Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson has met senior members of President-elect Donald Trump's team during a trip to New York.
Mr Johnson met Mr Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and his chief strategist Steve Bannon.
He will also meet key Republican figures in Washington DC, including House Speaker Paul Ryan and senators Bob Corker and Mitch McConnell.
The subject of the talks has not been publicly revealed but the Foreign Office said the visit followed a successful meeting last month between the Prime Minister Theresa May's chiefs of staff and Mr Trump's team.
A Foreign Office spokesman said: "The discussions will be focused on UK-US relations and other foreign policy matters."
Mr Johnson has been critical of Mr Trump in the past, including his response to the billionaire's description of parts of London as a no-go area for police.
Mr Johnson had replied: "The only reason I wouldn't go to some parts of New York is the real risk of meeting Donald Trump."
The meeting comes after Mrs May condemned Mr Trump's comments about groping women as "unacceptable" but voiced hopes that the relationship between the two countries could flourish during his presidency.
Monday, January 9, 2017
One in four young people do not feel in control - Prince's Trust survey
More than a quarter of young people don't feel in control of their own lives, with the vote for Brexit fuelling their concern about their futures.
A survey of 16 to 25-year-olds carried out by The Prince's Trust found that 58% say recent political events make them feel anxious. And 41% say they're more anxious about life in general than they were a year ago.
Of the youngsters interviewed 16% think their life will amount to nothing no matter how hard they try.
Dominic Loftus, 17, from Liverpool, told Sky News: "Especially with the Brexit vote and how 16 to 18-year-olds weren't allowed to vote. Young people felt like they were being excluded from the decisions of the Government and the people."
Lois Muir, 21, agrees. "Before a couple of months ago I didn't know what Brexit was," she said.
"I try and make the effort to know as much about it but all I keep hearing is these different things like we're going to lose money, we're going to get taxed. I now don't know what they next 10 years are going to hold for this country.
"My main concern is that I'm not going to maybe get into my dream job and maybe it could get harder for me to travel and explore different cultures."
The Prince's Trust chief executive Martina Milburn said: "I know from what young people tell me they feel very concerned.
"It's not just about Brexit, they feel concerned about what's happening in the UK and Europe, they feel very concerned about what's happening in places like Syria and Turkey, they feel concerned about what's happening in the United States, and I think a lot of young people I speak to feel they don't have a voice, and if you get any group in society that doesn't have a voice, they're always going to feel nervous and out of control for the future."
A survey of 16 to 25-year-olds carried out by The Prince's Trust found that 58% say recent political events make them feel anxious. And 41% say they're more anxious about life in general than they were a year ago.
Of the youngsters interviewed 16% think their life will amount to nothing no matter how hard they try.
Dominic Loftus, 17, from Liverpool, told Sky News: "Especially with the Brexit vote and how 16 to 18-year-olds weren't allowed to vote. Young people felt like they were being excluded from the decisions of the Government and the people."
Lois Muir, 21, agrees. "Before a couple of months ago I didn't know what Brexit was," she said.
"I try and make the effort to know as much about it but all I keep hearing is these different things like we're going to lose money, we're going to get taxed. I now don't know what they next 10 years are going to hold for this country.
"My main concern is that I'm not going to maybe get into my dream job and maybe it could get harder for me to travel and explore different cultures."
The Prince's Trust chief executive Martina Milburn said: "I know from what young people tell me they feel very concerned.
"It's not just about Brexit, they feel concerned about what's happening in the UK and Europe, they feel very concerned about what's happening in places like Syria and Turkey, they feel concerned about what's happening in the United States, and I think a lot of young people I speak to feel they don't have a voice, and if you get any group in society that doesn't have a voice, they're always going to feel nervous and out of control for the future."
Sunday, January 8, 2017
Police to be consulted on being routinely armed
Thousands of police officers will be asked if they want to be armed with guns or Tasers in a major survey launched today.
Metropolitan Police Federation members will be asked if they would be willing to carry either weapon, both, or if the prospect of being armed would put them off the job.
The union, which represents 32,000 London officers, is conducting the survey after Scotland Yard last year announced plans to add 600 armed officers in the capital following terror attacks across Europe.
