British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has made a Brexit Day speech hailing the UK’s departure from the European Union as “astonishing moment of hope” that is “not an end but a beginning.” In a message recorded by government officials and emailed to media in the final hours before Brexit, he described it as “potentially a moment of real national renewal and change.” “This is the moment when the dawn breaks and the curtain goes up on a new act in our great national drama,” he said. He said that, “for all its strengths and for all its admirable qualities, the EU has evolved over 50 years in a direction that no longer suits this country,” adding: “That is a judgment that you, the people, have now confirmed at the polls. Not once, but twice.” The tone and message were markedly different from those of French President Emmanuel Macron, who offered words of reassurance for British citizens living in France and gave a rallying message for the European Union. “We have … [Read more...] about Boris Johnson calls Brexit ‘an astonishing moment of hope’
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Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola star as Saracens thrash Gloucester in European Challenge Cup
Gloucester 15-44 Saracens Billy Vunipola and Maro Itoje starred as Saracens delivered a “reality check” to Gloucester at Kingsholm, dismissing them with a statement performance to book a place in the European Challenge Cup semi-finals. In his first appearance for a fortnight, Itoje scored one of his team’s five tries to complement his typically disruptive defence. Vunipola was imperious as England head coach Eddie Jones watched from the stands, scattering would-be tacklers throughout. Alongside them in a steely and streetwise pack, Theo McFarland, the towering blindside flanker, continues to impress. Saracens come alive when they scent silverware, and were ominously dominant in the West Country drizzle. Mark McCall, their director of rugby, lauded Vunipola as “incredible” afterwards and suggested Itoje was “back to somewhere near his best”. “Inevitably, good players relish big games in this kind of atmosphere,” McCall said. “We’ve certainly got those in our dressing room.” An … [Read more...] about Maro Itoje and Billy Vunipola star as Saracens thrash Gloucester in European Challenge Cup
Ukraine War: Pentagon details Phoenix Ghost drones sent to Ukraine
Live Updates As Russia's invasion continues for a 57th day, President Joe Biden announced an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine and established a new program to streamline Ukrainians seeking to enter the U.S. Biden said Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to achieve his "grand ambitions" as Ukraine continues to fight. Putin reportedly canceled an assault on the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, where hundreds of civilians were sheltering, over concerns of Russian casualties. Ukraine is calling for "urgent" humanitarian corridors to evacuate civilians who remain in the besieged Mariupol, describing the situation as "desperate." While 79 people were able to evacuate Mariupol to Zaporizhia Thursday, Ukraine Deputy Prime Minister said "everything is going very slowly." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has asked foreign allies for more weapons as Ukrainian forces continue to defend their cities against Russian bombardment. … [Read more...] about Ukraine War: Pentagon details Phoenix Ghost drones sent to Ukraine
Mysterious “accident” at Iran weapons facility with suspected links to nuclear program kills engineer
Tehran, Iran — An unexplained incident struck a major Iranian military and weapons development base east of Tehran, the country's state TV reported on Thursday, killing an engineer and injuring another employee. Iran 's Defense Ministry said the "accident" occurred on Wednesday afternoon at a research center at the Parchin military complex. The ministry did not elaborate on the cause of the accident or provide any further details, but said an investigation was underway. It identified the engineer who died as Ehsun Ghadbeigi. Western concerns over the Iranian atomic program led to sanctions and eventually to Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with world powers. The U.S. under President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew from the accord in May 2018, leading to a series of escalating attacks between Iran and the U.S. and Tehran abandoning the deal's production limits. Ongoing negotiations led to hopes in March that a roadmap could be agreed that would see the United States rejoin the … [Read more...] about Mysterious “accident” at Iran weapons facility with suspected links to nuclear program kills engineer
This unhinged Brexit cabinet just keeps delivering the dodgy goods – no money back, no guarantee
Most long-running sitcoms feature a character of such astounding stupidity that the woke viewer is now and again unnerved by a question of taste. Joey Tribbiani in Friends , The Vicar of Dibley ’s Alice Tinker , Andy Dwyer in Parks and Recreation – h owever hard the writers might to sugar-coat the imbecility with sprinkles of childlike wisdom, at times you wonder about the dividing line between harmless amusement and mocking the afflicted. This in mind, restraint seems appropriate in the matter of Steve Barclay, the Secretary of State for Maybe One Day Though God Alone Knows How Exiting the European Union (SoSMODTGAKHEEU). … [Read more...] about This unhinged Brexit cabinet just keeps delivering the dodgy goods – no money back, no guarantee
