Europe Must Be Interested in Improvement of Russian-US Relations - German FM

MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The European Union must be interested in improvement of relations between Russia and the United States as these two countries can prevent proliferation of nuclear weapons, German Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel said.

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Slovenia Preparing to Sue Croatia in EU Court Over Territorial Dispute

After Croatia rejected the ruling of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague as for the disputed parts of the Croatian-Slovenian borders, the Slovenian Foreign Minister announced that the country was preparing to file a lawsuit in the EU court on the matter.

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UK Could Introduce National Cryptocurrency in 2018

The Bank of England reportedly established a special research unit to study cryptocurrencies and could introduct the national cryptocurrency next year.

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Chinese President Says Ready to Enhance Cooperation With Russia in 2018

Chinese President said that he hopes for comprehensive strategic cooperation between Beijing and Moscow to be expanded.

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DR Congo's Authorities Shut Down Internet Ahead of Opposition Rallies

As a number of marches against the president of the country standing for the third term in office are expected in the major cities of the DR Congo, authorities made a decision to shut down the Internet and SMS services.

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Authorities Discover Two Mass Graves of Daesh Victims Near Syria's Raqqa

A field leader told local media that more than a hundred bodies were found in a mass grave in the vicinity of the city of Raqqa in Syria.

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At Least 1 Civilian Killed in Militants' Shelling of Damascus' Suburbs

The militants shelled the suburbs of have reportedly shelled the suburbs of the Syrian Damascus, causing civilian casualties and material damage to both public and private buildings.

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German Chancellor Merkel to Reveal Her Plans on Forming Government in 2018

Angela Merkel's speech given to reporters by the governmental press service reads that the chancellor plans to form the stable government as soon as possible in 2018.

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UNICEF May Provide Afghanistan With $46Mln to Help Children Attend Schools

UNICEF will reportedly provide Afghanistan with $46 million in order to help children by empowering local education and funding efforts aimed at enhancing the Afghan Education Ministry's capacities.

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Israeli Air Force Hits HAMAS Positions in Response to Friday Rocket Fire

The Israeli Defense Forces reported that they hit targeted a Hamas observation post in the south of the Gaza Strip.

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Kiev Crypto Exec Kidnapped, Ransomed for $1 Million in Bitcoin

Despite the recent crash in the value of bitcoins, cryptocurrency as a whole remains a hot commodity and, increasingly, people will commit violence to get in on the action.

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More Than 1,000 Ceasefire Agreements Signed in Syria in 2017

The Russian Center for Syrian Reconciliation reported that leaders of illegal armed formations have signed 140 ceasefire application forms.

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Shots Fired Near Red Square in Moscow, Two People Injured

A man has opened fire in the centre of Moscow, local police reported. According to the interior ministry's press service, two people were wounded in the shooting and the police is still searching for the suspect.

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Happy New Year: Mainland China Bans Sale of Elephant Ivory

Effective January 1, 2018, China will ban the mainland domestic sale of elephant ivory and related products, a significant move toward slowing the annual slaughter of the largest land animals on Earth.

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Amnesty of Ex-President is 'Exchange of Courtesies' With Peruvian Opposition

The decision by Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski to pardon Alberto Fujimori, who was sentenced to 25 years in prison in 2009, has raised questions, David Sulmont, a professor at Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, told Sputnik, dubbing the move "an exchange of courtesies" between the incumbent leader and Fujimori supporters.

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Pulitzer Winner Exposes Facebook's 'Censorship Rampage' at US & Israel's Behest

Award-winning journalist Glenn Greenwald has outlined the alarming implications of the state censorship promoted by social networking giant Facebook when it deletes accounts of politicians and activists whose content the US and Israeli governments don't happen to approve of.

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Small But Mighty: White Tiger Retreats as Cub Jumps Outside

This footage once again confirms conventional wisdom that being an adult predator does not always mean having courage and being intrepid.

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2018 - The Year in Russophobia

Don’t think the crazy Russophobia of 2017 can be surpassed? I’m not so sure. Let’s take a look at our special Sputnik crystal ball to see what 2018 has in store….

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Black Lives Matter Symbol Eric Garner's Daughter Dies at the Age of 27

Erica Garner was an outspoken activist for social justice and police reform, whose father, an African American, was killed in a chokehold by a white policeman. His death and court ruling sparked a wave of protests across the US.

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Turkish Leader Erdogan Says United States Initiated 'Visa Crisis'

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that the United States had initiated the visa crisis between Ankara and Washington, which ended this week.

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Nepal Bans Solo, Double Amputee, Blind Climbers From Everest Mountaineering

A spate of deaths on Mount Everest has prompted the government of Nepal to review its mountaineering regulations and ban solo, double amputee and blind climbers attempting the summit.

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Kuwaiti Airlines Resume Flights Over Iraq for 1st Time in 3 Years - Baghdad

MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Kuwait's airlines have resumed flights over Iraq for the first time in three years as the Iraqi airspace has become completely safe, the Iraqi transport ministry said Saturday via its Telegram channel.

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General: Syrian Army Thwarts Israeli Plan to Control Mutual Border

The Syrian Arab Army (SAA) continues its advance on the terrorists using both military and diplomatic measure. SAA Brig. Gen. Heitham Hassun, reported that al-Nusra Front militants agreed to flee from the villages of Mugr al-Mir and Mazaria Beit Jinn in southwestern Syria, thus undermining Israel's plan to maintain control over the region.

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'Red Line for All Muslims': Erdogan Vows to Not Give Up on Jerusalem Issue

The Turkish president has reiterated his adamant opposition to Donald Trump's controversial decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israel's capital and underscored that the ancient city is too "precious" for Muslims.

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Turkey Criticizes EU Aid Delivery to Syrian Refugees

With 3.5 million refugees, mostly from neighboring Syria, Turkey has the highest refugee population in the world, according to the UN.