Nationally, armed police numbers are being boosted by 1,500.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the association, said: "We're not an armed force, we never have been.
"But the terrorism threat in London is constant and our officers must be vigilant and be able to deal swiftly with any scenarios we face.
"We are moving closer towards that by arming 600 more officers and I think it's only fair that we ask our colleagues - who go out there on a daily basis - what they want."
He said the results of the survey - which runs until the end of January - could have a "lot of implications", including the prospect of officers having to pass harder fitness tests to be armed.
The Met Police Federation is being allowed to use the Met's systems for the poll but Scotland Yard said the survey is not being carried out on behalf of, or in partnership with, the force.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The position of the Met and the Commissioner is clear - we are proud to maintain the tradition that police in this country are not routinely armed. The routine arming of the Metropolitan Police is not supported."
"About 92% of the service is unarmed and armed policing is delivered by highly-trained specialist units. There is no plan to seek to change this."
Unlike a majority of nations around the world, most police in the UK are unarmed - but the issue has come under scrutiny after recent atrocities in Europe.
A poll in the wake of the Paris terror attacks found 58% believed officers should be routinely armed.
Metropolitan Police Federation members will be asked if they would be willing to carry either weapon, both, or if the prospect of being armed would put them off the job.
The union, which represents 32,000 London officers, is conducting the survey after Scotland Yard last year announced plans to add 600 armed officers in the capital following terror attacks across Europe.
Nationally, armed police numbers are being boosted by 1,500.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the association, said: "We're not an armed force, we never have been.
"But the terrorism threat in London is constant and our officers must be vigilant and be able to deal swiftly with any scenarios we face.
"We are moving closer towards that by arming 600 more officers and I think it's only fair that we ask our colleagues - who go out there on a daily basis - what they want."
He said the results of the survey - which runs until the end of January - could have a "lot of implications", including the prospect of officers having to pass harder fitness tests to be armed.
The Met Police Federation is being allowed to use the Met's systems for the poll but Scotland Yard said the survey is not being carried out on behalf of, or in partnership with, the force.
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: "The position of the Met and the Commissioner is clear - we are proud to maintain the tradition that police in this country are not routinely armed. The routine arming of the Metropolitan Police is not supported."
"About 92% of the service is unarmed and armed policing is delivered by highly-trained specialist units. There is no plan to seek to change this."
Unlike a majority of nations around the world, most police in the UK are unarmed - but the issue has come under scrutiny after recent atrocities in Europe.
A poll in the wake of the Paris terror attacks found 58% believed officers should be routinely armed.
British actors among the early Golden Globe winners
British talent has put on a strong show at the Golden Globes, with winners including stars from The Night Manager and The Crown.
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 26, was among the early winners with a nod for best supporting actor in a movie for his role in Tom Ford's film Nocturnal Animals.
He dedicated his award to his wife film-maker Sam Taylor-Johnson, 49, describing her as his soulmate and thanking her for "putting up with me".
Among those he beat in the category was fellow Briton Dev Patel who had been nominated for his performance in Lion.
Image Caption:Director Sam Taylor-Johnson and actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson arriving at the 74th Annual Golden Globe Awards
British actor Hugh Laurie was one of a number of award-winners from TV thriller The Night Manager.
Laurie appeared to take a shot at US President-elect Donald Trump as he accepted his best supporting actor award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at what he described as the "last ever Golden Globes".
He added: "I don't mean to be gloomy. It's just it has 'Hollywood', 'foreign' and 'press' in the title. To some Republicans even the word 'association' is slightly sketchy.
"I accept this award on behalf of psychopathic billionaires everywhere."
Image Caption:Hugh Laurie with his award for best supporting actor in a TV series
Olivia Coleman and Tom Hiddleston also won Golden Globes for their roles in The Night Manager - Coleman for best supporting actress in a limited TV series and Hiddleston for best actor.
Claire Foy continued the run of British award winners, with best actress in a TV drama for her portrayal of the Queen in The Crown. The Netflix royal show also won best TV drama series, beating Game of Thrones and Westworld.
