Britain's EU Journey: When Churchill urged European unity
Europe has been a source of contention in Britain seemingly forever
ABC News,
If nuclear issue is referred to U.N., Iran will pull out of the NPT: Iran foreign minister
If Iran's nuclear file is sent to the United Nations Security Council, then Iran will withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday, according to the official IRNA news agency.
Reuters,
75 years on, Holocaust survivors struggle to recover property in Poland
Lea Evron, 85, has only fragments of memories of the fur factory and the three-story apartment building her family owned before World War Two in Zywiec, a small town in southern Poland.
Reuters,
UK looks to fast-growing Africa for trade ties after Brexit
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting 54 African heads of state or government in London
ABC News,
Five killed as boiling water floods Russian hotel
Three people are taken to hospital with burns after the burst water pipe incident in Perm city.
BBC News,
Pentagon causing toxic pollution by burning foam, campaigners say
Environmentalists say incinerating a vast stockpile of firefighting foam containing harmful PFAS is putting communities at risk
The Department of Defense is polluting the environment with toxic chemicals by continuing to incinerate a vast stockpile of firefighting foam in a move environmentalists say is in breach of new regulations.
In a letter sent last week to the secretary of defense, Mark Esper, several environmental organizations argue the defense department is already out of compliance with new provisions regulating the disposal of the material and insist that it “immediately cease” incineration of the foam – called AFFF – which puts communities at risk.
Continue reading...The Guardian,
Capitalism seen doing 'more harm than good' in global survey
A majority of people around the world believe capitalism in its current form is doing more harm than good, a survey found ahead of this week's Davos meeting of business and political leaders.
Reuters,
Fever Tree loses its fizz as shares dive after 'subdued' Christmas
Shares in the drinks company fall 20% after it says Christmas trading was "subdued".
BBC News,
Feel good factor keeps world stocks near record highs, oil jumps
World stocks held near record highs on Monday as generally better data and earnings bolstered sentiment, while oil prices hit their highest in over a week after two large crude production bases in Libya began shutting down following a blockade.
Reuters,
Japan, U.S. lead survey's corporate climate change action 'A List'
BT <BT,K>, Danone , Microsoft and Sony are among 178 companies with top marks in the latest global ranking of transparency and action on climate change.
Reuters,
China repeats call on Canada to release Huawei CFO Meng
China repeated its call on Monday for Canada to release detained Huawei Technologies Chief Financial Officer Meng Wanzhou as soon as possible, ahead of the executive's first extradition hearing later in the day.
Reuters,
English journalist 'trapped' in Ireland over extradition bid
Dublin court to consider European arrest warrant for Ian Bailey over unsolved murder of French woman
Ian Bailey, an English journalist-turned poet, has said he is trapped in Ireland because of an attempt to extradite him to France where he faces 25 years in jail for allegedly murdering a French film-maker, Sophie Toscan du Plantier.
A high court in Dublin will hold a hearing on Monday into a European arrest warrant issued by a Paris court, the latest twist in a legal saga over Ireland’s most notorious unsolved murder.
Continue reading...The Guardian,
A Cheech & Chong style Big Ben bong | Brief letters
Kim-Joy bakes | Supermarket refills | Bongs | Marmalade
I am as in touch with my inner six-year-old as the next person, but I nevertheless rejoiced when I thought you had moved on from Kim-Joy bakes (G2, 16 January) but no, she is back and offering us lemon tarts decorated with emoji. Honestly, it’s fine; I am happy to eat cake without a face.
Julia Draper
Bath
• My daughter and I were surprised to see Kim-Joy’s column interrupted by David Atherton’s “fit food” (G2, 9 January). His flapjacks could definitely be improved by icing cute faces on them ;-).
Frances and Juliet Clark
Twickenham, London
The Guardian,
Paris transport set to return to normal as rail union suspends strike
Union says members need to recharge after 45 days of industrial action
Paris’s strike-hit public transport network is expected to return to near normal this week after the city’s main rail union voted to go back to work.
The decision to suspend industrial action from Monday follows six weeks of road and rail chaos since transport staff walked out as part of national protests over pension reforms in December.
Continue reading...The Guardian,
Police fire teargas as gilets jaunes protests return to Paris
Clashes come on 45th day of strike with 59 arrests and claims police beat protester
French police fired teargas under a rain of projectiles, used stun grenades and arrested dozens of people on Saturday as thousands of “yellow vest” anti-government protesters returned to the streets of Paris.
Demonstrators shouted slogans denouncing the police, the president, Emmanuel Macron, and his pension reforms that have triggered the longest French transport strike in decades.
Related: Macron wants not just reform but to change the way France thinks | John Lichfield
Continue reading...The Guardian,
Rent rises force revered LGBT bookshop out of Paris's gay district
Les Mots à La Bouche’s move from the Marais shows loss of cultural heritage, activists say
In the window of France’s best-known gay bookshop, above the display of Lucian Freud art books, opera singer Maria Callas’s memoirs and a history of the Pride movement, a poster warns in giant red letters: “Cultural heritage in danger.” An urgent note on the door adds: “We need your help!”
Les Mots à La Bouche, a 40-year-old Paris institution, is the top LGBT bookshop in France and considered one of the best in the world – a focal point of Paris’s historic gay neighbourhood in the Marais district. But as property speculation in central Paris reaches dizzying heights – it is estimated that at certain times of year there are more Airbnb rentals than residents in the Marais – the bookshop is being forced out by rising rents.
