Extinction Rebellion: Activists begin two weeks of London protests 'targeting root cause of climate crisis' - Sky News

Extinction Rebellion has begun two weeks of climate protests in London with activists demanding the government stops new investment in fossil fuels.

The campaign group expects thousands of people will take part in their "Impossible Rebellion", which will "target the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis".

The protests began on Monday morning, with activists gathering at Trafalgar Square, in what is its fifth mass demonstration.

Gail Bradbrook, the group's co-founder, gave a speech expressing solidarity with nations that are disproportionately affected by climate change.

Image: Four people were dressed as the sea in a warning over rising ocean levels

Campaigners held placards with messages including "Code red, where's the action" while four people were dressed as the sea in a warning over rising ocean levels.

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Activists have scheduled demonstrations at St James' Park, and Piccadilly Circus - similar to those carried out in 2019.

More protests are expected to take place in north and south London.

More on Extinction Rebellion

The Metropolitan Police will put in place a "significant" operation to manage the demonstrations over the bank holiday weekend, but acknowledged the activists are tackling an "important cause".

Image: Climate activists in central London

In a statement, Extinction Rebellion said it will "take to the streets again, with plans to disrupt the City of London to target the root cause of the climate and ecological crisis - the political economy".

The disruption will continue until the government agrees to stop all new fossil fuel investment, it said.

Bring a table, bring a chair, bring your rage, bring your love, bring your hope and despair and get yourself to Trafalgar Square. There’s Rebellion in the air.

The ⏳is NOW.

Demand The Impossible. pic.twitter.com/ZSilYjE6ci

— Extinction Rebellion UK 🌍 (@XRebellionUK) August 23, 2021

Extinction Rebellion has garnered support from celebrities, including comedian Stephen Fry and Game Of Thrones actor Jerome Flynn.

Fry praised the group on Twitter for attempting to "make politicians really recalibrate, realign, revolutionise politics" through their "mucky" and "disruptive" demonstrations.

And Flynn, who played Bronn in Game Of Thrones, attended a protest on Sunday at the Guildhall building in central London, where three activists scaled the entrance of the building.

Image: The disruption will continue until the government agrees to stop all new fossil fuel investment, the group said

Around 200 people were there, as the trio sprayed red spray over the walls of the building and unfurled a banner reading "co-liberation freedom together".

The Game Of Thrones actors said it was "more urgent than ever" for people to take a stand.

"We've got used to certain systems that are life destructive, we created them, we've become addicted to them and we know the world is burning as a result," he said.

Image: The climate campaign group is planning two weeks of protests

"It feels needed and more poignant and more urgent than ever to come together.

"It's time to collaborate, there are so many things that are trying to polarise us and pull us apart."

A total of nine people were arrested on Sunday at the protest, the Met Police said.

Image: Actor Jerome Flynn has praised the group and was seen at a protest on Sunday

Three people were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and a further five for conspiracy to cause criminal damage.

Another person was detained for going equipped to cause criminal damage and all nine are held in police custody.

Image: Around 200 people attended a protest at the Guildhall building in London on Sunday - with police making nine arrests

On the upcoming protests, the Met's deputy assistant commissioner Matt Twist said: "We've got a significant operation in place lead by an experienced command team to effectively provide a proportionate response to what is going to be a protracted demonstration over two weeks.

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"We understand why this is such an important cause, no one is oblivious to that, what we don't want is for people who are protesting to impact on the rights of others.

"We don't want serious disruption caused to London - the August bank holiday is one of the busiest of the year and we know this will mean officers are extracted from their local boroughs and brought into the centre of London to deal with this protest."

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2021-08-23 12:33:44Z
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Officers mobilised as Extinction Rebellion protests kick off in Trafalgar Square - The Times

About 500 people turned up to Trafalgar Square this morning for the start of Extinction Rebellion’s latest protest as police warned that the group’s actions would divert resources and hinder efforts to tackle violent crime.

The climate change activists had claimed last week that thousands would take part in what it said would be two weeks of protests mainly targeting the City of London.

