EU Lawyers Say Plan to Scan Private Messages for Child Abuse May Be Unlawful

THE GUARDIAN: Under proposed ‘chat controls’ regulation, any encrypted service provider could be forced to screen for ‘identifiers’

According to the internal EU legal advice, the regulation ‘risks falling foul of a judicial review on multiple grounds’. Photograph: DCPhoto/Alamy
An EU plan under which all WhatsApp, iMessage and Snapchat accounts could be screened for child abuse content has hit a significant obstacle after internal legal advice said it would probably be annulled by the courts for breaching users’ rights.

Under the proposed “chat controls” regulation, any encrypted service provider could be forced to survey billions of messages, videos and photos for “identifiers” of certain types of content where it was suspected a service was being used to disseminate harmful material.

The providers issued with a so-called “detection order” by national bodies would have to alert police if they found evidence of suspected harmful content being shared or the grooming of children. » | Daniel Boffey, Chief reporter | Monday, May 8, 2023

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UK Will Sign Deal Paying in to EU Budget within 15 Years, Says Ryanair Boss

THE GUARDIAN: Michael O’Leary says Brexit is ‘unbelievably messy’ and a ‘net negative’ on the British economy

Ryanair boss Michael O’Leary launched a fresh attack on Brexit. Photograph: Thierry Monasse/Getty Images
The boss of Ryanair, Michael O’Leary, has launched a fresh attack on Brexit, describing it as “unbelievably messy” and predicting the UK would end up signing a Norway-style deal with the EU in the next 10 to 15 years under which it would pay into the bloc’s budget.

The outspoken chief executive of the Irish budget airline said over the next three to five years, the UK’s departure from the EU would be “net negative on the UK economy, no question about it”.

O’Leary said the UK’s longer term relationship with its closest trading partner depended “on what the British establishment or future UK governments do”. However, he said he believed that the UK would “in the next 10 to 15 years” strike a “trade deal with Europe, similar to Norway or Switzerland”. » | oanna Partridge | Wednesday, April 19, 2023

Brexit was a stupid idea put forward by duffers. — © Mark Alexander

‘Take Back Control’? With This Pacific Trade Deal, Brexit Britain Has Just Signed It Away

THE GUARDIAN: Goodbye, food standards. Hello, corporate lobbyists. Why are we doing this, for no real economic benefit?

Last night, the government announced that Britain has joined a trade deal so contentious that it united Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders in opposition to US membership.

While hardcore Brexiters would like to pretend this is the ultimate payoff of our decision to leave the EU and write our own rules, the reality is somewhat different. In signing the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), Britain has ditched environmental standards, signed up to terms that will undermine British farmers, and left us open to being sued by multinational corporations in secretive courts. And all for no real economic benefit. » | Nick Dearden | Friday, March 31, 2023

What Has Brexit Done for Britain?

Brexit, Britain was promised, would allow the country to ‘take back control’ – of its economy, its borders and its land. But what has that really meant for people now living with its consequences?
It’s three years since the UK officially left the EU. For many of those who voted to leave in the 2016 referendum, it was in answer to a promise to take back control – of funding, over farming, over immigration and trade. But have those promises been kept?
Listen to the podcast here.
As leave voters’ Brexit regret rises, will political parties dare to follow?: Even leavers might be changing their minds, but there’s little incentive for opposition to revisit issue, say analysts »

What has Brexit done for Britain? In two words: Sod all! – © Mark Alexander

Vivienne Westwood: Pioneering Fashion Designer Dies Aged 81

REUTERS
BBC: British fashion designer Dame Vivienne Westwood has died aged 81.

In a statement on Twitter, her fashion house said she died "peacefully and surrounded" by her family in Clapham, south London.

Westwood made her name with her controversial punk and new wave styles in the 1970s and went on to dress some of the biggest names in fashion.

Her husband and creative partner Andreas Kronthaler said: "I will continue with Vivienne in my heart.

"We have been working until the end and she has given me plenty of things to get on with." » | Andre Rhoden-Paul, BBC News | Thursday, December 29, 2022

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD’S OBITUARY:

Dame Vivienne Westwood obituary: Fashion designer who from punk origins created an international brand with a dissident edge »

Calls for More Antisemitism Teaching in UK Schools to Tackle Rise in Hate

THE GUARDIAN: Adviser urges governments to act ‘before this form of racism poisons the minds of many more young people’

Schools should be required to teach about contemporary antisemitism, not only the Holocaust, as part of a drive to combat an “alarming” rise in hatred towards Jewish people among British pupils, a government adviser has said.

