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  • Michael Cohen trial: Trump ex-legal professional ‘happy’ to aid Russia probe

    Interviewed by way of MSNBC on Tuesday night, Mr Davis stated he didn’t recognize if Cohen had been approached through the Mueller inquiry however that his shopper had been “liberated” by means of admitting guilt.

    “From this element on, you might be going to look a liberated Michael Cohen talking fact to energy,” he stated.

    Why used to be hush money paid?

    Image copyright Getty Images Image caption From left: Michael Cohen, Donald Trump, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal

    Porn megastar Stormy Daniels said she had been paid $ONE HUNDRED THIRTY,000 (£A HUNDRED AND ONE,000) by means of Cohen simply days prior to the 2016 election to maintain quiet about an affair she says she had a decade earlier with Mr Trump.

    Cohen also recorded a conversation with Mr Trump two months earlier than the election wherein they discussed buying the rights to a kiss-and-tell story by former Playboy type Karen McDougal who says she had an affair with Mr Trump.

    McDougal apologises for ‘Trump affair’ Michael Cohen: Trump’s pit bull

    Undisclosed bills to bury embarrassing stories a couple of political candidate can also be treated as a violation folks campaign finance rules.

    Media playback is unsupported to your instrument

    Media captionCNN reporter asks Mr Trump about Michael Cohen back in July

    Clearly regarding Mr Trump, Cohen told the court in Ny that he had been directed by means of “a candidate for federal place of work” to wreck federal election laws.

    He additionally admitted to tax and financial institution fraud in his plea handle prosecutors, which can see his prison sentence reduced from 65 years to five years and three months.

    Could Trump be attempted?

    Mr Trump has admitted reimbursing Cohen for paying one among the women, having in advance denied any knowledge of it.

    But Rudy Giuliani, a attorney for Mr Trump, instructed newshounds there have been “no allegation of any wrongdoing towards the president” in the charges towards Cohen.

    In any case, Mr Trump is not likely to face criminal fees as long as he is still president, felony professionals say.

    What is imaginable is that he might be sacked via Congress below the us constitution’s provision for impeaching a president over “top crimes and misdemeanours”.

    For that to happen, Mr Trump’s opponents in the Democratic Birthday Party may need to win control of each houses.

    How simple is it to question a president?

    even supposing they did neatly in the mid-time period elections in November, they would probably need to convince individuals of Mr Trump’s Republicans to modify aspects over the problem.

    No US president has ever been removed from administrative center at the basis of impeachment.

    (more…)

  • Downing Boulevard drops penny-pinching plan

    1p and 2p coins

    Downing Boulevard has backed away from a plan to scrap copper coins.

    The prime minister’s spokesman mentioned there were “no proposals to scrap 1 or 2p coins”.

    The Treasury has been consulting at the mixture of cash in move as card and digital bills acquire popularity.

    Theresa May’s spokesman stated: “The consultation’s call for proof was once simply supposed to assist the government better understand the function of money and digital bills.

    “one among the elements was once whether the denominational mixture of cash meets the general public want. From the early reaction it appears as if it does.”

    Eight uses in your 1p and 2p cash

    Many nations together with Australia, Brazil, Canada and Sweden have ditched their low denomination cash.

    The Treasury session document mentioned that 1p and 2p cash are scarcely used.

    It says that surveys suggest six in 10 of UK 1p and 2p coins are only used as soon as sooner than being put in a jar or discarded, at the same time as one in 12 is thrown right into a bin.

  • Police hunt for tourists who stripped off in Rome fountain

    A photo of two foreign tourists frolicking in the fountain, taken from the Roma Fa Schifo twitter feed with permission Symbol copyright @RomaFaSchifo/Twitter

    Two English-talking vacationers who’re being hunted by means of police for stripping off in a enormous Italian fountain had been called “idiots” by the u . s . a .’s deputy top minister.

    The men had been filmed frolicking within the fountain in Piazza Venezia in Rome, with one flattening his underwear and posing for images.

    The photos has sparked outrage and their behaviour known as “ignorant”.

    Italian deputy PM Matteo Salvini said: “Italy isn’t their house rest room”.