Russian state TV mocks other countries suffering monkeypox outbreak
Russian state TV hosts on Wednesday mocked countries that have reported cases of the monkeypox virus as the outbreak continues to advance across Europe and North America rapidly. Outbreaks of the viral disease have been reported in nearly 20 countries where the virus is not endemic. The infectious disease, which was first discovered in monkeys, is spread by close contact and is usually mild. In recent weeks, more than 100 confirmed infections have been reported mainly in Europe, with additional suspected cases. In a video clip shared by Daily Beast columnist Julia Davis on Twitter , Russian state television hosts Evgeny Popov and Olga Skabeeva, and Russian politician and member of the State Duma Alexei Zhuravlyov derided the nations which have reported monkeypox outbreaks. Skabeeva claimed that the affected countries are sending weapons to Ukraine. The clip has so far amassed more than 30,000 views. "Monkeypox. Almost all who got sick with it are men of non-traditional … [Read more...] about Russian state TV mocks other countries suffering monkeypox outbreak
Doctors demand new university hospital
Doctors and representatives of the Faculty of Medicine at Comenius University have called on the government to make a quick decision on the construction of a new university hospital in Bratislava. Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Skryť Remove ad Article continues after video advertisement Related article Related article New hospital in Bratislava won't open fully till autumn 2023 Read more Education a priority They say they need the new hospital to help train future doctors. "We have been hearing that we cannot have a new hospital because there is no money, but now the European Union is offering it. It is no longer a financial problem," said Peter Visolajský, Chairman of the Medical Trade Unions Association (LOZ). "The question of the university hospital is now a question of whether the Health Ministry is doing its job and whether the PM, the Health Minister, and the … [Read more...] about Doctors demand new university hospital
Ukraine says war in Donbas at ‘maximum intensity’ — live updates
Ukraine says the intensity of the Russian assault in Donbas is now at maximum level Putin tells Italy's Mario Draghi that Russia will help tackle global food crisis if sanctions are lifted German Chancellor Olaf Scholz tells Davos delegates he's convinced Russia will not win in Ukraine Two Russian soldiers are the latest to be tried for war crimes in Ukraine Zelenskyy rebuffs calls to cede land to Russia This article was last updated at 19:07 UTC/GMT B elarus sends troops to Ukraine border Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko says he is forming a southern military command and sending "battalion tactical groups" to the Ukraine border. Lukashenko gave no further details, but such groups normally consist of mechanized infantry, including tanks. Belarus allowed its territory to be used for attacks on Ukraine when Moscow's forces invaded, but the Belarusian military did not participate in Russia's ground operation. Ukrainian authorities have … [Read more...] about Ukraine says war in Donbas at ‘maximum intensity’ — live updates
Revealed: The bitter power struggle at Bath that ended with shock Ed Griffiths exit
The tense power struggle that divided Bath during their worst Premiership season in history culminated on Wednesday with the sudden departure of chairman Ed Griffiths after just six months in the job, and Telegraph Sport can now reveal the bitter feud that has cast a dark shadow over the Recreation Ground. The former Saracens chief executive joined the club initially on a consultancy basis back in November to conduct a wide-ranging review with Bath suffering a disastrous season at the bottom of the table. Griffiths was then appointed on a full-term basis at the start of this year as chairman , replacing Bath owner Bruce Craig. But Griffiths will now leave The Rec after less than six months in the role, with Craig and Griffiths understood to have met for a conversation in recent days which ended with Griffiths' departure. Telegraph Sport understands that Craig was only recently made aware of the deep-rooted cracks lying beneath the surface at the West Country club. Director of … [Read more...] about Revealed: The bitter power struggle at Bath that ended with shock Ed Griffiths exit
Forget the fancy stuff: How Eddie Jones’ advice helped Ben Earl to knuckle down on the basics
In many ways, Ben Earl is the perfect player for the social media age. The Bristol back row is a highlights machine of 70-metre breaks and jackal turnovers that can be condensed into a 60-second clip to be liked and shared. The problem for Earl is that Eddie Jones, currently self isolating , is automatically suspicious of anything that goes viral in this day and age. Instead, the England head coach places a premium on the evidence afforded to him by his own eyes of the action that rarely makes the highlights – of what happens in next couple of phases after the line break or how quickly a player bounces back into the defensive line after being cleared out. This was the message that Jones bluntly conveyed to Earl in their first meeting before the 2018 tour to South Africa. Forget the fancy stuff, concentrate on the basics. It was an assessment that Earl has taken to heart as he seeks to make his first England start in this year’s Six Nations. “Ever since then I have made a … [Read more...] about Forget the fancy stuff: How Eddie Jones’ advice helped Ben Earl to knuckle down on the basics