The former Labour MP Lord Mann, who now sits as a non-affiliated peer, urged ministers across the UK to take action after an investigation found the number of antisemitic incidents in English schools had almost trebled over the past five years.

The independent antisemitism adviser to ministers said the “growing spread” of cases among young people should be a matter of “deep concern” to everyone, as he warned that such dangerous prejudices often led to violence against members of the Jewish community, including schoolchildren. » | Kevin Rawlinson and agency | Monday, December 19, 2022

Cold Weather Alert Issued in England as Lows of -10C Possible

THE GUARDIAN: Health agency warns of frost and wintry showers across UK from Wednesday as Arctic airmass hits

The UK health security agency (UKHSA) has issued a cold weather alert for England, as temperatures were expected to plunge to -10C in some places with possible wintry showers and snow.

The severe conditions, brought by an Arctic maritime airmass and expected to start on Wednesday evening and last until Monday 12 December, could lead to disruption and increased health risks for vulnerable people.

The level 3 alert, which requires social and healthcare services to take action to protect high-risk groups, comes as temperatures are expected to drop across much of the UK late on Wednesday. » | Miranda Bryant | Monday, December 5, 2022

Weather tracker: high pressure drags cold Arctic air towards UK: Wintry conditions will arrive this week, with temperatures plummeting and possibility of snow showers »

Ukraine: Zelenska Tells MPs That UK Must 'Unite the World'

Olena Zelenska was introduced to the House of Commons by Speaker Lindsay Hoyle | PA MEDIA
BBC: Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska has urged MPs to "unite the world community" and help end Ukraine's conflict with Russia.

Speaking in the House of Commons, Mrs Zelenska compared Russia's bombardment of Ukrainian cities to Nazi Germany's bombing of the UK during World War Two.

"You did not surrender, and we will not surrender," she said.

The speech comes as Ukraine enters its ninth month of conflict with Vladimir Putin's forces.

Mrs Zelenska is visiting the UK to highlight the plight of the Ukrainian people, millions of whom face a harsh winter with regular power cuts both planned and unplanned.

Fierce fighting continues on both the southern and eastern fronts of the country.

As part of her address, Mrs Zelenska showed pictures that she said depicted the impact of Russian air strikes, which have caused blackouts in major cities, including in capital Kyiv, as well as Lviv, Zaporizhzhia and Kharkiv.

The first lady said: "Your island survived the air raids that were identical to those Russia uses to put us on our knees. » | Jasmine Andersson, BBC News | Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Before Britain can even start to think of "uniting the world", it has to try and re-unite the disUnited Kingdom! The unity of the United Kingdom has taken a beating since Brexit. The UK did a swell job of trying to disunite the European Union too. I fear that before the UK has any hope of "uniting the world", it needs to re-enter the European Union; otherwise, Westminster will find that the UK could well break up. The United Kingdom is a very different cpuntry than it was during the Blitz of World War II. – © Mark Alexander

Macron and Sunak ‘Bromance’ Signals Intent to Reset Franco-British Ties

THE GUARDIAN: Clear wish in Paris to thaw relations that plummeted to their worst state in decades under Boris Johnson

But a crucial difference between the two leaders is Brexit – with Sunak an unwavering supporter of leaving the EU in 2016 and Macron a staunch pro-European. Photograph: Ludovic Marin/AFP/Getty Images
Analysis
When Emmanuel Macron rushed to hug the new UK prime minister at their first meeting in Egypt this week, some called it a “bromance”.

Even though the French president’s hands-on embrace of world leaders is almost always called a “bromance” – from Justin Trudeau to Mohammed bin Salman and Donald Trump (a relationship which eventually soured), Macron and Rishi Sunak’s grinning and back-slapping stood out as symbolic.

There is a clear wish in Paris to thaw and reset the frosty Franco-British relationship, which had plummeted to its worst state in decades under Boris Johnson, with bitter disputes over submarine contracts, fishing rights and rows over who was to blame for the catastrophic deaths of people trying to reach the UK coast on small boats.

A French official described the potential for an upturn in relations: “We’ve clearly had our differences, we’ve each of us sometimes been held hostage to internal politics in both countries, but at the end of the day France’s strategic interests are very much aligned with the UK ... The British are partners who aren’t always easy but who are absolutely vital. The quality of the exchanges in recent weeks has been positive.” » | Angelique Chrisafis in Paris | Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Politics and Prohibition: Should Smoking Be Banned for Good? | ThinkTent 2022

Smoking, it is said, costs the UK over £13bn a year. A potentially addictive habit that can damage people’s health, the Government wants England to be ‘smoke free’ by 2030. Now the market offers a range of reduced risk products, is it time to ban cigarettes for good or should the principles of choice and personal responsibility remain paramount?