    The video, printed on a weblog in Rome, shows the pair of their underpants grinning and bathing within the fountain on the Altare della Patria, a monument in honour of the primary king of Italy after the country’s unification.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption The Altare della Patria is sometimes nicknamed “the marriage cake”

    the 2 men snicker and comic story with each other within the water, ahead of one pulls down his undies and smiles for the digicam.

    Some passers-by means of snort and take photographs, even if others will also be observed shaking their head and appearing to tell the two males to get out of the fountain.

    The local police stated the incident, which took place on Sunday, was “illegal and offensive” and it was once looking to find the 2 men.

    It said the 2 persons are international and “native English audio system”.

    Skip Facebook put up by Corpo di Polizia Locale di Roma Capitale

    Piazza Venezia, oltraggio a Milite Ignoto #decorourbano #tutelapatrimonio In merito ai fatti accaduti ieri in piazza…

    Posted by way of Corpo di Polizia Locale di Roma Capitale on Monday, 20 August 2018

    File

    Finish of Fb post by way of Corpo di Polizia Locale di Roma Capitale

    ‘Lack of respect’

    Matteo Salvini, the united states of america’s deputy prime minister, tweeted: “i will be able to know how to educate these idiots if they are caught.

    “Italy isn’t their home toilet.”

    Meanwhile, Rome’s deputy mayor Luca Bergamo said he condemns their behaviour, which he mentioned “offends each and every folks, the memory of our usa and the fallen, to whom the monument is dedicated”.

    “We’re confronted with a behaviour that denotes stupidity and lack of expertise, lack of appreciate for the historical past of Rome and Italy.

    “As Soon As recognized through the native police, who is actively running to trace them down, they’ll get the maximum punishment conceivable”.

    Earlier this month, the Father Or Mother pronounced that a combat broke out between vacationers as they queued for a “easiest selfie” at Rome’s Trevi Fountain.

  • Peter Dutton: The ex-policeman who nearly ousted Australia’s PM

    Peter Dutton stands in front of a media pack after his failed challenge on Tuesday Symbol copyright AFP/Getty Pictures Image caption Peter Dutton speaks to reporters after his failed challenge on Tuesday

    Australian Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton has narrowly didn’t take hold of the top ministership from Malcolm Turnbull.

    Mr Dutton, who lost an internal birthday party vote 35-48, is a polarising figure whose ministerial tasks had been last year elevated into a tremendous portfolio – giving him substantial power.

    He is a more hardline conservative than Mr Turnbull and is better known for overseeing Australia’s difficult and controversial policies on asylum seekers.

    Mr Dutton alluded to such perceptions in a press briefing after his failed leadership problem on Tuesday.

    “it is just right to be in entrance of the cameras the place i will be able to smile and maybe display a distinct aspect,” he stated.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption A protest about offshore detention in Sydney in July

    On The Grounds That then, Mr Dutton has been responsible for coping with a few of Australia’s such a lot divisive policies – together with offshore detention for asylum seekers and refugees.

    Canberra sends all asylum seekers who arrive by way of boat to islands within the Pacific and provides them no prospect of settling in Australia.

    Australia ‘should transfer children off Nauru’ What happens if a refugee will get unwell? Australia asylum: Why it’s debatable

    The policy has continuously drawn complaint from the UN and human rights groups, but Australia has insisted it saves lives at sea.

    Mr Dutton advised Fairfax Media in 2017: “That Is a tricky portfolio… but i get a lot of professional pride out of it.”

    His reputation as a competent and revered minister throughout the govt earned him a new tremendous-portfolio according to the uk House Office remaining year. As Well As to immigration and border protection, Mr Dutton took on duty for all of Australia’s family national security agencies.

    Along the way in which he become probably the most senior conservative in Mr Turnbull’s executive.

    Australia’s second-longest serving high minister, John Howard, has defined Mr Dutton as an impressive and capable politician.

    “He can clearly provide an explanation for and justify the federal government’s insurance policies in an efficient manner. He Is an overly just right communicator,” Mr Howard informed the Courier Mail last yr (paywall).