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Deep dives into brain science, pain science, bad science, and biased science.

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The Fox comedy, which stars Seth MacFarlane as the captain of a 'Star Trek'-style starship, starts off slowly, but gets much better over time.

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Trolls, Bots, and Fake News Made 2017 a Terrible Year for Internet Freedom

Trolls, bots, and fake news posed a serious threat to internet freedom this year—and there's no easy answer in sight.

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Health Care Is Hemorrhaging Data. AI Is Here to Help

AI could save medicine up to $100 billion a year, if we can only figure out how to apply it.

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'Black Mirror'’s Dating-App Episode "Hang the DJ" is a Perfectly Heartbreaking Portrayal of Modern Romance

"Hang the DJ" will break your heart—but especially if you're single.

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Theresa May Must Face Down Right-Wing Press On Foreign Aid, Says Ex-BBC War Correspondent

Politicians have a moral responsibility to face down right-wing newspapers campaigning for the Government to slash the UK foreign aid budget, Martin Bell has said. 

The veteran war correspondent, former independent MP and one-time soldier said the Tory government risked paying “too much attention to the headlines in the Daily Mail” while war and poverty gripped huge swathes of the globe. 

The Daily Mail,the Daily Express and The Sun are leading critics of the UK spending around £13bn on foreign aid last year and want Theresa May to take an axe to the budget. 

Bell said the UK should be spending more, up to 5% of GDP (around £96bn), and voiced fears Brexit will diminish the UK’s role as a global power. 

Speaking to HuffPost UK as part of our Christmas appeal with Unicef to help children in war-torn Syria, the former Tatton MP said: “The continent of Europe is overflowing with refugees. We cannot close our borders and we cannot close our hearts, either.

“I think foreign aid is at least as important outside of Europe as it is inside of it.

“I’ve been a politician. I know how vulnerable they are to pressures, especially the pressures of the populist press, but this is a time to hold firm.” 

He added: “There is a danger, especially with Conservative Governments though the last Labour Government became the same way, that MPs pay too much attention to the headlines in The Daily Mail.” 

It has been almost seven years since the war in Syria broke out. The UN estimates around 400,000 have died and more than 13m Syrians have been displaced. 

Bell, who had a long and distinguished career as a foreign affairs reporter, said the media was failing to provide any in-depth and desperately-needed coverage of global conflicts. 

“I’m concerned that we are pulling up the drawbridge,” he said. “I am absolutely horrified at this Britain first attitude. It doesn’t sound good for us, one of the great imperialist powers of history now retreating into our little island.

“I think the people can still be convinced but the journalism has to be improved. We have to get our act together. We need to pay more attention to what is going on outside our borders.

“The foreign news component in our newspapers has reduced considerably – or even become celebrity driven.”

US President Donald Trump plans to slash up to 40% of US voluntary contributions to the UN, a move which would directly affect the children’s agency Unicef, an organisation for which Bell is an ambassador.

Bell has deep concerns about the right-winger’s presidency and his attacks on journalists. 

“The term ‘fake news’ is very dangerous,” he said. “Goebbels would have had a ball these days. All he had to work on was the cinema, radio and newspapers. Imagine what he could have done with clickbait and rolling news. 

“People will cease to believe in fact-based reports and news-gathering. They will stop believing that the news is what the facts are.

“Trump began his presidency with a flagrant fallacy about the size of the crowd at his inauguration and he hasn’t stopped since.

“One of the dangers of the internet, also, is that people will only go to the sites that reinforce their beliefs, so it contributes to a closing of the mind and the closing of the heart, and you get ‘America first’, ‘Britain first’. 

“The consequence of that is that it becomes harder and harder to fund the necessary programmes. Syria has become an invisible emergency and I think the answer is a different kind of journalism.

“There is will among the people as long as the plight of people in Syria is presented to them. We need more journalists to go to these camps because money follows the cameras.”

Bell hit out at the “Murdochisation” of BBC News 24 when he left to stand for office in George Osborne’s former constituency of Tatton. 

“Donald Trump would never have been elected without the engines of the internet and the rolling news channels,” he said. “I’m appalled by rolling news. I started off in Alexandra Palace, the origin of television.

“Rolling news knows more than it shows. Speculation begins as soon as they have pictures. What you used to do is go and find things out and put them together and tell the full story.”

Bell says it is “entirely possible” the war in Syria could rage on for another seven years, despite the so-called Islamic State being largely beaten as rebels continue to fight pro-government forces. 

He said: “I don’t even know what the British policy should be now. If I was the Foreign Secretary I wouldn’t know what to say.

“We have not been influential and we may be even less influential outside of Europe than we were in it.” 

The former soldier added that the British Government does not have the capacity to intervene. 

He said: “I don’t think the military intervention is an option. We tried military interventions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“I don’t think we have got a big enough army. The military I served in was 400,000-strong and now it is coming down to 80,000.

“If it is below the level of a critical mass, you are not much more than an armed border policing service.

“We can run a short campaign for a limited period but we would find it extremely difficult to put a division in the field, as we did in 1991 and 2003. We don’t have the means.”

He added: “We can support our aid agencies but we can’t influence the outcome.

“We have to fight the tendency of any people to ignore a war that they don’t see on their television sets.”

HuffPost UK spent a week in Jordan, visiting Azraq, Mafraq and Unicef projects supporting Syrian refugee children. 

We reported on an epidemic of domestic violence, the risk of a generation of children being left illiterate and the heartbreaking story of Aiysha, a teenager whose entire family were murdered by pro-Assad militia. 

“These children, who are just seven, speak of Syria as home, even though they have never been there,” said Bell, who recently visited Syrian refugee camps in Lebanon. “They are almost in denial that the war is still going on. It is so hard to hear.  