Foy said she was "shocked" to win, describing it as an "out of body experience".
She added: "I really wouldn't be here if it wasn't for some extraordinary women, one is Queen Elizabeth II.
"She has been at the centre of the world for the past 63 years and I think the world could do with a few more women at the centre of it if you ask me."
Image Caption:Claire Foy won an award for her role as the Queen in Netflix series The Crown
La La Land won best movie (musical or comedy) and its leads Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone won awards for their performances.
Gosling thanked his partner Eva Mendes, saying: "While I was singing and dancing and playing piano and having one of the best experiences I've ever had on a film, my lady was raising my daughter, pregnant with our second and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer."
He dedicated his award to that brother - Juan Carlos Mendes, who died from cancer last year, aged 53.
The film's composer Justin Hurwitz won best score and its lyricists Benj Pasekand Justin Paul won best original song for City of Stars.
Moonlight won the award for best film (drama), while Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea) won best actor in a drama film and Isabelle Huppert (Elle) won best actress.
Viola Davis won best-supporting film actress for her role in Fences, beating British actress Naomi Harris who was nominated for her role in Moonlight.
Fellow Briton Charlotte Rampling also missed out on the Golden Globe for best actress in a limited TV series for her role in London Spy.
Image Caption:Tracee Ellis Ross dedicated her award to 'all the women of colour and colourful people'
Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of singer Diana Ross, was awarded best actress in a TV series (comedy or musical) for her role in Black-ish, dedicating her win to "all the women of colour and colourful people whose stories, ideas, thoughts are not always considered worthy, valid and important".
Billy Bob Thornton won the Golden Globe for best TV drama actor in the Amazon series Goliath, where he plays a disgraced lawyer seeking revenge against his former firm.
Image Caption:Meryl Streep used her acceptance speech to voice her concerns about the next US president
Meryl Streep was honoured for her contribution to entertainment with the Cecil B DeMille award and in her acceptance speech she referenced Laurie's earlier words about Mr Trump.
"You and all of us in this room belong to the most vilified segment of American society right now. Think about it - Hollywood, foreigners and the press.
"Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners and if you kick them all out, you'll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts."
She commented on an incident during which Mr Trump appeared to mock a disabled reporter last year, saying: "It broke my heart when I saw it and I still can't get it out of my head.
"It wasn't in a movie - it was real life...When powerful people use their position to bully others, we all lose."
Aaron Taylor-Johnson, 26, was among the early winners with a nod for best supporting actor in a movie for his role in Tom Ford's film Nocturnal Animals.
He dedicated his award to his wife film-maker Sam Taylor-Johnson, 49, describing her as his soulmate and thanking her for "putting up with me".
Among those he beat in the category was fellow Briton Dev Patel who had been nominated for his performance in Lion.
Image Caption:Director Sam Taylor-Johnson and actor Aaron Taylor-Johnson arriving at the 74th Annual Golden Globe AwardsBritish actor Hugh Laurie was one of a number of award-winners from TV thriller The Night Manager.
Laurie appeared to take a shot at US President-elect Donald Trump as he accepted his best supporting actor award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association at what he described as the "last ever Golden Globes".
He added: "I don't mean to be gloomy. It's just it has 'Hollywood', 'foreign' and 'press' in the title. To some Republicans even the word 'association' is slightly sketchy.
"I accept this award on behalf of psychopathic billionaires everywhere."
Image Caption:Hugh Laurie with his award for best supporting actor in a TV seriesOlivia Coleman and Tom Hiddleston also won Golden Globes for their roles in The Night Manager - Coleman for best supporting actress in a limited TV series and Hiddleston for best actor.
Claire Foy continued the run of British award winners, with best actress in a TV drama for her portrayal of the Queen in The Crown. The Netflix royal show also won best TV drama series, beating Game of Thrones and Westworld.
Foy said she was "shocked" to win, describing it as an "out of body experience".
She added: "I really wouldn't be here if it wasn't for some extraordinary women, one is Queen Elizabeth II.
"She has been at the centre of the world for the past 63 years and I think the world could do with a few more women at the centre of it if you ask me."