    Controversy and gaffes

    In 2015 Mr Dutton was once extensively criticised for making light of emerging sea ranges affecting Pacific Island countries, after he was once stuck on camera joking approximately “water lapping at your door”.

    A yr later, political journalist Samantha Maiden revealed Mr Dutton had referred to as her a “mad expletive witch” in a text message. Mr Dutton later apologised.

    Symbol copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Australians hearken to a historical apology to the Stolen Generations in 2008

    He used to be also among a number of politicians who boycotted Australia’s 2008 nationwide apology to the Stolen Generations – a reputation given to tens of thousands of Aboriginal children who had been forcibly taken from their households under infamous government policies until 1970.

    Stolen Generations apology ‘gave me peace’

    Mr Dutton defended himself by means of announcing the apology would not ship “tangible results” for kids today. On The Other Hand, he later mentioned he had overpassed the apology’s significance.

    In January, he controversially urged people in Melbourne have been “scared to head out in restaurants” as a result of African Australian boulevard gangs – a part of wider observation that drew allegations of racist mischief-making.

    A common critic of the left and focus of its scorn, Mr Dutton has develop into a ubiquitous topic of memes. in a single famous example, his workforce asked for an “unflattering” Fairfax Media image – appearing Mr Dutton part in shadow – to be taken down. But Twitter wasn’t happy with this request and the picture went viral.

    Why he remains a PM contender

    Although Mr Dutton misplaced his leadership tilt, many observers expect that he may problem Mr Turnbull again – in all probability successfully.

    The drama of Tuesday used to be delivered to a head by way of successive poor opinion polls, a up to date by way of-election loss in Queensland, and government divisions over energy policy. Australia’s next election should happen by Would Possibly subsequent 12 months.

    Turnbull in local weather policy U-turn

    Some consider that Mr Dutton may just help pick up votes in his home state Queensland, which has a number of key marginal seats.

    Symbol copyright AFP/Getty Images Image caption Mr Turnbull (L) and Mr Dutton in parliament on Monday

    However others have speculated that Mr Dutton could value the government votes in more traditionally modern seats in other places in Australia.

    Outcry at ‘final solution’ speech Pauline Hanson wears burka in parliament the upward push of populist politics in Australia

    Mr Dutton has no longer dominated out every other problem.

    He said on Tuesday: “I Can work on a daily basis to be sure the Coalition is elected at the subsequent election.”

  • Debit card bills extra widespread than cash

    Cash and cards Symbol copyright Getty Images

    Debit card payments have overtaken money use for the primary time, new figures display, as contactless technology takes an organization hold on day-to-day spending.

    A general of 13.2 billion debit card payments had been made last yr, an increase of 14% at the previous yr, in step with banking business body UK Finance.

    That outstripped the 13.1 billion money payments made, as the use of notes and coins dropped by way of 15%.

    An anticipated 3.4 million other folks rarely used cash at all through the year.

    The annual record into the way customers make payments discovered that the united kingdom is a country of spontaneous spenders. Only 15% of the 38.8 billion payments made in the united kingdom in 2017 had been for regular expenses and commitments.

    Symbol copyright Getty Images

    At The flipside, there have been 2.2 million people who predominantly used money when buying groceries remaining 12 months.

    Debit card use could have overtaken money use faster than the industry anticipated, however notes and cash nonetheless had a very powerful position to play, in line with Stephen Jones, chief executive of UNITED KINGDOM Finance.

    “the choice of payment choices to be had in the united kingdom is permitting folks to select to pay the way in which that best suits them,” he mentioned.

    “But we are removed from turning into a cash-loose society and in spite of the united kingdom reworking to an financial system where money is less significant than it as soon as was once, it’ll remain a cost way that continues to be valued and most well-liked by way of many.”

    Image copyright Reuters Symbol caption Shoppers the usage of playing cards can be hit by IT disasters

    Adam Herson, a director at Barclaycard Cellular Payments, steered that card technology might an increasing number of be found in anything from watches to other “wearable” pieces.