I think you all know what I think of this stupid idea. I believe in free choice. I also don't believe that smoking is as bad as they say it is, particularly if one smokes in moderation and otherwise lives a healthy life by eating well, not drinking too much and sleeping well. – © Mark Alexander

UK Isolated as EU Agrees Windfall Tax on Energy Firms

THE GUARDIAN: Levy could raise €140bn, and energy ministers also set targets to cut electricity use

EU energy ministers have agreed to levy windfall taxes on energy companies’ profits, and to cut electricity use, but remain at loggerheads over proposals to cap the price of gas.

Meeting in Brussels on Friday, the bloc’s 27 energy ministers signed off on proposals to levy a “solidarity contribution” on fossil fuel producers that have benefited from soaring energy prices. » | Jennifer Rankin in Brussels | Friday, September 30, 2022

Why Hate Is Fuelling Politics

Hate is fuelling politics in America and Britain, as arguments over racial justice, transgender rights

Secret Deals Ending Britain's Control in Gulf Revealed

Sheikh Saqr of Sharjah was removed from power in a British-sponsored coup
BBC: Secret dealings which brought to an end Britain's empire in the Middle East are revealed in a joint BBC News Arabic and Persian documentary. The film Secrets & Deals: How Britain Left the Gulf contains details of how it left Iran in control of contested islands, as well as eyewitness accounts of a British-organised coup.

The winter of 1967-1968 was a time of crisis for the British economy. Many Arab leaders were convinced Britain had secretly helped Israel to victory over its Arab neighbours in the Six Day War of June 1967. Israel had captured East Jerusalem, the West Bank, Gaza, the Sinai Peninsula, and the Golan Heights.

In retaliation, the oil-rich Gulf states began selling off their holdings of the British currency.

The pound crashed. Desperate to save money, Harold Wilson's Labour government decided it was time to terminate Britain's imperial defence commitments in the Middle East.

Britain never officially had colonies in the Gulf, but it had been the pre-eminent foreign power there since the 18th Century.

The Arab emirates of Bahrain, Qatar and the Trucial States (Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and their smaller neighbours) had signed treaties of protection with Britain.

This meant Britain controlled their defence and foreign policies, while local leaders mostly oversaw local affairs. » | Ahisha Ghafoor & Paul Mitchell, BBC News Arabic & BBC News Persian | Tuesday, August 30, 2022

Theresa May Says Brexit Won't Cause Environment Standards to Fall in Resurfaced Clip

Aug 25, 2022 A resurfaced clip from 2019 in parliament shows former prime minister Theresa May saying to Zac Goldsmith that Brexit won't cause environmental standards in the UK to slip.

"Can the PM be absolutely clear that when we leave the EU, our environmental standards will rise, not fall?" Goldsmith is heard asking.

May said: "We're committed to ensuring that our environmental standards do not fall,

" The clip resurfaced online after raw sewage was pumped into the UK's waters. The Tory government have received backlash for polluting UK beaches and the subsequent environmental impact of this action.


What a load of BULLSHIT! Under the Tories, especially the Brexit-loving Tories, this country is becoming the SHITHOUSE of the world: a CESSPIT! Our environmental standards, as well as our food standards, have already gone down in this short time; and they will continue to go down and down and down in the future. The Tories have reduced us Brits to SHAME. Kick these BASTARDS out of office ASAP! – © Mark Alexander

Sewage in Sea: French Appeal to EU over UK Discharges of Waste

A file photo shows untreated sewage flowing into a river | GETTY IMAGES
BBC: The UK is threatening health and marine life on the French coast by allowing raw sewage to be dumped in the Channel and North Sea, say three Euro MPs.

Pollution warnings have been issued for almost 50 beaches in England and Wales, after heavy rain caused sewage overflow to be diverted into rivers and the sea.

The French MEPs accuse the UK of neglecting environmental commitments and risking marine life and fishing.

British water companies have said they are investing in solving the problem.

Since its departure from the European Union, the United Kingdom had neglected its environmental commitments, the MEPs said in a letter calling for legal or political action from the European Commission.

A UK government spokesperson said their allegation was "simply not true".