Police officers lined Whitehall, guarding the front of government departments. Territorial Support Group vans were also on hand. The unit is typically deployed to deal with major incidents such as terror attacks and riots.

Extinction Rebellion is demanding that the government halts new investment in fossil fuels

TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JACK HILL

The protest began with activists saying a Creole prayer to mark the 230th anniversary of the Haitian revolution that overthrew French colonial rule.

Drawing comparisons between colonial

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2021-08-23 11:00:00Z
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Afghanistan: Every minute counts, says UK minister - BBC News

Reuters

"Every minute counts" when it comes to evacuating people from Afghanistan, the UK's armed forces minister has said.

James Heappey said the UK was working to get people out by 31 August, when US troops withdraw - though the prime minister is expected to ask President Joe Biden to extend that deadline.

Mr Heappey said evacuations had been made possible by the presence of US troops and Taliban co-operation.

But he said the UK was "taking nothing for granted" with the militants.

Boris Johnson will ask Mr Biden to extend the deadline in order to allow evacuation flights to continue when they meet at an emergency gathering of world leaders from the G7 countries on Tuesday.

Mr Heappey told BBC Breakfast that 6,631 people had been evacuated in the past week, and there would be nine flights over the next 24 hours.

He said this would not be possible without the US, which "has effectively taken over the full operation" at the airport.

"If there is no opportunity to extend [the deadline] - either because there's not the international appetite to do so, or perhaps more likely the Taliban are unwilling to allow us to - then we need to continue with our plans to be out by 31 August," he said.

"If that is to be the case, every minute counts to get as many people out in the meantime."

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2021-08-23 07:42:06Z
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Westminster murder victims, 45 and 58, were both stabbed in the neck - Daily Mail

Revealed: Westminster murder victims, 45 and 59, were both stabbed in the neck as police step up hunt for 49-year-old man

• Murders of Clinton Ashmore and Sharon Pickles in London 'linked', police say 
• Met Police detectives said both victims died from a stab wound to the neck 
• 'Urgently' hunting Lee Peacock, 49, who police say knew both the victims  

By Rory Tingle, Home Affairs Correspondent For Mailonline

Published: 07:31 BST, 23 August 2021 | Updated: 08:26 BST, 23 August 2021

The victims of a double murder at two separate addresses in Westminster were both stabbed in the neck, police said today, as officers stepped up their 'urgent' hunt for a 49-year-old man. 

Scotland Yard believes the murders of 59-year-old Clinton Ashmore and 45-year-old Sharon Pickles were linked. 

Officers were called at 9.30pm last Thursday to a flat in Ashbridge Street where they found the body of Ms Pickles. 

Scotland Yard believes the murders of 59-year-old Clinton Ashmore (left) and 45-year-old Sharon Pickles (right) were linked

At 2.15am on Friday police were called to an address in nearby Jerome Crescent after reports of a stabbing. There they found Mr Ashmore's body. 

The Met said in a statement the two incidents were being treated as linked and both died from a stab wound to the neck.

Detectives have issued an 'urgent' appeal for information about 49-year-old Lee Peacock who they wanted to locate and speak to about the murders.  

Police believe he knew both Ms Pickles and Mr Ashmore. The Met asks anyone who sees Peacock to phone 999 but not approach him. 

Scotland Yard said of the two victims: 'Their families have been informed and are being supported by specialist officers.'

On Friday, detectives issued an 'urgent' appeal for information about 49-year-old Lee Peacock (pic)  who they wanted to locate and speak to about the murders.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, from the Met's Specialist Crime Command, said: 'Firstly my thoughts are with the families of Sharon and Clinton. This is a shocking crime and we will not rest until we bring the person or persons responsible to justice.

'Key to that is finding Lee Peacock. We believe he knew both victims and urgently need to locate him to talk to him about their murders.

'We have a team of detectives working around the clock to find him, but so far they have been unable to locate him.

