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Football Association of Wales chief executive Jonathan Ford is to face a disciplinary commission over his comment that the next Wales manager will "definitely" not be English. The FAW's investigation could delay the appointment of the next Wales manager as Ford is due to head up the process of finding Chris Coleman's successor. Ford said last week that the FAW preferred the next Wales manager to be Welsh and "definitely not English". "We have always favoured Welsh people because arguably the passion is there," Ford told BBC Wales. "Somebody said this earlier, Welsh most definitely, foreign possibly, but definitely not English." But the ruling FAW council met in Cardiff on Tuesday and voted for Ford's comment to be explored further, with a three-man disciplinary commission set up. … [Read more...] about Head of Welsh FA to face disciplinary over ‘definitely not an English manager’ comment

Labour has written to the head of the civil service to request an independent investigation into anonymous warnings leaked to a newspaper that claimed Jeremy Corbyn could be too frail to function as prime minister. Jon Trickett, the shadow minister for the Cabinet Office, told the cabinet secretary, Mark Sedwill, that the comments amounted to a “totally unwarranted and indeed unconstitutional political intervention, with disturbing implications for our democratic system”. Corbyn and his party have rejected the claims made in the Times on Saturday, which said that, at a recent event, senior civil servants had discussed their worries about what might happen if the Labour leader became prime minister. The report cited anonymous senior civil servants who warned that they were concerned about Corbyn being put into Downing Street after an election as he seemed to lack a firm grasp of issues and was being “propped up” by his advisers. One was quoted as saying: … [Read more...] about Labour calls for inquiry into civil service claim that Corbyn is ‘too frail’

Sweeping narratives can soon take hold, even if critics are already pointing to their holes. In the 1990s, two such theses quickly took root. The first was that liberal democracy had triumphed. The second was that technology would inevitably bring liberation; Bill Clinton quipped, in reference to China, that trying to control the internet would be like nailing jello to the wall. Beijing proved both wrong, helping to spell an end to the end of history, and demonstrating – ever more enthusiastically – that technology’s transformative powers can not only be curbed, but harnessed to the forces of repression. In these gloomier times, the threat that technology will lead not to freedom but to surveillance, control or disruption from authoritarian adversaries has greater resonance – and more supporting evidence. The Trump administration has been pressing its allies to ban the Chinese telecoms equipment giant Huawei from participating in their 5G networks, arguing that … [Read more...] about The Guardian view on Huawei: if May wants to trust, we must keep verifying

The former Bolivian president Evo Morales has been granted asylum by Mexico, the country’s top diplomat has said, following the veteran socialist’s announcement on Sunday that he would resign. Mexico’s foreign minister, Marcelo Ebrard, told reporters: “We will immediately proceed to inform Bolivia’s foreign ministry that under international law, it should offer safe conduct [to Morales].” Mexico had “decided to grant political asylum to Evo Morales in virtue of the urgent situation which he faces in Bolivia where his life and safety are at risk”, Ebrard added. The minister confirmed that Morales had accepted the asylum offer. The president’s exit has created chaos and uncertainty in Bolivia as well as stoking fears about a power vacuum. Looting, vandalism and arson carried out by both his supporters and opponents have been already been reported. Morales’ decision to step down followed several quick-fire developments on Sunday, … [Read more...] about Former Bolivian leader Evo Morales granted asylum by Mexico

Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales has boarded a plane bound for Mexico where he has been granted asylum, the Mexican foreign minister has announced. Earlier on Monday evening Morales tweeted a farewell after his resignation in the wake of a disputed election, saying that he would be take up the offer of asylum in Mexico but would soon “return with greater strength and energy”. The Mexican foreign minister Marcelo Ebrard tweeted a picture of the former leader draped in the flag of Mexico, and said: “The Mexican Air Force plane has already taken off with Evo Morales on board. According to current international conventions, it is under the protection of Mexico. Your life and integrity are safe.” Morales left behind a country close to chaos as his supporters and adversaries clashed on the streets, and reports of looting, vandalism and arson in the wake of an October election which the Organisation of American States reported to be rigged in his favour. … [Read more...] about Bolivia’s Evo Morales flies to Mexico, but vows to return with ‘strength and energy’