Continue reading...The Guardian,
UK issues commemorative coin celebrating rock band Queen
Britain's Royal Mint has issued its first commemorative coin featuring a British rock group, in a tribute to the late Freddie Mercury and the three other band members of Queen.
Reuters,
Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston celebrate at SAG Awards
The former couple briefly reunite backstage after receiving prizes from the Screen Actors Guild.
BBC News,
Emily Eavis to get the NME's Godlike Genius award
She gets the honour 24 years after her father, who set up the Glastonbury Festival in 1970.
BBC News,
Madonna cancels Lisbon show: 'I must listen to my body'
"I must listen to my body and rest," the star tells fans in Lisbon, Portugal.
BBC News,
Dancing On Ice: Caprice and Hamish 'part ways'
The skating couple have separated - and fans want to know why.
BBC News,
Let's not project our feelings onto Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt
Jennifer Aniston and Brad Pitt shared a few laughs and showed common courtesy at the SAG Awards. Now there are calls for the friendly exes to reunite.
CNN,
'Parasite' opens important door for foreign language films with SAG win
In the end, the infectious draw of "Parasite" won over the members of the Screen Actors Guild.
CNN,
'Parasite' scores upset at SAG awards, boosting Oscar chances
South Korean thriller "Parasite" was the upset winner at the Screen Actors Guild awards on Sunday, while Joaquin Phoenix and Renee Zellweger were named best actors, cementing their roles as frontrunners at the Oscars next month.
Reuters,
France’s Unofficial Minister for Fashion Isn’t Afraid of a Redesign
First, Brune Poirson spearheaded a law banning destruction of unsold goods. Now she’s part of the team taking on the ‘handbag war.’
The New York Times,
Inside Prada’s Pop-Up Private Club
The hottest trend in fashion doesn’t have anything to do with product.
The New York Times,
Pablo Neruda Saved Thousands of War Refugees. Isabel Allende Imagines Two of Them.
Based on true events around the Spanish Civil War, Allende’s novel “A Long Petal of the Sea” explores the lives of exiles.
The New York Times,
What’s on TV Monday: ‘Honeyland’ and ‘Accept the Call’
A Sundance favorite comes to Hulu. And a new documentary is on PBS.
The New York Times,
‘Emojiland’ Review: There’s a Rom-Com in Your Phone. With Music.
Everybody’s on hand, from a variety of Smileys to Nerd Face, and from Princess to Pile of Poo.
The New York Times,
Review: Shakespeare’s ‘Timon’ Gets an Occupy Athens Makeover
Kathryn Hunter stars as the fabulously rich Greek who understands the corrupting value of money only after she loses it.
The New York Times,
A Small Step for Space Force Is Not a Giant Leap for Uniform Design
The unveiling of the new military branch’s name tape — “U.S. Space Force,” embroidered in blue — was overshadowed by reactions to its familiar camouflage uniform.
The New York Times,
Barty storms into second round after stuttering start
World number one Ash Barty made a stuttering start to her bid to end the host nation's 42-year wait for an Australian Open champion before rallying to beat Ukraine's Lesia Tsurenko 5-7 6-1 6-1 on Rod Laver Arena on Monday.
Reuters,
Nadal begins Australian Open campaign against Dellien
Spain's Rafa Nadal will begin his quest for a 20th Grand Slam title against Bolivia's Hugo Dellien at the Australian Open on Tuesday, while organizers are confident a rain-hit opening day will not hold up the tournament.
Reuters,
N.B.A. Midseason Power Rankings: The Clippers Have Room to Improve
Their two stars, Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, have played just 18 games together.
The New York Times,
Gauff completes double eclipse of Venus
Coco Gauff shone on her Australian Open debut on Monday as she knocked Venus Williams out of the first round in a repeat of her stunning victory over the seven-times Grand Slam champion in the Wimbledon opener last year.
Reuters,
Childhood Obesity Is a Major Problem. Research Isn’t Helping.
Something is missing with many study methods.
The New York Times,
It’s Fish vs. Dams, and the Dams Are Winning
Thousands of dams across New York, many abandoned, are blocking fish migrations. A movement to remove them is growing.
The New York Times,
SpaceX’s Explosive Test May Launch Year of Renewed Human Spaceflight
A NASA program could be ready to launch astronauts to orbit once again, and the number of people traveling to space could surge.
The New York Times,
SpaceX says 'picture perfect' test paves way for human mission
Elon Musk's SpaceX simulated a successful emergency landing on Sunday in a dramatic test of a crucial abort system on an unmanned astronaut capsule, a big step its mission to fly NASA astronauts for the first time as soon as this spring.
Reuters,
SpaceX completes emergency crew capsule escape
The US company demonstrates how it would rescue astronauts during a failing rocket launch.
BBC News,
Trump’s China Deal Creates Collateral Damage for Tech Firms
Micron secured some gains from the China deal but it may end up suffering bigger losses from the broader U.S.-China battle.
The New York Times,
Unmasking a Company That Wants to Unmask Us All
I reported on an app, created by the company Clearview AI, that can identify people in seconds using a trove of photos collected from across the web.
The New York Times,
Europe-wide traffic survey to recruit 'citizen scientists'
Unique vehicle-counting sensors will be placed in 1,500 homes across Europe.
BBC News,
EU industry chief: EU ready to act on digital tax, if OECD fails
European industrial policy chief Thierry Breton said on Monday that if discussions at the OECD level on taxation for digital companies such as Amazon or Google do not bear fruit, the European Union will take action.
Reuters,
Israel securities regulator eyes rule changes for digital platforms
Israel's markets watchdog said on Monday the authority would make regulatory changes to adapt to technological innovations such as digital markets.