    “Extra recently, we have noticed a surge within the use of wearable and mobile payments, growing new, enjoyable opportunities for each consumers and types. Shoppers are an increasing number of in a position to match their fee accent or software to their lifestyle or type style. we expect this build up in reputation to proceed for the foreseeable long run,” he mentioned.

    Alternatively, consumers vulnerability to disasters in generation were made transparent in latest IT problems – most significantly the shutdown in Visa services and products following a hardware failure which left Eu consumers not able to make some payments for several hours.

    At the time, earlier this month, Visa apologised and said the outage used to be not down to “unauthorised get entry to or a cyber assault”.

  • Scrapping 1p and 2p copper cash ‘won’t building up prices’

    1p and 2p coins

    Considered One Of essentially the most vociferous arguments made in opposition to scrapping 1p and 2p coins in the UNITED KINGDOM is that retail outlets may routinely spherical up prices.

    But analysis by way of Financial Institution of england economists says the worry of the whole lot turning into more expensive would be unfounded if coppers have been ditched.

    It says card bills make the issue inappropriate, and much fewer pieces at the moment are priced ending in 99p.

    The executive just lately dominated out scrapping coppers amid a backlash.

    In the chancellor’s Spring Statement, a Treasury consultation in regards to the mix of coins in movement appeared to pave the way in which for the end of 1p and 2p cash.

    Penny definitions

    Lovely penny: considerable sum of money Penny dropped: one thing was once after all understood Penny-dreadful: an inexpensive, frequently lurid, ebook or mag Penny-pinching: miserly Penny-sensible: Careful and thrifty in small matters

    Source: Collins English Dictionary

    That Treasury session defined that surveys prompt six in 10 of UNITED KINGDOM 1p and 2p coins have been most effective used once before being installed a jar or discarded, even as one in 12 used to be thrown right into a bin.

    The worth of the 1p coin has additionally been lowered through inflation so, in impact, the 1p coin is now value less than the halfpenny whilst it used to be abolished in 1984.

    Among a lot of folks who strengthen the continued use of copper coins, the realization is that outlets may merely round up costs to the closest 5p if copper cash have been scrapped.

    Writing on the Financial Institution of england’s blog, Bank Underground, Marilena Angeli and Jack Which Means argue that – even if this came about – it might have little or no effect on the cost of dwelling, as measured by inflation.

    The finish of £1.99?

    They stated that many of us bought greater than one merchandise at a time. By Way Of the time 3 pieces had been bought, any impact of rounding on prices would be negated.

    Secondly, they argued that the expansion of non-cash payments – specifically contactless playing cards – supposed that consumers could still be charged the precise quantity when paying by card.

    Thirdly, the duo quoted figures showing that only 12% of prices ended with 99p, with a falling choice of items now priced at, say, £1.99.

    Debit card payments extra standard than cash Who do you consider after money?

    many nations – including Canada, the house of Bank of england governor Mark Carney – have ditched their low denomination cash. Australia, Brazil, and Sweden are among many others to do so.

    Various studies from across the international showed that taking away low denomination cash might have little or no impact on costs, Ms Angeli and Mr Which Means wrote.

    “As inflation regularly erodes the buying power of low denomination coinage, the case for its elimination becomes more potent,” the Financial Institution of england economists conclude.

    “that is now not a new phenomenon and has been noticed time and once more, the world over. Even in the UK there may be a precedent with the abolition of the halfpenny in 1984.

    “a lot of the arguments that had been made in the early 1980s across the inflationary have an effect on of removing that exact tiny coin are being made now. On The Other Hand, the proof, including our own paintings on UK value information indicates they are unfounded.”

    the realization doesn’t form part of Bank of england coverage, but is printed on the Financial Institution’s blog aimed at “sharing views that problem – or support – winning policy orthodoxies”.

  • Councils’ care spending spirals as other services and products minimize

    Children walking with parent Image copyright AFP/Getty Symbol caption Spending on children’s products and services is expanding at the same time as different areas are being cut back

    The plight of Northamptonshire County Council has highlighted the perilous financial state of local authorities.

    One of the important thing pressures they face is the fee of taking care of kids and inclined adults – which has been spiralling as services and products in other places are cut back.