Image Caption:Claire Foy won an award for her role as the Queen in Netflix series The CrownLa La Land won best movie (musical or comedy) and its leads Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone won awards for their performances.
Gosling thanked his partner Eva Mendes, saying: "While I was singing and dancing and playing piano and having one of the best experiences I've ever had on a film, my lady was raising my daughter, pregnant with our second and trying to help her brother fight his battle with cancer."
He dedicated his award to that brother - Juan Carlos Mendes, who died from cancer last year, aged 53.
The film's composer Justin Hurwitz won best score and its lyricists Benj Pasekand Justin Paul won best original song for City of Stars.
Moonlight won the award for best film (drama), while Casey Affleck (Manchester By The Sea) won best actor in a drama film and Isabelle Huppert (Elle) won best actress.
Viola Davis won best-supporting film actress for her role in Fences, beating British actress Naomi Harris who was nominated for her role in Moonlight.
Fellow Briton Charlotte Rampling also missed out on the Golden Globe for best actress in a limited TV series for her role in London Spy.
Image Caption:Tracee Ellis Ross dedicated her award to 'all the women of colour and colourful people'Tracee Ellis Ross, daughter of singer Diana Ross, was awarded best actress in a TV series (comedy or musical) for her role in Black-ish, dedicating her win to "all the women of colour and colourful people whose stories, ideas, thoughts are not always considered worthy, valid and important".
Billy Bob Thornton won the Golden Globe for best TV drama actor in the Amazon series Goliath, where he plays a disgraced lawyer seeking revenge against his former firm.
Image Caption:Meryl Streep used her acceptance speech to voice her concerns about the next US presidentMeryl Streep was honoured for her contribution to entertainment with the Cecil B DeMille award and in her acceptance speech she referenced Laurie's earlier words about Mr Trump.
"You and all of us in this room belong to the most vilified segment of American society right now. Think about it - Hollywood, foreigners and the press.
"Hollywood is crawling with outsiders and foreigners and if you kick them all out, you'll have nothing to watch but football and mixed martial arts, which are not the arts."
She commented on an incident during which Mr Trump appeared to mock a disabled reporter last year, saying: "It broke my heart when I saw it and I still can't get it out of my head.
"It wasn't in a movie - it was real life...When powerful people use their position to bully others, we all lose."
Apple's iPhone unveiled by Steve Jobs 10 years ago
The iPhone - the device that redefined the mobile phone and made Apple the world's most valuable company - was unveiled on this day 10 years ago.
More than one billion iPhones have been sold since Steve Jobs took to a stage at Macworld in San Francisco promising "an iPod, a phone and an internet communicator" - before revealing one device that performed all three functions.
iPhone fever has sent Apple's value soaring to £515bn - despite the first year of falling iPhone sales in 2016.
There have been 11 new versions of the phone since that launch, with some controversial redesigns including different-sized models, changes to screen sizes and disappearing headphone jacks.
The device also led to the launch of the App Store in 2008 - and the creation of a new digital industry, making fortunes for the inventors of apps such as Angry Birds, Uber and WhatsApp.
Other innovations include the Siri voice-activated personal assistant, the use of Touch ID and a powerful 64-bit processor.
The phone has been such a hit that the phone alone has generated more cash than the product ranges of Microsoft and Google.
The next version of the phone - expected to be unveiled in September - has been rumoured to feature a larger screen that covers most of the front of the device.
:: Life of the iPhone
:: 2007 - After being unveiled in January, the first iPhone goes on sale in June in the US and November in Europe amid passionate Apple fan reaction and queues outside retail stores. Around 3.4 million units were sold that year.
:: 2008 - On July 11 2008 the second generation iPhone 3G launches, including in a white colour option for the first time. Apple is criticised for maintaining the high price of the device compared with other mobile phones. The App Store is also launched.
:: 2009 - The iPhone 3GS goes on sale in June, and sales for the year reach more than 25 million.
:: 2010 - The introduction of the iPhone 4 includes the first major redesign of the iPhone, as the front and back casing are both made of glass for the first time, with a steel trim and edges that serve as the antennas for signal reception.
