go on their own little boat from a beach here to the UK. It is a sign of absolute desperation,” he said.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Sinn Fein will only join coalition government in return for Irish unity referendum, leader says amid

Sinn Fein will only join coalition government in return for Irish unity referendum, leader says amid surge in support

Sinn Fein has made a border poll on Irish unity within five years a precondition for joining a coalition government @ @ @ @ @ surges .
Speaking at the launch of the party ’ s manifesto today , Mary @ @ @ @ @ of the Sinn Fein , said it wanted a border plebiscite by 2025 and an @ @ @ @ @ convene in the next parliament .
The Irish general election takes place on February 8 @ @ @ @ @ , released last night by the Irish Times , showed a surge in support for @ @ @ @ @ had a popularity rating of 21 per cent , which was up 7 per cent @ @ @ @ @ months ago and marginally behind the ruling Fine Gael party on 23 per cent and @ @ @ @ @ Fail on 25 per cent .
The campaign has been dominated by domestic issues such @ @ @ @ @ housing and chaos in the health sector .
Sinn Fein ’ s claims that these @ @ @ @ @ decades of mismanagement by the two establishment parties has resonated with voters .

Sinn Fein has made a border poll on Irish unity within five years a precondition for joining a coalition government in Dublin as its popularity surges.
Speaking at the launch of the party’s manifesto today, Mary Lou McDonald, the president of the Sinn Fein, said it wanted a border plebiscite by 2025 and an all-party forum on unification to convene in the next parliament.
The Irish general election takes place on February 8. The latest opinion poll, released last night by the Irish Times, showed a surge in support for Sinn Fein.
The party had a popularity rating of 21 per cent, which was up 7 per cent since the last poll three months ago and marginally behind the ruling Fine Gael party on 23 per cent and the biggest opposition party Fianna Fail on 25 per cent.
The campaign has been dominated by domestic issues such as a chronic shortage of housing and chaos in the health sector. Sinn Fein’s claims that these crises have been caused by decades of mismanagement by the two establishment parties has resonated with voters.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--Where to stay for a budget break in Marrakech, including historic houses and romantic riads

A super , 17th-century riad with a lush Islamic garden and five light-filled , minimalist rooms showcasing the period craftsmanship @ @ @ @ @ .
Like the décor , service here is warmly authentic , low key and personal @ @ @ @ @ mine of information and has an enviable address book filled with contacts for top hairdressers @ @ @ @ @ musicians .
Just five rooms , three of them with balconies over the garden , @ @ @ @ @ house , spoiling guests with space in this densely-populated city .
Food here is traditional @ @ @ @ @ A Moroccan breakfast of fruit and pancakes is served on the roof terrace .

A super, 17th-century riad with a lush Islamic garden and five light-filled, minimalist rooms showcasing the period craftsmanship and design of the house. Like the décor, service here is warmly authentic, low key and personal. Manager Ingrid is a mine of information and has an enviable address book filled with contacts for top hairdressers, yoga instructors and local musicians. Just five rooms, three of them with balconies over the garden, run the length of the house, spoiling guests with space in this densely-populated city. Food here is traditional, fresh and tasty. A Moroccan breakfast of fruit and pancakes is served on the roof terrace.


thetelegraph--2020-01-21--The most romantic hotels in Porto, including cosy fireplaces and balconies overlooking the Douro

A small and welcoming riverfront hotel at the heart of Porto ’ s old town .
Interiors are cosy , @ @ @ @ @ lounge , which is perfect for kicking back on sofas during the day or enjoying @ @ @ @ @ in the evening .
Guests visiting in summer will also enjoy the lovely little terrace @ @ @ @ @ shortage of appealing touches : two have shuttered French doors with Juliet balconies overlooking the @ @ @ @ @ a chandelier under the eaves and the bed in Room Five is built into an @ @ @ @ @ all-day continental breakfast is a serious plus for those who want to sleep in .

A small and welcoming riverfront hotel at the heart of Porto’s old town. Interiors are cosy, featuring a stylish, light-filled lounge, which is perfect for kicking back on sofas during the day or enjoying a glass of Portuguese wine in the evening. Guests visiting in summer will also enjoy the lovely little terrace bar. Rooms have no shortage of appealing touches: two have shuttered French doors with Juliet balconies overlooking the Douro. Room Eight has a chandelier under the eaves and the bed in Room Five is built into an inglenook fireplace. The generous all-day continental breakfast is a serious plus for those who want to sleep in.