“The biggest problem facing refugee children is education. You will find nine and ten-year-olds who are barely literate.

“The Lebanese schools are amazing. Many are working double shifts.

“But the danger is that you lose your childhood and you grow up ignorant and illiterate.”

HuffPost UK also reported how Syrian children face PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) rates 10 times that of other young people around the world.

“The only difference is PTSD, and I have been to many Combat Stress centres here in the UK, we used to being concerned about its effect on soldiers,” said Bell. “But the only difference with a child is that the effects of PTSD will last a lot longer. It’s quite an important difference.

“What these children have seen will haunt them all their days.”

Bell called on as many people as possible to donate money to Unicef to help Syrian children. 

“After this campaign is over, don’t forget them,” he said. 

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Manchester Fire: Blaze At Block Of Flats On Joiner Street, In Northern Quarter

Firefighters tackled a blaze at a block of flats in Manchester city centre which had spread to “multiple floors” on Saturday afternoon.

One person was taken to hospital suffering from smoke inhalation after the fire broke out at about 4pm on the ninth floor of the 12-storey building on Joiner Street in the Northern Quarter.

@MENnewsdesk - fire currently in the apartments next to Afflecks Palace http://pic.twitter.com/UN9yhrlz0t

— f (@gold_freya) December 30, 2017

Twelve fire engines attended the scene as the building was evacuated and residents nearby were advised to keep doors and windows shut. 

Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service (GMFRS) said firefighters were tackling the blaze on a “number of floors” and an aerial unit was also in attendance.

Light building in central MCR https://t.co/f5tcXcUgsphttp://pic.twitter.com/3fLYZQja2v

— Pete Sheppard (@TonePhotog) December 30, 2017

GMFRS said a 23-year-old man suffering from smoke inhalation went to  hospital with a family member after being assessed by paramedics.

The fire began on the ninth floor and affected about four properties.

The fire service said the eighth floor suffered smoke damage due to the heat and floors 10 and 11 were affected externally.

“The fire spread to the other floors via wooden balconies and no cladding was involved,” GMFRS added.

Roads around the area were sealed off by police and a number of buses were diverted. 

Church St & Tib St now CLOSED due to the ongoing serious Apartment block fire on Joiner St in the City Centre. Multiple Fire appliances & Police at the scene. Avoid the area! Lots of smoke and debris @MENnewsdesk@BBCRadioManc@KEY103NEWShttp://pic.twitter.com/biVFh3kviG

— Manc Traffic (@manctraffic) December 30, 2017

Footage shared on social media showed thick, black smoke billowing from the tower.

This one! @mercuremanchest on Piccadilly Gardens is available for anyone seeking some refuge and a warm brew from the affected apartments http://pic.twitter.com/ziFEh8RD74

— Matt Shiells-Jones (@MShiells_Jones) December 30, 2017

Shortly after 6pm the fire service tweeted: “The fire had spread to multiple floors but we have things well under control here.

“Firefighters along with colleagues from the police and ambulance service have done an amazing job to tackle this difficult incident.”

The fire had spread to multiple floors but we have things well under control here. Firefighters along with colleagues from the Police and Ambulance service have done an amazing job to tackle this difficult incident! More updates to follow... http://pic.twitter.com/lgBOPX54Hq

— Manchester Fire (@manchesterfire) December 30, 2017

Manchester Central MP Lucy Powell tweeted: “I have spoken with the Manchester fire service. The #manchesterfire is under control and the building is being safely evacuated.

“Paramedics and others are at the scene to triage all those affected but no serious injuries known. Thank you our brilliant firefighters and paramedics.”

The fire service said in a statement on Saturday evening: “Fire crews remain on the scene to systematically search the building, although we are confident there are no other casualties and the incident is now being scaled down.

“A number of people have been evacuated and temporary accommodation will be set up for those who need it.

“Crews remain on the scene making sure the building and the area are safe.”

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Body Of Man Wearing Only Socks Found On Brown's Bay, Whitley Bay, In North Tyneside

The body of a man who was wearing only socks has been found on a beach.

The naked body was found in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, Northumbria Police said.

He was reportedly discovered by a dog walker at about 8.20am. 

An investigation has been launched into the man’s death, which police are currently treating as “unexplained”.

The area has been cordoned off by police.

Officers are carrying out enquiries and are urging anyone with information to call 101 and quote reference number 247 30/12/17.

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Please Help Me Convince The Home Office That My Friend Is An Asset To This Country And Not A Threat

On the night of December 19 I received a message from Laura. Our mutual friend Ahmed had been missing since the previous day, he was supposed to play football but didn’t show up. His phone was disconnected and he was last seen online more than 20 hours earlier. One of our friends had knocked on his door but received no answer.

The morning after the police informed us he was “safe and well” but could not disclose his location or other information. It was only later in the afternoon that we received an email from Ahmed, telling us he was being detained by the Home Office, he could not use his personal smartphone and had only 50 minutes Internet access per day, on an embarrassingly slow connection. The Home Office notified him he was at risk of deportation.

The first time I met Ahmed was 5 years ago, on a sunny Sunday morning on a football pitch. We’ve been very good friends since, we are both Ph.D students in the Department of Computer Science of The University Of Sheffield. After spending 5 years together in the Steel City I consider him more a brother than a friend. Ahmed has a very kind personality, he is very approachable and ready to listen.

His hometown, Mosul, has been under ISIS occupation since June 2014. His dad had recently passed away due to the lack of access to medical assistance. The rest of his family was forcefully displaced and had to leave behind their home and possessions.

Nonetheless Ahmed was always ready to help his friends when they needed someone to talk to and support them.