'I would urge anybody who knows his whereabouts to contact police immediately by calling 999.

'If seen, we would urge the public not to approach him, but to contact police as soon as possible.'

Information can also be provided to Crimestoppers, anonymously, by calling 0800 555 111. 

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2021-08-23 06:31:55Z
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Afghanistan: US decision to withdraw lays bare a not so special relationship - BBC News

Getty Images

A couple of evenings ago with Afghanistan unravelling into chaos, I was thinking about a piece I want to do to mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11. And so I went on a trip down memory lane and listened back to George W Bush's joint address to Congress following those attacks on American soil (don't tell me I don't know how to have fun).

One particular member of the audience was singled out for huge praise and even greater applause at this sombre moment in US history - and that person was the then-British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Mr Blair was - is - a great believer in the special relationship.

Often, he is criticised for being too slavish in the importance he attaches to it. He was deft (or supine, depending on your viewpoint) in moving from his warm embrace of liberal Bill Clinton to Christian conservative, George W Bush. And too acquiescent (or pusillanimous, depending on your viewpoint) in going along with American ventures, notably the invasion of Iraq.

Even after he had left office, when Barack Obama and then Donald Trump were in the White House, if Mr Blair had criticism to deliver, it would be layered in so much code you would need the World War Two geniuses of Bletchley Park to decipher it.

So I nearly choked on my Sunday morning granola bowl when I saw that he had used the word "imbecilic" to describe the justification for Joe Biden's Afghanistan policy. He didn't actually call the US president an imbecile, but someone as media cute as Mr Blair would have known it would be written up as though he had. And sure enough the headlines were: "Blair calls Biden imbecilic."

Of course, he stopped being prime minister 14 years ago, and so can say whatever he likes. But you can be sure that if he had been prime minister he would never have dared go into public prints with such a verdict. Not a chance. That's not how the special relationship works. But I bet that is what Boris Johnson would love to be able to say. Indeed, there are reports circulating - strongly denied by Downing Street (of course) - that that is pretty much what he has said about Mr Biden's handling of this shocking US-made Afghan crisis.

There are arguably many reasons to complain about the UK prime minister's handling on any number of issues, and I have read from a distance of 3,000 miles the brickbats that have been aimed at Boris Johnson over Afghanistan - but frankly, on this one, he never stood much of a chance.

Now this isn't me going soft, or in any way being an apologist for Mr Johnson. But from Washington, where I am writing, it is just a statement of realpolitik. It is a statement of the reality of the "special relationship", which when push comes to shove - and when America is feeling cornered - isn't so very special.

• The US military plane carrying Afghans to safety
• Where will all the Afghan refugees go?
• Danger lies on Kabul road to freedom

America acted unilaterally over Afghanistan - actually maybe that should be Joe Biden acted unilaterally. The administration was not much interested in what the UK thought. Mr Biden, from what I have been told, was not much interested in the red flags being raised by his intel community and military top brass, or by the warnings delivered from London. He wanted out. The warnings of HM Government - and my understanding is they were made strenuously - fell on deaf, indifferent ears in Washington.

In those circumstances - and let me depersonalise this - what is a British prime minister to do? If the 800lb gorilla is going to leave the room, what is the much smaller primate meant to do? The idea that the British armed forces could have swarmed in to fill the vacuum left by a US withdrawal is unrealistic.

Reuters

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) with the number of British servicemen and women in situ would have little option but to withdraw - or face heavy casualties that would have in all probability failed to stem the Taliban advance. In American football terms, the US had called the play; there was little for the British to do but fall into line.

And as I say, this isn't about the current incumbent of Downing Street, it's about any occupant of that famous address. Isn't it just a bit hubristic, vainglorious, to think that a British prime minister is going to stop a determined American president in his tracks? What was Boris Johnson meant to say? "I'm sorry Joe, I simply refuse to let you do this."

It has also been suggested in some sections of the British press that this would never have happened during the supposed acme of the "special relationship" when Ronald Reagan was in the White House and Margaret Thatcher was at Number 10. Are you kidding me? Does anyone remember what happened in the Caribbean island of Grenada, in 1983?