    Ahead of latest legitimate figures that are anticipated to turn extra overspending, the BBC has been the way it is playing out at the floor.

    Money-problem council backs ‘radical’ cuts 2D council cuts products and services to ‘minimum’

    Suzannah Marland-Griffiths says it is excellent to “have a few days” to “take a while to grieve” when the child young children she fosters move on.

    However not too long ago each time a child has left, they’ve taken some other one in nearly instantly. “Over the ultimate couple of years it is pretty much been one in, one out,” she says.

    the price of taking care of those youngsters falls to native councils. And the rise fashionable is costing them dear. A BBC research of council spending displays that during 2016-17 they spent £640m greater than they would planned on handing over kid’s products and services.

    Five years ago, the overspend was less than £100m, and it’s higher once a year since.

    And that overspend has a real affect, both at the other services and products councils ship – and on their very viability.

    Councils are required, through law, to stability their budgets, that means they should not spend more money than they have got available in any given year.

    Northamptonshire County Council, which broke that regulation ultimate yr, spent £120m more than it had planned on kid’s services among 2013 and 2016.

    ‘Going bust’

    Earlier this month it announced plans to make “radical provider reductions” value as a lot as £70m by way of subsequent April as it attempts to circumvent some other breach of the regulation.

    And Jonathan Carr-West, leader govt of the non-partisan Local Govt Data Unit assume tank, warns that overspending on social services and products could push more government to the brink.

    “If we proceed to look the velocity of overspend we’re recently seeing in children’s products and services and adult social products and services we can see councils going bust,” he says.

    Symbol caption Deep cuts to budgets at Northamptonshire County Council have angered residents

    “Over the longer term, we can’t sustain that overspend. Councils will simply run out of money.”

    In March, the Nationwide Audit Place Of Job warned that greater than 15 local government would run out of reserves within three years if they drew them down at the similar charge as they did throughout 2016-17.

    And in Oldham, the council has – for the primary time – had to take vital sums of money out of its reserves in each and every of the earlier two years so as to steadiness its books.

    Last year it took £3.5m out of its savings account at the same time as the year before it withdrew £6.5m.

    ‘Deterioration’

    And the council’s Labour chief, Sean Fielding, says price range pressures mean it’s having to make cuts to products and services to boot and “folks will get started to look a deterioration in their services”.

    Cllr Fielding says that “for a protracted time” the council “just were given on with it as a long way as lets”.

    However in 2016 it lowered the frequency of bin collections from fortnightly to each 3 weeks and, as he places it, “everybody kicked off”.

    Other councils have also diminished their spending on different services and products. Throughout England, spending on highways and transport – including road repairs – fell from £4.8bn to £4bn among 2012-13 and 2016-17.

    Spending on libraries fell from £825m to £670m – a drop of 23% – over the same length. By comparison spending on social services for kids and adults grew from £21 billion to £23 billion – an increase of 11%.

    The Division for Education stated it had made £200bn available to councils up to 2020 for native services.

    “We additionally supply an additional £270m for councils to increase enhancements in their carrier and create innovative programmes to improve the lives of those susceptible children,” it added.

    Many council leaders glance with fear at what’s took place in Northamptonshire this yr.

    They will, in fact, all the time prioritise the kind of inclined youngsters taken care of by way of Suzannah and Paul.

    However, if nothing adjustments, some may just soon in finding themselves struggling to do anything.

  • Freaky Friday actress Barbara Harris dies aged 83

    Barbara Harris and Bruce Dern Symbol copyright Getty Pictures Symbol caption Barbara Harris and Bruce Dern in Family Plot

    Actress Barbara Harris has died of lung most cancers at the age of 83.

    The star’s film credit come with the original Freaky Friday, launched in 1976, and Family Plot – Alfred Hitchcock’s ultimate film.

    Her occupation began on level as part of the second one Town comedy troupe in Chicago, which lead her to Broadway.

    She received the best actress Tony award in 1967 for her performance in the Apple Tree, and used to be also nominated in 1965 for On a clear Day You Can See Forever.