The day after Ahmed was detained, Laura and I were trying to understand how we could help. We came to the conclusion that we needed to address the Home Office through a powerful channel and what better way to show our support than starting a petition. It was time for his friends to support him, just like he supported them in the past.

We witnessed the number of signatures and friends sharing his story steadily grow, day by day. The petition crossed 10 thousands signatures yesterday and this shows how much of an impact Ahmed has had in the lives of the community he lives in. People all over the world joined and we made sure to inform him of what was going on. He kept us up to date about his situation.

On the 27th of December, Joe and I went to Morton Hall, the infamous detention centre where four people died in the last year, one of them less than a month ago. The place is effectively a prison camp, with huge fences and barbed wire. Locks on each door and thorough searches on the visitors. Joe and I agreed this was no place for a student who has already gone through so much in his life.

When we met him, Ahmed looked really tired and ill. He told us about the sleepless nights, in fear of the officers barging in to “check” on him with their flashlight in his face. Or the screams of the detainees being dragged away for deportation.

He also revealed he was deeply thankful for the help received by the friends, refugee associations and all the signees. In his own words “my only hope in this hopeless place”.

It has been a very unusual Christmas for Ahmed and for all of his supporters but we all received a late present: on the 28th of December Ahmed was released on a temporary basis, subject to detention and deportation with no guarantee to continue his studies. He went straight to his uncle and had a well deserved night of sleep. His release means the world to us, knowing one of our best friends is not locked up and treated like a criminal made us incredibly happy.

But we need to remember his release is temporary and his status is still uncertain. Our petition will continue in the hopes that Ahmed’s release becomes permanent and we would appreciate if the parties involved kept working together constructively.

Ahmed’s solicitors have submitted the paperwork for his case and we really hope the Home Office can recognise him as an asset to the country instead of a threat.

Let’s make 2018 a turning point in the life of a truly decent man who has carried burdens none of us will ever know.

 

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Finsbury Park Murder Sees £13,000 Raised For Iuliana Tudos' Funeral

A crowdfunding appeal in memory of a pub worker who was murdered in a London park on Christmas Eve has passed £13,000.

The campaign to raise money for a funeral for Iuliana Tudos, 22, reached its original £4,000 target within 11 hours and by Saturday afternoon had raised more than three times that amount.

Tudos, who also called herself Julie, was found dead in Finsbury Park, near her north London home, on Wednesday afternoon, having gone missing on December 24.

She had been stabbed in the abdomen and suffered a head injury.

GoFundMe page raising money in memory of Iuliana Tudos, 22, who was murdered in Finsbury Park at Christmas, passes £12,000 https://t.co/Ryxq6RwtCN

— David Wilcock (@DavidWilcockPA) December 30, 2017

More than 800 people have so far donated to the appeal, including people who met her at Camden Underworld, the north London rock pub and club where she worked.

Donor Daniel Howard wrote: “I didn’t know Juliana but happened to get chatting to her outside the Underworld before a gig only recently and she was really kind and funny.

“My condolences go out to her family and those who were close to her.”

Another, Susanne Bayliss, wrote: “We often go to shows at the Underworld and I have been to the pub upstairs often before or after shows.

“I did not know Julie, but maybe she served me a beer or a gin and tonic before ... it feels like we lost one of our own...”

The GoFundMe page was set up by Krystyna Rymarczyk, who wrote: “We would like to help her family to cover funeral expenses in this difficult time for them, this is what we can do for Julie.”

Tudos, who police said was of Russian and Greek origin, was last seen by friends at around 8pm on December 24 when she headed for a bus home from Camden.

She was due to meet them at another friend’s home in Enfield, north London, later that evening before spending Christmas Day there, but never arrived.

Police said CCTV footage showed her on the periphery of the park shortly after 8.20pm.

Detective Chief Inspector Nicola Wall, from the Homicide and Major Crime Command, said Tudos body was found in a disused building in the area of the park near the junction of Green Lanes and Endymion Road, “and we believe that she was attacked where she was found”. 

Wall said police had been in touch with Tudos’ family who are currently living abroad, “and they are naturally devastated, as are her close network of friends in the UK”.

No arrests have been made.

Meanwhile, Camden bar The World’s End paid tribute to Tudos who it described as “bright and caring”.

In a post on Facebook the bar’s staff wrote: |As we are sure everyone is now aware, words cannot express the sadness we feel at the news of the death of Iuliana Tudos.

“Julie, as she is known by us, was well loved by everyone in the greater Camden community and was a bright and caring member of our World’s End family.

“We are all shocked by the events over the last few days and everyone at the World’s End is grieving for the loss of our friend who will be deeply missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with Julie’s family at this incredibly sad time.”

Wall said police would like to hear from “anyone who saw, had contact with, or heard from” Tudos after she was last seen on CCTV. 

“We’d also like to hear from anybody who saw anything suspicious within the park over the Christmas period.”

Wall said Tudos friends and family are “desperate for any information that can help us find out what happened to her, so I would urge anyone with information to please contact us as soon as possible”.

Anyone with information is urged to call the dedicated incident room on 020 8785 8244, tweet @MetCC or contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.

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Kensington And Chelsea Council Apologises To Grenfell Survivors Who Missed Out On Christmas Cash

The council responsible for Grenfell Tower has apologised after money promised to survivors to help cover the cost of Christmas did not arrive in time.

Kensington and Chelsea Council failed to pay 18 households ahead of the festive season.

Three of the households were from Grenfell Tower and nearby Grenfell Walk. Seven were from the walkways around the tower and the rest were from households from the wider Lancaster West Estate.

Kim Taylor-Smith, deputy leader of the council, said: “This was our error and we are sorry for this and have taken steps to deal with the households we are aware of.”

The local authority said that those still in temporary accommodation would get £140 per person to help ease December’s financial pressures. 