Getty Images

Then, the Cold War was at its height, the "domino theory" was still in place, and in America's backyard - there'd been a bit of a coup. Marxist plotters had captured and killed the prime minister. This required a response and the full force of US military might was unleashed in Operation Urgent Fury.

In Downing Street there was also urgent fury, and it was coming from Mrs Thatcher, ready to give a hand-bagging to anyone who got in her way. Ronald Reagan had not bothered to give her any kind of warning, even though Grenada was a Commonwealth country. It was humiliating for Britain and the Crown, and it gave the Labour opposition a field day. And the Americans were not much bothered.

It brought the memorable dig from the shadow Foreign Secretary, Denis Healey, in the Commons to Sir Geoffrey Howe (then the foreign secretary): "When America says jump, he says 'How high?'" The reality is that there is a deeper truth to that jibe.

• UK-US special relationship: A short history

Britain can be a restraining force, a moderating force, but rather like the complex constitutional relationship between the - elected - House of Commons and the - unelected - House of Lords, it is probably for the best to understand the junior partner power relationship between the mighty United States, and the far less mighty British.

And since World War Two there are endless examples: the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 skewed massively in America's favour when Churchill (and Britain) paid a heavy price for buying clapped out US warships; the Suez crisis, when the US - in effect - threatened to bankrupt Britain if it carried on with the military adventure with France and Israel in Egypt.

I could list countless other examples where America has ridden roughshod over British sensibilities. In the seven years I have been in Washington I have watched it up close - and it doesn't matter whether the president in the White House is Republican or Democrat: how much the British spend on defence as a proportion of GDP, whether we buy technology from Chinese telecommunications firms, what the Trump administration is going to do about Iran - and on and on.

Actually, because I am a saddo (as if you didn't know) and spend too much time reading diplomatic communiqués, I thought it noteworthy in the Downing Street read out of the call between Mr Biden and Mr Johnson last Tuesday evening, there was an implied rebuke of the US president, with a paragraph stressing that the progress of the past 20 years must not be lost. Mild to the point of insipid, I hear you say.

And you are right - not exactly a message from the British that is going to have Washington quaking in its boots. But what is?

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2021-08-23 03:56:59Z
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Woman, 45, and man, 59, died after their throats were slashed as cops warn public not to approach wanted... - The Sun

A WOMAN and man found murdered within five hours of each other had their throats slashed, cops say - as they urged the public not to approach a wanted man.

Detectives have launched a national manhunt for Lee Peacock, 49, after the deaths of Sharon Pickles, 45, and Clinton Ashmore, 59.

Police have named two people found dead within hours of each other last week as Sharon Pickles, 45, and Clinton Ashmore, 59Credit: Metropolitan Police

Both Sharon and Clinton had their throats slashed before they died - and police have launched a manhunt for Lee Peacock, 49Credit: Metropolitan Police

Sharon was found dead at a home in Ashbridge Street, Westminster shortly before 9.35pm on Thursday.

Hours later, at 2.15am on Friday, paramedics called police to report a stabbing in Jerome Crescent, north-west London.

Officers rushed to the scene - but despite the efforts of blue light workers, Clinton died at the scene.

Officials have now confirmed that both Sharon and Clinton were knifed in the neck.

Families of both victims are being supported by specially-trained PCs.

And despite a huge search for Peacock, he hasn't yet been found.

Detective Chief Inspector Wayne Jolley, from the Met’s Specialist Crime Command, said: “Firstly, my thoughts are with the families of Sharon and Clinton.

"This is a shocking crime and we will not rest until we bring the person or persons responsible to justice.

“Key to that is finding Lee Peacock.

"We believe he knew both victims and urgently need to locate him to talk to him about their murders.

“We have a team of detectives working around the clock to find him, but so far they have been unable to locate him.

"I would urge anybody who knows his whereabouts to contact police immediately by calling 999.