Despite no longer being bound by EU laws, the UK was still a signatory to relevant United Nations conventions on protecting shared waters, the MEPs argued. » | Elsa Maishman, BBC News | Thursday, August 25, 2022

Polio May Be Spreading in Britain for First Time in 40 Years…

MAIL ONLINE: Officials have found traces of a vaccine-derived poliovirus in sewage samples in North and East London / Thought that someone vaccinated with live vaccine shed part of virus and spread it to unvaccinated people / Parents are being urged to ensure their children's vaccinations are up to date, particularly after the pandemic / Officials said risk to public 'extremely low' with one in 100 chance of paralysis and high vaccine uptake

Polio may be spreading in the UK for the first time in nearly 40 years, health chiefs warned today as they declared a 'national incident'.

Officials have found traces of a vaccine-derived version of the virus in sewage samples in parts of London and say it is 'likely' transmitting within the community.

Parents are being urged to ensure their children are up to date with their polio vaccinations, particularly after the pandemic when school immunisation schemes were disrupted.

Polio spreads through coughs and sneezes or contact with objects contaminated with faeces, causing permanent paralysis in around one in 100 cases. Children are at a higher risk. » | Connor Boyd, deputy health editor for MailOnline | Wednesday, June 22, 2022

It Feels Like Boris Johnson’s Britain Is Finally ‘Sinking Giggling Into the Sea’

Oli Scarff/Agence France-Presse, via Getty Images
OPINION : GUEST ESSAY
THE NEW YORK TIMES: LONDON — For Boris Johnson, Britain’s embattled and scandal-ridden prime minister, nowhere is safe.

On Thursday, that may become inescapably clear. Two local elections — one in a traditional Tory area in South Devon that the party has controlled almost continuously since 1885, the other in a postindustrial seat in North England that the Tories took from Labour for the first time in 90 years in 2019 — will deliver a decisive assessment of Mr. Johnson’s flailing popularity. As things stand, the Conservatives are set to lose both.

Mr. Johnson’s ability to win over such disparate people and places — affluent farmers and neglected manufacturers, the shires in the South and old Labour heartlands in the North — once ensured his position at the top of the Conservative Party. Yet now, as Britain hovers on the brink of economic recession, the constituencies that previously united around the prime minister appear to be rejecting him. For Mr. Johnson, his authority frayed by a recent no confidence vote, a double defeat would leave his tenure hanging by a thread.

But the Conservatives’ problems are much bigger than the prime minister. After 12 years in office, under three different leaders, the Conservatives have collectively set the stage for Britain’s woes. The balance sheet is dire: Wages haven’t risen in real terms since 2010, austerity has hollowed out local communities, and regional inequality has deepened. Britain’s protracted departure from the European Union, pursued by the Conservatives without a clear plan, has only made matters worse. » | Samuel Earle * | Wednesday, June 22, 2022

* Mr. Earle is a British journalist who writes about politics and culture.

UK Inflation Rises to 9.1%, Its Highest Rate in 40 Years

THE GUARDIAN: Headline CPI rate will add to cost of living crisis, fuelled by rises in food and transport costs

UK inflation has increased to 9.1%, its highest rate in 40 years amid record prices for petrol and the soaring cost of food.

The figures from the Office for National Statistics showed an increase in May from 9% in April, as measured by the consumer price index, in a reading that matched the forecasts of City economists. In a fresh high, the headline inflation rate has hit a level not seen since February 1982, piling pressure on households in the cost of living crisis.

Inflation is being fuelled by food and non-alcoholic drink prices, which are rising at the fastest annual rate since 2009, the ONS said, with the most dramatic increases seen in the cost of bread, cereals and meat.

Soaring prices for petrol and diesel also drove up inflation in May, adding to the pressure on motorists and business costs with a 32.8% jump motor fuels over the past year – the biggest annual increase on records dating back to 1989. » | Richard Partington and Rowena Mason | Wednesday, June 22, 2022

Tory ex-minister says plan to raise state pensions by 10% is ‘ludicrous’: Jim O’Neill scathing about decision to help pensioners while forcing real-terms pay cuts on public sector workers »

'Let's Call a Spade a Spade - This Is Illegal' - the EU Takes Action against the UK

Jun 15, 2022 • The EU has begun legal action against the UK following the Government's decision to override parts of the Northern Ireland Protocol.

Maros Sefčovič had acted illegally in ignoring parts of the deal they with the EU.

He said the move had damaged trust and respect between the EU and the UK.


Related video.

'Let's Call a Spade a Spade': EU Resumes Legal Action against UK over New NI Protocol Bill

Jun 15, 2022 • The EU's Brexit commissioner has confirmed the body has decided to take fresh legal action against the UK over its new legislation bypassing sections of the Northern Ireland protocol. Along with reviving the infringement process it launched in 2021, the EU is initiating two more processes – accusing the UK of failing to comply with provisions in the protocol relating to controls at border posts and the sharing of data