Taylor-Smith continued: “More than 440 additional Christmas food payments of £140 were made before Christmas, on top of the £300 per week, per adult and £150 per week, per child given for food, but unfortunately we have found 18 households that did not receive their additional payment in time for Christmas.   

“Households can get the money on a pre-paid credit card immediately, but if they want the money paid directly into their bank accounts, this will take a few days to process through their accounts.

“If any other households have not received their additional food allowance payment, they can contact Care for Grenfell, which is open throughout the weekend, and collect a pre-paid credit card with the money on it, which can be used in any outlet.” 

Many of those who lost their homes in the tragedy, which led to the deaths of 71 people on June 14, are still living in hotels more than six months on.

The council has been repeatedly criticised for its response to the fire and faces accusations that it failed to listen to and act on residents’ concerns before the blaze ripped through the 24-storey tower.

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Fifth Suspect Arrested Over 'Terror Attack Plot'

A fifth man has been arrested over an alleged terror attack plot, police said.

Two buildings in Sheffield are being searched by counter-terrorist officers after the 21-year-old from the city was held late on Friday.

It follows the arrests of four men in the South Yorkshire city and nearby Chesterfield in Derbyshire on December 19.

UPDATE: Further arrest in #Sheffield as part on ongoing investigation by Counter Terrorism Policing North East @TerrorismPolice - full details are on their website https://t.co/V9Y25xFi0H

— SouthYorkshirePolice (@syptweet) December 30, 2017

A spokesman for Counter Terrorism Policing North East (CTPNE) said: “The 21-year-old man, from the Fir Vale area of Sheffield, was arrested on suspicion of being concerned in the commission, preparation or instigation of acts of terrorism under Section 41 of the Terrorism Act 2000.

“The intelligence-led arrest was made in the Firth Park area of Sheffield at approximately 11pm on Friday evening.

“Two addresses, a residential address in Fir Vale and a business address in Firth Park, are currently being searched by officers.”

Two of the men arrested on December 19 - Chesterfield fish and chip shop owner Andy Star, 31, and Farhad Salah, 22, from Sheffield - have been charged with one count of engaging in the preparation of an act of terrorism.

The men, both Kurdish Iraqis, are due to appear at the Old Bailey in London on January 19.

A 36-year-old man from Burngreave in Sheffield also remains in custody, while a 41-year-old from Meersbrook in Sheffield was released on Saturday, police said.

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New Year Honours: Theresa May Accused of Rewarding 'Services To The Establishment'

Theresa May has faced claims of rewarding “services to the establishment” and having “doled out political favours” in the New Year Honours.

Key Tory powerbroker Graham Brady, regarded as the voice of the party’s backbenches at Westminster, has been awarded a knighthood.

As chairman of the 1922 Committee, he is listened to closely by the leadership and would play a crucial role in any future leadership contest, which would be triggered if 15% of the party’s MPs - 48 at present - write to him requesting one.

Two other members of the 1922 Committee executive are also honoured, with vice-chairwoman Cheryl Gillan being made a Dame while treasurer Geoffrey Clifton-Brown is knighted.

All three backed Leave in the European Union referendum, as did a fourth Conservative MP to be honoured, veteran former minister Christopher Chope who receives a knighthood.

Their awards may be seen, in part, as offsetting the knighthood for former deputy prime minister and prominent Remain campaigner Nick Clegg.

The ex-Liberal Democrat leader remains a vocal critic of Brexit and his award was criticised by some Leavers when details leaked earlier this week.

Former Ukip leader Nigel Farage, when told of the Tory MPs and others honoured, said: “It’s services to the establishment in a sense. I suppose it’s a relief to see any Leavers on the list. The reason it’s a surprise to see Leavers on the list is previously there haven’t been any.

“But I don’t think it’s a reward for Brexit, but a reward for work to the party. The Government’s priority is keeping the party together.”

Asked if he would want to be included in a future honours list, MEP Farage replied: “It’s never been an aspiration for me but an aspiration for many who support me. What will be will be.”

Sir Geoffrey, MP for The Cotswolds, said he believed it was “completely coincidental” when asked if Brexit had influenced any of the honours.

He praised Sir Graham for his “great job” leading the 1922 Committee and Dame Cheryl for her work since becoming an MP in 1992.

On the Labour side, the Commons Deputy Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is knighted, as is Preston MP Mark Hendrick.

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Jay-Z ‘Family Feud’ Music Video: Rapper ‘Confesses’ To Beyoncé In Star-Studded New Clip

Jay-Z has revealed the music video for his track ‘Family Feud’ and it’s fair to say that the rapper pulled out all the stops for the clip, which features cameos from countless celebs - including Beyoncé and their daughter, Blue Ivy Carter.

Directed by Ava DuVernay, the video’s narrative spans a whopping 200 years, with much of the action set in a church.

At one point, the rapper walks through the chapel with Blue Ivy, before taking a seat in confession and referencing his own infidelity while addressing his wife.

Then there are the other A-list cameos, as it soon becomes clear that the power couple and Ava have roped in plenty of friends and collaborators.

One scene reimagines America’s Founding Fathers as a table of Founding Mothers, with stars including Jessica Chastain, Thandie Newton, Brie Larson and Mindy Kaling all taking a seat. 

As if that isn’t enough, David Oyelowo - star of Ava’s Oscar-winning film ‘Selma’ - Rashida Jones, Rosario Dawson, Michael B. Jordan, America Ferrera and Constance Wu also pop up.

The catch? While some clips have been shared on social media, you can’t watch the whole video without having Tidal. If you’re ever going to sign up, people, now is probably the time.