"If seen, we would urge the public not to approach him, but to contact police as soon as possible."

And he urged anyone who saw something suspicious in Ashbridge Street or Jerome Crescent on the night of the killings to come forward.

This is a shocking crime and we will not rest until we bring the person or persons responsible to justice

DCI Wayne Jolley

“No matter how small or insignificant you think your information might be, please do get in touch," he said.

Detective Chief Superintendent Owain Richards, who is based in Westminster, said residents will be "shocked and troubled by this news".

“Anyone who has concerns is encouraged to approach patrol officers," he said.

To speak to police, call 101, giving the reference 7227/19AUG.

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.

Members of the public have been urged not to approach PeacockCredit: Metropolitan Police

Sharon's body was found at a home in Westminster on Thursday nightCredit: LNP

Police have urged anyone with information to come forward urgently

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2021-08-23 05:55:00Z
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Coronavirus: Young people warn of long Covid amid jab drive - BBC News

NHS

Young people have shared stories of the debilitating effects of long Covid as they urge others to get jabbed.

A new NHS video features the experiences of three previously healthy people as part of a drive to encourage vaccine uptake.

It comes as the government says it has met its target of offering all 16 and 17-year-olds in England a Covid jab.

They are being invited to book an appointment with their GP or visit a walk-in centre.

More than 360,000 young people aged 16 to 17 in England have now been immunised.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said more than a million letters and texts were sent out in the three weeks since the age group became eligible for a jab.

All those aged 12 to 15 and considered at-risk in England have also been invited for a vaccination, the government said.

According to the latest figures, more than 47.6 million people in the UK - about 87% of over-16s - have now received at least one vaccine, with more than 41.6 million - 76% - having had both jabs.

On Sunday 32,253 new Covid cases were reported across the UK, as well as a further 49 deaths within 28 days of a positive test.

• What do young people need to know about the vaccine?
• Should all children get a vaccine?
• How many people have been vaccinated so far?
• What are the symptoms of long Covid?

While the younger a person is the lower their overall risk from coronavirus, young adults can still get long Covid - which is when symptoms of the disease persist for an extended period.

The latest figures for England show people aged 18 to 34 now make up more than a fifth of those admitted to hospital with the virus, four times higher than at the peak last winter, and most of those are unvaccinated.

'Exhausted just walking to shops'

In the video to encourage young people to get vaccinated, previously healthy long Covid sufferers share their experiences, from being bed-bound to thinking they might die.

Megan Higgins, 25, and Ella Harwood, 23, were both previously healthy and active but are now suffering with extreme fatigue due to long Covid.

Ms Higgins, a special needs tutor from London, said that eight months on she still "can't even walk around the shops without getting exhausted".

"Long Covid is debilitating, so please, get vaccinated. I wouldn't want anyone else to go through what I have," she said.

NHS

Ms Harwood, an illustrator from London, said she was bed-bound for seven months and fears she will "never be the same again".

In the clip, support worker Quincy Dwamena, 31, described himself as a "healthy young guy" but said he delayed getting the vaccine and became seriously ill.

"I ended up being hospitalised and thought I was going to die," he said.

Having two doses of the vaccine approximately halves the risk of experiencing symptoms which last more than 28 days after infection, according to the Office for National Statistics.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "Regardless of whether you're young, fit and healthy, these harrowing stories really show that Covid-19 can affect anyone.

"I encourage everyone to come forward for both their jabs as quickly as possible as vaccines are the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from serious illness."

The government has been pushing to increase vaccine uptake among young people, with companies such as Asda and Deliveroo offering incentives to those who get a jab.

Meanwhile, pop-up vaccine sites have been opened across the country at sites such as London-based nightclub Heaven, as well as football stadiums and festivals.

• FIVE GIRL BANDS THAT MADE A STATEMENT: Moments where real life and music merged
• DO ARGUMENTS SOLVE ANYTHING?: Hayley Pearce considers the best way to handle a fight

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2021-08-23 01:40:45Z
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