    Harris’s former Family Plot co-star Bruce Dern tweeted: “With the passing of Barbara Harris today, our technology misplaced its precise female comedian genius and a lady for the ages.”

    Apply us on Facebook, on Twitter @BBCNewsEnts, or on Instagram at bbcnewsents. when you have a narrative suggestion e-mail entertainment.news@bbc.co.uk.

  • Extra protection wanted for Chinese pangolins

    Pangolins are the world's most trafficked mammals Image copyright Getty Photographs Image caption Pangolins are the world’s so much trafficked mammals

    Pangolins should be thought to be a most sensible precedence for conservation in China, with nature reserves arrange in key mountain habitats.

    That’s the message of scientists finding out the decline of the scaly mammals in jap China.

    Pangolins, or scaly anteaters, are regarded as to be the world’s so much trafficked wild mammal.

    Analysis found numbers had dropped through more than 50% over 3 a long time for the reason that 1970s.

    The animals are poached in Asia and Africa for their meat and likewise for their scales, which might be sought after for use in conventional drugs.

    Symbol copyright Getty Images Image caption Officials sort smuggled skinless pangolin bodies seized by means of customs in Jiangmen, Guangdong Province of China

    The scientists are calling for a monitoring network to be established in the house at the side of education to encourage area people to take part in pangolin protection projects.

    Eight species of pangolin are discovered on two continents. All are secure beneath national and global rules, however the unlawful world business in pangolins is continuing.

    The Chinese pangolin is certainly one of four species found in Asia and is indexed as “significantly endangered” by means of the Global Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

    It is found from the Himalayan foothills of Nepal down through southern China to Hainan, Taiwan and Hong Kong.

    Follow Helen on Twitter.

  • Why the Kerala floods proved so fatal

    Image copyright Reuters Image caption An aerial view of partly submerged homes in Kerala

    It used to be only whilst the floods peaked final week that water from greater than 80 dams was released.

    “it’s transparent that major dams in the state – like Idukki and Idamalayar – best launched water when Kerala was once in the throes of heavy flooding, which in fact proved so as to add further distress to the situation,” Mr Thakkar mentioned,

    He introduced that dam operators had had enough time to free up water when it used to be quite dry, which might have helped save you a few of the damage.

    Troops rush in to assist rescue efforts Images after worst deluge in a century

    An review through the federal executive earlier this yr found that Kerala used to be a few of the 10 states such a lot at risk of flooding.

    The state’s administration is accused of now not having taken the required steps to decrease the flooding possibility.

    Image copyright AFP Image caption The flooding is the worst the state has seen in 100 years

    Experts say the federal executive may be guilty as a result of Kerala will get no early flood caution from the Important Water Commission (CWC), the one govt company accepted to do so.

    “The unheard of floods and dam water releases additionally carry the questions about flood forecasting and improve action by the CWC,” Mr Thakkar mentioned.

    “we’re surprised to seek out that the company has completely no flood forecasting web sites. It has handiest flood monitoring websites in Kerala,” he introduced. “It’s prime time that the CWC includes some key dams like Idukki and Idamalayar and some key locations in its flood forecasting.”

    Kerala recorded more than 37% extra rainfall in exactly -and-a-half months, while within the earlier that has happened inside the monsoon season which usually lasts approximately four months.

    Such heavy rainfall in a short space of time additionally brought on landslides that killed many of us. Environmentalists say deforestation is responsible for this.

    Image copyright Getty Photographs Symbol caption Hundreds of hundreds of people are living in emergency reduction camps

    A Few portions of Kerala have been marooned because wetlands and lakes that acted as natural safeguards in opposition to floods have disappeared as a result of rampant urbanisation and development of infrastructure.

    Heavy rains in 2015 within the southern town of Chennai killed a minimum of 70 other folks because of shoddy city planning.

    But mavens say the havoc that floods have wreaked in Kerala this time has brought some other size to the crisis: danger from dams.

    If they’re no longer well controlled and if rains proceed to be erratic, as expected through climate amendment scientists, a disaster of this scale is likely to occur extra frequently than as soon as in a century.

    (more…)