Director Ava has shared an insight into the making of the video on Twitter, sharing the thinking behind some of the most poignant scenes:

The first scene focuses on errors. All families hurt each other. Mistakes are made. Expectations unmet. Jealousies fester. Dramatizing that energy are @michaelb4jordan, @thandienewton + @_Trevante_. Some behind the scenes snaps of their gorgeousness... http://pic.twitter.com/fmctKrJfO8

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 29, 2017

I loved the idea of their being Co-Presidents of the United States in the future. And that a Native American woman was one of them. One of the first ideas I shared with @S_C_. He was all in. We had fun dreaming this up. This country will not stay the same. #ChangeIsCominghttp://pic.twitter.com/IsRYwV62Hr

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 29, 2017

The Founding Mothers. What else is there to say? I believe in our power. And I appreciate these dynamic artists who came out on a Saturday to represent all kinds of women at the table. Not a seat. ALL THE SEATS! #FamilyFeudFilmhttp://pic.twitter.com/LZFTuYBwJn

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 30, 2017

I'll let the final scene just stay where it is. In the film, with that family. Being their brilliant, black, brave, bold selves. May we all fortify our families. Our communities. Our society. In whatever ways we can. Much love. And thanks for watching #FamilyFeudFilm! xo. A. http://pic.twitter.com/r6yWsiJX6f

— Ava DuVernay (@ava) December 30, 2017

2017 has been a successful year for Jay-Z, with his album ‘4:44’ being praised by critics and earning eight Grammy nominations.

The rapper and wife Beyoncé also welcomed twins, son Sir Carter and daughter Rumi.  

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Nick Clegg's Knighthood Labelled An 'Insult' As Petitions Against It Gain Support

Nick Clegg’s Knighthood has been met with confusion and outrage with two petitions against him receiving the honour continuing to gain signatures - pushing past the 50,000 mark.

The former Lib Dem party leader, who lost his seat in the June snap election and has since written a book about stopping Brexit, was knighted for “public and political service” in the New Year’s honours list, for his five years as deputy prime minister.

News of the knighthood was controversial when it was leaked after Christmas, particularly angering Brexiteers who said ex-Ukip leader Nigel Farage should be honoured, and it prompted two petitions to be set up. 

Petitions - Block Nick Clegg from receiving a Knighthood and We object to Nick Clegg being offered a Knighthood - were continuing to gain support on Saturday and collectively had over 56,000 signatures before midday. 

One petition labelled Clegg a “failed politician” who broke a “major promise” to students in 2010 “just so he could get in bed with the Tories” and concluded that honouring him was “an insult to those who actually earned it”.

Clegg pledged to scrap tuition fees only to then vote for them to rise to nearly £9,000 as he teamed up with Tory leader David Cameron.

The second petition said: “To bestow a Knighthood on Nick Clegg is an insult to university students and all those who have voted to leave the EU.”

Much of the reaction to Clegg’s Knighthood centred around his “broken” promises.

Ten Broken Nick Clegg Promises...and he still gets a Knighthood!

1. Tuition Fees
2. VAT
3. Tax Cut for Millionaires
4. Living Standards
5. NHS
6. Mansion Tax
7. Constitutional Reform
8. Sure Start
9. Police
10. Special Advisers

He said one thing & did another. Time after time. http://pic.twitter.com/BEzeJ7wVD3

— Denis Skinner (@BolsoverBeast) December 30, 2017

How does a failed politician get a knighthood! You couldn’t even keep your seat for Sheffield Hallam and there’s a reason for that - I live there, I know!

— Jack (@littlejack593) December 30, 2017

#NewYearsHonours Sir Nick the plank Clegg getting knighted unbelievable. Well done Barry Gibb well deserved giving us brilliant music for years. Fantastic pop group the Bee Gees. Nick Clegg everything that’s wrong with politics horrendus politician talks nonsense always. http://pic.twitter.com/OTzDxPV8rb

— ASKdes (@ASK_des) December 30, 2017

What a joke. Nobody should be honoured for doing their job. You didn't even do it well! Honours should be for heroes, charity workers and people who give up their time to good causes for free.

— Ivan Davidson (@ivand1962) December 30, 2017

Ringo Starr = part of the most famous band in the world

Barry Gibb = wrote a string of pop classics

Nick Clegg = bit of a twat #NewYearsHonours#knighthood

— Chox (@goldwynbird) December 29, 2017

I wish I could ruin a party ... lose my job ... be a compulsive liar and receive a knighthood ...
Step forward Sir Nick Clegg ! #NewYearsHonours

— Chox (@goldwynbird) December 29, 2017

Giving Nick Clegg a knighthood is like giving a dog a treat after it shits in your slippers.

— Angry Scotland 󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@AngryScotland) December 26, 2017

Clegg on Saturday tweeted that he was “grateful” to be included in the New Year Honours but added that the recognition “belongs as much to my team in government as it does to me”.

Grateful to have been included in the New Year Honours list in recognition of service over five years as DPM. The knighthood, in truth, belongs as much to my team in government as it does to me. 1/2

— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) December 30, 2017

In a second tweet, Clegg attempted to “clear up a bit of confusion” that his Knighthood meant he would now serve in the House of Lords.

Because he has previously rubbished calls by his supporters for him to be honoured with a peerage and a seat in the House of Lords some wrongly assumed that by accepting a Knighthood, Clegg had effectively changed his mind.  

Representatives in the House are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the prime minister and some, non-party-political members, are recommended by an independent body, the House of Lords Appointments Commission.

Both Sky News presenter Kay Burley and public agitator Katie Hopkins appeared to be confused by what a Knighthood means.

And just to clear up a bit of confusion, the knighthood does NOT mean I will serve in the House of Lords. My aversion to unelected Legislatures remains. 2/2

— Nick Clegg (@nick_clegg) December 30, 2017

Why accept then, sunshine? https://t.co/tf3HHtL7I0

— Katie Hopkins (@KTHopkins) December 30, 2017

Some might wonder why accept the honour if one isn’t prepared to serve... https://t.co/CcCjEXBeQR

— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) December 30, 2017

While some of Hopkins’ followers happily accepted the misinterpreted link...