However some users report holding the phone a certain way affects their signal, forcing Apple to issue advice on how to hold the phone to prevent phone calls dropping out. Sales rise again to 47.5 million.
:: 2011 - The iPhone 4s is introduced, including voice assistant Siri for the first time. Apple founder Steve Jobs dies the day after the phone is announced, while the 4s then becomes the first iPhone to sell one million units in its first 24 hours.
Also this year Apple surpasses long-standing market leader Nokia as the largest mobile phone vendor in the world by revenue.
:: 2012 - The iPhone 5 ushers in another redesign, this time increasing the screen size to four inches for the first time. By now, annual iPhone sales have hit 135.8 million units.
:: 2013 - Another "s" model, this time the iPhone 5s, is launched. The first iPhone to include a fingerprint scanner integrated into the home button, known as Touch ID.
:: 2014 - In September the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are unveiled, offering the iPhone in two sizes for the first time - both of which have increased screen sizes on previous generations at 4.7 and 5.5 inches respectively. Sales response shatters all Apple records, with four million sold in the first 24 hours and 10 million in the first three days of availability.
However the 6 and 6 Plus are not without flaws, as some users report their devices bending when sat on or placed under pressure.
:: 2015 - Thanks to the success of the 6 and 6 Plus, sales for the year exceed 231 million units, while Apple also records the largest single quarter profit of a private company during the year.
In September the 6s and 6s Plus are released, complete with a new pressure sensitive screen.
:: 2016 - As the smartphone market begins to reach saturation point and competition from rivals increases, Apple reports iPhone sales drops in each of the first three quarters of the year.
This includes the first revenue drop for the company since the iPhone first launched in 2007. However the one billionth iPhone is sold during the year, and a new four-inch phone, the iPhone SE is launched.
Then in September the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are announced, with the Plus housing a dual rear camera for the first time that is designed to capture images to rival that of a digital camera.
More than one billion iPhones have been sold since Steve Jobs took to a stage at Macworld in San Francisco promising "an iPod, a phone and an internet communicator" - before revealing one device that performed all three functions.
iPhone fever has sent Apple's value soaring to £515bn - despite the first year of falling iPhone sales in 2016.
There have been 11 new versions of the phone since that launch, with some controversial redesigns including different-sized models, changes to screen sizes and disappearing headphone jacks.
The device also led to the launch of the App Store in 2008 - and the creation of a new digital industry, making fortunes for the inventors of apps such as Angry Birds, Uber and WhatsApp.
Other innovations include the Siri voice-activated personal assistant, the use of Touch ID and a powerful 64-bit processor.
The phone has been such a hit that the phone alone has generated more cash than the product ranges of Microsoft and Google.
The next version of the phone - expected to be unveiled in September - has been rumoured to feature a larger screen that covers most of the front of the device.
:: Life of the iPhone
:: 2007 - After being unveiled in January, the first iPhone goes on sale in June in the US and November in Europe amid passionate Apple fan reaction and queues outside retail stores. Around 3.4 million units were sold that year.
:: 2008 - On July 11 2008 the second generation iPhone 3G launches, including in a white colour option for the first time. Apple is criticised for maintaining the high price of the device compared with other mobile phones. The App Store is also launched.
:: 2009 - The iPhone 3GS goes on sale in June, and sales for the year reach more than 25 million.
:: 2010 - The introduction of the iPhone 4 includes the first major redesign of the iPhone, as the front and back casing are both made of glass for the first time, with a steel trim and edges that serve as the antennas for signal reception.
However some users report holding the phone a certain way affects their signal, forcing Apple to issue advice on how to hold the phone to prevent phone calls dropping out. Sales rise again to 47.5 million.
:: 2011 - The iPhone 4s is introduced, including voice assistant Siri for the first time. Apple founder Steve Jobs dies the day after the phone is announced, while the 4s then becomes the first iPhone to sell one million units in its first 24 hours.
Also this year Apple surpasses long-standing market leader Nokia as the largest mobile phone vendor in the world by revenue.
:: 2012 - The iPhone 5 ushers in another redesign, this time increasing the screen size to four inches for the first time. By now, annual iPhone sales have hit 135.8 million units.
:: 2013 - Another "s" model, this time the iPhone 5s, is launched. The first iPhone to include a fingerprint scanner integrated into the home button, known as Touch ID.
:: 2014 - In September the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus are unveiled, offering the iPhone in two sizes for the first time - both of which have increased screen sizes on previous generations at 4.7 and 5.5 inches respectively. Sales response shatters all Apple records, with four million sold in the first 24 hours and 10 million in the first three days of availability.
However the 6 and 6 Plus are not without flaws, as some users report their devices bending when sat on or placed under pressure.
:: 2015 - Thanks to the success of the 6 and 6 Plus, sales for the year exceed 231 million units, while Apple also records the largest single quarter profit of a private company during the year.
In September the 6s and 6s Plus are released, complete with a new pressure sensitive screen.
:: 2016 - As the smartphone market begins to reach saturation point and competition from rivals increases, Apple reports iPhone sales drops in each of the first three quarters of the year.
This includes the first revenue drop for the company since the iPhone first launched in 2007. However the one billionth iPhone is sold during the year, and a new four-inch phone, the iPhone SE is launched.
Then in September the iPhone 7 and 7 Plus are announced, with the Plus housing a dual rear camera for the first time that is designed to capture images to rival that of a digital camera.
North Korea threatens missile launch anytime, blames US
Kim said on January 1 his nuclear-capable country was close to test-launching an ICBM.
"The ICBM will be launched anytime and anywhere determined by the supreme headquarters of the DPRK," an unnamed foreign ministry spokesman was quoted as saying on Sunday by the official KCNA news agency, using the acronym for the country's name.
The North is formally known as the Democratic People's Republic of Korea.
Ashton Carter, the US defence secretary, said on Sunday that North Korea's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programmes constitute a "serious threat" to the US.
Washington is prepared to shoot down a North Korean missile launch or test "if it were coming towards our territory, or the territory of our friends and allies", Carter said during an appearance on NBC's Meet the Press.
The US said on Thursday that North Korea had demonstrated a "qualitative" improvement in its nuclear and missile capabilities after an unprecedented level of tests last year.
Analysts have said while Pyongyang may be close to testing an ICBM, it would likely take years to perfect the weapon.
Once fully developed, a North Korean ICBM could threaten the continental US, which is about 9,000km from the North.
US president-elect Donald Trump responded last week to Kim's comments on an ICBM test by declaring in a tweet, "It won't happen!"
North Korea has been under UN sanctions since 2006 over its nuclear and ballistic missile tests. The sanctions were tightened last month after Pyongyang conducted its fifth and largest nuclear test on September 9.
"The US is wholly to blame for pushing the DPRK to have developed ICBM as it has desperately resorted to anachronistic policy hostile toward the DPRK for decades to encroach upon its sovereignty and vital rights," KCNA quoted the spokesman as saying.
"Anyone who wants to deal with the DPRK would be well advised to secure a new way of thinking after having clear understanding of it."
Iran's ex-president Hashemi Rafsanjani dies at 82
Former Iranian president Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani died on Sunday at the age of 82 after suffering a heart attack, according to state media.
Rafsanjani was a key figure in the foundation of the Islamic republic in 1979, and served as president from 1989 to 1997.
He was taken to the Shohadaa Hospital in northern Tehran earlier on Sunday with heart problems, the ISNA and Fars news agencies reported.
"Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was transferred to hospital after a heart attack," said Reza Soleimani, a speaker of the Expediency Council, Iran's main political arbitration body which Rafsanjani chaired.
"Despite the efforts of the doctors he died," he said, quoted by state broadcaster IRIB.
Rafsanjani was a key figure in the foundation of the Islamic republic in 1979, and served as president from 1989 to 1997.
He was taken to the Shohadaa Hospital in northern Tehran earlier on Sunday with heart problems, the ISNA and Fars news agencies reported.
"Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani was transferred to hospital after a heart attack," said Reza Soleimani, a speaker of the Expediency Council, Iran's main political arbitration body which Rafsanjani chaired.
"Despite the efforts of the doctors he died," he said, quoted by state broadcaster IRIB.
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