He will serve in the Lords to try and reverse Brexit. Not as if he hasn't lied before

— Holy Trinity (@bluerick1) December 30, 2017

Others weren’t so easily fooled.

he isn't Lord Clegg, he is Sir Nick Clegg. Clearly you haven't got a clue as to what the difference is do you?

— Tom Yelland (@ElysianTorriah) December 30, 2017

It's a knighthood, Katie, not a peerage. He won't be a Lord. he'll just be Sir Cleggy to the obsequious few who think such things matter.

— Norman Wells (@Crocus_Focus) December 30, 2017

Burley’s followers weren’t having a bar of it.

He was knighted, not enobled. You know it’s not the same thing, right? He couldn’t serve in the Lords, even if he wanted to.

— Andrew Soane (@andrew_soane) December 30, 2017

What on earth makes you think a knighthood gives you a seat in the Lords, Kay?

— Beth Sagar-Fenton (@BethSF) December 30, 2017

Some might, but those people would have a staggering lack of knowledge about how the honours system actually works.

— Adam Pritchard (@AdamPritchard82) December 30, 2017

Bring knighted doesn’t give you a seat in the Lords. He is simply clarifying in that tweet for those who (wrongly) accused him of such. I’m genuinely surprised by your tweet Kay

— Daniel Davenport (@DanielDav2017) December 30, 2017

some might wonder why a journalist would comment on the honours system when she clearly doesn’t understand the system

— Lynda Williams (@Leglesszebra) December 30, 2017

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A cyclist is using a Google Assistant-controlled electric bike wheel to ride cross country to CES

 This is one way to put your new electric bicycle wheel through its paces ahead of launch. But more importantly, it’s a pretty solid publicity stunt, funded by Google — a company that likes making a grand entrance. It’s all part of what’s shaping up to be a pretty big push for Google Assistant at the year’s biggest consumer electronics show. Read More

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Reviews and Articles on Photography Gear – 2017

If you’ve been reading over the last few of days you may have seen these already:

• The Best Landscape Articles on dPS in 2017
• Top Portrait Photography Tips of the Year on dPS in 2017
• Most Popular Post-Processing Articles of 2017
• Best Beginner Photography Articles 2017

Now it’s time to geek out a bit and talk about photography equipment. Here are some of the reviews and tips from 2017 to help you make the best of your gear.

Reviews and Articles on Photography Gear – 2017

1. Review of the New Sigma 500mm F4 DG HSM OS Sport Lens
2. Review of the New Flagship DX Camera – The Nikon D500
3. Review of the New Formatt Hitech Firecrest Filter Holder and Neutral Density Filters
4. Review of the Wine Country Camera Filter Holder System
5. Review of the Sigma 85mm f/1.4 Art Lens
6. Review of the New Nikon D5600 Camera Body
7. Review of the Sigma 24mm F1.4 DG HSM Art Lens
8. Camera Bag Review – The Udee Backpack
9. Review: Sigma 100-400mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary Lens
10. Think Tank Signature 13 Camera Shoulder Bag Review
11. The New Canon 6D Mark II – Hands-On Previews and Thoughts
12. Review of the K&F Concept TC2534 Lightweight Carbon Fiber Tripod
13. Review of the new Spekular Modular LED Light System
14. VSGO Camera Sensor Cleaning Kit Review
15. Eight Ways to Get Rid of GAS – Gear Acquisition Syndrome
16. When is the Right Time to Upgrade Camera Gear?
17. Tips for Buying Used Camera Gear
18. Recommended Gear for Doing Long Exposure Photography at Twilight and Dusk
19. DIY Hack 2-for-1 Luggage and Camera Roller Bag

The post Reviews and Articles on Photography Gear – 2017 by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Best Beginner Photography Articles 2017

If you’ve been reading over the last couple of days you may have seen these already:

• The Best Landscape Articles on dPS in 2017
• Top Portrait Photography Tips of the Year on dPS in 2017
• Most Popular Post-Processing Articles of 2017

Now, let’s get some help for those new to photography. If you just got a new camera as a gift and don’t know where to start – these are for you!

Best Beginner Photography Articles 2017

1. 10 Must-Use Bird Photography Camera Settings for Beginners
2. Avoid These 5 Common Camera Setting Mistakes Made By Beginners
3. How to Shoot in Manual Mode Cheat Sheet for Beginners
4. The dPS Ultimate Guide to Photography for Beginners
5. 4 Beginner Tips for Creating Dramatic Portraits with One Flash
6. Beginner’s Guide to Metering Modes on Your Camera
7. 5 Easy Ways to Drastically Improve Your Photographs for Beginners
8. Photoshop Versus Lightroom: Which is Best for Beginners?
9. 25 Things I Learned as a Photography Newbie
10. 3 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started Photography
11. 5 Camera Settings Every New Photographer Needs to Know
12. 5 Things Every Newbie Photographer Must Learn and Practice
13. Bought Your First DSLR? 6 Tips for Learning How to Use Your New Camera

The post Best Beginner Photography Articles 2017 by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Most Popular Post-Processing Articles of 2017

If you’ve been reading over the last couple of days you may have seen these already:

• The Best Landscape Articles on dPS in 2017
• Top Portrait Photography Tips of the Year on dPS in 2017

Next up in this summary is post-processing.

Most Popular Post-Processing Articles of 2017

1. 1. 5 Common Post-Processing Mistakes to Avoid
   2. A Step by Step Guide to Processing Portraits in Lightroom
   3. Basic Portrait Post-Processing Workflow Tips to Help You Save Time and Stay Organized
   4. Don’t Fear Photo Post-Processing – Shooting is Only the First Part of the Image Creation Process
   5. How to Match Your Image Processing Using Reference View in Lightroom
   6. 4 Tips for Post-Processing Images on the Road
   7. Overview of the Intuos Pro Wacom Tablet and the MobileStudio Pro for Post-Processing
   8. How to Choose the Right Monitor for Photo Editing
   9. Overview of Photo Studio Ultimate 2018 for Windows by ACDSee
   10. Image Editing Software Review: PortraitPro 15
   11. How to Speed Up Your Photo Editing with the Right Lightroom Workflow
   12. How to do Non-Destructive Editing in Photoshop
   13. How to Merge and Combine Images in Photoshop
   14. How to Remove People from Your Photos Using Photoshop
   15. How to Create a Rim Light Effect Using Photoshop
   16. The dPS Ultimate Guide to Getting Started in Lightroom for Beginners
   17. Tips for How to Think and Use Lightroom More Artistically
   18. How to Understand the Lightroom Tone Curve
   19. 3 Handy Lightroom Features I Discovered by Accident
   20. Review of Macphun’s Aurora HDR 2018
   21. How to use Macphun’s Luminar for Beginners
   22. Luminar The Ultimate Lightroom Plugin

Whew, that is a lot, but it’s a big category with lots of options now available to you for processing your images.

Can you help us with a quick poll? Since there are so many new photo editing software options – please fill in any that you are using below. It will give us a better idea of what to cover in the upcoming year! Thanks for your assistance and for reading.

Note: There is a poll embedded within this post, please visit the site to participate in this post's poll.

The post Most Popular Post-Processing Articles of 2017 by Darlene Hildebrandt appeared first on Digital Photography School.

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Former Vogue Editor-In-Chief Alexandra Shulman Awarded CBE: A Look At Her Career Highs And Lows In Numbers

The New Year’s honours list list has been revealed and Alexandra Shulman has been named among those who awarded a CBE.

The former editor-in-chief of British Vogue has been named as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire, for her work with the ‘style bible’ and services to fashion journalism. 

At the end of a year when Shulman has received plenty of criticism, she is sure to be a controversial choice. 

Here’s a look back at Shulman’s career trajectory in numbers to get yourself clued up:

25 

The number of years Shulman’s reign at British Vogue lasted. This is the longest time an editor has spent at the publication.  

33 

The age Shulman joined British Vogue after starting her journalism career at Tatler, followed by stints at The Sunday Telegraph and British GQ, before becoming the editor of Vogue in 1992. 

241,001

Copies sold of the Millennium Issue, with 142,399 newsstand sales. The iconic issue had a reflective mirror-like cover where the reader almost became the cover star and was the biggest selling issue in British Vogue history. 

2005

The year Shulman received an OBE for services to the magazine industry.

12 

The amount of years under Shulman’s editorship Vogue went without a black model as a solo cover star. Jourdan Dunn was the one to break the white spell in February 2015. 

9 / 306

The number of women of colour featured on Vogue covers in Alexandra Shulman’s time. 

0

Though Shulman has clearly not being an advocate for diversity where it concerns race, sexuality or disability, she has attempted to fight the culture of size zero (or size zero zero) models, albeit nearly always putting a lean figure on the cover of Vogue. 

In 2009 she wrote a letter to some of the world’s leading designers, chastising them for for providing increasingly “minuscule” garments for photoshoots, making magazines hire models with “jutting bones and no breasts or hips.”

And when she chose ‘plus size’ model Ashley Graham as a cover model she used her editor’s letter to call out designers who refused to dress her. 

As Shulman is no longer under the pressure of representing a global household name anymore, it will be interesting to see what she chooses to discuss as a freelance journalist in 2018. 

We will be keeping an eye out. And when we say eye, we mean watching behind our Miu Miu dupe sunglasses. 

 

 

 

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Nigel Farage's Gong Conspiracy Torn Apart By These Brexiteer MPs' Knighthoods

Three Brexiteer MPs have been knighted in the New Year’s honours list, despite Nigel Farage’s claim his support for Brexit is why he has received nothing.

Graham Brady, Christopher Chope and Geoffrey Clifton-Brown were among the five MPs knighted in the list, unveiled on Friday evening. 

Brady chairs the influential 1922 Committee of Tory backbenchers at a time when the hung parliament has hugely bolstered their influence over Theresa May’s Government, which must fight for each vote in the Commons.

After news leaked that ex-Lib Dem leader and arch Remainer Nick Clegg was to be knighted, Farage claimed he had not received any honours because he was ”not a Remainer”.

He told The Telegraph: “Every one of them got CBEs, they got knighthoods, quite extraordinary.”

 

But Brady is a vocal Brexiteer, who was among Tory MPs to declare he would campaign to leave before David Cameron returned from Brussels with his renegotiation package.

“There is a very long-term problem that there is a massive difference between what Britain thought it was joining – the European Economic Community – and what it actually was joining,” Brady told The New Statesman before the referendum campaign began.

Chope and Clifton-Brown both also backed Brexit.

MPs Mark Hendrick, who backed Remain, and Lindsay Hoyle, whose position as deputy speaker prevented him explicitly taking sides in the referendum, are also knighted.

Pollster John Curtice, whose shock exit poll on election night proved largely accurate despite initial claims it was wrong, is also knighted.

Outside politics, former Beatle Ringo Starr, ex Bee Gee Barry Gibb and author Michael Morpurgo are knighted.

Author Jilly Cooper, actor Hugh Laurie and former Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman are all made a CBE. 

Broadcaster Melvyn Bragg and author Antonia Fraser are made Companions Of Honour.

A total of 49% of the recipients on this list are women: 551 out of 1,123. A total of 9.2% are BAME and 5% are disabled.

You can find the full honours list here.

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